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Why do we hate the sound of our own voices? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Neel Bhatt, University of Washington (THE CONVERSATION) As a surgeon who specializes in treating patients with voice problems, I routinely record my patients speaking. For me, these recordings are incredibly valuable. They allow me to track slight changes in their voices from visit to visit, and it helps confirm whether surgery or voice therapy led to improvements. Yet Im surprised by how difficult these sessions can be for my patients. Many become visibly uncomfortable upon hearing their voice played back to them. Do I really sound like that? they wonder, wincing. (Yes, you do.) Some become so unsettled they refuse outright to listen to the recording much less go over the subtle changes I want to highlight. The discomfort we have over hearing our voices in audio recordings is probably due to a mix of physiology and psychology. For one, the sound from an audio recording is transmitted differently to your brain than the sound generated when you speak. When listening to a recording of your voice, the sound travels through the air and into your ears whats referred to as air conduction. The sound energy vibrates the ear drum and small ear bones. These bones then transmit the sound vibrations to the cochlea, which stimulates nerve axons that send the auditory signal to the brain. However, when you speak, the sound from your voice reaches the inner ear in a different way. While some of the sound is transmitted through air conduction, much of the sound is internally conducted directly through your skull bones. When you hear your own voice when you speak, its due to a blend of both external and internal conduction, and internal bone conduction appears to boost the lower frequencies. For this reason, people generally perceive their voice as deeper and richer when they speak. The recorded voice, in comparison, can sound thinner and higher pitched, which many find cringeworthy. Theres a second reason hearing a recording of your voice can be so disconcerting. It really is a new voice one that exposes a difference between your self-perception and reality. Because your voice is unique and an important component of self-identity, this mismatch can be jarring. Suddenly you realize other people have been hearing something else all along. Even though we may actually sound more like our recorded voice to others, I think the reason so many of us squirm upon hearing it is not that the recorded voice is necessarily worse than our perceived voice. Instead, were simply more used to hearing ourselves sound a certain way. [Get the best of The Conversation, every weekend. Sign up for our weekly newsletter.] A study published in 2005 had patients with voice problems rate their own voices when presented with recordings of them. They also had clinicians rate the voices. The researchers found that patients, across the board, tended to more negatively rate the quality of their recorded voice compared with the objective assessments of clinicians. So if the voice in your head castigates the voice coming out of a recording device, its probably your inner critic overreacting and youre judging yourself a bit too harshly. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/why-do-we-hate-the-sound-of-our-own-voices-158376. | https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/Why-do-we-hate-the-sound-of-our-own-voices-16182156.php |
Will Jeff Zucker Stay At CNN After AT&T Spins Off WarnerMedia? | NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 09: President of CNN Jeff Zucker attends the 12th Annual CNN Heroes: An ... [+] All-Star Tribute at American Museum of Natural History on December 9, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images for CNN) Getty Images for CNN CNNs Jeff Zucker might not be leaving the network after all. Zucker, who has led CNN to strong ratings and financial performance, announced early this year he would leave when his contract ends at the end of the year. AT&T on Monday confirmed reports that it would spin off WarnerMedia, the parent company of CNN, HBO, TNT and the Warner Bros. film and television studios. The deal would merge WarnerMedia with Discovery, which operates HGTV, The Food Network and Animal Planet. The resulting company would be positioned as a major force in streaming, to rival companies like Disney and Netflix. Discoverys president and CEO David Zaslav will lead the new company, and that could convince Zucker to stay on as CNNs president. The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday that Zucker has strong ties to Zaslav, with both men getting to know each other while working at NBC. A close associate of Zucker at CNN, the Times reported, said Zucker would probably stick around should Zaslav oversee the new venture, noting that Zucker had become disillusioned by the AT&T-imposed cost-cutting that has occurred across WarnerMedia. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: President and CEO, Discovery, Inc. David Zaslav speaks onstage ... [+] during the Discovery, Inc. TCA Winter Panel 2020 at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 16, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images for Discovery, Inc.) Getty Images for Discovery, Inc. It is super exciting to combine such historic brands, world class journalism and iconic franchises under one roof and unlock so much value and opportunity, Zaslav said in a statement released by AT&T. With a library of cherished IP, dynamite management teams and global expertise in every market in the world, we believe everyone wins...consumers with more diverse choices, talent and storytellers with more resources and compelling pathways to larger audiences, and shareholders with a globally scaled growth company committed to a strong balance sheet that is better positioned to compete with the worlds largest streamers. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/markjoyella/2021/05/17/will-jeff-zucker-stay-at-cnn-after-att-spins-off-warnermedia/ |
How Does LSU Football Compare to Alabama in Early Stages of 2022 Recruiting Class? | Tigers at the top of the SEC in recruiting in the SEC with plenty of room to grow LSU and Alabama are both headed into a crucial stretch of recruiting. Timing and location will play major roles with both programs as they compete for many of the nations top prospects. The key to evaluating LSU versus Alabama recruiting battles is timing and location. Those two factors will be critical to the 2022 recruiting class for both football programs. Heres a quick look at where each school stands with commitments, its desire to land top skill players, and how each program stacks up against one another along the recruiting trail as we head into the month of June, the first month the NCAA will allow official visits in over a year. Total Commitments And National Scope Alabama: 6 (three offensive and three defensive). LSU: 13 (eight offensive and five defensive). LSU is off to the faster start than Alabama, racking up nine in-state commitments and one of the top classes in the country. While Alabamas commitments are certainly very good, the Crimson Tide is looking to capitalize on more out-of-state targets than LSU. Thats a big reason why Alabama has only six commitments, as many top targets have yet to travel to Tuscaloosa for even an unofficial visit let alone an official visit. Both programs will be competing for several of the same recruits to finish out the recruiting class, with Louisianas top prospects a major part of the equation. Louisiana Skill Talent Continues To Be A Priority Both programs generally reload at defensive back, running back and wide receiver. Yes, LSU needs offensive linemen and Alabama needs to refurbish its linebacker core, but the bottom line is elite skill talent is the goal for both programs and it can be had right in LSUs backyard. Louisiana is loaded yet again, and even with a combined five in-state skill position recruits committed to the Tigers, there are a handful of Louisiana skill players that the Tigers truly need that are also being ardently being recruited by the Crimson Tide as well. This has been mentioned before, and will be a common theme moving forward. The following three players are absolute musts for LSU, and Alabama covets each of the three as well. Kendrick Law, running back Leveon Moss and wide receiver Shazz Preston all come from Louisiana. All three are also national recruits. Its hard to say for certain where any of the three will land. Its early with recruiting, and the Tigers have yet to truly set up in-state official visits. Well, at least theres no big weekend thats been made public. As an example, Law is all but certain to officially visit LSU. According to this SI All-American article, FSU, Alabama, and TCU were three schools hes also mentioned as possible official visits, but he has been concentrating on actual football as opposed to recruiting. Law is as important as any recruit left on the board as his versatility (running back, wide receiver, cornerback or safety) is all but unmatched nationally. Both LSU and Alabama hold as good a chance to sign Law as any other programs. Current LSU Official Visit Schedule Features Out Of State Prospects While official visits change quite frequently, LSU does appear to be attempting to bring in out-of-state prospects first. Many of these young men have never been to Louisiana, let alone Baton Rouge and LSU. That is a major reason for LSU already scheduling official visits with players from Texas, Florida, and even the state of Washington. Look for that trend to continue, with an additional possibility. At some point, LSU has to line up in-state prospects for visits. This is where the true game of recruiting begins. Its all about timing. For each position group, LSU needs to know the intentions of its true top target before it goes on to the next prospect. That is why official projecting the absolute visit dates are always a guessing game. Official visits oftentimes finalize a recruits decision. If it waits too long, some of those same players could visit out-of-state programs and commit. Alabama is the prime competition, as one might imagine. This cat and mouse game has no definitive answer and thats why its so interesting. The Next Month Will Be Critical For LSU And Alabama Which players actually visit, when they visit, and the order of schools they visit, can all lead to the success or failure for LSU and Alabama. Numerous top targets have yet to set official visits, but are expected to lock in dates during the next few weeks. Look for LSU to host several more official visitors this next month than is already known, and also look for Alabama to do the same. Keep a close eye on the Louisiana prospects, with many of them being friends and wanting to visit schools together. Later this year, theres also an important game in Tuscaloosa... Looking To The Future: Alabama Hosting Top Recruits When LSU Visits Tuscaloosa Its common for a rivalry game to be a major aspect of a recruiting campaign. Unofficial visits for underclassmen, as well as some senior targets, will be a priority. The biggest aspect, however, would be official visits for a few truly top-notch prospects. Two key Florida prospects are an example of that situation playing out for LSU and Alabama. LSU and Alabama will collide in Bryant-Denny Stadium on November 6th, and the two SEC rivals will be competing for top recruits that will be officially visiting the Crimson Tide that same weekend. Two confirmed official visitors for that weekend both hail from American Heritage in Fort Lauderdale. Defensive end Marvin Jones, Jr. and cornerback Earl Little, Jr. are both national recruits, with Alabama and LSU both in contention for Little. LSU will host Little on Oct. 2nd when LSU welcomes Auburn to Death Valley. Little is one of LSUs top prospects regardless of position. It would be a huge win for the Tigers if they could land Little, especially with Alabama also after the national cornerback recruit. As for his teammate, Jones, thats an interesting situation. LSU does not appear to be one of the favorites for Jones at this time, but the Tigers still have time to lure the elite defensive end to LSU for an official visit. Perhaps Jones visits Baton Rouge with Little on October 2nd. This is recruiting, and there will be ebbs and flows. Final Thoughts LSU has important decisions to make about in-state and out-of-state prospects. When does LSU bring in those players being the primary question, as Alabama and other programs will be looking to pounce on many of the same prospects that LSU covets. How well LSU lines up its official visit schedule for the month of June will go a long way in determining if the Tigers have a legitimate shot at signing a better recruiting class than Alabama, and possibly signing the nations top recruiting class overall. | https://www.si.com/college/lsu/football/where-lsu-alabama-stand-recruiting-2022 |
Could the potential addition of Tim Tebow be good for young Jags? | Reuters MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -Champions Inter Milan stretched their unbeaten Serie A run to 20 games as they eased to a 3-1 victory over AS Roma on Wednesday. Crowned Serie A winners for the first time in 11 years, Inter showed no sign of letting up as goals from Marcelo Brozovic, Matias Vecino and Romelu Lukaku preserved their 13-point lead at the top with two games to play. Coach Antonio Conte has resisted resting too many players as the season comes to a close, and a strong Inter side burst into a two-goal lead inside 20 minutes thanks to well-taken goals from Brozovic and Vecino. | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-potential-addition-tim-tebow-133602093.html?src=rss |
Can Israel blast Gaza and still make friends in the Gulf? | Article content DUBAI Scenes of devastation in Gaza are likely to make it harder for Israel to win its biggest diplomatic prize: recognition by Saudi Arabia. But so far, the other rich Gulf states that invested in opening ties with Israel last year are showing no public sign of second thoughts. Arab officials have come together to condemn what they describe as flagrant Israeli violations during the past two weeks, from Israeli police action around Jerusalems al-Aqsa mosque to deadly air strikes on the Gaza Strip. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video But in the United Arab Emirates, which along with Bahrain recognized Israel last year under the U.S.-backed Abraham Accords, official criticism of Israel now often comes balanced with popular expression of hard words for the other side. In some cases in the UAE, which has long denounced Islamist political movements, condemnation of the Hamas militants who control Gaza even echoes Israeli talking points. You have made Gaza a graveyard for the innocent and children, Waseem Yousef, a Muslim preacher in the UAE, tweeted to his 1.6 million followers on Twitter. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content In a country where social media is closely monitored by the authorities, another Emirati, Munther al-Shehhi, tweeted: I will not stand by or empathize with any terrorist group such as Hamas in support of any cause, even if it is packaged as humanitarian or religious. #No To Terrorism. A social media hashtag has even begun circulating among some Gulf Arabs, which reads #Palestine Is Not My Cause. SAUDIS KEEP DISTANCE So far, such sentiment does not seem to have made inroads too deeply into Saudi Arabia. The biggest, richest and most powerful of the Gulf monarchies is widely presumed to have given its tacit blessing to last years decision by neighbors Bahrain and the UAE to embrace Israeli ties. But it held back from recognizing Israel itself, and now appears far less likely to do so, at least in the medium term. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Many Saudis have responded to the Not My Cause hashtag by posting pictures of King Salman, with his quote: The Palestinian cause is our first cause. On May 13, Saudi television aired footage of a cleric in Mecca praying for Palestinian victory against the enemy of God, less than year after the kingdoms leading imam discouraged rhetoric against Jews following the September accords. It would now be inconceivable that the Saudi leadership could contemplate normalizing ties with Israel for at least a couple of years, said Neil Quilliam, associate fellow at Britains Chatham House think tank. Last years decisions by the UAE and Bahrain, followed by Sudan and Morocco, to recognize Israel were denounced by the Palestinians as abandoning a unified position under which Arab states would make peace only if Israel gave up occupied land. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The UAE and Bahrain argued that their agreements would ultimately benefit the Palestinians, including because Israel had promised to abandon plans to annex West Bank territory. Abdulrahman al-Towajry, 29, a Saudi national visiting a Riyadh shopping mall, said the countries that had made peace should really reconsider it as Israel could not be trusted to abide by promises. There is strength in unity so if Arab and Muslim countries unite, the conflict would end. It could have ended a long time ago if they had, he told Reuters. But the Emiratis and others probably have too much invested in the policy to change course abruptly now. The agreements have propelled tourism, investment and cooperation in fields from energy to technology. A UAE investment fund has plans to purchase a stake in an Israeli gas field and Dubais port operator is bidding for Haifa Port. The Abraham Accords are an irreversible process, said prominent Emirati commentator Abdulkhaleq Abdulla. It was very clear that it was in keeping with the UAEs national priorities and strategic interests so there is no going back. (Reporting by Ghaida Ghantous in Riyadh and Marwa Rashad in London Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington in Dubai and Mohammed Benmansour in Riyadh Editing by Peter Graff) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. 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What's Behind Baseball's Hit-by-Pitch Epidemic? | Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager became the latest MLB star this season to land on the injured list because of MLB's surge in hit-by-pitches. Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning youll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.coms MLB writers. An epidemic put Corey Seager and Joey Votto on the injured list. It caused Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acua Jr. and Shohei Ohtani to leave games or miss time. It has made baseball today more dangerous for hitters than any other time in the past 120 years. The epidemic is the hit-by-pitch, and there is no sign of it slowing. Another 45 batters were hit in the 46 games played over the weekend, including Seager. The Dodgers shortstop, playing in his platform season to free agency, suffered a broken hand and is out for at least four weeks. What is scary is that there was nothing unusual about this past weekend. Batters are getting hit at a rate of almost one every game. The four most dangerous seasons for hit by pitches since the AL joined the NL in 1901 are this year (0.92 batters per game), last year (0.92), the year before that (0.84) and the year before that (0.80). Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Didi Gregorius (18) falls to the ground after he was hit by a pitch from St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Gnesis Cabrera. Right fielder Bryce Harper was hit in the face by Cabrera's previous pitch, making it two HBPs on two pitches to begin the sixth inning on April 28. Jeff Curry/USA Today Sports 1. Pitchers value velocity over command. Let me get this one out of the way. This is the knee-jerk reaction to most every trend in pitching, but its simply not as impactful as you are told by off-the-cuff commentary. Yes, pitchers are throwing harder. Average fastball velocity is 93.3 mph, up from 92.8 mph just three years ago. But fastball use is down sharplyfrom 54.5% three years ago to 50.5% this year. And fastballs are increasingly less to blame for hit by pitches. Three years ago, they accounted for 54.5% of pitches and 57.3% of hit batters. This year they account for 50.5% of pitches and 49.4% of hit batters. Batters are less likely to get hit by fastballs. 2. Armor This is the biggest reason why hit by pitch rates are growing. More and more batters are wearing protective guards on their lead elbows and upper armssometimes both. The guards create a confidence that encourages hitters not to attempt to get out of the way of inside pitches. Mark Canha, Athletics 9 Yes Nick Solak, Rangers 7 Yes Willson Conteras, Cubs 6 Yes Jackie Bradley Jr., Brewers 6 Yes Marwin Gonzalez, Twins 6 Yes Jonathan India, Reds 6 Yes Sean Murphy, Athletics 6 No The elbow guard is creating a similar unintended cycle as what happened with helmets in the NFL. The more helmets were made safer, the more they emboldened players to use their heads more aggressively in blocking and tackling. Rules had to be written to discourage such use. Hitters are using arm and elbow guards as a response to more hit by pitches, but the guards are creating even more hit by pitches because those who wear them have changed how they react to inside pitches, which is not to move or even to intentionally put the guarded elbow in the path of the pitch. From 2010 to '11, no hitter was hit by a pitch that was in the strike zone. This season, it has happened twice already: by Michael Conforto and Trout. Both were hit on the elbow pad. 3. Fastballs are more dangerous. Pitching has morphed from an east-west orientation to a north-south one, as the high four-seam fastball has become the antidote to the launch angle generation. The average height of fastballs is getting higher, and thus you see more pitches up and in to hitters. Those are pitches everybody notices, especially hitters who dont take kindly to having their hands and heads threatened. There is a big differenceand a growing onebetween the height of a fastball that hits a batter (3.51 feet off the ground this year, which is at a hitter's upper arm, near the shoulder) and the height of all other pitches that hit batters. HBP Average Height, MLB Year Fastballs Non-Fastballs Difference 2018 3.46 2.14 1.32 2021 3.51 1.86 1.65 4. The most dangerous pitch is the arm-side fastball to same-side hitter. An arm-side pitch is a pitch to the same side of the plate as is the pitchers throwing arm. The most dangerous pitch is a fastball thrown by a right-handed pitcher to a right-handed hitter or one thrown by a left-handed pitcher to a left-handed hitter. Thats the one that broke Seagers hand. The breakdown by pitch type and side of the plate: MLB Hit by Pitches, 2021 HBPs Arm-Side Fastballs 201 Glove-Side Non-Fastballs 185 Arm-Side Non-Fastballs 95 Glove-Side Fastballs 72 In general, pitchers hit same-side batters (i.e., right vs. right) when they lose fastballs up and in; they cant command fastballs designed to be effective inside pitches above the hands of the hitter. They mostly hit opposite-side batters (i.e., right vs. left) when they pull breaking pitches and cutters designed to be under the hands of the hitter. 5. Velocity and spin rate is the fast track to the big leagues, not command. Teams have used 595 pitchers to cover the first six weeks of the season. Thats more than were needed to cover the entire 2001 season (591). The specialty nature of bullpen use (and frequent turnover) has created this gig economy of relievers. The highest hit by pitch rates this year among pitchers with 200 or more pitches belong to specialty relievers Austin Adams of the Padres (2.9% of pitches), who throws 89% sliders; Austin Brice of the Red Sox (1.7%), a sidearmer; and Nabil Crismatt of the Pirates (1.7%), a rookie changeup specialist. Its not just hit by pitches. Wild pitches are up 28% in the past 10 years. The seven highest rates of wild pitches since 1900 have all occurred in the past seven years, including a high of 0.82 wild pitches per game this year. The walk rates the past two seasons (9.2% and 9.0%) are the highest in 20 years. In 10 years, the combined per-game rate of hit batters, wild pitches and walks has increased 13%. Hitting has never been so dangerous. One MLB executive floated the idea of giving the hit batter two bases, not just one, to encourage pitchers to get the ball over the plate. Pitches that hit elbow and arm guards could be ruled a ball, with no base awarded. Neither is likely to happen. What is more likely is that more players will continue to be hit by pitches at a record rate, which means more stars like Seager will lose playing time by getting hit on high, same-side fastballs. More MLB Coverage: Verducci: Inside the Devastating Gig Economy of Relief Pitching Selbe: Pujols Joining Dodgers Is One Last Shot at Proper Exit Martell: How Posey, Molina Are Hitting Better Than Ever in '21 Apstein: Why the Giants Could Play Spoiler For the NL's Best | https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/05/17/corey-seager-injury-hbp-epidemic-the-opener |
How Can People Build A Social Presence When Working Remotely? | Beautiful young Asian woman working with computer on her lap, sitting on the balcony at sunset time. originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Tsedal Neeley, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard, on Quora: Face-to-face contact is considered the gold standard for social presence. But when in-person interactions are not available, we can turn to social presence to define the degree to which specific media do or do not convey social cues via voices or facial expressions. Because lets face it, voices and facial expressions, as well as body language, can communicate thoughts and feelings as much as if not more than the language we use. Two key concepts of social presence are intimacy and immediacy. Intimacy captures the feelings of interpersonal closeness that two people experience when interacting with one another. It is influenced by factors such as eye contact, smiling, body language, and topics of conversation of varying sensitivity. Although a digital medium through which people can see each others faces in real-time has a greater sense of intimacy than one without this capability, such as email or text, it still does not, as McCullough realized in her attempt to create a party event, replicate the same degree of intimacy. Immediacy refers to the psychological distance or feeling of mental or emotional connection a person places between themselves and the recipient. This can be conveyed both verbally and nonverbally, through physical distance or closeness, by what people are wearing (for example, formal or informal dress), and by facial expressions during a conversation. Virtual backgrounds on video calls or the humorous visual effects provided by video-conferencing platforms are two ways to approximate, if not replicate, feelings of connection between team members. Interestingly, immediacy is not always dependent on being able to see one other visually. Immediacy can change between two people speaking remotely by phone if one of the speakers attitude or tone suddenly changes from, for example, warm and open to harsh and critical. Both intimacy and immediacy are governed by two additional aspects of social presence: efficiency and nonverbal communication. In this case, efficiency relates to the medium that we deem as the most effective way to get a message across to an audience. For example, its probably effective to leave a voicemail to simply cancel an appointment at the dentist, but to reschedule it may be more effective to speak to a person on the phone about the various times and dates available. For teams, face-to-face interactions in a shared space have the highest degree of social presence; however, in some instances, such as when there is a high degree of confrontation or interpersonal tension, another medium with less social presencesuch as phone, email, or textmight be preferable and therefore more efficient. Nonverbal communication, meanwhile, refers to the extent that a digital medium can show the same details that in-person interactions afford. Non-verbal communication is perhaps what people most lose when interacting verbally. People can communicate with the least ambiguity and provide the most information via nonverbal communications such as body language, eye contact, posture, and physical distance. But even in shared spaces, non-verbal communication is not always a reliable communicator: people can try to control their nonverbal behavior consciously or subconsciously. We all know someone with a non-expressive poker face whose feelings are difficult to decipher or have had the experience of seeing someone appear positive despite hearing bad news. And the more comfortable and experienced we become at communicating via various digital mediums, the more we are able to pick up on subtle non-verbal communication such as pauses, facial expressions, or tone. Learn more in #RemoteWorkRevolution here. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2021/05/17/how-can-people-build-a-social-presence-when-working-remotely/ |
What Are The Risks Of Crypto Savings Accounts? | There are quite a few popular cryptocurrency savings accounts out there, including options from platforms like BlockFi, Linus, Outlet, and Gemini. These savings accounts are very different from traditional savings accounts, and in more ways than many people realize. First, investors should remember that cryptocurrency savings accounts are built to accept and hold crypto deposits, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and other popular cryptocurrencies. Not only that, but crypto savings accounts offer much higher rates of return than regular savings, and even high-yield savings accounts. That depends on the platform you use and the type of cryptocurrency you deposit. As an example, BlockFi lets account holders earn up to 8.6% APY on their crypto deposits. This highest rate currently applies to the cryptocurrencies like the Gemini Dollar (GUSD) and the Paxos Standard Token (PAX), yet you'll earn more like 5% to 6% with digital currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. INDIA - 2021/05/11: In this Photo illustration a Bitcoin logo is seen displayed on a smartphone ... [+] screen with a pc screen background. Risks Of Crypto Savings Accounts While earning 5% to 8% or more in a savings account probably seems ideal, you should know that there are risks involved with this type of account, and with owning cryptocurrency in general. These risks don't necessarily mean crypto savings accounts are a bad product. However, you should only invest in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or use a crypto savings account if you are fully aware of what could happen in the worst case scenario. No FDIC Insurance According to Ian Kane, who is founder of a fintech company called Ternio, an immediate risk to consider is the fact that crypto assets do not come with FDIC insurance. With traditional savings accounts, customers are protected on up to $250,000 per account in the unlikely event of a bank failure, yet crypto assets do not offer this protection. "This means if the company offering the savings account does not also provide the private-keys associated with the wallet where savings are held, then it is possible a users funds can be lost if the company goes under," says Kane. Loss Of Control According to cryptocurrency expert Patrick Moore of Crypto What, another major downside is the fact you give up total control of your cryptocurrency assets. Moore points out that acquiring a crypto savings account means that one has to relinquish their account "keys" to the lending body. Since the whole crypto system is decentralized, the risk of shenanigans is actually quite high. If the administrator of your crypto savings account lends money to third parties and is never paid back, you could lose all or part of your assets with no recourse. Cryptocurrency expert and consultant Viputheshwar Sitaraman says giving up your keys is a huge concern regardless. "In a normal savings account, the money is yours, full stop," he says. "But with Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency, if you lose your keys, there is no dedicated company or organization to help recover your wallet." More Rules On Withdrawals If you have a traditional savings account, you can withdraw your money and close your account at any time. However, CPA and crypto expert Mark DiMichael of Citrin Cooperman says this may not be the case with your crypto savings account. For example, some cryptocurrency savings accounts have withdrawal limits that cap the amount you can take from your account over a specific period of time. These withdrawal limits can put your money out of reach when you need it most, like during a financial emergency. Not only that, but you may also have to pay fees to withdraw your money. These fees can add up if you're an active crypto trader who makes a lot of transfers in and out of your account. Price Volatility Meanwhile, Kane says price volatility is another significant item customers should be aware of. If the balance and interest is paid in a dollar-backed stable coin, then it's easy to account for the interest being paid. However, if the balance and interest is paid in Bitcoin, then Kane points out that the total balance and payments will fluctuate according to market conditions. This means that the interest you earn could be worth more or less on any given day. That makes it hard to plan, and to know if your account is truly helping you "get ahead." Robert R. Johnson, PhD, CFA, CAIA and Professor of Finance at Heider College of Business, Creighton University, says it's important to remember that cryptocurrencies are purely speculative vehicles. "They have no underlying fundamental value and suffer from many weaknesses as any sort of savings vehicle," he says. They also routinely experience large price moves in a single day, which makes them a strange and risky asset to grow in a savings account. For example, Johnson points out that Dogecoin traded at a high of 0.4223 on April 20, 2021, yet this cryptocurrency traded at 0.1637 just three days later. "That kind of volatility is not conducive to a savings account," says Johnson. Counter-Party Risk You have to remember that these saving accounts are able to offer you such high yields because they are lending out the crypto you deposit at much higher rates. The risk to you as a depositor is that the platform or exchange you are utilizing suffers a wave of defaults on their loans that they cant cover. The result of a breakdown of the platform could be disastrous for savers with assets deposited. Simply put, they still offer the potential for higher returns on cryptocurrency, and this is what crypto investors are after in the first place. Still, there are quite a few factors to consider before you open one of these accounts and hand over the keys to your digital assets. First off, Neil Chopra of Fireblocks says consumers should carefully evaluate the platform or app theyre using to ensure that the provider they choose to go with is "compliant, secure, reliable, and reputable." Even though cryptocurrency is "newer" in general, you should also consider how long the app or platform has been around, he says. In the meantime, research and look into user reviews and perform due diligence on the background of the company, its investors, and its leadership team. Second, make sure you're not betting the farm (or your entire retirement) on crypto investments or their potential savings account returns. Bryan Routledge, Associate Professor of Finance at Carnegie Mellon University's Tepper School of Business, says that a well-diversified investment strategy should always be your goal. You do not want to overload your portfolio with any individual stock, and especially Gamestop GME , he says. "Think of Bitcoin as you would any other stock. You might tilt your portfolio towards an industry or a company, but just a small amount." | https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertfarrington/2021/05/17/what-are-the-risks-of-crypto-savings-accounts/ |
Can McCarthy still discipline MTG? | McCarthy (R-Calif.) no longer can deploy his most powerful weapon: removing her from her two committees. Democrats already used it for him, stripping the Georgia Republican provocateur from her committee assignments earlier this year. There is also the question of whether the GOP leader is willing to do anything. Republicans argue that Greene was unfairly booted from her committees because it was based on social media activity that happened prior to her time in Congress. McCarthy, who is known for being non-confrontational, could decide to make a remark that publicly distances the conference from her behavior or he could move to talk with her privately. TBD if he will... And then TBD if shed listen to him. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) suggested the House Ethics Committee should investigate her behavior. But that could take months and would be pretty toothless. They could move to censure her, but that is unlikely. Democrats are reluctant to use this harsh form of punishment on matters that fall short of criminal activity. In 2019, Democratic leaders privately rejected a push by rank-and-file members to censure Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) while in office, warning it could open the floodgates and come back to haunt them. So, they dont have many great cards to play. Rather, she may have more reasons to keep up these antics. One pro-Trump House Republican mused that she needs to find ways to keep up the fight, and she can certainly fundraise off of trying to provoke the high-profile Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) to debate her over her Green New Deal and what Greene has labeled Democrats radical socialist agenda. As we first reported in Huddle, Greene raised a whopping $3.2 million in the first three months of this year after being kicked off of her committees, so she needs to find ways to sustain it. Not to mention, Democrats are also raising money off of this encounter. Greene has built her reputation on being a troll, confronting people and recording it, as the video recently discovered by CNNs KFile shows , or the one my colleague Michael Kruse reported in late February, or just the video of her chasing Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg. It isnt typical behavior in a workplace, let alone the halls of Congress. We will also be watching to see if she keeps it up. CHENEY FILES: Efforts to play down Jan. 6 insurrection 'indefensible,' Cheney says: https://politi.co/3bxYYqz | Cheney on direction of GOP: 'Dangerous: https://politi.co/33P3HQo | Larry Hogan: Ousting Liz Cheney was a mistake: https://politi.co/2QocANT ABOUT GREENES DISTRICT: Greene may be causing trouble in D.C., but back home in Rome, Ga., they have a history of supporting rabble rousers that like to push the envelope. Greene succeeded former GOP Rep. Tom Graves (R-Ga.), who also leaned into the rebel image before coming to Congress -- albeit they are not really comparable. He was nowhere near Greenes level today. In Graves case, he wasnt afraid to go up against GOP leadership. When he was in the Georgia state house, Graves got kicked off his committees after his 216 Policy Group, which was based off the Republican Study Committee, opposed the GOP state speakers positions at various turns. Graves came to Congress in 2010 during the Tea Party wave. And after about a year of serving in the House, he was nearly booted off the Appropriations Committee because he voted against the chairs spending bills. He was also removed from the GOP whip team after he advocated against leaderships positions. But Graves then had a quick turnaround he was asked back onto the whip team in 2013. He joined the Steering Committee in 2014, and gave McCarthys nomination speech for leader the same year. In 2015, he got his first gavel. Graves retired in 2020 while serving as the top Republican on the Modernization of Congress Committee. (More of his backstory from Roll Call here .) While he may have moderated himself in office, his retirement paved the way for someone far more controversial to take his place. STEERING SHOWDOWN: Theres a New York battle underway for a prized seat on the House GOP Steering Committee. Reps. Claudia Tenney and John Katko have both been calling their colleagues in a bid to become the regional representative for New York, New Jersey, West Virginia and Maryland, sources tell Mel. The spot became available after Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) was elected as GOP Conference chair last week. Some lawmakers think its important to put another woman on the male-dominated Steering panel, which is responsible for doling out committee assignments to other lawmakers. But Katko, who is close to Stefanik, is an ally of GOP leadership. Stay tuned: Steering meets later tonight. A message from SoftBank Group: Entrepreneurs of color are vastly underrepresented in the tech industry. Thats why SoftBank Group launched a new $100 million venture fund dedicated to supporting and building a community of outstanding Black, Latinx and Native American entrepreneurs. Learn more at TheOpportunityFund.com. HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this May 17, where if you thought Cicadas were going to make you squirm, wait until you learn what is coming to eat them. FRIDAYS MOST CLICKED: BuzzFeeds story on the unresolved questions about the pipe bombs placed at the DNC and RNC on Jan. 6 was the big winner. ON TAP TODAY: In the House, the Rules Committee will have a virtual business meeting at 3 p.m. on two bills: The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act (the bill that led to the big dust-up last week on the floor after Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.) wouldnt let Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) co-lead the bill because of his anti-certification vote on Jan. 6), and a bill which condemns the March 16 shootings in Atlanta and seeks to reaffirm the Houses stance on combating hate crimes towards the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. The Senate will take its first procedural vote on the Schumer-Young Endless Frontier Act, voting on whether the upper chamber will limit debate on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) motion to proceed. While Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) is a leading co-sponsor of the bill, the Senate Commerce Committee made funding changes to the bill that Republicans may take issue with. A growing faction of Dems in Congress are ready to talk bluntly about making the richest Americans help pay for President Biden's infrastructure plan. The idea -- while far from settled, with Biden's plan still in flux -- would be a political gamble ahead of a high-stakes midterm. Still, many Dems say it'll pay off because ideas like hiking taxes on investment income or raising the corporate rate are more popular than ever, with a pandemic-strained middle class irked at corporate America and its soaring profits. But many mods are cautious, to say the least. "Open borders, higher taxes, deficit spending ... If we're not careful, we're giving them all the narratives to campaign against us, said Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas). John Anzalone, a top Biden pollster during the campaign, said it's understandable that Dems are anxious about being blunt on taxes. "I get it. We've been hit on it for 30 years, he said. But you have an issue that two-thirds of people are with you on." More here from Sarah: https://politi.co/3ollSXz Related: With violent crime spiking, the push for police reform collides with voters fears, by WaPos Griff Witte and Dave Weigel: https://wapo.st/3eT9JG5 NEW NEW PUSH FOR SUNUNU: Senate Republicans have their eye on a key GOP recruit that they hope may be their answer to winning back the Senate: Gov. Chris Sununu of New Hampshire. If he runs, well win, Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) said of Sununu, chair of Senate Republicans campaign arm, who has been ringing up Sununu constantly. Republicans are seeking to woo the three-term governor to challenge Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan next fall, which comes after he enjoyed a 30-plus-point victory last year in a state Biden carried with relative ease. As Burgess and James Arkin write: [Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnells] party only needs to net a single seat to end Democrats' 50-50 majority in the chamber. But theyre defending two seats next year in states President Joe Biden won and must hold onto others with crowded, expensive primaries. Whats more, Republicans have yet to land big name challengers in once-red Arizona and Georgia, and both states could see contested intra-GOP battles. Hed be a great candidate, said McConnell (R-Ky.), who has personally lobbied Sununu to take on Hassan. Were hoping hed make the race. More here from Burgess and James: https://politi.co/2SXaENe Related: Rise of a megadonor: Thiel makes a play for the Senate, by our Alex Isenstadt: https://politi.co/3wajOnR THE DISH ON THE COMMISH: Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) has struck a deal with Democrats on a 9/11-type commission to investigate the Jan. 6 attack, with the bipartisan legislation expected to come to the floor this week. But we are watching closely to see what the blowback will be from Donald Trump and his allies -- and whether that falls on McCarthy. While the GOP leader seemed to dismiss the deal on Friday, telling reporters he hadnt seen the details and emphasizing his demand that any commission should also probe violence tied to racial unrest. But multiple sources tell our friends over at Playbook that Katko communicated back and forth about the details of the deal and Katko got most of what they wanted. Katko has also told Republicans there is some wiggle room with the language of the agreement, even if it doesnt specifically mention violence related racial tensions. Democrats may not feel the same way. The Playbook team has the details: https://politi.co/3tNWuuF Related: GOP's Upton: I suspect Jan. 6 panel will subpoena McCarthy ... Watch the CNN clip here: https://cnn.it/3ond5nP RECKONING: President Joe Biden is facing pressure to get tougher on the Israeli government, putting him in another prickly situation. As Andrew put it: The prospect of forced evictions of Palestinians in east Jerusalem and a sustained rocket campaign against Israel this week have laid bare the increasingly thorny political dynamic facing congressional Democrats, more of whom are beginning to question the lockstep bipartisan support for Israel that has existed across Washington. While not abandoning Americas historically strong ties to Israel, Democrats arent flinching this week in their calls for a tougher posture against aggression toward Palestinians. Lawmakers have issued different statements calling for an immediate ceasefire: I.E. This joint statement of 30 Senate Dems and a bipartisan statement from Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Young, the top senators on the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia and Counterterrorism. Meanwhile, Republicans are not wavering in their support of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lots more here: https://politi.co/33OJvhO SPEAKING OF ADMIN HEADACHES: The Biden administration is still grappling with a record influx of migrants on the southern border, with HHS diverting more than $2 billion meant for other health initiatives in order to cover the financial toll of caring for more than 20,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. This could fuel further scrutiny of the admins border strategy so keep an eye out on GOP messaging this week. Our Adam Cancryn has the story: https://politi.co/3eTaKhy THEY HAVE THE VOTES: Senators tout bipartisan effort to combat sexual assault in military: https://politi.co/3uSkPAR QUICK CLICKS: Bipartisan meeting was historically tardy, by National Journals George Condon: https://bit.ly/3w3hOxI | Why Justice Breyer may resist calls for his retirement, by NYTs Adam Liptak: https://nyti.ms/3eSqVeP A message from SoftBank Group: ICYMI: -Matt Gaetz equates sex trafficking investigation with earmarks in Ohio speech, by NBCs Henry Gomez: https://nbcnews.to/3hwO4oH -In new vaccination push, Biden leans on his Community Corps, by NYTs Noah Weiland: https://nyti.ms/3eQDCH6 -Cicilline seeks to censure Republicans who dismiss Jan. 6 insurrection, by yours truly: https://politi.co/2RWMTnV TRANSITIONS Nothing today. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House meets at noon, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. THE SENATE will meet at 3 p.m. to take up the motion to proceed to the Endless Frontier Act, with a vote to invoke cloture at 5:30 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 3 p.m.: The House Rules Committee virtual business meeting on The Fairness in Orphan Drug Exclusivity Act and the legislation that addresses the March 16 shootings in Atlanta. TRIVIA FRIDAYS WINNER: Nick Pearson was the first person to correctly guess the two presidents who were Ivy League university presidents: Woodrow Wilson was president of Princeton University and Dwight Eisenhower was president of Columbia University. The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to [email protected] . GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @Olivia_Beavers A message from SoftBank Group: Entrepreneurs of color are vastly underrepresented in the tech industry. Thats why SoftBank Group launched a new $100 million venture fund for outstanding Black, Latinx and Native American entrepreneurs that use technology to reimagine traditional business models and create new ones. We are committed to demonstrating there is no tradeoff between diversity and excellence. Learn more at TheOpportunityFund.com. | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2021/05/17/can-mccarthy-still-discipline-mtg-492873 |
Will the Democrats Survive Miami? | So much for lawlessness. The O'Hara-Fraser nostrum is a document entitled, "A Proposed Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States." It is the latest manifestation of a hankering after one or another form of European parliamentary system which has always afflicted segments of liberal opinion in the United States. Our parties are vonglomerates, the thought runs, when they ought to be vertically integrated industries. Then they would be more effective in producing ideologically coherent policies, and the consumer would be more satisfied. As it is, presidential candidates are handicapped in taking a firm and crisp programmatic stance, and when they come into office, they have to start bargaining all over again, because their parties are not lined up behind them in Congress in disciplined ranks. In fact, their parties are no parties, really. They can include everyone from Barry Goldwater to Jacob Javits, or James Eastland to George McGovern, essentially because anyone can join any time on an ad hoc basis for this or the other caucus or election without feeling or pledging long-term allegiance, or if yielding any allegiance, then yielding it to the state party, and not to any national party with anideology, a soul and a will of its own. The way to cure all this is to create a national party with a permanent membership, and let it then define and run, not only itself, but what used to be the state parties as well. That is what the proposed charter would do. Membership would be free and open, but only enrolled members could participate in party affairs, and movement in and out for one caucus or one primary would be difficult. Moreover, the party would have clear policies, continuously formed by standing bodies and by a biennial national policy conference. No one who did not accept those policies would feel very keen about joining. Minorities within the party would, no doubt, continuously splinter off, and once gone would stay away, while the party became continuously purer and smaller. Unless the country went to a multi-party systemto facilitate which we would have to abolish the electoral collegethe Democratic Party would go the way of the Whigs, and be replaced by another major party. If we did go to amulti-party system, with everyone pure and tight within his own party, Presidents would be even less able to govern in accordance with a coherent program. Deadlocks between Presidents and Congresses would be even more deadlocked, compromises would be even messier, and frustration even greater, as we waited for one John Tyler after another to serve out his four years. The temptation would be to abolish the four-year term and make the President responsible to Congress. Then we would be like the third French Republic, or like Italy now. The millennium would have arrived. None of these horrible things will happen if the proposed O'Hara-Fraser charter is adopted. Not a chance. Rather the Democratic Party will just vanish. It will go down in a glorious ideological sunset. | https://newrepublic.com/article/90985/will-the-democrats-survive-miami |
What are realistic expectations for Robert Salehs rookie season with Jets? | Robert Saleh is just months away from getting his first real taste of what life as an NFL head coach is like. Rookie minicamp provided Saleh with a glimpse of what lies ahead for him as he works to dig the Jets out of the bottom of the AFC East, but training camp and the preseason are where things start to get serious. Being an NFL head coach is no easy task and while Saleh seems to have the goods to be successful in the Big Apple, there is no telling what will happen until he is thrown into the fire. Sometimes, unrealistic expectations are bestowed upon rookie head coaches. Saleh has already done a nice job breathing life back into a Jets organization that lacked any under Adam Gases reign, but that does not necessarily translate to success on the field which is sometimes expected right off the bat with a new regime in place. Here is a look at how last years rookie head coaches fared and how their experiences could mirror Salehs next season. Joe Judge Syndication: NorthJersey Judge nearly led the Giants to an NFC East title in his first season at the helm, but his team still went 6-10 in a putrid division. The consensus is that the Giants took a step in the right direction under Judge last year, but the latest member of the Bill Belichick coaching tree to ascend to a top job would prefer a bit more consistency in 2021. Either way, Judge was thoroughly introduced to the ups and downs of being an NFL head coach in his first year on the job. It would not be a surprise if Saleh endures much of the same. Matt Rhule Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports Rhule entered his first season with the Panthers with plenty of head coaching experience under his belt from his days at Baylor and Temple. That did not result in an instant turnaround in Carolina, though, as the Panthers went 5-11 and finished third in the AFC South. Missing Christian McCaffery for most of the season and inconsistent play from Teddy Bridgewater hindered Rhule's ability to get his team going in 2020. Rhule is no stranger to rebuilding projects and the Panthers stand to be a much-improved team in Rhule's second season running the show. The Jets will find out to what extent in Week 1. Story continues Kevin Stefanski Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Stefanski had the most success of any rookie head coach last season, leading the Browns to their first postseason appearance in nearly two decades and a Wild Card win over the rival Steelers. Stefanski was billed as a bright play-caller throughout his tenure with the Vikings and that was on full display throughout 2020. Stefanski also won over Cleveland's locker room with his demeanor and brought a well-coached team to the field every Sunday. The Browns are heading in the right direction under Stefanski's watch after he laid a solid foundation for success in year one. 1 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/realistic-expectations-robert-saleh-rookie-153145059.html?src=rss |
What would a top-flight campaign be without food fights and no training? | THOSE LITTLE TYKES The Championship play-offs begin tonight, with Barnsley three games away from a return to the Premier League and once again being able to hold a top-flight Christmas party. The Fiver has fond memories of the Tykes squad led by Danny Wilson in 1997-98, as you dont get players of John Hendries ilk in the modern era of English football. The club also had on their books a man by the name of Lars Leese, plucked from relative obscurity in Germany to become the clubs second-choice goalkeeper. He wrote a book about his experiences at Barnsley from the festive celebrations resulting in two players knocking boots with strippers on stage to one teammate dressing up as Adolf Hitler and giving the German a Nazi salute. If they are to return under Valrien Ismal you would hope the likes of Herbie Kane and Cauley Woodrow will call upon Oakwells heroes of yesteryear to ensure they are fighting fit for the Premier League. Surviving in the Premier League is a tough business for any professional football club, so if Barnsley do make it they will need to enjoy the experience and their predecessors certainly knew how to do that. They beat Liverpool away in 1997 and could do it again 21 years later if they follow the right advice. First stop: Swansea, second stop: La Manga. LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE! Join Barry Glendenning from 6pm for sizzling Championship play-off coverage of Bournemouth 2-2 Brentford before Will Unwin takes the baton at 8.15pm for Barnsley 3-1 Swansea. QUOTE OF THE DAY I step down from the post as president for a deep-rooted and necessary restart. With this I take on the responsibility for my derailment in the board meeting of April 23 that should remain the low point in the desolate leadership situation of the DFB the German FA president, Fritz Keller, has stepped down three weeks after apparently comparing his vice-president to the notorious Nazi judge Roland Freisler. So long, Fritz. Photograph: Alexander Scheuber/Getty Images RECOMMENDED LISTENING Heres the latest Football Weekly podcast. Football Weekly Double despair for Chelsea and Alisson in wonderland Football Weekly Sorry your browser does not support audio - but you can download here and listen https://audio.guim.co.uk/2020/05/05-61553-gnl.fw.200505.jf.ch7DW.mp3 00:00:00 00:00:00 FIVER LETTERS After the FA Cup final it is interesting to note that the winners of both cups and the top three divisions in England this season are all called City. The supporters of these clubs must surely be happy, successful and thriving people. Meanwhile I follow an Albion; these are 17th and 19th in the Premier League, 16th in League One. Which says it all really Tony Crawford. Jimmy Armfield, a legend on and off the pitch. Photograph: PA While it doesnt involve officials, Richard Bullocks tale of Howard Hassall (Fridays Fiver) reminded me of a moment from one of Howard Wilkinsons brief stints as England manager. During a fractious press conference about an underwhelming performance (by the England mens team, perish the thought) he questioned the credentials of the assembled and relied on the old chestnut of asking how many caps they had won. A voice piped up from the back of the room 43, Howard, and 15 as captain. Thats what I call a zinger from Jimmy Armfield Ed Taylor. Liverpools clean-cut heroes battled Big Sams forces of darkness, but with little headway. The answer was staring them in the face. All season weve admired goals by bearded wonders like Harry Kane, Ilkay Gndogan, Riyad Mahrez, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Bruno Fernandes. The solution to Jrgens West Brom conundrum was simple: send another beard into attack to accompany Mo Salahs Golden Boot chin. It was a close shave, but Klopp needed that Brazilian Mark McFadden. Send your letters to [email protected]. And you can always tweet The Fiver via @guardian_sport. Todays winner of our prizeless letter othe day is Ed Taylor. NEWS, BITS AND BOBS Burnley are taking on triallists selected by artificial intelligence from more than 12,000 applications made through a smartphone app. The Clarets are the first Premier League club to launch an open talent search with the AiScout app, and have a shortlist of 28 players aged between 17 and 22. Germany keeper Marc-Andr ter Stegen will miss the upcoming Euro 20201 jamboree with knee-knack. For the first time in many years I will be a fan at home, I hope we win it, cheered the Bara stopper. Happiness is the key for Ferran Torres, according to Pep Guardiola. Ferran was upset with the world, teased Manchester Citys manager. Ole Gunnar Solskjr reckons the protests against the Glazers have affected the performances of his players. I just didnt want to use that as an excuse because we lost the two games, he squealed. But surely its a reason. La Liga has moved all of this weekends pivotal final-day games to 5pm (BST) on Saturday, in order to avoid a clash with the Eurovision Song Contest. Atltico and Real Madrid will kick off three hours before the show in Rotterdam, where singer-songwriter Blas Cant will carry Spanish hopes. Brendan Rodgers wants his team to stick another boot into Tommy T by securing their top-four spot at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night. Weve got a great opportunity to qualify, trilled Rodgers. Atltico Madrid have entered The Surez Zone. Sid Lowe can feel the power. Edin Terzic is the Borussia Dortmund fan who rescued his club as stand-in coach. Andy Brassell documents the weekend in the Bundesliga. Juve are still alive after Inter failed to kill off their top-four hopes. Nicky Bandini reports on a battle royal for the Champions League. Sacr bleu! The final day of the Ligue 1 season will be the most exciting in years. The FA Cup, the Premier League: 10 talking points. Oh, and if its your thing you can follow Big Website on Big Social FaceSpace. And INSTACHAT, TOO! THAT CAT STINKS | https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/17/what-would-a-top-flight-campaign-be-without-food-fights-and-no-training |
Is Microsofts move into Healthcare the first of many for big tech? | In early April, Microsoft (MSFT) announced a blockbuster $19.7-billion acquisition of Burlington, Massachusetts-based healthcare-focused cloud and AI provider Nuance Communications (NUAN). Nuance provides the AI layer at the health care point of delivery and is a pioneer in the real-world application of enterprise AI, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said of the acquisition. AI is technologys most important priority, and health care is its most urgent application. Given the similar focus of Microsofts competitors such as Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Apple (AAPL) on both AI and health care endeavours, and Nadellas declaration that health care is the most urgent application of technology, there is reason to suspect more M&A action might be on the horizon. With the Nuance deal, Microsoft is doubling down on its industry cloud play, in which health care is an anchor vertical, Ben Alsdurf, lead health care consultant at Berlin-based consulting firm TLGG said. In particular, Alsdurf suggested Apple could be eager to deploy some of its formidable war chest in the consumer health space, an area that the company has already courted success in via the Apple Watchs healthcare-focused features. One potential area of investment is around electronic patient records, which intersects nicely with personalized health management, an area in which the iPhone and Apple Watch are already well positioned, Alsdurf said. The broader patient records industry at the moment is quite concentrated, with three firms controlling about 75 per cent of the market in U.S. hospitals, according to KLAS Research. Per the research firms 2020 report, Epic Systems leads the industry with a 29 per cent share, followed by Cerner (CERN) with 26 per cent of the market and Meditech with 17 per cent. In terms of Apples ambitions, the idea of acquiring one of the market leaders is not entirely novel. In fact, TheStreet founder Jim Cramer attracted significant attention to the notion in early 2019, setting off a debate on Twitter by suggesting Apple could acquire Epic and then go after Cerners clients. For now, the tech titan enjoys a strong relationship with Meditech, which has supported medical health records on the iPhone since late 2019. Were Apple to move beyond merely a partnership, significant smaller players in electronic medical records such as Computer Programs & Systems (CPSI) and Allscripts (MDRX) control the bulk of the remaining market. However, it should be noted that Apple might not just be bidding against fellow Big Tech players if it were to try to move into the health records space. According to health care advisory firm BDOs 2021 Healthcare CFO Outlook, a significant portion of the health care industrys CFOs are eyeing acquisitions at the moment, with just under one-third of those surveyed also considering plans to merge with another organization. Assessing the M&A Appetite To be sure, acquisitions the size of Microsofts Nuance deal are not expected to be the norm, especially as cash reserves remain key in a post-COVID world and valuations among the relatively few quality targets remain elevated. Healthcare is a resilient sector and has proved it can weather any economic cycle, but a surge in demand for deals is both a challenge and an opportunity, Vin Phan, Partner and Practice Leader for Healthcare Transaction Advisory Services at BDO explained. Due to the strong demand for health care M&A, there is ample capital with few quality assets which provides for challenges in deal-making. Similarly, while there is sufficient cash on the sidelines among both Big Tech and large health care companies, many firms may aim to assess internal growth opportunities before branching out into blockbuster M&A action. Indeed, even among big tech players like Apple and Amazon, large-scale acquisitions on the scale of Microsofts deal for Nuance are not part of business as usual. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... In fact, Apples largest acquisition has been a relatively small $3-billion deal for Beats Headphone in 2014, while Amazons $13-billion deal for Whole Foods in 2017 is the only deal for the $1.6 trillion-dollar market cap firm that eclipsed the $10-billion mark. Both firms instead have historically homed in on acquisitions of smaller, often privately-held, players in key spaces such as health care and AI. In that context, hopes of a similarly industry augmenting deal should be tempered to a degree despite the apparent attractiveness of the space overall. Read more about: | https://www.thestar.com/business/thestreet/2021/05/17/is-microsofts-move-into-healthcare-the-first-of-many-for-big-tech.html |
What's the matter with Twins pitcher Kenta Maeda this season? | Enough things have gone wrong for the Twins this season that no one factor is a primary reason for their 13-25 start. Yep. Uh-huh. Absolutely. But I dare say that the Twins might merely be a disappointing team with a reasonable chance to rebound rather than a team in disaster territory needing to play the next four-plus months like the best team in baseball just to have a chance at the postseason if one reasonable key expectation hadn't gone awry: the pitching of Kenta Maeda. Patrick Reusse and I talked about Maeda on Monday's Daily Delivery podcast, and let's explore his season in a little more detail now. If you don't see the podcast player, click here to listen and subscribe to Daily Delivery. A season ago, the Twins were 8-3 in Maeda's starts a year when he finished with a 2.70 ERA and was the Cy Young runner-up. By all accounts, he was tremendous in spring training this season and seemed poised to deliver a similar season in 2021 as an encore. Instead, Maeda has a 5.26 ERA and the Twins are just 2-6 in his starts. When you are losing 75% of the games pitched by your No. 1 starter, you are going to have problems. Not all of it has been his fault, but consider: In the last three starts Maeda has made in which the Twins have ended up losing, they have given him leads of 2-0, 3-0 and 4-1 and he's given it all back and sometimes more. That was the case Sunday, when that 4-1 lead evaporated in a four-run fifth inning for Oakland off of Maeda in an eventual 7-6 A's win. Those are games a team rightfully expects to win with its projected ace on the mound. *Perhaps some of it could be explained by a groin injury Maeda reportedly worked through on Sunday and has perhaps bothered him for previous starts. Even if Maeda said it's a familiar injury that he can pitch through, a small difference can have major consequences. *For instance: His average fastball velocity is down a little this season and averaged just 90.7 mph on Sunday. Maeda is not a particularly hard thrower regardless, but that subtle dip can have an impact. The difference in his fastball and changeup velocity Sunday, per FanGraphs, was only 5.5 mph. It was on average 7 mph different last season. A dip in velocity or an impact on the sharpness of Maeda's pitches whether injury-impacted or not could also explain why he's striking out just 7.9 hitters per 9 innings this season, about two less per nine innings than his career average and three less than he averaged last season. He's also walking a batter more per nine innings than a year ago. Maeda has already given up nine more hits than he did all of last season. *That said, there could also be an element of luck at play. Opposing hitters had just a .208 average on balls put in play last season, a VERY low mark. This year, they are hitting .350 on balls in play, a VERY high mark. And Maeda was very good in clutch situations last season, stranding 80.2% of baserunners. This year, he's kept just 68.3% of baserunners from scoring. Then again, Statcast says 45.6% of balls in play this season have been hard hit compared to just 24.7% last year. So it stands to reason that batters would have a higher average and that more of the runners on base would come around to score. *It could also be that batters have adapted somewhat to Maeda's pitch mix. He's continued to rely more heavily on his slider throwing it about 40% of the time last year and this year after using it on about 28% of his pitches with the Dodgers. Against Oakland on Sunday, Maeda actually threw fastballs 40.4% of the time, a season-high. The A's rally in the fifth inning started with two hits off his split-changeup and slider. Last year hitters swung at almost 40% of his pitches that were outside the strike zone. This year it's just below 30%, a marked difference that can have a dramatic impact on getting into favorable counts. Add it up, and Maeda's struggles have had a major impact. The Twins would still be in trouble even if he was having a much better season, but let's say they were 6-2 in his eight starts instead of 2-6 a reasonable projection based on last year and expectations. Their record, if we assume everything else stays the same, would be 17-21 disappointing, sure, but still in the neighborhood where one good week gets a team back to .500. | https://www.startribune.com/whats-the-matter-with-twins-pitcher-kenta-maeda-this-season/600058133/ |
Did QAnon sneak in (or get invited) to Arizona's sham election audit? | Add to the list of conspiracy addicts getting their daily fix of fantasy fraud at Arizonas sham election audit the hopelessly hooked Trump junkies from QAnon. Yes, it appears that folks who identify with the originators of the unhinged assertion that the United States (perhaps even the world) is controlled by a coterie of Satan-worshipping pedophiles operating out of the basement of a Washington, D.C., pizza parlor are among those with their fingers on our ballots. Imagine that. Although, it should not be a surprise. Afterall, the Arizona Senate Republicans behind the sham audit allowed former state lawmaker Anthony Kern, a conspiracy-spreading Trump zealot who was at the U.S. Capitol the day the insurrectionists stormed the building, to help count and inspect ballots. Perhaps even your ballot. This after they hired a company, Cyber Ninjas, with zero experience in election audits and a CEO whos a conspiracy-believing crank known for posting unproven allegations about election fraud on Twitter. Then the company tried to keep the press and public out of the counting process and brought in a bunch of Trump acolytes to do the unbiased counting. Much of this was documented in The Arizona Republic by way of the very fine work of Jen Fifield and Andrew Oxford, who provided an in-depth look at the zealots and conspiracy believers who have been running and participating in the sham audit. Arizona election audit has a QAnon problem A report by Media Matters adds to that work, pointing out that even more partisan political pranksters have hopped out of the clown car rolling around the fairgrounds with our ballots in the trunk. According to the Media Matters report, at least two individuals linked to the Arizona Senates ballot-counting circus also have links to the kookiest of the conspiracy worlds upper echelon. Or, as reporter Olivia Little described it: Simply put: Arizonas election audit has a QAnon problem. The report says that a pair of QAnon supporters, now affiliated with the audit, bragged about their relationships with state Senate President Karen Fann and Republican Congressman Andy Biggs. Who knows how many other members of QAnons digital cult have had access to ballots. A few Republicans are speaking up A few Republican officials are speaking up. Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican whose office already has done a thorough, unbiased, transparent and professional audit of the election results called the wild allegations being made by, among others, former President Donald Trump unhinged. He added, We cant indulge these insane lies any longer. As a party. As a state. As a country. A while back there was an NPR/Ipsos poll indicating that a number of the craziest assertions made by QAnon and other digital rumor mongers are gaining a foothold among some Americans. We can't go lower. There is no basement One of the pollsters, Chris Jackson, said, Increasingly, people are willing to say and believe stuff that fits in with their view of how the world should be, even if it doesnt have any basis in reality or fact. Sadly, some of those people now control the Arizona Senate. The pizza parlor doesnt even have a basement. Reach Montini at [email protected]. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/05/17/did-qanon-sneak-get-invited-sham-arizona-election-audit/5124478001/ |
Why is FLoC, Googles new ad technology, taking flak? | FEW PEOPLE outside the advertising industry will mourn the death of third-party cookies. These are snippets of code placed on peoples browsers that allow advertising companies to track them around the web, gather information about them and then flog products to them based on their interests. (They differ from first-party cookies, which websites use to remember peoples details, for example to keep them logged in, but do not track them when they leave.) Last year Google announced that by 2022 it would no longer use third-party cookies or permit other companies to deploy them via Google Chrome, the internets most popular web browser. Other big browsers have already blocked third-party cookies by default. The technology seems moribund, but Google has just started testing what it hopes will become the new standard, called Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC). It has already been criticised by the makers of other browsers and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a digital-rights group. Instead of allowing advertisers to track individuals browsing history, as with cookies, FLoC groups similar browsing behaviour into numbered cohorts, each of which contains thousands of users. Each week a persons browser will review the sites they have visited and match them to a cohort. Advertisers can see which cohort a person belongs to, but not the characteristics that link its members. But by observing the behaviour of other members of this cohort, advertisers can work out the interests they probably share. If, for example, lots of members of one cohort search for water bottles, advertisers might serve other members ads for bottles, too. Google claims that this semi-anonymity is more protective of privacy than third-party cookies, which track specific users, but still 95% as effective at getting users to click on ads. But FLoC is coming under fire. Many people will still balk at the idea of a label that can be used to infer their interests, even if advertisers arent tracking their every move online. Although users can block FLoC, if it is enabled by default, as it probably will be in Chrome, many will not. It may also be difficult for Google to stop the system from grouping people by characteristics they wish to keep private, such as race or sexuality. Beyond this, the system may not be as anonymous as it seems. Some critics worry that sorting users into cohorts will make them easier to fingerprint, whereby websites use other identifiers, such as your IP address or even the size of your browser window, to identify individual users. FLoC would give them one more way to distinguish people. FLoC has also been accused of being anti-competitive. Companies that use it would be reliant on semi-anonymised data to identify people. But Google, one of the biggest players in online advertising, is not so hobbled. It amasses lots of first-party data in other ways, such as when users interact with Chrome or Android, its mobile operating system. This gives Google a competitive advantage. Google began testing FLoC in March by rolling it out to 0.5% of Chrome users in ten countries. No other browser has said it will implement FLoC, but two, Brave and Vivaldi, have come out against it, as has DuckDuckGo, a search engine. Microsoft has disabled FLoC in Edge, its browser. Even if Google tweaks FLoC in light of the trial it will probably still be a hard sell. But that might matter little. Given Googles dominance of online advertising and the ubiquitousness of Chrome and Android, FLoC might steamroller its way to being part of the architecture of the web. Dig deeper: A new type of ad is heading for your iPhone The advertising business is becoming less cyclicaland more concentrated Googles problems are bigger than just the antitrust case | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/05/17/why-is-floc-googles-new-ad-technology-taking-flak |
What are the UK travel rules from May 17? | (CNN) As of today, going on holiday is no longer illegal for travelers from England, Scotland and Wales. While the move has been met with relief from those eager to take a foreign holiday, many have been left confused by the new travel regulations, along with the risk-based "traffic light" system that's now in place. Here's everything you need to know about the UK travel rules. From May 17, residents of England, Scotland and Wales are allowed to go on vacation now that restrictions which made it illegal to travel abroad for non-essential reasons have ended. However, government officials have warned that the experience will be very different due to ongoing concerns around Covid-19. "This is a new way of doing things, and people should expect travel to be different this summer -- with longer checks at the borders, as part of tough measures to prevent new strains of the virus entering the country and putting our fantastic vaccine rollout at risk," UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement on Monday. The UK's traffic light system for designating safe travel destinations, lists 12 countries or territories it classifies as "green" -- meaning anyone traveling there will not have to quarantine on return. These are: Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira); Australia; New Zealand; Singapore; Brunei: Iceland; Faroe Islands; Gibraltar; Falkland Islands; South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands; St. Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha and Israel. It's worth noting that entry to Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Brunei and the Faroe Islands is heavily restricted, so a destination's appearance on the list doesn't automatically mean that UK travelers can go there. English travelers are permitted to visit 12 "green" destinations without having to quarantine on their return, provided they take a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival back in the UK. That said, some countries currently listed as green, such as New Zealand and Australia, are not permitting While travelers are also allowed to visit countries designated "amber" or "red," the restrictions are much stricter, making them far less attractive options. Those who choose to visit places on the "amber" list, which include France, Greece, Spain and Italy, will have to quarantine for 10 days, take a pre-departure test and also get a PCR test on day two and eight of their isolation. However, "amber" destinations qualify for a test-to-release scheme, which means holidaymakers can take a PCR test after five days' quarantine. If they receive a negative result, they will be permitted to go out into the community. Travelers from England who choose to visit "red" list destinations are required to check in to one of the UK's quarantine hotels, at a cost of 1,750 (around $2,445) per adult when they return. They must also follow the same testing regulations as those arriving from "amber" destinations. Scotland and Wales' May 17 "green lists" are initially the same as England's, but they might change according to the two countries' needs. From May 24, people in Northern Ireland will be able to make non-essential trips to other parts of the Common Travel Area, which includes the UK, the Republic of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. The Northern Ireland government has yet to announce a relaxation of its international travel rules. The UK government has said the decision-making is based on factors including a country's Covid-19 transmission risk, its variant of concern transmission risk and its genomic surveillance capability. The UK's Joint Biosecurity Centre has undertaken risk assessments for each destination, using data including total number of vaccination doses administered per 100 people. The amber list contains some of the UK's most-loved tourist destinations, such as Italy, Greece, Spain and France. The government guidance is that UK residents should not be booking holidays to "amber list" countries, or planning any nonessential travel, but it is no longer illegal to do so. The amber list is subject to change, which means countries may move to green or red at any time. Travelers from England, Scotland and Wales are allowed to go anywhere within those countries and overnight stays are permitted at hotels, B&Bs and hostels. Nonessential travel in and out of Northern Ireland is still banned and tourist accommodation is yet to reopen. Those who plan to visit any of the Scottish islands are advised to take two lateral flow tests before their trip. Quarantine rules depend on whether the country you're traveling to/from is on the "green," "red" or "amber list." If you are arriving into the country from a "red" list country, you will have to quarantine in a designated hotel upon arrival for 10 days at your own expense. Bookings must be made through this online portal. The charge for a single adult is 1,750. There are designated quarantine hotels in England and Scotland. If your final destination is in Wales or Northern Ireland, you will need to book a hotel in England or Scotland. If you are arriving from an "amber" list country, you will have to quarantine at home for 10 days. The other people in your household do not need to quarantine with you, unless they were also on your trip, or they have Covid symptoms, or they test positive. If you are arriving from a "green list" destination, quarantine is not a requirement. The quarantine requirements work in tandem with testing. It's compulsory to take a Covid test on or before day two of your quarantine, and on or after day eight. If you are arriving in England from an "amber" country, it's possible to end your quarantine early via the Test to Release system. This involves paying for a private test, if it's negative, you can end your quarantine period. It's not possible to do this until you've been in England for at least five days. If you're arriving from a "red" or "amber" destination, your passenger locator form must contain details of your quarantine destination. You can get public transport to your place where you intend to quarantine, but the official guidance is to only do so "if you have no other option." For the full rules, see here. During your quarantine, you will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace. The UK government has said the "red", "amber" and "green" list will be "continuously monitored" and updated every three weeks, so it's worth keeping tabs on a destination before you depart. There's no guarantee that a "green" country will stay that way. As for the system more generally -- the guidance says travel restrictions will be formally reviewed on June 28, no later than July 31 and October 1, 2021. Some countries, such as Iceland, are now open to international travelers who can present proof of vaccination. In the absence of this, sometimes a recent negative Covid-19 test, or proof of recovery from Covid-19 will also suffice. The rules frequently change from country to country and it is advisable to check destination-specific requirements before booking travel and closer to departure. Yes. Travelers heading to approved destinations will need to take a pre-departure test, as well as a PCR test on or before day two of their arrival back in the UK. A test may be needed by the country you're traveling to. Most destinations that are open to arrivals now require a recent negative PCR test before visitors can enter. Of the countries on the UK "green" list that are currently welcoming tourists or are feasible to reach from the UK, all require a negative PCR test. Some also require visitors to quarantine. The US is currently on the UK's "amber" list. As explained above, the UK does not advise nonessential travel to "amber" countries. Plus, UK residents have been banned from entering the United States since March 2020 and this ban is still in place. When the initial "green list" destinations were announced, the World Travel & Tourism Council expressed disappointment that the US was not included and accused the UK government of being "too cautious." Airlines have also been clamoring for the reintroduction of the transatlantic travel corridor, one of the world's busiest air routes during pre-pandemic times. It's unknown when the United States might make it onto the "green list" but it'll likely coincide with a lifting of US restrictions on UK travelers. The UK has been gradually lifting its Covid-19 restrictions in tandem with its vaccine roll out. Restarting international travel on May 17 is part of Step 3 of England's lockdown easing, which also includes reopening indoor venues like museums and holiday accommodation including hotels. England's Covid-19 roadmap initially pinpointed June 21, 2021 as the date in which all Covid-19 restrictions could be lifted. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not bookmarked a specific date for the ending of their respective restrictions. The June 21 date has always been TBC, and the UK government has been keen to emphasize that it's not set in stone. There are currently concerns about a new Covid-19 variant originating from India, now circulating in the UK. It's unknown when the traffic light system will be lifted, but official guidance says travel restrictions will be reviewed on June 28, and again no later than July 31 and October 1, 2021. | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/what-are-travel-rules-uk/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_world+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+World%29 |
Could the two players who collided to begin the last playoffs be the Canes key this year? | The playoffs began, last August, at the intersection of two former and future teammates. In the first game against the New York Rangers, newly acquired Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brady Skjei laid out former Rangers teammate Jesper Fast in the neutral zone, knocking Fast out of what turned out to be a very short series. Nine months later, free-agent signing Fast heads into his first postseason with the Hurricanes at the same time Skjei completes his first full season with the team, and in some ways their combined presence represents one of the biggest improvements the Hurricanes have made since last season. The easiest answer is to avoid the Boston Bruins, who won eight of nine games against the Hurricanes while eliminating them in consecutive years, first in the Eastern Conference finals, then in the first round. With the first two rounds played entirely within the Central Division, the Bruins arent a concern at the moment. But the Hurricanes have been good enough to win a total of 2 series the past two years, and expectations are higher this spring after a remarkably successful performance in the abbreviated regular season. Against the Predators, and either the Tampa Bay Lightning or Florida Panthers should they advance, the Hurricanes may not need to dig any deeper than they have in the regular season when they went 16-5-3 against that trio. (The Lightning might be a slightly different challenge now having added Steven Stamkos and Nitika Kucherov in the postseason, a resounding victory over the salary cap.) Their aspirations lie beyond the division, and as this team moves into what should be its window to contend for the Stanley Cup, itll need more ammunition in the postseason than it has had the past two years. While many of the Hurricanes key players are at an age where they should improve with each passing season, Fast and Skjei have made the team better with their presence Fast as a newcomer, Skjei as an invaluable counterbalance on defense who feels like hes been around much longer than he have. The Hurricanes also added gritty fourth-line center Cedric Paquette during the season another postseason need filled and Alex Nedeljkovic has emerged as a viable alternative to Petr Mrazek in goal, but its the two Rangers refugees who may represent the biggest difference at this time of year. Skjeis a calming presence on the blue line, versatile and reliable, and far more than he was last year, when the league shut down soon after his arrival. Now that his feet are on the ground, his brief injury absence last month only underlined his value to the team now as the essential fourth man behind the Hurricanes big three of Jaccob Slavin, Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce. (And even more so if Slavin isnt ready to start the series.) Then theres Fast, whose hard-driving forechecking game should be even more valuable in the postseason than it has been so far. Thanks to Skjei, the Hurricanes never had to deal with Fast last season, but the Swede has the speed and the intention to be a disruptive force, especially if used against the oppositions top line, as the Hurricanes are likely to use the line of Jordan Staal, Fast and Warren Foegele. The long journey of the postseason is always in part a search for the unexpected. Its rare a team goes deep in the playoffs without someones reputation being made, a careers direction changing directions, an undiscovered gem being discovered. After two eventful postseasons that ended sooner than the Hurricanes would have liked, the difference this year could be as simple as the two players who collided to begin the playoffs a year ago. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nhl/carolina-hurricanes/article251453818.html |
Can Henry Goldings Snake Eyes Turn G.I. Joe Into A Franchise On The Third Try? | Paramount dropped the first trailer (and concurrent featurette) for Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins last night during the MTV Movie Awards. The Skydance flick, now opening theatrically in conventional, PLF, Dolby and IMAX formats on July 23, stars Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians, A Simple Favor, Last Christmas) in a before he was the guy you knew origin story that will allow the famously mute and masked ninja warrior to be speak and be seen. You dont cast a ridiculously good-looking guy like Golding and hide him behind a mask. However, this does feel like another doomed the prequel to the movie you came to see origin story/franchise set-up flick. Theres a difference between origin stories like Star Trek, which gives you the origin but plenty of time spent with the marquee characters fully formed and doing the things for which they are famous. Batman Begins had Bruce Wayne put on the bat suit at the 65 minute mark and offered a full-on Batman adventure in the back half of its 140-minute running time. Likewise, Daniel Craig essentially was James Bond for most of Casino Royale. Conversely, the likes of Artemis Fowl, Jem and the Holograms and Fantastic Four (the 1994, 2005 and 2015 versions) spent the entire running time leading up to the point where the heroes we came to see were indeed the heroes we came to see. Okay, movies over, but next time well have the Mortal Kombat tournament in our Mortal Kombat movie! Thered better be at least a full third act of Golding in the costume slicing and kicking as Snake Eyes. I guess you dont have to make him mute until the credits roll, but he damn-well better be wearing the black costume and doing big-budget ninja stuff well before the action climax. But thats not enough to guarantee success, not when big-budget, action fantasy IP exploitations are now par for the course. Even back in 2009, a $175 million G.I. Joe movie was enough of an event that The Rise of Cobra (which I like more than you) opened with $54 million in August sans press screenings and amid bad buzz. By 2013, G.I. Joe: Retaliation, a $130 million sequel starring Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis would only open with $51 million over the Thurs-Mon Easter holiday. Neither film is all that beloved, and neither were ridiculously successful. Stephen Sommers The Rise of Cobra earned $300 million worldwide while Jon M. Chus Retaliation earned $375 million, making this third go-around another case of because shareholders demanded it. This looks like another destined-to-fail franchise relaunch that no one asked for. Moreover, this feels like a prime example of how Hollywood is cynically using diversity/inclusivity to justify franchise relaunches that no one asked for. The one caveat is that Snake Eyes is by far the most recognizable and most popular character in the G.I. Joe brand. I was wrong about Sonys Venom in 2018, partially because yes Eddie Brocks monstrous alter-ego was that popular among general audiences. Relatively speaking, I was expecting it to play like Halle Berrys Catwoman, but instead it played like Jim Carreys The Mask. Henry Golding, Samara Weaving, Andrew Koji and Ursula Corbero in 'Snake Eyes: G.I. Joe Origins.' Paramount and Skydance No, Im not remotely considering the possibility that Robert Schwentkes Snake Eyes is going to flirt with Venom grosses ($854 million global) when it opens this summer, especially on a Covid-curve. Im still expecting this one to be another franchise-starter that wasnt. I will, however, be curious if the sheer generational appeal of the definitive ninja bad-ass of 1980s American pop culture makes Snake Eyes into enough of a marquee character to justify a solo flick. The film, co-starring Ursula Corbero (the Baroness), Samara Weaving (Scarlett), Iko Uwais (Hard Master and Andrew Koji (Storm Shadow), opens between Space Jam: A New Legacy and Jungle Cruise amid a crowded July. I was wrong about Venom. For the sake of a studio struggling to revive its once glorious IP stockpile, I hope Im at least somewhat wrong about Snake Eyes. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2021/05/17/snake-eyes-gi-joe-trailer-henry-golding-paramount/ |
How quickly will Oilers coach Dave Tippett resort to Edmonton's brilliant 81% Solution? | We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video No doubt well see it the first game of these 2021 playoffs. The 81% Solution is the best line on the Edmonton Oilers, the trio of Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Kailer Yamamoto. The line played together for 146 even strength minutes this year, scoring 13 goals and allowing just three against, good for an 81 Goals For percentage, by far the best on the team and even better than the 77 Goals For percentage we saw last year from the DYNamite Line of Draisaitl, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Yamamoto (30 goals for, nine against). Tippett often goes to 81% Solution after Edmonton has killed a penalty, or when the team needs a goal, and sometimes coming out of TV commercial breaks. The 81% Solution is just one of many solid options Tippett has when it comes to line juggling and roster changes with his Oilers this year in the playoffs. Edmonton was a much better team this year as compared to last year, with a much improved per game goal differential, +0.1 goals per game last year compared to +0.5 goals per game this year, and a much better Grade A scoring chances per game differential, -0.2 per game last year compared to +1.8 per game this year. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The improvement is even more dramatic when you focus on the nine games Edmonton played against Winnipeg this year, where the Oilers had a +1.4 goals differential and a +2.9 Grade A chances differential in winning seven of the nine. But I suspect this series will be tight, as the two teams were close in the NHL standings almost the entire year. Winnipeg also has a strong power play and its penalty kill was almost as strong as Edmontons PK. Its got the mighty Connor Hellebuyck in net, and even as he didnt play well against the Oilers this year, he killed it against other teams in The Canadian. Tippett will almost certainly have to make numerous adjustments as the series goes along. Here are some other moves he could make that might well make a ton of sense: 1. McLeod at 2C. As Ive said repeatedly, Im bullish about Tippetts new lines of McD, Kahun and Puljujarvi on the top line with the DYNamite Line reunited on the second until. RNH has struggled as a second line centre, but McLeod is bigger and faster. So far hes got the job done in the defensive slot. I doubted hed be able to do so but when the evidence changes, I change with it. The reason we study videotape and track scoring chances at the Cult of Hockey is so that well have a useful and fresh evidence that help us make assess players both over time and in the moment. McLeod has impressed to date. If he were moved to that 2C role, the Oil could play Jujhar Khaira and Gaetan Haas as third and fourth line centres. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content 2. Kris Russell or Slater Koekkoek in for Caleb Jones. When it came to Grade A scoring chances plus-minus, most returning Oilers players did about the same (Khaira, Haas, RNH, Bear) or were better (McDavid, Archibald, K.Russell, Chiasson, Neal, Larsson) this year as compared to last year. Two players, Draisaitl and Yamamoto dropped significantly on the attack at even strength, mainly because their attacking numbers werent jacked up by the success of playing on the DYNamite line this season as they were last season. But two others, Zack Kassian and Caleb Jones, dropped in dramatic fashion due to significant drops in performance. Jones made more than twice the rate of major mistakes on Grade A chances this year as compared to last year. I dont know why. I had expected him to improve. But his defensive game was unsteady this year. With injuries to Kris Russell and Slater Koekkoek, and with his puck-moving better than ever, Jones is in the line-up for now. But that could quickly change and the Oilers have two strong options for the third-pairing in Russell and Koekkoek. 3. Kassian in on the wing. Kassian is rounding into game shape. If Edmonton needs a big, tough and fast winger, who can play effective two-way hockey when hes bringing his A game, Kassian could be that guy. He hasnt played consistently well in more than a year. If things get nasty in this series, hes as good a bet as anyone to lead Edmontons response, if not leads its own onslaught of aggression. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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Does Dallas Cowboys Roster Still Have One Gaping Hole? | FRISCO - The NFL Draft work is done. Free agency largely is as well. The contractual work is pretty much sealed up. One gaping hole. Welcome to the Daily Blitz, and the thesis question, Is There Still A Glaring Hole On This Cowboys Roster? with IndyCarTim as your host welcoming you to the Daily Blitz by DSP Media in partnership with CowboysSI.com The three-day rookie mini-camp is done, and a couple of defensive additions from the draft stood out with their performance. Lets discuss! READ MORE: Jerry Jones: 'All Systems Go' For Dallas Cowboys Camp In Oxnard Please join us daily for the Daily Blitz or each Tuesday night starting at 7 pm for sports talk LIVE on Facebook, YouTube, or Twitter, or listen to the recorded podcast the next day at CowboysSI.com and TheBlitzcast.com! To be featured in our BlitzBox segment please reach out to us on Twitter with the hashtag #Blitzbox or send your questions to [email protected] and well read your question and answer it on the air on our next show. Please continue the conversation on Twitter: @BlitzcastNFL, @ColbySapp, and @IndyCarTim. And make sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for all the latest videos and visual content! READ MORE: Dallas Cowboys Rookies Jabril Cox & Nashon Wright Get Camp Interceptions | https://www.si.com/nfl/cowboys/podcasts/does-dallas-cowboys-roster-one-gaping-hole |
Will Israels Bombing of the AP Expose the Fake Neutrality of the U.S. Medias Coverage? | There are many ways to court the worlds media, and the state of Israel has seemingly tried all of them. In recent years, thats included a prolific use of social mediafor example, cringey tweets about the Israel Defense Forces being the most vegan army in the worldand online influence campaigns, to the point where theres a popular Hebrew termhasbarathat refers to the dissemination of feel-good propaganda whitewashing Israels crimes against Palestinians. Over the weekend, that strategy included the Israeli government lying to the international press about invading Gaza and then bragging about it in Hebrew-language media. Lying about a Gaza ground invasion reportedly helped Israel flush out some Hamas fighters, who were killed. Later, the Israeli air force destroyed the Associated Press and Al Jazeera bureaus in Gaza, using U.S.-supplied weapons. Video circulated on social media showed reporters hurriedly gathering what equipment they could before the 11-story building came down. Destroying these media bureaus is far from the most brutal or outrageous act Israeli forces have committed during this latest round of violence. What it is, though, is a direct attack on the medias ability to operate in Gazamuch foreign media is barred from entering the small coastal territoryand to tell the world whats going on. Its clear that the Israeli government has come to regard, perhaps always has regarded, the media as an adversary to be manipulated, undermined, and, when necessary, attacked. And yet many mainstream news outlets have yet to realize or accept this, instead treating Israeli military spokespeople as good-faith interlocutors. They are anything but. | https://newrepublic.com/article/162416/israel-ap-al-jazeera-bomb-propaganda-press-gaza |
How Can Airlines Reach Carbon Emissions Targets as Travel Rebounds? | Travel restrictions imposed across the world during the COVID-19 pandemic forced airlines to plead for government bailouts and lay off staff, while some folded entirely. There was one silver lining, though: a huge temporary drop in the sectors carbon emissions. In 2019, carbon dioxide emissions from aviation made up 2.5% of global emissions of the greenhouse gas. The plunge in traffic last year meant that, after decades of almost uninterrupted rapid growth, the sectors carbon emissions fell by a record 48%, according to Carbon Monitor, an international watchdog. But as people return to pre-pandemic activities, driving up demand for energy globally, those emissions will start to rebound. Airline executives in the U.S. and other parts of the world with high vaccination rates are expecting a sharp uptick in air travel this year, bolstered by the news that the European Union plans to allow vaccinated tourists to visit this summer. Aviation is considered one of the hardest sectors of the global economy to decarbonize, because the fuels and technology needed to fly without emitting greenhouse gases are much less well-developed than clean energy sources in sectors such as electricity or road transport. As other sectors reduce their emissions, aviation is expected to make up an increasingly large share of the worlds total. While the pandemics impact on aviation will likely help bring down the industrys emissions, its far from enough to meet long-term climate goals. Before COVID-19 hit, the sectors carbon emissions were expected to be three times greater in 2050 than in 2015. Dan Rutherford, aviation director at the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), a non-profit research group, thinks the increase will now be closer to 2.3 times. So its still growing, just at a slower rate. Public and government pressure on airlines to do more to reduce emissions is ramping up. As some airlines became reliant on public bailouts during the pandemic, governments in Europe hardened their approach to aviation emissions. Austria made its rescue funds for Lufthansas Austrian Airlines unit dependent on the carrier cutting back domestic routes and agreeing to new emissions and fuel efficiency targets. France outlawed some short-haul domestic flights where rail alternatives are available, while the U.K. became the first major economy to include aviation emissions in its national carbon budget, setting what campaigners call an important precedent. Meanwhile, responding to pressure from politicians and the public, airlines have set themselves increasingly ambitious climate targets, with dozens pledging to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050 in recent months, compared to previous industry-wide plans to halve emissions by 2050. Before the pandemic, the sector was quite arrogant in feeling that it didnt need to make the same sort of cuts and transformations that other sectors were doing, says Andrew Murphy, aviation director at European clean transit campaign group Transport & Environment. Now the politics has changed. Airlines climate plans still rely heavily on carbon off-setting, where they essentially pay other sectors to reduce their emissions or absorb carbon from the atmosphere. A May 3 Greenpeace-led investigation found offsetting schemes still used by major airlines are highly flawed and may not be having the desired impact. Boeing 737 KLM. Aircraft flies near the Fiumicino International Airport in Rome, on May 13th, 2021. The industrys preferred path out of its emissions bind is sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Currently fuelling a tiny fraction of flights, SAF could cut aviation emissions by up to 80% if used more widely, according to the Air Transport Action Group, a trade association. It has been the focus of a flurry of lobbying activity, investment and discussions among policymakers as governments roll out COVID-19 recovery packages and climate plans. In the U.S., Congress is considering plans put forward by the Biden administration to introduce a tax credit for SAF production. Sustainable aviation fuels are made from a range of sources, including used cooking oil, animal fats, plant oils and waste vegetation, as well as wood. They have to meet certain criteria to be considered sustainable, and environmentalists have warned that, without strong oversight, production of these fuels could encourage deforestation because producers may end up clearing land to grow materials to produce the feedstocks. Cleaner e-fuelssynthetic alternatives to crude oil produced using renewable energy, water and carbon dioxideare also in development and one was used to power a test flight for the first time worldwide in the Netherlands in February. Oil companies, including Shell and BP, have invested in SAF, partnering with renewable energy firms and biofuel companies to create small supply chains. Currently, SAF costs between three and four times more than traditional kerosene fuel, while e-fuels can be between six and seven times more expensive than kerosene. Over the last five years, SAF made up just 0.01% of total fuel use by the aviation industry, according to the International Energy Agency. But several airlines have announced plans to increase their use of SAF in recent weeks. In April, United Airlines announced a deal with a dozen companies to finance its use of 3.4 million gallons of SAF made from trash in 2021, tripling the amount it has used in each of the last five years. British Airways-owner International Airlines Group has committed to using sustainable aviation fuel to power 10% of its flights by 2030, while European carrier Ryanair has pledged to use SAF for 12.5% of its fuel needs by 2030. Meanwhile, the E.U. is expected to announce a mandate for a small proportion of fuel used in flights departing from airports in the bloc to be sustainable by 2030. Supply chains would need to develop rapidly to meet those targets. A World Economic Forum report published in November found that, although enough sustainable feedstocks exist to power the entire industry on SAF, the production plants currently planned worldwide would only have capacity to produce 4 million tons annually each year, around 1% of projected fuel demand. Airlines and oil companies argue that governments need to offer subsidies, tax breaks and other incentives to allow them to develop SAF quickly enough to meet emissions goals. Michael Gill, environment director of industry trade body the International Air Transport Association (IATA), says that investing in SAF is a win-win-win option for governments during the economic recovery from COVID-19. You can create new jobs, you can have the construction of new facilities in geographical areas that need that kind of large scale infrastructure. And you can help aviation build a sustainable future, he says. IATA is also calling for research and development of more radical new zero-emissions aircraft technology, such as planes powered by hydrogen, which experts hope will eventually be used in most short-haul flights. Some climate activists may be uncomfortable with the aviation sector or oil companies, both massive polluters, receiving public funds and tax breaks to develop the technologies that they need to protect their bottom lines in a future of increased climate regulation. Murphy, of Transport & Environment, says its reasonable for any sector that needs to decarbonize to ask for government support, given the urgency of scaling up new technologies. But it cant just be about handing out money for research and development and doing test drives, he says. The money needs to be accompanied with binding targets [on SAF use and emissions. ] Royal Dutch police officers escort a Greenpeace activist during a protest to denounce airline pollution in the main hall of the Amsterdam Schiphol airport on December 14, 2019. Robin Utrecht ANP/AFP/Getty Images Emboldened governments Before the pandemic, the aviation industry had argued that the sector was too international to be regulated by individual countries. The most important piece of emissions regulation for the sector was an international agreement to offset future increases on the sectors 2020 emissions, criticized by climate campaigners as too weak to have an impact. Bailouts have changed the dynamic for regulation, Murphy says. Were seeing airlines now recognize that if it was not for the efforts of national governments and the generosity of taxpayers, the sector would have gone bankrupt. That has caused a re-evaluation of what they can expect to get away with. Consultancy McKinsey says the staggering debt levels built up by airlines over the last year mean states that bail out airlines will have an increasingly active role in the sector, creating opportunities for governments to work with airlines, including on commitments to cut emissions. E.U. leaders are considering scrapping a tax exemption on jet fuel for international flights, which exists partly because of the difficulty of coordinating taxes between national governments, but has attracted increasing criticism as the bloc emerges as a climate leader. On the flip side, its also possible that increased state ownership of airlines will make governments impatient to return them to profitability, and therefore less willing to impose new taxes or restrictions that could hit airlines bottom line. After Frances citizens assembly on climate proposed a new environmental tax on flights in September, some lawmakers argued it didnt make sense to raise taxes on airlines that the state was propping up and the plans were shelved. The U.K. government is weighing plans to eliminate a roughly $18 duty it imposes on domestic flights to offer some relief for airlines. IATA opposes any tax increases on aviation during the COVID-19 recovery. Shifting behavior Flying is likely to remain one of the most carbon-intensive activities humans can participate in for years to come, and avoiding flights is one of the most effective ways for people in rich countries to reduce their emissions. A return flight from San Francisco to London emits the equivalent of around 5.5 metric tons of CO2 per personmore than the worlds annual average per person emissions in 2019 (4.8 metric tons). It is also a luxury enjoyed by a privileged few. Just 11% of the global population took a flight in 2018 and 1% of the population was responsible for 50% of aviation emissions, according to a study led by Swedens Linnaeus University in November. Climate activists, including many scientists, say a rapid and massive reduction in air travel is the only safe path to avoid catastrophic climate change. Individual responsibility will likely play a role in the drive to cut emissions. Since before the pandemic, the flight shame movement, popularized by Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, had already begun to have a real impact on demand for short-haul air travel in Europe, Rutherford says. That big change in attitudes that started in 2019, has not gone away and were going to see those political pressures build as the industry recovers from COVID. Some governments and trade groups are trying to encourage a shift toward rail travel for shorter journeys. While the French and Austrian governments have made efforts to curtail short-haul air travel, the German Aviation Association is collaborating with rail company Deutsche Bahn to replace domestic flight routes with train services in Germany. Governments in countries including Italy and Belgium are investing heavily in their train networks as part of recovery plans to help pull them out of the economic crisis brought about by the pandemic. For the U.S., a pivot from shorter flights to train travel will be more challenging. The country covers an area twice the size of the E.U., and many stretches of its rail network suffer from decades of under investment. In a recent interview with TIME, William Flynn, the CEO of passenger rail service Amtrak, said he would use $80 billion in federal funds proposed in President Bidens infrastructure plan to overhaul and improve key routes. But far more is likely needed to improve service enough to make trains an attractive replacement for flights, Rutherford says. Some U.S. airlines are beginning to voluntarily coordinate better with rail networks to phase out some unnecessary short-haul routes, but its still on a case by case basis, he adds. Although curbs on short-haul flights will have some impact, according to ICCT data, more than two thirds of aviations emissions come from medium- or long-haul flights, where train and road travel are not realistic alternatives. Forcing airlines to limit the services they provide on these routes is less palatable for governments than short-haul restrictions. But behavioural changes triggered by the pandemic may have a dramatic impact on the long-haul business. Companies are reassessing the value of business travel after a year of conducting meetings using video conferencing services like Zoom. Only a third of business travelers in the U.K. expect to return to their pre-pandemic habits, according to an April poll. Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates predicts that more than 50% of business travel will disappear. McKinsey is more conservative, estimating in April that business travel will recover to around 80% of pre-pandemic levels by 2024. Business travelers, who tend to book late and often choose premium seats, generate the bulk of the profits on long-haul flights. This type of travel accounts for up to 75% of airlines revenues on some routes. To make up for the loss, McKinsey says, airlines may reduce the frequency of flights, raise prices for leisure travelers and close the gap in prices for direct and connecting flights. All of those measures would likely have the unintentional benefit of helping to reduce emissions. We need to answer that question as an industry. The Leadership Brief. Conversations with the most influential leaders in business and tech. Please enter a valid email address. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. Please attempt to sign up again. Sign Up Now An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Please try again later. Check the box if you do not wish to receive promotional offers via email from TIME. You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Thank you! For your security, we've sent a confirmation email to the address you entered. Click the link to confirm your subscription and begin receiving our newsletters. If you don't get the confirmation within 10 minutes, please check your spam folder. Write to Ciara Nugent at [email protected]. | https://time.com/6048871/pandemic-airlines-carbon-emissions/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Fworld+%28TIME%3A+Top+World+Stories%29 |
How many have really died in the pandemic? | A NEW model from The Economist indicates that Covid-19 has claimed millions more lives than official numbers suggest. Data journalist Sondre Solstad reveals the untold story of the pandemic. Robert Guest reports from Mexico, one of the countries hardest hit. COG-UKs Sharon Peacock, a top variant hunter, says vaccines are beating back new strains. Alok Jha and Natasha Loder are joined by Oliver Morton, The Economists briefings editor. Runtime: 38 min Listen on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | Stitcher | TuneIn For full access to The Economists print, digital and audio editions subscribe at economist.com/thejabpod. Sign up for our new weekly science and data newsletters at economist.com/simplyscience and economist.com/offthecharts. | https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2021/05/17/how-many-have-really-died-in-the-pandemic |
Could a vaccine developed at Duke University prevent future coronavirus pandemics? | Jasmine White fills a syringe with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel on Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Duke University researchers are developing another vaccine that could protect against multiple coronaviruses. [email protected] Duke University researchers are developing a vaccine that could provide protection against multiple kinds of coronaviruses, according to a study published last week in Nature, a leading scientific journal. The vaccine, which was developed at Dukes Human Vaccine Institute, uses nanoparticles to show the immune system 24 copies of a specific part of the virus spike protein that attaches to human cells. An additional substance promotes the creation of antibodies that attack that part of the virus. Its very similar to Velcro. So if you think of one hook and loop, thats a pretty weak interaction. But if you can put one hook and loop together multiple times in multiple copies, that becomes a really strong interaction, Dr. Kevin Saunders, the Human Vaccine Institutes director of research, said during a Monday press briefing. Saunders, the Nature papers lead author, said the vaccine was based on the institutes work with an HIV vaccine. The Duke team tested the nanoparticle vaccine by injecting it into macaque monkeys, finding that it provides total protection against SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Additionally, the vaccine created antibodies against SARS, bat coronaviruses and the more contagious variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. What weve all learned now with this particular pandemic, that now is the time to prepare for the next one so that we can have vaccines on the shelf or vaccines that can be developed extremely rapidly and deployed very rapidly, Barton Haynes, the director of Dukes Human Vaccine Institute, said during a Monday briefing. Having such a vaccine available would let governments and health officials limit the spread of a virus, Hayes added, potentially preventing it from evolving into a pandemic. During a May 13 White House briefing, Dr. Anthony Fauci discussed the possibility of a vaccine that protects against multiple kinds of coronaviruses. Fauci, the director of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Disease and White House senior adviser on the pandemic, pointed to the Duke research as potentially exciting and called it an important proof of concept. The experiments were conducted in nonhuman primates, Fauci cautioned. Nonetheless, he said, this is an extremely important proof of concept that we will be aggressively pursuing as we get into the development of human trials. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article251472683.html |
Would gun control have prevented the recent shootings in Rhode Island? | There have been three other shootings in Providence and Pawtucket since then. All three victims age 25, 20 and 19 have died. PROVIDENCE Around 6:45 p.m. Thursday, four men in a four-door silver Dodge Ram with Tennessee plates slowly drove into the citys Washington Park neighborhood and stopped outside 87 Carolina Ave. They jumped out with guns drawn and started shooting at a group of people on the porch, firing off more than 40 rounds of bullets. Eight people were injured by gun fire , and one person was injured by something else. The victims ranged in age from 19 to 25 years old. Advertisement Four shootings in four days have rattled Rhode Island. Police have seized twice as many illegal firearms so far this week as they did last year. On Monday morning, Rhode Islands US Congressional delegation joined Governor Dan McKee, Attorney General Peter Neronha, Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, Nonviolence Institute Executive Director Cedric Huntley, and Moms Demand Action activist Diana Garlington at the Nonviolence Institutes headquarters. There, Huntley said the last several days have just not been normal. Weve been working around the clock to help those victims, those families that have been hurt by violence, said Huntley. Theres no words for what we see. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, and US Congressmen David Cicilline and Jim Langevin, had previously announced they would be seeking to deliver federal resources and take legislative action to help prevent gun violence. They have talked about expanding access to mentoring programs to keep young people out of criminal involvement, which would include targeted investments in social and economic programs for disadvantaged neighborhoods. But on Monday they did not specify how those resources would be allocated, or when. Reed said theres no single legislative fix to stop gun violence in Rhode Island. He said the country needs universal background checks, cracking down on gun trafficking, and that Congress needs to play a larger role in securing nonviolence outreach, community policing, social programs and intervention specialists to address the underlying issues that contribute to gun violence. Advertisement Whitehouse said he is co-sponsoring 14 different measures related to gun violence in Congress, but that they arent going anywhere because of the lobbying pressures by the National Rifle Association. He said while guns have always been in Rhode Island, the number of guns is increasing. Huntley told a Globe reporter that passing gun control is only a piece of addressing the systemic issues many in Providence, and other parts of Rhode Island, currently face. He said the state needs to address education reform, specifically in Providence, and offer nonviolence and preventative training to all, not just those who are already doing the work. We think we can help shape and change the culture, said Huntley. We have to change policy. We have to change how people think about each other. He said he would need serious investment about $5 million annually compared to the shoestring budget the nonprofit has been working off of for the last 20 years to further make an impact across the state. Garlington, who lost her 21-year-old daughter to a drive-by shooting several years ago, she said she is numb from the recent events as it brings back memories of losing her own child. She said its time to pass gun control and to stop using the Second Amendment as a talking point and an excuse. Advertisement Some of the bills have been re-introduced year after year. Rhode Island should not have made the news nationally for a mass shooting, she said. We should be making the news for common sense gun laws. Also on Monday, the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence called on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees to immediately pass the package of gun reform bills currently before them out of committee for a vote on the floor. One of the weapons police seized this past weekend was a Springfield Armory XD40 semi-automatic pistol with one live cartridge in the chamber and eleven live cartridges in the magazine. Police will continue to seize weapons but unfortunately, more guns will make their way onto the streets in large part because state legislators have refused to take step that would step the tide of deadly weapons into our cities, said a statement from the Coalition executive director Linda Finn Monday. The semi-automatic weapons with high-capacity magazines that are currently wreaking havoc on our neighborhoods are still available for easy, legal purchase in Rhode Island, despite being prohibited in our neighboring states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. Neronha said focused enforcement is needed. But beyond legislation and getting criminal activity off the streets, he said its important to make life meaningful for young people after school. Elorza echoed the attorney generals comments about young people, saying that preventing gun violence goes beyond legislation. There is a need to connect young people to mentorship programs, workforce training and summer jobs, and deescalation and nonviolence training for everyone not just those already doing the work. Advertisement But there are too many young people that have lost hope, said Elorza. Yes, we need to take guns off the streets... But if we really want to solve and cure violence, it takes so much more than that. We have to ask ourselves, why are kids losing hope? Alexa Gagosz can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @alexagagosz. | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/17/metro/would-gun-control-have-prevented-recent-shootings-rhode-island/ |
Will attorney-client privilege apply to Giuliani's communications? | Article content Donald Trumps former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani is clashing with prosecutors over how to determine whether materials seized from his home and offices last month are covered by attorney-client privilege. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan are investigating the former New York City mayors dealings with Ukrainian oligarchs while working for then-U.S. President Trump. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Back to video In a letter made public on Monday, Giulianis lawyers objected to the broad and sweeping nature of searches conducted on April 28 at Giulianis home and office, where electronic devices were seized, as well as a November 2019 search of his Apple iCloud account. Giuliani said in a statement following the raids that the seized materials are protected by attorney-client privilege and that his conduct as a lawyer and a citizen was absolutely legal and ethical. The following describes the legal doctrine of attorney-client privilege and whether it could apply to communications between Giuliani and Trump or others. Attorney-client privilege is a long-standing doctrine of U.S. law that allows people to keep their communications with legal counsel private. Lawyers can invoke the privilege to avoid testifying about conversations with clients in most settings, or turning over emails or other correspondence. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content The traditional justification for attorney-client privilege is that the legal system operates more fairly when people are able to speak candidly with their lawyers, said Jens David Ohlin, a professor of criminal law at Cornell Law School. If clients feel like whatever they disclose to attorneys will be turned over to authorities, they wont feel free to talk openly, Ohlin said. No. The privilege only covers communications relating to legal advice, said Harry Sandick, a former federal prosecutor in New York now in private practice as a defense lawyer. It does not protect a persons discussion of business, personal, or financial matters with a lawyer if they are unrelated to a legal representation, Sandick said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Attorney-client privilege also does not apply to communications by a lawyer in furtherance of a crime or fraud. Yes. The U.S. Department of Justice has an official policy of only raiding law offices if less intrusive approaches could compromise the investigation or result in the destruction of evidence. Because of this policy, searches of a lawyers home or office are rare but not unprecedented, said Sandick. In 2002, now-deceased defense lawyer Lynne Stewart had her Manhattan office raided by the FBI. She later was convicted of providing material support to terrorists and sentenced to 10 years in prison https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-security-stewart/ny-lawyer-in-terrorism-case-gets-10-year-sentence-idUSTRE66E73B20100715. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Notably, in 2018, federal agents raided the office of Michael Cohen, another former personal lawyer for Trump, who was subsequently convicted and sentenced to three years in prison https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-cohen-sentence/former-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-sentenced-to-three-years-prison-idUSKBN1OB2AR. The warrants for Giulianis electronic devices would have required sign-off at the highest levels of the Justice Department, said Lisa Kern Griffin, a law professor at Duke University and former federal prosecutor. This development suggests that the investigation into Giulianis activities is both ongoing and intensifying, she said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content U.S. courts have said prosecutors must set up a review to ensure that attorney-client communications are not being improperly used as evidence. The U.S. Attorneys Office in Manhattan, which is handling the Giuliani investigation, on May 4 asked a judge to create a process for reviewing evidence seized from his home and office. In a court filing, federal prosecutors asked U.S. District Judge J. Paul Oetken in Manhattan to appoint a special master to review communications taken from Giulianis devices and ensure that potentially privileged materials are not viewed by investigators. This same process was used to review materials taken from Cohen. The special master in that case, retired Judge Barbara Jones, ruled that less than 0.2% of all the Cohen documents were protected by attorney-client privilege. In a letter unsealed on Monday, Giuliani lawyers told Oetken that a covert search of his iCloud account in 2019 was illegal and urged the judge to address that issue before considering prosecutors request to appoint a special master. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan Oatis) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. 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Is Bitcoin 'Melting' Or Has It Reached A Price Floor? | Bitcoin has bounced off the $42,000 level twice today. (Photo by Yuriko Nakao/Getty Images) Getty Images Bitcoin prices have been suffering lately, falling to almost $42,000 today and reaching their lowest in more than three months. The worlds largest digital currency by market capitalization dropped to as little as $42,102.35 this afternoon, according to CoinDesk data. At this point, the cryptocurrency was trading at its lowest since February 8, additional CoinDesk figures reveal. These latest declines fit into a trend of more sustained weakness, as bitcoin has lost more than 30% since reaching an all-time high of nearly $65,000 in mid-April. [Ed note: Investing in cryptocoins or tokens is highly speculative and the market is largely unregulated. Anyone considering it should be prepared to lose their entire investment.] Bitcoin Is Melting Yesterday, Michael Kramer, founder of Mott Capital Management, LLC, wrote a blog post stating that Bitcoin is melting. At the time he wrote the piece, the cryptocurrency was trading close to $44,000, and Kramer noted that the digital currency may have further to fall. Several analysts weighed in, shedding some light on the digital currencys recent declines, as well as where the innovative asset may go next. Bitcoin is not full-on melting, but we are seeing the first large scale correction since the bull run started in early 2020, said Nick Mancini, research analyst at crypto sentiment data provider Trade The Chain. Bitcoin is now 35 percent from its all time high of $64,900 in April, and it seems a combination of weakened sentiment, caused by CPI numbers, and Elons negative tweets are behind the recent fall, he stated. We are currently noticing a near 1:1 correlation between sentiment and price action, said Mancini, citing data compiled by Trade The Chain. Sentiment is currently bottoming, so we are watching for a bottoming of price action, as well. Jason Lau, COO of cryptocurrency exchange OKCoin, also spoke to how the mindset of investors is playing a key role in the markets. Bitcoin is down ~34% since hitting an all time high 34 days ago. This recent move reflects a shift in sentiment - as many have started looking at other crypto opportunities beyond BTC and spreading disinformation along the way. Bitcoin Has Entered Sell Mode The bitcoin chart is now in sell mode, said Julius de Kempenaer, senior technical analyst at StockCharts.com. Over the weekend, BTC dropped below its recently formed support level at $47k. The break below this level has started a new series of lower highs and lower lows which means that the chart is now in a confirmed downtrend on the daily time frame, he stated. The next level of intermediate support is between $42-43k which has already been tested today, and bouncing off it so far. Katie Stockton, the founder and managing partner of Fairlead Strategies, LLC, also weighed in, describing the $42,000 level as being key support. There are no signs of downside exhaustion as bitcoin tests that levelthis is more likely in two weeks by the way my overbought/oversold indicators are currently set up. Pankaj Balani, cofounder & CEO of Delta Exchange, offered some perspective, speaking to key support levels. Despite a sharp correction and BTC price trading in the support zone of $42,000-$44,000, we don't think Bitcoin has found a floor yet, he stated. Unlike the previous dips in Bitcoin - in the last 9 months - this time, we are not finding any buyers looking to bottom fish on a sharp move down. Most traders are convinced of further downside and are looking at 35000-38000 levels on BTC. Sean Rooney, head of research at Valkyrie Investments, also spoke to potential downside, citing information he culled from blockchain analysis. Traders and short-term investors should keep in mind that from a chain analytics perspective there have been large deposits of bitcoin flowing into exchanges. This could be a signal that the selling pressure has not subsided for the current downtrend and lower prices are indeed possible. Bullish Outlook In spite of the digital currencys recent troubles, several market observers offered optimistic takes on its future prospects. Despite the negative sentiment, fundamentals look strong, with the Bitcoin's hash rate and active addresses both recently hitting all time highs, said Lau. Bitcoins upcoming Taproot upgrade also looks to be on track, with almost 80% of miners signaling support. William Noble, chief technical analyst for cryptocurrency data provider Token Metrics, also spoke to the matter, focusing on recent market history. I think when it comes to charts you have to think of seasonality, he noted. Last year the fire was hard between late May well into August. We expect history to repeat itself, said Noble. Anybody who is selling now is going to regret it later. The phrase dont sell the dip has never been more appropriate, he emphasized. Crypto is for the people. When the DeFi space wakes up, people will laugh at those who were panic selling during mid-May. Disclosure: I own some bitcoin, bitcoin cash, litecoin, ether and EOS. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cbovaird/2021/05/17/is-bitcoin-melting-or-has-it-reached-a-price-floor/ |
Which NBA Team Becomes An Instant Playoff Contender If They Draft Evan Mobley? | Evan Mobley has all the skills you want from a big in today's NBA making him a true game-changer at the center position. Teams drafting at the top of the lottery usually don't become serious playoff contenders the next season, but that could change if the Toronto Raptors land USC's seven-footer Evan Mobley. In Jonathan Wasserman's latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, he has the lottery gods shining down on the Raptors, by granting them the No. 2 pick in the draft. Anyone watching Toronto this season knows their biggest need is a talent big who can anchor their defense. With the No. 2 pick, the Raptors find a match made in heaven with Evan Mobley. Wasserman writes: One disappointing down season would be worth it if it meant the Toronto Raptors could jump into the lottery's top four. They'd make a quick turnaround by adding Evan Mobley, another long, rangy defender, to join Pascal Siakam and Chris Boucher. Between Mobley and Siakam, the Raptors would have two switchable bigs capable of guarding outside the paint. But Mobley also flashed persuasive offensive skill for scoring versatility, working as a roll man or mid-range shooter who can also attack closeouts and finish drives with layups or runners. Between Mobley and Siakam, the Raptors would have two switchable bigs capable of guarding outside the paint. The driving point of Wasserman's analysis is the versatility that Mobley could bring to the Raptors' defense. Toronto's defensive philosophy is all about reading and reacting quickly, and you must be able to cross-matchup against different positions. A lineup of Kyle Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby, and Evan Mobley would be devastating defensively. This is a team that could swarm you on the perimeter, and suffocate you in the paint. With Kyle Lowry aging gracefully, this team could compete right away if Mobley becomes as good as advertised in the league. Every game was a road game for the Raptors this season as they temporarily had to relocate to Tampa. But if all their misfortune lands them Evan Mobley, they will sure take that trade off. ---- [How Does Evan Mobley's Strengths and Weakness's Compare To Other NBA Prospects?] [Mock Draft Shows NBA Team Adding Evan Mobley To Young Core] ---- 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/which-nba-team-becomes-an-instant-playoff-contender-if-they-draft-evan-mobley |
Should the Cleveland Indians be concerned about Shane Biebers workload? | 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 Shane Bieber had his shortest outing since 2019 on Sunday when he went 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Seattle. Last week, Bieber threw 120 pitches in a win against the Cubs. His walks are up and his command has been suspect in his last few starts. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down the trend in 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. | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/05/should-the-cleveland-indians-be-concerned-about-shane-biebers-workload.html |
Whats behind baseballs hit-by-pitch epidemic? | Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager became the latest MLB star this season to land on the injured list because of MLBs surge in hit-by-pitches. Batters are getting hit by pitches more than ever before in 2021, with another 45 coming in the 46 games played over the weekend. An epidemic put Corey Seager and Joey Votto on the injured list. It caused Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, Ronald Acua Jr. and Shohei Ohtani to leave games or miss time. It has made baseball today more dangerous for hitters than any other time in the past 120 years. The epidemic is the hit-by-pitch, and there is no sign of it slowing. Another 45 batters were hit in the 46 games played over the weekend, including Seager. The Dodgers shortstop, playing in his platform season to free agency, suffered a broken hand and is out for at least four weeks. What is scary is that there was nothing unusual about this past weekend. Batters are getting hit at a rate of almost one every game. The four most dangerous seasons for hit by pitches since the AL joined the NL in 1901 are this year (0.92 batters per game), last year (0.92), the year before that (0.84) and the year before that (0.80). 1. Pitchers value velocity over command. Let me get this one out of the way. This is the knee-jerk reaction to most every trend in pitching, but its simply not as impactful as you are told by off-the-cuff commentary. Yes, pitchers are throwing harder. Average fastball velocity is 93.3 mph, up from 92.8 mph just three years ago. But fastball use is down sharply from 54.5 per cent three years ago to 50.5 per cent this year. And fastballs are increasingly less to blame for hit by pitches. Three years ago, they accounted for 54.5 per cent of pitches and 57.3 per cent of hit batters. This year they account for 50.5 per cent of pitches and 49.4 per cent of hit batters. Batters are less likely to get hit by fastballs. 2. Armour This is the biggest reason why hit by pitch rates are growing. More and more batters are wearing protective guards on their lead elbows and upper arms sometimes both. The guards create a confidence that encourages hitters not to attempt to get out of the way of inside pitches. Check out what almost all the hit by pitch leaders this season have in common: Most HBP, MLB 2021 The elbow guard is creating a similar unintended cycle as what happened with helmets in the NFL. The more helmets were made safer, the more they emboldened players to use their heads more aggressively in blocking and tackling. Rules had to be written to discourage such use. Hitters are using arm and elbow guards as a response to more hit by pitches, but the guards are creating even more hit by pitches because those who wear them have changed how they react to inside pitches, which is not to move or even to intentionally put the guarded elbow in the path of the pitch. From 2010 to 11, no hitter was hit by a pitch that was in the strike zone. This season, it has happened twice already: by Michael Conforto and Trout. Both were hit on the elbow pad. 3. Fastballs are more dangerous. Pitching has morphed from an east-west orientation to a north-south one, as the high four-seam fastball has become the antidote to the launch angle generation. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... The average height of fastballs is getting higher, and thus you see more pitches up and in to hitters. Those are pitches everybody notices, especially hitters who dont take kindly to having their hands and heads threatened. There is a big difference and a growing one between the height of a fastball that hits a batter (3.51 feet off the ground this year, which is at a hitters upper arm, near the shoulder) and the height of all other pitches that hit batters. HBP Average Height, MLB 4. The most dangerous pitch is the arm-side fastball to same-side hitter. An arm-side pitch is a pitch to the same side of the plate as is the pitchers throwing arm. The most dangerous pitch is a fastball thrown by a right-handed pitcher to a right-handed hitter or one thrown by a left-handed pitcher to a left-handed hitter. Thats the one that broke Seagers hand. The breakdown by pitch type and side of the plate: MLB Hit by Pitches, 2021 In general, pitchers hit same-side batters (i.e., right vs. right) when they lose fastballs up and in; they cant command fastballs designed to be effective inside pitches above the hands of the hitter. They mostly hit opposite-side batters (i.e., right vs. left) when they pull breaking pitches and cutters designed to be under the hands of the hitter. 5. Velocity and spin rate is the fast track to the big leagues, not command. Teams have used 595 pitchers to cover the first six weeks of the season. Thats more than were needed to cover the entire 2001 season (591). The specialty nature of bullpen use (and frequent turnover) has created this gig economy of relievers. The highest hit by pitch rates this year among pitchers with 200 or more pitches belong to specialty relievers Austin Adams of the Padres (2.9 per cent of pitches), who throws 89 per cent sliders; Austin Brice of the Red Sox (1.7 per cent), a sidearmer; and Nabil Crismatt of the Pirates (1.7 per cent), a rookie changeup specialist. Its not just hit by pitches. Wild pitches are up 28 per cent in the past 10 years. The seven highest rates of wild pitches since 1900 have all occurred in the past seven years, including a high of 0.82 wild pitches per game this year. The walk rates the past two seasons (9.2 per cent and 9.0 per cent) are the highest in 20 years. In 10 years, the combined per-game rate of hit batters, wild pitches and walks has increased 13 per cent. Hitting has never been so dangerous. One MLB executive floated the idea of giving the hit batter two bases, not just one, to encourage pitchers to get the ball over the plate. Pitches that hit elbow and arm guards could be ruled a ball, with no base awarded. Neither is likely to happen. What is more likely is that more players will continue to be hit by pitches at a record rate, which means more stars like Seager will lose playing time by getting hit on high, same-side fastballs. | https://www.thestar.com/sports/si/2021/05/17/whats-behind-baseballs-hit-by-pitch-epidemic.html |
Why are so many people hungry in America? | When the Monitors intern team set out to report on rising hunger in the United States, it was audio intern Ibrahim Onafeko who crystallized our focus with a single provocative question. I wondered, in the land of plenty, why are so many people hungry in America? he says. I wanted to figure out why conventional approaches to solving hunger havent been working. In short, there are no easy answers. Definitions of who qualifies for food assistance and best practices to get food to those who need it are constantly shifting. So our team homed in on new relationships and signs of policy changes that could bring added efficiency to hunger relief efforts. In one welcome shift, it appears that the surge in need during the pandemic may have helped to ease stigma around food assistance. Public schools quickly offered frontline help for meal support. The pandemic turned schools into places for all families, regardless of whether they have kids enrolled or not, to pick up free food, says intern Nick Roll, who adds he was moved by the commitment of cafeteria workers. I realized just how invested they were in the outcomes of the children they serve, and how much they want to fix the shortcomings in the current system. At the grassroots level, neighbors stocked community fridges with free food. With greater involvement came opportunities to learn about each other. Many of the families who were receiving meals from Mark Buchers Feed the Fridge program in Washington, D.C., were Muslim, says Erika Page, another member of the intern team. So they asked that pork not be included, and Feed the Fridge changed up its recipes. The road from farm to food pantry also shortened. Intern Connie Foong visited a fourth-generation dairy farm in New York that got a boost from new state and federal programs that deliver excess produce to urban centers, ensuring small farms for now can survive. Farmer Rick Osofsky regaled Connie and staff photographer Melanie Stetson Freeman with the ups and downs of farming as he stopped to pat the cows. Through it all, his love for the work underscores every word and action, says Connie. Food has long served as a vehicle for connectedness and care that has drawn families, communities, and cultures together. And, as our series shows, that recipe will likely be baked into any lasting solutions to hunger. This column first appeared in the May 10 edition of the Monitor Weekly magazine as part of the Hunger in America series. The pandemic has changed the answer. A pandemic experiment. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Part 4: Neighbors feeding neighbors: Community fridges strengthen ties Part 5: For the newly food insecure, help that preserves dignity | https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/From-the-Editor/2021/0517/Why-are-so-many-people-hungry-in-America |
What do the Texans hope to get out of phase two of the NFL offseason? | The Houston Texans commence phase two of the 2021 NFL offseason program Monday. Coach David Culley shared with reporters on a Zoom call on May 15 what he hopes to get out of the second part of the offseason workout program. Im excited to be able to get out there with them for the first time, Culley said. Weve had the veterans now for about four weeks, strength and conditioning on Zoom meetings, putting installs in our coaching staff has. Starting on Monday, we get to do the same thing, but we get to get some field time with them. Culley says that they will start with their minicamp schedule and start off with the veteran group and get them into the culture. Said Culley: Weve got 30 new guys on this team right now. Its a brand new football team, so we want to make sure that they understand from day one what were all about and where were going and what were trying to get accomplished. Thats what we want to do for the rest of the offseason. The Texans offseason program concludes with a mandatory minicamp in June. | https://sports.yahoo.com/texans-hope-phase-two-nfl-191814720.html?src=rss |
Why is there so much vitriol over Tim Tebow's potential Jaguars camp invite? | There are athletes who generate outlandish reactions that are disproportionate to their actual abilities. Let there be no doubt, a lot of people love them some Tim Tebow. This is easy to understand. He was a big star at the University of Florida, where he won a Heisman Trophy and was part of two national titles. He played a physical, exciting style. He wasnt a great NFL QB, but he won a playoff game. Mostly though, hes a nice guy, a charity-based guy, a do-something guy. Last week he and his foundation partnered with the state of Tennessee to fight human trafficking. Hes a motivational speaker, doing it in an uber-positive, you-can-do-it kind of way. And, of course, hes very public about his faith, which is hardly unique among pro athletes, but is appealing to those who share it. Other fans dont like him, but in a reasonable fashion. Maybe they hated the Gators. Maybe they didnt like the hype he got. Maybe they are part of the stick to sports crowd and werent fans of the Bible verses on the eyeblack back in college. Of course, stick to sports is usually a sliding scale of hypocrisy. All of this is mostly fair. Sports are about heroes and heels and each fan gets to choose who is who. When Tebow lasted just three seasons and just 14 starts at QB in the NFL, his critics got what they wanted. There is another segment though who all but lost it when word broke that Tebow, now 33, had recently worked out for Jacksonville. The Jags, led now by Tebows old college coach Urban Meyer, are considering offering him a one-year deal (which is really nothing more than a camp invite) even though he hasnt appeared in a game since 2013 and hasnt been in camp since 2015. We can only theorize, and will later. A lot of people seem angry over Tim Tebow possibly getting an invite to Jaguars camp from his former college coach Urban Meyer. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) No. Its not like Meyer gave him $150 million and said he was the Week 1 starter at quarterback. Were talking about one of the 90 camp invites for a 1-15 team led by a rookie head coach. The Jags' tight ends combined to catch two touchdown passes last year. Story continues This is a low-risk gamble. Besides, its not unusual for coaches to bring along veterans they are comfortable with and Meyer certainly is with Tebow. Its not unusual for veterans to get signed for their leadership or attitude 38-year-old running back Frank Gore is back with the New York Jets, after all. The NBA is a different sport, but the Miami Heat have kept veteran good guy Udonis Haslem around the last few years because of what he means in a locker room. The 40-year-old isnt really a player anymore he appeared in one game, the regular-season finale, this year. Miami thinks hes worth it. Besides, wilder stuff has happened in the NFL. In 2015, Seattle brought in Nate Boyer, a 34-year-old Army Green Beret and decorated war hero in a long-shot attempt to make it as an undersized long snapper. Boyer was mostly there for who he was, not whether hed actually play in the NFL. In 2004, Minnesota spent a camp invite on WWE sensation Brock Lesnar even though he hadnt played football since high school. In 2019, the New York Giants had Austin Droogsma, a massive shot putter at their rookie minicamp. In 2013, Indianapolis made a run at a giant Icelander whod never played football named Hafr Jlus Bjrnsson you might know him as Thor from the Worlds Strongest Man competitions or The Mountain from the show Game of Thrones. Whatever. Its all fun. Tebow is a big, strong athlete. Maybe he can be useful. His years of playing minor league baseball mean he hasnt taken the punishment of a normal NFL veteran his age. Tight end is partially a macro skill position, so time off isnt necessarily disqualifying. Mostly though, Tebow is being given the opportunity to humiliate himself. Hes more likely to fail than succeed. Visions of him getting blown up trying to block or dropping a pass he should have caught are very possible. He doesnt care. He wants to give it a try on the worst team in football. Good for him. While Tebows possible chance is being compared to Colin Kaepernick not getting a chance, thats a stretch. You can believe Kaepernick was unfairly treated by the NFL and see that these two situations arent really that comparable. Tebow, to me, is more like Cam Newton. Not as players, since Newton is exponentially better and never quit football to try another sport. He has earned every opportunity. Like Tebow, though, Newton often elicits outsized negative reactions despite having done relatively little that is controversial. He mostly plays really hard and really well. Yet everything from metrics to comment sections will show wild responses to him. Neither he, nor Tebow, is perfect. They are each proud and unapologetic about who they are. Maybe thats what creates groups of people who dislike them so much, or are uncomfortable with them. If you drew a Venn diagram of the Tebow/Newton haters, its possible there is no overlap. They are two sides of the same coin. Each member of the Tebow hate club has their own reason. My best guess is something that plagues a lot of American society. There is an old saying that my enemys enemy is my friend. In this case, maybe it is my enemys favorite player is my enemy. If you dislike, for whatever reason, the people who love Tebow, then perhaps you hate Tebow even if there is little to no reason to hate Tebow. Same with Newton. Maybe there isnt a single perfect answer. Something is driving this stuff, though, because the NFL is currently overwhelmed by a possible camp invitation to a backup tight end for a lousy team. Then again, being offended by something happening somewhere by someone has become our national, bipartisan pastime. Bigger than the NFL, even. More from Yahoo Sports: | https://sports.yahoo.com/why-is-there-so-much-vitriol-over-tim-tebows-potential-camp-invite-from-the-jaguars-193432907.html?src=rss |
Are the Jacksonville Jaguars Really Turning Former Clemson Tigers Star Travis Etienne into a Receiver? | Apparently, he becomes a wide receiver. At least that's the buzz is coming out of Jacksonville Jaguars' rookie mini-camp, where former Clemson star running back Travis Etienne is exclusively working out as a pass-catcher. "That's the reason we drafted him is the opportunity to be a dual-threat guy and our history as long as we've had a guy like that and we saw him as a guy like that in the draft this year," Jacksonville head coach Urban Meyer said last weekend. "Right now we're focusing on the fundamentals of wide receiver play, learning the offense from wide receiver." That means, for the time being, a guy who recorded 4,952 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns via the ground isn't taking handoffs or learning to play running back at the next level. "When I came out here, (Meyer) brought me into a room, asked me how I felt about (playing receiver, and I feel great about it," Etienne said. I feel like its going to help me maximize my opportunity, maximize my skillset, so I feel like coach knows what hes doing. Hes doing whats best for the team and I feel like its going to work out really well." Etienne might not be wrong. He's also as humble as they come and wouldn't make a fuss about this publically at all. However, it's hard to believe a ball carrier of his talent and prowess, one who has consistently shown an explosive running style and the ability to hit home runs, is perfectly fine playing another position. Of course, this could very well be a short-term thing, and Etienne does get reps at his natural position when training camp begins in July. It also makes sense that Meyer would want to use Etienne as a versatile weapon. After all, the Louisana native came back to Clemson in 2020, spurning the pros, to show he could be a complete back. He went from a player who went from five catches for 57 yards in his freshman season at Clemson to 48 catches for 588 yards as a senior. "Football is a game of matchups. I feel like I create a problem outside for a linebacker. Were just trying to get the best matchups for us to go out there and make plays and do whats best for the team. It's perplexing after having a 1,000-yard rookie rusher a year ago in James Robinson that they would select what Meyer called a "third-down back" in Etienne. Using the running back out of the backfield or lining him up as a slot receiver isn't exactly groundbreaking. The Carolina Panthers took Christian McCaffery eighth overall in the 2017 draft, and the multi-faceted running back had 1,000-yard rushing and 1,000-yard receiving season in 2019, but he's still a running back. Of course, but if Jacksonville needed a slot receiver, they should've drafted a slot receiver with the 25th overall pick. Etienne is still a running back, and at some point, he deserves the chance to show it. "Worst-case scenario is you have a running back that's elite with receiver skills and best-case scenario he's a legitimate dual-threat guy," Meyer said. Maybe he's also not wrong, but it feels odd to think of Etienne as a "gimmick" player, and hopefully that's not how Meyer sees him. At the same time, there's nothing super innovative here. This is the same coach who signed former QB Tim Tebow to play tight end. Maybe No. 1 overall pick and former Clemson star Trevor Lawrence will safety. Ultimately, let's just see what Meyer, in his first year in the NFL, does with this offensive weapon in 2021. Commenting: To sign up for Discus, our new commenting system, just use your Twitter, Facebook or email to register, and you are in, very easy and quick to sign up! To find the find comment section, just look below the Around the Web section below this article and get chatting! We would love to hear your thoughts and have you join our community. | https://www.si.com/college/clemson/football/are-the-jacksonville-jaguars-really-turning-travis-etienne-into-a-receiver |
Where Do The Longhorns Stand In USA Today Preseason Top-25 Rankings? | USA Today unveiled their updated preseason college football top-25 rankings on Monday, with the Longhorns making an appearance Following their first spring football practice under new head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Texas Longhorns are one of the more intriguing programs in the country from a national perspective. Bringing in his superb ability to call plays, in combination with an all-star staff and a host of recruiting momentum, Sarkisian has most experts believing that his Longhorns will make some noise next season. READ MORE: Former OU Coach Bob Stoops: No Rebuild Needed For Longhorns On Monday, USA Today unveiled their updated preseason top-25 rankings, with the Longhorns landing in the No. 22 overall spots, just behind the No. 21 Oklahoma State Cowboys, and just ahead of the No. 23 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers. The Texas A&M Aggies also made an appearance in the rankings, coming in at No. 8 overall. The Longhorns also had just four opponents make an appearance in USA Today's updated rankings, including the Lousiana Ragin Cajuns at No. 25, the aforementioned Oklahoma State Cowboys at No. 21, The Iowa State Cyclones at No. 6, and the Oklahoma Sooners at No. 2 overall. READ MORE: Longhorns Transfer Target Shadrach Banks Spurns Texas for TCU fortunately for Sarkisian, the Longhorns are set to play two of those games (Louisiana and Oklahoma State) in front of their home crowd at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, with one game (Oklahoma) at a neutral site at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The lone road game for the Longhorns on the list will be against Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Sign up for your premium membership to LonghornsCountry.com today, and get access to the entire Fan Nation premium network! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook | https://www.si.com/college/texas/news/where-do-the-longhorns-stand-in-usa-today-preseason-top-25-rankings |
What Would Packers Receive for Trading Aaron Rodgers? | The answer is a lot, probably, but there are some barriers in the Packers collecting a king's ransom if they were forced to trade the MVP. Sports Illustrateds Albert Breer tackled that question in a recent mailbag piece. Breer asked three NFL executives. One response: Broncos get: QB Aaron Rodgers, 2022 fourth-round pick. Packers get: QB Drew Lock, DE Bradley Chubb, G Dalton Risner, 2022 first-round pick, 22 second-round pick, 23 first-round pick, 24 first-round pick. Last week, I took the same question to two high-level talent evaluators with aspirations of becoming a general manager. As such, this is a question theyve thought through because they could be in the shoes of Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst at some point. Three first-round picks but, because of Rodgers, those picks are going to be in the 20s or 30s, one said. So, Id need a couple really good players, too. Heres what Id do: Tell Denver to pay for Bradley Chubbs contract extension. Its Aaron (Bleeping) Rodgers. Youre not going to give him away. Build a kick-ass defense, ride (Aaron) Jones and hope your new quarterback is good enough. Echoing the first and the one who spoke to Breer, the second high-level personnel man also said three first-round picks, a star player and quarterback Drew Lock. Brian liked Drew Lock back in 19. So, he liked Jordan (Love) and he liked Lock, so now youve got two guys and you hope to hit on one, he said, speaking before Green Bay signed veteran Blake Bortles. Heres what complicates things. Who needs a quarterback? To his point, five quarterbacks were selected in the first 15 picks of last months draft. It becomes a really short list of teams that, A, need a quarterback and, B, Rodgers wouldnt veto by refusing to show up. Denver, obviously, the second high-level evaluator said in mentioning the team linked most frequently to Rodgers over the past few weeks. Ive seen Las Vegas but the Raiders dont have star players to send back. Aarons not going to show up in Houston. Obviously, there was no way in hell Gutey would send him to San Francisco just so he can watch Rodgers go home and win a Super Bowl. Same with New Orleans. Theyve got a championship roster but dont have a championship quarterback. So, Gutey can ask for a kings ransom, and he should. But the other team doesnt have to pay it. Id be like, This is our offer. Its better than the nothing youll get if he sits. A third executive said he wouldnt want to set a precedent of trading a disgruntled player. But, if it really gets to that point where hes not going to show up, I probably would trade him, he said. I just wouldnt trade him now because I dont want to give that other team the opportunity to have an offseason with him. | https://www.si.com/nfl/packers/news/packers-get-picks-trade-rodgers |
Which Undrafted Rookies Could Earn Roster Spots? | Two months since the start of the new NFL year, there are openings at tight end, on the defensive line and at kicker. After 259 players have their names called through seven rounds of the NFL Draft, teams shift their focus to those who were overlooked. Plenty of undrafted rookie free agents earn roster spots every year. The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with 10 of them last week. But the odds are always stacked against those rookies when it comes to making the 53-man roster or practice squad for the regular season. Those players need to give teams unique reasons to keep them past training camp. Theres always just kind of something, Titans coach Mike Vrabel said on Saturday. Whether they go out there and excel in a leadership role maybe they picked up the offense or defense so well that they not only knew their job but help the guys around them. They have to exhibit some sort of skillset. Last year guys like offensive lineman Aaron Brewer, wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and defensive lineman Teair Tart all carved out roles for themselves. A year earlier, it was outside linebacker Derick Roberson and cornerback Kareem Orr. You kind of know. You kind of see it (when an undrafted has what it takes), Vrabel said. Its either there or its not. All Titans looks at the undrafted free agents with the best chances of making the team this summer: Miller Forristall, tight end, Alabama: The tight end room is wide open. Jonnu Smith left in free agency, and franchise officials have not replaced him in free agency or the draft. Forristall had an injury-filled career at Alabama, missing his entire sophomore year and most of the next one with knee injuries. But hes stayed fairly healthy over the last two seasons, and hes been productive. He caught a career-high four touchdowns in 2019 in nine games and set career highs in receptions (23) and yards (253) this past season in 12 games. The 6-foot-4, 244-pounder will compete with veterans Anthony Firkser and Geoff Swaim, untested players Tommy Hudson and Jared Pinkney and fellow undrafted free agent Briley Moore (Kansas State). Blake Haubeil, kicker, Ohio State: It remains to be seen whether the Titans feel they need a veteran such as Stephen Gostkowski or if they are willing the risk going with a younger, cheaper option at kicker. As of now, Haubeil figures to go head-to-head Tucker McCann, an undrafted free agent in 2020 who spent the entirety of last season on the practice squad. Huabeil was a full-time starter for the Buckeyes for three seasons. He made 80 percent of his field goal attempts (28-35) and all 146 of his point-after tries. In 50 career games at Ohio State, he scored 230 points, which is good for 16th all-time in program history and 10th among kickers. His career-long was a 55-yard field goal in a victory over Northwestern in 2019. Naquan Jones, defensive tackle, Michigan State: The Titans have crowd at defensive tackle, including free-agent addition Denico Autry, 2019 first-round pick Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart and others. But expect Jones to be competitive for a roster spot. At 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, he has prototypical size for the position. Over four years at Michigan State, he made 78 tackles, 12.5 tackles for a loss and had three sacks. In a COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, he recorded a career-high five tackles for a loss. He never made any more than 26 tackles in a single season (2018), but Jones is more valuable than his stats may show. He could be used to take up space and give edge rushers and linebackers chances to get into the backfield in the way DaQuan Jones (no relation) another free agent departure who has not been replaced was in recent seasons. | https://www.si.com/nfl/titans/news/tennessee-titans-nfl-udfa-chances-naquan-jones-miller-forrsitall-blake-haubeil |
Could Deshaun Watson 'Immense NFL Value' Still Mean Houston Texans Summer Trade? | HOUSTON -- Sometimes saying little says more than any number of words. That's one way to look at the Deshaun Watson situation as Houston Texans head coach David Culley avoided questions during rookie camp of the QB's status. "We have nothing to say about that situation at this time," Culley said Saturday. "[Texans chairman Cal McNair] and ownership a few weeks back indicated about how our organization feels about the situation. I think when [general manager Nick Caserio] was on not long ago, he also mentioned that the legal process was in effect right now and we're going to respect that and go from there." Everything with Watson remains at a stalemate entering Phase Two of NFL offseason programs. Currently, there are still 22 civil lawsuits out against him for sexual misconduct and sexual assault. Those will be handled by the court system in Harris County. The NFL still could rule him ineligible and suspend him if they believe Watson broke any of the personal conduct policy as well. READ MORE: Culley 'No Comment' Reveals Plenty About Houston Texans QB Deshaun Watson Watson is now expected to be traded once his name is clear in the investigation. The investment of third-round pick Davis Mills isn't a dealbreaker for the 25-year-old quarterback, but the writing seems to be on the wall of his time ending in NRG Stadium. The question turns to now who would trade for Watson and what would the asking price be. Back in March before the allegations and the NFL Draft it seemed he was the "break the bank" player for near every QB-needy team. Now, both the market and asking price could have dried up for Houston to walk away a winner. The Chicago Bears were hopeful to make up for passing on Watson in 2017 with the No. 2 pick as were the San Francisco 49ers at pick No. 3. The New York Jets had the draft capital to select him and the New England Patriots seemed ready to move off Cam Newton. One more later, all four have their hopeful franchise guy. The 49ers traded up to select Trey Lance at No. 3. The Bears traded up to No. 11 to grab Ohio State's Justin Fields. New York remained put at took Zach Wilson at No .2 while New England added the Alabama sensation Mac Jones at No. 15. Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper wanted to make a splash in free agency. Although he's struggled through three seasons, the additions made around Sam Darnold are the best he's had since coming out of USC in 2018. The Denver Broncos seemed ideal after players stated how they'd love to play with Watson. It's too soon to say that Denver is out of the QB-trade market, but they're likely investing all the chips into in the Aaron Rodgers' basket. The Miami Dolphins have built a roster around second-year standout Tua Tagovailoa to be successful. Both sides of the ball have upgraded immensely with the additions of Will Fuller, Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips. Miami finished a game away from the postseason last season. If not, Miami has two first-round picks they could offer for Watson. The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2022 offseason with the most draft capital. Much like Miami, they too have a pair of first-round picks that could be on the market for a high-end quarterback. Carson Wentz is out of the picture and the Jalen Hurts era is set to begin. Hurts, who was selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, started the final four games to close out the season. He went 1-3 as a starter behind a limp offensive line and limited weapons to help him as a passer. Still, the Channelview native threw for 1,061 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. READ MORE: Houston Texans Coach Culley Praises Teacher Pep Hamilton Howie Roseman might have done enough this offseason by pairing Hurts up with his former Alabama teammate DeVonta Smith. The hope is new head coach Nick Sirianni can elevate the production of second-year target Jalen Reagor as well. Other teams like Washington and the New York Giants might consider a trade following the season. The Giants have a capable offense and are hopeful that Daniel Jones can work with the new weapons at hand. The Texans might not have many suitors until Watson is cleared, but a trade of his talent seems imminent following the cases being dismissed. He will still have immense value on the market. If cleared sooner, this should be enough for Caserio to speed up the rebuild and provide stability for a franchise walking on stilts. | https://www.si.com/nfl/texans/news/could-deshaun-watson-immense-nfl-value-still-mean-houston-texans-summer-trade |
Why are sound-wave attacks met with silence from American officials? | Recent reporting has revealed that debilitating sonic frequency attacks against U.S. government personnel have not been limited to foreign locales theyve also happened here in the U.S., including twice in Washington against National Security Council officials. Recent reporting also indicates that attacks against U.S. diplomats abroad started earlier, and occurred in more places, than previously known. The men and women suffering from excruciating symptoms not to mention their families who have dedicated their lives to government service deserve answers. Reporting last week raised concerns that our government knows more than it has let on about how long these radio frequency attacks have been occurring. But so far, our governments public response to these sound-wave attacks has been little more than the sound of silence. Until recently, weve known only that mysterious directed energy attacks began in 2016 in Havana and affected U.S. personnel assigned to Cuba and China. But reporting last week raised concerns that our government knows more than it has let on about how long these radio frequency attacks have been occurring, how many Americans have been affected, and in how many places. According to a New York Times report, suspected attacks occurred as recently as this month and some have resulted in debilitating injuries. In a report released in December, the National Academy of Sciences said a microwave weapon probably caused the injuries. Some officials believe a microwave or directed-energy device is the most likely cause. Perhaps most alarming is the revelation that at least two episodes involving White House staff members, one in 2020 that affected a National Security Council official near the Ellipse south of the White House and another in 2019 involving a woman walking her dog in Northern Virginia. The news brings the specter of foreign adversarial actions to within yards of the White House. Weve also now learned that more personnel than previously disclosed have reported symptoms from attacks. As the Times reported, the government initially asserted that 60 U.S. employees and their dependents were among those attacked. But now, thanks to journalistic efforts, we know that as many as 130 Americans including the 2-year old child of a military officer assigned abroad have experienced symptoms. The new numbers reflect the addition of cases coming from Europe and Asia not previously shared with the public. CIA officers assigned to foreign posts are among those who required treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and other facilities. CIA employees appear to have been the hardest hit by the attacks, but representatives of the Department of State, Department of Defense and other agencies are among the targeted, according to the Times. A May 6 oped in The Washington Examiner lays out what may be the strongest case yet that these attacks may have started much earlier than 2016, and that the most likely suspect is Russia. That piece details the accounts of retired National Security Agency officer Mike Beck and his colleague Charles Gubete, believed to have been the targets of Russian radio frequency attacks while traveling in a hostile country in 1996. Both Beck and Gubete suffered from early onset Parkinsons disease. Gubete died in 2013. There appears to be no centralized task force across agencies that shares intelligence and answers to one senior leader. According to the Examiner, Kemp Ensor, who was then the NSAs director of counterintelligence, told other NSA officials in 2016 of evidence that Beck and Gubete were targeted by a microwave frequency weapon. The CIA, the Pentagon and the State Department all have teams assessing the scope of these attacks and who is behind them. Yet there appears to be no centralized task force across agencies that shares intelligence and answers to one senior leader. As described in the New York Times report, The Biden administration is trying to strike a careful balance between showing officials that they are taking the issue seriously and trying to keep panic from spreading, either inside the government or among the public. The National Security Council has begun an intelligence review, aimed at discovering whether additional unreported incidents fit the pattern, a spokeswoman said. On April 29, President Joe Bidens new director of national intelligence, Avril Haines, briefed Congress on the attacks. But as CNBC reported, she was light on details. It's long past time for the director of national intelligence to take the lead and establish a multiagency task force under her command to identify the full scope of targeted microwave frequency attacks against U.S. personnel and develop evidence against the responsible nation. Once thats accomplished, the people and the government who launched these cowardly attacks must be held accountable. Our ailing public servants deserve to hear the sound of their own government supporting them. | https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/why-are-sound-wave-attacks-met-silence-american-officials-n1267621 |
What has Anthony DeSclafani 'pitching with a lot of swagger' for Giants? | When Anthony DeSclafani toes the rubber Tuesday at Great American Ball Park, hell be a much different pitcher than he ever was when he wore the home teams uniform for five years in Cincinnati. In his first season with the Giants, the right-hander is among the leagues top 12 in walks and hits allowed per inning pitched (0.89), earned-run average (2.14) and opponents batting average (.179). The numbers speak to a newfound self-assurance thats obvious to those who see him more often than every fifth day. Hes pitching with a lot of swagger, said Giants backup catcher Curt Casali, who caught DeSclafani for the past three seasons in Cincinnatis homer-happy ballpark. It gives away some wall-scraper homeruns at some points, and that can derail a pitchers confidence. Buoyed by a more pitcher-friendly yard in San Francisco, and facing a division that doesnt know him very well, Casali said of DeSclafani: Its been a really nice fresh start for him. Hes been absolutely tremendous for us. Seeing how the Giants helped Kevin Gausman and Drew Smyly regain their value, DeSclafani said he knew where he wanted to sign as a free agent. He inked a one-year, $6 million contract in December to join a rotation that included a bunch of former Cincinnati Reds. Giants starters Gausman (2019), Alex Wood (2019) and Johnny Cueto (2008-15) were among a group that joined DeSclafani at Sotto, an esteemed Italian restaurant in Cincinnati, shortly after the team arrived Sunday night. Among the things they discussed were the oddities of walking back into Great American Ball Park and pitching against teammates they know so well. Theres no question that its going to be extremely weird, but I look forward to just competing, DeSclafani said. L.A. shopping: As if the National League West wasnt already loaded enough, the Dodgers officially signed future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols to be a pinch-hitter and occasional sub at first base. Hes a veteran, right-handed hitter, who is one of the greatest right-hander hitters in the past 50 years or so, Giants manager Gabe Kapler said. Pujols, who was released by the Angels earlier this month, is a three-time MVP and 10-time All-Star. The 41-year-old is among baseball historys top five in homers (667), runs batted in (2,112), total bases (5.955), and doubles (669). Brotherly love: The Giants claimed outfielder Braden Bishop off waivers from Seattle and optioned him to Triple-A Sacramento, where he could eventually pair with his brother, 2019 first-round pick Hunter Bishop. Hunter Bishop, the Giants fourth-best prospect and ranked No. 70 in baseball according to MLB.com, is playing for Single-A Eugene. Injury updates: Scans on the bothersome side of Brandon Belt came back clean, and the team will continue to monitor the first basemans day-to-day progress, according to Kapler. Infielder Donovan Solano, who has been out with a calf injury since April 21, is expected to play seven innings in the minors Monday and eventually advance to nine-inning games. Right-handed reliever Reyes Moronta (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. Rusty Simmons is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @Rusty_SFChron | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/article/What-has-Anthony-DeSclafani-pitching-with-a-16183873.php |
Why do lumber prices keep soaring? And when might they come back down? | The price of lumber futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange recently surged above $1,500 per thousand board feet. Thats a 300% rise from this time last year. 2x4s are suddenly very, very expensive and so are things made with the softwoods. The cost of building a new home, for example, is up by about $36,000 on average. That question led me to Bob Bauer, Executive Director of the Kentucky Forest Industries Association. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length. You can listen to the interview on the May 20 edition of Eastern Standard, 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. on 88.9 WEKU. Bauer: Our association represents a wide range of the industry mostly dominated by hardwood sawmills. Of course, we represent the loggers out there in the woods and also a lot of the secondary people that produce things like hardwood flooring and in the paper industry. Bauer: Yes, as far as the hardwood industry, actually there was a lot of anticipation that the markets were going to get better. In early March of last year, they finally worked out agreements as far as export markets, which has a big impact on the hardwood industry - a lot of the higher grades of lumber are exported. That was decided in early March, so there was an expectation that things were going to get better. But, when the pandemic hit, we actually had things fall off considerably. Then the market started to recover a lot faster than people thought. Bauer: Yes. Were dominated by hardwood because thats whats in our forests here. Our members that produce all types of things that are in the home: the flooring, doors, millwork, the cabinets, furniture. And our industries heavily produce a lot of palettes, cross ties for the railroad industry and those types of things, which the lower quality wood goes into. Bauer: Weve seen an impact in the hardwoods. The pandemic did cause a slowdown. It was harder for everybody to work. Luckily the hardwood forestry business was declared an essential industry, so they were able to work and operate throughout the pandemic. Part of our industry is the paper industry and you know how important all of that is, the packaging, toilet paper. And we did see quite a slowdown through probably the first four to six months. But as last summer ended the market started to improve some in the hardwood business and theyve continued and now the markets are pretty strong - better than they were last March for sure. Bauer: Here in Kentucky, our paper industry is tied closer to fine paper which would be office paper, that type of thing. We lost a large paper mill down in Tennessee because of the demand for office paper, those kind of things, which has had a ripple effect on our industry because all of these hardwood sawmills, anything that they dont use in the lumber is chipped into chips that then go to the paper industry. So, we did see an effect where it made it a little tougher to get rid of those those things from the hardwood sawmills. Martin: Lets turn to to the softwoods. This is the lumber used in construction to make things like palettes and fence posts, not to mention in homes. Bauer: The softwood side obviously was affected too going into the pandemic. Obviously, there was a huge concern just like every other industry. So, as that started our industry cut way back with the assumption that the markets were going to slow. And for a brief period of time they saw that just because everybody was held at home. But, as time went on, people had time on their hands, so they started doing more home improvement, adding on a garage or whatever. The softwoods go into that construction: lumber, plywood, all those things that are used in the structural parts of building. So, that market quickly stayed the same or improved. And with the demand increasing, those large mills tried to start ramping up. Of course, they had the pandemic to deal with so its basically put them behind the eight ball and theyre still struggling. And one difference between the hardwood and the softwood business is in the the way those hardwood logs are sawn. Theres much smaller volume at hardwood sawmills. An average size hardwood sawmill may produce 10 million board feet a year, whereas some of the (softwood) mills in the south produce 300 to 400 million a year. One of those mills closing down, you can see how that would quickly affect the supply. So, that demand, came back quickly and theyve struggled to catch up. And on top of that, the housing markets are very much improved and were seeing that on the upswing the last number of months, so thats also created even more demand. Boy, its really been a tough time trying to get back up to that level of production to meet all the needs out there. Bauer: Thats a huge issue. With the pandemic there were things they had to do to keep people protected, which they continue to do, but that has made it very difficult to get people back online. Ive been out in the last month visiting a number of mills and nearly every place I go theyre looking for employees and cant find them. Without enough people, they cant ramp up production. There are a number of things driving that. The number one thing that I hear, especially out in the rural areas of the state and from my counterparts in the south is with all of the packages that have been put together, the high amount of money thats going into unemployment, they simply cant compete with somebody that can sit at home and make that kind of money instead of working. So, thats become a real issue out there for the industry. Martin: Lumber industry analysts say that $1,500 per thousand board feet of softwood that I mentioned earlier is, of course, not sustainable. But, the pre-COVID price of $300 to $500 may never come back and instead we might get stuck in a higher range, maybe $800 to $1,000. Bauer: Well, its hard to say. Its a great question. What Ive seen especially related to the hardwood industry over the years is that eventually that supply reaches back to where it meets the demand. I guess I wouldnt be surprised that maybe its a little higher. I think well see the upper range in the $500 or $600 area. But, I think as you see production increase and weve already seen some newer mills coming online and people increasing production that will stabilize that back. I dont think well see a huge change in that obviously. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-lumber-prices-keep-soaring-184237553.html |
Who are the Dodgers really getting in Albert Pujols? | It might have been baseballs first news conference for a .198 hitter. It was certainly the first news conference in which a member of the Dodgers implied that the Angels were liars. It was 20 minutes of awkward tip-toeing around a fallen legend searching for a resurrection. Welcome to Chavez Ravine, Albert Pujols. Advertisement Now prove the Dodgers didnt just make a giant mistake. Prove they didnt just sign an aging malcontent whose first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials could give him a license to become a clubhouse distraction. Prove theyre not wasting valuable roster space on a former superstar whose discomfort with his mostly bench role will eventually force them to uncomfortably fire him again. Obviously, in the broader expanse of the baseball world, the great Pujols doesnt need to prove anything to anybody. After all, three MVP awards, two World Series championships, 3,253 hits and 667 home runs pretty much covers it. But here in Southern California, where hes virtually disappeared since his misguided move from St. Louis to Anaheim 10 years ago, Pujols is setting himself up for greater scrutiny by making the 27-mile drive up the 5 Freeway from the shadows into the spotlight. Advertisement Its one thing to fail in quaint Angels Stadium. Its quite another to blow it in Hollywood. The Angels said he was cut because he couldnt accept a bench role, and there were even reports that he was finally canned after a shouting match with manager Joe Maddon one night when his name wasnt on the lineup card. He wants to play every day at first base, said Angels president John Carpino after the release. Yet on Monday, Pujols denied saying any such thing. Advertisement I think there were a lot of things said out there, that I wanted more playing time, that I wanted to play every day, Pujols said. That never came out of my mouth. You guys asked me that question over and over, so many times, and I always told you, however the team needs me, Im here for that. MLB veteran Albert Pujols talks to the media for the first time since signing a contract with the Dodgers. You hear him, but you wonder. Because it seems like if he embraced the dugout, the Angels wouldnt have paid him nearly $30 million to disappear from it. The petulance he reportedly showed in Anaheim wont play with the Dodgers either. The Dodgers clubhouse works because nobody openly complains about playing time. The Dodgers win by being selfless. Advertisement Listen, I had [86] at-bats this year, I never thought this early in April Id have that many at-bats, Pujols claimed. I was excited with the playing time I got there. It sure didnt seem like it. It also doesnt seem like he would be happy as a pinch-hitter considering he has pinch-hit in less than 1% of his career plate appearances and hasnt had an actual pinch hit in 12 years. Bring it on, Pujols said. I told them Im here to do whatever, he said. Pinch-hit, first base, whatever they want, at the end of the day, Im just excited to have the opportunity to wear this uniform. Advertisement Dont blame the Dodgers if his excitement wears thin. Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers baseball boss whose transparency with players is one of his hallmarks, emphasized that he and manager Dave Roberts told Pujols that he would be used in a variety of roles. He believes Pujols understood. We were open and honest and we walked through the scenarios and talked through it, Friedman said. We didnt want to be a used car salesman to get him to come here I think you guys heard from him earlier, of how excited he is about that. Theres been comparisons between Pujols potential impact and the positive vibes once shared by David Freese and Chase Utley, two declining veterans who Friedman signed as role players. Advertisement There is one difference. Those guys werent 20-year stars, and those guys adapted quickly to their new roles. It is this adaptation that will be so crucial and is so questionable for Pujols. The thing that I remember most is their veteran leadership, the way they prepared their mindset, and most importantly their acceptance of the role, Roberts said of Freese and Utley. When specifically a veteran player understands and accepts the role, they can thrive so thats why it was just really important for Andrew to talk to him and be upfront. If Pujols buys in, he can certainly help. His OPS against lefties is 215 points higher than the Dodgers team OPS against lefties. He can certainly come off the bench or spot start and drive the ball and win a game or two or three. I feel like I still have some gasoline left in my tank, he said. Advertisement He also has the lure of a legitimate shot at another ring, a bauble which was only an illusion during his time in Anaheim. Veterans in all sports have often stifled their egos for the sake of one more championship. These guys won last year, theyre hungry to win again, they can tell you that, I can see that, watching them play, Pujols said. Ive been playing against the organization long enough from the other side, and Ive seen how they go about it. I think thats something I want to be a part of. As further motivation, maybe, just maybe, he will do whatever it takes to show the Angels that they quit on him six months too soon. Advertisement Listen, I dont have to show the Angels or anybody, Pujols protested. For better or worse, the Dodgers are about to find out. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2021-05-17/albert-pujols-baseball-great-dodgers-angels |
How worrying is the India coronavirus variant for UK plans to unlock this summer? | Mondays change in the rules was supposed to be a moment of celebration but the new variant spreading in the UK meant it came with a cautionary note. This time last week, most of us were feeling optimistic about the next step in the governments irreversible plan to end lockdown. Then scientists started to warn that the accelerating spread of the India variant of coronavirus meant that we should proceed carefully and even consider slowing down. While the plans went ahead on Monday, they came with a heavy dose of caution and warnings that the last stage of the relaxation set for 21 June could be delayed. The Guardians science correspondent Nicola Davis tells Anushka Asthana about the latest setback in the fight against Covid and what it means for what happens next. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2021/may/18/how-worrying-is-the-india-coronavirus-variant-for-uk-plans-to-unlock-this-summer |
How can I change my money mindset? | Your browser does not support playing this file but you can still download the MP3 file to play locally. 32-year old project manager Rosie contacted Money Clinic as she kept making the same mistakes. Despite starting the month with good intentions, online shopping sprees frequently pushed her into the red. Tim Harford, FT columnist and author, turns to behavioural economics to show how we can train our brains to resist the urge to splurge. Financial coach and blogger Ellie Austin-Williams, known online as This Girl Talks Money, encourages Rosie to explore her money mindset and probe her emotional connections with money. If you would like to be a guest on Money Clinic and chat to Claer about a money issue thats bugging you, get in touch our email is [email protected]. Follow Claer on Twitter and Instagram @ClaerB. Further reading: Tim Harford writes the Undercover Economist column in the Financial Times. His bestselling book How to Make the World Add Up is out now in paperback. And if youre after budgeting tips, check out Claers recent column: Lock down your budget before the economy opens up See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. A transcript for this podcast is currently unavailable, view our accessibility guide. | https://www.ft.com/content/962982cf-8d63-4d01-bcf1-8304983e8e05 |
Why is Huawei still in the UK? | Huawei logo, London bus It's not just the unseasonally cold weather that's creating a somewhat chilly climate for Huawei's UK operations. It's been banned from the UK's 5G infrastructure and it faces ongoing scrutiny from the National Cyber Security Centre over its security practices, and whether it has links with the Chinese government, which it denies. On a consumer level, its handset sales have plummeted all over Europe since the US introduced a trade ban, which makes them incompatible with essential Google apps, including Gmail, Google Maps and the Play Store. And yet while you or I might have got our coats and left by now, Huawei remains. Not only is it still here, it's still investing in the UK - creating jobs, and funding university research. It insists its reasons are altruistic - that it takes pride in its collaborative work here and admires UK innovation - and says it gains in return valuable research insight into the future direction of the telecoms industry. It is speaking out following a slew of negative press about its associations with some of the country's top academic institutions - which have a tendency to keep quiet about their connections. Critics say universities should not be accepting its cash. But plenty are. Huawei says it has "partnerships" with 35 UK universities including Imperial College London, Surrey, Cambridge and Southampton. It also has its own in-house research and development centres in Bristol, Ipswich and Edinburgh, and two in Cambridge, and says it has spent an annual average of 80m over the last ten years on UK-based research in general. Part of the issue is that these partnerships are shrouded in secrecy. Journalists like me regularly get research news from universities, and academics are often keen to trumpet who has sponsored their latest breakthrough, in order to maintain their funding. This is not so common when that funding comes from Huawei, and it makes some in government uneasy. Story continues "These quiet ongoing partnerships between British universities and Chinese state-backed companies must be more transparent," said MP Tom Tugendhat, who co-runs the China Research Group. "Universities need to think hard about who they choose to partner with." Huawei denies any links with the Chinese state. 'Due diligence' Oxford University suspended new donations and sponsorships with Huawei in 2019 but I contacted three universities known to have ongoing relationships with the firm. Southampton University told me it had a "strategic corporate partnership" with Huawei but did not spell out what it was. Edinburgh said its collaboration focused on "new technologies in data management and information technology" and added that it had "undergone a rigorous process of due diligence". Cambridge did not respond. Huawei insists that it doesn't mind the lack of publicity. It's not unusual for collaborators to sign non-disclosure agreements because of the confidential nature of research, it says. It adds that it doesn't want intellectual property either - despite a keen interest in patents, it says it hardly ever takes ownership of the research from universities who make discoveries with its co-operation. It's not even after the brain power - while it "sometimes" employs UK university graduates, the affable Victor Zhang, Huawei's UK Vice-President, says he can't recall poaching any UK-based professors. "We are proud of our partnerships with universities and we wish for those partnerships to continue," he says. Mr Zhang gives me three reasons why Huawei UK remains: there is still Huawei kit in legacy broadband infrastructure, largely belonging to BT and Vodafone, which it says needs maintaining it is "proud" of its UK partnerships it "admires" the UK's innovation and corporate social responsibilities in areas such as climate change research "We give universities money, technology and platforms for research," he says, "and we take awareness of the direction of the future." Mr Zhang insists the firm is "not buying something" with its largesse, and that to think that it is, is a "misunderstanding". Former Science Minister Jo Johnson believes China research partnerships need to be maintained. Tom Tugendhat argues that funding from China "rarely comes without strings attached". Perhaps Huawei is playing the long game, hoping that one day all of the controversy will melt away, there will be a new threat to focus on, and it can resume business as usual. Certainly the UK has not cooled on all Chinese relationships, and economically, it's clear why. The number of Chinese students at UK universities has more than trebled since 2006, according to the National Institute of Economics and Social Research. Tuition fees from Chinese students add up to at least 1.7bn a year across universities and independent schools. And at an event last week, former science minister Jo Johnson said that the number of UK-China research partnerships has ballooned from 750 in 2000 to 16,000 in 2020, although he acknowledged that universities could "better organise themselves" in terms of the contracts they negotiate, served perhaps by a centralised framework. However, severing those ties, he said, would "pose a severe handicap" to UK research. "The idea that any decoupling of China is in the national interest seems to me highly unlikely," he said. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-huawei-still-uk-164344606.html |
Why cant I talk to anyone in Ikea customer service? | It seems that many hundreds of people, including me, are having problems, and it is almost impossible to talk to anyone. Since January, I have been trying to return four items which I ordered online. It is difficult to find the customer service number and, when you do, either you are on hold until you lose the will to live, or they tell you that you can just turn up at a store with your receipt. Another part of the website suggests that this is not the case. The complain by email section does not actually provide an email address. There is also no contact telephone number for my local Gateshead branch, so I dont know whether I can actually return items to the store. SB, Durham Ikea is another company that hasnt had a great year customer service-wise. The internet is awash with unhappy Ikea customers and an inability to be able to talk to someone is a repeated complaint. Happily, the firms press people are more on the ball and have arranged to have your four items collected and a refund paid. The company blames a huge leap in online demand, coupled with Covid-related supply chain problems, which, in turn, doubled calls to its contact centre. We know that this experience does not live up to our expectations for our customers, and we have been working extremely hard to resolve these issues, it says. And, for the record, it says you can take items bought online back to the stores. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at [email protected]. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2021/may/18/why-cant-i-talk-to-anyone-in-ikea-customer-service |
Can The Indiana Pacers Defeat The Charlotte Hornets To Keep Their Season Alive? | CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 27: Doug McDermott #20 of the Indiana Pacers drives to the ... [+] basket against LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets during the first quarter of their game at Spectrum Center on January 27, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Getty Images After a grueling regular season, the Indiana Pacers find themselves in a spot that they are unaccustomed to. Quite literally, actually. The Pacers finished with the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, meaning they will play in the first-ever Eastern Conference play-in game on Tuesday. No team has ever been in this position before, as this is the first season that features the play-in tournament in this format. The Pacers will take on the Charlotte Hornets in a win-or-go-home game. The victor will take on the loser of the other Eastern Conference play-in game, Boston versus Washington, on Thursday. The losing team will enter the draft lottery, their season will be over. Its a high leverage game, which makes every detail of the battle interesting. During the regular season, the Hornets won two of the three meetings between the two teams, including an impressive 17-point win in April. They looked like the better team in head-to-head matchups during the regular season. But this isnt the regular season. While it isnt technically the playoffs, the games will mirror a playoff atmosphere and feature more postseason-esque strategies. Pacers All-Star center Domantas Sabonis noted this just after the conclusion of the Pacers regular season on Sunday. Every game is different. Especially this game, its basically like a playoff game game seven I would say, he said. Theyre going to have a lot of scouting. They might play us different... [they] could double me. We just have to be ready for everything and for every outcome. What the Pacers need to be ready for is strong play from the Hornets backcourt. Charlotte has a three-headed monster of lethal ball handlers DeVonte Graham, LaMelo Ball, and Terry Rozier that all gave the blue and gold fits at various times throughout the season. Graham and Rozier both have become tremendous spot-up shooters, they both had an effective field goal percentage over 58% on these shots. Thats how they killed the Pacers this season. Rozier hit 5/8 triples in a three-point Charlotte win over Indiana back in January, and Graham shot 4/9 from deep on two separate occasions against the blue and gold. They both were able to get free from deep often. When Graham was in the game, the Hornets outscored the Pacers by 40 points across three matchups. His shiftiness and accurate shooting from long range has caused Indiana problems, and his underrated passing ability makes it difficult to throw complex coverages at him. What makes him even more difficult to contain is that he takes over three pull-up triples per game. He can beat a defense in many ways, and the Pacers have yet to figure out how to slow him down. They will have to if they want to take down the Hornets. Obviously, they have a lot of guys that can really get hot, Pacers forward Oshae Brissett said of the Hornets. Rozier and Graham are two of those guys. Theyre a great team, he added. CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 27: Devonte' Graham #4 of the Charlotte Hornets is closely ... [+] guarded by Jeremy Lamb #26 of the Indiana Pacers during the third quarter of their game at Spectrum Center on January 27, 2021 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images) Getty Images LaMelo Ball, on the other hand, presents a whole different set of challenges to the blue and gold. While he isnt quite the shooter the other two Charlotte guards are, he is supremely talented in many other areas of the game. He is an excellent rebounder for a perimeter player, which happens to be an area of the game that the Pacers struggle in, and he sees the game at a high level. That allows him to create buckets for his teammates and get many steals each night. He impacts winning in a variety of ways. His 16 point, six rebound, and seven assist performance against Indiana in January was effortless. If Ball is controlling the game, the Hornets offense is typically gelling. Whats more, he is a solid connector for Charlotte second units he makes bench groups much tougher to contain. When he is at his best, Ball is a game changer. The Hornets offensive pace is much faster with Ball in the game. Their possessions are nearly a full second shorter when hes on the floor he gets the team running, both in their sets and in transition. And that transition game is where the purple and teal become deadly. They finished fourth in the NBA in points per game in transition this season, and they were top-five in effective field goal percentage on fast breaks. The Hornets are lethal when they run, and Ball is a big part of that. Theyre just really good. They play fast, theyve got a lot of high level scorers, Pacers guard T.J. McConnell said of the Hornets. The last time they came to [Indianapolis], I think from start to finish just really outplayed us. Weve got to come out and be extremely ready, do what we do. Move the ball, be disruptive on defense, and get out and go. Defense will be key for the Pacers if they want to slow down the Hornets backcourt. The blue and gold were able to hold Charlotte to fewer than 110 points in two of the three battles between the squads, but both teams have increased their pace over the course of the season. Holding the Hornets to a lower total again will be more challenging. Indianas defense has been inconsistent this season. They play an aggressive defensive style, and at times it guides the Pacers. But if often crushes them. Against a volatile offense like Charlotte, they will have to be on their A-game defensively. Its likely that the Pacers will put extra pressure on Hornets ball-handlers. That strategy could throw Charlotte guards off their game and force errors. But it could also open up space for cutters and shooters away from the play. Its crucial that Indiana puts a meaningful emphasis on their off-ball defense otherwise, the Pacers disruptive strategy might just be their downfall. They just had us scrambling on defense, Sabonis said of the regular season matchups between the Hornets and Pacers. [Monday], were going to prepare for them defensively. Weve just got to be the aggressors in transition. Defense will be slightly more difficult for the Pacers with Myles Turner out. Hes the Pacers best defender, but hes still dealing with a foot injury. Jeremy Lamb and T.J. Warren are out for Indiana as well, but Gordon Hayward wont play for Charlotte. Injuries will dramatically change the way this game is played. The Turner absence will be particularly crippling for the blue and gold as Charlotte loves to attack the basket they ranked eighth in drives per game this season. Only five teams passed out of rim attacks more often than the Hornets, so they still are lower in the rankings when it comes to shots off of drives. But without Turner, the Pacers will have a harder time slowing down Charlotte when they get into the paint. Thankfully, the Pacers should still win the interior battle. This is perhaps where Indiana can get the largest advantage for either team in this game. They have Domantas Sabonis, an All-Star who has been on a tear as of late, and the Hornets dont have a good answer for his skillset. INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - APRIL 02: Domantas Sabonis #11 of the Indiana Pacers dribbles the ball while ... [+] being guarded by Cody Zeller #40 of the Charlotte Hornets in the second quarter at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on April 02, 2021 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) Getty Images Theyre a tough, physical team. Were going to have to win the interior, Hornets Head Coach James Borrego said of the Pacers earlier this season. This is one area that weve always had to battle against with them is on the interior with Sabonis and Turner. Theyre big, theyre physical. I thought we did a much better job in the second game of protecting the paint. Sabonis averaged 17.3 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game against the Hornets this season. He was capable of forcing Charlotte big men such as Cody Zeller and Bismack Biyombo to defend him and his creation ability out on the perimeter, which opened up the paint for his teammates. When Sabonis was guarded by smaller players he was able to put them under the basket and score with ease 16 of his 21 made shots this season against the Hornets were dunks or layups. He will be the focal point of the Pacers offense in this play-in game, and rightfully so. The Lithuanian big man gives the Pacers the opportunity to play inside-out, something he, and the team, did well against the Hornets. Over one-third of Sabonis assists against the Hornets this season led to three-pointers, he punished the purple and teal squad for giving him extra defensive attention. His unique skillset makes him hard to contain, the Hornets will have to decide what type of shots they will try to cut off. Theyre a really physical team and theyve got a lot of shooters, Hornets wing Miles Bridges said of the Pacers. [We have to] make sure their shooters dont get a lot of open shots. If Borrego is able to come up with a game plan that both slows down both Sabonis and the Pacers shooters, a group headlined by Justin Holiday, Doug McDermott, and Malcom Brogdon (who is questionable to play), then driving lanes will be open. The Hornets will be so spread out trying to defend inside-out that, should they succeed, Indiana will be able to attack the paint at will. Caris LeVert and Brogdon, if he plays, have both been effective when taking the ball to the rim against a spread out defense. They finished 17th and 16th, respectively, in drives per game this season and were able to punish broken defenses. Both of them can pass well, too, so the Hornets will still have to be cognizant of shooters even when LeVert or Brogdon have an open path to the basket. Essentially, thanks to Sabonis multi-dimensional skillset, the Hornets will have to give up something. It might be post ups, it might be threes from above the break, it might be secondary drives. But Charlotte will have to play an incredible game on defense to cut off all of the Pacers options. Theres a reasonable chance the Charlotte backcourt and Indiana frontcourt have equal impacts and essentially nullify each other. That would make both starting units similarly effective, which would make the bench clashes key in this game. Projecting the Pacers second unit is difficult thanks to the number of injuries the team is dealing with. That bench group could feature McConnell, Edmond Sumner, McDermott, and Goga Bitadze. It could also be comprised of McDermott, Kelan Martin, and JaKarr Sampson. There is still a lot up in the air on the health front for the blue and gold. If the Pacers do get a few players back, they likely have a slight advantage off the bench. The Hornets reserve group features Graham, Zeller, Malik Monk, and Biyombo. Graham could have a tremendous shooting night and make the Charlotte bench extremely effective, but the Pacers (healthy) second unit simply features more talented players. Injuries could, however, change the dynamic of both teams rotations. Charlotte Hornets guard Devonte' Graham, left, protects the ball from Indiana Pacers guard Justin ... [+] Holiday in the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. Charlotte won 108-105. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond) ASSOCIATED PRESS Ultimately, these teams are near equals on paper. There is a reason they finished with practically identical records this season. This contest may come down to the little things, such as in-game adjustments or perfect player rotations. The minutiae will matter a ton in a game that is essentially a game seven, as Sabonis mentioned. Its always a battle when you play against them, Zeller said of the Pacers. One thing that will be a benefit for the Pacers is that they have homecourt advantage, the game will be played at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Well, it should be an edge for the blue and gold, but they went 13-23 at home this season. They stunk it up in front of their fans. Conventional wisdom says that playing at home is a benefit, though, and Justin Holiday agrees. The big advantage to me is not having to travel. So Id rather be at home, be comfortable in your own house before you have to go to the game, he said. It will be nice to play that game at home, to be in front of [our] fans. Perhaps something that small could tip the scales in the Pacers favor. These two teams are very even in terms of talent and both have clear ways they can get the upper hand, so Indiana will take any advantage they can get. This do-or-die game could go either way, so they Pacers will have to be at or near their best in order to get a win. If they dont, the season will be over far before they want it to end. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonyeast/2021/05/18/can-the-indiana-pacers-defeat-the-charlotte-hornets-to-keep-their-season-alive/ |
What was Germanwings co-pilot's mental state? | Story highlights Investigators believe Andreas Lubitz deliberately crashed Germanwings Flight 9525, killing himself and 149 others Lubitz suffered from anxiety and depression symptoms dating back to 2009, French newspaper reported Doctor: It's 'rare for depression to cause people to kill other people' (CNN) Barring a revelation from his parents or girlfriend, we may never know what was going through the mind of Andreas Lubitz in the moments leading up to the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525. What we now know is that all indications point to Lubitz as the perpetrator of the crash, locking the pilot out of the cockpit and setting the aircraft on a fatal trajectory into a remote mountain range in the French Alps. Every day, more details come to light, as the world struggles to make sense of why a 27-year-old German man would apparently choose to deliberately crash a plane with 150 people on board, including himself and remain so calm while doing it. Unfit to work When investigators searched Lubitzs home in Dusseldorf, they found medical leave notes slashed, suggesting Lubitz was hiding an illness or illnesses from his employers. The dates for which Lubitz was excused from work included the day of the crash, though investigators have not yet revealed the reason he was excused, if any reason was written on the notes by his doctor. We do know, from a German aviation source, that Lubitz passed his annual pilot recertification examination last summer. An official with Lufthansa, the parent company of the budget airline Germanwings, said that the exam only tests physical health, not psychological health. He was 100% fit to fly without restrictions, Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohr told reporters at press conference last week. His flight performance was perfect. There was nothing to worry about. Spohr added that Lubitz had interrupted his training, which he began in 2008. That break lasted several months, he said, but that such an interruption isnt uncommon. Lubitz suffered from generalized anxiety disorder, with severe depression symptoms dating back to 2009, according to French newspaper Le Parisien. While the main medical clinic in Dusseldorf denies it was treating Lubitz for depression, German investigators found antidepressant medications in Lubitzs apartment, according to published reports that CNN has not yet been able to independently confirm. Die Welt, a German newspaper, over the weekend cited an unidentified senior investigator, who said Lubitz suffered from severe subjective burnout syndrome and severe depression. More on the medications Someone who has a significant depressive episode or depressive disorder will oftentimes get an antidepressant alone, and many times will have a good resolution of those symptoms, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta told Poppy Harlow Sunday on CNN Newsroom. People who relapse or develop more of what is called a psychotic depression in addition may have symptoms of psychosis. Maybe they could be having delusions or hallucinations, but the idea is having breaks with reality. One of the medications Lubitz was prescribed is said to be Agomelatine (an antidepressant medication), according to Le Perisien. Antidepressants can sometimes make people suicidal, especially those suffering from schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Other times, they can make patients manic or psychotic. The drugs list of warnings and precautions include metabolic changes such as weight gain and the potential for cognitive and motor impairment. Has potential to impair judgment, thinking and motor skills; use caution when operating machinery. In 2010, Lubitz received Olanzpine injections (an antipsychotic medication) to treat OCD, according to Le Perisien. Doctors advised Lubitz to be more active, practice a new sport and regain self-confidence. This is a powerful medication, said Gupta. If this is true, it sort of reads into the severity of just how bad the psychosis was, at least at one point in his life. There are other things besides psychosis for which the drug may be administered, but thats the most common use. One of the side effects is blurred vision. Citing two officials with knowledge of the investigation, The New York Times Saturday reported that Lubitz sought treatment for vision problems that might have put his career at risk. If he was prescribed this medication as an injectable five years ago, was now taking it as an oral antipsychotic and wasnt taking it because of it was causing these detrimental side effects, that could be very concerning, as well, said Gupta. Authorities have not ruled out that Lubitzs vision problem could have been psychosomatic. Many people have been asking how likely it is that depression could result in this sort of horrific action. In a word: Unlikely, says Dr. Charles Raison, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona. Most people would just kill themselves, he says. Its very, very rare for depression to cause people to kill other people. This leads me to believe theres something else going on, like a personality character flaw. Forensic psychologist Jeff Gardere agrees. It has to be a very severe depression to the point that theres a psychosis thats a result of that depression, he says. Thats different than the schizophrenia part of psychosis. With this kind of depression, its so deep that you actually break with reality. Remember, Lubitz was in his late 20s and the odds of mental illness presenting at this age are much higher for someone in their 20s or 30s. Sometimes people lose touch with reality slowly. Other times, they lose touch really quickly, says Raison. Bipolar psychotic states can develop in as little as a day or two. Im most curious what was going on in this guys life the week before this happened. Theres a pretty good chance something would come up in speaking with the people in his life. If a story doesnt make sense, it means you dont have the real story, says Raison. Even people who are psychotic will tell you a crazy story. Its crazy, but it makes sense. More details are needed on Lubitzs story. Robotic and calm Perhaps the most chilling revelation so far is that Lubitz not only decided to do what he did, but that he ignored the pilots pleas to think about the lives on board and change his mind. It tells you hes at peace with what hes doing, says Raison. If you were uncertain or anxious, you might still open the cabin door (when the pilot was banging on the door and yelling to be let in). Calm determination to do this tells you he really believed in what he was doing. If you look at school shooters, they go into a dissociative state, says Gardere. Theyve been planning for quite some time. They go into this personality where they can calmly go into murder mode robotic and calm. Even when theyre shooting or doing something rageful, they behave in a calm manner. (Lubitz) knew when he got onto that plane that he wasnt coming back. World weighs in On Monday, Britains most senior psychiatrist told CNNs Christiane Amanpour that when a pilot is acutely depressed or suffering from any mental illness that impairs his or her ability to fly, he or she cannot fly an aircraft. We dont let pilots fly with depression, not because were worried that theyre going to murder everybody on board. Thats such an extraordinary possibility that thats not depression but because theyre impaired in concentration, memory and attention, which isnt good for a pilot, said Sir Simon Wessely, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and an adviser to the British army. Wessely added that the Germanwings plane crash might open a discussion on relaxing the laws of (doctor-patient) confidentiality in different countries, though in the United Kingdom, as well as in many other countries, a doctor is obliged to go to the authorities if he or she believes that people are genuinely being put at risk by one of their patients. CNNs John Bonifield contributed to this report. | https://www.cnn.com/2015/03/31/europe/germanwings-co-pilot-medication/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_europe+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+Europe%29 |
Is Governor Whitmer Facing a French Laundry Moment? | Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer speaks at a campaign event for Joe Biden in Detroit, Mich., October 31, 2020. (Brian Snyder/Reuters) California governor Gavin Newsom saw his poll numbers tumble and interest in a recall election skyrocket last November after he was photographed violating state lockdown guidelines by dining with lobbyists at the French Laundry, one of Californias most expensive restaurants. Now its been revealed that Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer, who for months had lectured state residents to stay at home and not travel, had a nonprofit group tied to her administration pay to charter a jet so she could visit her father in Florida. Whitmer did pay $855 for her own seat, a small fraction of the minimum $2,500 an hour it takes to operate the Gulfstream. Advertisement The social welfare nonprofit Michigan Transition, which was formed in 2018 to help pay for the cost of Whitmers inauguration, paid for the charter. As the Detroit News notes: Federal tax law prohibits nonprofits from excessively benefiting an individual who has close ties with the tax-exempt organization. Whitmers office declined to answer questions, merely saying only that ongoing security and public health concerns merited use of the private jet. Even before these revelations, Whitmer was in political hot water. A new MIRS/Target poll finds her with less than majority support against two potential Republican challengers. She leads retiring Detroit police chief James Craig by 48 percent to 42 percent. Against businessman John James, who nearly won last years U.S. Senate race, she has a 49 percent to 39 percent lead. Both Craig and James are African-American and won about a third of the black vote in the survey. | https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/is-governor-whitmer-facing-a-french-laundry-moment/ |
What If Bill Gates Was a Creep All Along? | When youre the worlds richest man, as Bill Gates was almost every year from 1995 to 2017, youre going to generate a lot of envy. When youre the worlds richest man, and during a TED Talk about malaria you release mosquitos to demonstrate that the poor shouldnt only be the only ones worried about the disease, people may start to fear that youre becoming a supervillain. (The mosquitos did not have malaria.) When youre one of the worlds richest men, and your company has extensive contracts with the Chinese government, and you declare in April 2020 that its not the right time | https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-rise-and-fall-of-bill-gates/ |
What are cow dung cakes and why are people taking them to the US? | Cow dung cakes are potential carriers of the highly contagious Foot and Mouth disease (US Customs and Border Protection) Customs officials at Dulles Airport in suburban Washington, DC, were stunned to discover a stash of cow dung cakes left behind in the baggage of an Air India passenger last week. The mystery manure bricks had to be taken away and destroyed by perplexed US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on Tuesday. That is not a typo, CBP wrote in a tweet, warning travellers against importing such items in future. CBP agriculture specialists found two cow dung cakes in a suitcase that was left behind after passengers from an Air India flight cleared CBPs inspection station on April 4. Elaborating on their find, the agency acknowledged that: Cow dung is reported to be a vital energy and cooking source in some parts of the world. Cow dung has also been reportedly used as a skin detoxifier, an antimicrobial, and as a fertiliser. However, their import is banned in the US because of their potential to carry Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), a sickness the countrys cattle has not suffered from since 1929 but a single case of which has the potential to bring the international livestock trade to a total standstill. FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most, has grave economic consequences, and it is a critical threat focus of Customs and Border Protections agriculture protection mission, commented Keith Fleming, acting director of field operations for CBPs Baltimore Field Office. CBPs agriculture specialists are our nations frontline protectors of vital agricultural and natural resources that help keep our nations economy strong and robust. The UK suffered a disastrous outbreak of FMD in 2001, when an estimated 2,000 cases were diagnosed across the country, leading to the killing of six million cows and sheep to stop the spread at a cost of 8bn to the British economy in lost revenue from agriculture and rural tourism. As for the dung cakes, they are traditionally used as a potent, cheap and practical biofuel in parts of India, hand-sculpted into dry slabs and employed in domestic cooking on a hearth known as a Chulha. Story continues They are readily available for purchase from Amazon in India and are popular given that a single smouldering patty can give off as much as 2,100 kilojoules of energy once lit, so their absence from US barbecue grills may be Americas loss. Having said that, US citizens could perfectly well make their own by buying a bag from Walmart. Cattle excrement made the news for a second time last week, when doctors in Covid-hit India warned Hindu residents of Gujarat against slathering their bodies in the stuff to fend off the coronavirus, insisting it offered no protection and was more likely to endanger health than boost it. Worshippers pray after applying cow dung to their bodies on the outskirts of AhmedabadReuters Dr Dnyaneshwar Dhobale Pati, president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors, told The Independent that smearing cow dung on the body risked causing infections and triggering allergies as numerous micro-organisms are present in the matter. It is cow faeces at the end of the day and has many micro-organisms, which can enter the body. Its excess usage can also aggravate pneumonia. There is no scientific evidence of its medicinal usage. So by all means burn it, just dont smuggle it aboard US-bound flights or baste it on your skin. Read More US customs finds and destroys cow dung cakes found in baggage of Indian passenger at airport Indias top medical association warns over health risks of using cow dung as Covid treatment | https://news.yahoo.com/cow-dung-cakes-why-people-163523229.html |
Will T.J. Hockenson climb higher in the TE ranks in 2021? | The Telegraph Anthony Joshua's mega-fight with Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight title is at risk of being cancelled after Deontay Wilder won his civil arbitration case for a trilogy fight with Fury. The ruling from the US judge Daniel Weinstein says Fury must fight Wilder for a third time by September 15. It came just 24 hours after Fury had posted on his social media channels that an all-British blockbuster fight between him and Joshua was close to completion for August 14 in Saudi Arabia - but the decision threatens the fight going forward. Fury's team must now settle with Wilder - which could be a huge step aside deal involving potentially millions of dollars for the American - with the legal teams representing Wilder capable of issuing proceedings and setting injunctions involving the television companies involved and the sanctioning bodies which control the four belts. Fury and Wilder have been deep in an arbitration case for several months with Wilder's team insisting Fury would have to honour a clause in their contract for a third fight with the Alabaman, against whom Fury won the WBC heavyweight title in February 2020 in Las Vegas. | https://sports.yahoo.com/t-j-hockenson-climb-higher-195652386.html?src=rss |
Do we want to work from home forever? | If you were able to work from home for much of the pandemic, you might be looking forward to getting back to the office or dreading the commute, the bad lighting and the work clothes. Zabeen Hirji is an executive adviser on the future of work for the consulting company Deloitte, and she says HR departments across the country are trying to keep the best parts of how we learned to work together, apart. Story continues below advertisement You can read more about the way Canadians work, the end of the office era and the mental fatigue of white-collar workers. Listen and follow The Decibel in your favourite streaming app: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts or RSS. | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/podcasts/the-decibel/article-do-we-want-to-work-from-home-forever/ |
Can the News Be Fixed? | Margaret Sullivan: The Constitution doesnt work without local news These problems matter because local TV news is still the biggest piece of the media puzzle. More Americans get their news from local TV stations than from cable TV, newspapers, or national network TV, according to a 2020 Pew Research Center poll. And when it comes to political news, the local TV audience is particularly diversepolitically, economically, and racially. As a news source, local TV is more popular than online sites such as YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. But the widespread consumption of local TV news also represents a huge opportunity. Overall, Americans trust it more than any other medium, including newspapers and digital media, according to a 2019 Poynter survey. Everyone, white or Black or brown, left or right, knows about the bridge that collapsed across town or the legendary barbecue place that just closed down. They can see it with their own eyes. In a hyperpolarized country, this kind of shared reality is precious. Americans who turn to local TV, radio, or newspapers for political news tend to have more accurate perceptions of people with different political views than do those who rely mostly on The New York Times or Fox News, according to research by More in Common, a nonprofit that analyzes political divides. And while local newspapers also benefit from proximity, most are not financially viable these daysand TV news is. Local TV news actually has the potential to lead the way in restoring trust in journalism, says Andrew Heyward, a former president of CBS News, now at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. Yet these advantages are precarious. While local TV news is popular, that popularity is waningespecially among young viewers, who are turned off by the mediums sensationalistic coverage of house fires and crime scenes, and who have access to endless digital competitors for their time and attention. Even many of those who are watching dont always feel good about what theyre seeing; the trust that remains for local TV news is brittle. This is why Scripps invested millions of dollars in its listening tour. And its why the network has since begun a series of contrarian experiments: increasing the length and complexity of its segments; focusing more on stories about solving problems rather than just documenting them; and even backing away from crime coverage and other cheap thrills. The goal was to fix TV news, Sean McLaughlin, the vice president of Scrippss news division, told me. Its on us. We still have tremendous reach. We have a choice: We can fan the flames, or we can help to calm and heal. Scripps reaches nearly a third of the national TV-news audience. It is not the largest of the station-ownership groups, nor is it always the most innovative. (Three years ago, Scripps paid me $300 to offer advice on a separate project, related to how best to cover conflict. I was not involved with the people or the project described in this story.) Even if they work, the experiments of a single TV corporation wont neutralize the sizable streams of propaganda and disinformation that have come to plague American society. But they could suggest that young Americans in particular want something different (and better) from the news todaya conclusion that Scripps is not alone in reaching. | https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/05/local-news-media-trust-americans/618895/?utm_source=feed |
How heavily did recall politics weigh on Gavin Newsom's mask decision? | Not long after the CDC announced that individuals fully vaccinated against the coronavirus no longer need to wear masks in most instances, several blue states including New York, Illinois and Oregon announced that mask mandates would be softened to align with the new CDC guidance. California opted for another route, announcing that the state will not follow the CDC guidance until June 15, a date the state had previously set to fully reopen. The divergence begs the following question: Was California's decision-making process more heavily influenced by public health or Gov. Public health officials have differing opinions on the implementation of the CDC guidance. Two things are clear however: Mask mandates are very popular among Democrats, and mask wearing has largely turned into a culture war wedge issue (simply observe the replies to this White House tweet announcing the new CDC guidance last week). "We cant know for certain what the intent is behind California deviating from the CDC, but I'd imagine there's plenty of political rationale in addition to public health rationale," said Isaac Hale, a lecturer in political science at UC Davis. "But we cant distinguish how much of each there is. The only ones who can are in the governors office." Hale noted that California is not alone in delaying aligning with the CDC, as New Jersey has also declined to adopt the new guidance at this time. He added that Newsom has a political incentive not to upset the Democratic base he needs to save him from being recalled in the fall. And so long as masks even post-vaccination remain a symbol of taking the pandemic seriously, Trump resistance or something else entirely, Newsom has little incentive to lift mandates if the base would view it as premature. "One of top political priorities Newsom has is keeping the Democratic base together, which is why they're really focused on arguing the recall is a partisan Republican endeavor," Hale said. "The biggest thing that could damage that narrative is if a prominent Democrat or progressive emerged as a candidate in the recall, like Cruz Bustamante did in 2003. The key to Newsom staying in power is keeping the Democratic base happy, consolidated and making sure the California Democratic Party is the party of Gavin Newsom, and Gavin Newsom only. It's smart politics since mask mandates are popular among California Democrats." California Republicans have ripped into Newsom for not immediately adopting the new CDC guidance, but conservatives are already very likely to back the recall. For the recall to succeed, a significant number of Democrats and independents would also have to be in favor of removing Newsom. Hale did not read too much into Newsom skipping Monday's announcement that the mask mandate for vaccinated individuals would remain through June 15. California Health and Human Services Secretary Mark Ghaly is the one who relayed the news to the state's residents. "If you want to speculate about the politics there, the generous interpretation is the governor is a polarizing figure among Republicans, and the state did not want a polarized response to this announcement so they sent someone else out there," Hale said. "The other possibility is they didnt want to provide the footage for an attack ad saying the governor is calling for mask mandates when the CDC says they're not necessary." | https://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Gavin-Newsom-recall-mask-mandate-CDC-June-15-COVID-16183415.php |
What Is Representative Government? | But even this path is thorny. In 1926 Massachusetts courts found that the initiative was not applicable to reapportionment. Before that a similar course was followed by the Missouri Supreme Court. In 1956, an initiative statute on reapportionment was passed in Washington, but in 1957 the state legislature undid the deed and was upheld by a five to four decision in the state Supreme Court. One of the by-products of Baker v Carr may be its clearing the path of initiative should it be used in the future to reapportion. A legislature or court that overruled such an initiative might well be inviting the Supreme Court to intervene. For the 50 states as a whole, the most available and the most vigorous instrument to hasten or compel reform is the court. (The Supreme Court in Baker felt it was the only instrument.) The lower courts, in particular, have displayed an imaginative truculence in devising sanctions to speed action. In Vermont, the court acted directly: redistricted two seats by switching counties around. To make this stick, the judge barred county clerks from printing ballots until the reapportionment was carried out as he recommended. This action was in line with the opinion of Supreme Court Justice Clark who suggested that it might be wise to start with existing assembly districts, consolidate some of them, and award the seats thus released to those counties suffering the most egregious discrimination. In Alabama, a three-judge federal court ordered reapportionment with the caveat that if the legislature failed to do so, the court would itself carry through a provisional districting along lines of Clarks plan. In Mississippi, State Chancellor W. T. Horton ordered the state legislature to reapportion, adding that should our legislative bodies not act timely, this court will reapportion them, and enter a decree enjoining the state and county election commissions and commissioners from holding elections or electing any Senator or Representative In Wisconsin, a three-judge federal court on June 27 ordered the legislature to a complete reapportionment by 5 p.m. July 2or the court would appoint a master to do the job. The Colorado Supreme Court unveiled a battery of missiles on June 14 in a series of show cause orders, including a call on the Secretary of State, George Baker, to show cause within seven days why he should not be restrained from holding the election and a call on the State Treasurer, Tim Armstrong, to show cause why he should not be required to cut off the pay of the General Assembly. Two draconic measures are available to the courts should they prove constitutional. One is to order an election at large in a state. This is less a cure than shock therapy. Should it come in a state where a governing party is also a popular majority, the medicine may be worse than the malady. The other is to order the use of the weighted vote. This is an untried instrument but it enjoys the virtue of serving both as immediate sanction and as a constitutional pattern for the future. | https://newrepublic.com/article/90785/representative-government |
Is Robotics Automation The Next Big 'Barcode Moment' For Retailers? | Shawn is a 20-year veteran of the retail industry and the Director N.A. Sales for SmartSight, Zebra's intelligent automation retail service. getty I believe intelligent automation is changing the game for retailers today like the barcode did over 40 years ago. When the barcode was first trialed in a Kroger grocery store, the hope was that it could help speed up transactions at the point of sale (POS) and improve sales reporting. No one could have predicted a technology based on black and white stripes would completely change the world for the better, especially the retail world. But it did! Inventory management and pricing made orders of magnitude more efficient and far more accurate. The operational visibility gained from simple barcode scans enabled retailers to diversify SKUs, balance shelf stock and proactively adjust ordering strategies to accommodate shifting demand. It also led to phenomenal productivity growth over a 10-year period. These improvements, coupled with a faster checkout experience, boosted customer satisfaction and paved the way for a new business model that sustained retail for the next several decades. Then the internet came along. And e-commerce retailers. And a recession. This triggered a tidal wave of new consumer expectations that shook brick-and-mortar retailers to their core. Online shopping promised to disrupt the traditional retail model, perhaps even force its early retirement. But retailers were resilient at least those willing to innovate. How Robotics Automation Can Help Reduce Friction Today For retailers looking to reach underserved or overserved customers, introduce a new market segment or offer better products at a better price to their best customers, its worth exploring the immediate and long-term business value that intelligent automation can provide. Even after 20 years of trial and error and technology investments, omnichannel retail models remain hard to establish and even more difficult to sustain. This reinforces retailers need for three things: 1. 360-degree, real-time operational visibility. 2. A real-time understanding of why things are happening or not happening within their operations. 3. Directed guidance on the best next step to take to resolve issues immediately. You must be able to sense, analyze and act on subtle market shifts that dramatically impact inventory, pricing, labor and fulfillment strategies. When e-commerce orders are flooding in at the same time as a tsunami of customers are panic-buying in-store, the last thing you want is to have labor resources walking aisles taking stock of empty shelves. Even on a normal day, manual inventory checks are not efficient, and analyzing the previous days activity isnt going to help you improve todays outcomes. Inventory availability is what translates to happy customers, return customers and revenue. So, if youre committing labor to anything other than shelf-replenishment, inventory merchandising, pricing, e-commerce fulfillment, checkout or health and safety management, youre losing money at some level. You need headroom to reduce expenses, though, and associates need the capacity to independently make decisions and take actions they know will improve the customer experience and help you inch closer to profitability. Thats where intelligent automation comes in. It increases the impact of the human workforce by enabling associates to become laser-focused on tasks that can help minimize losses in every category, even when demand spikes. Out-of-stocks, basket shrink, actual shrink and pricing deficits can all be mitigated if you dispatch intelligent automation to scan the shelves for issues and deploy people to address them immediately in a very prescriptive way. Retail associates are among the hardest working people I know. But even on their best day, they cant be in all places at all times and see everything thats happening or not happening in stores. As soon as they identify and resolve one out-of-stock, another might arise, or three, or 10. Its going to cost you time, money, customers and possibly good associates if you dont take measured actions now to bring on more help. Change Is A Necessary Evil, Making Intelligent Automation A Force For Good Those who wager things will soon get better and return to normal are the ones most likely to fold first. There has never been a point in retail history when reverting to a previous business model has paid off. We have to keep moving forward. We have to identify and maximize that next barcode moment. But we must be careful not to get too caught up in the past. Remember: Strategy is temporary. Never believe the strategy that helped you be successful will always be the strategy that keeps you successful. Skate to where the puck is going. You must be deliberate in your actions. Onboarding an intelligent automation system wont automatically change business outcomes. You must train it like you would any other team member and teach other systems to leverage its skill set to extract the greatest value. Disruptions occur when change isnt properly managed or when it is initiated just because it seems like the right thing to do. Barcode systems became game-changers when retailers were able to clearly identify how the technology could eliminate each pain point. Brick-and-mortar retailers must find a way to execute a highly efficient, hyper-focused omnichannel fulfillment model within their four walls. One of the best ways to do that is to put intelligent automation to work around the clock and then shift the human workforce into roles that will enable them to focus exclusively on profit-generating activities. In previous articles, I offered some tips for how business leaders can invest in intelligent automation and how they can implement it. But dont just take my word for it. Look at the gaps in your current technology solutions. Identify the root cause of your workflow inefficiencies. Define your growth objectives, and map the changes that must be made to achieve them. If not, youll see why I believe intelligent automation is going to be as big as the barcode. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2021/05/18/is-robotics-automation-the-next-big-barcode-moment-for-retailers/ |
How far did Bill Barr's Justice Dept go to help Devin Nunes? | The more controversial Rep. Devin Nunes' (R-Calif.) congressional career became, the more the Republican lawmaker became the subject of criticism. He didn't handle the spotlight especially well: Nunes apparently believed litigation was the proper way of dealing with those who said things he didn't like. According to one tally, the GOP congressman filed lawsuits against the Washington Post, McClatchy, CNN, Hearst, Fusion GPS, Republican strategist Liz Mair, a watchdog group called the Campaign for Accountability, and an organic fruit farmer who called Nunes a "fake farmer." The Californian also took a keen interest in Twitter accounts that upset him, suing the social-media company and some of its users, accusing them of defamation and negligence. The defendants included parody accounts, including one called "Devin Nunes' Cow." To be sure, it didn't look great for a sitting congressman to go to court because he'd been bothered by a pseudonymous cow, but Nunes filed the case anyway. Not surprisingly, it failed. What we didn't know until yesterday, however, was that the beleaguered GOP politician had a powerful ally working on his behalf. The New York Times reported overnight: The Justice Department under President Trump secretly obtained a grand-jury subpoena last year in an attempt to identify the person behind a Twitter account dedicated to mocking Representative Devin Nunes of California, according to a newly unsealed court document. The politicization of the Justice Department during Bill Barr's tenure as attorney general has long been among the most serious of the Trump-era scandals, and we're apparently still learning new details about the scope of the controversy. As the Times' report explained, at issue was a Twitter account called @NunesAlt, which ridiculed the congressman. For reasons unknown, Barr's Justice Department sought a subpoena to expose the person (or persons) behind the account. The demand for the information came two days before Thanksgiving 2020 -- weeks after Donald Trump's defeat. Twitter, not surprisingly, balked, recognizing the @NunesAlt account and its content as constitutionally protected speech. According to the article, "When Twitter pressed the Justice Department for an explanation, the filing said, the government said the subpoena was part of a criminal investigation into a possible violation of a federal statute that makes it a felony to use interstate communications to threaten to injure someone. But the government refused to point to any particular tweet that made a threat." Fortunately, none of these efforts worked. Twitter pushed back, and after President Joe Biden's inauguration, the Justice Department's new management withdrew the misguided subpoena. But the fact that this happened at all is extraordinary and emblematic of just how far Team Trump was willing to go to corrupt institutions such as the Justice Department. Reflecting on what these revelations tell us about the former attorney general and his cohorts, Jon Chait added, "[D]espite his very last-minute abandonment of the Trump ship before it sank, Barr was no principled objector to his boss's authoritarianism. He was willing to employ the powers of his department to intimidate Trump critics in flagrant defiance of the First Amendment." As the anonymous figure behind the @NunesAlt, yesterday's news came as quite a surprise. Is it the mean tweets and bad memes?" These need not be rhetorical questions. | https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/how-far-did-bill-barr-s-justice-dept-go-help-n1267736 |
Is it time to give auto consignment a test drive? | The United States has felt a disruption in every corner of the economy over the last year, and auto sales are no exception. In April, the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose to 179.2, a 26.2% increase from a year ago, according to Cox Automotive. It is not uncommon to see a spring bounce in wholesale prices, but a 26.2% increase is a leap by any measure, Cox Automotive Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke said in a news release. And, as we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel that is the coronavirus pandemic, increasing consumer confidence and decreasing unemployment create market conditions that lead to sizable price gains in the first quarter. As used-vehicle sales increase with limited demand, you may be wondering how to get the highest value for your car when selling and avoid paying an inflated price when buying. The good news is, theres more than one way to buy and sell quality used cars. Auto consignment is when a vehicle owner allows a dealership to market and sell their car for an agreed-upon price. On the buying side, consignment customers often have the option of browsing auto inventory online and requesting upfront pricing before visiting the dealership for a test drive. Auto consignment is a great option for both sellers and buyers because it provides all the value benefits and more of a private party sale with the convenience benefits of working with a high-end retailer, says Michael Bor, CEO of CarLotz. Sellers dont have to settle for the lowball dealership offer as they get to benefit from the actual retail price of the vehicle less a small fee for the sale. And buyers get high-quality vehicles at a slight discount to retail and all the benefits of a high-end retailer like financing options, trade-ins and more. As Bor notes, like traditional pre-owned sales, cars bought through consignment are available for local test drives, and youll still find essential items like an inspection report, limited warranty and financing options attached to the deal. Advertising In his experience, CarLotz COO John Foley says the most surprising thing for their customers is what isnt part of the deal. Our team, as opposed to traditional dealers, has noncommissioned sales associates, he says. So whether or not you even buy a car, theyll get compensated. Theyre just there to take care of you. And if you do want to buy a car, there is no car that as a company or as a team, we are more motivated to sell. We just want to make sure our guests find the car thats right for them. With sales transparency comes a greater understanding of the process for both buyers and sellers, which is less common in non-consignment deals. Foley notes that CarLotz charges car sellers $299 to list and market the vehicle and a flat $799 fee once the car sells successfully. He also encourages buyers to work with their sales associates to compare the benefits of upfront consignment pricing with the wholesale price of a used car. In either case, the terms are clearly outlined. All of our fees are listed on our web page, Foley says, so everybody knows when they buy from us exactly what CarLotz is making through the transaction. An online presence with a local feel Technology has shifted the way consumers prefer to shop for cars. While 75% of Americans still want to see a vehicle in person before buying, most want to do their research, warranty and financing paperwork online, according to consulting firm Deloittes 2021 Global Automotive Consumer Study. The hybrid approach to car buying and selling is already the center of CarLotzs business model. While CarLotz is a national company, its success hinges on local expertise. When we select a new market to enter, the first thing we do is find a local champion who understands the market to be our general manager, Bor says. Our business doesnt exist without a focus on hiring the best talent in the local market, he says. Its more about the people than the cars. CarLotzs Lynnwood location has vehicles available to see and test drive locally. Weve had a lot of demand for our services on the West Coast, Foley says. We are definitely bringing job opportunities to people in the community and also putting more money back into the local economy by helping buyers get the best deals and helping sellers earn more money that they can turn around and spend in their own neighborhoods. The CarLotz auto consignment model reduces overhead and inventory costs, so buyers pay below traditional dealer prices. Noncommissioned sales and our simple finance process makes buying easy. Swing by anytime for a test drive, or shop 100% online. | https://www.seattletimes.com/sponsored/is-it-time-to-give-auto-consignment-a-test-drive/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Should encryption be curbed to combat child abuse? | For nine years, Chris Hughes has fought a battle very few people ever see. He oversees a team of 21 analysts in Cambridge who locate, identify and remove child sexual abuse material (CSAM) from the internet. The Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) is funded by the global tech industry. It manually reviews online reports of suspected criminal content sent in by the public. Mr Hughes sees upsetting material every day. When content is verified, analysts create unique "digital fingerprints" of each photo or video, then send it to law enforcement and tech firms. They also search for material online. Occasionally, there are harrowing situations racing to track down victims from live streaming video. Reports jumped during the pandemic, he says: "Over the recent May bank holiday weekend, we had more than 2,000 reports." IWFs Chris Hughes works to remove child sexual abuse material from the internet every day In 2020, IWF received 300,000 reports and 153,000 were verified to be new CSAM content. Police say more child predators can now be found on messaging apps, rather than on the dark web. Many don't even encrypt their web traffic. Many authorities are concerned that Facebook wants to introduce end-to-end encryption on messages sent over Messenger and Instagram Direct. End-to-end encryption is a privacy feature that makes it impossible for anyone except the sender and recipient to read messages sent online. Authorities are concerned, saying this will make it much harder to apprehend suspects and detect child predators. Facebook says using such technology will protect users' privacy. But the US, UK and Australia have repeatedly objected to the idea since 2019, saying it will jeopardise work to combat child abuse. Australia has also demanded the tech industry hand over private encryption keys - backdoors to their networks - to authorities. Firms, both abroad and in Australia, refused. Enabling backdoors would be bad, says Jenny Afia, head of Schillings' legal team: "Any legally-enforced weakening of the encryption algorithm, or vulnerability placed within the software...would potentially allow criminals to exploit [it]. Story continues "It is worth bearing in mind that having end-to-end encryption in place has already prevented a lot of crime." Lawyer Jenny Afia thinks regulation is unlikely to solve the child protection problem Netsweeper in Canada catalogues the internet to help schools and internet service providers block harmful content. It sees a quarter of the world's internet traffic and is in 37% of British schools, scanning 100 million new URLs daily. Up to 300 URLs are reported to IWF daily. "To date, governments have left the large tech companies alone - probably because they didn't understand them as much as they do now," says Netsweeper's chief executive Perry Roach. "But if we don't enable law enforcement with sophisticated tools, it will allow criminals, scammers, paedophiles and terrorists to move across the internet undetected." Software engineer Brian Bason founded US firm Bark after giving his sons their first mobile phones. Bark uses AI neural networks to analyse text messages and social media in milliseconds for bullying, online predation, child abuse, signs of depression and suicidal ideas. Brian Bason felt the existing tools to manage children's devices were too "heavy-handed" Children have to agree to hand over their login credentials, but only relevant sections of messages are sent in alerts to parents and schools. Bark has informed the FBI of nearly a thousand child predators over the last five years. "The reality is end-to-end encryption will drastically reduce the amount of CSAM material reported to authorities," Mr Bason tells the BBC. "To me, the trade-off is not worth it." Perhaps these firms disagree because their business models rely on having unfettered access to data pipelines. However, former UK and US intelligence agency staff tell the BBC there are other successful methods investigators can use if end-to-end encryption is introduced, like phishing, where users are tricked into visiting fake websites and handing over login credentials. Internet giants should use machine learning to detect child predator behaviour on the device or server, they add, which wouldn't break encryption, as it occurs only after the message has been decrypted. Thorn, a US foundation that develops software to combat child exploitation, identifies eight child victims and 215 pieces of child abuse material per day. Sarah Gardner, VP of external affairs at Thorn, suggests using "homomorphic encryption" - a form of encryption that lets users perform computations on encrypted data, without first decrypting it. Another option would be to invest in better solutions, she adds. Police need to extract evidence from devices quickly says former police officer Alan McConnell Edinburgh-based Cyan Forensics, which uses statistical sampling to scan suspects' devices for CSAM content in just 10 minutes, agrees. "End-to-end encryption is here already and it's neither good nor bad," says Cyan Forensics' co-founder and chief executive Ian Stevenson. "However, there is a dire need for broader protocols to ensure the safety of children online." Former detective constable Alan McConnell, who worked on more than a hundred child sex abuse cases, left Police Scotland to teach Cyan about the problems the police face. As a result of his work, a major UK police force used Cyan's software to detect CSAM material on an ex-offender's computer in March. The individual was found to have surreptitiously installed cameras at a club used by children. However, a senior German prosecutor says his biggest problem is getting tech firms to play ball. Prosecutor Markus Hartmann wants a "targeted" way to break end-to-end encryption "We're addressing all the big tech firms - please help us," says Markus Hartmann, director of North Rhine-Westphalia's central cybercrime department. "You hear they have these big teams fighting digital crimes, and I wonder, why don't they file any complaints with law enforcement?" His unit recently busted a child pornography ring, charging 65 suspects and rescuing a 13-year-old child. They were aided by Microsoft, which scanned its database of Skype users to locate the suspects' IP addresses. Mr Hartmann is surprisingly in favour of encryption. "If you break encryption, put in backdoors or ban it, then you're doing more harm than good... and I doubt the guys we are really going after, will not be able to get around it," he says. "Even as a prosecutor, I could set up my own end-to-end encrypted network in two days, routed through public libraries." | https://news.yahoo.com/encryption-curbed-combat-child-abuse-230121583.html |
Have Tennessee Titans gotten any closer to Super Bowl contention? | After the free agency frenzy in March and the draft a few weeks ago, the Tennessee Titans enter 2021 enveloped with uncertainty. Their dynamic, fourth-ranked scoring offense from a year ago that led the franchise to its first division title in 12 years lost firepower, and concerns still linger at wide receiver and tight end. At offensive coordinator, Todd Downing has to fill the big void left by play-caller Arthur Smith, the new coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who helped quarterback Ryan Tannehill play the best football of his career. There are many questions the Titans must answer as they look toward another season of playoff hopes. Its why they cant yet be placed among the NFLs elite. Tennessee still could be the top team in its division, though. The rival Colts have to work in a new quarterback in Carson Wentz, whos looking to resurrect his career, and a left tackle in Eric Fisher, released by the Chiefs earlier this offseason, whos recovering from a torn Achilles suffered in January. The Colts could be neck and neck with the Titans, but maybe not until the second half of 2021. The Texans and Jaguars, of course, are not in the conversation. ROSTER MOVES:Tennessee Titans agree to terms with former Vanderbilt wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb ROOKIE MINICAMP:Here's what we learned from the Tennessee Titans' rookie football minicamp FITZPATRICK:Tennessee Titans have more riding on Dez Fitzpatrick than any other 2021 draft pick | Estes But there still is a large gap between the Titans and Super Bowl contenders, like the Chiefs and Bills in the AFC. The ascending Browns appear to have a Super Bowl-caliber roster. And the Ravens, who beat Tennessee in the wild-card round of the playoffs last season, are still a top force in the AFC. The Titans did not have a Super Bowl-caliber team last year because of their defense, which was the league's worst on third down and tied for the fewest sacks for a playoff team in NFL history. In 2021, though, they might have a revamped defense to support an offense that might not be as strong. Tannehill without Smith as play-caller is uncharted territory. The Titans might still need another wide receiver. Theres a Jonnu Smith-sized hole at tight end. And a starting right tackle remains to be determined. The Chiefs and Bills, already a step above the Titans, dont have personnel question marks that loom as large. If anything, they've bolstered their rosters the past couple of months. The Chiefs downfall in Super Bowl LV was their offensive line, so they invested big upfront this offseason to protect quarterback Patrick Mahomes. They signed three linemen in free agency, added two in the draft and acquired one via trade (and have two more who opted out of 2020 returning). And an already strong Bills roster added more depth on both sides of the ball via free agency and the draft. There are questions about wholl be a long-term option at cornerback alongside star TreDavius White, but they appear set for the immediate future. The Titans also lag other AFC contenders in terms of coaching-staff continuity. The Chiefs, Bills, Ravens and Browns return their offensive and defensive coordinators from a year ago. Tennessee, meanwhile, is replacing Smith, who worked magic the past two seasons. And Shane Bowen, who served as defensive coordinator in a de facto capacity last year as the outside linebackers coach, has officially been given the title. Its not clear whether his responsibilities will change from a year ago. The roster building part of the offseason is not done, of course. With training camp more than two months away, the Titans still could add pieces. Maybe a veteran receiver. Maybe a tight end, as general manager Jon Robinson alluded to in his post-draft news conference. Maybe depth at other positions. But as of now, it's hard to buy that this Titans team is any closer to reaching the Super Bowl than it was when the 2020 season ended. Ben Arthur covers the Tennessee Titans for The USA TODAY Network. Contact him at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @benyarthur. | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nfl/titans/2021/05/18/tennessee-titans-any-closer-super-bowl-after-draft-free-agency/5097407001/ |
Should the Mets have let Taijuan Walker pitch on Monday? | Mets Taijuan Walker front facing vs Braves 5/17 In Taijuan Walkers start last Wednesday against Baltimore, his left side was enough of an issue that he did not swing in three at-bats to protect it. Five days later, Walker ended his outing in Atlanta early because of tightness in his side. The question comes in light of recent injuries that Jacob deGrom and Jeff McNeil tried to play through before landing on the injured list. Now down more players than we can recite from memory, the team can hardly afford to take additional risks. Walker will undergo an MRI on Tuesday but maintained that his injury wasnt anything too serious. Asked why he started five days after feeling unable to swing, he said, I felt pretty good. We did a lot of work to get it better, and I felt good yesterday. Threw off the mound a little bit yesterday and it felt good. The first pitch [on Monday] it just kind of grabbed on me and just never got better throughout the game. Its natural for an athlete to want to compete, and they often play through minor injuries. If a pitcher skipped a start every time he felt tight somewhere, he would hardly ever pitch. But with side muscles -- obliques, intercostals, rib cages -- re-injury is a particular risk, and setbacks can become long-term absences. Manager Luis Rojas defended the teams process in evaluating Walker between starts. He had some light tightness, Rojas said. Thats what everyone called it. He called it. The medical staff called it as well. Nothing concerning that would put him in a situation where he couldnt pitch or he couldnt compete out there. He didnt swing because I believe that he started feeling the tightness on a swing that he took. But there was no concern whatsoever going into this start ... he checked all the boxes going in there, the same as he did in the two previous starts Rojas also correctly noted that Walker was cruising through three scoreless innings before determining that he couldnt continue. When something is tight, its different from when its really sore, Rojas said. Its not the same thing. Tightness you can work it out and be fine guys play through tightness and they get their treatment pregame and they loosen the area up and they go and play. And thats what we felt Taijuan was dealing with. On Tuesday, the Mets will learn more about if they will lose Walker for longer. For now, they are left to hope that the outcome is better than it was with deGrom and McNeil. | https://sports.yahoo.com/mets-left-taijuan-walker-pitch-040205422.html?src=rss |
How Did Audrey Hepburn Do in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"? | If there were no Truman Capote, the film of Breakfast at Tiffanys (assuming that it could have existed anyway) would be a satisfactory sentimental comedy, much like the ones that Jean Arthur used to make. But hulking over it is the fact of the author, the Littlest Giant since Stephen A. Douglas, whose quality sternly underscores some shortcomings in the picture. Those who have read Capotes short novel may have liked it well enough. Those who have re-read it (as I have) may like it a good deal more than that. It seems now a finely turned work and, excepting the romanticism about bartenders that afflicts New Yorker writers and alumni, every sentence, every phrase sounds inevitable, flavorful, apt. It lacks the larger resonance of the work with which it has been very often comparedIsherwoods Sally Bowles; but it is a vivid memoir of an interesting girl who seems to have left the author wishing he could find a way to use her, at last perceiving that there was nothing to do but portray her. It is a vivid memoir of an interesting girl. The film adapter, George Axelrod, has used her. He has tidied her language and behavior, built her a nice symmetrical plot, converted the observer-narrator into a boy friend, inserted cute scenes like the one where they go into Tiffanys to get a cheap ring engraved, teased out several elements in the book so that the ends could be tied in neat knots, and in general has tailored Capotes astringent, truthful tale into a slick movie. ), let us count our mixed blessings. | https://newrepublic.com/article/128025/breakfast-macys |
Is Purples Hybrid Premier 4 Mattress Worth The Extra Cost? | With four inches of proprietary grid, the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is Purple's thickest (and softest) mattress) Purple Thanks to clever marketingyou know, the commercials where the lady cracks a raw egg in her handand a strong social media presence, direct-to-consumer mattress company Purple is increasingly on peoples radar. Purple claims that its Hybrid Premier 4 is the best luxury mattress that science can make, but any smart shopper knows better than to take their word for it. Thats where I come in. Ive personally tested more than two dozen mattresses and (spoiler alert) the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is in the top three. Although it took some getting used to, once I got through the initial adjustment period I was sold. Read on for my full Purple Hybrid Premier 4 mattress review, including who will likely love this mattress and who might want to skip it. Purple Purple Hybrid Premier 4 (Queen) BUY FROM PURPLE Purple Hybrid Premier 4 At A Glance Mattress Specs Mattress thickness: 13 inches 13 inches Weight limit: 300 pounds on each side (600 pounds total) 300 pounds on each side (600 pounds total) Firmness rating: 5 to 6 out of 10 (plush to medium feel) 5 to 6 out of 10 (plush to medium feel) Sleep trial: 100 nights 100 nights Warranty: 10 years Pros & Cons For me, the following were all positives and what made this mattress stand out among other mattresses and other Purple models: Plush, bouncy feel Extra pressure relief for side and heavy sleepers Cooling capabilities thanks to the Purple grid Here are some downsides you may want to consider. While none of these issues were deal-breakers for me, they might be for you. It starts with its construction. All Purple mattresses are made from a hyper-elastic gel grid thats designed to flex and compress under pressure points, while still providing adequate support for the rest of your body. The difference between the mattresses comes down to how much of that grid is built into the mattress. The Hybrid Premier 4 is Purples deepest mattress. There are four inches of Purple grid insidecompared to the two and three inches of other Purple models. And it makes all the difference in the world. The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is made of a proprietary polymer grid, transition foam and individually-wrapped coils. Purple Several years ago when Purple mattresses first came onto the scene, I tried the Purple 2 and wasnt overly impressed. The feel was significantly different than any other mattress I had tried prior, but not necessarily in a good way. I could feel the grid lines through the mattress cover when I laid down on top of the bed, and the whole thing felt like it compressed under me, rather than giving me any sort of relief. For reference, Im about 150 pounds, depending on the dayan average weight for a woman of my height. While I can still feel the grid lines with the Purple 4, the experience is different. Because the grid is double the thickness of the Purple 2, the grid better supports my weight, offering a nice marriage of compression and support. It also feels bouncier and more responsive, similar to the feel of the old school spring mattresses, but without the noise and eventual breakdown. As for the rest of the construction: Its identical across all of the Purple hybrid mattress models. The grid sits on top of a one-inch layer of high-density memory foam and that rests on a bed of stainless steel coils that are individually-wrapped in noise-reducing fabric. The bed is truly noiseless, too. Even when youre bouncing around, you cant hear a thing. The Purple Hybrid Premier 4 is Purple's deepest mattress, with a 4-inch thick grid on top of support coils. Purple Purple Hybrid Premier 4 Mattress Performance While the construction of the Purple mattress sounds great in theory, ultimately it all comes down to performance. Ill break it down for you. Firmness Purple doesnt give the Hybrid Premier 4 an official firmness rating, but I would rate it a 5 to 6 out of 1o. Like a soft to medium-soft mattress, the grid compresses under your weight and contours your body, but it doesnt sink or sag so you still feel like your body is properly aligned. This is true no matter which sleeping position you preferIm a combination sleeper who frequently switches from back sleeping to side sleeping and I was equally comfortable both ways. Although I dont sleep on my stomach, I do spend some time watching TV in bed or working on my laptop lying on my stomach, and the mattress was a dream in this position too. I can typically only lie down like this for about 30 minutes before my back starts to hurt, but this mattress had the right balance of give and support that I was comfortable for a couple hours. Pressure Relief Purple claims that the 4-inch grid of this model offers a zero gravity feel, and while I wouldnt say I necessarily felt weightless when lying on the mattress, it comes close. It offers significantly more pressure relief than memory foam mattresses and the thinner Purple models. It almost feels like youre in one of those floating chambers, but with just a little more gravity working against you. One thing that really impressed me about the Purple is that I didnt feel like I needed to stack up a bunch of pillows under my head to get comfortable when I was lying on my back. Normally, I sleep with at least two down pillows and still dont feel like my body is in quite the right position, but that wasnt true with the Purple Hybrid Premier 4. I could get away with using one pillowsomething thats rare for me. Motion Isolation If youre sleeping with a partner (or a 60-pound dog who wont take go sleep in your own bed for an answer), motion isolationor how well the mattress absorbs motion and prevents it from transferring across the bedis an important factor in choosing a mattress. While the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 did a decent job of isolating motion, it wasnt as impressive as a traditional memory foam mattress or other hybrids Ive tried. Sometimes when my boyfriend got out of bed, I didnt feel it at all; other times, I was jostled awake by the movement transfer. I think it really depends on how discreet your partner is being when slipping out of bed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night and how tired you are. If I had to rate the Purples ability to isolate motion, Id give it a 6 or 7 out of 10. Since this mattress is the bounciest of the bunch, it transfers motion more than the others, but if you sleep aloneor your partner sleeps soundly through the nightyou wont have a problem. Temperature Regulation Where the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 really shines is in the temperature regulation. Unlike memory foam, which can absorb and retain heat, the grid is made of temperature-neutral material and has thousands of air channels that allow heat to move through it. Rather than absorbing and trapping your body heat, it pulls it away from you, ensuring that you stay nice and cool. I sleep with a down comforter all year long and even on summer nights with a couple of tower fans but no AC, I didnt overheat or feel warm and balmy. Purples moisture-wicking sheets helped with this, but even without them, the mattress was noticeably cooler than other memory foam models Ive tried. Purple Hybrid Premier 4 Review: The Final Verdict As is true with anything, theres no one perfect mattress for everyone. While the Purple Hybrid Premier 4 has earned a solid spot in my best mattresses list, it will work better for some people better than others. You should get the Purple mattress if: You prefer a bouncier, plusher feel, rather than the sinking feeling of memory foam. You weigh more than 130 pounds (This applies doubly if you weigh 230 pounds or more). Youre a hot sleeper. You might want to skip it if: You like to feel like youre sinking into your mattress, rather than lying on top of it. You weigh less than 130 pounds. You prefer a firmer feel. The good news is that Purple offers a 100 night at-home sleep trial so you can try it yourself to see if its right for you. If you change your mind in the first 100 days, you can return the mattress for a full refund. You have to keep (and sleep on) the mattress for at least 21 days to give your body enough time to adjust before youre allowed to initiate a return. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/2021/05/18/purple-mattress-review-purple-hybrid-premier-4/ |
Does Johnson & Johnsons Covid Vaccine Still Matter? | Johnson and Johnson vaccine manufacturer logo is photographed with a vial and spilled liquid for an ... [+] illustration photo. Krakow, Poland on May 5th, 2021. Within less than 12 months after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several research teams rose to the challenge and developed vaccines that protect from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. (Photo by Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Although Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) began the rollout of its Covid-19 vaccine in the United States in early March 2021, it is seeing a very slow deployment. Just about 600k doses were allocated to states for the week of May 10th, compared to over 10 million doses for Pfizers shot, and no doses are apparently allocated for this week. The slow rollout comes amid fears of extremely rare but potentially deadly blood clots in patients who received the J&J shot and also due to supply constraints, with a manufacturing facility operated by J&J subcontractor Emergent Biosolutions EBS coming under scrutiny by the U.S. FDA for multiple lapses. Now with about half the U.S population having received at least one shot of a vaccine, and inoculation drives moving to lower age groups with the approval of Pfizers shot for adolescents, the J&J shot seems unlikely to play a major role in the U.S. inoculation drive. That said, we still think the vaccine has a lot of room for scaling up internationally. The global inoculation drive is still in the early stages, with just about 1.45 billion doses being administered globally per the Bloomberg Vaccine Tracker enough to fully vaccinate under 10% of the worlds population. We still think the J&J shot could do much of the heavy lifting in getting the global population, particularly in lower-income countries, inoculated against Covid-19, given its single-dose requirement and relatively easy storage. For instance, South Africa is likely to rely heavily on the J&J shot, while the shot is also likely to be available in India in the coming months. Moreover, most experts think that Covid is likely to become endemic, and vaccine shots could become an annual occurrence, much like flu shots. J&J has indicated that it was studying booster shots and new vaccines that might be needed to tackle evolving variants of the virus. While J&J pledged to sell its Covid vaccine on a not-for-profit basis through the current pandemic, it could potentially turn a profit from new vaccines and booster shots in the future. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [Updated 12/4/2020] Johnson & Johnson JNJ Vaccine UpdatesJohnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) began the rollout of its single-dose Covid-19 vaccine in the United States in early March 2021. Below are some of the recent updates relating to the vaccine. The supply of J&Js Covid-19 vaccine is expected to decline by about 85% in the U.S. this week, as the company faces some manufacturing challenges. Total supply through the U.S. is likely to stand at about 1.5 million doses, down from 11 million for last week. That said, the company says that it is on track to deliver 100 million doses to the United States government by the end of May. Separately, the European Unions health agency is investigating reports that a few people developed serious blood clots after receiving J&Js Covid-19 vaccine in the U.S. However, we think its unlikely that this will impact the eventual rollout of the shot which was recently approved for use in the E.U. There have been only four reported cases of serious blood clots. In comparison, J&J shipped about 20 million doses of the shot to the U.S. in March. This likely means that the benefits of the vaccine should outweigh a very small risk of severe adverse effects. J&J plans to conduct a bridging study for its Covid-19 vaccine in India shortly. Bridging trials are supplementary clinical studies performed in a new country in order to gather data on efficacy, safety, and dose regimen based on the regional demographics. India, which has a population of over 1.3 billion people, is facing a shortage of vaccines just as Covid-19 cases in the country soar. A successful bridging study should enable J&J to deploy its one-dose shot locally. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [4/1/2021] How Is J&Js Vaccine Rollout Going?Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) began the rollout of its single-dose Covid-19 shot in the U.S. in early March. Here are some of the recent developments relating to the vaccine. While Johnson & Johnson beat its March delivery target for the U.S., providing the government with over 20 million doses, a recent error at the plant of a vaccine manufacturing partner, Emergent BioSolutions, apparently contaminated about 15 million doses of the shot. The problem was identified quickly, and none of the doses left the plant. While we think it is likely that the error could impact near-term supply growth for the shot, J&J says that it is on track to deliver 100 million doses to the U.S. by the end of June, or possibly sooner. Separately, the vaccine received approval from E.U regulators in mid-March and Johnson & Johnson says that it is likely to start delivering doses to the bloc starting from April 19. The E.U has entered into a firm order for 200 million doses of the vaccine, and has an option for 200 million additional doses. The E.Us vaccination drive has been progressing much slower than expected, and it is likely that the J&J shot will help to speed up inoculation efforts considerably. Thus far, less than 4% of the global population ((Bloomberg vaccine tracker)) has been vaccinated for Covid-19 and we think that J&Js shot could play a big role in improving coverage. The shots single-dose requirement and the fact that it can be stored at standard refrigerator temperatures of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius should make it much more accessible. J&J plans to produce around one billion doses this year. Although the headline efficacy number for the vaccine (66%) is lower compared to rivals, the shot still provides 100% efficacy against Covid-related hospitalization and death which is a key endpoint for vaccines. [3/2/2021] J&Js Vaccine Is Approved Johnson & Johnsons (NYSE:JNJ) single-dose Covid-19 vaccine received emergency use approval from the U.S. FDA late last week, with a rollout expected to begin shortly. Overall, the vaccine isnt expected to really move the needle for J&Js bottom line, as it intends to sell the shot at cost through the pandemic. However, J&Js quick development of a differentiated Covid-19 vaccine should give investors confidence that the company still has the capability to innovate quickly, despite the fact that it isnt really a major vaccine maker. In contrast, even Merck which has a rich history of vaccine development had to abandon its Covid-19 vaccine program last month citing a weak immune response. Separately, the vaccine should help J&J rebuild its brand image after it faced setbacks amid lawsuits relating to contamination of its baby and other talc products. The end of Covid-19 should also bode well for diversified healthcare companies like Johnson & Johnson, as hospital visits and elective procedures rebound. Now J&J has about four million doses of the shot ready to ship this week, with a total of 100 million doses expected to be delivered to the U.S. by the end of June, per a contract with the U.S. government. J&J plans to produce around one billion doses by the end of this year. Although the vaccines efficacy figure of 72% in U.S. clinical trials is behind Pfizer and Moderna who have shots that are around 95% effective, the J&J shot is 100% effective against hospitalization and death. Also, being a single dose shot, governments can vaccinate populations twice as fast with a given number of doses compared to the other shots on the market. Moreover, this is the first vaccine to be reviewed by the FDA after the two new variants of the novel Coronavirus were discovered. [2/19/2021] J&J Vaccine UpdatesJohnson & Johnsons (NYSE:JNJ) single-dose Covid-19 vaccine has started to roll-out in South Africa. The shot is being administered as part of a research study that is targeting up to half a million healthcare workers and marks the first time the vaccine is being deployed outside of clinical trials. Earlier this month, South Africa paused the roll-out of AstraZenecas vaccine, which was apparently not effective against the Covid-19 strain dominant in the country. The J&J shot, on the other hand, has shown about 57% efficacy in preventing moderate and severe Covid-19 infections in South African trials. Separately, the U.S. FDA is likely to review the vaccine data on February 26, and its likely that the vaccine will be granted emergency authorization by early March with vaccinations potentially starting shortly after that. J&J has a contract with the U.S. government to supply about 100 million doses by the end of June, although initial supplies are reportedly very limited. J&J is also seeking authorization for its shot from the E.U. The European Medicines Agency, the European drug regulator, is expected to issue an opinion on the shot by mid-March. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [2/1/2021] J&J Vaccines 66% Efficacy Is Better Than It LooksJohnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) announced that its single-shot Covid-19 vaccine was 66% effective in preventing moderate and severe cases of Covid-19 in its global phase 3 trials. Efficacy varied by region, with the shot proving 72% effective in the U.S., 66% effective in Latin America, and around 57% effective in South Africa. Although the headline efficacy figures put J&J behind both Moderna and Pfizer, which have vaccines that are over 90% effective in the market, J&Js shot remains very promising for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the shot only requires a single dose and this should greatly reduce logistical costs and help to vaccinate populations twice as fast with a given number of doses compared to the other shots on the market. This is valuable in the midst of a pandemic. Secondly, the shot has shown complete protection against hospitalization and deaths, 28 days post-vaccination. [1] Moreover, the efficacy figures actually compare quite favorably with some other vaccines. For example, the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine posted an efficacy rate of roughly 62% with the standard two-dose regimen that is currently being used in the U.K. In fact, even annual flu vaccines are typically only around 40% to 60% effective. Additionally, J&J started late-stage trials to evaluate a two-dose regimen of its vaccine, with recruitment likely to be completed by this March. Its possible that this dosing could offer better efficacy levels. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [1/25/2021] Johnson & Johnson Vaccine UpdatedJohnson & Johnsons (NYSE:JNJ) Covid-19 vaccine is one of the most closely watched shots against the novel coronavirus, given that it is backed by one of the worlds largest pharma companies and is expected to require only a single dose. Heres a quick rundown of the expected timeline for the vaccines launch. Johnson & Johnson is expected to provide data from its phase 3 trial of around 45k participants around the last week of January or the first week of February and file for emergency use approval with the U.S. FDA post that if the results are positive. The process of preparing and filing for an application could take a week or two, after which the FDA review and potential approval is likely to take another two to three weeks. For perspective, the FDA review process took about three weeks for Pfizer and slightly less for Moderna. Considering this, its likely that the J&J shot should be approved for use by sometime in March. This would put the shot at least two to three months behind Pfizer, which received emergency approval from the FDA on December 11, 2020. That being said, theres plenty of room for the company to scale up as vaccination drives are still in the very early stages. Per the Bloomberg vaccine tracker, only around 66 million people, in the 56 countries being tracked, have been vaccinated. The U.S. has administered 22.4 million doses. [2] Moreover, J&Js shot should see strong demand, given that it is likely to be a one-dose vaccine that is apparently going to be easy to store and distribute, helping to make mass vaccination drives much more straightforward. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [1/15/2021] Johnson & Johnson Vaccine UpdatesJohnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is developing one of the most closely watched Covid-19 vaccines, considering that it is a single-dose shot that should be relatively easy to distribute. Heres a quick rundown on the recent developments for the vaccine. Based on data from the phase 1/2 trials of 805 participants, published on Wednesday, the vaccine generated a long-lasting immune response with 90% of participants generating neutralizing antibodies against the Coronavirus. [3] Based on these early-stage findings the company expects the vaccine to be more than 70% effective, noting that efficacy could reach very high levels. For perspective, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, which are being rolled out in the U.S. are over 90% effective. More conclusive efficacy data from J&Js phase 3 study which has 45,000 volunteers is expected in the coming weeks with the company likely to proceed with emergency approval if the results are favorable. Separately, there have been reports that the company is seeing some manufacturing delays for the vaccine. While J&J was expected to deliver 12 million doses by the end of February and 100 million by the end of June, it has reportedly fallen behind these goals by as much as two months. [4] As of last September, the company said that it had plans to deliver over a billion doses by the end of 2021. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is expected to report interim data from the phase 3 trial of its Covid-19 vaccine candidate this month, providing insight into its safety and efficacy. The company has completed enrollment on the trial, with 45,000 people for the trial, below its initial target of 60,000, although this is unlikely to make a difference as higher rates of Coronavirus infections in the U.S. are likely to allow it to gather the data it needs with fewer volunteers. If all goes well, J&J could apply for emergency use approval from the U.S. FDA as early as February. Although J&J is at least two months behind Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) who have already started to roll out their vaccines, J&Js shot could be much sought after if it proves as safe and effective as rivals, considering that it likely requires only a single dose, unlike rival vaccines which require two shots to be given a few weeks apart. Overall, the vaccine isnt expected to really move the needle for J&J financially, as it intends to sell the vaccine at cost through the pandemic. However, the vaccine should help the company rebuild its brand image after it faced setbacks amid lawsuits relating to contamination of its baby and other talc products. Secondly, the end of Covid-19 should bode well for diversified healthcare companies like Johnson and Johnson, as hospital visits and elective procedures rise. The focus could also shift back to the companys blockbuster drugs, including Stelara, Imbruvica, and Darzalex, which posted about 22% y-o-y growth over the first nine months of 2020. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [Updated 12/7/2020] Covid-19 Vaccine stocksJohnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) is seen as a key player in the Covid-19 vaccine race. The company started phase 3 trials in September and expects to file for emergency approval by early 2021 if the vaccine is safe and effective. While rivals Pfizer and Modernas vaccines will have a head start, given that they have completed phase 3 trials with exceptionally strong results and are likely to start shipping their vaccines in the coming weeks, Johnson & Johnsons candidate remains promising for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the company is targeting a single-dose regimen for the vaccine, unlike most of the other players which require two doses (although it also started a two-dose regimen to evaluate incremental benefits). This should make it much easier to administer at the time of a pandemic, putting less stress on the healthcare infrastructure. Secondly, the distribution could also be relatively seamless as the vaccine is expected to remain stable for at least three months at refrigerator-like temperatures, unlike some other vaccines (such as Pfizers) that need specialized freezers. The vaccine is also likely to be relatively affordable. Per a deal with the U.S. government, Johnson & Johnson has priced its vaccine at about $10 per dose. Thats well below Pfizers ($19 per dose) and Moderna ($25 to $37 per dose). Although the vaccine is unlikely to move the needle for the company in the near-term, as it will provide the shots for a not-for-profit basis through the pandemic, it could have an incremental impact post that. See our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines. [Updated 11/4/2020] Covid-19 Vaccine stocks Our indicative theme of Covid-19 Vaccine stocks which includes a diverse set of U.S.-based pharma and biotech companies developing Covid vaccines is up by about 560% year-to-date, on an equally weighted basis, compared to the S&P 500 which has gained just about 4% over the same period. While most vaccine stocks declined last week, amid a broader sell-off in the markets, they are likely to come back into the spotlight as efficacy data from late-stage trials is expected from frontrunners Pfizer (NYSE: PFE) and Moderna (NASDAQ: MRNA) in the coming weeks. Below is a bit more on the companies in our theme of Coronavirus Vaccine stocks and their relative performance. Novavax (NVAX), a vaccine development company, began late-stage trials of its Covid vaccine in the U.K in September, and large-scale phase 3 trials are due to begin in the U.S. and Mexico this month. While the company doesnt have any other products on the market yet, its flu vaccine NanoFlu could be ready for potential FDA approval. The company has received about $1.6 billion in funding from the Federal government. The stock has soared 2,000% year-to-date. NVAX Moderna (MRNA) , a clinical-stage biotech company, is carrying out phase 3 trials of its Covid-19 vaccine, completing enrollment of 30,000 participants. The company is likely to have data on whether its vaccine works or not by this month, and has noted that it would seek emergency approval from the FDA if the vaccine is at least 70% effective. The stock is up 253% this year. Johnson & Johnson (JNJ): Unlike most other vaccine candidates, which are likely to require two shots, J&J is targeting a single-dose vaccine. While the company had to pause trials in mid-October after an illness was reported in a volunteer, the company is now preparing to resume trials. The stock is down by -5.1% this year. Pfizer (PFE) is working with German partner BioNTech on a Covid-19 vaccine. The company is likely to have efficacy data from late-stage trials available shortly. The company could supply about 40 million doses in the United States in 2020 if the data is positive and regulators approve the vaccine. The stock is down by about -7.6% this year. See How Its Powering New Collaboration and What-Ifs For CFOs and Finance Teams | Product, R&D, and Marketing Teams Notes: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2021/05/18/does-johnson--johnsons-covid-vaccine-still-matter/ |
Are Sunday Open Houses A Thing Of The Past? | Virtual tours of The Reed allow prospects to see the buildings varied floor plans and finishes, as ... [+] well as the views from each residence. Those views are so realistic, they depict boats floating down the adjacent Chicago River. Dave Burk, courtesy of Lendlease Virtual home tours grew into an increasingly important real estate phenomenon prior to the pandemics incursion. As it did other tech innovations these past 14 months, Covid sent the online touring trend into overdrive. The result: A level of comfort and familiarity with the advancement that might otherwise have taken years longer to achieve. Last month, research from Zillow divulged if shopping for a home, 79% of Americans would favorably view the idea of a virtual tour and digital floor plan. That percentage climbed to better than 80% if the home shoppers were Millennials. One month earlier, Zillow found nearly 6 in 10 Millennials reporting theyd be fairly self-assured making an offer on a residence theyd toured virtually. Whats more, almost 4 in 10 would be agreeable with the notion of purchasing a domicile online. When initiating sales at The Reed, a 41-story luxury condominium in Chicagos Printers Row enclave earlier in 2021, developer Lendlease and the buildings exclusive sales and marketing firm Wolf Development Strategies didnt just unveil a cutting-edge sales gallery. They also created the sales gallerys virtual reality technology, and made it viewable remotely so shoppers wouldnt have to even visit to begin the process. Historically, purchasing a home has always been a hands-on, sensory experience, observes Ted Weldon, executive general manager of development for the Chicago office of Lendlease. Yet this year has shown there are circumstances under which a prospect might buy sight unseen or at least start the process virtually. For those prospective buyers, we have invested in a robust suite of virtual tools that provide an immersive look at The Reed, supplementing and in some cases replacing a visit to the sales gallery. This technology is so advanced it can offer views from any home in the building at any time of day. And they are lifelike, right down to boats floating down the Chicago River. In-person partiality During the pandemic, four condominium projects from Chicago-based Belgravia Group have taken shape, each in different stages from sales launches to construction. Renelle on the River and Three Sixty West in River North offer homes for immediate delivery. CA6 West Loop in the West Loop and Triangle Square in the up-and-coming East Bucktown enclave are currently under construction, the latter promising first deliveries this autumn. Buyers have displayed a partiality for in-person tours of the properties in recent months. But that doesnt mean virtual touring is going away. When the pandemic and social distancing were at their peak levels, Belgravia Group had its brokers stage live tours over Facetime. This enabled would-be purchasers to customize tours to their specific needs. At the same time, this practice fostered a tighter one-on-one connection between prospects and members of the companys sales team, says senior vice president of sales and marketing Liz Brooks. But even now that the majority of our showings are by in-person appointment, our team is still using Facetime to offer a preview of our developments before buyers tour the models or an immediate-delivery home, she adds. Weve found we are able to establish a stronger relationship with prospective buyers with this type of introduction, versus communicating by email or text, which is how our initial conversations usually happened prior to the pandemic. More sophisticated In the past 12 months, Wolf Development Strategies developers have found it essential to invest in cutting-edge VR technology to meet buyer expectations, says president and CEO David Wolf. And the quality of the VR experience has evolved quickly to become more sophisticated to keep pace with consumer demand for a true-to-life walkthrough of their future homes, he adds. VR tech also satisfies a need for sales teams to more easily identify serious prospects who are ready to move forward with a home purchase. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffsteele/2021/05/18/are-sunday-open-houses-a-thing-of-the-past/ |
Would Aaron Rodgers make Broncos AFC Super Bowl favorites? | MMA Weekly Charles Oliveira is a UFC champion. The Brazilian veteran knocked out Michael Chandler in the second round in a fight that had momentum swing like a pendulum. Oliveira appeared to have Chandler completely compromised early in the first round as he took his back and searched for chokes before Chandler immediately transitioned into an advantageous ground position. Once they went to the feet Chandler dropped Oliveira with a heavy punch and followed up with strikes on the ground. It actually looked like the fight was seconds from being stopped, but Oliveira recovered and maintained until the end of the first round. With all of the momentum behind Chandler, nobody could predict the beginning of the second round to play out the way that it did. Oliveira almost instantly dropped Chandler with a vicious left hook and Chandler attempted to evade and manage. He got out of Oliveiras reach and ran away from Oliveira, but the new champion stalked Chandler and dropped him with another shot and followed up with decisive shots that made the ref call the fight 19 seconds into the second round. Oliveira not only became the fighter with the most amount of fights before winning a title with 28, he also passed Donald Cerrone for the most finishes in UFC history. UFC 262 results: Beneil Dariush gets unanimous decision nod against Tony Ferguson Beneil Dariush scooped arguably the most important victory in his UFC career as he defeated Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 262. Dariush outstruck Ferguson on the feet as he frequently connected with strikes. However the majority of Dariushs success came from the grappling department. Despite several moments where Ferguson appeared to have Dariush in a compromising position where El Cucuy could potentially find a submission, It would not be outlandish to say Dariush dominated Ferguson on the ground. As a result of his co-main event victory, Dariush is sure to be propelled into the title picture, and hell most likely debut in the top five when the rankings come out Monday as well. UFC 262 results: Edson Barboza shines with TKO win in slugfest with Shane Burgos Edson Barboza started off UFC 262 with a bang as he put on a wonderful performance that resulted in a TKO win for Barboza. Barboza started the fight off by chopping at Burgos legs with vicious leg kicks. He immediately forced Burgos to monitor Barbozas attacks to the leg which enabled Barboza to frequently and successfully land shots to the body and head. It appeared as if Barboza was wobbling Burgos with shots every combination Barboza threw, but Burgos frequently responded with affirming facial expressions and gestures that indicated he was coherent and able to continue. However in the third round, Barboza hit Burgos with a combination ending in a right hook. Burgos initially reacted as if he absorbed the punches and was able to continue, but bizarrely enough, it was a delayed reaction. Burgos proceeded to stumble backwards, impactfully falling against the cage where Barboza capitalized and hit Burgos with a couple of punches on the ground before the referee stopped the fight. With this victory, Barboza advanced to 2-1 in the featherweight division and is guaranteed to move up in the featherweight rankings after defeating the no. 9 ranked Burgos. Andre Muniz addresses breaking Jacare Souzas arm | UFC 262 video UFC 262 Results UFC 262 Main Card Results Main Event: Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler by KO (punches) at 0:19, R2Co-Main Event: Beneil Dariush def. Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Rogerio Bontorin def. Matt Schnell by unanimous decision (3027, 3027, 2928)Katlyn Chookagian def. Viviane Araujo unanimous decision (2928, 2928, 3027)Edson Barboza def. Shane Burgos by KO (punches) at 1:15, R3 UFC Vegas 262 Prelim Results Andre Muniz def. Jacare Souza by submission (armbar) at 3:59, R1Lando Vannata def. Mike Grundy by split decision (2928, 2730, 3027)Jordan Wright def. Jamie Pickett by TKO (knee and punches) at 1:04, R1Andrea Lee def. Antonina Shevchenko by submission (triangle/armbar) at 4:52, R2 UFC Vegas 262 Early Prelim Results Priscila Cachoeira def. Gina Mazany by TKO (punches) at 4:51, R2Tucker Lutz def. Kevin Aguilar by unanimous decision (3027, 2928, 2928)Christos Giagos def. Sean Soriano by submission (brabo choke) at 0:59, R2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/aaron-rodgers-broncos-afc-super-133137542.html?src=rss |
Will success of '21 Dolphins hinge on QB Tua Tagovailoa? | MMA Weekly Charles Oliveira is a UFC champion. The Brazilian veteran knocked out Michael Chandler in the second round in a fight that had momentum swing like a pendulum. Oliveira appeared to have Chandler completely compromised early in the first round as he took his back and searched for chokes before Chandler immediately transitioned into an advantageous ground position. Once they went to the feet Chandler dropped Oliveira with a heavy punch and followed up with strikes on the ground. It actually looked like the fight was seconds from being stopped, but Oliveira recovered and maintained until the end of the first round. With all of the momentum behind Chandler, nobody could predict the beginning of the second round to play out the way that it did. Oliveira almost instantly dropped Chandler with a vicious left hook and Chandler attempted to evade and manage. He got out of Oliveiras reach and ran away from Oliveira, but the new champion stalked Chandler and dropped him with another shot and followed up with decisive shots that made the ref call the fight 19 seconds into the second round. Oliveira not only became the fighter with the most amount of fights before winning a title with 28, he also passed Donald Cerrone for the most finishes in UFC history. UFC 262 results: Beneil Dariush gets unanimous decision nod against Tony Ferguson Beneil Dariush scooped arguably the most important victory in his UFC career as he defeated Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 262. Dariush outstruck Ferguson on the feet as he frequently connected with strikes. However the majority of Dariushs success came from the grappling department. Despite several moments where Ferguson appeared to have Dariush in a compromising position where El Cucuy could potentially find a submission, It would not be outlandish to say Dariush dominated Ferguson on the ground. As a result of his co-main event victory, Dariush is sure to be propelled into the title picture, and hell most likely debut in the top five when the rankings come out Monday as well. UFC 262 results: Edson Barboza shines with TKO win in slugfest with Shane Burgos Edson Barboza started off UFC 262 with a bang as he put on a wonderful performance that resulted in a TKO win for Barboza. Barboza started the fight off by chopping at Burgos legs with vicious leg kicks. He immediately forced Burgos to monitor Barbozas attacks to the leg which enabled Barboza to frequently and successfully land shots to the body and head. It appeared as if Barboza was wobbling Burgos with shots every combination Barboza threw, but Burgos frequently responded with affirming facial expressions and gestures that indicated he was coherent and able to continue. However in the third round, Barboza hit Burgos with a combination ending in a right hook. Burgos initially reacted as if he absorbed the punches and was able to continue, but bizarrely enough, it was a delayed reaction. Burgos proceeded to stumble backwards, impactfully falling against the cage where Barboza capitalized and hit Burgos with a couple of punches on the ground before the referee stopped the fight. With this victory, Barboza advanced to 2-1 in the featherweight division and is guaranteed to move up in the featherweight rankings after defeating the no. 9 ranked Burgos. Andre Muniz addresses breaking Jacare Souzas arm | UFC 262 video UFC 262 Results UFC 262 Main Card Results Main Event: Charles Oliveira def. Michael Chandler by KO (punches) at 0:19, R2Co-Main Event: Beneil Dariush def. Tony Ferguson by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)Rogerio Bontorin def. Matt Schnell by unanimous decision (3027, 3027, 2928)Katlyn Chookagian def. Viviane Araujo unanimous decision (2928, 2928, 3027)Edson Barboza def. Shane Burgos by KO (punches) at 1:15, R3 UFC Vegas 262 Prelim Results Andre Muniz def. Jacare Souza by submission (armbar) at 3:59, R1Lando Vannata def. Mike Grundy by split decision (2928, 2730, 3027)Jordan Wright def. Jamie Pickett by TKO (knee and punches) at 1:04, R1Andrea Lee def. Antonina Shevchenko by submission (triangle/armbar) at 4:52, R2 UFC Vegas 262 Early Prelim Results Priscila Cachoeira def. Gina Mazany by TKO (punches) at 4:51, R2Tucker Lutz def. Kevin Aguilar by unanimous decision (3027, 2928, 2928)Christos Giagos def. Sean Soriano by submission (brabo choke) at 0:59, R2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/success-21-dolphins-hinge-qb-132039245.html?src=rss |
Who is Dalton Gomez, Ariana Grande's husband? | Ariana Grande made some major moves over the weekend when she tied the knot to her fianc Dalton Gomez in a surprise, intimate ceremony in California. Fox News confirmed the 27-year-old "Thank U, Next" singer and Gomez, 25, exchanged their nuptials at the pop star's home in Montecito, Calif. over the weekend. The ceremony was said to be attended by fewer than 20 guests from both sides of their respective families. "They couldn't be happier, they're just so excited. This is a happy time for them, both sets of parents are thrilled," a source told People shortly after the star's rep confirmed the wedding. While Grande's love life has dominated headlines almost as much as her chart-topping hits in recent years, she and Gomez, a real estate professional, have managed to keep intimate details of their relationship under wraps. ARIANA GRANDE, FIANC DALTON GOMEZ MARRIED Fortunately for Grande's fanbase, the singer has alluded to being head-over-heels for the man, thanks to her social media profiles. Here's a look at what we know about the man who captured the worldwide superstar's heart. He's a real estate agent Grande's now-husband is a luxury real estate agent, having worked at the Aaron Kirman Group (AKG) for five years. According to his bio on the agency's website, Gomez is the sole buyers agent for the Beverly Hills-based company. In his first three years at AKG, Gomez worked as the Director of Operations. The company applauds him for holding "one of the largest rolodexes of A-list buyers" in Hollywood. He reportedly even helped his now-wife in purchasing real estate in 2020. He's a California native Gomez was born and raised in California. Meanwhile, Grande was born in Boca Raton, Fla. and grew up in the state. While her home base appears to be in California, she also has a residence in New York City. ARIANA GRANDE TO JOIN 'THE VOICE' AS COACH FOR SEASON 21 Gomez stars in Grande and Justin Bieber's music video The singer and real estate agent went public in quite a creative way in 2020. Just a couple of months after rumors swirled that they were an item, Gomez starred in Grande's and Bieber's " Stuck With U " music video, which dropped on May 8. He popped the question in late 2020 The "Positions" singer announced her engagement to Gomez in December 2020 with a series of photos posted to Instagram, where she has a whopping 235 million followers. The series also included some snaps of her brand new engagement ring. "forever n then some," she captioned the post . Gomez popped the question with a rare sparkler with the help of jeweler Jack Solow, who dished about it in an interview last year. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "Dalton was involved in every step of the selection process through FaceTime and Zoom since he was on the west coast and I was here in my office in New York. He was very, very specific about what he wanted," Solow told E! News. "He had very strong feelings about how he wanted this to look, a contemporary kind of way. It was his idea to do the diamond on an angle and he said to me we had to incorporate a pearl into the finished piece because it is very sentimentally special, the element of a pearl is very, very sentimentally special to Ariana. He wanted to include that in the ring." He's been living with the pop star for some time Grande and Gomez were reportedly living together long before becoming husband and wife. The duo reportedly began living together in early 2020, quarantining in California at the singer's home during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The Montecito mansion where the two are said to have tied the knot over the weekend is a property the two have made memories in together, according to reports. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/who-is-dalton-gomez-ariana-grande-husband |
Could International player Aaron Donkor be more than a project for the Seahawks? | A quick glance at Aaron Donkors resume might easily lead to the conclusion that he is something of a project as he begins his Seahawks career. A native of Goettingen, Germany, Donkor did not play football until 2016 at the age of 21 with a season in his native country. That led to two years at a junior college in New Mexico and then playing six games for Arkansas State in 2019. Now, he is a Seahawk, thanks to the leagues International Player Pathway Program. A linebacker listed at 6-1, 240 pounds, Donkor participated in his first two NFL practices over the weekend in Seattles rookie minicamp. But while like any rookie, Donkor has a lot to learn, he showed enough for coach Pete Carroll to quickly brush aside the idea that Donkor is a player who will inevitably need more seasoning than anyone else in the camp. No, no, he looks very comfortable, Carroll said Saturday of Donkor. Hes had a couple plays we showed on highlights yesterday, just running and chasing the football. He looks like he fits in. Advertising Carroll, of course, is never short of optimism, and especially in the heady days of May when the hard work of the offseason is over and he gets to the fun part of coaching on the field. But Donkor himself knows theres no time like the present to make a statement. Time is flying and youve got to adjust, he said philosophically of what he learned of his time at Arkansas State, which was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic (he did not play football in 2020). Adjust is exactly what Donkor did five years ago when he decided to give football a shot, and what he will do now with the Seahawks in making the move from defensive end to linebacker. He was initially a basketball player in Germany, playing three seasons with BG Goettingen (a club whose alums include former Washington State standout Taylor Rochestie). But at the age of 21 he was encouraged to give football a shot and played his first season in 2016 with the Dusseldorf Panther club of the German Football League. Advertising Donkor said he first got acquainted with football during his basketball days when he had a number of teammates from the United States who introduced him to the Madden video game and with whom hed watch the Super Bowl. Noting his physical basketball style, he said a few of his teammate told him he should try football. I got a little encouragement to try out, see what happens, he said. And it was fun, it came easy to me, just flying around. His success in Germany led to a chance to play in the United States and two years at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell. From there he went to Arkansas State and had 25 tackles in six games in 2019. Deciding to turn pro this year, Donkor trained at the IMG Academy in Florida this winter and shined at the NFL International Combine, running a 4.46 40 with a 39-inch vertical leap. Advertising That earned him a spot as one of the four players in the leagues International Pathways Program for 2021. The program originated in 2017 and according to the NFL aims to provide elite international athletes the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately earn a spot on an NFL roster. The NFC West was chosen at random this year to be the division in which each team would be allocated one player from the program with Seattle getting Donkor. Each player does not count against the teams 90-man roster limit (Seattle currently has 91 thanks to Donknors presence). And if the international player does not make the initial 53-man roster after training camp he can then be placed on the practice squad but without counting against practice squad limits. The caveat is that an IPP player on a practice squad roster exemption cannot be called up to the active roster during the season. The practice squad seems like Donkors logical destination this season since it would give Seattle essentially a free player to help with practices all season and evaluate and groom for the future, Sponsored But it was notable that the Seahawks used Donkor as an inside linebacker during rookie minicamp instead of on the outside. He was a defensive end at Arkansas State, but his size and speed, the Seahawks think, makes him a better fit as an off-ball linebacker. Hes played a lot on the end of the line of scrimmage which he wont do as much for us, Carroll said Saturday. Hell be more behind the line of scrimmage. We need to see how he adapts to that. Linebacker and especially the inside spots are one position where Seattle could use some depth. The Seahawks have Bobby Wagner and Jordyn Brooks returning as the starters at the inside spots (middle and weakside, respectively) with K.J. Wright unsigned and any possibility of his return seeming a little murkier by the day. Seattles other five listed linebackers are Cody Barton, who can play the inside spots but also figures to contend for the outside strongside linebacker position; Ben Burr-Kirven, who plays inside; recently claimed Nate Evans, who was playing at SLB during rookie minicamp; undrafted free agent rookie signee Jon Rhattigan (who was inside during minicamp) and Donkor. Advertising Darrell Taylor is also being tried as a strongside linebacker in the teams base defense. With the depth the team has on the defensive line and secondary, Seattle could keep just five linebackers, and Wagner, Brooks, Barton and Burr-Kirven could well be four with Taylor maybe the fifth depending on how his transition goes. But with Barton and Burr-Kirven (not to mention Wagner) entering the final years of their contracts in 2022, the Seahawks could be looking for some depth down the road. Donkor said whatever role Seahawks find for him is fine with him he just wants to have one. And ultimately, he hopes to follow in the path (or should it be pathway?) of a few other players from the program who have carved out careers in the NFL, including Jakob Johnson, a native of Stuttgart, Germany who has played in 20 games at fullback for the Patriots the last two years with 14 starts. My goal for this year is to make this team better, whatever it takes, he said. And I just have to earn the trust on the coaches, I feel like I have the shot, like every guy on this team, to make (the Seahawks) a special team, if Im coachable, if I show my effort on the field. And I really, really want to grow and play linebacker, and I feel like my God-given traits just translate to that position. Its just earning that trust and competing for a position. | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/could-international-player-aaron-donkor-be-more-than-a-project-for-the-seahawks/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seahawks |
Why has May been so wet? | BBC Heavy showers across London, captured by Weather Watcher simontenor1 April showers didn't put in much of an appearance this year - but May has more than made up for it. The weather has become stuck in an unsettled, turbulent pattern with drenching downpours sweeping across the country. Figures from the Met Office showed that by the middle of the month, Wales and some parts of England had already seen more rain than they would normally expect in the whole of a typical May. And more showers and thunderstorms this week mean the rain gauges are still filling up. In fact, by the morning of 18th May, Topcliffe in North Yorkshire, Bala in Gwynedd and Cardiff had already seen more than double their normal rainfall for the whole of the month. BBC Some parts of England and Wales have already seen more rain than they would expect in the whole of a typical May. With plenty more wet weather in the forecast, it's possible some places will end up breaking records as these totals continue to grow. This is in stark contrast to an April that - while cold and frosty - was the UK's sunniest on record, and much drier than normal. High pressure changing position In April, the jet stream was weak, and remained well to the south of us. High pressure developed close to the UK and became persistent, blocking the progress of rain-bearing weather systems. But as April turned to May, that blocking area of high pressure drifted away and settled over eastern Europe. BBC High pressure drifting eastwards through May has allowed more unsettled weather to move across the UK. In turn, the jet stream strengthened a little and shifted northwards, directing Atlantic low pressure systems right across our shores. At the same time, a dose of strong May sunshine has injected energy into the atmosphere - and combined with low pressure overhead that has led to very unstable conditions with air able to rise rapidly. This has provided the perfect recipe for towering cumulonimbus storm clouds to bubble up, meaning the rainfall has often been intense and heavy, with hail and thunder mixed in. In the short term, we seem stuck in this turbulent weather pattern, so there will be plenty more downpours. It will turn very windy for a time too. However, there are tentative signs from computer weather models that higher pressure could return by the end of the month, bringing a change to something a little drier. You can be sure we'll be keeping a close eye on that at BBC Weather, and will keep you up to date! Learn more about the weather | https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/features/57156159 |
Whats really behind the restaurant labor shortage? | In a sharp reversal, restaurants that once grappled with widespread pandemic-induced layoffs are now struggling to find enough workers to fill positions as diners return and business begins to rebound. Across the country, many restaurant owners have pointed to unemployment benefits as the reason people arent applying for jobs, but the rank and file of the restaurant industry say the lack of workers is the result of a widespread exodus from an already unforgiving industry, which was made even more unforgiving by the pandemic. According to a report from the National Restaurant Association, employment in restaurants and bars has been on a steady incline since the beginning of the year. But the restaurant industry is still down 1.8 million jobs from pre-pandemic employment levels, with full-service restaurants experiencing the most significant job losses since February 2020. Resident Taqueria in Lake Highlands is one of countless restaurants in the Dallas area flooding job boards and social media sites with job postings. Owner Andrew Savoie said hes been trying to fill two line cook positions for months with no luck, and he has a third position opening next month. The jobs start at $9 an hour plus tips. He said hes worried about how he and his employees will manage if they cant fill the jobs soon. Its hard to find people right now. There are so many openings. Nothing comes in or, if it does, youre seeing just not well-put-together job applications with no resumes or anything, he said. Savoie never had to let employees go during the pandemic. The openings he has in his restaurant are the result of natural turnover in the industry, he said, but it doesnt make them any easier to fill. He believes that the lack of qualified candidates is the result of workers fleeing the industry when jobs dried up last year. We have a skill job, and if youre not being utilized, you have to find another skill, Savoie said. Im not sure where people have gone, but theyve gone off to find another skill in the meantime. Im sure they will, but Im not sure when. Other jobs recently posted in a Dallas service industry Facebook group: Cooks and cashiers at Greenville Avenue Pizza Company with starting pay of $13-$16 an hour; a part-time dish/prep cook at Thunderbird Station paying $12-$14 an hour; and a morning line cook at La Reunion paying $15-$20 an hour. Many eateries are even touting sign-on bonuses. A hiring sign outside of Rocket Fizz in Deep Ellum (Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer) Christopher Slijk, an associate economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, said the Texas labor market has experienced a rather rapid recovery over the past few months, but its still a far cry from pre-pandemic levels, particularly in the hospitality industry. In a survey conducted by the Dallas Fed in April, 56% percent of the Texas service industry executives who participated said they are currently trying to hire or recall workers. About 52% of respondents said they currently have a reduced employee headcount, with the average headcount decline hovering around 27%. Of those that were trying to hire or bring people back, about two-thirds said they were facing a lack of applicants. That was really consistent across the board, said Slijk. Roughly 42% of the executives surveyed listed generous unemployment benefits as a main roadblock in the hiring search, meaning potential employees are more lured by unemployment benefits than service industry jobs. Slijk said its possible some people in the restaurant industry are choosing to stay on unemployment benefits rather than return to their service jobs, but suggestions as such are purely anecdotal, and it will be months to a year before theres enough data to have a granular picture of the labor shortage and its root cause. He noted, though, that Dallas was already facing a tight labor market prior to the pandemic, and some of what employers are experiencing is a pre-existing condition. Without supplemental pandemic payments like the $300 weekly federal benefit, Texas average unemployment benefit is around $246 a week with a maximum payout of $521. Dozens of Texas business groups have lobbied for the state to end the extra federal unemployment pay, and Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday announced that Texas do just that opt out of the additional $300 payments to jobless Texans effective June 26. Britt Philyaw, executive director of the Heard That Foundation, a Dallas non-profit that provides support for hospitality workers, said she doesnt know of anyone who has turned down restaurant jobs to stay on unemployment. I find it really disturbing some of the things that Ive seen on social media. I dont like that the labor shortage is being politicized and how it is being said that people are lazy or theyre making more money on unemployment. I dont think its the truth. The people weve worked with throughout the pandemic who were on unemployment and got their stimulus checks were not making ends meet, she said. What the pandemic did, in her opinion, was highlight the instability of restaurant jobs. The quirks of service industry work like tips and irregular schedules are often draws for many people in the industry, but they were cast in a different light when the pandemic hit, Philyaw said. Suddenly the things that were once perks of the business were no longer worth sacrificing health insurance, predictable pay and stability for. Something that is desperately lacking from the conversation is the fact that 70% of the population that works in the industry are women, some of them single with kids. I think that should be a huge part of the conversation, Philyaw said. The service industry labor market was already tight before the pandemic, and with even more jobs than there are workers, Philyaw said employees have the ability to be choosy about who they do go work for, which is making it even harder for employers, some of whom are offering sign-on bonuses and raising wages to attract new hires. People in front-of-house and back-of-house [of restaurants] are shopping around, she said. Am I going to work in an environment where Im not going to be harassed or bullied or forced to work for free? So theres just a lot of things at play, but I really dont think its as simple as the stories that grab the most attention. Andrea Winn, who now works at Whole Foods as a full-time beverage buyer and part-time as a sommelier at Trova Wine + Market, is one of many restaurant workers who left full-time tipped wages behind during the pandemic. The shortage of workers in the restaurant industry has brought on more hours and pressure, making restaurant workers like Andrea want to leave for other jobs that include more benefits. (Shelby Tauber / Special Contributor) For Andrea Winn, a long-time restaurant industry professional whos held server, sommelier and wine director positions at Dallas restaurants like Bolsa and Abacus, the decision to leave the restaurant industry came when the downtown Dallas restaurant she was working at reopened over the summer and management did not adhere to capacity limits, mask mandates and other safety protocols. She took a full-time job as a wine and beer buyer for Whole Foods, stepping away from the industry she loved and had worked in since completing her degree in history and getting out of a desk job she loathed. It wasnt easy to leave the dining room she was saying goodbye to higher pay, flexible hours and the ability to travel when she wanted but the benefits outweighed the cons, she said. I have a job now [at Whole Foods] where I am guaranteed a certain amount of hours every week, I know how much Im going to get paid, and I have health insurance and sick time. The sick time was a really big thing because working in restaurants, unless you are really sick, you are expected to work sick. Youre looked down upon, and your schedule will be threatened if you dont [work], Winn said. There is a common perception that restaurant workers are young, uneducated and in the industry out of necessity, Winn said, and such thinking makes it easy to believe that the shortage of workers is due to an unwillingness to work. But the reality is the industry is made up of seasoned professionals like her who sought out restaurant and bar careers and are now choosing to pursue careers that offer a better quality of life, she said. Many people she knows made the decision to leave the industry last year when jobs were unavailable or wildly unpredictable to go back to school or pursue careers in the fields they studied in college, she said, and they dont seem to have plans to go back. As for Winn herself, she said shes turned down a handful of restaurant job offers, but now works a few shifts a week as a sommelier at Trova Wine + Market in Dallas just to scratch the itch of being in the bustle of a restaurant. I get to hold onto my full-time job with my full-time benefits and my sick time, but also get to do the thing that I love at least once or twice a week. I think that is something more people in my position are going to do, she said. I wouldnt necessarily be opposed to taking a full-time tipped job at a restaurant again because those people are making piles of money but theres no benefits, and once you have that, its really difficult to go back. | https://www.dallasnews.com/food/restaurant-news/2021/05/18/whats-really-behind-the-restaurant-labor-shortage/ |
Where does Cowboys Dak Prescott rank in the tiers of NFL quarterbacks? | Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys finally agreed to a 4-year, 160 million megadeal this offseason. The deal gives Prescott the second-highest average salary ($40 million) in the NFL behind Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes ($45 million). Not necessarily. CBS Sports insider Jason La Canfora ranked the leagues quarterbacks by tier heading into the 2021 season. Despite Prescott being paid as a franchise player, he wasnt ranked in La Canforas top tier. La Canfora ranked Prescott in his second tier, titled top pros, proven winners, alongside Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill and Baker Mayfield. Dak may have already made the leap to Tier 1 had an injury not wiped out almost all of his 2020 season, La Canfora writes. But I also worry about that offensive line and run game and am not ready to anoint anything pertaining to the 2021 Dallas Cowboys just yet. Prescott is about seven months removed from an Oct. 11 ankle surgery to repair an open fracture he sustained against the New York Giants. He also underwent a second surgery in December to further stabilize the ankle. Prescott is poised to be a full-go for the start of training camp. Entering his sixth season, Prescott will try to return to the elite trajectory he appeared to be on. In 2019, he threw for a career-high 4,902 yards and was on pace to far surpass that in 2020, throwing for 1,856 yards in just five games. In his top tier, titled bona fide franchise quarterbacks, is Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Josh Allen, Justin Herbert and Deshaun Watson. While most of Prescotts stats the last two seasons were on the pace with the best in the game, the most critical one was missing in 2019-20: wins. After leading the Cowboys to winning seasons in each of his first three years, Prescott and the Cowboys have gone 10-11 over the last two years in games hes played. While Prescott probably shoulders the least blame for his teams struggles (especially with a defense that allowed a franchise-record 473 points last season), its unlikely for him to be seen as an elite quarterback without the wins to back up that status. Luckily for Prescott, hes just 27 years old and has plenty of time to rack up wins. In the tier above him, Brady (43), Rodgers (37) and Wilson (32) are all above 30 years old, not to mention Brady is fresh off his seventh Super Bowl win. If Prescott can couple his production from the last two seasons with more wins, he should be in good shape to move up a tier in the rankings. Find more Cowboys coverage from The Dallas Morning News here. | https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2021/05/18/where-does-cowboys-dak-prescott-rank-in-the-tiers-of-nfl-quarterbacks/ |
Has Brexit fatally dented the City of Londons future? | Nearly five years after the Brexit referendum, and in the five months since Brexit itself, there has been little debate about the future of the City, the financial centre of London. Those who voted in June 2016 to leave the European Union believe, whatever the evidence to the contrary, that the impact will be minimal, and that the warnings of job losses and business relocation are exaggerated. Remain voters are programmed to think the opposite and, whatever the evidence to the contrary, forecast gloom and doom. We have to acknowledge, first, that Covid-19 has confused the picture mightily over the last 18 months. People have not found it easy to change location, even if they wanted to. More important, there are some temporary regulatory arrangements that blunt the impact of the UKs departure from the single financial market. There is a Temporary Permissions Regime in London for some EU-based firms, and the European commission has allowed euro-denominated instruments to be cleared in London until 2022, to avoid the disruption any sudden change on 31 December 2020, might have brought. So what we are seeing today may not reflect Brexits full longer-term impact. Nonetheless, changes that have occurred so far permit us to start assessing the future of the City and the financial operations based there. One move that generated headlines was the abrupt shift of trading in European equities from London to Amsterdam at the start of the year. An average of 9.2bn (7.9bn) in shares was traded daily on the Amsterdam exchange in January, four times the volume in December 2020, while Londons daily average dropped sharply, to 8.6bn. The switch can be traced to regulation: the European commission has not granted equivalence to UK trading venues, and is in no rush to do so. That was a crucial early goal by the Remain team in this match, you might think. But the Leave team hit back quickly. Very few job moves resulted from this switch, they say: most of the traders remain in London. And they point out that London continues to lead Europe as a centre for raising new capital. In the first quarter of this year, 8.3bn was raised through London IPOs, compared with 5.4bn in Frankfurt, 5.6bn in Amsterdam, and just 0.1bn in Paris. The Remain team advances again: equities are not the only, or even the most important, instrument. The UK share of euro-denominated interest-rate swaps fell from 40% to 10% from July 2020 to January 2021, while the EU share rose from 10% to 25%. New York was the beneficiary of some of the business lost to London, as many forecasted. And they point to the move of banking assets worth perhaps 1tn out of the UK, mainly to Frankfurt. But both sides acknowledge that from an economic point of view, the city in which trades are booked is less significant than the city in which traders pay their taxes. Soon after the Brexit vote, consultants Oliver Wyman estimated that 75,000 jobs would quickly be relocated to other EU centres. Others produced even higher estimates. The Leave team can claim another goal. A detailed survey from consultancy New Financial last month identified 7,400 positions that had been moved from London to a eurozone financial centre just 10% of the estimates in 2016. The biggest beneficiaries have been Dublin, Paris, Luxembourg, Frankfurt, and Amsterdam, in that order. But the study can be interpreted in another way. Two years ago, the same authors identified 269 firms that had relocated some activity. Now they find that 440 have done so, and they regard that as an underestimate of the number that will eventually do so. They expect the relocated jobs number to rise further. Moreover, there are signs that the property market may be reacting. Over the last two years, property prices have risen 20% in Paris, almost 40% in Amsterdam, but just 6% in London. But it will not be one-way traffic. Just as firms based in the UK no longer have unfettered access to the EUs markets, so most EU-located firms will need authorisation to conduct business with London-based clients. So perhaps 300-500, mainly smaller, European firms will need to set up in London. The net result will be an outflow of jobs from London, but not on anything like the scale widely expected in 2016. Sign up to the daily Business Today email That is because firms have found ways to work around the regulatory obstacles. They have also found that moving staff is costly and difficult. London retains many attractions: schools, cultural life, and many long-established expatriate social networks. It will take time for any putative rival in the EU to develop a plausible matching offer. It seems likely, therefore, that London will remain Europes largest financial marketplace, by a considerable distance. It will remain plugged into a global network: transactions with European clients are perhaps a quarter of its business. But it will no longer be the continents de facto financial centre. For the EU, London will shift from being its principal onshore financial centre, to an important offshore centre. Other cities will pick up business, though the signs are that a multipolar system will develop, with no single winner. There will still be a profitable role for London, but the Golden Age of the City as Europes financial capital will recede, as Golden Ages tend to do. Sir Howard Davies, the first chairman of the UKs Financial Services Authority, is chairman of the NatWest Group. He was director of the LSE and served as deputy governor of the Bank of England and CBI director general. Project Syndicate | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/may/18/has-brexit-fatally-dented-the-city-of-londons-future |
How Can Businesses Implement AI Successfully? | Business network concept. Business meeting. Marketing. originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Ash Fontana, Author of The AI-First Company, on Quora: Taking a model from the lab to live typically involves lots of people, processes, and pieces of software. Every implementation is idiosyncratic, so the purpose here is not to offer a comprehensive guide but rather signposts to help guide the process. Successful implementations involve: cleaning data; integrating with existing software; securing data; setting up sensors/feedback devices to get information about the systems performance in the real world; providing services to deal with systems for which you dont already have an integration; and staffing clients people that may need to ensure data quality, label data or otherwise. There are many steps to acceptance, namely making the return on investment clear, securing an appropriate budget, setting incentives for people to give feedback, reducing the time to value, engaging users with experiments, embedding explainability, providing executive education, and more. Business AI Ash Fontana This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2021/05/18/how-can-businesses-implement-ai-successfully/ |
How worrying is the COVID-19 variant first seen in India? | LONDON For the first time in months, people across England are meeting indoors at pubs, restaurants, cinemas, gyms and elsewhere as coronavirus rules were relaxed this week. But Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Britons to be cautious and some of the scientists advising him say restrictions might need to be reimposed quickly because of a worrying variant first detected in India. The COVID-19 variant first identified in India has been classified as a variant of concern by Britain and the World Health Organization, meaning there is some evidence that it spreads more easily between people, causes more severe disease, or might be less responsive to treatments and vaccines. The absolute numbers of cases (of the variant) in the U.K. remain quite small, but the growth rate is quite high, said Nick Loman, a professor of microbial genomics at the University of Birmingham. To date, there have been more than 2,300 cases identified in Britain. Figures released by Public Health England show cases of the variant first detected in India have tripled in the past week and experts say its on track to become the most dominant COVID-19 variant in the country. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHOs COVID-19 technical lead, said more information was still needed about the variants spread globally. We need more sequencing, targeted sequencing to be done and to be shared in India and elsewhere so that we know how much of this virus is circulating, she said. We dont entirely know. But according to the minutes of an expert group advising the government last week, scientists said it is a realistic possibility that (the variant first seen in India) is as much as 50% more transmissible than the variant first reported in Britain whose explosive spread led to the countrys longest lockdown in January. There are plausible biological reasons as to why some of the mutations present could make this variant more transmissible, they concluded. If the variant proves to be 40 to 50% more transmissible, the scientists predicted that would lead to a much larger peak of cases, hospitalizations and deaths than previous waves of coronavirus particularly if the government continues with its existing plans to exit lockdown. Dr. Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust and one of the scientists advising the government, said it was entirely possible the COVID-19 restrictions relaxed on Monday might need to be reintroduced soon if the variants spread leads to a spike in hospitalizations and deaths. A very careful lifting (of restrictions) is reasonable, but we may have to reverse that, Farrar warned. Experts think the next few weeks should provide more details about how quickly the variant identified in India is sickening people and whether that might overwhelm hospitals. Johnson said any proof the variant identified in India is more dangerous could pose a serious disruption to the U.K. governments plans to lift all remaining COVID-19 restrictions next month. Scientists think so but are still waiting for definitive answers. At a press briefing last week, Marco Cavaleri, head of vaccines at the European Medicines Agency, said the data appeared rather reassuring that vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna would protect against the variant first seen in India. He said the agency was still gathering more information on the effectiveness of the shots made by AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson and was pretty confident those vaccines too would afford people enough protection from the variant. Urgent experimental data is being generated (for this variant), said Sharon Peacock of the U.K. COVID-19 Genomics Consortium. She noted that vaccines appear to work against other variants to date but that it is important to determine if one dose is effective or if two are needed. In the areas of the U.K. worst hit by the variant, Britains health secretary Matt Hancock said most people hospitalized had chosen not to have the jab. On Monday, Johnson said people over 50 and those with underlying health conditions would have their wait for a second vaccine dose cut from 12 weeks to eight, over concerns about the variants rapid spread. Subscribe to bi-weekly newsletter to get health news sent straight to your inbox. | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/05/18/covid-19-variant-first-seen-in-india-explainer/ |
Did George Floyd boost support for Palestine? | Tonight we learn whether Philly DA Larry Krasner gets a second term, which is also my way of reminding all Pennsylvania readers to get out and vote today. Even though its Primary Day, all voters including independents can and should weigh in on four ballot initiatives (including a 2-part GOP power grab, so vote No on #1 and #2). Sign up to receive this newsletter weekly at inquirer.com/bunch, because just like the 5 p.m. cocktail hour its always Election Day somewhere. They marched for racial justice, and now they march for Palestine. Anyone out and about in Philadelphias Center City on this most recent seasonably warm and sunny Saturday afternoon couldnt be blamed for experiencing something of a flashback to last May, a month that ended in a frenzy of protest over the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Once again, a large, racially diverse crowd marched down the center of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, holding placards aloft and chanting in solidarity. But when the protest reached the Philadelphia Art Museum, the steps made famous in Rocky were covered with a massive Palestinian flag marking the new crisis of the moment, as bombs rained down on Gaza and right next to it was a banner that read: Black Lives Matter. The Black and Brown Coalition of PHL, a group that first arose in 2020 during the racial reckoning after Floyds death, had heavily promoted both Saturdays march as well as the Palestinian cause, tweeting: All systems of oppression reinforce one another and NONE of them can be fought in isolation. This weekend, thousands of people led by people of Palestinian descent and other Muslims, but joined by large numbers of Black, brown, white or Asian Americans who were new to the cause marched in cities from Chicago to Los Angeles to Dallas to protest Israels bombing of targets in Gaza and to call on the world to recognize the political and human rights of Palestinians. To be sure, the boisterous gatherings werent nearly as large as 2020s George Floyd protests, but their size and enthusiasm was still jarring to those of us raised in the era when any criticism of Americas long-time ally Israel was largely a political taboo. And its hard to imagine thered be such open support for the Palestinian cause without nearly seven years of Black Lives Matter protests, calling on Americans to open their eyes to problems like militarized policing that looked so familiar when news clips last week showed Israeli security forces firing flash-bang grenades and rubber bullets inside a sacred Jerusalem mosque. And the conversations about systemic oppression in Gaza felt very much like a continuation of what began on a Ferguson street corner in 2014. READ MORE: Americans must look honestly at the Middle East. Israels problems are our problems, too. | Will Bunch Comparisons between police violence in the United States and the Israeli war machine were common. In Chicago, where thousands marched down the main thoroughfare of Michigan Avenue, one poster referenced the 2014 New York police choke-hold death of Eric Garner, reading We havent been able to breathe since 1948. Others saw mirrors to the plight of Americas indigenous people. Sarah A. Young Bear-Brown, a Native American leader from Iowa, tweeted an older picture of Palestinians opposing the Dakota Access pipeline and wrote, Now its our turn to stand with you. In an essay this weekend for Slate, Marya Hannun, a Palestinian-American working toward her Ph.D. in Islamic studies at Georgetown, wrote that the attention Americans are paying to the current conflict and support for Palestinians would be unthinkable without the Black Lives Matter movement. She wrote: Anecdotally, the same people in my own news feeds who were sharing black squares one year ago are now asking me for information about Palestine and are making, for the first time, a public display of outrage over the U.S. governments material support of the occupation and their own complicity. Her piece was illustrated with a photo of a giant mural of George Floyd painted last summer on a security barrier in the occupied West Bank. But at the end of the day, the movement for Palestinian justice runs into some of the same political hurdles that the George Floyd marchers faced in tackling the entrenched power of the American law-enforcement regime. There, calls to defund the police stumbled on the road to reality some proposals were adopted, but others were watered down, with many blocked or forgotten. In 2021, more Democrats from the left wing of the party are more willing to criticize Israel than ever before, but President Bidens approach felt straight outta the 90s, as he offered strong support in phone calls to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and as initially the U.S. blocked UN resolutions seeking a cease fire. That put Biden at odds with some of the Democrats young rising stars like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and also with Sen. Bernie Sanders, arguably the most successful Jewish presidential candidate in American history, who wrote in a New York Times guest essay: In the Middle East, where we provide nearly $4 billion a year in aid to Israel, we can no longer be apologists for the right-wing Netanyahu government and its undemocratic and racist behavior. Most of America isnt there, yet. But the conversation is changing faster than ever before. While I was writing this on Monday, Biden called Netanyahu again and said, for the first time publicly, that the United States is calling for a ceasefire. I wonder if the president heard the footsteps on the Ben Franklin Parkway. Yo, do this In our more secular 21st century, we may never see an American faith leader with the kind of political and social clout wielded by the late Rev. Billy Graham , friend and spiritual counselor to Democratic and Republican presidents alike. The new two-hour PBS American Experience documentary on Graham by filmmaker Sarah Colt, which premiered Monday and can be streamed online, is a timely and compelling look at how Grahams embrace of contemporary politics ( especially the Cold War ) and the then-newish medium of television changed the way that religion changed America. Id teased a couple weeks ago that my Inquirer colleague, the foreign policy expert extraordinaire Trudy Rubin, had a compelling Inquirer Live event coming up when she talks to President Bidens close friend and ally, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons. That one-hour conversation will take place online this Friday, May 21, at 2 p.m., and you can sign up at this link. With the Middle East on fire, the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan underway and Russian hackers on the loose, there is plenty to talk about! Via @BerksGasTruth on Twitter Answer: I love this question, mainly because Id had no idea that it was May 18, 1971, that voters approved by a 4-1 margin the amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution that the people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Since then, the rise of Pennsylvanias thorniest environmental crisis fracking, and the pollution it causes has showed how too often the Keystone State honors its lofty ideals in the breach. With the legislature hopelessly in the back pocket of Big Oil and Gas, its imperative that the Wolf administration treat growing reports of illnesses caused by fracking as an urgent public health crisis. Backstory In 2021 weve been closely watching the most powerful Joe in Washington, and if you think I mean Biden you havent been paying attention. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin probably the most conservative Democrat in the Senate, and delusional in his faith in bipartisanship and the value of the filibuster is going to decide what gets done on Capitol Hill, and he knows it. The recent word from the West Virginian that he cant support the ambitious, backed-by-every-other-Democrat For the People Act which would encourage voting but discourage corruption like dark money in politics is bad news for those of us eager to save our elections. READ MORE: Joe Manchin beats his chest for D.C. elites while struggling W. Va. waits for help | Will Bunch But while Manchin opposes the broader measure, he does back another key bill, the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Named for the 1960s civil-rights fighter and Georgia congressman who died in 2020, the bill would essentially restore the key section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act struck down by the Supreme Court in 2013 a rule that voting changes in jurisdictions with past histories of racial bias must be approved by the U.S. Justice Department. Manchins twist is that hed expand the bill to cover the entire United States, regardless of prior history. Its a great idea, but given Manchins stance on the filibuster hed need 10 GOP votes. So far, he has just one: Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Republicans supported the Voting Rights Act in 1965 and reauthorized it throughout the 20th century. If the so-called Party of Lincoln cant support the legacy of John Lewis in 2021, the blood of democracys failure is on their hands. Inquirer reading list | https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/palestine-israel-rally-protest-george-floyd-20210518.html |
Could the Endless Frontier Act fuel anti-Asian hate? | Presented by Internet Association With help from John Hendel, Leah Nylen, Gavin Bade and Emily Birnbaum Editors Note: Morning Tech is a free version of POLITICO Pro Technology's morning newsletter, which is delivered to our subscribers each morning at 6 a.m. The POLITICO Pro platform combines the news you need with tools you can use to take action on the days biggest stories.Act on the news with POLITICO Pro. The Endless Frontier Act has made some progressives worry about the anti-China rhetoric the bills backers are using. Broadband day: House appropriators will discuss how and whether to provide more funding for universal broadband access. 13(b) reasons why: House Energy and Commerce Republicans want to know what the Justice Department thinks about legislation to buff up the FTC's authority to force companies that engage in wrongdoing to pay back consumers. ITS TUESDAY; WELCOME TO MORNING TECH. Im your host, Benjamin Din. Fun fact: When I was in college, I would sometimes use my leftover meal swipes to buy ice cream. Ben & Jerry's Americone Dream. Also a big fan of Tillamook's Marionberry Pie flavor. I'd love to hear about it. Email [email protected]. Send details to [email protected]. Team info below. And don't forget: Add @MorningTech and @PoliticoPro on Twitter. A message from Internet Association: Now more than ever, the internet is connecting us to what matters most. With more than 90% of Americans connected to the internet, people undoubtedly find value in the services internet platforms offer. They have become an integral part of lifeeven more so during COVID-19. Every day we engage with the internet whether its through emails, video calls, posts on social media platforms, memes, product reviews, restaurant ratings, neighborhood blogs, and more. Rhetoric about doing battle with China, invoked by some supporters of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers S. 1260 (117), has prompted worries among progressives that it will further stoke nascent anti-Asian sentiment among the public. But Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat of South Asian descent who is sponsoring the companion bill in the House, H.R. 2731 (117), said he sees the legislation as promoting American leadership. I think its perfectly appropriate to want to make sure that our values of freedom and liberal democracy win, and we don't allow authoritarian or surveillance capitalism to win," he told Emily. "Everyone in the U.S. Congress could agree we want America to be the leader of the 21st century." The backstory: Progressive lawmakers and activists are growing skeptical of the increasingly bipartisan consensus toward taking a hard line on China, Gavin Bade reports for Pros. Language used to promote new bills risks inflaming racial hatred and could spur decades of low-level conflict with Beijing, akin to a "new Cold War," they warn. We need to distinguish between justified criticisms of the Chinese governments human rights record and a Cold War mentality that uses China as a scapegoat for our own domestic problems and demonizes Chinese Americans, said Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). On Monday, a coalition of over 60 anti-war and progressive groups sent a letter to congressional leadership decrying the messaging around the Endless Frontier Act, which they said needlessly casts the U.S.-China relationship as a zero-sum economic and military struggle between democracy and authoritarianism. QUIGLEY: PANDEMIC BROADBAND EFFORTS JUST THE BEGINNING House appropriators will use a hearing this morning to dive into the debate around obtaining universal broadband. And Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), who chairs the subcommittee overseeing FCC funding, plans to tout the many pandemic relief efforts Congress has enacted to fund programs such as the $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit, which launched last week. Those efforts are just the beginning, Quigley will say, according to his prepared remarks. He will highlight bipartisan support for expanding broadband access, as well as the Biden administration's decision to prioritize broadband buildout in its infrastructure package. But Rep. Steve Womack of Arkansas, the subpanels top Republican, plans to caution policymakers to look at existing pots of broadband aid before determining whether Congress needs to provide more, per his own prepared remarks. And in the Senate: A Senate Finance hearing this morning will focus on how to pay for Bidens multitrillion-dollar infrastructure package, including its connectivity provisions. Rural telecom trade group NTCA chief Shirley Bloomfield will attend. Broadband date to watch: On or around June 1. Thats when the FCC plans to issue a request for proposals to compile the broadband serviceable location fabric database, the next step in acting Chair Jessica Rosenworcels quest to fix the agencys much-criticized maps of internet access. Bids for the contract will be due no less than 30 days after the formal request goes out, according to an FCC notice. State utility regulators weigh in, too: A broadband task force for the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners unveiled draft recommendations for expanding broadband access on Monday that include improving coordination of various U.S. broadband subsidy programs. The task force plans to complete them by a July summer meeting. AT&T DOUBLES DOWN ON BROADBAND AT&Ts big announcement Monday that its spinning off its Time Warner entertainment assets, including HBO and CNN, marked a sharp turnabout for the telecom giant, which had fought so intensely to obtain them during the Trump era. Those assets will be combined into a new venture with Discoverys entertainment properties, while AT&T pursues its broadband business. AT&T CEO John Stankey offered a bullish message about the companys new tack, outlining plans to expand 5G while extending its fiber broadband footprint to reach 30 million customer locations by the end of 2025. A new antitrust test: Analysts didnt see immediate regulatory red flags, but the deal lands just as the Biden administration is facing demands for more aggressive antitrust enforcement. We think the deal ultimately gets approved, either by the DOJ or by the courts, but there is some risk of rejection, New Street analyst Blair Levin wrote in an investor note. The FCC probably wont have a role in reviewing the deal, given that no federal licenses would appear to be changing hands. Still, antitrust prosecutors will be keen to examine the deals structure, which gives AT&T a 71 percent stake in the new media company, and gauge whether that new company will gain greater leverage in negotiations with cable providers. It should be a straightforward process, Stankey argued during an investor call, stressing that this is going to be a lot different [for WarnerMedia employees] than the Time Warner period and wont feature a holding pattern while the transaction awaits approval. Executives expect the deal to close in mid-2022. There will be eyes on this, nonetheless: Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sits on the antitrust subcommittee, said the deal demands close scrutiny to protect consumers pocket books instead of accelerating further concentration among corporate behemoths. AT&T is seeking a bailout from a merger that should have never been approved, said former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, now with Common Cause, attacking the deal as another potential recipe for consumer harms and job losses. ADVICE WANTED FROM MERRICK GARLAND Top Republicans on the House Energy and Commerce Committee called on the attorney general to weigh in on the FTC's section 13(b) authority, which a recent Supreme Court ruling upended. In a Monday letter, GOP Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington, the panels ranking member, and Gus Bilirakis of Florida asked for the Justice Departments views on Rep. Tony Crdenas (D-Calif.) Consumer Protection and Recovery Act, H.R. 2668 (117). Cardenas bill would guarantee the FTC's ability to seek consumer reimbursement from companies that violate the law. Last month, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the commission doesnt have that authority. The Republican lawmakers said they endorsed the spirit of the bill, but were concerned that H.R. 2668 goes much further and does not include necessary safeguards that ensure due process. They also asked whether DOJ believes the new bill would extend to antitrust cases. Major implications: Last month, Facebook cited this same Supreme Court decision in a motion to dismiss the FTCs antitrust suit against the company, arguing that the agency lacked the authority to go after Facebook for its past conduct. The high court's ruling dealt with a different part of the statute. But Republican lawmakers also asked Garland about constitutional issues with the new legislation, which seeks to make the FTCs authority retroactive for the past 10 years. For a reminder on why the FTC might need stronger enforcement authorities, look no further than Leah's blockbuster investigation into the agency's handling of Google in the Obama era. APPLE-EPIC UPDATE APPLES SCHILLER MAKES HIS CASE FOR THE APP STORE Longtime Apple exec Philip Schiller answered questions from Apple-side lawyers Monday and will be grilled by plaintiff Epic Games lawyers today. (Leahs got the full details.) Some key numbers from his testimony: $50 million: How much Apple spends per year on its developer conference. 17 percent: Game apps on the App Store that use the freemium model like Epics Fortnite (free to download, pay for in-game extras). About 75 percent of games are free, and make money via displaying ads. 150,000: How many application programming interfaces Apple provides to developers. It adds 1,000 to 5,000 new ones annually. Transitions The FTC will name Eyitayo St. Matthew-Daniel as its top antitrust enforcer, The Information reports. WarnerMedia CEO Jason Kilar is negotiating his exit, NYT reports. Along with its return to the iOS App Store, Parler announced its leadership team: George Farmer as CEO, Mike Hebert as COO and Patrick Galbraith as CTO. Chetna Mahajan is joining ZoomInfo as chief information officer. Uber executive Peeyush Nahar is joining Goldman Sachs to run its digital banking unit, Marcus. Kevin Xu is joining GitHub as senior director of international expansion strategy. Hugo Barra is leaving Facebook Reality Labs. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has added Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi and South Dakota to its National Broadband Availability Map. German digital publishing house Axel Springer is partnering with Facebook to distribute content. Calix is joining USTelecom | The Broadband Association. Silicon Valley Must Reads Terms and conditions: Apple's move into China two decades ago helped make it the most valuable company in the world. But its profits come at the cost of surveillance and censorship, NYT reports. Rural revival: Broadband access could be the key to bringing workers back to rural areas. More from NYT. Revealed: Researchers have identified a Chinese business tied to Steve Bannon as a central figure behind a massive disinformation network, WaPo reports. To find out, the Trump DOJ subpoenaed Twitter, the Hill reports. Sharing is caring: Facebook wants other companies to use the Oversight Board, too, via Engadget. ICYMI: Tech billionaire Peter Thiel is pouring major cash into the coffers of two Senate candidates, POLITICO's Alex Isenstadt reports. A message from Internet Association: The internet plays an important role in Americans everyday lives. It means connection, opportunity, and jobs for every community in every state. Whether its students attending classes from home, a grandmother watching her childs first steps, or working together with colleagues - the internet continues connecting what matters most. Schools to students. Artists to audiences. Seller to buyers. Restaurants to diners. Travel industry to travelers. Every day, the internet industry keeps us connected. To learn more, please visit www.internetassociation.org Quick Downloads Podcast OTD: The latest episode of TBD: Technology By Design features a conversation with Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) on her push for a national data privacy standard. More media moves: Amazon is weighing a deal to buy MGM, The Information reports. BGR takes a look. Cushy gig: Elon Musk impersonators have swindled people out of $2M in cryptocurrency, FTC says, via CNET. Send them along via email to our team: Bob King ([email protected]), Heidi Vogt ([email protected]), John Hendel ([email protected]), Cristiano Lima ([email protected]), Alexandra S. Levine ([email protected]), Leah Nylen ([email protected]), Emily Birnbaum ([email protected]), and Benjamin Din ([email protected]). Send details to [email protected]. And don't forget: Add @MorningTech and @PoliticoPro on Twitter. SEE YOU TOMORROW! Follow us on Twitter Heidi Vogt @HeidiVogt Alexandra S. Levine @ali_lev John Hendel @johnhendel Cristiano Lima @viacristiano Leah Nylen @leah_nylen Benjamin Din @benjamindin Emily Birnbaum @birnbaum_e | https://www.politico.com/newsletters/morning-tech/2021/05/18/could-the-endless-frontier-act-fuel-anti-asian-hate-795374 |
How much did Joe and Jill Biden pay in 2020 taxes? | President Joe Biden restored a long-standing presidential tradition Monday by releasing his tax returns, showing that the Bidens paid $157,414 in income tax, or 25.9% of the first couples income went to the federal government in 2020. The average federal income tax rate is just over 14%. Mr. Biden and his wife, Jill, a teacher, earned $607,336 last year while he was running for president. That is down from $985,223 in 2019, when they primarily earned money from book sales, speeches, and positions at the University of Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia Community College. Those income opportunities diminished because of the campaign. Mr. Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, declined to release his tax returns, a precedent that the new administration rejected. I would expect that we will continue to release the presidents tax returns, as should be expected by every president of the United States, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday ahead of the release. The Bidens donated $30,704 to 10 charities last year. The largest gift was $10,000 to the Beau Biden Foundation, a nonprofit focused on child abuse that is named after the presidents deceased son. The president separately released his financial holdings through the Office of Government Ethics and has assets worth between $1.2 million and $2.88 million. Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, also released their 2020 tax filings. They paid a rate of 36.7% on income of $1,695,225 and contributed $27,006 to charity. Ms. Harris was previously a U.S. senator representing California, while Mr. Emhoff was a Los Angeles-based entertainment lawyer. He now teaches law at Georgetown University. Ms. Harris also made public her financial holdings through the Office of Government Ethics, showing her assets valued at between $1 million and $2.4 million. Ms. Harris also listed just under $359,000 in advance payments for her 2019 memoir, The Truths We Hold. And Boomberg reports: Both Biden and Harris would end up paying higher tax rates under Bidens American Family Plan based on their incomes this year. Harris and Emhoff would also be subject to an increase in the capital gains rates since they earned more than $1 million. Both couples would benefit from efforts among some House Democrats to repeal the $10,000 limit on deductions for state and local taxes, or SALT. The Bidens paid $90,289 in SALT while Harris and her husband paid $280,421, amounts they could fully write off if Democrats succeed in restoring the tax break that was curbed by former President Donald Trump. Mr. Biden campaigned on the transparency of his personal finances, releasing 22 years worth of tax filings ahead of the 2020 election. It was a direct challenge to Trump, who claimed for several years that an audit prevented him from releasing his taxes even though the IRS had mandated for more than four decades that the tax returns of a sitting president and vice president be audited. The New York Times later obtained the tax records of the reputed billionaire and reported that he paid just $750 in federal income taxes during his first year in the White House. IRS figures indicate that the average tax filer paid roughly $12,200 in 2017, about 16 times more than what the former president paid. You have not released a single solitary year of your tax returns, Mr. Biden told Mr. Trump at one of their presidential debates. What are you hiding? Mr. Trump claimed without evidence that he had prepaid his taxes and that he thought the $750 was a filing fee. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy The IRS does not charge filing fees. This story was reported by The Associated Press. | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2021/0518/How-much-did-Joe-and-Jill-Biden-pay-in-2020-taxes?icid=rss |
Has Roush Fenway Racing offered Brad Keselowski an ownership stake? | According to a report by Motorsport, Keselowski has been offered a contract to drive the No. 6 car for Roush Fenway Racing in 2022 and beyond. That offer also reportedly includes an ownership stake in the team. From Motorsport: Keselowski, 37, has been offered a fulltime Cup series ride with Roush Fenway Racing beginning next season in a deal that would also include part ownership in a renamed team called RFK (Roush-Fenway-Keselowski) Racing, multiple sources with knowledge of the deal have confirmed. Keselowski would become the driver of the No. 6 Ford, but it remains unclear how much of an ownership percentage he would have in the renamed team. However, Keselowski would be expected to play a large role on the competition side of the organization, sources said. Keselowski's current deal with Team Penske expires at the end of the season. He was set to be a free agent at the end of the 2020 season and signed a one-year extension with the team during the pandemic-impacted 2020 campaign. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Keselowski has 35 career wins Keselowski has driven for Team Penske for the entirety of his full-time Cup Series career. The team signed him at the end of the 2009 season after Keselowski drove part-time in the Cup Series that season for Phoenix Racing and Hendrick Motorsports. All but one of Keselowski's 35 career Cup Series wins have come at Penske and he won the 2012 championship with the team. That title was the first Cup Series championship for Roger Penske. Keselowski has significant NASCAR ownership experience. He owned and operated Brad Keselowski Racing in the Truck Series and his team employed drivers like Ryan Blaney and Austin Cindric. Keselowski shut the team down to start his Keselowski Advanced Manufacturing in 2018. If the offer becomes reality, Keselowski would join Denny Hamlin as an active owner-driver in the Cup Series. Hamlin co-owns 23XI Racing with Michael Jordan. Hamlin became the first prominent owner-driver in the Cup Series in 2021 since Tony Stewart retired from the Cup Series after the 2016 season. A move to add Keselowski to the team could be a boost for Roush similar to the boost that Haas CNC Racing got when it made Stewart a co-owner ahead of the 2009 season. Haas was a Cup Series backmarker until Stewart came along and then became one of the best teams in NASCAR thanks to an increased technical alliance with Hendrick Motorsports. Stewart won the 2011 Cup Series title and then Kevin Harvick got his first title in 2014. Roush is no backmarker Cup Series team but its performance is also nothing like it used to be. Roush was one of the biggest and best teams in the 2000s and even had five cars in the 10-car playoff field in 2005. Now it's a two-car team that has just two wins since Carl Edwards left the team after the 2014 season. The addition of Keselowski if it comes to fruition and the addition of the new Cup Series car in 2022 could be a jolt for the team. More from Yahoo Sports: | https://sports.yahoo.com/has-roush-fenway-racing-offered-brad-keselowski-an-ownership-stake-162857676.html?src=rss |
What does Brian Hoyer's return mean for Cam Newton's Patriots future? | Curran: What Hoyer's return means for Cam Newton's future with Pats originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston If Brian Hoyer takes a meaningful snap in 2021 for the Patriots, something went terribly wrong. You know it. I know it. Brian Hoyer knows it. Hoyers return, news of which popped Monday night, is for one vital reason. To give tutelage. The first-round quarterback, Mac Jones. Our man Phil Perry hit on the Hoyer re-signing as well, laying out some of the reasons it came down Monday night. But what intrigues me is what Hoyer coming back means for Cam Newton. Or, more specifically, what it says about the projected role of Newton in the development of Jones. I know what youre thinking. Why dont you guys just put out a special section fer crissake. How about this. Its May. Leave us alone. Understand its far too early to say with any certainty what the Patriots quarterback depth chart will look like in September. And Hoyer, who sunk roots in Foxboro, was in the Patriots' plans before Jones was even drafted. But now that Jones is in the fold, Hoyers 2020 role as emergency backup/seasoned pro in the room will morph a little. Hes going to be asked to pour his brain into Jones ears. This is something the Patriots have done all over their roster through the years and not just at quarterback. Junior Seau filled the role for the linebackers in the late aughts. Alge Crumpler was signed in 2010 and quickly became the Yoda for Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez as tight ends. Make no mistake, Hoyer re-signed with the Patriots in 2020 with designs on starting. He was promised a chance to compete with Jarrett Stidham before Newton was signed in late June. Hoyer actually started camp taking most of the early reps and performed well in the first days. Story continues Patriots Talk Podcast: Chad Pennington: Ideally Mac Jones follows the Patrick Mahomes plan | Listen & Subscribe | Watch on YouTube But when he flagged a little and Stidham got hurt, Newton nudged ahead. And the landscape became apparent. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound former MVP Newton who could run the ball might be a better option in a run-heavy offense than the cerebral, accurate but undersized, aging and not-very-strong-armed Hoyer. Hoyer got thrown into the cauldron against the Chiefs in Week 4. He had one of the worst performances of his career, got benched, then got buried behind Stidham on the depth chart. And there he stayed even though the performances of both Newton and Stidham during the rest of the season had plenty of people wondering at various points if Hoyer might not be able to make the offense look at least competent. Now, its vastly different. The Patriots have an array of talent at tight end and wide receiver that just wasnt there last season. And they have a rookie quarterback they are hoping can turn into a 10-year answer at the position. Two of the prime goals for this season will be competing for the division title (and more) and prepping Jones to be that answer. Newton may figure in satisfying the first goal. Its less likely hell be valuable in satisfying the second. First, Newton is -- by his own admission -- still learning the Patriots offense. Without an offseason or full training camp last year and because of COVID, Newton never got the full immersion treatment. Newton might be able to tell Jones and Stidham plenty about leadership, professionalism, time management, life in the league or other teams defensive tendencies or personnel. Not so much. Newton ran an offense last season with a far different focus than what even Stidham ran. Second, Newton is hanging onto his NFL career by a cuticle. At least his role as a starter. Bill Belichick bucks Newton up every chance he gets because Belichicks sympathetic to the fact Newton is inevitably going to feel like the rug is slowly being pulled out from under him. Newton is happy to hand out nicknames, tousle everyones hair and be the big brother when its clear to everyone hes the lead dog. That would be asking a lot of a player who is very sure hes still got it. What we dont know right now is whether Newton is the fail-safe. Signing Hoyer doesnt mean Cam is on the clock. Newtons on a one-year deal with a low salary and the Patriots just spent a first rounder on a quarterback. He already was on the clock. But the clock could be speeding up. | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-brian-hoyers-return-mean-150441367.html?src=rss |
Could Auburn Visit Penn State for the Whiteout's Return? | Penn State has announced its first kickoff time for the 2021 football season. The Lions will host Auburn in prime time. Penn State will host Auburn in prime time on ABC, certainly suggesting that the visit could mark the return of the Whiteout. Kickoff for the first Auburn's first visit to Beaver Stadium is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 on ABC, Penn State announced Tuesday. The teams will be playing for the third time and first outside bowl season. They split the first two meetings: Penn State won the 1996 Outback Bowl 43-14, and Auburn won the 2003 Captial One Bowl 13-9. Penn State hosted an alternate form of its annual Whiteout game last season against Ohio State, bringing some familiar sounds and songs to a mostly empty Beaver Stadium. The Buckeyes won that game 38-25. Auburn's visit would provide Penn State with the perfect opportunity to reintroduce the Whiteout. It is one of the team's top home games of the 2021 schedule and likely will be conducted in a sold-out Beaver Stadium. Penn State officials have said they are planning to host a full stadium for games this season. Auburn will be the first SEC opponent to visit Beaver Stadium since Alabama in 2011. 2021 Penn State Schedule Sept. 4: at Wisconsin Sept. 11: Ball State Sept. 18: Auburn: 7:30 p.m., ABC Sept. 25: Villanova Oct. 2: Indiana Oct. 9: at Iowa Oct. 23: Illinois Oct. 30: at Ohio State Nov. 6: at Maryland Nov. 13: Michigan Nov. 20: Rutgers | https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/football/penn-state-football-to-host-auburn-tigers-in-prime-time |
Can the 49ers Recreate their D-Line Dominance from 2019? | 2019 was special. The 49ers were so dominant on the defensive side of the ball that sometimes even the greatest quarterbacks looked like scared kids on the field. People usually said it was because the arrival of Nick Bosa but there were way more factors than just a great draft pick. I remember what I wrote to the Hungarian faithful community when they asked me if I could give a prediction of what record I expect from the team back in 2019. Surprisingly I was negative (as usual) and I said it was going to be a 6-10 season. I couldn't believe my eyes when the team proved me wrong. As a man I hate being wrong, but I always admit when I am (sooner or later). Understanding the fact that you're not always right is a huge step forward to adulthood, which is almost as important as staying as positive in every situation as possible. I don't like predictions at all, in my opinion predicting something is like future telling based on statistics and trends and hoping that nothing will turn things around. But I was never as happy as I was in 2019 when I was wrong with my prediction. Sadly almost all my predictions were bullseyes in 2020 (those weren't positive at all...) and I almost hit the center of the darts target before the 2021 draft but a miracle happened so I'm here writing this article hoping that I'm not going to be right with this but I want to share my concerns about our defensive line so here we are. No, it wasn't just Bosa, but he was a huge part of it. Remember, our best four men up front were Dee Ford, DeForest Buckner, Arik Armstead and Bosa. The 49ers defense played Wide 9 back then with a widely spread defensive line, versatile linebackers and cornerbacks who had hole responsibilities as well and safeties who read the field as fast as possible and attacked the box lighting fast when it was necessary. That was the first year when Robert Saleh showed the world what a genius he is, although back then he made some "high risk - high gain" calls that sometimes put the defense into bad situations where they gave up some points. In 2020, Saleh proved he's a defensive mastermind in the NFL with third- and fourth-string players and a completely different scheme and, most importantly, with a way less dominant D-line. Bosa and Solomon Thomas got injured fast and the team traded Buckner to draft Javon Kinlaw into the defensive tackle position which was one of the greatest mistakes this franchise did in the past decade. I see the pure talent and the upside Kin(raw)law has but to be honest I doubt that he could ever be as good as Buckner is right now. In 2019 with our best defensive lineup, the defense was unstoppable, and Buckner was a huge part of that. From our four starting linemen there were three who were forcing other teams to double team them: Buckner, Ford and Bosa. Ford earned a lot of hate in the past years because of him being injury prone but if I want to be honest he made Bosa look better in 2019. Ford is a really unique kind of defensive end who has the ability to convert his amazing speed into strength. He has great technique and understands the game in a way that most players simply don't. He could have been one of the greatest defensive ends, but injuries have ruined his career. If you watch his tape from 2019 you can see that he was double teamed a lot by a running back and a tackle, and that gave Bosa the opportunity to fight in one-on-one situations that were way easier. That's why Bosa had way better stats when Ford was on the field. So we can agree that the defensive ends were scary two years ago, but the interior line was even scarier with the two "big guys" -- DeFo and Armstead -- who both had career years two seasons ago. DeFo was the engine of that defense ever since he arrived to the team and in 2019 was among the guys who made the most pressure against double teams. And he faced double teams most of the time because he was (and still is) an unstoppable force for any O-line. The only DT who earned the right to be mentioned on the same page with Aaron Donald. Armstead was in a different situation. With the "magic three" mentioned before he had a way easier job generating pressure because offensive lines concentrated on the other three rushers. Arik is a physically-gifted, versatile lineman who never really had a position in the defensive line. He is not fast enough to be an effective pass rusher and can't use his mass to be good enough as an interior defensive lineman, but he found the holes the other three generated and lived with the opportunity. The rest is history. Being the fourth-best lineman earned him a new contract, and the team chose to re-sign him, not Buckner. But nobody cared, because everyone was so excited about the "Revenge Tour" that most of them forgot that Buckner was one of the three reasons why team went to the Super Bowl. But there was no revenge, not from the Niners The defensive line wasn't good. It was above average with Kerry Hyder being the best rusher and Kevin Givens being the best defensive tackle. Kinlaw's first year was disappointing, Givens might not play football in the near future, Hyder is not the part of the team anymore and Armstead's performance just doesn't deserve a word (nor a contract). Oh, and I forgot to mention that Ford will most likely retire from football so what we have right now is: Armstead, Bosa, Javon Kinlaw and an almost healthy Ford. I won't put Samson Ebukam on this list because I believe he will be a situational rusher, not an all-around defensive lineman. If Kinlaw makes a jump this year, the line can improve big time, but he is not the type of player that Buckner is and he never will be. You should never trade the leader of your defense for a first-round pick when you have the money to keep him. And I'm still concerned about DeMeco Ryans. You shouldn't expect him to be as good as Saleh was. He doesn't have the experience and we still don't have a clue what scheme the team will use in the future but I'm sure his first year won't be as strong as some people think it will be. | https://www.si.com/nfl/49ers/news/can-the-san-francisco-49ers-recreate-their-d-line-dominance-from-2019 |
What is breakthrough COVID and who's most at risk? | Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during a briefing Tuesday defended the agencys updated approach to monitoring breakthrough coronavirus infections, or COVID-19 occurring after a person is fully vaccinated. While the recently approved coronavirus vaccines demonstrated over 94% efficacy in clinical trials, they are not 100% effective and health officials expected breakthrough illnesses. Starting May 1, the CDC shifted its focus in monitoring breakthrough infections; narrowing studies only to cases resulting in hospitalization or death. A reporter questioned Walensky whether the new approach was the right strategy and if there was any increased concern over breakthrough cases as people begin to remove their masks. "These vaccines were studied to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death and as we look at these breakthrough infections those are the ones were most concerned about," Walensky said during the briefing, adding that researchers are sequencing the reported cases to see if any variants are behind the infections. "Before we started only studying breakthrough infections in the hospitalized patients, we were studying all breakthrough infections," she continued. "What we were starting to find is a large portion of them were fully asymptomatic and in fact when we went to study [them], sequence them, there was inadequate virus to even do so." WHITE HOUSE'S SLAVITT REVEALS SON'S LONG-COVID BATTLE AS HE URGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED Walensky said the academic world is continuing to learn about breakthrough infections. Dr. John Whyte, the chief medical officer of the health care website WebMD, previously told Fox News that breakthrough cases could occur if someone is infected at the time they receive the vaccine or was exposed to the virus before their body had time to build up immunity following vaccination. The agency also discontinued reporting breakthrough case counts on its webpage. As of April 26, the latest available information, the CDC recorded 9,245 breakthrough infections amid a backdrop of over 95 million fully vaccinated Americans. Over half of cases were among women, 45% involved people over 60 and nearly a third were listed as asymptomatic infections. Less than 10% resulted in hospitalization, and there were 132 deaths (1%). The figures likely represent an underestimate due to voluntary reporting from state health officials and inadequate testing, especially in people not experiencing symptoms, the CDC says. Fox News' Madeline Farber contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/health/breakthrough-covid-whos-at-risk |
Could Georgias state bird abandon the state? | Dozens of other Georgia songbird species may face similar fates. Citing the report, Adam Betuel of Atlanta Audubon noted: In Georgia, 23 percent, or 58 of Georgias 254 bird species are vulnerable to climate change Without substantial climate change mitigation, many common Georgia species like the brown thrasher, brown-headed nuthatch, Eastern towhee and many others could become uncommon or even extirpated in Georgia. In addition to climate change, loss of habitat, pollution, pesticides and other hazards pose serious dangers for birds. Another study published last month in the journal Science found that since 1970, North American birds have declined by nearly three billion, presumably because of the man-made threats. IN THE SKY: From David Dundee, Tellus Science Museum astronomer: The Orionid meteor shower will peak at 20 meteors per hour Monday night in the east. Best viewing time is after midnight. The moon will be last-quarter on Monday. Mercury is low and Venus is in the west just after dark. Venus sets shortly thereafter. Jupiter is low in the southwest around dusk and sets a few hours later. Saturn is low in the south just after dark and sets in the west around midnight. | https://www.ajc.com/lifestyles/environment/could-georgia-state-bird-abandon-the-state/dEUAFSpKnVcLXeffoYVzBK/ |
Would 49ers pursuing Julio Jones trade be worth big cost? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea The veteran wide receiver the 49ers acquired Monday was not the veteran wide receiver to whom coach Kyle Shanahan has often referenced. The 49ers signed veteran wideout Marqise Lee after he clearly distinguished himself during two days of practices at the teams rookie minicamp in Santa Clara. Now, Lee has a battle ahead of him to crack the top six on the 49ers. The starters are set with Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk. But there is no clear order among the group behind them, which consists of Richie James, Travis Benjamin, Trent Sherfield, Jalen Hurd, Mohamed Sanu, River Cracraft, Jauan Jennings, Kevin White and Austin Watkins Jr. But there is one player who seemingly is available and would end all debate about the 49ers top three wideouts: Jones, Julio. Shanahan was Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator for two seasons and had the luxury of designing plays for quarterback Matt Ryan to get the ball to Jones. That experience had a lasting impact on Shanahan. If there's a Julio Jones available and you have the opportunity to get him, you go get him, Shanahan said leading up to the 2018 draft. It's worth it. Whatever the price is, whatever the draft pick is, go get him. Here we are, three years later, and Julio Jones could very well be playing for a different team in 2021. First-year Atlanta Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot confirmed last month he would entertain offers for Jones. Jones has made the NFC Pro Bowl team in seven of his 10 NFL seasons. He played 14 or more games for six straight seasons from 2014 to 19. His worst production during that stretch came in 2019 when he caught 99 passes for 1,394 yards and six touchdowns. Last season, Jones played hurt when he played at all. He sustained a hamstring injury in Week 2. He suited up for nine games, and he still managed to catch 51 passes for 771 yards and three touchdowns. Story continues When Ryan spoke Tuesday morning with the Atlanta-area media, he was asked about Jones, who faces an uncertain future with the Falcons. Hes probably impacted my career more significantly than any other player, Ryan said. In order for the 49ers to go down Jones Road, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch would have to believe Jones can have a similar impact on the back end of his career on rookie quarterback Trey Lance. The 49ers traded away their first-round picks in 2022 and 23, as well as a third-round pick in 2022, to move up nine spots to No. 3 in order to be in a position to choose their quarterback of the future. The 49ers have approximately $18 million in salary cap space, sure. But Jones has a scheduled 2021 salary of $15.3 million that would have to be shoe-horned into the 49ers financial ledger. Jones is signed for three seasons. He is set to earn $11.513 million in 2022 and 23. Because unused cap money carries over from one year to the next, every dollar the 49ers would spend on Jones is a dollar that is not available to go toward potential multi-year contracts for other players. Linebacker Fred Warner is due for a new, lucrative deal before training camp. The 49ers, potentially, will have to provide a big contract for defensive end Nick Bosa in the near future. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey and Samuel are also coming up on new deals. Plus, the list of 49ers whose contracts are set to expire after this season includes running back Raheem Mostert, guard Laken Tomlinson, defensive lineman D.J. Jones, and defensive backs Jason Verrett, KWaun Williams and Jaquiski Tartt. The 49ers made a commitment this offseason to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, signing him to a five-year, $27 million contract. The 49ers deploy two-back sets more than any team in the league. If the 49ers were to acquire Jones, they would almost have to pivot toward being reliant on three-receiver sets. After all, it would make little sense to ever have Jones, Samuel or Aiyuk playing fewer than 70 percent of the teams offensive snaps. But, lets face it, the challenge of finding enough playing time for the fullback would be a nice problem for Shanahan and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel. Shanahan said it himself: If Julio Jones is available, you go get him. The question is whether Jones at 32 years old is still worth the high cost of doing business. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-pursuing-julio-jones-trade-162209071.html?src=rss |
Was Steelers QB Ben Roethlisbergers 2020 season a failure? | First off, I am not asking if the 2020 season of the Pittsburgh Steelers was a failure. It absolutely was. An abject failure on all fronts. After starting the season 11-0, the team fell apart down the stretch and took a beatdown in the first round of the playoffs. First, the numbers. Roethlisberger started 15 games, only sitting out the final week of the season when playoff seeding was decided. In those 15 games, Roethlisberger threw for 3,803 yards, 33 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Roethlisberger completed 65.6 percent of his passes and finished with a 94.1 quarterback rating. The one number that does stand out as the biggest negative is yards per attempt. Thanks to a non-existent run game and questionable offensive line the passing offense was relegated to an almost horizontal passing game with very little vertical threat. But Im passing the question off to all of you. Cast your vote and tell us how you would characterize Roethlisbergers 2020 season. List | https://sports.yahoo.com/steelers-qb-ben-roethlisberger-2020-172459792.html?src=rss |
Is the Black Lives Matter movement on borrowed time? | Nestled in the woods of the Charlottesville countryside, it is a magnificent place. As the descendant of enslaved Africans, I visited the plantation with the same apprehension with which I visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. expecting my heart to be broken. What I came away with instead was a strange sympathy for Jefferson. As I walked the rolling, manicured lawns and explored the well-ordered geometry of his architectural masterpiece, for the first time in my life, as a Black man, I think I really understood the attraction of slavery. Despite his better judgment, Jefferson embraced the institution of slavery because he enjoyed its benefits. The moral conflict that inspired him to introduce a Virginia law prohibiting the importation of enslaved Africans in 1778, even as he personally committed all manner of horrors against the Africans he owned, is an illustration of the strong pull selfishness can have on all of us. Like freedom, selfishness is a foundation stone of the American experience. Our history is one long pattern of certain people satisfying their selfish needs at the expense of a selected few beginning with a dispossession of the Indigenous peoples and then the exploitation of enslaved Africans. The observant learn quickly that racial justice in America arrives and recedes like the sweep of a pendulum: out toward justice for a time and then back again toward selfishness. It is for this reason that we know the Black Lives Matter movement is on borrowed time. If past is indeed prologue, one day soon, the heat of the BLM movement will fade away like all previous similar movements, to be replaced by some bland, nostalgic approximation. Weve witnessed the pendulum of racial justice swing back and forth for centuries in America, and yet we continue to be surprised that racism persists. Advertising In the late 1860s, after centuries of slavery, the pendulum swung in favor of Reconstruction and hung there in the air for a time, until the opportunity to seize the reins of presidential power in 1877 convinced supporters of justice in the North to turn a blind eye to injustices in the South setting the pendulum in motion toward Jim Crow. In the late 1960s, television brought the horrors of the segregated South into American homes with a power and immediacy that was difficult to ignore, setting the pendulum in motion toward justice again. For a time, ordinary people were suddenly open to the idea that it might be wrong to beat a man bloody for simply wanting to vote. This acceptance fueled support for the civil rights advances of the 1970s and 80s and, for a time, the pendulum swung in favor of policies supporting school desegregation and Affirmative Action. But the pendulum swung back again as soon as the majority recognized that equal justice often means equal sacrifice. Today the pendulum is poised in judgment above the debate over Critical Race Theory. At the heart of CRT is the concept that racism is woven into the fabric of the American psyche, its systems and its institutions, and that only deliberate action can correct the damage it has done. Across this country, there is a movement afoot fed and fueled by such groups as the American Legislative Exchange Council, the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute to oppose the spread of Critical Race Theory. You can see the fruits of their labor on TikTok in tutorials about Black people owning slaves; in Twitter rants equating CRT with public sanctioned racism; and in state legislatures and among House Republicans in Congress, where there is a push to ban its teaching in public schools. Opponents of CRT push back despite a preponderance of evidence that even people new to this country can see. Immigrants watch and make their judgments as the benefits of the GI Bill and favorable home mortgages and places at our elite universities accrue with abundant regularity to certain people. They see how the cards are stacked. At present, the pendulum hangs in the favor of supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement and Critical Race Theory, but the pendulum waits for no one. Now is the time for those seeking lasting racial justice to grab as much psychic, moral and political real estate as they can before its too late. | https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/is-the-black-lives-matter-movement-on-borrowed-time/ |
Could the Yankees Trade For Byron Buxton? | The Twins have the worst record in baseball and are poised to be sellers at the Trade Deadline. The Yankees are in need of outfielders due to injuries and lack of production. MLB insider Joel Sherman, of the New York Post, recently listed Byron Buxton as a potential trade candidate for the Yankees as they inch closer to this summer's MLB Trade Deadline. Let's break it down. The justification from Sherman was the latest injury to Aaron Hicks. The center fielder could be sidelined for an extended period of time due to a torn sheath in his left wrist, landing him on the 10-day injured list. Besides Aaron Judge, New York hasn't had consistent production from the rest of the outfielders on this roster. With Giancarlo Stanton's injury woes rearing its ugly head once againresulting in a trip on the injured list due to a quad strainthere's no question this offense could use a spark at some point in the near future. In other circumstances, this idea would be completely outlandish. The Twins came into this season looking to win their division for the third season in a row. Yes, the Twins have struggled quite a bit in the postseason, but even with the surging Chicago White Sox, the consensus entering this spring was that Minnesota would be in contention once again in 2021. Instead, the Twins are 13-26 and already 11.5 games back of first place in the American League Central. With what appears to be an already insurmountable deficit in the standings, all signs point toward Minnesota trading away some pieces over the next few months to recoup some talent. We'll call it a soft rebuild of sorts. The question is, would they be willing to part ways with a star like Buxton. The center fielder has all five tools, showcasing his MVP-caliber skillset early on this season. Before landing on the injured list, Buxton was hitting .370 (34-for-92) with nine home runs and a 1.180 OPS over 24 games. The 27-year-old's injury history has been a recurring theme over the last several seasons, though. Buxton has only played in more than 100 games in a single season once over seven years in the big leagues. That one full season came in 2017 when Buxton played in 140 games during his age-23 campaign. Injuries aside, if the Twins were ever to make Buxton available, countless teams would be interested. That in mind, it would take a haul to convince the Twins to make any sort of deal including Buxton, but a club like the Yankees may theoretically have what it takes to put together an enticing offer. Although New York would make their top prospectphenom Jasson Dominguezuntouchable, odds are a mix of pitchers Deivi Garca and Clarke Schmidt, along with big leaguers Clint Frazier and Miguel Andjar, would factor in. It's worth noting that the Twins and Yankees have a history making trades. These two franchises have recently negotiated on separate deals that sent Hicks, Lance Lynn and Jaime Garca to the Bronx. As much as this might seem relatively feasible on paper, it's time to snap back to reality. First off, the Yankees would benefit more than anything from trading for a left-handed hitter. The production from the left side for New York has been putrid to this point of the season, so if the Yankees part ways with prospects to make any deal, it's hard to imagine a package not being invested in a lefty bat. That means Buxton's teammate Max Kepler would be more in line with New York's needs. Otherwise, names like Joey Gallo of the Rangers, Arizona's David Peralta, Joc Pederson of the Cubs, San Francisco's Mike Yastrzemski, Jackie Bradley Jr. of the Brewers and more make sense as possible targets. Further, New York has made it clear that they're trying to stay below the Competitive Balance Tax threshold. The financial implications of adding a player like Buxton to the payroll would need to be considered here if GM Brian Cashman hopes to remain below the luxury tax. The biggest factor, however, is the Twins would be silly to trade away Buxton. As alluded to earlier, even if 2021 is a wash for Minnesota, the center fielder is only 27 and has the potential to be one of the league's best players if he can stay healthy. Bottom line, even on the off chance that Buxton is placed on the trade block, the Yankees will likely be looking elsewhere (if anywhere at all). Besides, the Twins won't be dangling Buxton on the trade market. They'd be better served trading away Nelson Cruz, Andrelton Simmons, Michael Pineda or J.A. Happ, veterans on expiring contracts. MORE: Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), on Facebook (also @MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Inside The Pinstripes and check back daily for news, analysis and more. | https://www.si.com/mlb/yankees/news/could-new-york-yankees-trade-for-minnesota-twins-center-fielder-byron-buxton-trade-deadline |
Could local lockdown return in Bolton as Covid cases rise? | Coronavirus cases have surged in Bolton, raising the possibility of a new local lockdown. This is not the first time the town in Greater Manchester has faced local restrictions and the area has been a bellwether for a national lockdown in the past. However, the rapid spread of the India variant and the vaccine rollout are new factors. Bolton has the highest case rate in England with 275 cases per 100,000 residents in the week to 12 May more than 10 times the country-wide rate. Prof Paul Hunter, a professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia who specialises in infectious diseases, said: The big anxiety at the moment is that this [India] variant does seem to be pretty much in most parts of the UK now. The issue is always going to be how much more rapidly will it take off in these other areas, and that is the big uncertainty. On Sunday, the health secretary, Matt Hancock, appeared to link rising case rates in Bolton with vaccine hesitancy, but No 10 later downplayed these comments and said hesitancy remained very low throughout the UK. Boltons vaccination rate among over-40s is in line with the national average of 89.8% although there are differences locally. The rise in cases has not yet translated into a rise in hospital admissions and previously there has been a 10-day lag between cases and hospitalisations. Bolton has had some form of restriction in place for almost 10 months. The first began on 31 July when the case rate was 20 per 100,000 population. When restrictions were eased on 3 October the rate was 249 per 100,000. A week later Bolton went into tier 2, by which point cases had risen to 336 per 100,000. By 23 October they had risen a further 65%, at which time tier 3 restrictions were imposed. Cases plateaued but only shortly before England entered a second national lockdown. Another local lockdown in December also failed to stop a rise in cases. Local lockdowns were not completely effective last year. Cases doubled in the majority of English towns and cities where long-term lockdowns were in place, according to analysis in late September 2020. However, experts say timing, decisive action and enforcement are critical in making restrictions effective. Prof Lawrence Young, a virologist at the University of Warwick, said: The effectiveness of local lockdowns remains controversial, particularly the three-tier system introduced into England last October. Where local lockdowns have been effective, they have been accompanied by rigorous testing, tracing and isolation. The key to the success of local lockdowns appears to be going in early when just a few cases are detected and enforcing hard restrictions to prevent person-to-person virus transmission. The gamechanger between now and the last lockdown is vaccination. Almost 37 million people in England have had their first vaccination and 20 million have received both doses. Hunter says vaccines will make things a lot easier: We almost certainly wont achieve herd immunity but vaccines are enabling us to do two things theyre reducing the probability of severe disease in people who are infected and theyre going a long way to reducing transmission and reducing the reproduction rate. Another consideration is that the case rate is lower in those age groups who have already been offered their first vaccines: among under-40s in England the case rate is 2.3 times higher than among those aged 40-plus, a ratio reflected in Bolton. This is an important distinction as, to date, hospitalisations and deaths have been less severe in younger age groups. | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/18/could-local-lockdown-return-bolton-covid-cases-rise |
Can Higher Taxes On The Mega-Rich Create More Unicorn-Entrepreneurs? | getty There is a debate about whether taxes should be raised on the mega-rich. Media outlets that cater to the business and investment communities worry about how taxing billionaires is unfair or will unleash Armageddon (Economist, 11/9/19, page 68). Billionaires are lamenting that they may not be allowed to control or keep their wealth, or distribute it as they see fit. But taken to its extreme, none of us should be paying taxes. We should all be able to target our money to our favorite causes. I think the debate has been poorly framed. The question we should ask ourselves is whether we should preserve wealth or create wealth. If our goal is to increase our standard of living, creating more unicorns helps. I am sure most of us will agree that we need more unicorn ventures to create wealth and jobs. To do so, we need more unicorn-entrepreneurs who can capitalize on emerging industries and emerging trends to create the next generation of unicorns. They will need leading-edge technical skills and education to jump on emerging trends and dominate them. Unicorn-entrepreneurs need to bring the venture from idea to Aha, when potential is evident, because VCs invest after Aha. This means unicorn-entrepreneurs need to know how to grow from idea to Aha without VC. It is not possible to look at their eyes to predict which entrepreneur will succeed. Hopefully Adam Neumann (WeWork) and Elizabeth Holmes (Theranos) have put this belief to rest. No one knows where the next generation of unicorn-entrepreneurs will come from. This means we need to train everyone and see who emerges to create unicorns. Unicorn-entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Niraj Shah, Thai Lee, and Glen Taylor have done us all a great service by building unicorns. If you look at their backgrounds, they all had the right level of education to succeed, the technical skills in the latest emerging technologies to find the right opportunities, and the business skills to develop the right strategies to succeed. These entrepreneurs came from various strata of society, but most were from the lower-middle-class to middle-class not from the privileged class. Few were born in the manor. But they were born in the strata of society that could afford to give them a good education. This meant that they could use their talents and skills to the maximum. And having been born in the strata of society where they did not inherit a fortune meant that they had to seek their own fortune if they wanted one. So they had the motivation to succeed and the skills to do so in emerging industries, where new fortunes are created. I dont think so. We worry about the wealth tax after we have made our fortune not before. And if we are worried about capital formation for new ventures, most unicorn-entrepreneurs took off without VC. If we want to create the next generation of unicorn-entrepreneurs in America, we will have to make leading-edge technology skills available to everyone in every segment of society, especially in the lower- and middle-income strata. The hope is that some of these students will start and build the next generation of unicorns. This means that funds, i.e. taxes, need to be targeted to give a great education to the strata of society that cannot afford one. Since no one can predict potential successes, offering excellent education to everyone from the all levels of society is the best way to get the next generation of unicorn-entrepreneurs. Without tapping the hunger of Americas motivated classes, the next emerging industries may be in China or India not here. The mega-rich may want to focus on their own goals. But the rest of us need to focus on Americas goals. And hope that we make the next generation rich rather than just keeping the last one rich. MY TAKE: To build the next generation of unicorn-entrepreneurs, we need highly motivated, hungry, and educated entrepreneurs who are experts in emerging technologies and industries. This means educating everyone with the best education especially the children of the motivated classes. Educating everyone needs money. Taxes. Thats how we can keep the American dream alive for all. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/dileeprao/2021/05/18/can-higher-taxes-on-the-mega-rich-create-more-unicorn-entrepreneurs/ |
Will Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster Catch Passes From USC QB Kedon Slovis Next Year? | Pro Football Focus released their early 2022 mock draft and Kedon Slovis failed finish as a top-three overall pick. PFF predicts that Slovis will be selected as the No. 13 overall pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers, stating that, "Slovis had an up and down sophomore year after an outstanding true freshman campaign. He doesnt quite have the arm of some others in this class, but hes been one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the class for two years running." If Kedon Slovis does decide to declare for the NFL Draft after USC's 2021 season, and Pittsburgh selects him, he would join offensive weapons Zach Banner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, who are both two former USC Trojans. The chances of Slovis coming into Pittsburgh and starting immediately are slim to none, but nonetheless the possibility of the Arizona native connecting with Banner and Smith-Schuster are decently possible. [READ: Kedon Slovis Goes No. 2 in NFL Mock Draft] Earlier this month ESPN's senior draft analyst Todd McShay predicted that Slovis would land in Detroit as the No. 2 overall pick. This would allow him to reconnect with former USC wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. McShay wrote,"Current Lions QB Jared Goff was part of the return in the Matthew Stafford trade in January, and a lot of what the Lions do with their two first-rounders in 2022 will depend on how he performs in his sixth NFL season. Detroit does have a potential out on Goff's contract after the 2022 season with a $10 million dead cap hit, so it could certainly be in the quarterback market next April. Slovis is 6-foot-3 with a strong arm, and his 70% completion percentage over 2019-20 ranks seventh among FBS signal-callers." Although Slovis' selection on the draft boards remains unclear ahead of the 2021 college football season, one constant is that the USC QB will need to have a stellar campaign this year to catch the eyes of NFL Draft scouts. If Slovis can establish himself as one of the premiere prospects in the country, he might have a shot at climbing the boards all the way up to No. 1. Comment and join in on the discussion below! ------- You may also like: [READ: Former USC RB Stephen Carr will 'Boost' Indiana's Offense] [READ: Stephen Carr Commits to Indiana] ------- Be sure to stay locked into AllTrojans all the time! Follow AllTrojans on Twitter: @SI_AllTrojans Follow Claudette Montana Pattison on Twitter: @claudette_mp Like and follow AllTrojans on Facebook Subscribe on YOUTUBE! For more USC news visit www.alltrojans.com Promo Photo: USC Athletics | https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/will-juju-smith-schuster-catch-passes-from-kedon-slovis-next-year |
Will New Orleans Saints Cornerback Paulson Adebo Start in Week 1? | New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo has a strong chance of not only making the team's 53-man roster, but also becoming a starter at cornerback. New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo has a strong chance of not only making the team's 53-man roster, but also becoming a starter at cornerback. All-Pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore's return as a starter is up in the air after his recent legal entanglement in Cleveland this past March. The New Orleans Saints and NFL have not issued an official announcement on his status for the season opener against the Green Packers. The young corner will join cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore, Patrick Robinson, PJ Williams, Ken Crawley, Keith Washington, Grant Haley, and rookies Bryce Thompson and Lawrence Woods. SEAN PAYTON ON ADEBO After the completion of April's draft, Sean Payton said of Adebo, "We like all of his traits, every one of them and Mickey (Loomis) alluded to it last night. We feel like we're drafting a good football player, and we'll begin that process of developing him shortly." Reading between the lines, Payton shared his vision on Adebo in New Orleans, "He will compete like all of these guys will. And I would not say we are definitely going to, but I would not also discount that we might look to sign another player." ADEBO VS. THE VETS Adebo would have to leap several veterans - Robinson, Williams, Crawley - to see the field as a starter. It's not a knock on those players, but the backup role better suits their capabilities at this point in their careers. Keith Washington may push for playing time in 2021 after serving as a practice squad player the entire 2020 season. Stanford Cardinal cornerback Paulson Adebo (11) warms up on the field before the game against the Washington Huskies. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sean Payton referred to signing another player; possibly a free-agent veteran is still an option for New Orleans. Richard Sherman expressed concerns about joining the Saints after they drafted his Stanford alum Adebo. Bashaud Breeland, Gareon Conley, Brian Poole, Nikell Robey-Coleman, D.J. Hayden, and Steven Nelson are a few well-noted corners still available. Nonetheless, Adebo has the potential to be inserted into the New Orleans starting lineup in 2021. If Lattimore receives an NFL suspension, expect an earlier start for Adebo. He still needs development. But as a professional, player availability, poor performance, or suspensions can get your number called at any moment in the NFL. I don't envy Saints defensive backfield coach Kris Richard this summer. There will be plenty of decisions to make this training camp - but none more significant than Adebo's role. At this point, it's fair to say the odds are in Adebo's favor to make an early impact during his rookie campaign. Don't miss out on any Saints news and analysis! Take a second and sign up for our FREE newsletter and get breaking Saints news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Saints News Newsletter: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewletter Subscribe to the New Orleans Saints YT Channel: https://news.snts.us/saintsnewsyoutube For more Saints News: https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/ or https://www.saints.media Like us on Facebook: https://news.snts.us/saintsnews-fb Follow us on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/saintsnews | https://www.si.com/nfl/saints/training-camp/will-cornerback-paulson-adebo-start-week-1 |
When can we stop wearing masks? | The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created some confusion last week when it said those who are fully vaccinated can, in most circumstances, forgo wearing masks both indoors and outdoors while those who are unvaccinated must keep wearing them. Fully vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals, however, must keep wearing masks while in crowded indoor settings, like hospitals, museums and movie theaters, and while on public transportation. "We have all longed for this moment when we can get back to some sense of normalcy," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced during a White House COVID-19 briefing last Thursday. "Based on the continuing downward trajectory of cases, the scientific data on the performance of our vaccines, and our understanding of how the virus spreads, that moment has come for those who are fully vaccinated." But despite Walenskys announcement, confusion still abounds. States have not implemented a uniform policy. Texas, Florida and New Hampshire, among others, for example, have already repealed mask mandates or allowed them to expire while California has set an arbitrary date of June 15 to implement the CDCs guidelines. PFIZER-BIONTECH COVID-19 VACCINE CAN BE STORED FOR UP TO A MONTH IN REFRIGERATOR, EU REGULATOR SAYS Meanwhile, many businesses and localities are maintaining mask requirements because they cant be sure of an individuals vaccination history. In short, there is no fixed date when the entire nation will no longer be compelled to wear masks in all circumstances. Richard Watkins, M.D., an infectious disease physician, told Prevention that the end of mask mandates will be tied to the end of the pandemic. "[I]f and when we achieve herd immunity, routine mask-wearing can likely be discontinued," he said. Most health experts agree that masks are generally useful in reducing the spread of COVID-19, which happens through the inhalation of viral particles. The N-95 mask is the most effective, providing 95% protection levels against airborne viruses. Surgical masks are less effective, and cloth masks are even less so but they both still contribute to a significant reduction in viral transmissions. But even if the majority of Americans do get vaccinated against COVID-19, mask-wearing may still be the norm for future flu seasons. A typical flu season generally peaks between December and February, creating 810,000 hospitalizations and 61,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. But, with most people wearing masks and following CDC guidelines, there were less than a few thousand flu cases this year. WHITE HOUSE'S SLAVITT REVEALS SON'S LONG-COVID BATTLE AS HE URGES YOUNG PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED Some health experts believe masks could have some staying power now that theyve become socially acceptable and were useful in reducing flu cases. "Masks were common in Asia pre-COVID, so I expect more people in the U.S. will be comfortable wearing them after the pandemic," Watkins told Prevention. But other health experts worry that because this years typical flu season was, comparatively speaking, less severe than in previous years, the next flu season will be worse. "So, the number of people who may have more severe infections next year is likely to be greater because immunity will be lower," said Dr. Eili Klein, an associate professor of emergency medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, acknowledged some of the confusion created after the CDCs announcement. In an interview with ABC News, Fauci said the problem "is that we dont have any way of knowing who is vaccinated and whos not." He said it is "reasonable and understandable" that some places are maintaining mask requirements because they cant be 100% certain of an individuals vaccination status. Fauci added that children who are not vaccinated including those under 12 who wont be eligible for vaccines for months should continue to wear masks indoors. But he qualified that these recommendations could change as the CDC conducts more research and more Americans get vaccinated. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP According to the latest figures from Our World in Data (OWID), around 38% of Americans have been fully vaccinated, with about 274 million doses given. Earlier this month, President Joe Biden set an ambitious vaccination goal of 70% of the U.S. adult population having one vaccine shot by July 4. Fox News Alexandria Hein and Kayla Rivas and the Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/us/when-can-we-stop-wearing-masks |
Which teams are in the final 2021 Southwest Baseball Coaches Association's poll? | The Southwest Baseball Coaches Association released its week seven and final poll on May 18. Coaches voted with a first-place vote being 10 points, second place being nine points, etc. They conducted the polls by combined Divisions I, II, III and IV. Division I St. Xavier 65 Mason 62 Oak Hills 61 Elder 53 Lakota East 33 Turpin 33 Hamilton 25 Moeller 23 Lakota West 20 Kings 9 Springboro 9 Division II Badin 50 Wyoming 41 Taylor 37 Batavia 36 Ross 27 New Richmond 24 Indian Hill 23 Blanchester 10 Monroe 9 Fenwick 7 Divisions II and III CHCA 81 Cincinnati Country Day 80 Roger Bacon 70 McNicholas 67 Summit Country Day 43 Purcell Marian 37 Cincinnati Christian 32 Williamsburg 22 Madeira 21 Mariemont 18 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/high-school-sports/2021/05/18/southwest-baseball-coaches-association-releases-2021-final-poll/5151742001/ |
Will the Cleveland Indians look to Columbus to for lineup, rotation help? | 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 Two current trends the Indians and manager Terry Francona cant sustain: short outings by the Nos. 4 and 5 starters and a lineup that cant hit in the clutch. Help has to come from somewhere. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga look at the possibilities on Tuesdays 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. The week in baseball | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/05/will-the-cleveland-indians-look-to-columbus-to-for-lineup-rotation-help.html |
Has Green Bay turned on Aaron Rodgers? | GREEN BAY, Wis. Marion Peterson came here, to the outskirts of Lambeau Field, for reasons unrelated to her beloved Green Bay Packers. When she planned a leisurely day trip to Titletown on a mid-May afternoon, Peterson, a retired speech pathologist, wondered who she might run into. She wondered, specifically, about Aaron Rodgers. Because she had a message for him: I feel disappointed in you." Peterson grew up an hour north of here. As a child, she had no means to get to Packer games. Soon enough, the bus trips and end-zone bleacher seats endeared her. Later in life, she fell for the teams MVP. She thought of Rodgers as an outstanding quarterback, and a man of integrity. Her husband, Rick, bought her an authentic Rodgers jersey, her special jersey, which she wore with pride. That is, until reports began trickling out that Rodgers wanted out of Green Bay. She looked at the jersey, with its bulging No. 12, and thought: Man, I'm gonna have to lay this to rest now? She hopes the reports arent true. She, like many Packer fans, hopes Rodgers will remain in Green Bay for the rest of his career. But she, like many Packer fans, feels aggrieved. I feel betrayed by him, she said on this calm May evening, with Lambeau looming over her right shoulder. "We've all held him in such high esteem. So why does he want to do this, to the people that support him?" Maybe his character's not the character I thought it was, she mused. I'm just very, very disappointed in him as a person. I lost what I felt for him as being an important person with a lot of virtue. And if you were to roam around Green Bay now, to pubs and public spaces and Packer hot spots, youd find many fans who agree. Not all do. Opinions on the Rodgers drama vary wildly. There's plenty of blame to go around everywhere, said Ben Culbertson, one lifelong fan. This is a small, tight-knit community, a town of 100,000, where, as one Wisconsinite in his 50s put it, a handshake means the world to most people. If we tell you we're gonna do something, we do something. Story continues And many feel that Rodgers is breaking his pledge. (Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Suck it up, buttercup Standing at the bar inside D2 Sports Pub, a few hundred yards away from Lambeau, with country music trying to drown out his words, Jeff Stoeberl, a local teacher, is getting worked up. Let's take a look at the Packers, he begins. They drafted a quarterback [Rodgers] in the first round when everybody else passed on him, gave him a chance. They pushed out a first-ballot Hall of Famer [Brett Favre], pushed him out, sent him packing, said [to Rodgers], We're going with you. And so they embrace Aaron Rodgers, they give him $240 million. I think that's BS, Stoeberl seethes. You don't treat the [Packers] like that when they did all that for you. He has a short memory. They pushed Brett Favre out the door, for you. What are you talking about? Its a common sentiment around town. Not just the Favre comparisons, but the feeling that Rodgers, in reportedly pushing for an exit, has wronged the franchise and the city. At Cranky Pats Pizza toward the end of lunch hour, two middle-aged locals, John and Curt, are discussing just that. It's to the point where you think, OK, are you letting the fans down? John says. "Yeah, it's a kick in the shorts for us," Curt agrees. John continues: "My feeling is, OK, you're spoiled goods now. Adds Curt: "This team, this community, Packers fans did a lot to support this guy. I think it's kinda foolish that he's doing this. "I think he oughta grow up and deal with it, Curt continues. He's got a contract. A very good contract." "It's your job," John says. Thats the other belief that arises again and again all across this working-class city. Theres a deep reverence for honoring commitments. When I sign a contract, I have to live up to it, said one local contractor named Mark, who chose not to give his last name because he feared potentially losing work due to his opinions. Rodgers, Mark said, shouldnt be exempt from contractual obligations just because he makes a million times more money than I do. I think anybody that gets paid that type of money oughta do what his boss tells him to do. Mark said he did some work at Rodgers house soon after the QB arrived in Green Bay, and he was real nice. Now, I think he's kinda got an attitude. Back at D2, fans on both sides of the bar felt similarly. "He just needs to suck it up, buttercup, and do your job, a woman named Cynthia said. Or, as Justin, a man whose company shirt had the Packers logo on one sleeve, said: If he's a drama queen, and wants to play his little game, go away. When train travelers arrive in Green Bay, they immediately know they are in Packer land. (Yahoo Sports) Either way, hes retiring a Packer Outside the Packers Pro Shop, in front of statues that welcome you to hallowed Lambeau grounds, Rick Westby is juggling two allegiances. "I think he oughta be treated well, Westby, a middle-aged fan, says of Rodgers. He's still the man. And he deserves to get paid, and if he felt like he's been mistreated, then he's got the right to respond. And if he ended up on another team, I'd still kinda root for him. But, Westby clarifies, I always want the Packers to win. Its still Go Pack. And that, perhaps, is the one thing that everybody here can agree on, from the man in a knock-off Packers shirsey taking his dog for an afternoon stroll to the babysitter in a Packers cap pushing a stroller down an exit ramp; from the east side bartender in a Packers hat and sweatshirt to the antsy elementary schooler, waiting in the outfield during a parking-lot tee-ball game, fiddling with his Packers t-shirt. Their allegiances to individuals come and go. Their allegiance to the team and to the city, where garbage bins are green and yellow with Packers logos is binding. "Whether Rodgers is here or Rodgers is not, we're still fans, said John, the season ticket-holder digesting his lunch at Cranky Pats. I'll still go to the games, and buy overpriced beer and hotdogs, and drop 200 bucks. And the bartender at D2: I just want the bar to be busy. No matter what, it'll be busy, whether he's in or he's not. Packer fans are Packer fans. Many, to be clear, not only want Rodgers back but think he will be back. One-hundred-percent chance Rodgers is a Packer this year, Dylan Flaskrud promised after sipping an IPA at Hinterland, a popular brewery in Lambeaus shadow. He called the reports all bulls*** and blown out of proportion. Back at D2, Patrick Boomer agreed: "I think this is getting all overblown. I think when September comes, Rodgers will be under center, and they're saying nice things, and it's gonna be a thing of the past." And if it is, some fans say, this saga will be forgotten. Winning will cure all ills. "As soon as he drives the ball 80 yards and goes like this, said Stoeberl, the teacher, as he mimed one of Rodgers signature celebrations. Green Bay fans have a short memory. Just win, baby." And even if Rodgers leaves, Ben Culbertson says: Either way, he's retiring as a Packer. One day we'll honor him like we did Brett Favre, and we'll retire No. 12, and we'll name a street after him. In fact, he already has a place alongside Packer legends on a front yard mural across the street from Lambeau. Some fans, however, arent so sure about that legacy. In fact, if Rodgers doesnt emerge to deny the reports, they say, it might, at least temporarily, be tainted. Whatever happens with the Aaron Rodgers saga, he will always have a place among Packers' legends. (Yahoo Sports) Tired of the talk The last overwhelming sentiment is that fans are tired. Tired of Rodgers ego and diva act. I'm just sick of talking all about him, Culbertson says. Sports talk radio shows, he says, even amid promising Bucks and Brewers seasons, have been all Rodgers, all the time. Says Boomer, who donned a Bucks t-shirt, of the Rodgers drama: Just ridiculous. Several fans pointed out that it differs in key ways from Favres exit a decade and a half ago. Brett Favre never brought up, 'I wanna play somewhere else. He never said that," Stoeberl points out. "He came back, we said, You're too late. Rodgers is the opposite. He's saying, I'm not playing. ... Green Bay will not forget that." Of course, Rodgers hasnt actually said that he hasnt said anything publicly since the reports started to swirl which makes deciphering the situation difficult. The more measured Packers fans have taken an equivocal approach. Back outside Lambeau, as children milled about behind her, Marion Peterson tried to remind herself: I recognize that some of what's been put out there by the media, maybe it's not all true or accurate. But still, she continued, he hasn't come forward to correct this. I thought, I know this guy, I know his integrity, Peterson said. Now, I'm doubting him. More from Yahoo Sports: | https://sports.yahoo.com/has-green-bay-turned-on-aaron-rodgers-210606049.html?src=rss |
What police reforms have the best odds of passing in Minnesota this year? | The debate over police reform is shifting behind closed doors as the Minnesota Legislature goes into overtime. Yet a clearer picture of what may and may not pass is coming into focus. Support is coalescing around reforms related to traffic stops and new no-knock warrant regulations as lawmakers work to find agreement on one of the year's most pressing policy issues. Yet House Democrats are holding out hope that all 12 police-related bills offered up in the final weeks of the regular session still have a chance. Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka meanwhile is doubling down on a commitment to oppose "anything that is anti-police or makes the job of law enforcement more difficult," singling out measures such as new civilian oversight of police. "I just think that we're at a point where we can end the legislative session with very good policies regarding the interaction of police officers with their communities," Sen. Warren Limmer, R-Maple Grove, told reporters after the Senate adjourned its regular session on Monday. "There are attitudes both in the community and in policing that need a lot of help, they need a lot of guidance, they need a lot of coming to terms with who they are and how they're perceived by each other. That's going to be a much harder thing and I don't know if legislation can necessarily do that." Limmer said he has identified "some common ground" with what House DFL lawmakers are proposing but he declined to identify what policies he's open to and what are non-starters. Rep. Carlos Mariani, the St. Paul Democrat who is leading final public safety spending bill talks with Limmer, said he believes "everything is on the table" and defended his caucus' proposals as "anti-bad cop" rather than "anti-police." "It feels more possible to me than ever before," he said. After the Brooklyn Center fatal police shooting of Daunte Wright in April, Democrats in the legislature proposed new limits prohibiting police from stopping motorists for equipment violations or expired tabs and a bill that would stop police from arresting people for warrants related to missed court appearances for certain low-level charges. DFL lawmakers also want to ban licensed peace officers from affiliating with white supremacist groups, require model policies for responding to public assemblies and allow communities to create citizen oversight panels for their local law enforcement agencies. Other proposals include new regulations on no-knock warrants such as requiring police chiefs to review all applications for such warrants and to report data on them to the public safety commissioner. In addition, Democrats proposed a new requirement that relatives be able to review body camera footage of fatal encounters within 48 hours. State law enforcement lobbying groups oppose this provision, but supporters argue that the bill exempts cases where early release could hinder investigations. A coalition of the state's largest law enforcement lobbying groups the Minnesota Chiefs of Police and Sheriffs' Associations, and the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association outlined their opposition to certain policies in a letter to the Minnesota House before it passed its public safety spending bill that included numerous police reform bills. The coalition wrote that "our associations oppose the current bill language based on several key provisions that are omitted from the omnibus bill and several items included that we firmly believe are detrimental to public safety in our state." They said the new body camera requirements do not "recognize how investigations are conducted," and wrote that they opposed giving civilian review boards the power to subpoena officers, make decisions over law enforcement agency policy and discipline officers. The groups also did not support requiring dispatchers to refer emergency calls to a mental health crisis team, citing a lack of 24/7 resources statewide. Earlier this year, the law enforcement coalition also spoke out against the proposal to end civil statutes of limitations against officers. "Statutes of limitation are designed to promote justice by encouraging plaintiffs to diligently pursue their claims," the groups wrote in February. "Timeliness is important, as without it, evidence could be lost, memories could fade, and witnesses may disappear." Leaders of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association and Minnesota Sheriff's Association declined to comment Tuesday as they plan to remain a part of the final negotiations over public safety policies. The Chiefs of Police Association was not immediately available for comment. Although the two traffic-stop related bills were among the latest to be proposed this year, Mariani believes their chances of passing are high. The Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association has previously expressed support for the so-called "sign-and-release warrant" bill in cases where someone has missed a court date for nonviolent charges. "The point is that all of that stuff is really common sense and we're pretty hopeful on those two provisions in particular," Mariani said. "But obviously we're not giving up on the others." Leaders representing each of the state's largest law enforcement lobbying groups delivered public testimony earlier this month before the public safety conference committee that Limmer and Mariani alternated leading. Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, told lawmakers that his group was also "very close to agreeing" on the no-knock bill. Peters also urged "thoughtful review to sort out which proposals will lead to safer communities with less crime as well as more help for victims of crime and which proposals seek to needlessly demonize those who protect and serve." This and other testimony also led DFL Sen. Ron Latz, of St. Louis Park to request that the committee run through the House's 12-item list of police reform proposals to poll the law enforcement groups' positions on each bill. "I think we need to bring them out for all of us to understand so we can see where are there real disagreements if we need to decide to work through and where there are not any disagreements and where this could easily be resolved," Latz said. Limmer was open to the idea, but that day's meeting ran out of time for such an exercise. Now, if that debate takes place, it will likely be in private unless Limmer and Mariani agree to a public meeting of their informal working group. Stephen Montemayor 612-673-1755 Twitter: @smontemayor | https://www.startribune.com/what-police-reforms-have-the-best-odds-of-passing-in-minnesota-this-year/600058606/ |
Can US be honest broker in Israeli-Palestinian conflict? | The motto is still very much peace cant happen without the U.S., says Hugh Lovatt, in the London office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. But nor can it happen with only the U.S. Still, once a cease-fire occurs, the Biden administration will likely find it has to adopt a higher profile in seeking to mediate the conflict than it originally intended. The test comes amid a new reality where the U.S. is no longer the dominant power it once was. Diplomats and regional experts call Mr. Bidens approach giving Israel space to bludgeon Hamas which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization and to degrade its offensive capabilities. The eruption of Israeli-Palestinian violence is raising pressure on the U.S. to return to a traditional role in that conflict that of powerful mediator. But Mr. Biden also reiterated his firm support for Israels right to defend itself against indiscriminate attacks. Thats according to a readout of a presidential call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As the deadly exchanges of rocket fire and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entered their second week Monday, the White House issued a statement in which for the first time President Joe Biden expressed his support for a cease-fire in the hostilities. As the deadly exchanges of rocket fire and airstrikes between Israel and Hamas in Gaza entered their second week Monday, the White House issued a statement in which for the first time President Joe Biden expressed his support for a cease-fire in the hostilities. But as if to rule out any doubts about where Mr. Biden stands, the readout of the presidents second call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in three days also reiterated his firm support for Israels right to defend itself against indiscriminate attacks. The use of the term cease-fire indicated a slight evolution in the presidents outlook on the conflict. But the absence of any pressure to actually end hostilities also suggested that Mr. Biden remains firmly planted in his unblinking and careerlong support for Israel. Why We Wrote This The eruption of Israeli-Palestinian violence is raising pressure on the U.S. to return to a traditional role in that conflict that of powerful mediator. Diplomats and regional experts call Mr. Bidens approach giving Israel space to bludgeon Hamas which the U.S. considers a terrorist organization and to degrade its offensive capabilities and forces before applying any pressure to end the fighting. This American green light to Israel is not new, even though it may have shined brightest under an unabashedly one-sided President Donald Trump, analysts say. But it is just one element in a steady deterioration of the ability of the United States to play its traditional role of mediator in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The honest broker role has been eroding for a lot longer than weve been willing to acknowledge, says Bruce Jentleson, who was a State Department senior adviser on Middle East issues during the Obama administration and is now a professor of public policy at Duke University in North Carolina. Noting that the Palestinians didnt trust President George W. Bush and the Israelis openly undermined President Barack Obama, he says Trump blew up the honest broker role big time, but the truth is, it wasnt in good shape before him and really hasnt been, he adds, since President Bill Clinton. In his initial months in office, Mr. Biden has demonstrated a desire to shift attention and resources away from the Middle East even as the U.S. comes to grips with the reality that it is no longer the unrivaled superpower in a region where it faces the growing influence of lesser powers like Russia and Iran. Yet despite this evolution, the U.S. remains the sole power with any ability to play an influential leadership role in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. What all this means, Professor Jentleson says, is that while the U.S. can orchestrate, convene and coordinate in a region with lots of players with often conflicting interests, the U.S. can no longer be calling the shots. Moreover, it also means that once a cease-fire in the current fighting is reached, the Biden administration will very likely find it has to invest more political capital than it originally intended in a conflict that has dogged administrations for decades. Luis M. Alvarez/AP/File Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni (left) talks as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice looks on during a signing ceremony at the State Department in Washington on Jan. 16, 2009. To some experts, the current space that President Joe Biden is extending to Israel harks back to the support Ms. Rice, representing the George W. Bush administration, initially offered Israel during its 2009 clashes with Hamas. For some, the current space that President Biden is extending to Israel harks back to the support Condoleezza Rice, as secretary of state under President Bush, initially offered Israel during the 2009 violence between Hamas and Israel. This is not the Biden template; this is actually the classic American template and a return to the established U.S. policy in these kinds of situations that preceded Trump, says Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy and a former adviser to Palestinian negotiators at Clinton administration-era peace talks. Noting that theres only so much space the U.S. can give before pressures mount particularly over rising civilian casualties he says the Jordanians, the Egyptians, Turkey, the Palestinians and others are watching to see: Is the U.S. capable of taking leadership while demonstrating an understanding that leadership doesnt necessarily mean monopoly, it means the ability to mobilize other actors. After eight days of fighting, the Palestinian side counted 212 killed including more than 60 children and hundreds injured in dozens of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza. Israel counted 10 dead, including two children, from more than 3,000 rocket attacks launched from Hamas-controlled Gaza. The Biden administration last week dispatched Hady Amr, the U.S. deputy assistant secretary for Israeli-Palestinian affairs, to the region to try to encourage a cease-fire that all sides agree will be reached at some point. But on Monday Mr. Netanyahu insisted that Israel is in no hurry to end its campaign to degrade Hamas offensive capabilities. The U.S. president who once dubbed himself Israels best Catholic friend is coming under increasing pressure domestically and from abroad to make the move to a more evenhanded position on the conflict. Olivier Hoslet/Reuters European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell rings a bell during a special video conference of EU foreign ministers to discuss recent developments in the Middle East, in particular the ongoing violent confrontation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, in Brussels on May 18, 2021. On Monday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on Israel to act more proportionately as it pursues its bombardment of Gaza a stance that was viewed by some as tinged with frustration that the U.S. has blocked three United Nations Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the violence. Citing a U.N. report tallying Israeli strikes on 23 schools, 500 homes, and medical facilities, Mr. Johnsons spokesman Max Blain said, Israel must make every effort to avoid civilian casualties and military activity must be proportionate. Europe is seen by some to be testing the waters of a new reality where the U.S. is no longer the dominant power it once was. The motto is still very much peace cant happen without the U.S. But nor can it happen with only the U.S., says Hugh Lovatt, Middle East policy fellow at the London office of the European Council on Foreign Relations. While European pressure for a more nuanced U.S. approach is not wholly new, it comes as Mr. Biden faces unusual and mounting pressure from within his own political party to show more support for Palestinians who as usual are suffering disproportionately from the fighting. Do Palestinians have a right to survive? progressive Democratic House member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Saturday in what was a direct rejoinder to President Bidens focus on Israels right to defend itself in the current conflict. If so, she added, we have a responsibility to that as well. The tweet came on the heels of a letter to Mr. Biden, signed by progressive congressional Democrats, accusing him of taking the side of the [Israeli] occupation of Palestinian territories. Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (center), shown here with reporters on Capitol Hill on May 13, 2021, asked in a recent tweet, Do Palestinians have a right to survive? It was a direct rejoinder to President Joe Bidens focus on Israels right to defend itself in the current conflict. Few observers expect Mr. Biden to bend in his support for Israel in addressing the current conflict. The real question, some say, will be whether the president acknowledges this political pressure by modifying his hands-off approach to the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict once a cease-fire is secured. Can [the administration] go back to business as usual with calls from the left flank of its own Democratic Party to address and resolve this conflict, and specifically in some quarters to do so by reforms through a human rights lens? posits Lucy Kurtzer-Ellenbogen, director of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict program at the U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington. We need to be ... fireproofing Where a wide spectrum of analysts appear to agree is that the Biden administration wont be able to simply go back to its initial instincts to set aside the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as unripe for U.S. engagement. Returning to the wider status quo ante will only guarantee future flare-ups, says the European Councils Mr. Lovatt, whose call for a rights-based strategy to replace the current reality of unequal rights and occupation finds echoes in the U.S. Democratic Party and among a growing number of European officials and regional analysts. Indeed what Dukes Professor Jentleson sees happening in the Biden administration is an awakening to the reality that the unresolved Israeli-Palestinian conflict is never safely ignored. Theyre going to have to say, We have to stop kidding ourselves. This is a process that is going to take more of our bandwidth than we thought, says Mr. Jentleson, who says that reevaluation will likely mean naming of a high-level special envoy with access to the Oval Office. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. Your email address By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy While no one foresees a full-fledged peace process taking up final-status negotiations any time soon, Ms. Kurtzer-Ellenbogen of USIP says the U.S. is going to have to get back in the business of nudging the parties toward practical solutions to the security, political, and economic issues building up like ominous thunder clouds. If we dont want to find ourselves in that constant pendulum swing from fire-fighting to ignoring we need to be in the active business of fireproofing, she says. Thats going to be the question for the administration as it moves forward. | https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2021/0518/Can-US-be-honest-broker-in-Israeli-Palestinian-conflict |
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