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Is Rent Control Right For Chicago? | Marcus & Millichap As it is in many areas of the country, rent control is a hot topic in Chicago. Newly sworn-in Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker vowed during his campaign to repeal the statewide ban on rent control. The city's newly-elected mayor Lori Lightfoot has acknowledged Chicago's escalating rent rates are placing an increasing burden on residents of rental housing. Elsewhere, the issue is being as hotly debated as in the Windy City. Earlier this year, Oregon became the nation's first state to enact statewide rent control. The Beaver State has capped annual rent hikes at seven percent plus inflation for non-exempt units. Pro-rent control arguments are many and varied. Those in favor of rent control assert it can help preserve stable and income-diverse neighborhoods. Some have argued that New York Citys greatest explosions in new housing construction occurred in the 1920s and two decades after World War II in which tight rent control measures reined. Still other observers call rent control among the most efficient and affordable ways to protect poorer families. Complex issue But like some other measures aimed at addressing the nation's affordable housing crisis, rent control is an issue considerably more nuanced than many might acknowledge. According to Marcus & Millichap, three decades of research on rental prices in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco calls into doubt whether rent control is a viable long-term answer. Researchers have found rent control can engender reduced rental housing availability when buildings are converted to condominiums or other uses not regulated by rent control. Other effects include substantial rent hikes in uncontrolled housing units, constrained supply resulting from stunted development and increasingly fewer alternatives to those households most requiring rental apartments, such as young families. Differences exist When you say 'rent control,' a lot of people assume all municipalities are enacting the same policies, says John S. Sebree, first vice president, national director for the National Multi-Housing Group at Marcus & Millichap in Chicago. In actuality, rent control is different in every municipality. At this point in Chicago, there's no clear or concise detail as to what guidelines the pro-rent control agenda people want to implement. We know overall, rent control has not been proven to provide the answer. It's not going to solve the issue of basic supply and demand, basic economics. Demand for middle-income housing has grown at a faster rate than supply, Sebree said. The majority of units being brought online, including both multifamily and single-family residences, are designed for higher-income levels. Only a segment of the population can afford to rent or buy the new dwellings being delivered. Part of the reason for the mismatch is that in the wake of the Great Recession, lawmakers implemented a number of new regulations that made it very difficult for developers to produce a large volume of starter homes, he said. In past cycles, a lot of the people living in B and C quality apartment buildings moved out and became first-time homeowners when the economy trended up, Sebree noted. "Today, those folks instead are staying in their apartments for a longer period of time, at a time when it's impossible to build brand new workforce housing without government assistance. As a result, that segment of the population continues to expand. That's the demand part. Yet the supply of apartments remains constrained. Possible solutions A recent study conducted by the National Multifamily Housing Council determined 30 to 35 percent of new apartment building cost is comprised of soft costs. Those soft costs are made up of zoning fees, application fees, utility hookup fees and the cost of completing reports and studies necessary for the project, Sebree reports. At the same time, municipalities have instituted guidelines and standards that help ensure high-quality projects. They've put in restrictions: Building height, building setbacks, density, quality of building materials. And often they require additional green space, Sebree says. All those are good for the community, and good for the property. But unfortunately we have such an enormous need there's an argument it might be time to make adjustments. When you combine these with the soft costs, it becomes almost impossible to build any product without a Class A rent cost attached to it. What's needed, he adds, is a joint effort, a discussion among all sides, leading to adjustments that will allow developers to deliver new product that will be affordable to more of the workforce housing market. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffsteele/2019/04/18/is-rent-control-right-for-chicago/ |
Does The U.S. Import Oil From Russia? | 2019 Bloomberg Finance LP As the world's second largest oil producer (behind the U.S.), Russia's oil production hit a post-Soviet record in 2018, at 11.3 million b/d, or 11-12% of the global market. Joining an OPEC-led bloc to keep oil off the global market to push prices up, Russia to start the year had agreed to cut 228,000 b/d from October levels. Yet in March, the nations production was just 190,000 b/d less. Data source: BP; JTC The U.S.-Russia story over the past five years or so has brought up many important questions and discussions. Yes, we get about 2% of our total oil demand and 4% of our imports supplied by Russia U.S. imports from Russia, however, have fallen 40% since peaking in 2011 And only 10-15% of the oil that we get from Russia is crude oil, with petroleum products accounting for the rest. This fall makes sense since U.S. crude production has more than doubled since 2011 to around 12.2 million b/d today, while domestic demand has been flat at 19-20 million b/d. Russia's oil exports in 2018 totaled $130 billion, up nearly 40% from the year before. And the country has slow growing domestic needs to use more oil, so the ability to export will remain strong. Each year, Russia has an extra 8-9 million b/d of crude oil available for export, the largest oil surplus in the world. Russia would be just fine with oil prices at $40-45, while the Saudis prefer oil at least $70, or maybe even $95 to balance its budget. "Russia may dump OPEC oil deal to fight for market share," perhaps pushing oil to $40 or below. Oil prices would fall to that level if OPEC abandoned its deal as well. Russia has around 110 billion barrels of proven oil, basically what it had 20 years ago. In contrast, U.S. proven reserves have increased 66% over that time to 50 billion barrels. Russia realizes the undeniable ongoing importance of oil and gas and is seeking to develop the Artic for its treasure trove of natural resources. In addition, although the country has not yet needed to exploit it, there is unlimited potential in Russia for shale oil and gas production. We know its coming: "Meet The Oil Shale Eighty Times Bigger Than The Bakken." | https://www.forbes.com/sites/judeclemente/2019/04/18/does-the-u-s-import-oil-from-russia/ |
Which Characters In Game Of Thrones Can Leaders Most Readily Identify With ? | HBO/Sky Heroes in full body armour, fire-breathing dragons and the Army of the Dead, it would seem fantastical to suggest that Games of Thrones characters, such as Jon Snow or Cersei Lannister, or the challenges they face, have much relevance to todays business leaders. Yet, as the premiere of the eighth and final season was broadcast in both the U.S. and the U.K. this week, the characters returned to wrestle with the manifestations of power in scenarios still familiar to many in the workplace if somewhat more fantastical. Thats what good stories do. From Homer to Shakespeare, readers identify with the characters all too human strengths and flaws. So, the longevity of Game of Thrones rests more on the skill with which Daenerys Targaryen or Tyrion Lannister espouse universal truths that resonate with the viewers than any amount of CGI-enhanced battles scenes. Nicolas Mendelsohn, who describes herself as a huge fan, is spoilt for choice. I have difficulty choosing from all the strong female characters, says the VP EMEA of Facebook, ultimately picking Brienne of Tarth. Jon Snow the team builder As the illegitimate son of Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell, Snow feels and acts like the outsider. He leaves the home where he grew up to join the Nights Watch, guarding the north from the wildlings beyond the wall. At first, Snow, contemptuous of the lowly birth or criminal history of his fellow guards, is resented. But he puts aside his prejudices, trains his colleagues to use their weapons and befriends Samwell Tarly, another guard more interested in books than fighting. It is with this capacity to treat all as equal, to show concern for the weakest and to build teams that he acquires the mantle of leadership. HBO/Sky Brienne of Tarth - loyalty It is not until season 2 that the fighter makes the pledge to Catelyn, Ned Starks wife that she will return her daughters Sansa and Arya to their mother. It is this determination to do the right thing that defines her character and earns her the most mentions by women business leaders. The cultural impact of the blockbuster is such that even for those who have not watched the series, their family and friends can make a link to their leadership style. Inga Beales 19-year-old niece sees Tarth as good for feminism, an excellent fighter and men fear her, associating such characteristics with her aunt, a member of the Mayor of London's Business Advisory Board Tyrion Lannister wit as much as wisdom Just as Brienne is a stand out character for women, so the youngest Lannister brother is the character most often cited by male business leaders. He has to use his wit and intellect to survive in a world of regicidal maniacs, fire-breathing dragons and the undead, says Tom Blomfield. Much like UK retail banking, concludes the CEO of Monzo Bank. Harry Davies, AI lead at Tech Nations AI concurs. Tyrion has a Jedi-like ability to talk his way out of most tricky situations, a trait I secretly admire. When we meet Lannister back in series one, he has dedicated himself to drinking and womanising as an alternative lifestyle to the political machinations of his family. But, as the series continues, however reluctantly, he becomes a leader. He is pushed to step up and lead, says Davies. Great leaders don't take the mantle lightly. HBO/Sky Daenerys Targaryen the vision thing When we first meet Targaryen, her brother Viserys and she are exiled from Westeros, the country their forbears ruled for 300 years. Her brother marries her off to a warlord in order to gain an army to take back his throne. But, even then, we know that it will be his sister and not him that will take on the restoration and deliver the vision. And so, eight seasons later, it is she who arrives with Snow in the North to fight the Army of the Dead and, take back the Iron Throne - despite an assassination attempt, self-immolation and other, endless challenges. "Like Daenerys, I was a relative unknown taking on the world against the odds - in my case of football technology," says Guy Aharon, a partner in Isreali-British startup which recently features in Forbes.com. "I too come from an exotic Eastern country and struggle with the cold weather in the North but am adapting quickly!. Leaders with clear vision must stick with them against the odds and with resilience. Arya Stark results The youngest of the Stark daughters shows great resilience as she matures from a teenage girl witnessing her father Neds beheading (see below) to a young woman joining the fight against the Army of the Dead. But it is her ability to deliver results, best summed up by her kill list the people she will murder in revenge for the deaths in her own family that is her real strength. Brutal assassinations aside, she strikes me as someone who gets things done! Of all the characters, she had a mission and she delivered. That, I admire! adds Davies. However good a leaders narrative, if they dont deliver, theyre not much good. HBO/Sky Cersei Lannister a stickler for detail As season eight begins, we know that the Queen of Westeros is planning to have her brothers Tyrion and Jamie killed, handing her chosen assassin the very crossbow that Tyrion used to kill their father Tywin. When all around her think power is composed merely of words or deeds, it is Lannisters attention to detail that sees her safely through. Ned Stark, Lord of Winterfell leaders set the example followed by others Leaders are under more scrutiny than they ever realise. What they do is often seen as the example for others. In the opening episode, a guard from the Nights Watch leaves the wall to warn of the return of the White Walkers. Stark does not believe him and considers it desertion, riding out with two of his sons and Snow to execute him. The viewer knows, as his two sons and Snow sense, that Stark, a man for whom honour is everything, is in the wrong. By season one end, it is Stark himself who is executed at the order of King Joffrey on what the viewer knows is equally spurious reasoning. Leaders harvest what you sow. Game of Thrones is broadcast in the U.K. on Sky Atlantic each Monday evening at 9pm. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnwelsheurope/2019/04/18/which-characters-in-game-of-thrones-can-leaders-most-readily-identify-with/ |
Why have the papers become such crybabies about the royal baby? | It is a tradition perhaps as old as the British monarchy itself. Oh no, hang on its a tradition as old as one generation of the British monarchy itself. But it is, of course, the tradition of royal couples emerging from the hospital with their new baby for a photocall with the armies of waiting media. If tradition is a numbers game, stretching back some significant distance into the rich and storied past, the hospital-steps photocall is infinitely less established than deeper royal traditions, such as attempting to acquire France or killing ones relatives. Even within the narrow limits of royal baby tradition, it is surely more traditional for those connected with the crown to opt for what is known, rather bathetically in the circumstances, as a home birth. Our Queen herself was the result of a home birth, with her mother having perused the menu of options for what she wanted back in 1926. The then Duchess of York ended up rejecting the birthing pool, the candles and the soothing playlist in favour of having the home secretary present. Sir William Joynson-Hicks had torn himself away from a dispute with coalminers, which doesnt sound particularly Instagrammable, but Im sure hed have made it work. #winning #sorrynotsorry. (My own birthplans differed only slightly from the Queen Mothers, reading simply: I want a pre-emptive epidural at 39 weeks, and do not require Theresa May to be on site, unless she has access to even stronger drugs. Possible could someone ask?) Anyway, back to the present day, and it must be said that sections of the media are devastated by the news that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will not conform with the tradition first set by three 1990s divorcees and Prince Edward. As you may know, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting the imminent birth of their first child, in just the atmosphere of malevolent irrationalism and fevered conspiracy we have come expect in our new dark ages. Straight-up racism abounds, while significant numbers of internet dullards appear to believe that Meghans pregnancy bump is fake. Has Meghan Markle ALREADY had the baby? demanded former newspaper the Daily Express last week, while it would not be especially eyebrow-raising to read somewhere that Meghan has indeed already delivered the infant and the Night King has turned it into a white walker. The bookmakers, meanwhile, claim to be offering markets on such things as who will be made godparents to the child. Harrys former nanny Tiggy Pettifer is slightly longer odds, honked some Coral spokesprick this week, but weve cut them down to 6/1, all the way from 14/1 about a month ago, and there are certainly plenty of people who can see it happening. Oh certainly! I couldnt get through the lines outside my local bookies this morning, but had I managed to, an employee with four pencils behind their ear would surely have confirmed a tidal wave of punters whacking their wads down on the counter and declaring: I want a monkey on Tiggy Pettifer (Tiggy Legge-Bourke as was). As with many of the markets on the forthcoming birth, this one is thought likely to attract the interest of far-east betting syndicates and Paul Scholes. Meanwhile, the union jack-suited royal obsessives and self-styled town criers have been demanding information for their travel plans to the birth. These are the hardcore of about 20 superfans who you see at every royal wedding/birth/bladder surgery, and who most of the royal family probably fear will be the last thing they see before they die. Given all this, then, perhaps it wasnt the most enormous shock that Harry and Meghan last week issued a statement announcing they planned to keep the birth of their baby private. It does, however, seem to have caught Her Majestys Press on the hop. Since then, all pant-wetting has broken loose, with the general tone of the reaction summarisable as WAAA WAAA WAAA. Print journalists, broadcasters and pundits are noisily outraged that they will be denied what the Sun referred to solemnly as their royal rights. Yet another reminder that when YOU lurk for days outside a hospital and shout things at departing patients its breach of the peace or creepy and weird, but when Sky News does it, its journalism. As a member of the mainstream media myself, of course, I advise you not to take the latter inquiry entirely seriously. But given that the dominant press narrative about Meghan is that she is entitled and likes things her own way, the hilarious press reaction to the Sussexs statement suggests it really does take one to know one. There will be some grudging specifics about medical personnel in attendance, grudged Jan Moir in the Daily Mail, bouncing baby weight and the actual date of birth then the shutters will slam down. Destroy the shutters! Display the sheets! PRODUCE THE AFTERBIRTH! A royal baby is also a totem of national celebration, a beacon of British joy, Moir continues. Two or three days later, it just wont be the same. Of the public, she wondered why their gratification must be delayed in this unusual manipulation of events. Totally. Poor the British people, who have smoked even the fag ends of empire and are now licking WTO-tariff methadone off the pavement. That said, Moir has had the good grace to place her thoughts on the record. I think my favourite type of royal baby baby is the senior journalist who was so furious about the non-photocall that they could only speak to the New York Times about it on the condition of anonymity. This is the shattering of a tradition that goes back for decades, this individual chuntered. There is a price to be paid for that, and that price is mockery. Sure. But, babe, youre going to kick yourself when you find out who everyone is laughing at. That price to be paid strongly suggests that, at the age of 16, Briar Sussex is going to prick its finger on a spinning wheel or recreational-ketamine-use expos. At that moment, a great thorny thicket of indifference will grow up around the House of Windsor, and so it will stay, until dream co-star Cruz Beckham hacks his way through the branches and awakens the sleeping media opportunity therein. And so to the Sun. Keeping the nation in the dark over details, even after the birth, is a bad look for the royal couple, the papers leader ran. The public has a right to know about the lives of those largely funded by their taxes. You can accept that, or be private citizens. Not both. When you play the Game of Thrones, you stagger out with a postpartum blow-dry or you die. There is no middle ground. Also: TAKE BACK CALAIS, MY LIEGE. More hurt than angry is the papers longtime royal photographer Arthur Edwards, an adult human male of 78 who also speaks at length to the New York Times. Over to their account: Harry used to be the best of all of them, Mr Edwards said. Wed get together in a pub and wed talk about everything, get it off our plate. It would be frank and open, and you never reported it. Great job, newspaperman. Still, as long as you were proper friends. And on that note, we must go back to waiting. Please return to your bootee-knitting, while I nip to Coral and stick fifty on Godfather Arthur. | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/lostinshowbiz/2019/apr/18/why-papers-become-such-cry-babies-about-the-royal-baby |
Who will succeed Carney to run Britain's central bank? | LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is starting its search for a new governor of the Bank of England to succeed Mark Carney who is due to step down in January 2020. FILE PHOTO: Governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney arrives for a G-20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors' meeting at the IMF and World Bank's 2019 Annual Spring Meetings, in Washington, April 12, 2019. REUTERS/James Lawler Duggan Carney has twice extended his term in charge of the British central bank in order to help guide the economy through Brexit. But he has ruled out a further delay even though Britains departure from the European Union remains up in the air. Finance minister Philip Hammond is hoping that concerns about Brexit will not deter potential applicants. Following is a summary of possible contenders to run the BoE which oversees the worlds fifth-biggest economy and Britains huge finance industry. ANDREW BAILEY A former deputy BoE governor, Bailey was tipped by analysts as Carneys most likely successor. But the delays to the search for the next BoE governor has raised questions about whether finance minister Philip Hammond sees him as the best candidate. Bailey reached the role of deputy governor at the BoE with a focus on banks before becoming chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, a financial markets regulator. In his time at the BoE, Bailey helped to steer Britains banks through the global financial crisis, enhancing his reputation as a safe pair of hands. But heading the FCA is fraught with risks. Lawmakers in parliaments Treasury Committee criticized Bailey for not publishing all of a report into alleged misconduct by bank RBS. Bailey has cited privacy restrictions. As FCA boss, Bailey sits on important panels at the BoE that oversee banks. Although he has never been interest-rate setter, he once ran the BoE international economic analysis team. BEN BROADBENT AND DAVE RAMSDEN Broadbent and Ramsden are deputy governors for monetary policy and for markets and banking respectively. Broadbent, a former Goldman Sachs economist who trained as a classical pianist, is respected for his economic analysis but has less experience on banking oversight. Ramsden was the Treasurys chief economic advisor before joining the BoE. The two other BoE deputy governors, Jon Cunliffe and Sam Woods, are less likely contenders. Woods focuses mostly on financial regulation while Cunliffe - a former British ambassador to the European Union - would be aged 66 at the start of the term which usually runs for eight years. ANDY HALDANE The BoEs chief economist, Haldane has developed a reputation for floating unconventional ideas, including the possibility that music apps such as Spotify and multiplayer online games might give central bankers just as a good a sense of what is going on in the economy as traditional surveys. In 2012, he praised the anti-capitalist Occupy movement for suggesting new ways to fix the shortcomings of global finance. Haldane has experience of both sides of the BoE, having served as executive director for financial stability, overseeing the risks to the economy from the banking system. But he might be seen as too much of a maverick to take the job of governor. The announcement of Carney, the first non-British governor of the BoE in more than three centuries, was a surprise. But his tenure has been seen as a success for financial diplomacy, and the government is keen to promote what it calls a global Britain after the country leaves the European Union. RAGHURAM RAJAN Rajan, 56, was governor of the Reserve Bank of India from 2013 to 2016, and chief economist at the International Monetary Fund between 2003 and 2006, when he warned that financial innovation could trigger a crisis. Now a finance professor at Chicago Booth business school, Rajan has just published a book on populist dissatisfaction with markets and the state - touching on some of the underlying issues that drove the Brexit vote in 2016. Rajan unexpectedly did not seek a renewal of his three-year term at the RBI, having faced hostility from some sections of Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP party who disliked his less nationalist stance and brief forays into political territory. Rajan declined to comment when asked by Reuters last week whether he would consider a return to active policymaking. The prospect of the left-wing Labour Party taking power has grown as Prime Minister Theresa May struggles to break the Brexit impasse in parliament. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his would-be finance minister John McDonnell are socialists and have in the past proposed that the BoE should fund investment in infrastructure, a big change from its current focus on inflation. Former members of Labours economic advisory committee included U.S. academic and Nobel Prize winner Joseph Stiglitz and Ann Pettifor, a British economist who is an austerity critic and former BoE rate-setter David Blanchflower. | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-boe-governor/who-will-succeed-carney-to-run-britains-central-bank-idUSKCN1RU1XS |
What's the best way to invest money for my grandkids? | CLOSE After 19 years covering the stock market for USA TODAY, Adam Shell gives his best advice on how to successfully invest in the market. USA TODAY Q: I'm considering investing some money for my grandchildren. When my grandparents invested money for me (back in the 1980s), they generally did it by purchasing a U.S. savings bond. While I certainly appreciate my grandparents doing that, times have changed and there are better options available today. Perhaps the biggest deciding factors are what you want the money to be used for and the current ages of your grandkids. If you want to invest for their college education, contributing to a 529 savings plan can be a great idea. You can choose to invest your contributions in a variety of investment funds, and the investments will grow on a tax-deferred basis until withdrawn, and if they're used for qualified education expenses, any investment profits will be 100% tax-free. In many states, you'll also get a nice break on your state taxes for contributing to a 529. Grandparents used to invest money for their grandchildren by purchasing U.S. savings bonds. These days, better options are available. (Photo: Getty Images) When investing in a 529, consider your grandchild's age when deciding on investment funds. If your grandchild is very young and has a decade or more to go until college, you can choose stock-based funds or similarly aggressive options. As grandchildren approach college age, it's a good idea to be a little more conservative. If you don't want to invest specifically for college, you can open a brokerage account for the benefit of your grandchild. These accounts are known as UTMA or UGMA accounts and allow you to maintain control of them until your grandkid reaches a certain age generally 18 or 21. Paying for college: Seven ways to help grandchildren with tuition Good financial planning: Study what your parents did or didn't do When you invest in a UTMA or UGMA account, I'd generally suggest stocks or stock-based funds, in order to take full advantage of your grandchild's long investment time horizon. I don't have grandchildren yet, but to give you an idea of what I mean, I've invested money for my own kids in an S&P 500 ETF. This way, they'll get the benefit of the stock market's appreciation over time, without being too reliant on any single company's success. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY. Offer from the Motley Fool: Offer from The Motley Fool: The 10 best stocks to buy now Motley Fool co-founders Tom and David Gardner have spent more than a decade beating the market. In fact, the newsletter they run, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has quadrupled the S&P 500! * Tom and David just revealed their ten top stock picks for investors to buy right now. Click here to get access to the full list! *Stock Advisor returns as of Jan. 31, 2019. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/04/18/best-way-to-invest-money-for-my-grandchildren/39336629/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/04/18/best-way-to-invest-money-for-my-grandchildren/39336629/ |
Who Should I Name As My IRA Beneficiary? | Getty The costliest mistake people make with their IRAs doesnt involve how they invest their funds or even their savings strategy. Its neglecting to name the right beneficiary to your IRA. Naming a beneficiary may seem like a minor thing. Slipping up here, however, can cost your family a tremendous amount both in dollars as well as in aggravation. Too often IRA owners leave their beneficiary designation blank or they fail to periodically update their beneficiaries. When you dont designate a beneficiary, your IRA goes immediately into your estate upon your death. This can create a sizable tax liability. When your designated beneficiary list goes stale, you risk leaving the name of a deceased beneficiary on your IRA. Depending on how you originally set up your beneficiary list, your IRA may not go to the deceased beneficiarys heirs as you would have intended. You ignore your beneficiary naming strategy at the risk of your legacy. A poorly executive naming strategy may leave the fruits of a lifetime of hard work in the wrong hands. The selection of your primary beneficiary is an important topic, says Michael Sedlak, Founder and Managing Member at Golden Trail Advisers, LLC in Burr Ridge, Illinois. You should discuss it with your family and your estate planning attorney. Everyones situation is different (which is why you should heed Sedlaks advice to discuss this with your estate planning attorney). If you have no reason to bequeath your IRA to your family (or have no family to bequeath it to), you need not read any further. You can simply designate your favorite charity (or charities) of choice as your beneficiary and leave the rest to your executor. Of course, if youre like most people, youll want to leave your IRA to family members, including extended family members. The next six questions may provide some insights. Federal law requires you to designate your spouse as the beneficiary for your 401(k) unless your spouse has signed a written waiver. Unlike a 401(k) plan, you arent required to name your spouse as the beneficiary of your IRA (unless you live in a community property state, see IRS Publication 555 here for a list of those states). In addition, your IRA custodian may also require you obtain a spousal waiver consent if your spouse is not your primary beneficiary. Regardless of the law, spouses are most often named as the IRA beneficiary. And for good reason. It is best to name your spouse as your primary beneficiary because this will stretch out the payment of taxes over the lifetime of your spouse, says Dr. Guy Baker, Founder of Wealth Teams Alliance in Irvine, California. Otherwise, the entire account would normally have to be paid out over five years. In addition, only a spouse beneficiary can assume ownership of the IRA and retain the same rights and privileges of the original owner. All other beneficiaries will trigger some form of distribution. Some of these automatic distributions will generate more taxes in a shorter time frame than others. There may be circumstances when it makes sense to bypass your spouse and name another beneficiary. Choosing this course does have some consequences, but its possible to have the best of both worlds. If the spouse has enough other resources and does not need the money in the retirement plan, it might make sense to name the children as primary beneficiaries, says Sedlak. When a child inherits money from a retirement plan, he or she can roll it into an inherited IRA. These inherited IRA accounts require a distribution to be made each year to satisfy IRS required minimum distribution rules, referred to as RMD. The owner of an inherited IRA is required to take an RMD each year no matter what age not at age 70 as with a traditional IRA that you did not inherit. You neednt omit your spouses name from the beneficiary list, though. The spouse can still be named as the primary beneficiary, with the children listed as contingent beneficiaries. This offers the advantage of delaying the bypass decision until the spouse stands to inherit the IRA. At that time, if the spouse feels its better for the kids to inherit it, the spouse can disclaim the IRA. (This must be done in writing.) The IRA would then go to the contingent beneficiaries (e.g., the kids). Things can get a little tricky if you have more than one childwhether you list them as primary beneficiaries or as contingent beneficiaries. If you set up the beneficiary designations incorrectly and one of your children predeceases you, you may inadvertently disinherit that childs heirs. In a standard beneficiary designation, if the beneficiary passes away before you, all the IRA assets will go to the surviving beneficiaries. That makes sense if the deceased beneficiary had no heirs. But if the deceased beneficiary does have heirs, those heirs would be left out. By the way, this same problem occurs when theres only one beneficiary designated. If that beneficiary predeceases the owner of the IRA, when that owner dies the IRA is treated as if there was no beneficiary. The IRA would thus go directly into the estate, generating what may amount to a hefty tax bill. The solution to this dilemma is to name beneficiaries per stirpes. Such a designation allows deceased beneficiaries shares to be passed down to their heirs. If your children are older, they may be in a higher tax bracket. Inheriting your IRA may push them into an even higher tax bracket. In this case, it might make sense to list your grandchildren as the beneficiaries to your IRA. This has the dual advantage of stretching out the lifetime of the IRA even further as well as sending those taxable RMDs to folks subject to a lower tax rate. Of course, if your grandkids are minors, this may complicate things. Its not an insurmountable obstacle. Youll just need to make sure the paperwork is set up correctly (usually by having the parents act as custodian of the assets). All of the above options represent the best way to minimize taxes incurred by the family over the long run. Thats the subject of our final question. Despite your diligence in your beneficiary naming strategy, bad things can still happen. Its easy to imagine a series of unfortunate events causing your IRA money to end up in the wrong hands. The best way to avoid this is to have a trust inherit the IRA. Of course, this comes at a cost. Naming a trust is not usually a good strategy because it causes the taxes to be paid sooner on the IRA account, says Baker. However, when distribution considerations trump taxes, a trust is the best way to protect the funds. There are a variety of trusts you can use for this purpose. Its beyond the scope of this article to discuss each of these options. In nearly all cases, though, they give IRA owners the opportunity to continue to exercise dominion of those assets beyond their mortal time on Earth. It really comes down to weighing the costs and benefits to determine if a trust is best for you. The advantage of a trust is the ability to control the timing of when a beneficiary would get the money, says Sedlak. The disadvantage of naming a trust as the primary beneficiary is that tax deferral could be for a shorter period of time than naming a beneficiary directly. That means the possibility of paying more taxes sooner if a trust is the beneficiary. These seven questions offer you a general guide. Reflect on them as you choose the direction you might wish to take. After youve given it some thought, head on over to your favorite estate planning attorney and get a real legal opinion on your specific set of circumstances. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriscarosa/2019/04/18/who-should-i-name-as-my-ira-beneficiary/ |
Can Chris Reynolds reclaim Charlotte 49ers quarterback job? | Charlotte 49ers quarterback talks about taking recovery one day at a time Chris Reynolds, Charlotte 49ers quarterback talks about recovering from the ankle injury that ended his freshman season. Up Next SHARE COPY LINK Chris Reynolds, Charlotte 49ers quarterback talks about recovering from the ankle injury that ended his freshman season. Chris Reynolds feels like hes ready to reclaim a spot an injury snatched from him last fall. Coming off a solid performance in the Charlotte 49ers spring football game last week, Reynolds now looks ahead to winning back his starting quarterbacks job when practice resumes in August. I felt as if I was progressing, back out there for the first time since my surgery, Reynolds said after the spring game. I felt a little slow and my timing wasnt how it should be. But with the guys I have around me, anything can happen. Reynolds has been here before. Lightly recruited out of Davie County High, he redshirted his first year at Charlotte, then beat out Evan Sherriffs and Hasaan Klugh last season by showing a command of former coordinator Shane Montgomerys pro-style offense and being able to keep plays alive with his arm and running ability. Then, early in the third quarter of a Conference USA game against Western Kentucky, Reynolds (who had completed 12 of 19 passes for 119 yards to that point) went down with an injured ankle. Basically, I tore everything in my ankle, said Reynolds, who in his five-plus games had a quarterback rating of 139.2 and completed 64.9% of his passes for 1,173 yards and six touchdowns. Reynolds season was done, and he had to watch as Sherriffs and Klugh finished the season. Reynolds injury was severe enough to require surgery. After the operation, Reynolds said he went into hyper-rehab mode. The worst thing you can do is dwell on it, and say, Dang, what could have happened (if I hadnt gotten hurt)? Reynolds said. I was with the trainer two hours a day. I was walking again earlier than I was supposed to. All my agility drills went well. They said it would be six months, but I got it done in four. Reynolds recovered in time for the 49ers first spring practice in March. Greeting Reynolds was new coach Will Healy and a new spread-option offense (one thats not dissimilar to last seasons pro-style system except that it is run almost exclusively from the shotgun formation). Reynolds had an excellent spring game, completing 8-of-11 passes for 152 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran the ball nine times for 33 yards, although he was sacked twice, which helped account for his net of 5 yards rushing. Chris has some intangibles to him, said Healy. You could just watch the team rally around him and follow. Hes gotten better each and every day. Im looking forward to some big things from him in the fall. When the 49ers reconvene for practice this summer, Reynolds will again compete with Sherriffs (who missed the spring game with a concussion) for the starting job. Grad transfer Brett Kean (South Florida) figures to be a factor as well. As the quarterbacks continue to learn the new system, Healy has made it clear hes not expecting too much from them, at least not yet. The 49ers have plenty of playmakers on offense, including second-team all-Conference USA running back Benny LeMay and a talented group of wide receivers led by sophomores Victor Tucker and Rico Arnold. Getting the ball to them, efficiently and error-free, is what Healy primarily wants. We dont have to have a quarterback like Joe Montana, Healy said. We just need our quarterback to get us lined up the right way, execute at a high level and dont turn the ball over, and make really good decisions. Competition for starting spots and playing time will extend beyond the quarterbacks, of course. Healy said the teams first practices for the new coaching staff were fruitful and built a strong base for August. The 49ers open the season Aug. 31 at home against Gardner-Webb. There are things we need to clean up, from an execution standpoint, Healy said. Youre constantly coaching fundamentals. But you have to establish a foundation to build on this summer and for fall camp. We need 90 to 95 guys to hit the field and who know exactly what were looking for. Were not starting from scratch any more. Weve had a head start. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/college/article229417869.html |
What is Extinction Rebellion, and is it happening in B.C.? | Theres a growing global movement of climate activists, staging massive protests in urban centres, die-ins at Parliament buildings, and school walkouts. Extinction Rebellion, which bills itself an international group dedicated to non-violent civil disobedience for action on climate breakdown and ecological collapse, is behind the ongoing protests this week in London and dozens more cities around the world. The activists continued to block roads in London on Thursday, during the fourth day of a week of civil disobedience. Hundreds of activists have been arrested since Monday. It began in October in Parliament Square in London, where a group gathered to announce a declaration of rebellion against the U.K. government, which it claims has not done enough to address the climate crisis. They also glued themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace and glued themselves to a train to disrupt the morning commute. On Monday, they blocked several major London landmarks and vandalized oil company Shells headquarters. Yes. There are at least six in the province of B.C. and 14 in Canada, according to a Google Maps directory. Groups have formed on the Sunshine Coast, Howe Sound, Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Vancouver Island, and Cowichan Valley. They want politicians to take urgent action on climate change and disappearing wildlife, and for governments around the world to reduce its carbon emissions to zero by 2025. Resistance to the inaction by governments around the world has been growing following a United Nations IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming. The dire report, by the worlds leading climate scientists, warns there is only 12 years to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 C. After that, the scientists say there will be catastrophic drought, heat, fires and floods. According to the Vancouvers Extinction Rebellion, peaceful protesting is a necessity because politicians are failing to act quickly enough to protect people from rising levels of pollution, global warming, and mass extinction of species. Coordinator of Extinction Rebellion Vancouver Amy Scaife says shes worried about the future of her five-year-old daughter if nothing is done to slow the rise in global warming. When shes my age, if the world keeps going on the same trajectory, the world will be completely different. Theres a chance she might not reach old age because of climate change because of resource wars. If the planet warms by 3 C or 4 C thats it. Thats pretty much the end, said Scaife, 42. What are the B.C. For now the plans are more about educating those who want join, said Scaife. The B.C. groups are hosting talks and workshops to mobilize people to take part in action. They say they want to provoke a national debate on what is happening to the planet, including global warming and species extinction. They will also stage rallies and protests, and pledge to have a commitment to nonviolence. Scaife, who in October spoke with movement founder Roger Hallam in October before starting the Vancouver chapter, said Extinction Rebellion is a tool set to show people how to demonstrate peacefully and teach them what their rights are if they are arrested, and to support them in their direct action. Anyone. Scaife said she believes many people are feeling scared or anxious about what is going to happen in the future and what is being done by governments to address the climate crisis. She added that for some people joining a movement in their community can help them deal with that fear. Its different but with the same same message: To demand action on climate change. Students around the world, including here in Vancouver, have been walking out of class on certain Fridays to demand action to slow climate change. That movement, called Fridays For Future, was started by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg, who camped out in front of parliament in Stockholm last year to demand action from world leaders on global warming. Scaife said she was hopeful that these mass demonstrations will have an effect on decision-making. I think more and more people are starting to wake up to the crisis, she said. | https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/what-is-extinction-rebellion-and-is-it-happening-in-b-c |
Are Robocar Teams Doing "Safety Theater" Or Acceptable Risk? | Brad Templeton An essay by Robbie Miller posted April 17 calls out several in the robocar industry for "safety theater." Miller has some chops here -- he famously quit Uber a few days before their fatality after sending a letter to its management about the bad safety practices there. On the other hand, he has joined Anthony Levandowski to do safety for Pronto, a trucking driver assist startup. Miller correctly points out that counting disengagements, as is done in California, is not very useful because everybody reports them differently and it creates bad incentives. He calls this safety theater, but I don't believe these metrics arose in the attempt to fool people; rather they just came about because nobody knew what to do, and this seemed easy. Real metrics are much harder to calculate, and involve accurately simulating what would have happened absent any intervention to learn if there was a real safety event. That way you learn what's actually going wrong and you don't put many disincentives on intervention. I agree less with some other claims of Miller. He points out statistics (seen very strongly in his time at Uber) that show the teams out there driving are doing somewhat worse than humans in their accident rates, even overseen by safety drivers. His calculation suggests injury crashes are taking place at a rate of 4.3 per million miles compared to 2.3 per million for "age-adjusted" humans. The rate for property damage accidents is, he claims, is a more modest 30% worse. I'm not sure these numbers are correct. There are a lot of varying numbers, but NHTSA's estimate for total injury crashes is 2.1M, which is 0.7 for every million miles of driving, not 2.3. Of course, there are different definitions of injury, and some injury crashes are not reported to agencies. But if we consider his analysis as true, let's examine how bad it is. First of all, he has calculated the number across the entire industry. Waymo, which also has the most miles, is considerably better. Uber, as he reports, was having a crash every 2 days before he left. There are good drivers and bad drivers, and there are good teams and worse teams, with good practices and bad practices. He brings up the issue, which has been brought up many times before of the unusual ratio of accidents at which the robocar is "at fault" to accidents in which it was hit by an at-fault driver. Miller and others suggest this number is out of whack, that cars are being hit too much for it to be chance, and they need to be better at avoiding accidents. In conversations with Chris Urmson, then the head of Waymo, I learned about their analysis of this question, because they noticed the odd ratio as well. Their conclusion as the time was that the odd ratio was explained by the fact that large numbers of accidents are unreported and don't show up in databases, while every tiny accident for robocars in California is reported. Many of the accidents involved minor contact that would never be reported to police or insurance. The bulk of these "other driver at fault" minor accidents could not be attributed to strange behavior of the robocar, such as overly conservative driving, or hesitation in the wrong places. Some might fall in that class, but the conclusion at that time was that the ratio was no longer so perplexing. Of course, this might not necessarily be true with other projects. It is certainly possible to see how a robocar could do things that make an "other driver at fault" accident more likely. This is not desirable, but there is an argument that it's acceptable; that overly conservative driving is still the safest course for prototypes working their way up to driving at an even better level. It would be interesting to find statistics (I have not yet found them) for student drivers who drive with driving instructors, or their parents. In a driving instructor's car, the instructor has their own brake pedal. They act as a "safety driver" for the student. We know that student drivers are dangerous, but we let them out on the road in order to turn them into better drivers later. This same philosophy can also be applied to robocars, with the difference that one trained student is just one person. The robocars being "trained" today will result in improvements to all future cars as well. Whatever early risks are taken are going to generate a million good drivers, not just one. If statistics showed massively greater risk -- getting many times the injury or fatality rate -- we would want to reign in whoever was responsible. And we can always work to get everybody to improve. But it is also necessary, even a moral imperative, to take some risk today for the promise of massively reduced risk in the future. Miller further claims that testers are driving too many miles today, hoping to publish high "total miles driven" numbers. He feels they are driving too many "low-value miles" and this is the wrong approach. He could be right that some companies do want to just boost their published numbers. Driving test miles is expensive, though, and I would be surprised at any team that had the opportunity to eliminate their "low value" miles and didn't take it. All driving consists of lots of fairly uncomplicated driving punctuated by more difficult situations. It's not clear how to easily avoid this. Teams are out there racking up miles not just to add to the total, but to increase the chance that they will encounter and learn from more and more unusual situations. The more you drive, the further you have to go to encounter something new. In fact, one argument is that the way to certify a car is safe is that it is very rarely encountering new problems. Uber has proven to us that the industry as a whole needs to develop good protocols for safety driving and a better understanding of what safety incidents are, and if they are too numerous. Most companies already know what good protocols are (mostly created by Google and copied by others) but some can use a lesson. With these protocols, the risk of testing on the roads is less than the risk of an ordinary driver going on the roads, and that's a risk worth taking. Comments may be left at this site. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2019/04/18/are-robocar-teams-doing-safety-theater-or-acceptable-risk/ |
Will Binance Chain Succeed Where Other DEXs Have Failed? | Getty Major cryptocurrency exchange Binance recently launched Binance Chain, a custom blockchain that features a permissionless decentralized exchange (DEX). This new blockchain will become available to the public on April 23, and Binance plans to execute the mainnet swap, which involves converting ERC-20 BNB tokens to native Binance Chain-based BNB (BEP2) tokens, the same day. Many DEXs have struggled in the past, plagued by problems such as latency and low liquidity. A recent research report explored these difficulties, emphasizing that cryptocurrency exchanges (especially decentralized ones) are vulnerable to exploitation by algorithmic trading programs that take advantage of inefficiencies like latency to engage in front running. [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.] Binance's Strong Prospects Some market observers are optimistic that Binance could overcome these challenges by leveraging its size, user base and financial resources. The implications of this success would be "extremely meaningful to the entire crypto ecosystem," said Jeff Dorman, chief investment officer of asset manager Arca. "The holy grail for crypto communities since the start of the crypto revolution is decentralization, but to date no one has successfully pulled it off because it's very difficult," he stated. "While there are other DEX's out there, they have all largely failed (or underwhelmed) for 3 reasons: 1) Too slow 2) lack of participants/liquidity 3) Poor UI/UX." "Binance Chain can solve for the 3 problems above," noted Dorman. "They can incentivize market makers to provide liquidity since they already have a huge user base and liquidity pool, they won't be reliant on Ethereum (which solves the speed problem) and they have already proven to be amazing with UI/UX which will allow for a seamless transition for its customers from its current centralized exchange to this new DEX." Going forward, answering one question is crucial, he said. We think so," said Dorman. Optimistic Assessments Several analysts agreed with Dorman's assertion, elaborating on their optimistic views. "A decentralized exchange by Binance is likely to succeed where others have failed," said Joe DiPasquale, CEO of cryptocurrency fund of hedge funds BitBull Capital. "They have a strong brand and userbase which can support liquidity and BNB usage within the decentralized ecosystem will further enhance its value and consequently price," he noted. Shone Anstey, executive chairman and cofounder of Blockchain Intelligence Group, offered a similar take. "Binance can be successful with its DEX as they have the scale, capital, and more importantly liquidity for their DEX to tap into," he stated. "If they can execute on the DEX platform and make it user-friendly, then they have a good chance for it to get traction." Saul Hudson, managing partner of Angle42, an emerging technology advisory that has supported both centralized and decentralized exchanges, also spoke to the matter. A company with the finances of Binance can throw many more resources at development than the current decentralized players who have faced scaling challenges. Binance has track record of innovating and delivering successfully and have shown agility in their management of regulation and jurisdictions. So I wouldnt bet against them making this a success too. 'Wait And See' Only time will tell how successful Binance Chain ends up being, several market observers emphasized. As a result, we should sit back and observe, they stated. While Binance Chain may very well succeed, we need to "wait and see how their DEX actually works," said DiPasquale. Marius Rupsys, a cryptocurrency investor, concurred, describing Binance's new DEX as an "experiment." For the time being, he is "just watching how it evolves." Disclosure: I own some bitcoin, bitcoin cash and ether. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cbovaird/2019/04/18/will-binance-chain-succeed-where-other-dexs-have-failed/ |
What To Expect From Coca-Cola's Q1 2019 Results? | 2019 Bloomberg Finance LP Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is set to announce its financial results for Q1 2019 on April 23, 2019, followed by a conference call with analysts. Total revenues for Coca-Cola have largely trended lower over recent quarters, falling from $8.9 billion in Q2 2018 to $7.1 billion in Q4 2018. Lower revenue was primarily driven by the loss of revenue from the refranchising of company-owned bottling operations and the impact of currency headwinds. However, the trend is expected to reverse, as revenues are projected to increase by 3%-4% (y-o-y) in Q1 2019 with most of the refranchising already completed, coupled with benefits from a number of acquisitions throughout 2018. Market expectation is for the company to report adjusted earnings of $0.46 per share in Q1 2019, marginally lower than $0.47 per share in Q1 2018. Lower earnings are likely to be a reflection of rising transportation costs and currency swings. In addition, here is more Consumer Staples data. Trefis A} Revenue Trend EMEA Revenue from the EMEA region has been under pressure due to a decline in price/mix primarily due to negative geographic mix from the timing of shipments across the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, continued double-digit growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and strong performance in Fuze Tea was offset by the impact of a challenging macroeconomic environment in certain key African and Middle Eastern markets. Latin America In spite of volume declining by double-digits in Argentina, segment revenues have been more or less stable over the last couple of quarters largely driven by strong performance in Mexico through revenue growth management initiatives, as well as positive price/mix across all business units. The segment is expected to see a pick-up in 2019 with KOs increasing market share in non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverages. North America Revenue from North America has declined in the last quarter due to lower volume of sparkling soft drinks, juice, dairy, and plant-based beverages. Tea volume declined low single-digits, impacted by deprioritizing low-margin tea products. Additionally, refranchising of certain operations in the region has led to lower revenues. However, revenue is expected to increase going forward as most of the refranchising is already completed, coupled with high growth in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and strong performance in Sprite. Asia-Pacific Revenue in APAC faced pressure in Q4 2018 with lower volumes in the Philippines and Australia and the impact of the deprioritization of low-margin commodity water. However, the segment is once again expected to register growth, led by strong sales across India and Southeast Asia, benefiting from strong marketing and innovation within Trademark Coca-Cola and Sprite, coupled with rising market share in NARTD beverages, sparkling soft drinks, and tea and coffee. Bottling Investments Revenue from the bottling business has been decreasing due to refranchising of the companys bottling operations. However, with most of this program already behind us, the impact of refranchising is expected to be negligible in 2019. B} Expenses Trend Coca-Colas total expenses have been declining over the quarters due to benefits from refranchising of the high-cost bottling business. Additionally, lower tax expense with the implementation of the TCJ Act has led to significant reduction in total expenses on a y-o-y basis. We expect the extension of the companys productivity plan to drive margin growth going forward. Revenue is expected to increase by 4.6% to $33.3 billion in 2019, driven by growth across all major segments, offset by a lower revenue from the bottling business. However, with most of the refranchising already completed, the revenue loss from the segment is not expected to be as significant as in 2018. Revenue growth would also be driven by inorganic growth strategies of Coca-Cola, with the company announcing several key acquisitions in 2018, including Costa Limited and a strategic partnership with BODYARMOR. Additionally, it also announced the acquisition of full ownership in Chi Ltd, which is a fast-growing leader in expanding beverage categories, including juices, value-added dairy, and iced tea in Nigeria. We expect net income margin to rise only marginally to about 21% in 2019, from 20.2% in 2018. Margin growth would be driven by the ongoing refranchising of low-margin bottling operations and Coca-Colas new productivity plan which has been extended to 2019 to achieve incremental savings of about $800 million. However, rising transportation costs and currency swings are expected to be potential drags on the companys margins, thus limiting the upside on earnings. Trefis has a price estimate of $50 per share for Coca-Colas stock. We believe that an expanding footprint in the emerging markets, new product offerings, and strong organic sales growth would support growth in KOs stock price. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/04/18/what-to-expect-from-coca-colas-q1-2019-results/ |
Are Rockets better than last season? | Rockets coach Mike DAntoni had described how the Rockets had gone from what they were in the first two months of the season to the last, citing roster changes and even escaping the hangover from last season that sent the Rockets to their stumbling start long before their fast finish. They had not yet begun Wednesdays second-consecutive blowout of the Utah Jazz to open the playoffs, but the question that had once been unthinkable had risen to viable and perhaps even unavoidable. That team won a franchise-record 65 games. It moved to the Western Conference finals with consecutive 4-1 marches through playoff series. It was a half-game (and perhaps a Chris Paul injury) away from the NBA Finals where it would have been a heavy favorite. In many ways, it was the unspoken bar for this seasons Rockets to clear in the pursuit of something greater. DAntoni uncharacteristically paused, weighing a response. Five seconds passed. He thought perhaps of key players now elsewhere he did not want to disrespect, of all that remained to be done so far from eliminating the Jazz and advancing to another presumed showdown with the Warriors. I think James (Harden) is having a better year than he did last year, DAntoni finally said. I think Chris is healthier. Yeah, I think we definitely can be better. We havent proved it, yet. But yeah, I think we can be better. In the two hours that followed, they were. After taking a 32-point win in Game 1, the Rockets led by 28 in Game 2, winning by 20. With a great deal still to prove, the Rockets have shown themselves to be a deeper, more versatile team with a bench bolstered by the additions (Danuel House Jr., Kenneth Faried, Austin Rivers) that had been brought in when the injuries gashed the rotation but now give DAntoni more options. Faried provides production at center off the bench the Rockets tried to add last season with Brandan Wright only to have him go out after one game. After the run of injuries during the season, keeping Eric Gordon, Chris Paul and Clint Capela out for long stretches, the Rockets reached the post-season fully healthy and on a 20-5 run in the final 25 games. A year ago, forward Luc Mbah a Moute was out with a shoulder injury and missed, never to get back to full strength. Were different, Rockets guard Eric Gordon said. I think we can use more guys. Theyre used to playing, being starters, like Faried, Austin and Shump (Iman Shumpert). Even Danuel House has been here and played. I think thats the difference from last season. It is not, however, just the reserves that make the Rockets seem better than when they were shorthanded a year ago. Though greater tests will come, with the Rockets expecting them beginning Saturday in Salt Lake City, the Rockets have rarely looked more in sync with one another and their philosophies on both ends of the floor. Theyre playing at an unbelievable high level, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said. Its difficult to make those comparisons, but I do think there is a level of continuity you have, especially with James and Chris having been together for a year. Theyre focused and determined. Theres just the consistency of focus that theyre playing with. That could be the product of the time spent together. For all the roster changes in the off-season and through this season, this seasons five starters were in the top six (along with Trevor Ariza) in minutes played last season, the first with forward P.J. Tucker and Paul on the team. The Rockets were ranked first offensively last season, second this season but with an average of 114.8 points per 100 possessions that is slightly better than last seasons. Since the All-Star break, they have been slightly better defensively this season than last. Thats just us being together for a bit now, Tucker said. Our core, Chris and James, when they get to getting us going, when theyre pushing (and) when theyre aggressive, they make it easier for all of us. So then me, Clint, and Chris can really set up defense. We communicate well in our first unit. We all fight, argue, talk all the time. But in the end, we all get an understanding, and thats made our defense really good. If nothing else, this seasons Rockets sound like last seasons Rockets. They had generated so much attention for openly proclaiming their confidence, seeming to back it with their play and the series, if ultimately unsuccessful, against the Warriors. It took most of the season, but the same level confidence has been rebuilt. When we do what we do, I dont think anybody can beat us, Tucker said. Its a fact. I dont care. We come out every night, we talk, we communicate, and when our two guys get going and are aggressive, were tough. None of that can be entirely proved at home. The real tests come on the road, particularly in the sort of environment expected in Salt Lake City and against a team sure to be desperate to rebound. But there is something familiar about how the Rockets are playing and sounding a season after they demonstrated so much promise not quite fulfilled. Obviously, we are confident, DAntoni said. I thought we were confident all year. Even when we were 11-14, they were confident. They were driving me crazy, but they were confident. Oh, well get out of it. Theyve always had the belief once they get healthy they lock in. And were as good as anybody, if not better than everybody. Its a good level. Jonathan.Feigen @Chron.com Twitter: @Jonathan_Feigen | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/Are-Rockets-better-than-last-season-13778733.php |
Can changing the microbiome reverse lactose intolerance? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Patricia L. Foster, Indiana University (THE CONVERSATION) After childhood, about two-thirds of the worlds human population loses the ability to digest milk. As far as we know, 100% of nonhuman mammals also lose this ability after weaning. The ongoing ability to digest lactose, the main sugar in milk, into adulthood is a biological abnormality. Lactose cannot be directly absorbed in the intestinal tract and must, instead, be broken down into its two smaller component sugars by an enzyme called lactase. Normally, the activity of the gene that produces lactase, LCT, declines after infancy. New evidence suggests that this decline occurs not because the genetic code is changed, but because the DNA is chemically modified so that the lactase gene is switched off. Such modifications that affect gene activity while leaving the DNA sequence intact are called epigenetic. The epigenetic modification that turns off the lactase gene does not happen in lactose-tolerant individuals. This new finding gives an important insight into how lactose intolerance develops with age or after trauma to the intestinal tract. Im a microbiologist, and I became interested in the causes of lactose intolerance because it afflicts a close friend. He is of Norwegian descent and, like most Norwegians, is genetically lactose tolerant. But, he became permanently lactose intolerant at the age of 45 after a long regimen of antibiotics. There are other cases of people who should be able digest lactose because of their genetics, but lose that ability late in life, either spontaneously or when the small intestine is damaged by disease or other traumas. In most cases, the lactose intolerance goes away when the underlying cause is treated, but some people become permanently lactose intolerant. It seems possible, even probable, that such trauma to the digestive tract can trigger the same epigenetic change that normally turns off the lactase gene in childhood. Scientists have found other cases of such environmentally induced epigenetic changes, although more research is needed to establish the persistence and consequences of these alterations. Lactose intolerance is mostly due to your genes While the ability to produce the lactase enzyme persists into adulthood in only about 35% of adults worldwide, this proportion varies widely among ethnic groups. In the U.S., the proportion of lactose-tolerant people is about 64%, reflecting the mixture of ethnic groups that populate the country. The ability of adults to digest lactose appeared in humans relatively recently. Specific genetic changes known as single-nucleotide polymorphisms, SNPs conveying lactase-persistence arose independently in various populations around the same time as their domestication of dairy animals. None of these SNPs are in the lactase gene itself, but instead are in a nearby region of the DNA that control its activity. Scientists have been trying to figure out how these changes exert their influence over this genes behavior. Recently researchers have shown that one of the SNPs changes the level of epigenetic modification of the DNA in the lactase gene control regions. Specifically, the SNP prevents small chemical units, called methyl groups (which consist of one carbon and three hydrogen atoms) from being attached to the DNA. Methyl groups are especially important in regulating gene activity because when they are added to the DNA, they turn off the gene. These studies imply that after early childhood, the lactase gene is usually shut off by DNA methylation. The SNPs that alter the DNA sequence in the control region, however, prevent this methylation from happening. This, in turn, results in the production of lactase because the gene is kept on. To date, five different SNPs have been strongly associated with lactase persistence, and another 10 or so have been found in isolated populations. The estimated times of appearance of these SNPs in different cultures range from 3,000 (Tanzania) to 12,000 (Finland) years ago. That the trait persisted and spread in these populations indicates that the ability to digest milk beyond infancy had a significant selective advantage. Your microbiome and lactose intolerance The symptoms of lactose intolerance include diarrhea, stomach pain, cramps, bloating and flatulence, all of which result from failure to break down lactose in the small intestine. As undigested lactose moves into the large intestine, water enters to reduce the lactose concentration, producing diarrhea. The lactose is eventually eaten by microorganisms in the large intestine, producing, as byproducts, various gases that cause bloating, cramping and flatulence. Recent studies have shown that the symptoms of lactose intolerance can be relieved in some people by changing the population of their intestinal microbes, called the microbiome, to encourage lactose-digesting bacteria. Specifically, bacteria, called lactic acid bacteria, eat the lactose but produce the byproduct lactic acid instead of gas. While lactic acid has no nutritional value, it does not produce the unpleasant symptoms of lactose intolerance. This adaptation of the intestinal microbiome may be how some ancient pastoral populations with no genetic evidence of lactase persistence tolerated a dairy-rich diet. Ingesting lactic acid bacteria as a probiotic can alleviate the symptoms of lactose intolerance, but these bacteria may not persist in the colon. A promising new strategy is to feed the lactic acid bacteria a complex sugar that they can digest but humans cannot. In initial clinical trials, subjects using this prebiotic reported improved lactose tolerance and had a corresponding shift in their intestinal microbiome. Larger clinical trials are in progress. So there is hope for lactose-intolerant people that real ice cream may be on the menu again. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/can-changing-the-microbiome-reverse-lactose-intolerance-114412. | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Can-changing-the-microbiome-reverse-lactose-13758890.php |
Are America's teachers really underpaid? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Michael Addonizio, Wayne State University (THE CONVERSATION) In the spring of 2018, thousands of public school teachers walked out of their classrooms in a half-dozen states, protesting low salaries, rising class sizes and cuts to school budgets that have prompted most teachers to buy their own classroom supplies. Additional strikes followed in 2019 in Los Angeles, Denver and Oakland. While these walkouts, which enjoyed much public support, were about more than teacher pay, stagnant teacher salaries were central issues. And political leaders have taken notice. For example, presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris, a Democrat from California, has made boosting teacher salaries a part of her campaign. Her plan would allocate US$315 billion in federal funding over the next decade to increase pay for public school teachers and reward state and local governments for raising pay even higher, with the goal of eventually boosting teacher pay by an average of $13,500 per person. The proposal, which has been hailed as the largest investment in teachers in American history and criticized as a pitch for teacher union endorsements, would be paid for by as-yet unspecified increases in the estate tax. From my standpoint as an expert on educational leadership and policy and as former assistant state superintendent for research and policy in the Michigan Department of Education, I see teachers as the most important resource in schools. Teachers impact on students persists into adulthood. Recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers in the nations public schools requires good working conditions, including competent and supportive leadership and a collegial environment. But pay matters. Teacher salaries decline over time Classroom teaching has never been a path to riches and, perhaps more than other professionals, teachers view their work more as a calling than as a way to make a good living. Still, teaching must compete with other occupations for talent. By this comparison, teacher pay has been eroding for decades. According to an Economic Policy Institute study, the teacher wage penalty how much less teachers make than comparable workers grew from 5.5% in 1979 to a record 18.7% in 2017. Teacher wage gaps vary widely from state to state, but in no state does teacher pay equal or exceed pay for other college graduates. And its no coincidence that the four states with the largest gaps Arizona, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Colorado saw teacher protests in 2018. In some states, teacher salaries have been so low that teachers have qualified for public assistance. The answer: Compare weekly wages. For example, a public school teacher in the U.S. with a bachelors degree earned an average of $980 per week between 2013 and 2017, while a comparable non-teaching college graduate averaged $1,326. Some may argue that teachers, on average, work fewer hours per week than other college graduates. However, a leading teachers union says that teachers often work longer than their contracted work day. No. While teacher benefits have accounted for a rising share of their total compensation as salaries have stalled and constitute a bigger share as compared with other professionals, this benefit advantage only partially offsets the teacher wage penalty. Even teacher pension plans, often criticized as overly generous and costly to taxpayers, are now found to be inadequate in many states. In Massachusetts, for instance, teacher contributions to pensions plans will actually exceed their benefits no matter how long they stay in teaching. In 39 states, the average teacher salary declined 2010 and 2016 when you take inflation into account. And these declines were not the result of teacher turnover, with retiring and relatively well-paid baby boomers being replaced by entry-level millennials. A 2018 Brookings study found that teachers were more qualified in 2016 than in 2007. Teachers were older and more educated, with greater proportions holding masters and doctoral degrees, the Brookings study found. The pay gap gives rise to teacher shortages. These shortages do not show up as actual vacancies or empty classrooms. Rather, they appear as underqualified teachers that is, more positions filled by teachers lacking full credentials and holding only temporary or emergency licenses. Shortages in math and science have been a chronic problem for public schools, as non-teaching options have been much more lucrative for candidates in these fields. Solving the teacher shortage problem, which afflicts every state to varying degrees, will require more than boosting teacher pay across the board. It will also take improving teachers working conditions, giving them more manageable class sizes and adding more support staff, such as psychologists, social workers, nurses and librarians. It will also take safe, well-maintained facilities and skilled principals who create the kind of school environments that make teachers want to stay. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/are-americas-teachers-really-underpaid-114397. | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/article/Are-America-s-teachers-really-underpaid-13758887.php |
Has Florent Malouda been let go from FC Zurich via Twitter? | Florent Malouda won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012. That's a new one. Former Chelsea winger Florent Malouda, now a coach, appeared to be totally unaware of his release by FC Zurich until the club posted on their social media channels stating there had been a 'mutual agreement' over his exit. The 38-year-old Champions League winner, who only joined the club's staff less than two months ago, didn't seem too impressed: Florent Malouda responds to FC Zurich's tweet stating he's been released. At least some fans saw the funny side One fan takes a shot at his time at Chelsea despite a solid record for the Frenchman. Awkward... One fan captured just how Malouda might be feeling... A World Cup runner-up with France in 2006, Malouda joined Chelsea from Lyon in 2007, winning the Premier League, Champions League and also the FA Cup three times. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47897232 |
Can Nintendo make virtual reality gaming a success? | Video Virtual reality has been described in recent years as the future of gaming. Headsets like the Playstation VR, Oculus Rift and HTC VIVE have moved the technology on, but have failed to break into the mainstream. Now Nintendo is bringing out a special range of its cardboard Labo kits. Newsbeat's gaming reporter Steffan Powell has been to find out how it's different to the other VR headsets already on the market. Video producer: Woody Morris Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/newsbeat-47897262/can-nintendo-make-virtual-reality-gaming-a-success |
What Is the Greatest Act of Courage? | Graham Roumieu Samantha Allen, author, Real Queer America The German physician Magnus Hirschfeld, born a century before the Stonewall riots, advocated for gay and transgender rights and was pilloried in the press as a freak who acted for freaks; his research was burned. He died in exile, but his radical, humanizing ideas survived. Allen Price, director, JFK Library In October 1962, the world held its breath for 13 days as we teetered on the brink of nuclear war. Threatened by Soviet missiles just 90 miles from Florida in Cuba, and under unimaginable pressure to act, President Kennedy chose restraint and resolute statesmanship. His courage saved us all. Ben Barnz, author, We: An Adoption and a Memoir It is the intimate, personal acts of courage that most inspire me. My two greatest heroes are the biological mothers of my children. The choice they made to place their children for adoption was and is gloriously courageousand the ripple effect continues 17 years later. Reader Responses Maida Follini, Halifax, Nova Scotia After escaping slavery via the Underground Railroad, Harriet Tubman risked re-enslavement and death by returning to the South in at least 19 trips, to guide as many as 300 enslaved African Americans to freedom. She also guided African-American Union soldiers during the Combahee Ferry Raid, which freed more than 700 enslaved people. Nino Campana, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario That of the tank man protester in Tiananmen Square. The second-greatest act of courage was that of the driver who stopped the tank. Michael E. Zuller, Great Neck, N.Y. Neil Armstrongs first step onto the lunar surface, or perhaps his final step into the rocket ship that would take him there. Lucia Perri, Guthrie, Okla. Anita Hills Senate testimony. Her ordeal led to the 1992 Year of the Woman. Her courage inspired Christine Blasey Ford and the women of the #MeToo movement to speak truth to power. Sterling S. Haukom Anderson, Chicago, Ill. Malala Yousafzais standing up for the education rights of girls and women around the world after an assassination attempt and continued threats. Sarah Kersey, Denville, N.J. Colin Kaepernicks unwavering dedication to taking a knee during the playing of the national anthem, to the point of being blacklisted by the NFL. Graham Roumieu Michael Kristofik, Rhinebeck, N.Y. Stanislav Petrovs decision in September 1983 to do nothing in response to a nuclear-attack signal from the Russian radar likely averted a nuclear war. Ann McCluskey, South Burlington, Vt. The signers of the Declaration of Independence pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor to the cause of independence, and meant it. | https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/05/q-what-is-the-greatest-act-of-courage/586048/?utm_source=feed |
Whats up this week in Charlottes visual arts? | WHAT TO DO WHERE TO GO Attend the Modernism in the Mountains panel discussion April 18 at 6 p.m., hosted by the Charlotte Museum of History and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art. This discussion will focus on the history and importance of Black Mountain College, an unlikely refuge for artistic pioneers in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Although it was only open for 24 years, it continues to influence art, design, architecture and fashion. Panelists include John Boyer, president and CEO of the Bechtler; Siu Challons-Lipton, executive director of the Art, Design and Music Department at Queens University; Randy Shull, a contemporary artist and architect who designed and fabricated the Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center in Asheville; and Murray Whisnant, a modernist architect, artist and furniture designer. The panel will be moderated by Meg Freeman Whalen, director of communications and external relations for the College of Arts + Architecture at UNC Charlotte. The Charlotte Museum of History will announce the date of the 2019 Mad About Modern home tour at the conclusion of the event at the Knight Theater. Tickets are $25 and include admission to a reception at the Bechtler. Online registration is at charlottemuseum.org/events On April 19 from 6-9 p.m., visit Hot Glass Alley near NoDa for an open demonstration. The glass art atelier will have artists flame working on the torches, as well as artists blowing in the hot shop. This free event is open to all ages. Details: hotglassalley.com | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/entertainment/arts-culture/article229013384.html |
How Much Money Should Millennials Have Saved by Age 30? | Getty Crippling student loan debt, underemployment (if employed at all) and still living at home with mom and dad are key issues millennials must deal with today . It would seem that saving for retirement would be nearly impossible given those circumstances. That amount is well beyond what the average 50-year-old has saved, according to this GAO Study. The mean numbers are the average of all of the retirement assets of people within that age range. It takes many people with zero retirement savings to bring down the average from just a few billionaires or mere multi-millionaires. The median number is the middle number where half of the people have less than that amount and the other half have more. According to the survey, 50% of people aged 50-55 have less than $8,000 saved for retirement. If you ask the internet to tell you how much you should have saved by the time you reach 30, you will get a wide array of answers and often a specific dollar amount. However, the amount you should have saved, by any age, should be determined by how much you earn. That being said, you should strive to have saved at least one year of salary by the time you reach the age of 30. Hopefully, many of you reading this have saved more. Do not worry if you have saved less. To help put that in perspective, understand that the median salary for workers between the ages of 25 and 34 is about $40,000, per year. With that in mind, it would seem that the reported 16% of millennials who have saved $100,000 or more are ahead of the game. I would gather that a good number of those big savers were lucky enough to have above-average incomes. A larger salary does not mean you will save anything, but it can make it a bit easier. Before you say it is impossible to save $100,000 by the age 30, I want to throw out that I personally saved a year of salary before I was 30-years-old . Of course, there are exceptions to who should be focusing on this. For those still in school or a medical residency, your net worth is likely to be negative (after accounting for student loans). For those who started working right out of high school, you should shoot to be ahead of the one-year salary mark. If you are in your late 20s and just starting to save, set a goal of saving 10-20% of your salary each year. That should help you get on track for your financial goals before you know it. Do not beat yourself up if you have a substantial amount of student loan debt. I think it is reasonable at this age to count the money you are using to pay down your student loans as money saved. The same goes for credit card debt, assuming you are actually working to pay them down and not making the minimum monthly payment. Getty How to Get Started Saving in Your 20s, to be Wealthy in Your Thirties The best advice I can give is to make saving automatic. Whether you are putting money every month, or every paycheck, into a savings account; retirement account; or investment; make it automatic. You may be surprised when that automatically saved money goes unnoticed. It is easier and you do not have to think about it. Also, when it is automatic, the odds of you continuing to save go up exponentially. Let tax-advantaged accounts make the job a little easier. Consider putting money into a 401(k) or Traditional IRA. You will get a tax deduction for the money you invest, and depending on your income and where you live, that amount could reduce your tax bill by half. Additionally, if your employer matches retirement contributions, contribute! It is like free money. You put in one dollar and your employer will typically put in between 50 cents and one dollar, up to a specified percentage set by your employer. Missing employer contributions throughout your entire career could end up being a million-dollar mistake. While I am not a millennial, I am married to one. I also work with many who are looking to reach their personal financial goals like buying a home, taking a fabulous vacation and achieving financial freedom. Wherever you stand financially, the important thing is to start saving for your future. When I graduated college, a mentor helped me set up a Roth IRA where I made a monthly $25 contribution. That habit of saving monthly has served me and my family well over time. Dream big, work smart and get saving. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/04/11/millennials-turn-30/ |
Can she still be friends with her daughters ex-boyfriend? | Dear Carolyn Adapted from a recent online discussion. DEAR CAROLYN: My college-age daughter dated a very nice college-age guy for a year. He and I became close. His mother had died about a year before and I think I was a nurturing mom figure for him. They recently broke up and are trying to do the friend thing. He continues to text me about things he is doing, sharing successes, etc. It is never about the two of them. My daughter thinks I should be her mom and not his, and I need to cut him off. I dont think there is some absolute. Mom DEAR MOM: Tough one. On its face, it looks easy to compartmentalize: Your relationship with your daughter stays as-is, and you provide a little momming on the side on issues having nothing to do with her. Cozily ever after. Imagine one of his successes was at something your daughter expressed doubts about when they were together. Your mom knows I can do this you were wrong. And it could be much simpler his connection to you keeps alive a connection to her, and maybe hes not ready to let her go. Among other unhealthy possibilities This is why boundaries matter the subtle stuff. The hazards we tend to miss when we start looking for ways to serve our self-interests even though a little voice is trying to tell us not to. You like this guy! You like being supportive and you like being needed. But your daughter is telling you, quite possibly, that hanging on to that role is undercutting your primary mom role, in ways you cant fully see. Or undercutting his ability to get over her. Or both. Ask her. Think through what health and emotional consequences come with your right to pick my own friends. Re: Ex: When my daughter got divorced from a man who had a very unsupportive family, I continued to have a social-media relationship with him. At one point my daughter mentioned that a comment I made seemed a bit too much like he was still family and I backed way off. Because he is the past and my daughter is forever. He has moved on and created a new support system. Good all around. Ease Off, Mom Re: Ex: OMG. Please stop communicating with him. Please. My mom became besties with my first boyfriend. I would come home to find him and my mom hanging out. That was a little weird when we were dating, but grossly improper after we had broken up. She told me I was being selfish for asking her to give up a friendship. It only stopped when he moved overseas. You have to choose between your daughter and her ex. My mom chose my ex over me. Please, dont do that to your daughter. Anonymous | https://www.seattletimes.com/life/can-she-still-be-friends-with-her-daughters-ex-boyfriend/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
What are PM's Brexit options now that EU has granted extension? | Theresa May has until 31 October to get her deal through parliament - but the way forward remains unclear After the EU granted a Brexit extension until 31 October, or sooner if Theresa May can get a deal through the Commons before then, we look at the embattled prime ministers options. 1. Strike a pact with Jeremy Corbyn Labour says the government is engaging seriously in the negotiations, which were announced by the prime minister in a dramatic Downing Street statement after last weeks marathon cabinet meeting. But it is unclear whether leave-supporting cabinet ministers, or even the prime minister herself, are ready to stomach the compromises that would be required to win a majority in parliament. Our panel responds | Simon Jenkins and others Read more If the two sides could strike a deal though, they could agree a parliamentary timetable for ratification in theory at least, before the 22 May deadline for participation in European parliament elections. 2. Agree a plan for Commons votes with Labour May has said that if she cannot reach a Brexit deal with the opposition, she hopes to persuade them to sign up to some process of parliamentary votes, which both sides would then agree to abide by. But it is unclear whether a majority would emerge for any option even then: there was some discussion at the marathon seven-hour cabinet meeting about using some preferential voting system. But if a softer deal, with a customs union, did emerge on top, May could say, as she did with the request to delay Brexit, that the outcome wasnt her choice, but had been forced on her, and she would obey the will of parliament and enact it. 3. Bring her deal back to parliament again May continues to believe that her deal is better than any compromise agreement she is likely to strike with Labour and unlike such a deal, it has the backing of her cabinet. There had been rumours at Westminster that she could venture a fourth vote on her deal on Friday, in the hope that the unpalatable prospect of fighting European elections would tempt more colleagues to support it. The government has backed away from that idea, sending exhausted MPs off for an Easter break instead. But if the talks with Labour fail even to agree a process for finding a majority in parliament, she could still attempt to bring her deal back in some form, perhaps by tabling the withdrawal agreement bill. Or it could be laid down as one option in a process of indicative votes. 4. Call a general election When her deal was rejected by MPs for a third time last month, May appeared to hint that she would consider calling a general election to break the impasse at Westminster, telling MPs: I fear we are reaching the limits of this process in this house. She could still judge perhaps after another spring walking holiday like the one she took in 2017 that a general election could provide a way out. But cabinet was warned last week that the Tory party was ill-prepared to fight a general election and struggling in the polls. Moreover, CCHQ sources suggest the pool of prospective parliamentary candidates is just as divided on Brexit as the current crop of MPs, so even a solid majority wouldnt necessarily solve the conundrum. Under the fixed-term parliament act she could only call an election with the backing of two-thirds of MPs anyway; and many on her own side would view with dread the idea of once again boarding the Maybots strong and stable battle bus. 5. Call a referendum May believes her deal which would allow the government to control migration is closer to what Brexit voters want, than the alternatives. And ardent supporters of the remain cause have said they would be willing to vote for the prime ministers deal, if she would allow the public to ratify it, in a confirmatory referendum which of course they would then hope to use to overturn the result of the 2016 poll. The prime minister has never seemed the slightest bit tempted by that quid pro quo, even suggesting social cohesion could be threatened by another vote and shes hardly renowned as the worlds greatest campaigner. 6. Resign When May said before the last Brussels summit that as prime minister, she did not want to see Brexit delayed beyond 30 March, some MPs read it as a promise to resign, rather than accept a longer extension to article 50. She has now had to swallow her pride and accept a six-month delay; and was forced to offer to step down once Brexit is over, to win the support of Boris Johnson and others for her deal. He and a plethora of others have been jockeying for position ever since. Perhaps she might judge on this years walking break that enough is enough, and one of them should be given the chance to push Brexit over the line: but her resilience and staying-power are, of course, legendary. | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/11/what-are-pms-brexit-options-now-that-eu-has-granted-extension |
Why Might China Want to Steal These Silicon Secrets? | (Bloomberg Opinion) -- If you were compiling a shortlist of companies with the key building blocks for the next technological revolution, it would surely include ASML Holding NV. Thats why its particularly significant that the Dutch maker of semiconductor manufacturing equipment was the target of theft by a rival with alleged ties to the Chinese state, according to a report from Het Financieele Dagblad on Thursday. The Dutch newspaper said that ASML research and development employees in San Jose, California, passed internal documents over the course of several years to XTAL, a competitor whose parent receives state support. A U.S. court made XTAL pay $230 million in damages to ASML last year, but its links to the Chinese state werent clear at the time. ASML doesnt enjoy the name recognition of an Apple Inc., Intel Corp. or Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., but it is Europes second-biggest technology company by market capitalization. The worlds chipmakers buy its machines in order to manufacture the semiconductors that go into our smartphones, computers, cars and servers. ASMLs biggest customers are Intel and Samsung, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd., which makes iPhone chips for Apple. The Dutch company has one serious advantage over rivals Nikon Corp. and Canon Inc. its the only firm to have mastered next-generation extreme ultraviolet lithography. Lithography is the process by which circuit patterns are etched onto silicon wafers. The EUV process will allow the printing of circuits that are more than 10 times smaller than the current standard. The EUV machines cost more than 100 million euros ($113 million) apiece, and are starting to be delivered. The innovation could put off the day that Moores Law, which says that processing power doubles every 18 months, no longer holds true. Thats why the firms technology would be particularly attractive to China. The country aims to spend some $150 billion over a decade to assume a leading role in technology design and manufacturing as part of its Made in China 2025 push. Although it is a hub for electronics manufacturing, assembling iPhones, laptops, smart speakers and more, a lot of the crucial underlying technology is imported, including some $200 billion of annual semiconductor imports. China accounted for 17 percent of ASMLs 11 billion euros in sales last year. This production push got a lift from the U.S. Commerce Departments move last year to ban Chinese telecoms equipment maker ZTE Corp. from buying American-made components. Though the embargo attempt fell through, the threat such a prohibition would have posed to domestic output is a lesson that has been learned. If China wants to have a standalone semiconductor industry, then it also needs to gain proficiency in the equipment needed to make the chips. One reason it cant just buy this is that theres a limit to how many EUV machines ASML can produce: it expects to ship just 30 such systems in 2019, up from 18 last year. The same goes for other lithography equipment. Click here for a QuickTake on Chinas technology push Its unclear what important technology, if any, was stolen by XTAL, whose parent Dongfang Jingyuan has indirect links to Chinas Ministry of Science and Technology, according to the FD. The newspaper said the theft comprised Source codes, software, price strategies, and secret user manuals. A spokeswoman for ASML told Bloomberg News that There is no blueprint on the street where you can build a lithography machine. But if there was any doubt about how serious China is about silicon independence, the allegations about the ASML theft, if true, will surely dispel it. To contact the author of this story: Alex Webb at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jennifer Ryan at [email protected] This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Alex Webb is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Europe's technology, media and communications industries. He previously covered Apple and other technology companies for Bloomberg News in San Francisco. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion 2019 Bloomberg L.P. | https://news.yahoo.com/why-might-china-want-steal-113446399.html |
Are shopping malls making a comeback? | I remember with grainy Kodachrome fondness spending days on end in the local mall. It was the late 1980s, and the Paul-Blart-style mall cops were always trying to keep us teenagers and our rebellious feathered hair from loitering at what was then the Sheridan Mall in Pickering, Ont. There, we practised the lost art of food court courtship, which has been masterfully documented in teen flicks, notably Kevin Smiths indie film Mall Rats and the classic Clueless, both from 1995 and both of which have stood the test of time. The mall itself did not. Those halcyon predigital days preceded the retail apocalypse that has befallen the great North American indoor mall over the past decade. The failure of Sears alone left a yawning 15 million square feet of empty footprint, following in the sad footsteps of Eatons. Indeed, the site deadmalls.com is a vivid interactive visual chronicle of the American retail apocalypse: About a third of the malls in that country have already closed; another quarter is facing the chopping block. "A grade" shopping centre Bayview Village. ( Courtesy of Bayview Village ) But a resurgence is afoot. A grade shopping centres such as the GTAs Yorkdale and Bayview Village are attracting the 1-percenters with a pile-on of swanky designer storefronts. Well, coming soon to the newly renovated and rebranded Oakville Place is preppy stalwart L.L. Bean, the brands first bricks-and-mortar location in Canada. Because psychographics determined that the century-old American catalogue brand would be a good fit for the quality-loving, outdoorsy citizens of Oakville. To become attractive destinations again, mall operators have had to pivot, and hard. Theyre scrambling to change with the times and serve a generation that wants experiences, not just things, deploying fresh strategies to try to get people to return to the mall and, yes, to hang around with managements heartfelt blessing. They are bringing in grocery stores, gyms, restaurants, bars and cafs. Theyre sprucing up the washrooms, making the corridors brighter, wider and more welcoming, adding in seating and concierge services. And most notably, they are carving out community meeting spaces to try to keep those cars parking. (They are reconfiguring garages to make that easier, too.) A community needs a place to come together, says John Ballantyne, Senior VP of Asset Management at RioCan, the largest retail landlord in the country. At Burlington Centre we built in a dedicated space, called The Hub, for community groups to use. Thus far, they include an environmental group, an exhibition of the Burlington Fine Arts Association, the Royal Botanical Gardens and free mommy yoga classes. Instead of measuring productivity by the square foot, which works in the big malls, theyre focusing on how much time people spend there: Foot traffic is up 30 per cent since the November relaunch, Ballantyne says. Article Continued Below These amenities are part of a larger strategy to return the mall to its glory of the 80s and 90s. Thus we have The new community mall as coined by Ballantyne, who has been in the business for 25 years and weathered the retail storms. Two of RioCans properties west of Toronto Oakville Place and Burlington Centre are case studies of the new community-focused regional malls that are getting a second shot at life. Management did its homework and reversed their old strategy instead of asking tenants what they wanted, they polled the heck out of the community. So, while malls used to look like cookie-cutter replicas, today places like Burlington Centre reflect the people they serve. In this case, it is a family-centred community that wants to see some local entrepreneurs hairdressers, jewelry stores in the mix of national and international retailers. Malls are also trying to work with the internet to add an IRL dimension to the multi-channel universe. This means pop-up spaces to help brands with showrooming (for people to touch, feel and try goods, before purchasing them online) or its companion buzzword, webrooming (providing places to buy the items consumers have pre-researched online). Another major new move is to bring customers to the mall by building residential housing right on site. RioCan Living is adding (mostly rental) residences adjacent to 40 of its retail properties, priced from affordable to ultraluxury depending on the location, all of which are close to transit, including Yonge and Eglinton, Front and Spadina and College Street in Toronto. Cadillac Fairview and Oxford are also getting into the live-beside-the-mall game. Mixed use is indeed the hot concept in retail just take the recent launch of Hudson Yards in New York City. At 25 million square feet, the development is an entirely self-contained world: with housing, a hotel, a school, public space, public art and a million square feet of retail, it is a prototype of the mall of the future, on steroids. Sometimes, though, the new beds come at the expense of the actual mall. Which brings us to my own favourite Toronto mall, the Dupont Galleria at Dufferin and Dupont, soon to be erased completely in favour of a shiny new residential development from Peter Freed, the man who gave us the King West condo canyon. Thankfully, Toronto photographer and writer Shari Kasman has captured the wonder that it was with her book Galleria: The Mall That Time Forgot. The original Kickstarter print run sold out; a second, abridged version will be available at Kasmans related show of the work at Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival this coming May. It is a piece of the cultural puzzle that the corporate, psychographic-loving number crunchers need to see. What Kasman captured, shot as the Galleria slowly closed down since the Zellers left in 2012, is a slice of the city wrought in striking shades of circa-1972 snot green. In its prime, the Galleria was replete with dollar stores, 2-for-1 bargain racks, a Smokers Choice, holiday snake shows (! ), anachronistic dead stock such as rotary telephones, and a grab bag of international food treats. Most importantly, the space was used enthusiastically by the community: impromptu soccer screenings on folding chairs, the accordion player who serenaded diners and the dodgy-wonderful parking lot carnival. Article Continued Below What major mall owners should take away from Kasmans work is that humans want to congregate, no matter our budgets. We need places that are not homogenized, that reflect what is unique about our neighbourhoods. We all need places to distract our toddlers in the depths of winter, to stroll around, to flirt, to shop, to dream. There are no main streets anymore. For better or for worse, community malls are our town squares. Lets hope the new ones leave room for quirk and for loitering. | https://www.thestar.com/life/fashion_style/2019/04/10/are-shopping-malls-making-a-comeback.html |
Is Canada Goose Luxury Retail's Next Highflier? | ASSOCIATED PRESS Canada Goose, the high-end performance outerwear brand, just announced plans to open 6 new stores. The new locations--one each in Milan, Paris and Minnesota's Mall of America, along with three in Canada--will bring the fast growing luxury retailer's store count to 17 spanning three continents. While Rent the Runway, Stitch Fix, Glossier and other so-called digitally-native fashion brands generate the most press, in many respects Canada Goose is outpacing them. In recent years the company has been growing revenues more than 30% annually as it increases wholesale distribution and dramatically grows its direct-to-consumer (DTC) business (online and through owned-stores). Most impressive--and standing in stark contrast to the vast majority of current and hoped for "unicorns"--is that Canada Goose makes money. A lot of money. In the most recent quarter the Toronto-based company reported operating margins in excess of 30%; results which are likely to only improve as the company generates more scale economics and DTC becomes a greater portion of total sales. Canada Goose is a great illustration of a retailer delivering on being "memorable"--which is #7 in what I call my 8 Essentials of Remarkable Retail. Memorable brands create magic at the intersection of powerful customer relevancy and a truly wow experience. Like many of the best luxury brands, Canada Goose has an interesting and authentic origin story. But the real magic happens through their unique, highly differentiated product design combined with how the product is delivered in person. Canada Goose stores are far from boring. Their stores tell a compelling story, brought to life through beautiful imagery, dramatic product presentation and outstanding customer service. 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP While many retailers talk about being "experiential", much of what passes for interesting is often gimmicky . Canada Goose's "Cold Rooms" are anything but that. These innovative dressing rooms are essentially walk-in freezers where customers can try on the company's products in simulated weather conditions. So not only are they creating a remarkable experience in the most literal sense, they are delivering something intensely customer relevant and useful. Unsurprisingly, conversion rates have spiked in stores that have added Cold Rooms. 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP On a recent trip to Manhattan, I was a bit surprised to see a significant percentage of folks hustling to their midtown offices sporting all manner of outwear sporting the Canada Goose logo. While this highly unscientific market research should be taken with a grain of salt, it does underscore both the appeal and the risks inherent in Canada Goose's future. Clearly there are vast numbers of additional potential store locations. Moncler, probably the brand most analogous to Canada Goose, has nearly 300 worldwide. And robust growth in e-commerce is a lay up as the brand gains more distribution. It's also pretty easy to imagine significant upside from product extensions. At face value it would seem that robust sales and earnings growth are likely for many years to come. While Canada Goose delivers well designed products that work, it is also a highly logo driven and, some would say, over-priced fashion brand. Right now, in certain cities, it's become THE outerwear "badge brand." But we shouldn't forget that over the years the retail industry has seen plenty of brands that ascend to great heights on their "it" status only to crater when the cool kids and fashionistas move on the next new thing. Unfortunately, as far as I know, no one has built a reliable model to readily predict which high-flying brands will crash back to earth when trends change versus which will achieve and sustain true iconic status. While I certainly lack the gift of prophecy, I like Canada Goose's odds of becoming one of the great global luxury brands over the next decade. People buy the story before they buy the product and Canada Goose's is compelling and memorable: an authentic history, products that deliver, great customer service and a wow experience. And, at least so far, they have executed in a nearly flawless manner. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevendennis/2019/04/11/is-canada-goose-luxury-retails-next-highflier/ |
What Do The Changes To H-2B Visas Mean For Maryland Crabs? | Getty Crab picking is difficult, labor-intensive work. Anyone who's eaten a whole crab knows that they're spiky, unyielding, and getting the flesh out can be a bit of an ordeal. So the people who break crabs down for a living tend to be experts at it. And in the US, they tend to come from other places. Cameron Manesh of Cameron's Seafood, which sells Maryland crabs around the country via mail order, explains that "...it is a meticulous process, picking the meat perfectly around the shell without crushing or causing the chunks of meat or the 'lumps' to break... Although the work is tedious, employees can make pretty good money if their output is good. Most migrant workers make well over minimum wage after being trained, but generally, Americans just aren't willing to do this work for the pay." Seasonal workers from countries like Mexico have kept the industry afloat for years. But in 2018, Trump changed the rules around H-2B visas, and seriously threatened the famous Maryland crab business. H-2B visas allow employers to hire foreign workers temporarily, and by limiting access to them last year, the President made it extremely difficult for Marylanders to operate their seafood businesses. I asked Cameron about what he went through last year, and he said it was not easy: "Last year the prices for crab meat saw a substantial increase. Approximately one-third of the crab picking jobs in 2018 were never filled. Previously, those jobs were filled up by immigrant workers using the H-2B Visa program... the change is that [Trump made] the visa a lottery-based system instead of the first come first serve system. Meaning, workers that have been traveling [to Maryland] for years and years can no longer get visas they need." The video above was made by The Washington Post last year as this labor shortage began, and it expands on everything that Cameron mentioned. Up until this past Monday, it looked like little had changed. I interviewed Cameron a few weeks ago, and he was concerned about how "The cost of any of our products that use crab meat has increased anywhere from 20% to 70%," and hopes prices for his state's most beloved foodstuff will stabilize in 2019. Overnighting fresh crab across the country is already expensive enough, and rising costs are particularly inconvenient given that Cameron's is in the midst of launching a subscription box service a la Blue Apron or Sun Basket. Cameron's Seafood has also experienced 489% growth since starting its mail order arm last year, a remarkable trend that he would understandably like to keep going. On Monday, however, The New York Times reported that 30,000 new H-2B visas will be issued. Effective until September 3oth, these additional visas will be used in industries from landscaping to housekeeping to amusement parks. To receive an H-2B visa, an employer has to prove that American workers don't want the jobs being offered, and in its reporting, The Times rightly pointed out that releasing these visas in the midst of Trumpian "America First" rhetoric represents a bizarre disconnect on the part of this administration. That disconnect is especially jarring when one takes into account that Trump's own properties purportedly use these visas as well. America has a long history of utilizing (and sometimes exploiting) immigrant labor to build up its economy, but providing more of these visas while working to restrict new residents from moving here and becoming citizens certainly flies in the face of that idea. In the short term, this move will probably be helpful to labor-intensive industries throughout the country, but its longterm implications are troubling. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/lizzysaxe/2019/04/11/what-do-the-changes-to-h-2b-visas-mean-for-maryland-crabs/ |
Is Instagram's Upcoming Donation Sticker Just A Way To Lure Credit Card Numbers? | Santeri Viinamki (Wikipedia) Last February, Facebook announced that, later this year, it will release a donation sticker feature on Instagram, giving its users the possibility to support charitable organizations through Instagram Stories. The move is part of Facebook conglomerates increasing interest in philanthropy. If youre on Facebook, youve probably already came across a fundraiser from a friend, asking you to donate to a charitable cause. Or maybe, you set one up yourself for your birthday. This Charitable Giving feature on Facebook raised over $ 1 billion as of November 2018. It seems that Zuckerbergs plan is to transform his social media into the go-to virtual place for charitable donations. The endeavor appears nothing but noble and laudable. On Facebook, donors enjoy a smooth experience that allows them to donate to their favorite organizations in a matter of seconds and to share their philanthropic efforts with friends and followers. Moreover, Facebook does all of this for free, having abolished its transaction fee in November 2017. There are no reasons to suspect that Instagrams upcoming donation sticker will be anything but another sleek and convenient feature of the Facebook family. However, over the years, we have learned that when Facebook says its free, it might mean youre paying in currencies different than a direct monetary transaction. Again, there are no reasons to suspect that it will be any different when it comes to Instagrams new donation sticker. Getty To explain my point, lets look at the bigger picture and consider the general direction Instagram is going towards. Last March, the social network rolled out a new feature called Checkout, which enables users to buy directly from select brands on the platform. Users can shop for items on their favorite brands Instagram profiles and head to an in-app payment screen to order them, paying with the credit card information they have stored on the platform. The aim is evidently to transform Instagram into an e-commerce app, adding another revenue stream next to the ad dollars. Soon after Facebook announced the Checkout on Instagram feature, Deutsche Bank wrote a note to investors highlighting how the move could enable an incremental $10 billion of revenue in 2021. Wondering whether the average user would be willing to hand payment data to Instagram, the Deutsche bank memo concluded that many people already use Facebook for charitable donations through the apps giving tools, and might be willing to extend that to shopping. Pixabay From this perspective, the upcoming Instagram donation sticker would certainly facilitate the acquisition of users credit card information. After all, youre much more inclined to give up your payment data if a trusted friend asks you to support a human rights organization rather than if you have to buy the umpteenth pair of sneakers from a large, anonymous corporation. But, of course, once your credit card number is stored in the app that alluring pair of sneakers becomes literally just a click away... In a way, it seems that Facebook will use philanthropy as a lubricant oil to ease its transition from a social media platform to an e-commerce one. Im not saying that this is THE reason Instagram is adding a donation sticker to its deck (they also just like to monopolize your digital life) or that the donations made through it will be tainted. This is just an invitation to reflect on the way social media are reshaping the world of philanthropy and whether we like it or not. Full disclosure: one of the reasons I've been thinking about this is that also Kinder, the startup I work for, is trying to build some digital tools to make donations to charities more convenient and rewarding. Obviously, we don't have Facebook's firepower so I hope that Facebook's donation tools will continue raising generous amounts of money. It's just that they're also part of the company's bigger expansion plans. Since philanthropy really is a noble undertaking, it would just be better if the donation tools were clearly separated from Facebooks more commercial functionalities. But Instagrams donation sticker has yet to be implemented on the platform, so theres still plenty of time to fully remedy the situation. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidebanis/2019/04/11/is-instagrams-upcoming-donation-sticker-just-a-way-to-lure-credit-card-numbers/ |
When Should I Buy My First Rental Property? | Getty Many people hear about how real estate investors have a good chunk of passive income coming in from their rental portfolio each month and think thats the way to be successful. But its not quite as simple as it sounds. Rental properties provide a long-term approach to wealth. You dont get a lump check like you would when you close on a wholesale or fix-and-flip deal; instead, youre earning small amounts of money each month. If you have a mortgage on the property, youre likely only receiving a couple hundred bucks each month from a rental property, while the rest of the rent you receive is paying down the mortgage and paying for insurance, property taxes and property management fees, if applicable. Once theyre paid off, your passive income per rental will jump drastically, but this is years down the road for most of us. That makes it difficult for most people to become successful real estate investors by only holding rental properties or when starting out, hoping to build a robust rental portfolio. Financing for a rental property will require 20% down, which is a roadblock for many real estate investors who have plans to acquire multiple rental properties as their business strategy. Its a cash-heavy investment and unless you buy the property extremely discounted, your monthly profit on a home isnt going to be much. Not to mention, having just one or two rental properties can be a pain its a small enough portfolio that investors usually try to manage it on their own, which means being on call 24/7 as a landlord. Raise your hand if you want to deal with toilets, termites and tenants. Its also risky because of vacancies. Consider a scenario where you had 50 rental properties and one of them was vacant for four months. The income being generated from the other 49 properties would provide a cushion so you dont feel the impact of not receiving that rent payment. Now consider a scenario where you had three rental properties. Having a single property vacant (and likely needing repairs) for four months could mean a big impact on your profits, and you might even be negative for a few months. This is why smart real estate investors are selective about when to add a rental to their portfolio. When youre just starting out, wholesaling is an easy way to quickly turn leads into deals so you have cash in hand. With wholesaling, you negotiate with motivated sellers to get a house under contract at a discounted price and then resell your rights to the contract for a higher price. Your profit is the difference between your contracted price and the end buyer's purchase price. The beauty of wholesaling is that it doesnt require any money for closing on the contracted properties because your end buyer covers the purchase price and your assignment fee. The key to making a wholesale transaction work is to offer enough money to the seller that theyre comfortable with the contract price, while allowing enough room to add your fee while still providing profit margin for the end buyer. A typical buyer of wholesale deals is looking to rehab for profit or buy for a long-term rental. Through wholesaling, youll be able to increase your marketing budget with each deal and your business will start growing, which in turn allows for more opportunities. I recommend not starting with a major fix-and-flip deal, because those tend to be riskier and involve more holding costs when compared to a wholesale deal. If you accidentally miss a foundation or roofing issue, it could cost you thousands of dollars out of your potential profit. Once you get comfortable with wholesaling, you can start analyzing the deal itself and decide what type of flip project makes sense for the individual scenario. Think about being near good schools if it is big enough for a family. Asking yourself these questions can help you evaluate your options. If most properties being sold on the MLS are fully rehabbed and you could make a good chunk of change, it might be the right property to fix and flip. If it doesnt need much work, is in a desirable area, has a desirable square footage for that area and you can get it discounted enough, it might make for a good rental property. Keep in mind that most rental properties dont need to be fixed up with a total remodel. Tenants dont care as much what type of countertops are in the house because they dont typically plan to stay there long-term. They need the property to be functional, clean and safe. Once you get into purchasing rental properties, set for yourself a goal of how many you want to own and decide who you want managing them. Most investors dont have the desire to be a property manager, but in the beginning, it might make sense for you to handle those tasks yourself. When the market takes a downturn is when some of the most successful real estate investors have piled up their rental portfolio. They were able to buy houses for pennies on the dollar and quickly pay them off (if they didnt pay cash upfront for them) and the majority of their rent collected each month is pure profit. Think about buying a home worth $200,000 in todays market for $30,000 back in 2008. We can estimate the 2008 rent at about $800 per month and nowadays, it could rent for $2,200 per month. It might have taken a few years to pay off the mortgage, but for some time now, that property has been a cash cow, because a good chunk of that $2,200 per month (once you take out maintenance, insurance, property management fees, property taxes, etc.) is profit. While investing in real estate can be an extremely lucrative path, dont rush into buying rental properties. Build up your confidence and experience in real estate investing by starting out in wholesaling, and when the time comes, youll be ready for your first rental property. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/04/11/when-should-i-buy-my-first-rental-property/ |
Is Brexit really challenging the U.K. property market? | Adobe Stock Brexit impasse continues to challenge the market, reads the latest RICS report. Dj vu. Its been a familiar headline, practically since the referendum results were announced back in 2016. And in fairness, the sentence does have some truth. Political uncertainty seems to have slightly tempered the activity of buyers and sellers: on the one hand, some sellers have been holding back, hoping to achieve a higher price post-Brexit. On the other hand, buyers have also been a little reluctant to purchase, nervous of prices dropping in the event of a no-deal. But to put the blame for the challenging property market entirely, or even mostly, on Brexit, seems to be a little excessive. There are two points to make here. The first is that the challenging market doesnt have as much to do with Brexit as people might think. Issues in the sales market stretch right back to the 2008 crash and transaction havent picked up dramatically in the decade since. In part, this slowdown comes as a result of new taxes, with significant increases in overall stamp duty, especially for foreign buyers. In large part, it also relates to economic conditions and personal finances. Affordability remains low, particularly in the capital. The average house price in London is a breath-taking 619,000 almost three times what you might expect to pay in the East Midlands. House prices in the capital outstrip average earnings by 13 times, compared to seven times in England and Wales as a whole. Unsurprisingly, the number of young people owning a home in England has fallen, and up to a third of generation rent face a lifetime of renting. Much of this owes to issues of supply, with housebuilding lagging year after year behind the governments own recommended benchmarks. The second point to make is that the market really isnt as troubled as many commentators seem to suggest. In the sales market, while activity in the south of England has slowed, price growth remains relatively high elsewhere, particularly in the North and Midlands. Higher affordability in these regions, and in cities like Birmingham and Manchester, has attracted the attention of foreign investors and students, first-time buyers, and Londoners relocating. Prices rose in Manchester, for example, more than anywhere else in the U.K. last year increasing 6.6%. Brexit impact Its easy to incorrectly analyse the decline in buyer appetite outlined in todays RICS report. Brexit is, of course, having an impact, but nevertheless, buyers from all backgrounds from foreign buyers to first time buyers are continuing to snap up UK property, particularly in Northern cities like Manchester. Brexit or no Brexit, the property world will keep spinning. People still have a requirement to move whether that is finding a bigger home for growing families, downsizing in older age or buying their first home. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/garybarker/2019/04/11/is-brexit-really-challenging-the-u-k-property-market/ |
Which Segment Will Push 3M's Growth Through 2020? | 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP Trefis estimates growth in the Industrial segments revenue will push 3Ms (NYSE: MMM) total revenue to nearly $34 billion in 2019 and around $35 billion by 2020. The company posted revenue of $32.8 billion in 2018. In addition, here is more Industrials data. Trefis Total Revenue: The company has seen a constant growth in Total Revenue over the past years. The revenue has increased from $30.1 billion in 2016 to $32.8 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the growth will start stabilizing and the company will post Total revenue of around $34 billion in 2019 and about $35 billion in 2020. Industrial Revenues: Industrial Revenues has been the highest contributor to Total Revenue over the years. The revenue has increased from $10.1 billion in 2016 to $11.4 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the segment to have steady growth as the global economy shows positive signs and post revenue of approximately $11.8 billion and $12.1 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Health Care Revenues: Health care Revenues has seen fluctuating growth over the years. The revenue has increased from $5.4 billion in 2016 to $5.6 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the segment to have steady growth on the back of pricing in the near term and to post revenue of approximately $5.74 billion and $5.9 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Safety and Graphics Revenues: Safety and Graphics Revenues has seen high growth over the years. The revenue has increased from $5.5 billion in 2016 to $6.3 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the segment to have steady growth mainly due to better pricing in the near term and post revenue of approximately $6.6 billion and $6.8 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Consumer Revenues: Consumer Revenues has seen fluctuating growth over the years. The revenue has increased from $4.38 billion in 2016 to $4.44 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the segment to have steady growth and post revenue of approximately $4.66 billion and $4.72 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Electronics & Energy Revenues: Electronics & Energy Revenues has seen constant growth over the years. The revenue has increased from $4.7 billion in 2016 to $5.1 billion in 2018. Trefis estimates the segment to continue its growth and post revenue of approximately $5.2 billion and $5.4 billion in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/04/11/which-segment-will-push-3ms-growth-through-2020/ |
Why Is Easter So Late This Year? | If you judge based on the calendar most people use these days, Easter sometimes happens earlier or later than usual. Easter in 2019 falls on April 21, which is on the later side. But, according to the religious calendar by which its date is determined, it always happens just on time. That difference is the product of centuries of evolution of the church calendar. Easter, the day on which Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a moveable feast, meaning it takes place on different days on the calendar. Same goes for the holidays preceding it, like Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday and Good Friday. Its been that way since the early Christian Church at the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. established that Easters date would be the first Sunday after the first full Moon that takes place on or after March 21, the first day of spring, a date designated in that same decree. But because the lunar calendar isnt in sync with the Gregorian calendar introduced by Pope Gregory in 1582 the date of that full moon varies, and so, Easters date varies too, falling on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. One thing that has remained consistent is that the Eastern Orthodox church always celebrates Easter after Roman Catholics and Protestants do, because it follows the solar Julian calendar, which is 13 days ahead (and named after Julius Caesar, who adopted it in 45 BC). History Newsletter Stay on top of the history behind todays news. View Sample Sign Up Now At one point in the 1920s, the three churches considered agreeing to a fixed date for Easter. Businesses jumped on board immediately because that would make it easier for them to plan their sales. TIME described how the moveable feast impacts their industry in the Feb. 1, 1926, issue: This inconstancy of Eastertide has irritated money-grubbing merchants, who long have surreptitiously, indirectly exported the spirited, springtime surge of joy, light and purity felt by celebrants. People have stepped from decorating their altars to decking their bodies, until the Easter Sunday parade of fashionables and fops gets more notice in the lay press than does the sanctity of the holiday. This display of clothes and flowers and jewels and carriages, wily merchandisers have gloated over. None the less they have peered with squinted eye at the fluctuating date of the festival, even as they touted a robe as hot from N York, lady, or new from Paris, madame. Last week the Manhattan Merchants Association stepped into the clear; advocated a constant Easter; stated in a bulletin that the second Sunday in April will be the date it believes will be adopted; said further: A late Easter often proves disastrous to sellers of many lines of merchandise because it shortens the spring season, thereby reducing the volume of business, while the lengthened winter season is of little benefit. With the adoption of a fixed date, all such difficulties will disappear. Though that attempt didnt take, discussions over whether to establish a fixed date for Easter have continued. In 2015, Pope Francis said he was open to the idea of establishing a fixed date for Easter, and in 2016, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the churches were considering the second or third Sunday of April at some point in the next five to 10 years. Write to Olivia B. Waxman at [email protected]. | http://time.com/5562990/why-is-easter-so-late/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+time%2Ftopstories+%28TIME%3A+Top+Stories%29 |
What's the status of Detroit Pistons' Blake Griffin (knee) entering playoffs? | CLOSE Detroit Pistons' Andre Drummond, Luke Kennard and Dwane Casey speak to the media after clinching a playoff spot on April 10, 2019. Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press NEW YORK While the Detroit Pistons were closing out the regular season with an expected victory, their best player was on the bench in street clothes. All-Star Blake Griffin was a mere spectator for the Pistons 115-89 victory over the New York Knicks to go into the playoffs on a high note, winning two straight to conclude the regular season. The Pistons (41-41) have a non-losing record for only the second time 11 seasons and have reached the postseason for the first time since a four-game sweep in the 2016 first round against the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons face a tall order when the playoffs begin this weekend in the Eastern Conference No. 1 seed Milwaukee Bucks (60-22), who earned the best record in the NBA. Game 1 is 7 p.m. Sunday on TNT, so Griffin has four days to recover. Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (23) and Detroit Pistons guard Jose Calderon (81) looks on against the New York Knicks during the first half at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. (Photo: Adam Hunger, USA TODAY Sports) The order will be even tougher without Griffin, who missed four of the last seven games with a sore left knee, including the season finale. More: Pistons playoff tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Friday Well see, first-year Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. Theres always uncertainty, but these few days off will help. Well see where he is at that time. After several injury marred seasons, Griffin has put in the best season of his career at 30. Hes remade his game from being a high-flyer dunker to a more all-around game where he leads the team in made 3-pointers. Blake Griffin had the Lakers' defense fooled pic.twitter.com/fl6MZ24kdj SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 15, 2019 Hes played in 75 games, the most hes played since the 2013-14 season. But he tweaked his left knee at the end of the season, and he took himself out of the lineup after warmups before the Pistons 99-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on March 30. He missed the next two games before returning to score 45 points at Oklahoma City in a road loss Friday night. But he struggled mightily the next two games, culminating in only five points in 18 minutes in Tuesday nights 100-93 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies in the regular-season home finale. The decision was made to sit out the regular-season finale in a game that could have been needed for a playoff spot. The outcome became moot when Charlotte lost to Orlando, but now the Pistons face the prospect of heading into the playoffs without their best player. Its not bittersweet, Pistons owner Tom Gores said. Its a little bit off the course, but theres more appreciation because Blake has carried us the whole year. I know hes in pain sitting on the bench, not being able to participate. You cant have a better competitor than Blake Griffin. Hes really helped establish ourselves this year so Im very proud of him both as a team member and a member of the Pistons. Thon Maker has started in place of Griffin with uneven results. Lightly used Glenn Robinson III will likely be used as he appears to be ahead of the highly paid Jon Leuer as an option. I think the guys that do come in play Thon and Glenn are coming in being prepared to play, Pistons center Andre Drummond said. They know where to be on the court to be efficient and I think well be fine. Having Blake back would be great, but if he doesnt come back, I think we still have the guys to make noise. Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter. | https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nba/pistons/2019/04/11/detroit-pistons-blake-griffin-nba-playoffs/3432592002/ |
What does a Brexit delay mean for politics, business and citizens? | In the short term, the party is prepared to continue talks with Theresa May to try to see whether a compromise can be found on the future relationship that both sides can support. Two key problems threaten the prospect of success the prime ministers almost non-existent authority and whether it is ultimately ever going to be in Labours interests to do a deal with the Tories. Senior Labour figures simply do not trust that whatever is offered by May or her de-facto deputy, David Lidington, will have the support of the cabinet or that they will not simply be unpicked by a future leader. Internally, the six-month extension to article 50 complicates matters. There is no urgency to avoid no deal and come to a Brexit agreement. Labour MPs who had been thinking about finally voting for Mays deal are even less likely to do so now. Brexit: May faces Tory call to resign as she addresses MPs about delay until October live news Read more Supporters of a second referendum will feel emboldened to push the party towards backing legislation to allow a fresh poll during extension period. Even sceptics like the shadow justice secretary, Richard Burgon, began to sound on Thursday morning like they felt there was no other option left. Labour could well capitalise on general dissatisfaction with the Conservatives and May in the local elections next month and later in the EU elections. The most pressing matter the majority of Tory MPs is the removal of the prime minister. Even the softest Tories believe Mays authority and can-kicking skills have come to the end of the road. Yet even cabinet ministers admit there is nothing they can technically do to remove the prime minister before December, when the party can again bring a confidence vote to force May out. This is also believed to have been a factor in the 31 October extension date offered by the EU. There are other options for dissatisfied Conservatives. Some will continue to oppose Mays deal, or even go on a parliamentary strike.There is little to no prospect of any Tory MP campaigning seriously in the next months European parliamentary elections. The one event that could cause the most serious rupture is if May was to agree to Labours demand for a customs union. The anger at that move would be far more intense than the agreement to extend article 50 and could trigger a much bigger cabinet walkout. It could even prompt Tories to vote with Labour in a no confidence vote brought by the latter. Mostly, the sense of fatigue in the party is overwhelming. With no crunch votes, summits or cliff edges on the horizon, many Tory MPs are likely to just want to get away from Westminster. Recent history suggests that does not always lead to cool heads when MPs return. That was the calculation May made when she cancelled the first Brexit vote before the Christmas recess, but MPs returned still determined to vote her deal down. Experts say mounting one before 31 October would be a challenge but possible. The basic requirements would be fresh legislation, testing of the question by the Electoral Commission and a 10-week campaign period. It recommends: Legislation be in place six months before a referendum to ensure campaigners and electoral administrators have time to prepare. If the first hurdle that is primary legislation is cleared, then the testing of the intelligibility of the referendum question can take up to 12 weeks. Once the question was agreed the Electoral Commission would then designate lead campaigners to both sides, adding more time to the process, before a 10-week campaign period. Meg Russell, of the Constitution Unit at University College London, said the process could be shortened if the question-testing took place in parallel with the legislative process. But there are other hurdles. The question [of] can we get a referendum by October 31 and be within the process depends on the question. If its remain [in the EU] or [Mays] deal as is, then in order to make the deal legal, we would have to wait for the withdrawal bill to be passed, said Russell. The Peoples Vote campaigners have pointed out that the EU would be minded to extend article 50 further if a referendum was already in play and more time was needed. The Brexit delay prolongs the sense of limbo for EU citizens in the UK and British nationals in the rest of Europe. The campaign groups the3million and British in Europe said the flextension meant the crippling legal uncertainty over residency, employment and social rights would continue. In the UK, 400,000 EU citizens have already applied for settled status but this does not secure all the rights enjoyed under EU freedom movement laws. The government wants the remaining 3.4 million to apply by end the end of December 2020 if there is a no-deal Brexit, or by June 2021 if there is a deal. British nationals in the EU face a more uncertain future and have frequently said they feel abandoned and bargaining chips. Brussels made it clear that the European commission did not have the authority to ringfence their rights across the EU after the Conservative MP Alberto Costa won a cross-party victory in February for the government to seek a joint commitment on securing their rights and those of EU citizens in the UK. Social rights such as reciprocal healthcare centre which allow retired British nationals in the EU depend on bilateral agreements but these cannot be struck unless the UK leaves. Maike Bohn, the co-founder of the3million, said: The bit of Brexit that affects 5 million real peoples lives on day one were agreed between the UK and EU in December 2017. Over the past three years, businesses in Britain have planned for the worst and hoped for the best over Brexit. With the delay, the story remains the same. Britain will neither fall into the two-year recession forecast by the International Monetary Fund, nor will it benefit from the deal dividend promised by the chancellor, Philip Hammond. Delay is seen as the least worst option. Hammond has a particular headache. The Treasury is preparing for a spending review this summer, with the aim of ending austerity. That task will be complicated by the continuing uncertainty over the economy. Economists believe growth is likely to trundle along at the current subdued levels roughly 0.3% a quarter with downside risks as the global economy slows. The Bank of England is almost certain to keep any changes in interest rates on hold for longer. Businesses face a particular dilemma: run down their stockpiles, built to record levels in recent months, and then ramp them up again before the autumn; or retain their scope for dealing with disruption. Both come with a hefty price tag. Make UK, a manufacturing lobby group, has said some small businesses will be driven to the wall. Companies say they will refrain from investing, given the uncertainty and the chances of fresh political upheaval from a snap election laying the ground for weaker economic growth in future. | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/11/what-does-the-brexit-delay-mean-for-politics-business-and-citizens |
What if Brexit were revoked? | Image copyright Getty Images Nearly six more months to reach the end of the beginning of Brexit. That's six months of can-kicking-down-road opportunities. It gives us the summer months to puzzle over the constitutional contradiction of a prime minister who agrees to be forced from office if she successfully gets her deal through, but won't leave if she fails. The message from business is fairly uniform: Phew! Now get your act together, politicians. We don't want to be in this position in October, and the damage is already being done. Through much of the Brexit saga, business has been politely respectful of the democratic process. Scary Halloween Partly, it's because of the misplaced expectation, also to be found elsewhere at home and abroad, that Britain would return to its characteristic pragmatism and flexibility and something sensible would be worked out in the end. For many in business, the mindset is about seeking out opportunities, whatever the political context. They don't want to alienate customers by taking sides on a highly divisive issue. And business thinks in terms of keeping doors open to the corridors of power. But getting access to power doesn't count for much when most who have worked with Theresa May say that she is unyielding in her views, and gives you little sense of whether she understands what you're trying to say. Image copyright Getty Images So the business lobbies' polite respect for democracy has reached its limits, when the process is mired in crisis; a prime minister whose cabinet is openly split, and who cannot get her key policy through the House of Commons, who is protected by the combination of a further eight-month ban on internal party challenges, her party's fear of precipitating a general election and the lack of appetite for a leadership contest for now. Meanwhile, she remains resolutely stuck on getting her deal approved. To this, add a national election for MEPs, for which no-one was prepared, for which Conservative and Labour parties have neither clear nor unifying messages, motivated activists, campaign funds or even candidates selected. It's a political environment in which populist voices can run riot. Hence, the messaging from business lobbies on the morning after the summit night before is a loud reminder that nothing has been resolved. Exactly the same problems persist, and unless something is done to resolve the crisis, we'll reach the new Halloween departure date, and be back on the same scary 'no deal' cliff-edge. Emboldened by the damage already being done to businesses - investment stalled, contracts delayed, some jobs lost (though not many, it seems) - the business lobby groups are talking about revoking Article 50 or about another referendum. Ironic lady So, to venture into constitutional politics, let's look at those options. Those who oppose remaining in the European Union, following the 2016 referendum result, talk darkly of forces being unleashed that the ruling class won't like. There is implicit, and apparently genuine fear of the mob. Either it is seen storming down Whitehall to the House of Commons, wielding pitchforks or worse, or it will show its anger at the ballot box, turning to populists and demagogues who wield simplistic or extreme solutions. The message: 'if you thought that red bus with the NHS slogan was bad, you ain't seen nothin' yet.' (Let's assume that those who want another referendum also want it to result in a 'Remain' majority - though don't forget that many who would prefer to remain are unpersuaded of the referendum option, as they fear it could repeat 'Leave', or be as close and divisive as 2016.) I was at Westminster last month on the same day of the vast march calling for another referendum. It struck me that marchers were from a narrow range of Remain stereotypes - notably ageing liberals and students. I wasn't seeing much evidence of people marching to complain that they had been misled into voting Leave and wanted a chance to vote the opposite way. That's what the polls also tell us. What I also noted was that the message was a narrow one. Understandably, it focussed on the spectacular burach that Theresa May and her government have made of the Brexit process. If judging a march by its placards, this is focussed on the personalities of Tory politicians, sometimes abusively, with a large dose of British irony. In answer to Theresa May's version of the Iron Lady, this was the ironic lady. The easy, unifying message for Remainers is that Leavers got us into this mess, and seem incapable of finding a way out, so - as the main slogan goes - let the people decide. I wasn't seeing banners or hearing slogans with which to win the argument decisively, or at all. I could see many European flags, of course. The TV broadcasts from Westminster's College Green are festooned with the blue and stars. During 45 years of membership, these were rarely waved with any pride by British people. Image copyright Getty Images Now a rallying standard, the EU flag seems more likely to be a turn-off or a provocation than an appeal to those who may be wavering in the centre ground on this debate. Somehow, the pro-Europe side of the debate needs to make EU membership the patriotic thing to do for Union Flag wavers, and Saltires in Scotland, with a message aimed at the centre ground of persuadables - the message that the David Cameron campaign failed to articulate in 2016. That would have to counter Brexiteers' simple arguments that Britain lacks control of its destiny while part of the European Union. Counter factual It would have to explain why it sees European membership as being in Britain's interests, without mind-numbing references to co-decision between Parliament and Council, using the Qualified Majority Voting system. "You're better off in Europe" might work, but it doesn't feel that way to many voters who are not feeling better off. They tend not to trust an economist bearing a counter-factual. They're feeling a squeeze on household budgets over the past decade and they're feeling peeved off. Perhaps it needs broken down, in tribute to that Life of Brian discussion of "what the Romans have ever done for us"; olive oil, a plentiful choice of cheese, no more roaming charges, cheap flights and pet passports. (It's quite a middle class list!) Being part of Europe has brought jobs. Image copyright Getty Images And when in Rome... ordering a pizza, you can be reassured there's a minimum standard for food safety, worker protection for restaurant staff, mutual respect of legal rights and contracts, (getting a bit wonkish already, you see?) and the right to stay, work and invest there if you fancy opening your own pizzeria. Given another referendum, Remainers could look to a greater public understanding of the benefits brought to Britain by immigration. People are much clearer now how much business, including agriculture, and the NHS, rely on staffing from across the EU. But that doesn't mean hostility to immigration, or simply concern about it, has gone away. It still has to be addressed. It can still be ruthlessly exploited. OK, so it didn't work well for Neville Chamberlain. But it is perhaps the greatest historical achievement of the EU. It has lost traction with younger generations, across Europe, who take the continent's peace for granted. Flag flying On the subject of the views across Europe, there's another side to this, to be found on the other side of the EU table. For now, the leaders of the EU 27 are willing to let Britain remain. They don't want to be seen to be kicking Britain out. But patience has, understandably, been wearing thin. Particularly in France, Emmanuel Macron is voicing frustration about Britain continuing to disrupt the rest of the Union. He has a difficult European Parliament election to fight. Nigel Farage on the rampage wouldn't help, less still a Tory MP with the unlikely name of Mark Francois. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Emmanuel Macron has voiced frustration about Britain continuing to disrupt the rest of the Union A continental take on the late-night discussions over Brexit is that the most significant element was the disagreement between France and Germany. Brexit strains are telling on the Paris-Berlin motor that has long powered the EU project. If Britain were to find a way to reverse the Brexit decision - through revocation or a referendum - the UK can expect to retain its special deals: the budget rebate, and on being allowed to remain outside the euro currency and of the Schengen-free travel area. Equal status But a renewed membership of the EU club would come with expectations that Britain properly and permanently commits - if not to the full-blooded project of "an ever closer union", at least to playing a constructive role in future developments. Don't hold your breath for this, but its political leaders could be expected by others to better explain and support decisions of the Council of Ministers and the European Court of Justice. For Britain to be a settled member, it would need a political discourse, to be found in many European countries and also in Scotland, which combines two or more political identities, and which accepts that membership of the club is compatible with sovereignty, that national interest lies in being within the club, and its compromises are necessary to pursue combined national and collective interests. Symbolically, a Britain remaining in Europe would have to fly the flags with equal status. Outside Holyrood since the Parliament building was opened, the three flags of Scotland, the UK and Europe have flown at the same height. Even among those who support Britain having a place in Europe, we seem a long way from accepting multiple identities in the official flags which fly above the Houses of Parliament. But for the settled will of the British people to be within Europe, that is a symbolic representation of what would be needed. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-47891360 |
Which Hospital Will Meghan Markle Birth the Royal Baby? | When Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, gives birth later this spring, the public might not learn the details of the royal babys birth right away. Kensington Palace announced on Thursday that Meghan Markle and Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will keep the birth plans private. One thing that the public certainly wont learn until Meghan and Prince Harry have the royal baby is the hospital they chose. Lets step back and look at the history. Princess Anne, Princess Diana and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, all had their royal babies at the Lindo Wing in Paddington, which is a close drive from Kensington Palace. But according to Katie Nicholl, Vanity Fair royal correspondent and the author of Harry and Meghan: Life, Loss, and Love, its very likely that the couple may even choose a home birth for the royal baby. However, its also been widely reported that the Duchess of Sussex will choose Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey, which is much closer in proximity to the couples new home, Frogmore Cottage, in Windsor. But that may not be so surprising, according to Victoria Arbiter, a royal expert and commentator for CNN. When Princess Diana and Kate Middleton had their children in the Lindo Wing, they were only a short drive away. Harry and Meghan are now in Windsor, and for anyone about to have their first baby, I would think they would want to have the shortest drive possible, Arbiter says. So it actually makes sense for a number of reasons. It wouldnt even be a break from tradition either: Three royal babies have already been born outside of Lindo in recent years. Two royal babies have been born at Frimley, and Sarah Ferguson gave birth to Princess Beatrice at the Portland Hospital for Women and Children in London. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex who is married to Queen Elizabeths youngest son, Prince Edward gave birth at Frimley Park Hospital in 2003. Her daughter Louise was born one month prematurely, and the royal family was grateful to the staff at Frimley for making sure the Countess had a healthy and safe birth. For her second child, James, in 2007, the royals went back to Frimley. Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Sophie Rhys-Jones, Countess of Wessex with their new baby boy at Frimley Park Hospital on December 20, 2007 in Frimley, England. Ben StansallGetty Images Sophie returned to the hospital in 2014 and showed how much the staff and their work meant to her. The service you provide is paramount and can literally make the difference between life and death, I can attest to that, Sophie told members of Frimleys staff during the visit, the Telegraph reported. Clearly, the hospital is equipped with dealing with royal births, Nicholl told TIME in an email. Though some royal mothers have often chosen the same hospitals, Arbiter says, its not really about tradition. Its more about personal choice and which hospital best suits your particular birth plan. And, if Meghan chooses to have a home birth at Frogmore, that would actually adhere to royal tradition rather than break it. Royal women for centuries had their babies at home, Arbiter says. A comparison between Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge carrying her newborn son on April 23, 2018, and Diana, Princess of Wales carrying her newborn son Prince Harry (R), on September 17, 1984, both leaving the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital. Anwar HusseinWireImage Since the birth game-plan is to be kept private, as the palace said, we also cant expect a post-birth public photograph of both Meghan and the baby after she welcomes her new child. Princess Diana and the Duchess of Cambridge both took the same picture outside Lindo Wing, so Arbiter says some people may be disappointed and miss that with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Royal watchers will still, however, be privy to a small photo opportunity set to take place a few days after the birth, People reports. But one thing the public is going to have to get used to, Arbiter says, is giving the couple some privacy with their new baby. Harry and Meghan are very keen to maintain the privacy of their child and also to sort of set the boundaries on what is acceptable and whats not, she says. And we have to respect any new mothers choices in that regard. Write to Rachel E. Greenspan at [email protected]. | http://time.com/5566675/meghan-markle-frimley-hospital/ |
How Many Masters Has Tiger Woods Won? | Tiger Woods will return to Augusta for The Masters this week. Woods won his first Masters at the age of 21 in 1997. Since that first victory, he added another three wins to his total to tie Arnold Palmer for the second-most wins. Jack Nicklaus leads the Green Jacket count with six wins at Augusta. Woods' Past Wins: 1997 At 21 years old, Woods captured his first major victory came in the 1997 Masters, which he won by 12 strokes at -18. Woods's four-round score of 270 still stands as the lowest total ever at the Masters. 2001 After winning the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship in 2000, Woods won the 2001 Masters to hold all four majors simultaneously. Woods finished -16 to earn his second Masters victory, this time by two strokes. 2002 Woods became the third player to win back-to-back Masters when he won he second-straight in 2002. He shot 12-under to hold off Retief Goosen and Phil Mickelson and win his seventh major. 2005 In 2005, Woods won a rain-filled Masters after beating Chris DiMarco on the first hole of a playoff. In the playoff, Woods birdied the 18th hole to take his fourth Masters victory and his ninth major title. ----- Woods, who has had four back surgeries since 2014, withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in early March because of a nagging neck strain. He came back to play in the Players Championship the following weekend, however, where he finished tied for 30th. Woods also participated in the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play the final weekend of March, where he beat Rory McIlroy in the Round of 16 before falling to Lucas Bjerregaard in the quarterfinals. Woods's last victory came this past September, when he won the Tour Championship at East Lake. He also finished as the runner-up in the last major he played in, the 2018 PGA Championship, and his most recent major victory came in 2008, when he won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. At last year's Masters, Woods finished tied for 32nd. | https://www.si.com/golf/2019/04/11/how-many-masters-has-tiger-woods-won-championship-title-history |
What can we learn from the armed guy who reportedly stopped a kidnapping? | Opinion: Concealed-carry classes talk a lot about the choice to engage in situations like this. Anyone who carries concealed may have to make a split-second decision on whether to step in when a crime is occurring. (Photo: Scott Olson, Getty Images) There is a lot we don't know about the armed man who reportedly stopped an attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl on her way to school in north Phoenix. The incident wasn't reported until days later, and the man understandably doesn't want media attention. But the details released by police sound like the classic good guy with a gun scenario: A stranger pulled the girl's arm behind her back and placed his arm over her face. A bystander saw what was happening and knocked the suspect down. When that didnt work, he pointed a handgun at the man and told him to leave. The would-be kidnapper was last seen running away. Lesson 1: If you carry, know what to do I don't know what kind of firearms training (if any) the armed man had, but concealed-carry classes talk a lot about the choice to engage in situations like this. These are tough choices that could go any number of ways once you decide to engage. That's why if you choose to carry a firearm, it's your duty to know how to handle it responsibly, especially under duress. There are practical pistol courses and matches all over metro Phoenix that can help hone these skills. Lesson 2: Don't wait to report I also can't explain why neither the armed man nor the girl called 911 as soon as they were able. They should have. Though police have since corroborated the incident and are working on a sketch of the attempted kidnapper, waiting makes it that much more difficult to find him and bring him to justice. NEWSLETTERS Get the Opinions Newsletter newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Our best and latest in commentary in daily digest form. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Opinions Newsletter Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters (If you do have information, by the way, you can contact Silent Witness anonymously at 480-WITNESS or 480-TESTIGO in Spanish.) But imagine how things would have played out if the armed man hadn't been there. Instead, it ended in the best possible way: With a safe girl and him never having to fire a shot. I'm glad he chose to engage. Reach Allhands at [email protected]. On Twitter: @joannaallhands. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/04/11/phoenix-kidnapping-stopped-armed-stranger-lesson/3409909002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/04/11/phoenix-kidnapping-stopped-armed-stranger-lesson/3409909002/ |
Was it a fake Ben Shapiro or a fake crowd at Grand Canyon University? | Opinion: The conservative commentator played the choir boy preaching to the choir. Everybody was happy. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro (Photo: Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images) There was never going to be any trouble at the Grand Canyon University appearance of conservative commentator Ben Shapiro. And that's too bad. I'm not talking about violence. No one wants that. I'm talking about debate a college crowd challenging what a visiting speaker had to say. There would be no safety concerns involving possible protests, as there might have been at a place like the University of California, Berkeley, which blocked a Shapiro appearance. On Wednesday Shaprio was, essentially, preaching to the choir, so he apparently gave the appearance of being a choir boy. A report by The Arizona Republics Maria Polletta notes that Shapiro took a few jabs at the GCU administration for initially balking at his appearance, then reads in part: Shapiro spent about 30 minutes delivering remarks focused on a God-shaped hole in the American fabric he said has been filled with rage and tribalism. He said humans need an individual purpose and the capacity to pursue it, as well as a communal moral purpose, to avoid isolation and depression. Throughout the speech, he urged the country to return to traditional Judeo-Christian values, objective morality and reason. This is not exactly how the former editor with Breitbart made a name for himself. And the fact that Shapiro was not challenged by a friendly GCU crowd says as much about them, and what they are willing to accept, as it does about Shapiro. Like when Shapiro tweeted this about Arabs: Israelis like to build. Arabs like to bomb crap and live in open sewage. This is not a difficult issue. #settlementsrock Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 27, 2010 Or when he said this, knowing the sensibilities of African-Americans about the death of Trayvon Martin: Trayvon Martin would have turned 21 today if he hadn't taken a man's head and beaten it on the pavement before being shot. Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 5, 2016 Or when we wrote that Transgenderism is a mental condition. It is not about societal construction of gender identity or social disapproval of those who dont act like us. If you are a biological man and you believe you are a woman, you suffer from a mental disorder. That's not exactly inclusive or kind Or when he mocked black people for being excited about the making of the movie Black Panther, writing, "We've heard it's deeply important to millions of black Americans, who, after all, were not liberated from slavery 200 years ago, and liberated by the civil rights movement with federal legislation, and have not been gradually restored to what always should have been full civil rights in the United States. None of that has mattered up until they made a Marvel movie about a superhero, who is black, in a country filled with black people." Or when he sarcastically ridiculed a photo of the LGBTQ flag projected onto the White House with the tweet: We should never place divisive symbols designed to oppress others on government grounds. Shapiro is smart and good on his feet. He would have had answers. Perhaps even good ones. Perhaps even logical ones. But the message of his speech to GCU doesn't seem to jibe with many of the messages he has sent in the past. Knowing this and not challenging it doesn't say much for the GCU audience. It suggests that Shapiro may have been (unintentionally) correct in suggesting to the GCU audience that they incorporate into their lives traditional values, moral purpose and reason. Because they didnt show much at his appearance. Reach Montini at [email protected]. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/04/11/ben-shapiro-grand-canyon-uniersity/3435129002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/04/11/ben-shapiro-grand-canyon-uniersity/3435129002/ |
What is Google Fi and how does it work? | CLOSE Its called Stadia. Time, Time Go ahead name some big companies offering cellular service. AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint probably came to mind. Now you can add Google to that list. Google recently announced that Fi SIM cards would be available for purchase in more than 500 Best Buy stores across the country. It appears that Google Fi is finally ready for mainstream use, and nearly anyone can jump on board. From the get-go, Fi is a compelling service that focuses on price. Before you try this dark-horse carrier, heres a brief rundown of its benefits and drawbacks. Some phones, including Googles Pixel, are specifically designed to work with Google Fi. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USAT) What you need to know about Google Fi Some phones are specifically designed to work with Google Fi, such as Googles Pixel. Other phones are compatible with Google Fi, although most arent. You'll get more features with Fi phones, including what Google calls "intelligent" switching between three LTE networks and Wi-Fi hotspots. You can check to see if Fi services your neighborhood. You just type in your address on the Fi site fi.google.com and it'll show you if you're covered and if you're using a Fi phone or a compatible model. The Fi site maintains a directory of compatible phones, including Pixel and models by other manufacturers. You'll notice that some phones are still in the beta stage, notably iPhones. You might save money with Google Fi Fi's mission is simple. You can order a SIM card on the Fi site free or buy one for $10 at Best Buy. Then you choose your plan: It's $20 a month for unlimited phone calls and texts and $15 for each additional phone line. For every GB of data you use, you spend $10 a month. Google will not charge you if you go over 6 GB a month, but it will slow down your data when you go over 15 GB. The idea is to prevent you from spending more than your budget. If you travel overseas, youll love Fi. You pay the same price for data if you're connecting in more than 200 countries. You also have free, unlimited texting. Phone calls in other countries are served by Fi at 20 cents a minute when you're not connected to Wi-Fi. Happy birthday, Gmail: Google adds email scheduling and "smarter" features Download these: 14 Android and iPhone apps you'll use again and again How to switch to Fi Converting to Fi can be handled almost entirely on its website. Once you visit the site, youll find the "Join" button. You'll be prompted to choose your phone, whether youre using your current phone or buying a new model specifically designed for Fi. To ensure that your phone is compatible, youll be prompted to type in your phones brand, model and service provider. Or you can select the Fi phone you'd like to buy. After you've picked your phone, you'll have to select a plan. It's $20 for calls and texts, and then you choose your data plan. You'll need to contact your current carrier to disconnect your service once the switch to Google Fi has been confirmed. If your phone is compatible with Google Fi's network and the plans look like a deal, and youre the type who likes to be an early adopter, then the switch makes sense. If youre like me and youd prefer to wait and see how it wholesale performs, Im staying where I am for now. Fi does require you to jump through some hoops. You'll have to switch your own SIM card, and you may have to untangle yourself from your current carrier and unlock your "big-four" phone. If you don't use a lot of cellular data and are willing to experiment with new technology, Fi may be a prudent choice. One final thought: Most of us turn to Google for email, entertainment and virtual workflow. Entire corporations have handed Google troves of personal data and document storage. Many of us will think twice about using Google as our cell carrier as well. Call Kims national radio show and tap or click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to or watch the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet, television or computer. Or tap or click here for Kim's free podcasts. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2019/04/11/google-fi-cellular-service-pros-and-cons/3415577002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2019/04/11/google-fi-cellular-service-pros-and-cons/3415577002/ |
Why Have Scientific Facts Become Easy To Deny In 2019? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Robert Crease, Professor, Philosophy Department, Stony Brook University, on Quora: Science is like Facebook in that the very things that make it work (in Facebooks case, share and connect) also seem to provide a veneer of legitimacy to those who want an excuse to deny it. What makes science go is that its technical and abstract, done in collectives, fallible, can challenge our values, can be passed on without repeating it, and is able to change nature. That its technical and abstract can appear to legitimate politicians dismissing it, saying I am not a scientist. Mitch McConnell, for instance, saying that hes only interested in Kentuckys economy, not in global warming. That its a collective means that it can potentially promote elite or disguised interests and amount to a hoax. Of course, this happens sometimes think of the tobacco industry scientists but not always. Think Robert Kennedy Jr and Jenny McCarthy on vaccines and autism, or you-know-who on global warming. That science is fallible can appear to make it reasonable to say that The jury is still out. Like when former EPA head Scott Pruitt said that we just dont know yet about global warming or its effects in the next century. That it can challenge our values (it may show, for instance, that some disease is not a punishment from God but the result of bacteria) means that it can be rejected by those who hold those values to be fundamental. Think Sarah Palin or Rush Limbaugh saying that global warming cant hurt the planet because God wont let that happen. That it can generate knowledge that can be passed on means that we can take it for granted. Think politicians not voting for earth satellites or more scientific research because we have enough already. That it can act into nature can expose scientific projects to fears of producing Frankensteins. Sometimes these fears are justified but when they are not its science denial. Knowing these categories, which I go into at length in The Workshop and the World, is essential for identifying science denial, and countering it. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/04/11/why-have-scientific-facts-become-easy-to-deny-in-2019/ |
Should I Contribute To A Roth IRA Or A 529 Plan? | Getty There must come a time each year when the topic turns to taxes. On the face of it, the Roth IRA and a 529 plan share many similarities. You can contribute thousands of dollars into either one each year. Contributions grow in a tax-free environment. At least some or all of both can be used for educational expenses. When one drills down into the specifics of each option, differences become more apparent. A Roth IRA is designed to be a retirement savings vehicle, where a 529 plan is specifically designed to be a higher education savings vehicle, says Robert Farrington, CEO of The College Investor, San Diego, California. And while there is a rule that allows tax-free withdrawals from a Roth IRA for qualified higher education expenses, its limited. Below is a checklist to help you determine which option might be best for you. Before you get there, here are some frequently asked questions that explain some of the differences between the Roth IRA and a 529 plan. Roth IRAs fall under federal regulations. Each state sponsors its own 529 plan. Individuals must shop for the state which offers the most favorable treatment. The 529 beneficiary need not reside in that state nor go to school in that state. Roth IRAs are established by and for the primary beneficiary. This doesnt mean parents and grandparents cant use their Roth IRA savings to fund the education of their child or grandchild. Additionally, children who have earned income can establish a Roth version of a Child IRA for themselves. Beginning in 2019, each year individuals may contribute up to $6,000 into a Roth IRA ($7,000 for those aged 50 and above). Individuals can contribute a maximum of $15,000 into a 529 plan on an annual basis, with the option of bundling 5 years of contributions ($75,000) into a single year. Note that Roth 401(k) plans can accept up to $19,000 ($25,000 for those aged 50 and above). In addition, since its possible to save in both a Roth IRA and a Roth 401(k), each individual can save up to $25,000 in Roth vehicles ($32,000 for those aged 50 and above). Only the primary beneficiary (i.e., owner) may contribute to a Roth IRA. In order to contribute, the primary beneficiary must have earned income for the taxable year in which the contribution is made. On the other hand, anyone may contribute to anyone elses 529 plan. There are no income requirements for contributing to a 529 plan. The IRS imposes income limits on whether you are eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA. As of 2019, eligibility begins to phase out at an income level of $122,000 for single filers ($193,000 for married filing jointly filers) and ends completely at $137,000 for single filers ($203,000 for married filing jointly filers). The Roth 401(k) does not have any phase-out provision. Unlike Roth IRAs where contributions can be made up to April 15th of the following year, however, the Roth 401(k) contribution must be made by December 31st of the tax year to which it applies. While the 529 plan has no income phase-out, contributions to 529 plans are considered gifts so they must abide by the IRS (and state, if applicable) gifting laws. There are no investment restrictions for Roth IRA plans. Each state imposes its own investment guidelines regarding their 529 plans. This is an important consideration when comparing 529 plan options as some states may force the 529 plan into investments that may be too conservative given the objectives of the 529 plan owner. The IRS imposes strict rules for withdrawing money out of a Roth IRA. In general, Roth IRA contributions (i.e., not the gains on those contributions) can be taken without tax consequences. This makes the Roth IRA an attractive option if the educational expenses arent expected to exceed the amount originally contributed. Outside these parameters, withdrawing from the Roth prior to age 59 and less than five years after the contribution can result in taxes and penalties. Funds in 529 plans can only be used to pay for college and certain elementary or secondary public, private, or religious school expenses. You cannot use assets in a 529 for anything else (including retirement) without paying taxes and penalties. Roth IRA funds are currently not included in financial aid calculations for either the parent or the child (if the child has a Child IRA). However, if you use your Roth IRA funds to pay for the qualified educational expenses, those funds may be included as income for the purposes of the students financial aid calculation. Having a 529 plan is likely to reduce student financial aid. The impact, however, is less than other assets. Depending on total parental assets, colleges will include a percentage of some or all of a 529 plan funds in the financial aid calculation. Unlike money from a Roth IRA, though, using 529 plan funds wont count as income for determining financial aid. This is a tricky question, says J.R. Robinson, owner/founder of Financial Planning Hawaii and co-founder/CEO of Nest Egg Guru in Honolulu, Hawaii. The best answer is that the two should often be used in concert with the Roth IRA funded first (subject to eligibility). If you have to make the choice of one or the other, heres a handy checklist to use. Be sure to consult with your tax advisor before making any decision. Consider saving for college in a Roth IRA under the following circumstances: You have earned income and its less than $122,000 (single filer) or $193,000 (married filing jointly filer). You have a 401k(k) Roth option and you want to contribute more than $15,000 per year. You dont want contributions to count against your annual or lifetime gift exclusion. You have exceeded the state limit on contributions to a 529 plan. You want the option of using your savings for retirement. Youre not sure if youll be needing the money for qualified educational expenses or that such a need will exceed the amount contributed. You think you may need the money for non-qualified educational expenses. You expect to qualify for a large financial aid package because of your present income situation. You expect your child to win an athletic scholarship. You expect your child to attend a school that employs you and offers free tuition to children of employees. You expect your child to attend a low-tuition school. You expect your child may not attend college. You have only one family member eligible for paying qualified educational expenses. You want to shield as much of your assets as possible from inclusion in financial aid calculations. You want greater flexibility in investment options. You wont need to withdraw the funds for at least 5 years. You wont need to withdraw the funds until youre older than 59. Consider saving for college in a 529 plan should the following apply to you: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/chriscarosa/2019/04/11/should-i-contribute-to-a-roth-ira-or-a-529-plan/ |
How Much Do Masters Tickets Cost? | The 2019 Master Tournament is finally here. Here's how you can purchase tickets, and here's how the market has shaped out to purchase them thus far. (Note: all prices reflect cheapest availability as of Friday afternoon.) Weekly Badge StubHub: $17,460 Monday Practice Round StubHub: $994 Vivid Seats: $1,104 Friday Tournament Date StubHub: $2,999 Vivid Seats: $236 Saturday Tournament Date StubHub: $2,399 Vivid Seats: $236 Sunday Tournament Date StubHub: $2,200 Vivid Seats: $236 On-Site Tickets Not Available According to the competition's official site, no tickets or badges will be sold at the Masters' gates. Applications for both practice round and daily tournament tickets were accpeted prior to June 1, 2018. | https://www.si.com/golf/2019/04/11/2019-masters-tournament-tickets-prices-cost-how-much |
Will Brexit Happen on Halloween? | Good morning, Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said to a room of bleary-eyed reporters in Brussels on Thursday, at a little after 2 A.M. He and the twenty-eight leaders of the European Unions member states had been meeting since the previous afternoon to try to figure out what to do about Brexit. Theresa May, the United Kingdoms Prime Minister, was invited to only some of those meetings. There was no space in the schedule to sleep and reconvene, because the U.K., which had failed to ratify a withdrawal agreement that May had negotiated or to come up with an alternative, was due to crash out of the E.U. on Friday night. Such a No Deal Brexit would have been bad for almost everyone, and yet seemed a possible product of the sheer weariness and frustration surrounding the Brexit negotiationsor of the clock simply running out. In the press conference, Tusk announced that the No Deal disaster had, at least, been averted: the U.K., which had already received one extension, would get another. Now it has until October 31st to decide what it wants, with some conditions attached. And Tusk also delivered what he called a message to my British friends. It was this: Please, do not waste this time. For anyone who has watched Parliament in the past few months, its hard to imagine the British political establishment doing anything but waste time. The Brexit referendum was held almost three years ago, in June of 2016. And it was in March of 2017 that the U.K. invoked Article 50 of the E.U.s basic treaty, to notify other members that it was leaving. That provision gave it two full years to negotiate a withdrawal agreement, or divorcewhich, if May had not sought the first extension, would have expired on March 29th. This time, she asked the E.U. for a short extension, to June 30th, but no one really believed that the U.K. could get the deal done by then. And so, although May desperately needed an extension, getting a different date than shed asked for could also be seen as a defeatyet another personal rejection. And: Dont you feel you owe the country an apology? May, visibly exhausted, her voice jittery, replied that if sufficient members of Parliament had voted with me in Januarythe first of three times that M.P.s turned down her dealwe would already be out. When she made the same point, back in London, in an appearance before Parliament, on Thursday afternoon, some members jeered. And yet an extension, of any length, had not been a sure thing. Each of the other twenty-seven European leaders summoned to Brussels for this summit has his or her own country to runits not only the U.K.s time thats been squandered. The British tendency to regard the E.U. as a complicated machine, whose inner workings one neednt bother figuring out or respecting, had seldom been so needling. And any one country could have vetoed the extension. Some leaders, notably President Emmanuel Macron, of France, made it clear that they thought that the extra six months was a longer respite than the British deserved. We have a European Renaissance to lead, he wrote in a tweet, before the meeting, and Brexit, he continued, was getting in the way. Macron had reportedly gone into the meeting arguing that any extension beyond June 30th would be intolerable to France, even if that meant a No Deala position that put him, ironically, in line with the hardest of Brexiteers. He also indicated that he wanted to place what the British undoubtedly would have seen as punitive conditions on an extension, such as a loss of a vote on certain issues. But other leaders, such as Chancellor Angela Merkel, of Germany, seemed willing to give the U.K. more leeway, perhaps nine months or a year, with the idea that it would then have time for a range of options, including a second referendum. By all accounts, Merkel was the decisive force in the room, as she had been in talks regarding the first extension, keeping Macron from indulging his worst instincts, and bringing the leaders to a consensus. (She also got May and others to laugh, by passing around an iPad displaying a meme of the two of them in similar jackets.) The result: a six-and-a-half-month extension and a simple commitment to sincere coperation. The U.K. can leave earlier, if Parliament finally approves the withdrawal agreement May negotiated, making this a flextension. Still, Macron boasted afterward about his responsibility for the outcome. Tusk, in his remarks, said that he thought the interval would be enough. October 31st is, of course, Halloween, and there were immediate jokes and puns (Tusk or Treat?) and speculation about Brexit-themed costumes (Sexy No-deal Cliff Edge). But, as is often the case with Brexit, the potential for farce masked practical, legal concerns. November 1st is the day that a new president of the European Commission takes office. The current president, Jean-Claude Juncker, was onstage with Tusk for the 2 A.M. press conference, and he joked that if there were another emergency summit on Halloween he would have to walk out of the meetings at midnight, when his mandate expires. (It would, in effect, be a private No Deal Junxit.) And one condition the E.U. did impose was that if the U.K. doesnt hold European Parliamentary elections, now scheduled for May 23rd, Brexit will occur on June 1st, deal or no deal. May finally called those elections just ahead of the summitApril 12th was the deadline for doing so, which is why it was also chosen as the Brexit deadlinebut hard Brexiteers in her own party condemned her for doing so. They would still like to see the elections cancelled. The June 1st provision is a reminder of how important those elections are to the E.U. leaders, and of how little faith the Europeans have that May will be in control of the British government for long. She has begun talks with the Labour Partys leader, Jeremy Corbyn, about a compromise solution, but these are not seen as entirely promising. Her cabinet is deeply divided, and Corbyn, who has to placate both Remainers and Leavers in his own party, may really just want a general election. The E.U. insisted on another point, as well: that the withdrawal agreement could not be renegotiated. The political declaration that accompanied it, which lays out aspirations for a future relationship, could be rewritten, but not the terms of separation. Everyone has had enough of that. That warning didnt stop some Brexiteers from demanding in Parliament on Thursday that May turn around and do just that. She responded to that and to other questions by insisting that the U.K. already had a good deal, and that, with the flextension, Brexit was quickly obtainable if they would just, finally, vote for it. (No European elections necessary if they act now!) Some of the most hard-core Brexiteers have indeed helped to force this delay by rejecting Mays agreement: they were angry that it did not secure all the magical and contradictory things that they had once promised voters, such as a border with Ireland that is simultaneously open and closed. And many of them are still at it, insisting that it must surely be possible to pluck the benefits of E.U. membership that they like, while discarding the obligations that they dont. The disgruntled Brexiteers alternated with Remainers who want the government to hold another referendum. Ian Blackford, of the Scottish National Party, said that the extension had removed the ridiculous excuse that there isnt enough time for such a vote. Blackford described the past few weeks in British politics as a total fiascoa description that is hard to dispute. It is the European Union that got the U.K. out of this mess, he said. We should not be lambasting the E.U., we should be thanking them. The Tory Bill Cash, who spoke immediately after Blackford, asked May if she understood his Brexiteer cohorts anger at her abject surrender to the E.U., and whether she would now resign. I think you know the answer to that, May said, with a smile. Brexit is still waiting. | https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/will-brexit-happen-on-halloween |
Where's the cat WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange kept at Ecuadorian embassy in London? | Dont worry, the cat is feline fine. Julian Assange was carried out of the Ecuadorian embassy in London on Thursday after the South American nation revoked the WikiLeaks founders political asylum, ending his nearly seven-year stay there. Ecuador accused Assange of repeatedly violating international conventions and protocol. As Assange was whisked away by British police, questions emerged about the 47-year-olds feline, known as the Embassy Cat, who had been living with Assange since at least May 2016. Assange even created Twitter and Instagram profiles -- both called Embassy Cat -- where he had posted updates. Turns out, Assange let his beloved pet go in November so he wouldnt be trapped at the embassy anymore, Italian newspaper La Repubblica previously reported. The isolation became unbearable for the embassy cat and Assange allowing the feline to run free will give it a healthier life. It's unclear where the cat is now. WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE ARRESTED AFTER ECUADOR WITHDRAWS ASYLUM Ecuador threatened in October to take the cat away if Assange didnt follow a set of house rules that included cleaning the bathroom and other spaces he and his guests used in the embassy. Mr. Julian Assange will be responsible for the well-being, food, cleanliness and proper care of his pet. If due attention is not paid to the pet, the Head of Mission will request Mr. Assange to deliver the pet to another person or an animal shelter outside the Diplomatic Mission, the memo to Assange stated. The embassy cats social media bio still states, I live in the Ecuadorian Embassy with Julian Assange : Interested in counter-purrveillance. PAMELA ANDERSON BLASTS BRITAIN, US AFTER JULIAN ASSANGE ARREST: 'HOW COULD YOU U.K.?' Assange was arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit computer intrusion for aiding Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army analyst, in breaking a password stored on a U.S. Defense Department computer connected to a U.S. government computer network for classified documents and communications, the Justice Department said. During the conspiracy, Manning and Assange engaged in real-time discussions regarding Mannings transmission of classified records to Assange, the Justice Department said. The discussions also reflect Assange actively encouraging Manning to provide more information. During an exchange, Manning told Assange that after this upload, thats all I really have got left. To which Assange replied, curious eyes never run dry in my experience." Assange faces a maximum of five years in prison if hes convicted of the charge. Fox News Ryan Gaydos contributed to this report. | https://www.foxnews.com/world/wikileaks-julian-assange-embassy-cat |
Will Steven Wiggins, Joseph Daniels trials both take place February 2020? | CLOSE Steven Wiggins, accused of killing Dickson County Sheriff's Sgt. Daniel Baker, made his initial appearance in court on Friday. The Tennessean The trial for Steven Wiggins, the man charged with first degree murder in the May shooting death of Dickson County Sgt. Daniel Baker, has been pushed back to February next year. Wiggins trial is now scheduled to take place the same month jury selection begins for Joseph Ray Daniels and Krystal Daniels trial. Joseph Daniels is charged with murdering his 5-year-old son, Joe Clyde. Krystal Daniels is charged with aggravated child neglect. Nashville attorney James Simmons, who took over representation of Wiggins in December after Public Defender Jake Lockert removed himself, asked Dickson County Circuit Court Judge David Wolfe for more time. Wolfe, during his ruling, indicated that Simmons wanted a witness on the stand that would not have been available in August this year. The Wiggins trial was originally scheduled for August. Simmons argued during the hearing that his team has encountered problems and that the case requires a thorough examination. Citing previous state and U.S Supreme Court death penalty appeals, Simmons repeated the phrase, No one wants to try this case twice. We ask that we be given sufficient time to prepare for his trial, Simmons said. District Attorney General Ray Crouch argued that the justice had already been delayed too long. I understand completely the states position in this case. I understand the familys position in this case, said Wolfe, as Bakers widow and family sat in the audience. My obligation is not to do what necessarily I want to do. But to do what the law requires me to do. If I deny that opportunity, then I am creating an issue that could result in a reversal...a vacating of the death penalty, if there is one imposed, Wolfe added. Like Wiggins, Erika Castro-Miles is also charged with first degree murder in the death of Baker on May 30. Her trial was tentatively planned for August along with Wiggins. NEWSLETTERS Get the Daily Briefing newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Start your day with the morning's top news Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-342-8237. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Daily Briefing Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Castro-Miles' case has, however, been "severed" from the Wiggins' case. More: Steven Wiggins, charged in Sgt. Baker death, loses attorney Jake Lockert More: Joe Clyde: Joseph, Krystal Daniels trial date pushed back to 2020 More: Sgt. Daniel Baker Act, which streamlines death penalty appeals process, heads to governors desk More: Castro-Miles hearing: Volatile side, neighborhood mom questioned for suspect in Baker death Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/dickson/2019/04/11/steven-wiggins-joseph-daniels-trials-both-happen-february-2020/3436585002/ | https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/dickson/2019/04/11/steven-wiggins-joseph-daniels-trials-both-happen-february-2020/3436585002/ |
How would NC job incentives bill help Charlotte firm? | Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence in Charlotte Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence Made a campaign stop at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Wednesday morning. Up Next SHARE COPY LINK Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence Made a campaign stop at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Wednesday morning. The N.C. Senate is moving to create a new jobs incentive for a heritage manufacturing employer thats narrowly tailored to keep a specific unnamed business in North Carolina. Supporters of Senate Bill 505, which passed the Senate Finance Committee on Wednesday, said the goal is to provide incentives for a company thats moving out of a major city and into a more rural area. Sen. Harry Brown, R-Onslow and a sponsor of the bill, declined to name the company. Sen. Ralph Hise, R-Mitchell, told reporters after the meeting that he didnt have details about the company either but had been told it involves a foundry company located near the Carolina Panthers stadium in Charlotte. As you can imagine, this business is being heavily recruited, so this is just a way to keep it here in North Carolina, Brown said. Unlimited Digital Access: Only $0.99 For Your First Month Get full access to The Charlotte Observer content across all your devices. SAVE NOW #ReadLocal Sen. Paul Newton, R-Cabarrus, said the business is moving to an unspecified county categorized as Tier Two for its wealth level. Tier Two counties near Charlotte include Stanly, Gaston and Rowan. Its a terrific opportunity to bridge the rural-urban divide, Newton said. SB 505 would allow the business to qualify for the states Job Maintenance and Capital Development Fund. The bill would only apply to a company thats been in business for at least 100 years, has invested or will invest at least $325 million in the state, plans to keep at least 1,050 employees in the state, and plans to relocate at least 400 of those employees to a Tier Two county with a population smaller than 63,000. The Charlotte Pipe and Foundry Company, established in 1901, appears to fit the bill. Its currently located a few blocks from Bank of America Stadium on South Clarkson Street. The nearest Tier Two county meeting the population requirement is Stanly County, which had a population of 61,500 in 2017. Colin Campbell is editor of the Insider State Government News Service. Follow him at NCInsider.com or @RaleighReporter. Write to him at [email protected]. | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article229126339.html |
Does iTunes have a future next to standalone Music, Podcasts and TV apps on the Mac? | A report from the website 9to5Mac claims Apple is developing standalone Music and Podcasts apps for the next version of the Mac operating system and redesigning the existing Macs Books app. Such media apps would join the not-yet-launched version of the TV app that Apple announced last month and said would be coming to the Mac in the fall. And, if all of this comes to pass, it raises questions about the long-term future of iTunes, though 9to5Mac suggests the software wont go away right away, likely because it is still the method by which some manually sync iPhones, iPads or even relatively ancient iPods to the computer. Plenty of Fish says odds are in your favor for finding romance 9to5Macs report was pinned on unnamed sources said to be familiar with the next version of macOS that Apple will almost certainly showcase during its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June. The report followed a recent tweet from a developer Steve Troughton-Smith, who said he was fairly confident Apple would create such separate new macOS apps, based on evidence I don't wish to make public at this point. I am now fairly confident based on evidence I don't wish to make public at this point that Apple is planning new (likely UIKit) Music, Podcasts, perhaps even Books, apps for macOS, to join the new TV app. I expect the four to be the next wave of Marzipan apps. Grain of salt, etc Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) April 5, 2019 The apps, he added, would likely represent the next wave of so-called Marzipan apps that are based on code and tools developers can use to more easily port apps that run on iPhones and iPads to the Mac, effectively narrowing the gap between iOS and macOS. Apple isnt saying one way or the other the company declined a USA TODAY request for comment but there certainly seems to be a lot of truth here and the result could be a win for consumers and for Apple, especially with the company poised to launch Apple TV+ service in the fall. Pricing for that service has not yet been announced. Apple has certainly been busy on the services front having just launched the $9.99 a month Apple News+ service for readers of newspapers and magazines and readying the Apple Arcade gaming service, which like TV+ is expected to have a fall release. Unless youre set in your ways, you may not miss iTunes all that much. Oh sure, many of us have used iTunes since its launch as jukebox software early this century, so it's certainly familiar. It is also, frankly, showing its age. Apple has attempted to simplify its design and improve navigation through the years, but, at best, you can probably say that most of the changes in iTunes have garnered mixed reviews. Meanwhile, if you use an iPhone, youre already accustomed to separate TV, Podcasts, Books, and, of course, Music apps. Of course, there's still a dedicated iTunes Store app where you go to buy or rent movies and TV shows or buy music and ringtones. And you still may find yourself jumping around. You access the subscription-based Apple Music service in iOS under the Music app, which makes sense, but again you'd have to visit iTunes to purchase individual tracks or albums. If you want to buy eBooks or audiobooks through Apple on an iPhone, you'll find stores to make those purchases inside the separate Books app. Currently, you can get to the bookstore in the Books app on the Mac as well, though iTunes is the place to start to find audiobooks. The hope and expectations here are that whatever Apple cooks up for the Mac with standalone apps, they'll not only bring a fresh look and feel to the computer but that it will be clear where you'll go to purchase and consumer content. Of course, we'll all be watching to see if there are any changes of consequence inside iTunes itself assuming it is sticking around. Email: [email protected]; Follow @edbaig on Twitter Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/04/11/splitting-tunes-into-separate-apps-mac-promises-consumer-win/3435884002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/04/11/splitting-tunes-into-separate-apps-mac-promises-consumer-win/3435884002/ |
What are the best bars in downtown Miami? | The Toro Toro Ahumado Ricardo Mejia Once an empty wasteland few Miamians would dare visit at night, downtown Miami is quickly becoming a nightlife destination full of hip cocktail bars and sleek restaurantsand not just for pre-game or concert nights. From high-end spots to hipster hangouts and late-night haunts, heres where you should be imbibing in the heart of Miami. Novikov The bar at Novikov Miami is where the magic happens. Maybe. But this celebrity favorite that serves up fancy pan-Asian fare and killer cocktails is definitely worth the occasional splurge. On weekends, the bar is packed and the dining room buzzing. The colorful decor designed by famed restaurant interiors guru Adam D. Tihany includes the venues anchor: a food market-style banquet where diners can pick out the fresh catch of the day to feast on. At the bar, try one of their dramatic cocktails served with hand-cut ice or sample a sake flight. Unlimited Digital Access: Only $0.99 For Your First Month Get full access to Miami Herald content across all your devices. SAVE NOW #ReadLocal 300 S Biscayne Blvd., Miami; www.novikovmiami.com Jaguar Sun This place takes the concept of hand-crafted cocktails to an entirely new level. Celery juice, shaved coffee beans and coconut milk are among the ingredients that go into making their precious dranks. A Friend for Celery is a magnificent choice -- a light vodka concoction with a seaweed rim, it goes down smooth (almost too smooth), so sip slowly. It pairs perfectly with their spaghetti with clams. Youll often find co-owner Will Thompson slinging drinks himself in between changing the music on a record player behind the bar. 230 NE 4th St., Miami; Www.jaguarsunmia.com The Corner Bar The Corner is where your evening ends in Downtown Miami, but perhaps should be where it began. Arguably the best bar in the area, this is the oldest and diviest. Theres no concept here (or at least one that makes sense). Its all about good drinks served with a heavy hand and authenticity. The friendliest bouncers in town will welcome you in after checking your ID. Then you can pick your poison at the bar inside or via an outdoor service window where guests can meet the neighborhoods characters. Expect to make new friends and random connections at this speakeasy-meets-pub purgatory for people who love good booze and people watching. There are also decent late-night eats to boot. 1035 N. Miami Ave., Www.thecornermiami.com Mama Tried Adam DelGiudice Mama sure did try to raise us right but despite her efforts, we still found ourselves here at 2 a.m. ordering a disco ball bowl of dangerously spiked punch and trying our luck at Pac-Man. Because, well, thats just the kind of place Mama Tried isone where we forget the rules (and ourselves) in exchange for late-night dancing, drinking and nostalgia. It could just be the mind-altering doses of sugary liquor concoctions consumed, but while hip and happening types may frequent this retro-looking spot, all are welcome and made to feel right at home. Thats how partners Dan Binkiewicz (Sweet Liberty, Purdy Lounge), Mauricio Lacayo (The Bend) and Domingo Murillo (Sidebar) like it. Twinkling fiber optic stars, gold disco lamps, jukebox, pool table, TVs, a Bookleggers library and fun and funky themed programming, round out the homey offerings. 207 NE 1st St., Miami; Www.mamatriedmia.com Toro Toro The Toro Toro Ahumado Ricardo Mejia This lively restaurant/bar by Chef Richard Sandoval serves up Latin American flavors via shareable plates and hand crafted cocktails. Sip on a Smokey Toro (gin, blood orange, lime, grapes, ancho reyes chili, cucumber) and nibble on any one of their impressive bar bites (Wagyu beef tartare recommended) while you enjoy the fragrant smokey aroma coming from the kitchen. Happy hour and lunch deals are a bonus and interestingly, this steakhouse offers spectacular vegan cocktails. 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami; www.torotoromiami.com Lost Boy Part western saloon, part English pub, this downtown spot is housed in a former clothing store. Used Cowboy boots line the top of the bar; a painting of a naked blonde woman hangs above an unused bookcase; an exposed brick wall is covered with calf skulls; knit scarves from various soccer teams hang along a second level banister; a wooden frame creates a faux fireplace; an old piano lounging atop an Oriental rug anchors the room. Disparate decor aside, this is one of the best places to drink in all of Miami. Talented staffers from some of the areas most successful craft cocktail joints (Sweet Liberty, The Broken Shaker) joined the Lost Boy ranks thanks to a laid-back atmosphere and thirsty clientele. Come for happy hour on a Friday evening and stay all night. Their world famous Sloppy Jose (a Latin take on the legendary American sandwich) can be your sustenance while you drink your way into the weekend. 157 E Flagler Street, Miami; www.lostboydrygoods.com Bar Journe Housed inside the high-end Swiss watch F.P. Journes shop in the Kimpton EPIC Miami hotel, Bar Journe is a 10-seat rare liquor bar helmed by spirits expert (and founder of The Liquid Projects), Jennifer Massolo. Sip on rare and unusual liquors from around the worldhandpicked by Massolo while you enjoy the views. Japanese whiskey, Soviet-era Moskovskaya vodka, 1968 Jose Cuervo Tequila and pre-embargo Cuban rum are among the hard-to-find spirits curated here. Seats are first come first serve unless you buy a membership that allows reservations, lockers for personal bottle storage, and invites to special events. 270 Biscayne Blvd Way, Miami; www.maisonfpjourne.com | https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/nightlife/article229080104.html |
What restaurants and bars offer deals for Tax Day April 15? | Lulu's Bait Shack in Fort Lauderdale You know what time of year it is: The only time of year when that old death and taxes joke is funny. Some of us working stiffs get refunds from the IRS; others have their money tucked away in a Cayman bank somewhere (umm) and a good chunk of folks have to write a check to Uncle Sam. Regardless of your situation, everyone likes to save a buck or two, especially on April 15, the deadline to file. Various local restaurants are offering deals to soften the blow or at the very least, relieve the stress of all that paperwork. Unlimited Digital Access: Only $0.99 For Your First Month Get full access to Miami Herald content across all your devices. Sounds like a perfectly good idea. This Fort Lauderdale bar is offering up BOGO (buy one get one free) Titos Handmade vodka cocktails all day. Soak up the alcohol with their popular dine-in Burger and Beer special, which is one regular burger, a beer and fries for just $10. 350 E Las Olas Boulevard; www.RoyalPigPub.com, 954-617-7447. Opens at 11 a.m. Lulus Bait Shack Snag a free appetizer with the purchase of at least two or more entres at this Cajun joint that says it was founded on Cajun cuisine and Mardi Gras morals. Choices of apps include Buffalo Shrimp, Coconut Shrimp, Chicken Fingers and Chicken Nachos. 17 S. Atlantic Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale; Lulusbaitshack.com. Those were the days. Relive them with your own offspring at (where else?) the chain known for its fun atmosphere, fried pickles and scantily clad waitresses. Yes, Hooters is offering to feed your under 11 child for free on Tax Day, if mom or dad orders an entree. Thats not all. The little peoples meals are served on a Hooters Kids Club frisbee that your little deductions can take home. Bonus: Junior can also take a selfie with a server. Aw, honey, look at those cute owls! Firehouse Subs Eileen Soler/for The Herald Get a free medium sub with purchase of a full-price medium or large sub, chips and a drink Monday through Wednesday at this franchise founded by hot firemen. Use the coupon by clicking here. Show it from your phone or use your office printer when the boss isnt looking. www.firehousesubs.com Sonnys BBQ This is our personal fave is in Doral because we, um, occasionally stop here to escape traffic and stuff our faces. We also love that they named the Irresistible Ribs Special after the dreaded IRS. This IRS is nice, though: A Sweet & Smokey or House Dry-Rubbed Rib dinner for half off, plus two sides. IRS Day can be extremely taxing on the body, so Sonnys BBQ is thrilled to serve our Irresistible Rib Special for the sixth year in a row, said Montana Coleman, PR Manager. www.SonnysBBQ.com. | https://www.miamiherald.com/miami-com/news/article229118209.html |
What is state of Arizona hiding in case of the feverish Chandler kid? | CLOSE Rep. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, talks about Chandler police breaking down the door of a home to take a toddler with a spiking fever from parents. A Chandler father provided home-security video of Chandler police breaking down the door of the familys home for a DCS-requested welfare check of a child with a spiking fever, after parents refused to give police permission to enter their home, saying their toddler son was feeling better. (Photo: Courtesy of Chandler father) The state is in full CYA mode in the case of three children seized in February after Chandler police broke down a door to check on feverish tot. -- the parents will get their kids back. Apparently, the public isnt entitled to know what the state plans to do with those will children whose seizure made national headlines. And every parents nightmare has now become the publics nightmare, because it appears these kids are being held by the state not out of concern for their safety but out of a desire for vengeance. How dare those parents publicly question the states right to take their kids. If there is another side to this story, Wednesdays hearing would have been the place for the state Department of Child Safety to lay it out. To explain what horrors the parents have inflicted upon their children to warrant their removal and continued separation. Instead, Maricopa County Presiding Juvenile Judge Timothy Ryan kicked out Arizona Republic reporter Dianna Nez and state Rep. Kelly Townsend, who has been critical of DCSs handling of the case. Nez last month told the story of the Chandler mother who on Feb. 25 took her 2-year-old unvaccinated son to the doctor for a 105-degree fever. Fearing meningitis, the doctor told the mother to take him to the emergency room. Instead, the mother took him home and later called the doctor to report the fever was gone. Hours later, Chandler police were at the parents door, having been asked by DCS to check on the boys welfare. Police spent close to three hours trying to convince the parents to open the door. The father refused, saying the boy was OK. NEWSLETTERS Get the Opinions Newsletter newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Our best and latest in commentary in daily digest form. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Opinions Newsletter Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Finally, armed with guns and a warrant, officers kicked down the door. All three children were taken to the hospital where doctors determined the toddler had a respiratory virus. Let me pause here to say the parents brought the long arm of the state into their lives by being idiots. Had they simply allowed the police to confirm that the boy was OK, they probably would have been tucking in their tykes that very night. But it is now 44 days later and I have to wonder why those kids, who range in age from 2 to 6, are still in state custody. If there is a pattern of medical neglect, it wasn't laid in a previous court hearing, one held before the parents's story went public. Dont look for answers from the state or the states court system about what happened here -- and more importantly, why 44 days later, it is still happening. Judge Ryan on Wednesday ordered Nez and Townsend out of his courtroom. Court hearings in child-welfare cases are presumed to be open, on the condition that no personally identifiable information about the family is made public. That openness is crucial, given the state's power to rip children away from their parents. Crucial if the state wants to build and maintain public trust, that is. Ryan said he was reviewing whether Nez, who attended an earlier court hearing in the case, violated a court order when she wrote about the case. But Nez, in her stories, never identified the parents or the children. The state Attorney Generals Office, which is representing DCS, wants this case buttoned up behind closed doors. The parents, meanwhile, want the hearings to be open. Reach Roberts at [email protected]. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/04/11/what-state-hiding-case-feverish-kid/3436444002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/04/11/what-state-hiding-case-feverish-kid/3436444002/ |
What Are The Key Risks Cronos Group Faces? | 2016 Bloomberg Finance LP Cronos group, a vertically integrated Canadian marijuana company, has seen its stock price rise close to 3x over the last year, driven by the legalization of recreational pot in Canada and also by a $1.8 billion investment from Marlboro cigarette maker Altria group. However, the company faces some risks, which we break down below using Trefis analysis. We have also created an interactive dashboard analysis on whats driving Cronos Groups valuation, which allows users to modify any of our forecasts and drivers to arrive at their own valuation estimates for the company. See all of our data for Consumer Staples companies here. Significant Valuation Risk Cronos has not been posting financials of much consequence yet. 2018 net revenues stood at CAD 15.7 million, while net losses stood at CAD 19.2 million. Consensus revenues are projected at CAD 74 million for 2019. However, the companys market cap stands at over CAD 7.5 billion, meaning that there is little margin of error for the stock with a forward price to sales multiple of over 100x. In comparison, larger rival Canopy Growth has a slightly lower P/S ratio of about 76x. Production Capacity Lags Rivals Although Cronos volumes tripled year-over-year to about 1,000 kilograms in Q4 FY18, the companys volumes still lag rivals such as Canopy Growth (~ 10,100 kilograms sold in Q4) and Aurora (~8,000 kilograms) Aurora could add 270,000 kg of flower production by 2020. In comparison, Cronos will only be producing a 110,000 to 120,000 kg, assuming it fully ramps production at Cronos GrowCo by 2020. Canopy is targeting upwards of 500,000 kilograms at peak. Lucrative Oils Business Faced Significant Pricing Declines Cronos high-value oils business saw average selling prices decline substantially in Q4, partly due to higher excise taxes. Cronos has been counting on oils to bolster its earnings since these products have higher selling prices than dried cannabis and are targeted at the medical marijuana market. While this may be a transitory issue, its a risk that is worth noting for investors. Teething Troubles In Canada While Canada legalized recreational pot last year, Cronos has been facing some teething troubles with scaling up its operations. Cronos had fewer supply agreements with Canadian provinces compared to rival Canopy Growth, and the process of expanding into new provinces is being complicated by supply chain issues and the federally required tax stamps that must be added for each province Packaging and production have proven to be a bottleneck for many Canadian pot companies, although this could be partly addressed via partner Altrias technology and expertise. Capacity Expansions Across The Industry May Hurt Future Pricing Power There has been a lot of capital flowing into the nascent marijuana industry. For instance, liquor major Constellation Brands invested about $4 billion in Canopy Growth. Its likely that a meaningful part of this is flowing into the expansion of production capacity. As with all agricultural products, theres a possibility that this could lead to oversupply, potentially hurting pricing and margins. That said, Cronos is looking to improve its retail footprint, while leveraging the Altria deal to provide differentiated products such as pre-rolled joints, in a move that could make it less sensitive to price fluctuations. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/04/11/what-are-the-key-risks-cronos-group-faces/ |
Will the U.S. Ever Stop Tormenting South Korea? | A 20th century Korean adage was that the country was a shrimp between two whales China and Japan. In the 21st century, the two whales have gotten tamer where South Korea is concerned, but there is a blue whale tormenting the country from afar the United States of America. ASSOCIATED PRESS n 2012, the U.S. and South Korea ratified the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, known as KORUS. It had been negotiated and signed in 2007, when George W. Bush was president. It languished until 2010, when then-President Barack Obama decided it would be a good idea to let it take effect. But first, for reasons more political than economic, Obama said it needed to be renegotiated. That didnt go over well with the Koreans. They said a deals a deal. But they agreed to talk and ended up making some concessions, mostly having to do with U.S. auto imports. In 2016, the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea was $27.6 billion, $10 billion higher than in 2012. President Trump saw this is evidence that KORUS was unfair to the U.S., so he demanded that it be renegotiated yet again. Unlike Obama, Trump used threats and ultimatums to compel the Koreans to agree to talk. He threatened to withdraw from KORUS, which he called a horrible deal, and to pull the 28,500 U.S. troops out of the country. So, the Koreans again came back to the table and grudgingly made more concessions, mostly having to do with steel exports to the U.S. and auto imports therefrom. No. South Korean President Moon Jae-in is in Washington today to talk with Trump about the North Korean nuclear threat. Also on his mind, no doubt, is Trumps threat to impose a 25% tariff on auto imports. The U.S. is an important market for Hyundai and Kia and a 25% tariff on their imports here would hurt them. For 60 years, South Korea has bent over backwards to accommodate the United States and to burnish the two countries alliance. It sent troops to help fight the American wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan. It has continually increased its annual spending to help offset the costs of keeping U.S. troops there. And, it is regularly one of the United States top customers for military hardware and weapons. No student of history, Trump probably has no idea what a close friend South Korea has been to the United States. It and Japan are the only allies the U.S. has in East Asia. He has no understanding of the importance of the United States maintaining a strong economic and security presence in that part of the world. If he did, he wouldnt have torn up the Trans-Pacific Partnership and tossed it in the trash during his first week in office. The TPP was antithetical to Trumps America First, anti-globalism agenda. The 25% car tariff that Trump has threatened to impose is not aimed at Korea. Its aimed more at the European Union, which has a 10% tariff on auto imports. The U.S. tariff is 2.5%. Under KORUS, American cars go to Korea duty-free and vice versa. The 25% tariff would be based on the bizarre notion that auto imports threaten U.S. national security. Trump last year asked the Commerce Department to research that question, and through some tortured logic, Commerce submitted its findings to Trump in February. They reportedly said, yes indeed, our national security is compromised by the likes of Mercedes-Benz, Toyota and Hyundai, even though they are all made and exported here by our closest allies. The report hasnt been made public. The Commerce Departments finding allows Trump to invoke Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962. Enacted during the Cold War, it says the president can do pretty much whatever he wants to retaliate against imports that are deemed to threaten national security. Trump has been lobbied heavily by senators and House members, the auto industry, consumer groups, even some of his own appointees and advisers, not to go through the with the 25% car tariff. Maybe hell take their advice and maybe he wont. "If that happens, Choi Byung-il, president of the Korea International Economic Association in Seoul and a former Korean trade negotiator told Politico, I think the days of a solid Korea-U.S. alliance may be facing a moment of truth. In other words, enough is enough. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbrinkley/2019/04/11/will-the-u-s-ever-stop-tormenting-south-korea/ |
What Are The Most Interesting Things Happening In EdTech Right Now? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Katie Fang, Founder & CEO at SchooLinks.com, on Quora: Edtech is so interesting to me. I consider Edtech as the god of all industries. Because education impacts human evolution, therefore it affects all industries. Now, the thing that is more interesting is that the innovation within Edtech is always a bit behind the consumer world. You might think that there should be a lot of innovation and market activities happening in education considering it affects all industries. You might think that the crazy entrepreneurs who want scale and impact would all flock into Edtech, but the reality couldnt be further away from the ideal. The smartest and the brightest go into Fintech, consumer tech my hunch is because education as a system was not built for experimentation, because the minds and lives of the next generation are the subject of those experiments. Despite the current and past climate in education, I am seeing cultural change, attitudes change, and mindsets change toward education technology. Conservative communities finally understand Edtech is not trying to replace teachers, and that the internet is not a dangerous territory that pollutes young minds. And this cultural change has enabled a healthier and friendlier ecosystem for startups to innovate. I see that entrepreneurs are addressing issues from leveling the playing field for students by providing cost effective broadband access, to leveraging online platforms to broaden content access. The trend is hard to conclude, it depends on where you live and how your community reacts and embraces technological changes. Because its really not about the tech itself... it is the mindset of people that dictates the speed and quality of the technical solutions. Edtech companies are just like all the other for profit companies, the universal law of supply and demand applies. The friendlier the market is (more demand), the more quality solutions will be developed through competition. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/04/11/what-are-the-most-interesting-things-happening-in-edtech-right-now/ |
What Are The Most Promising Areas Of Machine Learning Research Right Now? | Getty These questions originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. The most important meta-learning of my career so far is that scale is always more powerful than I think. Ive seen this for individual companies (networks effects, economics of scale, etc. ), the power of the YC network because of its scale, and in what happens when you scale up machine learning models. I think one of the most promising directions right now in ML research is figuring out how to scale up ideas that are already working. And its the kind of thing that doesnt sound as exciting as a brilliant new algorithm, and its hard, so its tempting to look for another answer. I am particularly excited about progress in unsupervised learning, and in combining UL models with goal-directed agents. The goal of OpenAI is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. We want to ensure that the field builds a good futureone where the benefits of AGI are widely distributed and used for individual empowerment, we are able to solve problems that are otherwise too difficult (like stopping climate change, making education great worldwide, and curing many diseases in a short period of time), and that the systems we develop are safe. I believe that if AGI truly does get built, it will be the most important technological achievement about human history, and that life on the other side will be very different. The magnitude of this change is so big that we designed a new corporate structure to let us balance our capital needs with our mission. (Without this, it is difficult to concentrate enough talent over time, and hard for me personally to keep focused on it.) (I don't care too much about the current TAM but I care a lot about it what it will be in 10 years. I also try to differentiate between real trends and fake trendseg, are initial users of a platform using it every day?) Does the strategy make sense (e.g., is there a network effect that will get built up over time, is the business model sensible, etc.) These questions originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/04/11/what-are-the-most-promising-areas-of-machine-learning-research-right-now/ |
Why was Julian Assange clutching a book by Gore Vidal as he was dragged from the Ecuadorian embassy? | Clutched in his cuffed hands as WikiLeaks Julian Assange was carried down the steps of Londons Ecuadorian embassy and into a police van was a book, its cover facing cameras on the street. Looking frail after seven years in his cramped embassy quarters, Assange emerged and pointedly held out a copy of Gore Vidal: History of The National Security State (Includes Vidal on America). Later, at Westminster Magistrates Court for his first hearing, he sat reading Vidal while waiting for his lawyers to arrive. The book immediately drew attention given Assanges long-running battles with those who wield power and seek to protect powerful interests, and Vidals musings on the same topics. The U.S. Justice Department accuses Assange of conspiring with Chelsea Manning to break into a classified government computer at the Pentagon; his defenders, including whistleblower Edward Snowden, called Assanges arrest a grave blow to press freedom. History of The National Security State was edited by Paul Jay of the Real News Network and contains Vidals opinions, in recorded interviews, on the origins and reach of modern-day state power. In a blurb for the 2014 book on Amazon, its publishers say Jay and Vidal discuss the historical events that led to the establishment of the massive military-industrial-security complex and the political culture that gave us the Imperial Presidency. After Assanges copy of the book was spotted, the Real News Network posted a series of Jays interviews with Vidal from 2007. They cover power, public information, politics and more, and include Vidals assertion that President Harry Truman decided, after the Second World War, to make a ready-made enemy out of Joseph Stalin and use the ensuing fear to militarize the economy. The people have no voice because they have no information Vidal says, railing against the state of the modern media. It could be useful to tell them, actually, what happens around the world. Founded by Assange in 2006, Wikileaks publicizes large dumps of information that would otherwise, in many cases, never reach the public eye via the conventional media. The group has published more than 10 million documents to date. You cannot get through the density of the propaganda with which the American people, through the dreaded media, have been filled. And the horrible public educational system we have for the average person. Its just grotesque, Vidal says. When asked by Jay about the fundamental belief that U.S. foreign policy since the Second World War has been a fight for freedom, Vidal says: It never was. And to believe that were a democracy, that means you know nothing about the Constitution. The people that made the Constitution hated democracy. Were an oligarchy of the well-to-do. We were at the very beginning, when the Constitution was made, and were even more so now. Ive been around the ruling class all my life and Ive been quite aware of their total contempt for the people of the country, he adds. Expanding on what he says is an inept media that covers the tracks of its corporate overlords, he says: Socrates tells us that the unexamined life is not worth living. And that is an absolute truth. Those who want to examine life dont go in for journalism, because theyre not allowed to. He goes on to say that though the U.S. presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 were stolen, the media remained largely silent. Theyre saying we dont give a goddamn about the United States. Just stew in your own juice. Leave us alone. We have corporate figures to add up now. Everybody is on to the con act of our media; they are obeying bigger, richer interests than informing the public, which is the last thing that corporate America has ever been interested in doing. The renowned author, playwright, essayist and pundit Vidal died in L.A. in 2012 at the age of 86, having lived for many years on Italys Amalfi coast. A leftist who ran for office for the Democratic Party, he was celebrated for his 1968 TV debates with the neoconservative William F. Buckley. Known for his withering critiques of the George W. Bush presidency, Vidals books include Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace (2002) and Dreaming War: Blood for Oil and the Bush-Cheney Junta (2007). In an interview with Democracy Now in 2004, discussing the 9/11 attacks and their aftermath, he remarked: The United States is not a normal country. We are under were a homeland now, under military surveillance and military control. Referring in his 2007 interviews with Jay to his most recent fundraising for the Democratic Party, he says he did so because its, not that I like the Democratic Party, but we have to have the semblance of a second party to get rid of these others. Ive never heard cries of rage so loud, he says when asked what he was hearing, at that stage, from the American people. In its obituary for Vidal in August 2012, the New York Times called him the elegant, acerbic all-around man of letters who presided with a certain relish over what he declared to be the end of American civilization. Mr. Vidal was, at the end of his life, an Augustan figure who believed himself to be the last of a breed, and he was probably right. (He) sometimes claimed to be a populist in theory, anyway but he was not convincing as one. Both by temperament and by birth he was an aristocrat. Perhaps more than any other American writer except Norman Mailer or Truman Capote, Mr. Vidal took great pleasure in being a public figure, the Times added. In London on Thursday, District Judge Michael Snow found Assange guilty of breaching his U.K. bail conditions at the time he sought refuge, in 2012, at the embassy. Assange had been facing extradition to Sweden on sexual assault allegations, but feared the end goal of the charges was his extradition to the U.S. Mr. Assanges behaviour is that of a narcissist who cannot get beyond his own selfish interests, Snow said. With files from the Associated Press | https://nationalpost.com/news/world/why-was-julian-assange-clutching-a-book-by-gore-vidal-as-he-was-dragged-from-the-ecuadorian-embassy |
What Ohio State football recruits are attending the 2019 Spring Game? | COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State football will play its annual Spring Game on Saturday and there will be plenty of recruits in attendance. The 2020 class already features seven players and sits at No. 6 in the country, according to 247Sports.com.The class is headlined by five-star Cincinnati offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. At the moment, five-star Ohio native Jack Sawyer is the only player committed to the Buckeyes in the class of 2021.OSU has offered 57 players in the class so far, and at least four will be in Columbus this weekend. Heres a look at some those players: The Commits Johnson Jr. has been committed since June but has still found time to explore his options over the past couple of months. Holding on to him will be important for head coach Ryan Day in his first recruiting class. Miller was one of the Buckeyes first commits following Days hiring. The Arizona native is the only quarterback committed in either the 2020 or 2021 class after the Buckeyes missed out on one in the 2019 class. Miller earned MVP honors at the Elite 11 regional and became one of the first two players to receive a spot in the finals. Prior to an injury the hed amassed 2,431 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading Chaparral to a 5-3 record. Smith-Njigba committed in November, but its been reported that there are still a few schools Oklahoma, Texas A&M and Ole Miss still recruiting him hard. Overall the Texas native holds 20 offers. This past season he racked up 1,828 yards and 20 touchdowns on 97 catches. He added another six touchdowns and 192 yard rushing. Those numbers were good enough to earn him Second Team All-USA Texas status James has been committed to the Buckeyes since January adding to the clear emphasis on landing offensive linemen. It will be his second visit this month. This will be Lerouxs first visit to Ohio State since committing in March. Hes one of four offensive linemen three from Southern Ohio in the class. The Buckeyes were one of three offers from Power Five schools, including Indiana, Purdue and West Virginia. Strong Favorites Henry is one of four Ohio natives Adolphus Washington, Tyreke Smith and Zach Harrison to be ranked as top 10 defensive line prospects since 2012. The three prior went on to play for the Buckeyes, but the four-star prospect is still yet to make a decision. His addition would give Day four Ohio products in his first recruiting class with each being from Southern Ohio. Drennen II holds offers from 32 different schools, but his decision is expected to come down to Ohio State and Michigan. The Buckeyes havent signed an Ohio native at running back since Demario McCall in 2016. Harrison Jr. is following in the footsteps of his Hall of Fame father of the same name as a highly touted wide receiver. This will be his second visit to Columbus in the last three months. He attends St. Josephs Prep School in Philadelphia along with McCord. According to 247Sports, hes leaning heavily towards the Buckeyes. The Solon native already holds offers from Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State despite his sophomore season being cut short by a leg injury. He took an unofficial visit to Happy Valley in March but is the Buckeyes are seen as a unanimous favorite to get him. Hed be the second defensive end for the Buckeyes joining Jack Sawyer. Longshots The Buckeyes 2020 class is still without a commitment from a defensive player and it doesnt look as if Hill will be their first. He added Ohio State to his list of 22 offers, but Clemson and Michigan are in the lead. Hes already taken visits to Alabama, Clemson and Penn State. Bunkley-Sheltons strong relationship with wide receivers coach Brian Hartline will play a huge role in landing the California native. He currently holds 19 offers with USC and Oregon leading the way, but he wouldnt be the first player the Buckeyes successfully pulled away from Pac-12 territory. Chris Olave and Wyatt Davis come from California as well. Ohio State currently has four quarterbacks on its roster and the only one thats from the state of Ohio is walk-on Daniel Vanatsky. The Buckeyes already have Miller committed as a four-star prospect, so it will be interesting to see if Day tries to add another quarterback to this class. Hes stated that the goal is to always have four. McCord is one of six quarterbacks five of which are pro-style the Buckeyes have offered in the 2021 class. He recently joined 2020 commit Jack Miller as Ohio State prospects to earn Regional MVP honors of the Elite 11 showcase. Hes crystal balled to choose Penn State according to 247Sports. Jackson seems to have cooled on his interest in Ohio State at the moment as he leans heavily towards either Texas A&M or Alabama. Overall he holds 24 offers. Stellato hasnt yet received an offer from Ohio State but holds offers from four schools including Purdue, Kentucky and Boston College. He put together a 44-catch, 706-yard and six-touchdown sophomore campaign. The five-star recruit recently stated that Notre Dame sits at the top of the list for him at the moment. He holds offers from 26 total schools. Tengwall has already taken visits to South Bend, Indiana and Happy Valley this spring. He also plans to visit Michigan before going back to Notre Dame one more time. Get Buckeyes Insider texts in your phone from Doug Lesmerises: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the award-winning OSU football reporter, just like you would with your friends. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here. | https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2019/04/what-ohio-state-football-recruits-are-attending-the-2019-spring-game.html |
How did Kenny Shiels' son Jody end up managing in the Outer Hebrides? | Media playback is not supported on this device 'I thought he was going to kick the water bottles at us' "People say 'you're Dean Shiels' brother, you're Kenny Shiels' son,' but I want to be my own man. Part of doing that was getting away, getting responsible." Jody Shiels, the player-manager of Outer Hebrides side Harris FC, is on a mission. The 30-year-old is preparing to lead the club in their debut season in the Lewis and Harris League, and views it as the first step to a career in football management. He dreams of one day emulating his dad by prowling the touchline at Rugby Park - or maybe even at Ibrox - but his journey so far has been vastly different to that of his famed footballing kin. "I tried to get away from the game, not deliberately I suppose, just the way it happened. But it always comes back to us, it's just the way we are I think," he says. Here, Shiels tells BBC Scotland about how he has dealt with having a famous family, getting stick from the pensioners of Harris, and how Shiels senior intervened to give his players a half-time "rollicking". A family 'obsessed' with football Kenny Shiels managed Kilmarnock and Morton before ending his three-year stint at Derry City in 2018 Dad Kenny is a self-proclaimed football obsessive, and so escaping the sport was never an option for his sons. Shiels, like so many others, aspired to play professionally. But while his brother Dean excelled, he eventually had to wrestle with the reality that he would never make it. "My brother was doing so well, but I couldn't live up to his standard," explains Shiels, who can also count St Mirren manager Oran Kearney as his brother-in-law. "At school, I always thought I'd be a footballer, but it just never worked out. When I was maybe 18 or 19, I realised I wasn't good enough. It was quite difficult, I was kind of lost at what to do." At 19, he found the hospitality industry, and worked at the Hibernian Supporters Club when his dad moved to Kilmarnock, initially as assistant manager. Living and working in Edinburgh - and then Glasgow - with relatives in the unforgiving Scottish football spotlight was challenging for Shiels, so much so that he felt he had to escape the sport he loved. He moved to Frankfurt, Germany to work in an Irish pub - a necessary change for a "quiet life". "I didn't like the attention my father and brother were getting- that was a turn off from the game for me. They couldn't go to the pub without someone coming over to them, going to the shop as well. There was a lot of good attention, but some folk can be very cheeky. If you're sitting there and someone's slagging your brother off, it's obviously not very nice. I'm quite a protective guy." 'The locals enjoy a good time' Harris is located in the Outer Hebrides After a few years in Germany, Shiels moved back to Northern Ireland but, in an even smaller goldfish bowl, he encountered the same problems. The association, good and bad, with his dad and brother was inescapable, but an opportunity soon presented itself. A job offer from Hotel Hebrides in Tarbert - the main town on Harris - was cautiously accepted and Shiels was on the move again. It is a decision he is yet to regret, even if some of the islanders are tough customers, particularly the '11 o'clock club'. "Every morning, the old guys come in for their drams," Shiels explains. "They've got 30 minutes until their bus. The bar opens, they all come in and they're expecting their drams straight away. They're all in their 70s or 80s. After we had a couple of friendly defeats, I was getting a lot of stick from them - 'You're rubbish, go back to Ireland'- because they say we need to win the league." The people, though, are the reason Shiels is enjoying life on the island. He describes them as honest and hard-working, and enjoys the community bond. And, as the man who pulls their pints and pours their drams, he has got to know the locals pretty quickly. "They like to enjoy themselves," he says. "At the end of the night I need to carry people into a car, it's almost a daily occurrence. They enjoy a good time - too much sometimes." 'Dad was going mad for about 10 minutes' Kenny Shiels, right, and son Dean won the League Cup with Kilmarnock in 2012 Despite the criticism from the locals, Shiels is fully immersed in the challenge of leading Harris FC into their debut season in the Lewis and Harris League. His fierce determination to forge his own path is clear, but, make no mistake, his inspiration in management comes from his old man. "I love coaching football, it just comes naturally, it must be in my genes," he says. "From watching my dad all the time, I just do the same as he does. He's given me a lot of knowledge of the game. He doesn't get a lot of credit for what he did at Kilmarnock, but he should. It's just because he's outspoken he put himself under a bit more pressure. He just says it the way it is, that's the character he is." Indeed it was his forthright opinions that would spell the end of Shiels senior's two-year stint at Rugby Park after the 2012/13 season. Despite delivering a League Cup trophy in 2012, as well as historic wins over Rangers and Celtic, he was dismissed. The club cited results and, perhaps more pertinently, a string of Scottish FA bans as the reasons. "Not yet," he answers, but his dad certainly still does, his relentless passion for the game unquestioned. "My father was up when we were playing a friendly," Shiels recalls. "I asked him to take the team for that game, and he said no, but he just took over anyway. He gave us a rollicking at half-time. He asked if he could say a few words - then was going mad for about 10 minutes." 'Dean couldn't handle the lifestyle' Even if his dressing room rants are not quite at his father's level yet, Shiels' says he has inherited the work rate, and is determined his Harris project could be the start of a bright future in management. "I want to manage in Scotland one day - start second division or something, hopefully that'll be the next step. I'm a long, long way from that at the minute, but one day down the line it might happen. It's better to start off small, managers need to learn from their own mistakes." A rookie manager he may be, but he's already encountered some difficulty in the transfer market. "I asked Dean to come on loan for a couple of months, but I don't think he could cut the lifestyle. He likes his Starbucks and McDonalds and all this stuff - you don't get that over here." | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47873912 |
How will George R.R.Martin's 'Game of Thrones' really end, for readers? | CLOSE As "Game of Thrones" comes to an end, the remaining cast guesses how many characters they've said goodbye to over the last seven seasons. USA TODAY LOS ANGELES (AP) Devoted "Game of Thrones" fans who've watched and re-watched all 68 episodes of the HBO series, and read and reread all 4,000 pages of the books by George R.R. Martin, will at long last get the ending they've craved with the series' eighth and final season that starts Sunday. The plotlines of the show have long since shot past what's in Martin's books, whose own finale may be many years away. While the endings will likely be similar, Martin, the master of this universe, could take a very different path to get there, making the coming end of the HBO show with its showdown between the humans of Westeros and the invading White Walkers possibly just a preview. For some it all just means twice the fun. Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen on "Game of Thrones." (Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO) "It doesn't bother me. I don't think they need to be one and the same," said Adonis Voulgaris, a fan of both formats who lives in San Francisco. "For me, it just means more content I get to immerse myself in." The show premiered in 2011, the same year Martin's fifth book in his "A Song of Fire and Ice" series was released. Fans have been waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for the sixth, "The Winds of Winter," ever since, and many wonder whether the 70-year-old author will live long enough to finish all seven planned books in the series. "George is not a fast writer," said book-and-show devotee Andrew Stachler, 44, of South Pasadena, California. "So if you were following along, I think it was pretty evident early on that the show was going to get ahead of the books." More: 'Game of Thrones' actors on who they'd want their character to hook up with More: Game of Thrones Easter eggs, hints and head-scratchers you might have missed That did indeed happen, and by season six warrior and king-in-the-making Jon Snow had been resurrected and went back to trying to save the world, while he still lies stabbed to death in a mutiny in the books. Kit Harington as Jon Snow on "Game of Thrones." (Photo: Helen Sloan/HBO) Martin, an executive producer on the TV series who has written episodes but is sitting this season out while he works on the book, gave HBO showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss an outline of where his long-planned plot goes, including the fates of characters like Snow, Daenerys Targaryen and Arya Stark. Armed with that roadmap, Benioff, Weiss and other writers have been telling the tale without books to back them. Fans are divided about the results, and how true they are to Martin. "It doesn't seem any less planned out to me," Stachler said. "It's absolutely a continuation of his vision. I always felt like the show cleaned up the narrative in tighter, better-paced ways anyway." More: 15 burning questions the final 'Game of Thrones' season needs to answer More: 'Game of Thrones' by the numbers: Counting episodes, Emmys, dragons and deaths Other readers feel the showrunners' vision and style have taken over. "I think you've seen that in the last couple of seasons where you don't have the book as guide, you just go from one big event to another to another, without that feeling of the backstory," said Gabriela Perez, 44, of Mexico City. "It's sort of like drinking a Diet Coke, it has all the flavor and all that, but you can tell the difference." Voulgaris, 27, said "last season was absolutely on fast-forward. The rate at which people would travel from one place to another was incredible. But that makes it fun to watch, it makes it accessible to any viewer." CLOSE Game of Thrones stars Emilia Clarke, Sophie Turner, and Maisie Williams talk about their characters ahead of the final season of the show. AP But the quibbles seem to go out the window when it comes to the giddy anticipation that comes with the six episodes, most running well over an hour, that make up the final season. "Oh, I'm still super excited," Perez said. "I want to know what this version of the ending is." And wanting to be a part of a massive shared event may dwarf any thoughts that this is less than final. Some 12.1 million viewers tuned in to the season seven finale, with 4 million more streaming it the same night and many millions more in the following days. The May 19 series finale is sure to draw a bigger audience, and a social media maelstrom. "I do think this last season is going to be the largest cultural moment we've had in a long time for any kind of branded property," Stachler said. "I don't know what to compare it to. I don't know when we'll see something this big again." And with no book to spoil it, readers and non-readers alike get to be, and expect to be, surprised. "Everybody has an idea," Voulgaris aid. "It literally could go in any direction." Martin's world probably has a future on TV. He and Jane Goldman have scripted a pilot, set in Westeros thousands of years before the timeline of "Game of Thrones," that is in production for HBO. The cable channel has other possible spinoff scripts in the works, too. Martin has released sample chapters of "The Winds of Winter" to sate hungry fans, and in them characters are in very different places than where the show put them, suggesting the endings might diverge too. And the author is subversive enough that he may change his mind about the ending once the show is done. "I wouldn't be surprised if he went down a totally different path, just because he's bored," Perez said. that's been done. I'll do something else.'" Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2019/04/11/how-game-thrones-really-end-readers/3437362002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2019/04/11/how-game-thrones-really-end-readers/3437362002/ |
Can Jeff Bezos make money in space? | Ten years ago the company consisted of the Amazon magnate himself, a few researchers and an experimental lander that fit on a flatbed truck. There was no sign outside its industrial park headquarters in a Seattle suburb, and the boss didnt talk to the media, period. After spending the past decade eclipsed by the exploits of Elon Musks SpaceX, Jeff Bezos Blue Origin space company is over being small and done with being quiet. To get some idea of the step-up in size, New Shepard will fit in the hold of New Glenn, said Clay Mowry, vice president of sales, marketing and customer experience. Blue Origins next project literally dwarfs New Shepard: the mighty New Glenn, a 300-foot orbital, reusable rocket, due to fly first in 2021. The company has constructed a sprawling new assembly facility next to Pad LC-36 at Cape Canaveral, Fla., where it plans to build, service and launch a fleet of these reusable mega-rockets. Representing a reported $2.5 billion investment, New Glenn will offer customers up to 45 tons a lift into low-earth orbita third more tonnage than SpaceXs largest rocket currently, the Falcon Heavy. Today the companyfunded by Mr. Bezos to the tune of $1 billion a yearemploys more than 2,000 people at five sites, including a launch facility in West Texas where later this year it will begin manned tests of its suborbital space tourism rocket, named New Shepard, in honor of American space pioneer Alan Shepard. Howard McCurdy, an American University professor and space historian, said as entrepreneurial companies mature, its hard for them to resist the lure of federal funding. The natural tendency is to go the government route, he adds, even if such a reset entails more red tape and demands greater transparency. As Blue Origin scales up, it finds itself courting the same vast bureaucracies Mr. Bezos once held at arms length, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Pentagon and the National Reconnaissance Office, which operates the nations spy satellites. Until a few years ago, Mr. Bezos didnt publicly entertain the idea of competing for federal business. Now, the company is openly campaigning for lucrative, risk-intolerant government and national security payloads. We need those customers, Mr. Smith says. Customers make you better. In its owners quest to commercialize space, Blue Origin has expanded dramatically in the past three years, Chief Executive Bob Smith said in an interview at the companys headquarters in Kent, Wash. He adds that the company will continue to add capital investment and new customers. One example: The company has tooled up to serially produce its signature BE-4 and BE-3 rocket motors, for itself and client/competitors such as United Launch Alliance. At this rate, the company might need to retire its motto Gradatim Ferociterstep by step, ferociously. It was always a little hard to picture, anyway. Such trends give us confidence that when we actually come into the market, there will be sufficient launch volume to get a good amount of return, says Mr. Smith. There are potentially billions in new public money on the table. In June 2018, the Trump administration proposed the creation of a U.S. Space Force, an independent branch of the armed services, due to be activated in 2020. In March, Vice President Mike Pence, doubling down on pledges to return American astronauts to the moon by the middle of the next decade, for the first time suggested they could travel on privately built rockets. With New Glenn, the company is racing against its former, more deliberate ways. In October the company was one of three launch providers who received Air Force funds, intended to help potential launch partners defray costs incurred in preparing to fly national-security payloads. But in March, when a draft of the Air Forces bake-off rules became public, they stipulated there would be only two winners, not three, as Blue Origin had hoped. More damaging to Blue Origins cause, the rules required both systems to be selected by 2020, in order to meet Congresss deadline to stop using Russian-made engines. The rules would leave New Glenn out of the running and also eliminate United Launch Alliance, which buys BE-4 engines for its Vulcan Centaur rocket. The winners: SpaceX and Northrop Grumman. Blue Origin fired up the lobbying afterbumers in response to the apparent snub, taking its case to the public and Congress. In a letter to Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson dated March 28, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D., Wash.) pushed for a delay and reassessment, arguing a hasty decision risks undermining the Air Forces goal of maximizing and sustaining fair and open competition, and without sufficient information to properly evaluate next-generation launch systems. The release of the Launch Service Provider agreement was put on hold. In March, the commander of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Lt. Gen. John F. Thompson, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Air Force opposed delay or modifications to the selection criteria. The trouble for Blue Origin is that, when it comes to payloads of national interest, nothing sells like success. SpaceX continues to fly complex, confidence-inspiring missionsincluding the first unmanned test of the Dragon Crew capsule docking with the International Space Stationwhile New Glenn will remain in spacedock for two more years, at least. The clock is running on other civil projects that BO would like a piece of. At a NASA employee meeting April 1, administrator Jim Bridenstine suggested for the first time that SpaceXs Falcon Heavy may be an option for getting U.S. boots on the moon by 2024. I wouldnt say [Blue Origin has] a toehold yet in government contracting, says veteran satellite-industry consultant Roger Rusch. They havent made a breakthrough. On the commercial side, while the demand for heavy-lift launches remains soft, Mr. Smith noted a number of potential growth markets for New Glenn, including deployment of so-called satellite internet constellations comprising thousands of wireless routers, essentially, in low-earth orbit. A cloud above the clouds. The demand for data is growing and insatiable, Mr. Smith says, and the physics dont change. If you want to move data around the world, you need lots of satellites. One such system was revealed in March when Mr. Bezos online shopping empire Amazon confirmed Project Kuiper, an initiative to launch a constellation of 3,236 tiny satellites arrayed at three orbital altitudes, like concentric shells. Speaking of smaller: Blue Origin also faces competition from a number of lean-running rocket shops that are leveraging the shrinking costs of processes like 3D printing and carbon-composite manufacturing. One such startup is the New Zealand-based Rocket Lab, which has launched 25 satellites into low-earth orbit. New Glenns exceptional size will make it cheaper for constellation-satellite customers, said Blue Origins Mr. Mowry, because it will require fewer sorties. We are bringing a huge vehicle with a lot of capability and a 22.9-foot in diameter payload bay, Mr. Mowry says. This is really interesting if youre scientific and you want to build an interplanetary probe; if you are the [National Reconnaissance Office] and you have got something with a big mirror or antenna. Now that Blue Origin is ramping up its commercial efforts in the very expensive business of space, its rockets arent the only thing that fill people with awe. The fact that Jeff is putting in a billion dollars a year into this? Mr. Mowry says. Thats impressive, on any level, on any metric you want to apply to that. That level of commitment is unmatched, unprecedented, unheard-of, any un word you want to use. It is incredible. What moved me most about Blue Origins factory in Kent, Wash., where the New Shepard tourist rocket is built, was the nearness of it allthe realization that, if I dont fall off a ladder in the next year or so, I will have a chance to soar to the edge of space, 62 miles in altitude, the so-called Karman Line. Plenty of chances, actually. As Blue Origin execs describe it, New Shepards West Texas launch site will operate rather like a skydiving outfit: Clients will show up, suit up, receive some brief training, and blast off; an hour later they will be on the ground again, getting their astronaut certificates and eating lunch. Sure, I would do it, if I could afford it. Having had a tour of the assembly hall and a walkaround of the single-stage booster and six-person autonomous capsule, Im completely at ease with all the equipment but my own. Im whats known in the Air Force as a three-bagger. Bob Smith, Blue Origins CEO, assured me the ride would be very gentle, no more physically demanding than a roller coaster. I wondered if he had checked with the janitorial staff at Magic Mountain. Blue Origin will start flying humans this year but it hasnt announced the maiden voyage for retail customers. We wont talk prices until we need to, and we dont need to until we actually have an operational vehicle, said Mr. Smith. T-minus a pregnant pause: New Shepards price point will resonate because cost is inversely proportional to access, and accessthe democratization of spaceis the notion that Blue Origin founder and worlds-wealthiest-man Jeff Bezos has taken as the companys mandate. In a period of historic concentrations of global wealth, New Shepard risks looking like just another skyrocketing inequality, an experience underscoring the oneness of humanity, brought to you by the forces that keep us apart. Like tickets to Hamilton. The price is certainly a big debate in the space-watching community, said Tim Dodd, whose Everyday Astronaut YouTube channel has more than 280,000 subscribers. Mr. Dodd noted that Blue Origins competitor, the Richard Branson-funded Virgin Galactic, has announced tickets on its space place will cost $250,000, with passenger service beginning in 2019. I would guess [Blue Origin will] likely charge around $150,000 per seat so as to undercut Virgin Galactic, Mr. Dodd wrote in an email. But in Kent, I found reasons to hope the ticket might not be so dear as that. In person, New Shepard presents as a surprisingly trim and hardy little machineonly 60 feet tall when assembled on the pad, about 20 feet shorter than the in-sky Mercury-Redstone rocket of its namesake, astronaut Alan Shepard. There has never been a manned launch system so approachable, so human-scaled, so ineffably rideable. New Shepards construction is science but not science fiction. The fuselage/fuel tank, covered in thermal protection, is fabricated from 2000-series aluminum alloy typical of aerospace, rolled up and welded on special jigs in a high-tech but unexceptional way. First, I was told, because composites dont play well with cryogenic fuels. Also, I was told, composites durability for long-term repeated use was unproven. New Shepard is effectively designed around keeping paying astronauts in those six seats, with maximum reusability and minimum between-flight maintenance, very much like airlines turn around aircraft. For example: Because the booster separates and falls away below the Karman Line, it isnt exposed to the extreme temps of orbital re-entry. It does get a bit blackened, however, from the uplicking flames during the propulsive landing. In most cases the ground crew will simply recover the booster, carry it back to the launching pad, check it, paint it, fuel it, and fly it. The landing team tries to avoid landing dead-center on the pad. We dont want to repaint the logo, said Clay Mowry, vice-president of sales, marketing and customer experience. New Shepards operating costs, flight to flight, should ideally reduce to the hand work required to recover and prepare the spacecraft, and the cost to tank it up with liquid oxygen and hydrogen (about $250,000). If you get costs down and still get profitability on every flight, you can have larger addressable market, Mr. Smith said. Also, the price to fly can be expected to fall as the inventory of seats goes up. The company currently has two boosters in Texas and two capsules, one for people and one for payloads, and is set up for serial production of both. The operational tempo of boosters is expected to be a launch a week. And since the New Shepard system is relatively small and transportable, it could be set up in any geographically appropriate place, although there are no plans to do so. Mr. Smith declined to ballpark. In the early phases of our development there will be a different cost curve and therefore different pricing than it would be later at sustained operations, he said. Awww, man! Because if its six figures, Im out. But if its five figuresand it sounds like it could be, maybe, one dayI might be in. Mr. Dodd, the Everyday Astronaut, agreed that that the cost to operate a flight might be under a half-million [dollars]. Split six ways, thats only $83,333.33 per astronaut. Im sure they will let me keep the jumpsuit. Dan Neil Write to Dan Neil at [email protected] and Andy Pasztor at [email protected] Corrections & Amplifications Blue Origin is producing its signature BE-3 rocket motors for client/competitors such as United Launch Alliance. An earlier version of this article incorrectly cited Northrop Grumman. Separately, an Air Force launch contract that Blue Origin was competing for requires the winners to be selected by 2020; an earlier version incorrectly said the winners had to be flying by 2020. Winners of that Air Force contract were SpaceX and Northrop Grumman; an earlier version incorrectly said the winners were SpaceX and United Launch Alliance. Blue Origins New Glenn rocket doesnt use power-braked descent and lands on a different pad after launch; an earlier version incorrectly said it did use power-braked descent and that it landed on the same pad. (April 11, 2019) | https://www.thestar.com/wsj/technology/2019/04/11/can-jeff-bezos-make-money-in-space.html |
Is a new Twilight Zone a good idea? | Jordan Peele as The Narrator of the CBS All Access series THE TWILIGHT ZONE. Photo Cr: Robert Falconer/CBS 2018 CBS Interactive. All Rights Reserved. Question: I have to admit that reviving/rebooting The Twilight Zone is a much less egregious sin than reviving shows as iconic or classic as Magnum P.I. or Full House since an anthology series is a different thing. Even movies such as Get Out and Us. I found it rather run of the mill. Tyrell Matt Roush: The fact that you reference Get Out and Us, both from Jordan Peele (whos the face and creative engine of the new Twilight Zone revival), is reason enough to cut the new Zone some slack. I remember reading a comment by Peele that while hes a fan of Black Mirror, which has often been likened to a technological Twilight Zone, the cynicism and darkness of so many of those episodes was why he wanted to delve into the more humanistic world of fantasy established so long ago by Rod Serling. Theres a timelessness to Twilight Zone at its best that argues for a remake in the right hands although as with any anthology, the new Zone is unquestionably uneven. But having seen four to date, Im eager to see more. (The episode, Replay, with a #BlackLivesMatter context in a story about a magical camcorder, felt like a classically topical Zone allegory to me and I loved the new twists on the Nightmare at 30,000 Feet episode.) To submit questions to TV Critic Matt Roush, go to tvinsider.com. | https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/is-a-new-twilight-zone-a-good-idea-1638881/ |
What Is The Fundamental Value Of Restaurant Brands International? | As per our Trefis Valuation methodology, Restaurant Brands International (NYSE: QSR) stock is worth $68, which is just 3% higher than the current market price. Our Price Estimate is based on a P/E multiple of 25.15 which is similar to what the stock has traded at in the last quarter, and an earnings estimate of $2.69 for FY 2019. The company had a strong end to FY 2018, wherein the company posted a revenue of $5.4 billion, up by 17% year on year. While the earnings were down due to strong cost headwinds. For Fiscal year 2019 we expect Restaurant Brands International to have a positive growth and report revenues around $5.7 billion and Net Income is also expected to increase to $623 million. In addition, here is more Consumer Discretionary data. The growth in earnings has been preceded by a positive expected growth in Total revenue estimated at $5.7 billion from its 3 segments for FY 2019 . Burger King segment is expected to continue its strong growth and expected to post revenue of $1.8 billion in 2019. This is in line with the expansion plan the company has for the franchise. Tim Hortons segment has been steadily growing and is the companys highest contributor to Total Revenue. Trefis estimates the segment to continue its steady growth and post revenue of nearly $3.5 billion in 2019. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen segment is the newest but has seen strong growth since the takeover by Restaurant Brands International. We expect the growth to continue as the company continues to expand by adding more restaurants. The company is expected to have a small increase in EBITDA margins while the Indirect expenses are expected to follow the past trend. Consequently, Trefis estimates Net Income to be around $623 million. In conclusion, Restaurant Brands International has a positive outlook for FY 2019 and according to current Trefis estimates we think the fundamental value of the stock is nearly in line with the current market price. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/04/11/what-is-the-fundamental-value-of-restaurant-brands-international/ |
Should U.S. provide reparations for descendants of slaves? | By John Torpey Torpey is Presidential Professor of Sociology and History, Graduate Center, City University of New York Its a question being asked more frequently of Democrats running for the 2020 presidential nomination. Many have expressed varying degrees of support for reparations, giving the idea the greatest prominence its ever had among leading politicians. Although the notion of compensating freed slaves has been around since at least the Civil War, providing reparations for their descendants has never really gained much traction in the United States, as I learned while researching my book Making Whole What Has Been Smashed. Reparations are rare Historically, the term reparations dealt primarily with the indemnification of states ravaged by war, such as those required of the Germans by the Versailles Treaty after World War I. In the aftermath of World War II, however, the term began to acquire a broader meaning, extending to compensation for those injured by the actions of a state. Still, such compensation has happened only rarely. Germany paid Holocaust survivors US$927 million or $8.84 billion today in compensation as part of the 1952 Luxembourg Agreement, most of it going to the newly created state of Israel to defray the costs of resettlement. Later, the U.S. offered redress to some 82,000 Japanese Americans who were incarcerated as enemy aliens during World War II. The 1988 Civil Liberties Act granted a presidential apology and $20,000 to each living person who had been detained based on the recommendations of a commission created by Congress in 1980 to examine the causes of the internment. But this payback was intended to be very limited. During the debate, then-Sen. Ernest Hollings worried, Where do we draw the line against reparations to the countless other groups of Americans who have suffered because of actions of the U.S. government? And the law explicitly says compensation would only be provided to victims still alive in order to preclude reparations claims by the descendants of black slaves and others. 40 acres and a mule Efforts to avoid establishing a precedent for reparations arose in part because former slaves and their descendants have long sought some sort of compensation for their suffering under slavery and segregation. These efforts have achieved little. Perhaps the best-known measure intended to get blacks on their feet after the Civil War was General William Shermans promise of land and loaned mules to work it. Yet after taking office in 1865, President Andrew Johnson rescinded efforts to distribute land to those who were freed. Scholar-activist W. E. B. Du Bois thus observed that the vision of forty acres and a mule was destined in most cases to bitter disappointment. Freedom is not enough A century after the Civil War, however, President Lyndon Johnson hinted at the need for reparations when he pushed through civil rights legislation intended to make blacks full citizens. During a speech at Howard University in 1965, he declared: Freedom is not enough. It is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. Although Johnson didnt call explicitly for reparations, he urged something more than just equal rights for blacks something that would rectify the economic disadvantage blacks faced. The speech has often been seen as a harbinger of affirmative action. Two years later, in the aftermath of urban riots in Newark, Detroit and elsewhere, Johnson created the Kerner Commission to investigate the causes and recommend remedies. The commission found that white racism was the basic cause of the racial unrest and proposed massive investment in black communities. Although the report was a best-seller, Johnson found the conclusions politically distasteful and distanced himself from the commission. Martin Luther King Jr. agreed with these critical assessments of black deprivation, but generally couched his appeals for addressing poverty in interracial terms. King did once indicate that he was coming to Washington for a check, but this was a rare aside. The heart of Kings Poor Peoples Campaign, his main focus toward the end of his life, was a universal basic income, not reparations. But others would pick up the reparations baton. Black radical James Forman, for example, stormed Manhattans famously progressive Riverside Church in May 1969 to demand $500 million from the white Christian churches and Jewish synagogues that are part and parcel of the capitalist system. This and other demands formed the basis of the Black National Economic Conferences Black Manifesto. Calls for a commission Little came of these efforts until decades later when then-Congressman John Conyers introduced the first bill on the issue in 1989. It proposed a commission to study and consider a national apology and proposal for reparations for the institution of slavery, its subsequent de jure and de facto racial and economic discrimination against African Americans, and the impact of these forces on living African Americans, [and] to make recommendations to the Congress on appropriate remedies. The Commission to Study Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act has been proposed in every legislature since and never garnered much support. Even during President Barack Obamas tenure in the Oval Office, little changed, despite the appearance of author Ta-Nehisi Coates much-discussed 2014 plea for reparations. Indeed, shortly before he left office, Obama told Coates that, as a political matter, reparations for black people was far less likely than a progressive program for lifting up all people. Activists have called for reparations for slavery for years. Heading into 2020, some believe that the time for reparations may have come. A driving force behind the persistence of reparations is just how stark the racial differences remain. Relative to whites, blacks tend to have lower educational attainment, rates of home ownership and life expectancy but higher rates of poverty, incarceration, unemployment and life-threatening diseases. The wealth gap between whites and blacks is very large, and wage inequality is likely making it worse. This is where a congressional inquiry, which may finally be politically palatable thanks to the growing embrace of the idea among prominent Democrats, would come in. Success, which will require legislation, will depend on building bipartisan support for the inquiry. Accordingly, I believe its best to avoid talk of reparations. After all, most Americans oppose them and always have. First, get the commission and let it determine the causes of racial inequalities and the form that remedies should take. As poverty is not an affliction of blacks alone, the U.S. must also address the poverty that affects many others as well. If the commission is given the opportunity to explore the causes of and remedies for racial inequality, however, perhaps Americans can finally move toward rectifying the inequities that beset blacks as a result of their countrys history of slavery, segregation and discrimination. | https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2019/04/should-us-provide-reparations-for-descendants-of-slaves.html |
What is Greater Cincinnati's best view? | Well, hey there, Cincinnati, you look great in your spring colors. Please pay no mind to us taking in your beauty from several angles. We swear it's not creepy. There are so many ways to take in the Queen City's majesty that we have to narrow down which of the Tristate's resplendent views does it justice. There's Ault Park, Mount Adams, Mount Echo, Bellevue Park and even the Cut in the Hill that offer most pleasing vistas. That's up to you. The Enquirer is asking its readers, who know better the kaleidoscope of the Cincinnati landscape than anyone, which perspective is best. The view doesn't necessarily have to include the Downtown skyline or the Ohio River, but simply provide a framing of the complexity of our home in the most engaging, captivating way. Here's our contestants. Let us know on Twitter @Enquirer. Refresh your browser, or click here.) CLOSE After more than 100,000 people have experienced the wheel thus far, Skystar will remain open at The Banks through June 16. Taylor Jade Powell, [email protected] Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2019/04/11/cincinnati-best-view-things-to-do/82979092/ | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/entertainment/2019/04/11/cincinnati-best-view-things-to-do/82979092/ |
Who gets rich from the Uber IPO? | SoftBank's Masa Son SoftBank's Masa Son Uber's single largest shareholder isn't the company's founder or even the venture capital firm that was Uber's earliest investor. SoftBank , Masa Son's tech conglomerate, is Uber's biggest shareholder . SoftBank amassed a 16.3% stake in the company since December 2017. But other people and companies will be worth a lot of money when Uber goes public. -- Matt Cohler, the head of Venture Capital firm Benchmark, owns 11% of the company -- Travis Kalanick, Uber's founder, owns 8.6% -- Garrett Camp, head of tech consultancy Expa, owns 6% -- The Saudi Public Investment Fund owns 5.3% -- Alphabet, Google's parent company, owns 5.2% -- Ryan Graves, Uber's CEO in 2010, owns 2.4% | https://www.cnn.com/business/live-news/uber-ipo/h_639658d7cba21d3ebe03a9cf8990bd40 |
Could Our Data Form The Basis Of A New Universal Basic Income? | Getty Since 1990 and the creation of the modern internet youve probably heard the phrase robots will take over the world once or twice. That's because, in the coming transformation of the global economy, job losses will be inevitable. That eventuality demands some forward-thinking solutions to head off a potential crisis in the making. The good news is that there may be a way for the very technologies at the heart of the looming problem to provide a solution. The pathway comes by using their own data as a new currency, and in granting users the ability to monetize it. The insecurity of redundancy While it may be true that the latest technological advancements will prove to be a net gain to society, it is also a near-certainty that it won't happen without some significant disruption to a large segment of the global population. According to an estimate by McKinsey Global Institute, more than 800 million workers worldwide could lose their jobs to automation by 2030 alone. Even if some of those losses are offset by retraining and the expansion of new-economy jobs, that still represents almost one-quarter of the global workforce facing the very real prospect of unemployment. At the same time, however, much of the growth in artificial intelligence and automation technology is being fed by an exponential rise in the quantity and variety of data being generated through interactions with it. That means the very same workers who find their livelihoods most at risk are also consumers who provide some of the world's largest companies with the data they need to grow and profit. Companies like Google, Facebook, and Amazon make billions of dollars in profits every year by leveraging all of the data created by their users. From the perspective of the users, that's an awful lot of money they're giving away for free yet that is where the key to solving the coming economic displacement may lie. Data ownership changes Up until now, the aforementioned companies have had what amounts to free rein over any user data they collected. From a legal point of view, there had been no framework in any of the developed economies that addressed ownership of user-generated data, leaving it up to the auspices of whoever collected the data in the first place. In May of 2018, however, the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) started to change that for the first time. The law, among other things, guarantees users the right to data portability and the right to be forgotten. The specifics of the GDPR don't go as far as to declare data ownership but does give all European citizens exclusive control over any data they generate online. That means, for instance, that users now have the agency to prevent any service they choose from profiting on their data by demanding it be turned over in its entirety and purged from the service's systems. The problem for users, at this point, is what they can do with their data now that they control it. That's where another piece of recent technology the blockchain comes in to play. A secure global data marketplace Data on its own isn't intrinsically valuable. The sole reason that today's biggest companies can derive so much value from it is really all about scale. For example, a company like Google uses much of the data they collect to operate the world's largest advertising platform. The data they collect allows for meaningful and specific ad targeting, for which advertisers pay a hefty sum. An individual, however, couldn't deliver such valuable data on their own; they'd need to pool their data with others to do so. Up until now, building an independent data marketplace of the scale that would be required to manage all user data everywhere on Earth would have been impossible. Then came the blockchain. That's owing to the fact that it lends itself well to a wide variety of data storage and authentication tasks. As it turns out, it's the exact kind of technology one would need to build a secure global data marketplace that would allow individual users to monetize their data. The only technical hurdle to doing so is the fact that blockchain applications don't tend to scale well, and would have difficulty keeping up with the trillions of transactions such a marketplace would entail. Efforts to overcome the transaction limit The reason that traditional blockchain technology has problems scaling has to do with the fact that each transaction must be verified by every node connected to the system. That takes a huge amount of computing power and time and adding additional power to the system simply exacerbates the problem. It also tends to drive up the cost of each transaction, as all of that distributed computing power costs money to operate and maintain. Revisions to the original blockchain concept have sought to overcome that issue in several ways. One method, employed by the Lightning network, allows groups of users to make transactions between themselves before eventually writing that data back to the main blockchain. Another, devised by Zilliqa, relies on a technique known as sharding, which splits the data required to perform a transaction among a smaller amount of nodes before writing the complete set of data back to the main blockchain. Both methods perform faster than the original blockchain implementation but still suffer from a bottleneck when completed transactions are recorded for posterity in the main blockchain. Solving the bottleneck One new idea from companies such as Harmony is taking the idea of sharding to another level, by involving only the nodes necessary to complete a transaction from start to finish. They call the method deep sharding because it splits all of the data required to process and record each transaction among whichever nodes are relevant to that transaction. That approach solves the bottleneck that plagues most other blockchain systems and enables multiple simultaneous transactions to occur at once with almost no wait time for completion. Scalability is now no longer such a problem. A crypto-backed universal basic income If every person worldwide had the ability to monetize their own data through a blockchain-based data marketplace, it would become a self-funding equivalent of a true global universal basic income system. In one fell swoop, the problem of worker displacement and economic insecurity that's being created by automation and AI would be solved, allowing further progress without the kind of upheaval that could destabilize the global economy. Instead of large corporations, instead everyone in the world would have the exclusive right to their own data to do with as they wish. After that happens, it wouldn't take much more effort to create a blockchain-based global data market to extend universal basic income to all. Maybe. Absolutely. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ginaclarke/2019/04/11/could-data-form-basis-of-universal-basic-income/ |
What was the North fighting for? | Of all the ongoing debates over the Civil War, University of Virginia history professor Elizabeth Varon writes in her thought-provoking new book Armies of Deliverance: A New History of the Civil War, perhaps none has proven so difficult to resolve as the issue of Northern war aims. The ordinary rank-and-file soldiers fought for the age-old reasons: pay and the draft. For the South, the question was thorny but easy: They fought to preserve the institution of slavery, yes, but also for the nebulous concept of states rights the Southern states believed they had every right to secede from the Union any time they chose (just as, to use more recent examples, Texas and particularly California believe the same thing today) and bridled at the idea of being brought back into the fold by brute force. For the North, motivations have always been murkier. Plenty in the North were certain the answer was had to be yes. God forbid, wrote the great Frederick Douglass, that when the smoke and thunder of this slaveholding war shall have rolled from the troubled face of our country it shall be said that the harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved. By the late 1850s, antislavery furor in the North (and throughout many of the border states) was at a shouting pitch. Its Elizabeth Varons contention that this antislavery furor ran through the South as well. Hence the title of her book: In this interpretation, the North had a dual motivation not only to free the slaves but to free the Southern citizenry from slaveholders. The author paints a portrait of the Civil War-era South that is counterintuitive; its not a traditional story of North versus South but rather a story of North and South versus the Confederacy. It was a view sometimes reflected in the beliefs of the Norths foremost generals. Ulysses S. Grant, for example, wrote to his wife: In my mind there is no question but that this war could be ended at once if the whole Southern people could express their unbiased feeling untrammeled by leaders. Likewise William Tecumseh Sherman, whose devastatingly punitive march through Georgia is here recast by Varon as a gesture of liberation: Shermans March is a tale of devastation and defiance, but also of the promises of deliverance, she writes. Shermans strategy was based on his belief that he could arouse the latent enmity of Georgia to Jeff Davis. Running alongside this revisionist narrative in Armies of Deliverance is a more-or-less straightforward political and military history of the Civil War, done very well. Varon creates thrilling set pieces of all the familiar battles and controversies, and she does a particularly shrewd and sensitive job of parsing the significance of both the Emancipation Proclamation and the 1864 election, in which Lincoln once again emerges as a canny politician the thinker at the heart of a campaign strategy designed to win over key votes in those border states. Get the Monitor Stories you care about delivered to your inbox. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy Its the other strand of the book that will get historians and Civil War buffs discussing and arguing. Indeed, some of that arguing starts in Varons own book, where she often acknowledges an obdurate resentment in the South that very much filtered down to the ordinary citizenry. Confederate civilians were unwilling, Varon writes, at the bitter end, to acknowledge the flaws or divisions in their society, and pessimistic about the prospect of reconciliation with the hated Yankees. To the bitter end and phrases like it crop up far too often in Southern literature and the Southern press to make Armies of Deliverance a rock-solid recasting of the nature of the Civil War. But readers dont need to be convinced in order to be fascinated. | https://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2019/0411/What-was-the-North-fighting-for |
Are the Lakers still a premier destination in the NBA? | by Daniel Tran Even in a non-playoff season, the Los Angeles Lakers found a way to dominate the NBA headlines. Team president Magic Johnson resigned from his post publicly before telling Lakers owner Jeanie Buss. This is just the latest saga in a season full of disappointment for the purple and gold. Many are saying the Lakers are now the worst run organization in the league and no one wants to go there. Others think LeBron James and young talent make this team a desirable destination. The Lakers need to stop thinking they're a top destination in the NBA. There's only so much selling they can do with sunshine, movie stars and beautiful people. The organization itself is a dumpster fire and every superstar is smart enough to know the team is in a bad place. As much as superstars are drawn to Los Angeles in the off-season, winning is also a huge factor in where star free agents go. An aging superstar, a motley crew of poorly constructed veterans and unproven young talent who are hyped up, but still green. Every free agent looks at that and is thinking a first-round playoff exit at best. Plus they've seen how intense the media scrutiny is in Los Angeles, especially with LeBron James. No one wants to play for the Lakers. No one said hes talking to the @Lakers NOW. I said hell be talking to a few teams this Summer. That's laughable. No matter how the Lakers are doing record-wise, they are always a premier destination. The mystique of the purple and gold is luring and putting a stamp on one of the most storied franchises in the world that will never go out of style. It's what brought Shaquille O'Neal to them. It's what brought LeBron James to them. The Lakers are in a great situation. LeBron James is still putting up numbers, they have a talented young group who has performed well without him and a lot of money to throw around. People still want to play for the Lakers. The Lakers job is a super attractive one. Young core. LeBron James. No bad contracts. Lottery pick. Obviously Lakers squandered this season, but if the right people step into the open roles (Im assuming Pelinka is gone), this is a great situation Daman Rangoola (@damanr) April 10, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.cleveland.com/tylt/2019/04/are-the-lakers-still-a-premier-destination-in-the-nba.html |
Why is the Trump administration trying to drag light bulbs back into the dark ages? | Well, there is, and it covers something found in every household: light bulbs. A 2007 law set efficiency standards for lighting that revolutionized the industry. Traditional incandescent bulbs were rendered nearly obsolete. Innovation spawned alternatives that save money and energy, including those light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that can last 10 to 25 years. When the standards went into effect beginning in 2012, many Americans were hesitant. Tea Party activists decried a loss of freedom to choose. Then good things happened. Prices fell. Consumers saved billions of dollars each year. And overall household electrical use in America actually declined for the first time in decades, meaning less heat-trapping greenhouse gases are pumped into the atmosphere. Of course, the Trump administration which seemingly has never met an energy-saving government regulation it doesn't despise could not sit idly by. An incandescent light bulb between energy-efficient ones. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images) NEMA: Future shines bright for the light bulb revolution Pushed by industry groups, the Energy Department said in February it would withdraw an Obama-era rule that would extend efficiency standards to categories of lighting not originally covered under the 2007 law. These include reflector bulbs used in recessed lighting, candle-shaped bulbs for chandeliers and sconces, and globes for bathroom fixtures. All together, these constitute almost half of the nation's 6 billion light sockets. To make matters worse, the Energy Department said it would likely balk at implementing even tougher efficiency standards than the 2007 law dictated. These tighter standards are scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. The savings could be enormous, the equivalent of closing down 25 coal-burning power plants, says Noah Horowitz, a scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. An industry advocate, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, claims that the Obama expansion was illegal and that, in any event, there has been enough progress in switching to more efficient lighting. "The tipping point has already occurred," NEMA general counsel Clark Silcox wrote in a February blog. That's a little like a baseball team declaring victory during the seventh-inning stretch. You have until Friday to comment on Energy's plan to jettison expansion of the efficiency standards to other light bulb categories. Lawsuits are likely, and all of this will probably have to be sorted out in court. This much is inescapable: The efficiency standards Congress dictated in 2007 are a formula that worked. As a visit to any hardware store confirms, they spawned the biggest change in bulb technology since the days of Thomas Edison. USA TODAY's editorial opinions are decided by its Editorial Board, separate from the news staff. Most editorials are coupled with an opposing view a unique USA TODAY feature. To read more editorials, go to the Opinion front page or sign up for the daily Opinion email newsletter. To respond to this editorial, submit a comment to [email protected]. If you can't see this reader poll, please refresh your page. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/11/trump-drag-light-bulbs-back-into-dark-ages-editorials-debates/3426706002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/04/11/trump-drag-light-bulbs-back-into-dark-ages-editorials-debates/3426706002/ |
What are the NHL playoff overtime rules? | Once the Stanley Cup Playoffs begin, 3-on-3 hockey goes out of the window. Stanley Cup playoff rules are different in a number of ways. Instead of a five-minute period with three skaters and a goaltender for each team, teams play a 20-minute period with five skaters each along with the goalie. The game continues until a team scores. Should the game remain scoreless following the 20-minute period, an intermission takes place before each team returns to the ice for another 20 minutes. Each goal is reviewed by the NHL offices in Toronto. There was already one overtime in the first fay of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Islanders beat the Penguins 4-3 in Long Island 4:39 into OT with a Josh Bailey goal. Reach Luis Torres at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @LFTorresIII. | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2019/04/11/nhl-playoff-overtime-rules-stanley-cup/3432423002/ |
How does it feel to be watched at work all the time? | Courtney Hagen Ford, 34, left her job working as a bank teller because she found the surveillance she was under was "dehumanising". Her employer logged her keystrokes and used software to monitor how many of the customers she helped went on to take out loans and fee-paying accounts. "The sales pressure was relentless," she recalls. "The totality was horrible." She decided selling fast food would be better, but ironically, left the bank to do a doctorate in surveillance technology. Courtney is not alone in her dislike of this kind of surveillance, but it's on the rise around the world as firms look to squeeze more productivity from their workers and become more efficient. Image copyright Courtney Hagen Ford Image caption Courtney Hagen Ford says having her every move monitored was "dehumanising" More than half of companies with over $750m (574m) in annual revenue used "non-traditional" monitoring techniques on staff last year, says Brian Kropp, vice-president of research firm Gartner. These include tools to analyse e-mails, conversations, computer usage, and employee movements around the office. Some firms are also monitoring heart rates and sleep patterns to see how these affect performance. In 2015, 30% used such tools. Next year, Mr Kropp expects 80% will. And workforce analytics will be a $1.87bn industry by 2025, says San Francisco's Grand Review Research. Ben Waber, chief executive of Humanyze, a Boston workplace analytics company, says it gives firms the ability to assess how their staff are performing and interacting, which can be good for the firm but also good for employees themselves. Image copyright Robin Lubbock Image caption Humanyze's Ben Waber thinks firms need to find our more about how they function His company gathers "data exhaust" left by employees' email and instant messaging apps, and uses name badges equipped with radio-frequency identification (RFID) devices and microphones. These can check how much time you spend talking, your volume and tone of voice, even if you dominate conversations. While this may sound intrusive - not to say creepy - proponents argue that it can also protect employees against bullying and sexual harassment. Humanyze calls these badges "Fitbit for your career". Some of this data analysis can produce unexpected results, says Mr Waber. For example, one large tech client discovered that coders who sat at 12-person lunch tables tended to outperform those who regularly sat at four-person tables. The larger tables led to more interaction with staff from other parts of the company, he says, and this improved idea sharing. Larger lunch tables were "driving more than a 10% difference in performances". A fact that would probably have gone undetected without such data analysis. Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption The chip allows employees to open doors and use the photocopier without a traditional pass card Over the last few years a Stockholm co-working space called Epicenter has gone much further and holds popular "chipping parties", where people can have RFID-enabled rice-sized microchips implanted in their hands. They can use the implants to access electronically controlled doors, swap contacts, or monitor how typing speed correlates with heart rate, says Epicenter's Hannes Sjblad, who has an implant himself. The implant "cannot transmit any data unless you put it within a centimetre of a reader, so the person with the implant controls when it can be read", he says. Embedded chips may seem extreme, but it is a relatively small step from ID cards and biometrics to such devices, says Prof Jeffrey Stanton, a University of Syracuse academic who researches work-related stress. As long as such schemes are voluntary, "there will probably be a growing number of convenience-oriented uses such that a substantial number of workers would opt to have a chip implanted", he believes. But if embedded chips are used to reduce slack time or rest breaks, "we are probably in the bad zone", he says. And if surveillance tools "take away autonomy", that's when they prove most unpopular. Image copyright Gartner Image caption Gartner's Brian Kropp says bad communication can scupper monitoring projects A lot depends on how such monitoring initiatives are communicated, Gartner's Mr Kropp argues. In 2016, Britain's Telegraph newspaper installed heat and motion monitoring devices under employees' desks. While management said it was to find out which desks were occupied for energy management purposes, staff thought they were been spied on and staged a revolt. The devices were removed after 24 hours. If bosses don't communicate effectively, employees assume the worst, Dr Kropp says. But if they're open about the information they're collecting - and what they're doing with it - 46% of employees are "generally okay with it". Although many such monitoring schemes use anonymised data and participation is voluntary, many staff remain sceptical and fear an erosion of their civil liberties. In less liberal countries, workers are not given any choice at all. But for some, the benefits are obvious. Image copyright Jessica Johnson Image caption Jessica Johnson says her workplace tracking software helps her cope with narcolepsy "I've got a condition called narcolepsy," explains Jessica Johnson, 34, from Canberra, Australia. She falls asleep for short periods during the day, then is disorientated when she wakes. This "impacts my memory, my ability to focus and concentrate," she says. She worked with an insurance company where employees used a programme called Timely to track billable hours. It helped her quickly find what she had been doing before she fell asleep, and pick up where she left off. "You install it on your phone, and then on your computer, and that's how you get all the raw data," says Mathias Mikkelsen, Timely's Norwegian chief executive. More Technology of Business "Machine learning algorithms analyse all the data, and create beautiful charts," he says. You can then see how much time you're wasting in unproductive meetings, say, or replying to e-mails. You could show managers you were "spending so much time on stuff that's not what you were hired to do," says Mr Mikkelsen. So workplace surveillance could be empowering for staff and useful for companies looking to become more efficient and profitable. But implemented in the wrong way, it could also become an unpopular tool of oppression that proves counterproductive. Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47879798 |
What Does the Assange Arrest Mean for Press Freedoms in America? | Hunter DeRensis Politics, Americas The charges being brought against Assange are for the same crimes the Obama administration declined to bring forth in 2013. Julian Assange was arrested in London this morning, emerging after more than six and half years from the Ecuadorian Embassy where he had been granted asylum in August 2012. Originally welcomed by leftist Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, Assanges status has been in negotiation for almost a year by centrist President Lenin Moreno who took office in 2017. Moreno had cut off Assanges internet connection in the embassy in March 2018, making communication with the outside world difficult. Assange founded Wikileaks, a public archive of leaked government documents, in 2006 and served as its editor for over a decade. In this capacity, Wikileaks has published war logs for both the Iraq and Afghan wars, U.S. State Department diplomatic cables and emails from the Democratic National Committee. The now-public documents have broken numerous new stories, from war crimes in Iraq to corruption at the DNC. While its defenders point to its record of accuracy and use of widely-accepted journalistic norms for obtaining classified documents, Wikileaks detractors consider it, in the words of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a non-state hostile intelligence service. Read full article | https://news.yahoo.com/does-assange-arrest-mean-press-121300898.html |
Why are black mothers at more risk of dying? | Image copyright Candice Brathwaite Image caption Candice Brathwaite shared her birth story to highlight the risks black women face Black women in the UK are much more likely to die from complications surrounding pregnancy and childbirth than white women. But for many, the report into these maternal deaths and its stark figures only confirmed what they already knew - being black and pregnant carries more risk. Death in pregnancy and childbirth is rare. But according to one report, there is a proportionally higher risk to black women than white. The chance of death is 1 in 2,500 for black women according to the UK Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths. But the rate was five times smaller for white women between 2014 and 2016. The striking figures prompted a warning from the report's author: "The almost fivefold higher mortality rate amongst black women compared with white women requires urgent explanation and action." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Serena Williams and Beyonc have both talked about the trauma of childbirth High profile black women such as Serena Williams and Beyonc have highlighted the difficulties experienced by black women during pregnancy and childbirth. The singer wrote about her preeclampsia - which black women have a higher risk of developing - while the tennis star said she was lucky to survive a "slew of health complications" around the birth of her daughter. Williams said she felt grateful to have had access to an "incredible medical team of doctors and nurses at a hospital with state-of-the-art equipment" but that black women in the United States were often not so lucky - comments that sparked debate in the media. Indeed, in the US the rate of pregnancy-related deaths among black women is three to four times higher than among white women. While social factors could be behind some of the figures, one report found black middle-class women were more likely to die in childbirth than white working-class women. Image copyright Ria Clarke Image caption Dr Ria Clarke said the report left her with more questions than answers The report says the figures are partly explained by health complications experienced by black women. But it also pointed to other factors, including the inadequate use of antenatal care. Dr Ria Clarke, who is working towards becoming a consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, told the Pregnant Then Screwed conference in January that black and Asian women were more likely to be affected by social and economic problems. "We know there are medical reasons," she added. "We [also] know if you have an unsuitable working and living situation, if you live in poor housing, which impacts on health and outcomes, you can see how that might impact on mortality." But she said this might not be the full picture. "We need to talk about the fact black women may not feel that they will be taken seriously, which might make them less likely to disclose how they are feeling. "This is urgent because women are dying and if it's not racial bias we need to know why [it is happening]." Image copyright Candice Brathwaite Image caption Candice Brathwaite shared this photo on Make Birth Better's Instagram page to share her birth experience as a black mother Candice Brathwaite believes she was the victim of racial bias around the time she gave birth to her daughter. She says she was treated differently to mothers in the same position as her who were of a different race, and that expectant white mothers "seemed to be listened to in more depth and with a sense of empathy" - an approach which she says was missing from her care. When she told staff she felt "worse than I should" after a Caesarean, she felt her concerns weren't listened to, something she thinks could be down to racial bias within the NHS. "I was told, 'you're over-thinking it, it's your first kid. [Later], I was told 'we're taking you into theatre or you won't be here tomorrow'," she said, after returning to hospital with septicaemia hours after being discharged. "I was so exhausted all I could do was laugh and say, 'I told you I didn't feel great'. "Health trusts need to admit there is racial bias. There needs to be better training so people can say 'am I responding to this person differently and why is that?'" The mum of two shared her story in a bid to open up the conversation around birth and race following the report and said that "every time I share my story other black women share their story with me". In an Instagram post, she said the data confirmed what she and countless other black women had long thought - that their concerns and fears were often ignored. "For so long, black women in the UK have had to lean on the statistics of the US to help validate their own stories of pregnancy and childbirth," she wrote. "Black women now have the data to sit alongside what we already knew." You might also be interested in: Mars Lord, a doula who supports women through childbirth, said one of the problems is that conversations about racial bias in maternity care are "often shut down" by those who feel uncomfortable with the suggestion it exists. "It's not enough to jump up and give your non-racist credentials, you need to be anti-racist," she says. "We're going to have to have an uncomfortable conversation about race and the systemic racism in society." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The reasons behind the UK's higher black maternal death rate are being investigated by the NHS Dr Clarke believes other factors are at play, including culture and the narrative of the "strong black woman", which prevent some from speaking up about their concerns during pregnancy and birth. Mrs Brathwaite, who has founded a social media campaign called Make Motherhood Diverse to highlight stories from mothers from a range of different backgrounds, agrees. She says her grandparents' generation keeps quiet about pain and trauma and this affects how some black women are treated - even by women of their own race. "There's a belief that black women feel less pain," she says. "A lot of older black women have this belief that our backs don't break, so black midwives would tell me to calm down." The reasons behind the UK's higher black maternal death rate are being investigated by the NHS. A follow-up report will be led by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, which said it hoped to "identify clear ways to reduce the disparity in mortality amongst black and Asian women". NHS England said women would now see the same one or two midwives throughout their contact with health services. "By 2024, 75% of women from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities and a similar percentage of women from the most deprived groups will receive continuity of care from their midwife throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. "This will help reduce pre-term births, hospital admissions, the need for intervention during labour, and women's experience of care." The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists is calling for a national strategy around women's health as a matter of urgency. "We know inequalities make it difficult for women - particularly those from [BAME] backgrounds - to access health services," said its president, Prof Lesley Regan. "Every death is one too many and leaves devastated families without a mother. "This is why we are calling for a national women's health strategy to ensure improvements are supporting women, regardless of where they were born or their background." | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-47115305 |
Who steps in for Missouri on the offensive line in 2019? | Missouri wide receiver Johnathon Johnson (center) celebrated with Richaud Floyd (right) and Trystan Colon-Castillo (left) after a touchdown in the first half at Tennessee on Saturday. AP Missouris offensive line will feature a new pair of starters next season. Thats certainly a different scenario than the 2018 season, when the line returned all five starters. But MU lost longtime starters Paul Adams and Kevin Pendleton to graduation, opening up spots at left tackle and right guard, respectively. We lost two very, very experienced guys, said Trystan Colon-Castillo, MUs center. Those two shoes are going to be really hard to fill. Barry Odoms first depth chart of the spring had sophomores Hyrin White stepping in at right tackle and Larry Borum at left guard, with senior Yasir Durant replacing Adams at left tackle. Unlimited Digital Access: Only $0.99 For Your First Month Get full access to The Kansas City Star content across all your devices. SAVE NOW #ReadLocal The early reviews have been positive. White showed signs of being a standout lineman last season after filling in for Durant in MUs win at Purdue. White was one of MUs highest graded players for the game by ProFootball Focus and has a 6-foot-6, 305-pound frame that could one day translate to the NFL. Senior TreVour Wallace-Simms, an all-Southeastern Conference selection last season, said White has the most natural ability on the team for his position. Borum is even bigger than White, standing at 6-foot-6, but weighing 340 pounds. Despite carrying that much weight, the Michigan native is one of the most athletic players on the offensive line, according to his peers. That man has the most nimble feet, Colon-Castillo said. He can jump, Ive seen that man do a 360 (degree) drop-back dunk. Larry can be as good as he wants to be, Durant added. He can take it as far as he wants to take it. He has tools like that that come with a great player. Bobby Lawrence, a St. Joseph native, and Case Cook are two other players that could crack the rotation and junior-college transfer Angel Matute, who got on campus early in the semester, could be fully adjusted by the time fall camp starts in August. Lawrence is one of the biggest players on the team at 6-8 and added a lot of muscle to his frame during his redshirt season. Colon-Castillo joked that with MUs size, he likes his chances in a street fight with some of his lineman, but would struggle to take Lawrence over Borum, if he had to chose. Im going to take Larry, he said. Hes from Detroit. Bobbys from St. Joe. I dont know how much fighting Bobby is doing in St. Joe. In addition to adjusting to two new starters, the line has also had to adjust to the addition of Kelly Bryant. Bryant is the programs first true dual-threat quarterback since Brad Smith, whose last season at MU was 2005. Drew Lock extended plays with his legs more in 2018 than in his previous three seasons, but Bryant is a different situation. First week was a little different with Kelly, Colon-Castillo said. Weve been making some plays to give Kelly some open space so he can run. (Bryant) came in and took over. (Hes) making everyone work way harder than what we have before. | https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article229155024.html |
Why didnt scientists photograph the black hole at the center of the Milky Way? | After years of work and a whole lot of hype, researchers working with the Event Horizon Telescope project finally unveiled the very first image ever captured of an actual black hole this week. The relatively low-res image was nonetheless fantastic, and the fact that scientists were able to capture an image of the black hole from a distance of approximately 55 million light-years away is absolutely mind-boggling. But wait, we live in the Milky Way galaxy, and at the center of it is what scientist believe is a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A*. Related stories Here is the first-ever photo of a black hole Watch scientists reveal the first-ever image of a black hole live We may be just days away from seeing a black hole for the first time ever Thats a question Ive seen a few times on social media since the first black hole photo began circulating, and its a good one. It would make sense to capture a photo of the closest black hole to Earth, especially if we want to see it in great detail. Unfortunately, Earth and the vast majority of the planets in the galaxy just arent in the right position to see our galaxys black hole. The Milky Way is a spiral galaxy with long arms filled with hundreds of billions of stars, and its arranged like a flat disc. If you were to look at the entire galaxy from its face, youd quickly see our dilemma: The dot labeled Sun is where our solar system resides in the galaxy, riding the edge of one of the Milky Ways long, curved arms. From out vantage point, gazing in the direction of the center of the galaxy looks something like this: Trying to see our galaxys own black hole is like trying to see the center of a vast forest while standing along its fringe. Theres just too much stuff in the way, including stars, planets, gas, and dust. To have any hope of seeing our own black hole wed have to send a spacecraft tens, or even hundreds of thousands of light years away, allowing it view the Milky Way from its face rather than its side. So, the Event Horizon Telescope team did the next best thing, which was to hunt for a galaxy in the right orientation to be observed from Earth, and Messier 87 and its black hole known as M87 proved to be a perfect candidate. Sign up for BGR's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Trending Right Now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com | https://news.yahoo.com/why-didn-t-scientists-photograph-010317392.html |
What does the law say about where moms can breastfeed in Arizona? | (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto) A Valley mom's confrontations over breastfeeding at a Paradise Valley school and a Chandler mall raises questions about when and where it's appropriate to breastfeed. Theresa Phillips posted a video to Facebook last Thursday, showing a tense conversation at Kiva Elementary School where an administrator asked her to move to a private room while breastfeeding. Phillips posted another video to Facebook on Wednesday, this time of a woman apparently berating her as she nursed at a play area in a mall. Arizona law says a mother is entitled to breastfeed her child in public and is not subject to indecent exposure laws, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Mothers are not required to use a cover while nursing. "If you are in public and asked to stop breastfeeding, ask for the supervisor or manager in charge," a health department pamphlet reads. "Some people are uninformed, but the manager should be able to educate the employee." Officials in the Scottsdale Unified School District, where Kiva is located, said its main concern in asking Phillips to move to a private area to nurse was "to ensure that our students were safe and protected, including their privacy, while on campus." The district's statement says school staff never asked the mother to stop breastfeeding. "She was simply offered an alternative space because they recognized that not all activities are age-appropriate," they wrote. Arizona says a mother is entitled to breastfeed in "any area of a public place or a place of public accommodation where the mother is otherwise lawfully present." But a school is not a place of public accommodation like a public park would be, according to Michelle Marshall, the school district's attorney. Robin Anwaya, another parent at Kiva, agrees that public schools should not be considered the same as other areas open to the public. "If we were at a park, the childrens parents would be there, and they would be able to make that decision about what they want their kids to know," Anwaya told The Arizona Republic. "At the school, theres no parents to defend their kid or teach them about what's going on." 'Exercise your right' NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Phillips is planning a nurse-in from 2-5 p.m. Friday, April 12, at the Kiva Elementary campus, 6911 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley. A nationwide nurse-in at the Arizona state Capitol Rose Garden will also be at 11 a.m. April 25 to show support for breastfeeding laws and legislation. Phillips said she had been in contact with the Town of Paradise Valley about her legal right to be on campus and how best to peacefully protest. "It's so cool that this support group of women are using their voices and exercising their rights," she said. Reach the reporter Lorraine Longhi at [email protected] or 480-243-4086. Follow her on Twitter @lolonghi. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. For more stories that matter, subscribe to azcentral.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2019/04/11/what-does-arizona-law-say-where-moms-can-breastfeed/3439084002/ | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2019/04/11/what-does-arizona-law-say-where-moms-can-breastfeed/3439084002/ |
Why Was The Homeland Security Department Created? | It is a reasonable question, given recent events. For more than a year, Central American families crossing the U.S. border in search of asylum or work have dominated the time and attention of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its leadership. The recent series of firings and resignations at DHS, including the departure of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, is a direct result of the president and other administration officials trying to stop Central American asylum seekers from coming to the United States. The Department of Homeland Security was created following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, that killed a total of 2,977 people . . . in New York City, Washington, D.C. and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The lack of coordination and intelligence sharing among government agencies was a central concern that led to the cabinet departments creation. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 became law on November 25, 2002. Below is section 101 of the law that established the Department of Homeland Security and its mission: SEC. 101. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT; MISSION. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.There is established a Department of Homeland Security, as an executive department of the United States within the meaning of title 5, United States Code. (b) MISSION. (1) IN GENERAL.The primary mission of the Department is to (A) prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; (B) reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism; (C) minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery, from terrorist attacks that do occur within the United States; (D) carry out all functions of entities transferred to the Department, including by acting as a focal point regarding natural and manmade crises and emergency planning; (E) ensure that the functions of the agencies and subdivisions within the Department that are not related directly to securing the homeland are not diminished or neglected except by a specific explicit Act of Congress; (F) ensure that the overall economic security of the United States is not diminished by efforts, activities, and programs aimed at securing the homeland; and (G) monitor connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism, coordinate efforts to sever such connections, and otherwise contribute to efforts to interdict illegal drug trafficking. As the text of the law makes clear, the Department of Homeland Securitys primary mission was to prevent terrorist attacks within the United States [and] to reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism. Today, that does not appear to be the focus of the Department of Homeland Security. The focus of DHS senior leadership has clearly shifted in the direction of immigration enforcement, writes CNNs Zachary Wolf. The first item listed as a priority in the department's $47.5 billion budget request for 2020 is securing our borders. The second priority listed is Enforcing our immigration laws. This focus will not change soon. Donald Trumps choice for acting secretary of Homeland Security to replace Kirstjen Nielsen is U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. Of course, DHS officials need to address the situation at the border. However, the problem, we should remember, is not the existence of people from Honduras and Guatemala as human beings. The United States accepted more than 500,000 refugees from Vietnam after the Vietnam War ended. They entered the U.S. through a legal refugee process or were paroled into the United States. Today, the median income of households headed by Vietnamese immigrants is higher than U.S.-born headed households, according to the Migration Policy Institute. The United States should focus on providing legal ways for people from Central America to escape situations they consider desperate enough to risk the dangerous journey to the U.S. border. That would include, among other things, temporary work visas, in-country refugee processing and working with Central American governments to reduce the circumstances that compel their citizens to flee. Central American families do not represent a security threat, unlike, for example, cyber warfare, which in comparison receives little attention. Even after a decade of debate its still not clear who in the federal government, if anyone, is responsible for defending the country and the economy from the most sophisticated cyberattacks, writes David E. Sanger, author of The Perfect Weapon: War, Sabotage, and Fear in the Cyber Age. Following the attacks of September 11, 2001, it is safe to say no one in Congress or the executive branch thought the primary focus of the Department of Homeland Security would be to stop Central American families from coming to the United States to work or seek asylum. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2019/04/12/why-was-the-homeland-security-department-created/ |
What picks do the Buccaneers have in NFL Draft 2019? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who went 5-11 last season, have the fifth pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, which is April 25-27 in Nashville. Here are all the picks the Buccaneers have in the draft: First round: 5th pick. Second round: 7th pick, 39th overall. Third round: 6th pick, 70th overall. Fourth round: 5th pick, 107th overall. Fifth round: 7th pick, 145th overall. Sixth round: 36th pick, 208th overall (compensatory, via trade with Eagles). Seventh round: 1st pick, 215th overall (via trade with Cardinals). See the picks the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft. For team hats, shirts or other gear: Visit Fanatics, Lids, Champs Sports or Dicks Sporting Goods. For game tickets: Visit StubHub, PrimeSport, SeatGeek or TicketMaster. To stream this teams games: CBS All Access: With CBS All Access you can watch live TV and more than 7,500 on-demand episodes across many devices. The first week of CBS All Access is free. Fubo.TV: Get a free trial and watch sports from across the globe. Hulu: The best in sports and drama shows. | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/04/what-picks-do-the-buccaneers-have-in-nfl-draft-2019.html |
What picks do the Panthers have in NFL Draft 2019? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Carolina Panthers, who went 7-9 last season, have the 16th pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, which is April 25-27 in Nashville. Here are all the picks the Panthers have in the draft: First round: 16th pick. Second round: 15th pick, 47th overall. Third round: 14th pick, 77th overall. Third round: 37th pick, 100th overall (compensatory). Fourth round: 13th pick, 115th overall. Fifth round: 16th pick, 154th overall. Sixth round: 15th pick, 187th overall. Seventh round: None (traded to Bills). See the picks the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft. For team hats, shirts or other gear: Visit Fanatics, Lids, Champs Sports or Dicks Sporting Goods. For game tickets: Visit StubHub, PrimeSport, SeatGeek or TicketMaster. To stream this teams games: CBS All Access: With CBS All Access you can watch live TV and more than 7,500 on-demand episodes across many devices. The first week of CBS All Access is free. Fubo.TV: Get a free trial and watch sports from across the globe. Hulu: The best in sports and drama shows. | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/04/what-picks-do-the-panthers-have-in-nfl-draft-2019.html |
What picks do the Falcons have in NFL Draft 2019? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Atlanta Falcons, who went 7-9 last season, have the 14th pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, which is April 25-27 in Nashville. Here are all the picks the Falcons have in the draft: First round: 14th pick. Second round: 13th pick, 45th overall. Third round: 16th pick, 79th overall. Fourth round: 15th pick, 117th overall. Fourth round: 35th pick, 137th overall (compensatory). Fifth round: 14th pick, 152nd overall. Fifth round: 34th pick, 172nd overall (compensatory). Sixth round: 13th pick, 186th overall. Seventh round: 16th pick, 230th overall. See the picks the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft. For team hats, shirts or other gear: Visit Fanatics, Lids, Champs Sports or Dicks Sporting Goods. For game tickets: Visit StubHub, PrimeSport, SeatGeek or TicketMaster. To stream this teams games: CBS All Access: With CBS All Access you can watch live TV and more than 7,500 on-demand episodes across many devices. The first week of CBS All Access is free. Fubo.TV: Get a free trial and watch sports from across the globe. Hulu: The best in sports and drama shows. | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/04/what-picks-do-the-falcons-have-in-nfl-draft-2019.html |
What picks do the Saints have in NFL Draft 2019? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The New Orleans Saints, who went 14-4 last season, do not have a pick in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, which is April 25-27 in Nashville. Here are all the picks the Saints have in the draft: First round: None (traded to Packers). Second round: 30th pick, 62nd overall. Third round: None (traded to Jets). Fourth round: None (traded to Giants). Fifth round: 30th pick, 168th overall. Sixth round: 4th pick, 177th overall (via trade with Jets). Sixth round: 30th pick, 202nd overall. Seventh round: 17th pick, 231st overall (via trade with Browns). Seventh round: 30th pick, 244th overall. See the picks the Browns have in the 2019 NFL Draft. For team hats, shirts or other gear: Visit Fanatics, Lids, Champs Sports or Dicks Sporting Goods. For game tickets: Visit StubHub, PrimeSport, SeatGeek or TicketMaster. To stream this teams games: CBS All Access: With CBS All Access you can watch live TV and more than 7,500 on-demand episodes across many devices. The first week of CBS All Access is free. Fubo.TV: Get a free trial and watch sports from across the globe. Hulu: The best in sports and drama shows. | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/04/what-picks-do-the-saints-have-in-nfl-draft-2019.html |
Could All Our Scientific Knowledge Come Tumbling Down Like A House Of Cards? | Nicole Rager Fuller / National Science Foundation Were always on the lookout for the next big thing, and even our best guesswork is often terrible at anticipating exactly where it will come from. In the 19th century, we were arguing over whether combustion or gravitation powered the Sun, never suspecting the process of nuclear fusion was at play. In the 20th, we argued over the fate of the Universe, never imagining it would wind up accelerating into oblivion. Yet revolutions in science are real, and when they occur, they cause us to rethink many things and perhaps even everything that we'd previously assumed to be true. There are all sorts of foundational components to our knowledge that we rarely question, but perhaps we ought to. Wikimedia Commons user Stigmatella aurantiaca The answer, perhaps surprisingly, is that we're very confident in the entire body of scientific knowledge that we've built up. That will remain true, of course, up to a very specific point: until a single robust result comes along that conflicts with it. If the faster-than-light neutrinos from a few years ago had turned out to be true, we would have had to rethink everything we thought we knew about relativity and the speed limit of the Universe. If the EMdrive or another perpetual motion engine turned out to be real, wed have to rethink everything we thought we knew about classical mechanics and the law of conservation of momentum. While those particular results were not robust enough the neutrinos turned out to be an experimental error and the EMdrive has eluded verification at any meaningful level of significance someday we will likely encounter such a result. The key test for us won't be in whether we arrive at that crossroads. Our true commitment to the scientific truth will be tested in how we choose to deal with it when we do. Science is both: A body of knowledge that encompasses everything weve learned from observing, measuring, and experimenting on the Universe. A process of constantly questioning our assumptions, trying to poke holes in our best understanding of reality, looking for logical loopholes and inconsistencies, and testing the limits of our knowledge in novel, fundamental ways. Everything we see, everything we hear, everything our instruments detect, etc., is all capable of being if properly recorded a piece of scientific data. When we try and put together our picture of the Universe, we must use the full suite of all the scientific data available. We cannot cherry-pick the results or pieces of evidence that agree with our preferred conclusions; we need to confront our ideas with every piece of good data that exists. In order to do good science, we need to collect that data, put those pieces together into a self-consistent framework, and then continually challenge that framework in every way we can imagine. The best work a scientist can do is to constantly try and disprove, rather than prove, their most sacrosanct theories and ideas. Matt Mountain / AURA This means increasing our precision to every additional decimal point we can muster; this means going to higher energies, lower temperatures, smaller distance scales, and larger sample sizes; this means pushing outside of the known range of a theorys validity; this means theorizing new observables and devising novel experimental methods. At some point, youre inevitably going to find something that doesnt jibe with the prevailing wisdom. Youre going to find something that conflicts with what you expected. Youre going to get a result that contradicts your old, pre-existing theory. And when that happens if you can verify the contradiction, if it holds up to scrutiny and shows itself to be really, really real youre going to get to do something wonderful: have a scientific revolution. Curt Renshaw A scientific revolution, though, involves more than simply stating, this old thing is wrong! That's simply the very first step. It may be a necessary part of a revolution, but it's woefully insufficient on its own. Weve got to go beyond simply noticing where and how our old idea fails us. In order to progress science forward, we have to find the critical flaw in our prior thinking, and revise it until we get it right. This requires us to clear not just one, but three major hurdles in our efforts to improve our understanding of the Universe. There are three ingredients that go into a revolutionary scientific theory: It has to reproduce all the successes of the previously existing theory. It has to explain the new results that contradicted the old theory. It needs to make new, testable predictions that have not been tested before, and that can either be confirmed and validated or refuted. This is an incredibly tall order, and it happens only rarely. But when it does, the rewards are unlike anything else. Ethan Siegel / Beyond The Galaxy The burden of proof is always on the newcomer to supersede the prior prevailing theory, and that requires it to rise to a number of very difficult challenges. When heliocentrism came along, it had to explain all the predictions for the motions of the planets, had to account for results that geocentrism couldn't explain (e.g., cometary motion and the moons of Jupiter), and needed to make new predictions, like the existence of elliptical orbits. When Einstein proposed General Relativity, his theory needed to reproduce all the successes of Newtonian gravity, plus it needed to explain the precession of Mercurys perihelion and the physics of objects approaching the speed of light, and even beyond that, it needed to make the new predictions of how gravity would bend starlight. The Illustrated London News, 1919 This notion extends even to our thoughts concerning the origin of the Universe itself. For the Big Bang to rise to prominence, it had to replace the prior notion of a static Universe. That meant that it had to be consistent with General Relativity, explain the Hubble expansion of the Universe and the redshift/distance relation, and then make the new predictions of: the existence and spectrum of the Cosmic Microwave Background, the nucleosynthetic abundances of the light elements, and the formation of large-scale structure and the clustering properties of matter under the influence of gravity. All of that was required just to supplant the prior theory. Supernova Cosmology Project, Amanullah, et al., Ap.J. (2010) Now, think about what would be required to do today to tear down one of our leading scientific theories. It's not as complicated as you might imagine: all it would take is a single observation of any phenomenon that contradicted the Big Bangs predictions. Within the context of General Relativity, if you could find a theoretical consequence of the Big Bang that didn't match up with our observations, we'd truly be in store for a revolution. But heres the important part: that wont mean that everything about the Big Bang is wrong. General Relativity didnt mean everything about Newtonian gravity was wrong; it simply exposed the limit of where and how Newtonian gravity was successful. It will still be accurate to describe the Universe as having originated from a hot, dense, expanding state; it will still be accurate to describe our observable Universe as being many billions of years old (but not infinite in age); it will still be accurate to talk about the first stars and galaxies, the first neutral atoms, and the first stable atomic nuclei. NASA / CXC / M. Weiss Whatever comes along to replace it whatever supersedes our present best theory (and this applies to all scientific realms) its first order of business is to reproduce all the successes of that theory. They cant even do that much. Same thing for the electric Universe/plasma cosmology group; same thing for the tired light adherents; same thing for the quantized quasar redshift camp; same thing for the topological defect/cosmic string aficionados. Perhaps, someday, sufficient theoretical advances will be made so that one of these alternatives grows into something thats consistent with the full suite of whats observed, or perhaps a new alternative will emerge. But that day is not today and, in the meantime, the inflationary Big Bang Universe, with radiation, normal matter, dark matter and dark energy, explains the full suite of absolutely everything weve ever observed, and nothing else does. E. Siegel, with images derived from ESA/Planck and the DoE/NASA/ NSF interagency task force on CMB research But its important to remember that we didnt arrive at this picture by focusing on one dubious result that may crumble away. We have literally dozens of lines of independent evidence that all lead us to this same conclusion. Even if it turned out that we didnt understand supernovae at all, dark energy would still be needed; even if it turned out we didnt understand galactic rotation at all, dark matter would still be needed; even if it turned out the microwave background was all spurious and needed to be thrown out, the Big Bang would still be required. The Universe might turn out to be very different in detail from how we conceive of it today. Like many of you out there, I hope we live long enough to see what challenges, surpasses, and supersedes our best present understanding. But when that occurs, it won't invalidate what we understand now. Our leading theories of today aren't wrong, they're just incomplete. It's only by replacing them with something that succeeds where the present theory both works and doesn't work that science advances in any meaningful way. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/04/12/could-all-our-scientific-knowledge-come-tumbling-down-like-a-house-of-cards/ |
Can the Golden Knights slow down San Joses defensemen in Game 2? | Ben Margot/AP Photo Vegas Golden Podcast April Madness Justin Emerson and Case Keefer celebrate the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs by filling out their brackets all the way to the final. That comes only after a talk on all the key figures and matchups of the Vegas Golden Knights' first-round series against the San Jose Sharks. SAN JOSE, Calif. No team in the NHL received better production from its blue line than the San Jose Sharks, so its not a major surprise that the Golden Knights yielded two goals and four assists to Sharks defensemen in Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. Slowing down the San Jose defensemen will be the key to tying the series today during Game 2. But that is easier said than done. The best thing we can do is keep the puck out of their hands, Vegas forward Reilly Smith said. Theyre obviously pretty talented and they get up the ice well, but if you can eliminate them from the play early, it makes a big difference. San Jose defensemen combined for 221 points during the regular season. Brent Burns had 83 points, Erik Karlsson had 45, Marc-Edouard Vlasic had 25. All three had two points on Wednesday in Game 1, a 5-2 victory for the Sharks. For comparison, the Golden Knights top three scoring defensemen were Shea Theodore (37 points), Nate Schmidt (30) and Colin Miller (29), and Miller was a healthy scratch on Wednesday. The San Jose defensemen are even more dangerous when they have room to move like they did in Game 1. Burns scored at 3-on-3, Vlasic at 4-on-4 and Burns picked up an assist on Joe Pavelskis face-goal during the power play. The Golden Knights took five penalties to San Joses four. The Sharks scored three goals while a Vegas player was in the penalty box, which not-so-coincidentally was the difference in the game. You always want to stay out of the box, but especially against a team with that much firepower, Vegas defenseman Deryk Engelland said. You've definitely got to stay out of there, keep them at even strength and go from there. Staying out of the box is one option, but the Sharks also controlled the game at 5-on-5 through the first two periods. The Golden Knights had only 10 shots on goal in the first two periods, which put them in a 4-1 hole going to the third. We didnt shoot enough, and when we did they blocked our shots, forward William Carrier said. We've got to get pucks to the net and get bodies there. Vegas has plenty of time to get back into the series. A Game 2 win on Friday shifts home-ice advantage in the Golden Knights favor, with three of the remaining five games at T-Mobile Arena if the series goes seven games. But if the Golden Knights cant find a way to stop the Sharks defensemen from running wild like they did in Game 1, it wont make it that far, and the Golden Knights could see their offseason come early. | https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/apr/12/can-the-golden-knights-slow-down-san-joses-defense/ |
Who will Baker Mayfields backup at quarterback be for the 2019 Browns? | CLEVELAND, Ohio The Browns recently signed Alliance of American Football alum Garrett Gilbert, adding him to a quarterback room that already includes Baker Mayfield and Drew Stanton. The Browns know Mayfield is the starter. Mary Kay Cabot, Dan Labbe and Scott Patsko share their thoughts on the topic in the video above. Get Browns Insider texts in your phone from Mary Kay Cabot: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the award-winning Browns reporter, just like you would with your friends. Its just $3.99 a month, which works out to about 13 cents a day. Learn more and sign up here. | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/04/who-will-baker-mayfields-backup-at-quarterback-be-for-the-2019-browns.html |
Why let mining companies rip up public land like its 1872? | That we continue to be poisoned by the toxic remains of old mines is tragic enough, but whats worse is that brand new operations can do business almost as if it were 1872. A foreign-owned mining company has proposed to strip mine nickel on the North Fork of the Smith River, which is protected as a wild and scenic river in California, but not in Oregon, at its headwaters, where the mine is planned. If the strip mine goes on line, it would pollute public water supplies, threaten redwood parks downstream, and endanger one of the countrys finest salmon streams, not to mention reversing restoration on the Smith that has already cost taxpayers millions of dollars. | https://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-palmer-miller-1872-mining-law-20190412-story.html |
Can The Golden State Warriors Win Another NBA Title? | Getty After a tumultuous and eventful regular season, the Golden State Warriors have finally reached the portion of the basketball year that really matters. For all thats happened since they tipped off against the Oklahoma City Thunder way back on October 16th 2018 the Warriors, chasing their fourth title in five years, know that the real action starts now. The next two months will determine just how high up the NBA dynasty list they rise and potentially have a major impact on the franchise-altering free agency that follows in July. The regular season in perspective Its worth taking a moment though to pause and reflect on what the Warriors have achieved this year. Despite murmurings in some quarters that Golden State is no longer as golden as they once were, they finished 57-25, just one game off the pace they set last year when they went on to win the title. Indeed over the Steve Kerr-era, they now own the best five-year run in regular season history, with 322 wins against only 88 losses. Roll it back another year to Mark Jacksons final season, and the Warriors have put together the best six-year run the NBA has ever seen, at 373-119. Their offense has been as good as ever. Well actually, its been better than ever. To be precise, than anyone ever. According to BasketballReference.com their offensive rating, which measures points scored per 100 possessions, is the best in NBA history at 115.9, beating out the Showtime-era LA Lakers in 1986/7 and their own 2016/17 mark of 115.6. Not too shabby. Elsewhere they topped the league in assists per game (29.4), blocks (6.4), field goal % (49.1), effective field goal % (56.5), and true shooting % (59.6). They were second in net rating (per NBA.com) despite a less spectacular defensive season (more on that in a moment). Finally, despite the rest of the league catching up with their style of play they still finished third in both three-pointers made (1087) and three-point field goal % (38.5) All in all, its a pretty impressive season for a team deep into their dynastic run who has already played an entire extra regular seasons worth of playoff games in the past four years. The playoffs route is harder than ever The Warriors clinched the top seed with a win against the Los Angeles Clippers last weekend. Their reward is a first-round matchup with those same Clippers. Doubtless, the team is pretty happy not to have to leave California for a couple of weeks. The Clippers have greatly exceeded expectations this year, especially considering they traded their best player Tobias Harris at the trade deadline and still kept winning. Nonetheless, they shouldnt really pose a serious threat to the Warriors. From there on in, it gets much harder. Due to a deeply unlikely series of events on the last day of the regular season, including the Portland Trailblazers coming back from 28 points down without Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum in uniform, and the Denver Nuggets reeling off a 15-0 run in the fourth quarter to clinch second place in the West, the Houston Rockets dropped down into fourth place in the seedings. Getty That sets up a potentially very juicy Western Conference Semi-Finals matchup. Its one round earlier than last year and perhaps the Warriors would have liked, as James Harden and Chris Paul should be fresher. The Rockets may have started the season poorly, with Paul struggling with injury and the loss of Trevor Ariza leading to their defense dropping off a cliff, but theyve closed strong and Harden has put up a historic offensive season. In acquiring Iman Shumpert they have also secured another piece to help shore up their shaky defense for the playoffs. For the Warriors, the silver lining is that the Rockets will have to get past the Utah Jazz first, who have yet again proven themselves to be one of the best defensive teams in the league. The Jazz have battled the Warriors hard over the past couple of regular seasons so theyll probably be happy to face only one of these two threats. Getty Then comes the Western Conference Finals. With Houston their biggest threat out West, these Finals may prove less of a challenge should they get there. But the Oklahoma City Thunder are still on the other side of the bracket, and that could be a very spicy series. The Thunders defense is calibrated to cause plenty of problems for the motion offense the Warriors love to run. In Paul George and Russell Westbrook, the Thunder have two players who can take over a game, though in Westbrooks case thats traditionally not led to great outcomes against the Warriors. Then theres just the sheer physicality of a team with Steven Adams bumping around the paint. After all that, the Warriors will face their toughest challenge in the NBA Finals for a couple of years. There are four potential candidates, all of whom pose different challenges, and two of whom (Milwaukee, Toronto) would have homecourt advantage. The fight to come out of the East will be fierce, but whoever emerges will be battle-tested and has more than a punchers shot at winning it all. With such a tough road the Warriors will need to be at their best. Stay healthy This one is obvious. But despite that expanded list of contenders, health remains the biggest threat to the Warriors. In both 2017, with Durant, and 2018, with Steph Curry, they entered the playoffs with a major star out injured. Right up until Tuesday night it looked like they were in the best shape entering the playoffs in years. Then, with the Warriors intent on playing all their stars at least one of their final two meaningless games, Curry tweaked his ankle in New Orleans. It doesnt look serious and he should be back in the lineup for their playoff opener, but its a timely reminder that the Warriors dynastic ambitions are built on Currys fragile ankles. A more serious injury, or a reinjury for Curry who will be hounded by the relentless Patrick Beverley for the next week or two, could doom the whole run. Turn it up on defense For all the historic offensive statistics the Warriors put up, everyone knows that defense wins championships. Think of the Warriors, and chances are you'll think of the barrage of three-pointers from Curry and Thompson, the dizzying whirlwind of player movement, or the cool assassin-like Durant that emerges in the playoffs. But the ability to be historically great at both ends of the court is what has led the Warriors where they are. The Warriors underwhelmed on defense all year, finishing 11th with a defensive rating of 108.5. Thats not going to get it done in the playoffs. But last year is a potentially instructive parallel. In the 2017/18 season they also finished 11th with a defensive rating of 106.8. Famously they flipped the switch as soon as the playoffs rolled around and finished with the top-ranked defensive rating in the playoffs at 101.8. Dont beat themselves The Warriors can be their own worst enemy, with a tendency to get a bit sloppy at times and give teams a way into a game. This year they 25th in points given up off turnovers as they charitably donated other teams an average of 17.4 points per game. Another factor is how well theyre rotating to shooters on the perimeter. While overall they held opponents to 44.3% shooting from the field, good for third in the league, they allowed opposing teams to shoot 34.8% from beyond the arc, which was 12th in the league. Theres definitely some regular season effort on the perimeter that should get cleaned up in the playoffs, but its worth keeping an eye on how well they cover the arc, especially as teams are launching more threes than ever. Then theres their composure in close games. They were 20-15 in games defined by NBA.com as clutch, which was 9th in win percentage, behind plenty of potential contenders such as Philadelphia, Toronto, and Houston. The Warriors also lost all five overtime games they played this year. Its tempting to put that down to regular season malaise, but then you remember Games Four and Five of the Western Conference Finals where they unraveled and Houston took a 3-2 lead as a result. Draymond Green needs to hit his threes With such an array of offensive talent, opposing teams are going to leave someone open. There are a few candidates including DeMarcus Cousins, who has not found his shot from downtown, and Andre Iguodala, who has actually had a decent shooting year. But the key is going to be Draymond Green. Hes going to play the most minutes of these three, and be on the court with at least one of them for much of it. The Warriors cant make it easier for opposing teams. Unfortunately for everyone else, Greens been warming up. Despite shooting just 28.5% from three this year, hes hit 34.3% in March and 38.5% in April. If that holds, the Warriors will be just fine. If in doubt break out the Hamptons Five The Hamptons Five of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Durant, and Green has always been the Warriors comfort blanket. And theyre as good as ever. This year they posted the best net rating of any lineup in the league who played over 100 minutes, finishing with an offensive rating of 124.1 and a defensive rating of 95, for a monstrous net rating of 29.1. Against the toughest path theyve faced yet, and five long years of physical and mental wear and tear weighing on them, the Warriors cant afford to get cute with the lineups. If the Warriors can do these five things then despite the challenges awaiting them over the next couple of months, the chances are theyll end up etching their name in the NBA history books once again. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmurray/2019/04/12/can-the-golden-state-warriors-win-another-nba-title/ |
Can Branding Sell a Country, Like It Does Cereal? | Pglam by Danielle Kost The 70th anniversary of Israels founding last year stirred reflection about the countrys image, values, and position in the world among everyone from former diplomats to Hollywood actors. Despite efforts to portray Israel as modern and safe, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the countrys complicated history still dominate public consciousness. Memories of failed peace talks tend to loom larger than Israels image as a startup nation. Instagram posts from Tel Avivs gay pride festivities or the buzz from winning the recent Eurovision song contest may not be enough to overcome decades of TV footage of soldiers and tanks that linger in the mind. To Harvard Business School marketing professor Elie Ofek, its more proof that influencing long-held perceptions about a region requires more strategic thinking. After all, it took more than billboards and press junkets to turn Santa Clara County into Silicon Valley. Countries are beginning to realizeIsrael being one of themthat they need to engage in public diplomacy, not just a foreign diplomacy, and in place branding, not just political advocacy, says Ofek, the T.J. Dermot Dunphy Professor of Business Administration. Ofek examined the underlying factors behind winning and losing place branding efforts in two recent cases, The Brand Management of Places and Israel at 70: Is it Possible to (re)Brand a Country? Success without a roadmap Capturing a citys unique spirit and complex tapestry requires a custom approach. That said, many of the branding rules that apply to soda, clothes, and cars, also apply to places: Understand the brand and stay true to it. Twenty years ago, before The Lord of the Rings film trilogy elevated New Zealand as a fantasy destination, the country was struggling to set itself apart from Australia. In-depth interviews, focus groups, and surveys revealed that New Zealand could appeal to a specific stripe of unpretentious travelerone who values adventure, freedom, and nature. The resulting 100% Pure New Zealand campaign helped boost tourist visits by 50 percent from 1999 to 2005. New Zealand couldnt have achieved that success if it lacked the goods to support the image of raw serenity it presented to the world; yet it took a concerted marketing effort that highlighted these elements in an attractive way to succeed. Prepare to invest money and time. Ten years ago, South Korea set out to remove the Korean Discount on its exports and raise its standing on the world stage. Armed with a $74 million branding fund, the Presidents Council on Nation Branding began a multiprong effort in 2009 to position South Korea as an important global player, showcase its welcoming culture, and boost quality perceptions of its products and entertainment content. Over five years, South Korea increased aid and volunteer work abroad, hosted the G-20 Summit, promoted Korean language education, and even advanced the image of its national sport, Taekwondo. South Korea ultimately sparked new interest in its culture, setting off a K-Drama (Korean television drama) and K-Pop (Korean pop music) craze, with music exports, for example, expanding ninefold to $277 million in 2013. Think virally and socially. When New York City sought to bring back fleeing companies during its 1970s financial crisis, bank marketer turned public servant Bill Doyle knew he had to bring tourists back first to dispel the citys "Taxi Driver" image of grit and danger. His team created the iconic "I (heart) NY" slogan and encouraged companies to print it on everything from T-shirts to flags, making it instantly ubiquitous. The warm heart and bold typeface stoked positivity, and along with events and advertising, helped lift tourism spending. With its targeting capabilities, relatively low cost, and vast reach, social media has become an essential marketing channel. The Israeli nonprofit Vibe Israel, for example, has been funding Instagram influencers to visit the nation and share their experiences with their followers, pushing authentic messages to key consumer groups, such as affluent parents. Establishing street CRED Switzerland, Germany, and Japan dominate brand rankings. Intentionally or not, each country has cultivated an image thats true to its national character. Their branding messages have CRED, as Ofek calls it. In other words, they are: Credible. The qualities a country promotes must reflect reality. Spains legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005 reinforced the countrys liberal image, which reflects three decades of secularization after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. The qualities a country promotes must reflect reality. Spains legalization of same-sex marriage in 2005 reinforced the countrys liberal image, which reflects three decades of secularization after the death of dictator Francisco Franco. Relevant. The imagery and associations of the place need to matter to the targeted audience. A branding campaign that highlights Frances beautiful countryside and rich cheeses wont resonate with tech entrepreneurs. The imagery and associations of the place need to matter to the targeted audience. A branding campaign that highlights Frances beautiful countryside and rich cheeses wont resonate with tech entrepreneurs. Enduring. Building a brand around renewable energy might not stick if oil prices fall or a pro-coal leader takes power, but the unique essence of a city never fades and should form the backbone of the branding effort. Building a brand around renewable energy might not stick if oil prices fall or a pro-coal leader takes power, but the unique essence of a city never fades and should form the backbone of the branding effort. Different. The brand needs to stake out a position that allows it to stand out. A Caribbean nation might need to highlight its luxury amenities or access to water sports to stand out among its island neighbors. Brand strategy alone cant typically overcome controversial policies or unpopular leaders, or make an oppressive regime seem tolerant. Theres also a fine line between influential outreach and propaganda that leaves audiences feeling manipulated, Ofek says. However, the right branding can radically improve a countrys fortunes and diplomacy by adding powerful dimensions to its image, triggering ripples that flow down to major industries, companies, and residents. And tapping into consumers deepest aspirations can pay off for decades to comeconsider Apple. If I'm using Apple, I'm thinking, Im different. I'm more cool, more hip, Ofek says. Those sentiments are much harder to instill for countries, but its possible, and marketing can help. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/hbsworkingknowledge/2019/04/12/can-branding-sell-a-country-like-it-does-cereal/ |
What is the US Masters? | Getty Images Rory McIlroy is one of the favourites to win in 2019 The US Masters tournament is one of the biggest and most important competitions in golf. In 2019 it's taking place between 11-14 April. The US Masters is one of four major tournaments in golf. It takes place every year at the Augusta National Golf Club in America, where golfers compete for the chance to win the famous green jacket. Getty Images The UK's Danny Willett wearing the famous green winners jacket in 2016 The other golf majors are the US Open, The Open, and the PGA Championship. Only four British golfers have ever won the Masters: Nick Faldo, Sandy Lyle, Ian Woosnam and the 2016 champion, Danny Willett. The tournament lasts for four days, usually from Thursday to Sunday. A different round is played each day. Each round is made up of 18 holes. Each hole has a 'par', which is the number of strokes a golfer should take to get the ball in the hole. The aim is to use the least number of strokes (golfers want to be "under par"). After round two, the players are ranked and only the top 50 scores (including ties) go through. Everyone else leaves the competition. At the end of the final day, the player with the best score is crowned the champion. The US Masters brings together the world's top golfers, who have to qualify to take part. AFP/getty images China's Guan Tianlang was 14 when he played at the Masters in 2013 - he's the competition's youngest ever player They do this through a number of ways - such as by winning or doing well in other golfing competitions, or by being ranked in the world's top 50. The winners of some amateur championships from around the world also qualify to play. Augusta is the name of the golf club where the Masters is hosted every year. It is in the US state of Georgia. The Masters is the only major golf championship that is played at the same course each time. The 18 holes can be tricky for even the most experienced players - so much so that the area between holes 11-13 has the nickname 'Amen Corner'! Allsport/getty images Augusta is one of the most beautiful golf clubs in the world Augusta is known for its natural beauty and gentle atmosphere. "It's like being in the most perfect picture that has ever been painted," said England's Ian Poulter. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. German golfer Martin Kaymer on why the Masters matters German golfer and former world number one Martin Kaymer said: "As an athlete, as a golf player, it's probably the tournament that you always want to win in your career. "If you compare it to tennis, it's Wimbledon and for us it's the Masters, so... and it really starts off the season." The history Augusta was farmland until two men, golfer Bobby Jones and banker Clifford Roberts, bought it and turned it into a golf club. They came up with the idea of an annual tournament. The first Masters began on March 22, 1934, and was won by Horton Smith. It was called the Augusta National Invitation Tournament until 1939 when it changed its name to the Masters. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/26971517 |
Can the Tories and Labour agree on Brexit? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Andrew Fisher (centre) accompanied Mr McDonnell to the talks Cross-party talks are continuing in Whitehall, amid parliamentary deadlock over Theresa May's Brexit deal. Public statements on the talks have tended to be bland, ranging from "constructive" and "serious" to the slightly more negative: "We have some way to travel." Behind the scenes, the prospect of a deal, while difficult, is not impossible. There is a big incentive for both sides to reach agreement: the avoidance of next month's European elections. Prime Minister Theresa May doesn't want to give a platform to parties such as Nigel Farage's new project which could appeal to Brexit-voting Conservatives. And, frankly, some of her own activists would be conflicted over how, or whether, to vote. For Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, awkward questions about a second referendum could be ducked if there is no election campaign. So the talks are serious and not just political window dressing, and the fact that Mr Corbyn and Mrs May met on Thursday is significant. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Michael Gove is one of the Conservatives taking part in negotiations The Labour leader's policy guru Andrew Fisher joined shadow chancellor John McDonnell for the cross-party talks on Friday. But, as I understand it, significant hurdles remain. Some of the detail of possible changes to the Political Declaration - the blueprint for the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU - is being discussed. But sequencing is a problem. Labour wants to discuss legally binding changes to the document, future-proofing it, where possible, against a change of Conservative leader. Broadly speaking, the government would rather do "the easy bit" first - discussing legislation to protect workers' rights. Resolving this tension is key to a deal. Labour is also keen to secure agreement on a customs union. It is flexible on what it would be called - an "arrangement", for example - and Mrs May hinted on Thursday that the two sides were close on this. But they are not yet close enough. The definition of what a customs union/arrangement does is vital to the Labour side. But the main constraints to a deal may come from Mrs May and Mr Corbyn's parties, rather than their negotiators. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Many Labour members want another referendum if agreement is reached If there is too much compromise on a customs union, Mrs May risks losing more cabinet ministers. For Mr Corbyn, the pressure from many Labour members is for him to exact a referendum, in return for passing the deal. So far, the prime minister isn't budging on this. One way round this obstacle would be to hold a separate vote in Parliament on a referendum, possibly as an amendment to the forthcoming Withdrawal Agreement Bill. Both Mrs May and Mr Corbyn - who is not an enthusiast for a public vote - believe this would fall. But some of the Labour leader's shadow ministers - including some who are firmly on the Left - are pushing for a referendum, or confirmatory ballot, to be tied explicitly to any Brexit deal. So, getting a deal passed would be totally dependent on approving a public vote at the same time. I am told shadow Brexit secretary Sir Keir Starmer is pressing for a ballot to be part of any final package. If, in the end, these difficulties can't be overcome then the hope is that both sides will at least agree a parliamentary process for discussing and voting on options which might finally break the deadlock. | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47911720 |
What are the best-case, worst-case scenarios for Oregon basketballs 2019-20 roster? | EUGENE Four Oregon players have entered the NBA Draft, though only Bol Bol and most likely Louis King are expected to leave and begin professional careers. In light of the potential changes there is some uncertainty with the roster for next season. There are a lot of different possibilities for what the roster could look like just based on who remains in the draft or withdraws and returns to UO, let alone possible additions of signees, junior college and graduate transfers. Hare are the best-case and worst-case scenarios and a reasonable expectation for what the roster will look like next season: Worst-case scenario Bol is gone and absolutely staying in the draft. King is most likely in the same boat. Because this is the worst-case scenario, well momentarily entertain some outlandish possibilities. Payton Pritchard and Kenny Wooten have both entered the draft process and Victor Bailey Jr. was understandably non-committal about his future with the program after seeing his role diminish while the Ducks went on their run into the NCAA Tournament. For the sake of argument, if all three also leave via the draft or transfer, which again, is extremely unlikely, that leaves Oregon with only Will Richardson, Miles Norris and Francis Okoro returning and junior college transfer Chris Duarte, C.J. Walker and Chandler Lawson coming in. Even if Bailey Jr. were to stay with Pritchard and Wooten leaving, the Ducks would have to add no less than three and likely five more players in what would become a massively rebuilding roster. Of course, thats an absurd scenario but this is a discussion of worst-case, doomsday kind of possibilities. Best-case scenario Pritchard and Wooten are expected to return and for the sake of argument lets say King unexpectedly does the same. Even without the return of King, the addition of Anthony would give Oregon two/three point guards, Wooten, Okoro, Norris and Lawson in the frontcourt and Walker, Duarte and possibly Bailey Jr. on the wing. Thats a loaded roster that still has openings for two more. Start talking about adding graduate transfers like TJ Holyfield and you could have a ton of depth. The most likely scenario(s) Oregon has either six players returning with King gone and assuming Pritchard and Wooten return and Walker, Lawson and Duarte signed. That leaves Dana Altman with a lot of flexibility for four open spots. The basic framework is based around Pritchard at the point, Walker likely at small forward and Wooten at center. Whether Okoro or Lawson starts would be determined later, as would whether Duarte steps in at shooting guard or comes off the bench, in which case Will Richardson might start. If either Anthony or Stanley signs on, thats raises the talent and depth even further. If both do, thats a fairly loaded roster. Of course, the more additions that come in on the wings the more likely it becomes that Bailey Jr. might look elsewhere since his minutes were trending down on a short bench as is. If everyone but King returns, the Ducks still probably need to add a guard. | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/04/what-are-the-best-case-worst-case-scenarios-for-oregon-basketballs-2019-20-roster.html |
How Will Passengers React To Delta Air Lines' Move To Limit Seat Recline? | My wife was sound asleep on an overnight Aer Lingus flight from New York to Dublin last October when a flight attendant asked me to wake her up. Her seat was reclined, and a passenger in the row directly behind couldn't put down a meal tray. Such is the life of today's cramped air travelers in coach cabins with narrow seats and little legroom. Many passengers recline seats for sleeping or basic comfort, and passengers directly behind cannot use their laptop computers or meal trays and have difficulty watching seat-back video screens. The Points Guy, a website that provides consumers with travel advice and information, reports that, beginning Saturday, Delta Air Lines will retrofit its fleet of Airbus A320 jets to reduce the coach-seat recline from four inches at the top of the seat to two inches. First-class seat recline will drop two inches, from 5 1/2 inches to 3 1/2 inches, and it's expected to take two months to alter all 62 jets in the A320 fleet, The Points Guy says. The retrofit is a test of how to preserve passengers' personal space, according to The Points Guy. Delta told The Points Guy that too many laptops have been struck by the reclined seats, and the reclined seats make it difficult for passengers behind to watch video screens. Theres long been a debate among frequent travelers if flyers should have a right to recline or not," says Scott Mayerowitz, executive editorial director of The Points Guy. "Delta appears to be trying to strike a balance between those who want a little space to work and those who want to take a short nap. 2018 Bloomberg Finance LP Delta will rely on passenger feedback, The Points Guy reports, to determine whether the airline will expand the change to the rest of its domestic airplane fleet or go back to the original four inches of coach recline. There are no plans to change the coach recline on international flights, according to The Points Guy. Mayerowitz says its hard to believe that any airline taking something away from passengers is a good thing. "But, if you take Delta at its word, this might make for a more comfortable flight for some," he says. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/garystoller/2019/04/12/how-will-passengers-react-to-delta-air-lines-move-to-limit-seat-recline/ |
How Are Gene Therapies Going To Get Paid For? | ASSOCIATED PRESS Ideally, gene therapies address the root causes of disease with a single curative dose. If they can replace a lifetime of expensive maintenance treatments this may lead to cost savings in the long run. Yet, the high upfront costs and uncertainty surrounding long-term efficacy and adverse events have caused payer push-back. Payer concerns are further exacerbated due to there being hundreds of gene therapies in the pipeline, across a wide range of therapeutic categories, from sickle cell anemia to HIV. Should many of these gene therapies be approved in the coming decade the budgetary impact burden on payers could become overwhelming. Furthermore, the churn at U.S. insurers, as beneficiaries frequently switch plans, lowers the potential return on investment for payers. Being saddled with high upfront costs without necessarily experiencing the downstream long-term benefits and cost offsets of gene therapies is a problem for which a structural solution has not yet been found. Pricing and in particular financing remain fiercely debated issues. Glybera, indicated to reverse lipoprotein lipase deficiency, grabbed international headlines in 2012 for being the first European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved gene therapy, and for its $1 million price tag. Glybera stumbled out of the gate and turned into a bust. Lack of patient demand lead Glybera's Dutch sponsor UniQure to abandon pursuit of U.S. regulatory approval in 2015. Some have suggested that the lesson to be drawn from Glybera is that there is a limit to the amount one can charge for a gene therapy. This may be the case, as a similar story can be told regarding Europe's first approved stem cell gene therapy, Strimvelis. This product also had very poor initial uptake, in spite of a lower list price at $665,000. As of 2017, only two patients had received the treatment. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two CAR-T treatments: Kymriah and Yescarta. In August of 2017, the FDA approved the use of Kymriah for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In October of 2017, the FDA approved the use of Yescarta to treat adults with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The U.S. list prices of Kymriah and Yescarta are $475,000 and $373,000, respectively. Both products have thus far had disappointing market uptake. Last autumn, both Kymriah and Yescarta were delivered `no' verdicts by Britain's National Institute of Health and Care Excellence, in spite of substantial discounts offered by the sponsor companies. In what appear to be harbingers of new ways to finance gene therapies and potentially turn fortunes around of therapies lagging in uptake, drug manufacturers are offering, and in some cases payers have been amenable to, value-based contracts and installment plans. Early in 2018, Novartis announced a collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to explore an outcomes-based pricing arrangement for Kymriah. But, soon after the announcement, CMS pulled the plug on a value-based deal. This of course isn't to say that other value-based initiatives with CMS won't be in the offing, particularly as the CMS Innovation Center is keen on pursuing outcomes-based arrangements through demonstration projects. In 2018, the FDA approved the gene therapy Luxturna. This treatment holds the promise to restore "functional vision" to the blind. The sponsor, Spark Therapeutics, is currently setting their product's price at $425,000 per eye. Harvard Pilgrim entered into an outcomes-based contract with Spark Therapeutics. In the deal, Harvard Pilgrim pays for Luxturna, but gets refunds or rebates if the treatment wears off after a certain period of time. The full details of the contract are confidential. What is known, however, is that because of federal regulations, known as Medicaid "best price" rules, the maximum refund cannot exceed 23.1% or the amount Spark Therapeutics is required to offer Medicaid programs. Spark Therapeutics has requested that CMS offer ways to work around the Medicaid best price requirement, in order for it to be able to accept installment payments and provide insurers deeper refunds or rebates in case the product doesn't meet certain targets. A combination of installment plans and pay-for-performance appear to be the next wave of the future. This may take some of the heat off of U.S. payers worried about churn. To illustrate, Bluebird Bio has told investors it is seeking installment plan contracts to reimburse its LentiGlobin treatment for transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. The installments would be paid over a period of up to five years. Furthermore, after an initial charge, Bluebird Bio would only get reimbursed if the one-time infusion benefits patients. This implies that up to 80% of the cost of LentiGlobin will only be made if there is treatment success. And this success is to be measured and tracked in patient registries maintained by payers. Bluebird Bio is seeking ways (e.g., waivers to establish an exemption) to bypass Medicaid best price rules. The company is also pursuing a resolution to the issue of portability - when patients change insurers - by way of a "mutual recognition strategy across payers." | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2019/04/12/how-are-gene-therapies-going-to-get-paid-for/ |
Does Empathy Have A Dark Side? | Enlarge this image Christina Chung for NPR/NPR Christina Chung for NPR/NPR Empathy seems like a good quality in human beings. Pure and simple. It allows us to consider the perspective of others to put ourselves in their shoes and imagine their experiences. Not necessarily, according to author Fritz Breithaupt. "Sometimes we commit atrocities not out of a failure of empathy but rather as a direct consequence of successful, even overly successful, empathy," he writes in his his forthcoming book The Dark Sides of Empathy. Listen here. Breithaupt, who directs the Experimental Humanities Lab at Indiana University which, argues that empathy is morally ambiguous capacity, one that can lead us astray if we don't understand its many sides. "Empathy is a riddle," says Breithaupt. While it can enrich our lives, Breithaupt says our ability to identify with others' feelings can also fuel polarization, spark violence, and motivate dysfunctional behavior in relationships, like helicopter parenting. Breithaupt, who reviews the cultural and scientific history of empathy in his book, explains that empathy is a relatively new concept. The term only emerged in 1909, when it was translated from a German conception of "feeling yourself into a work of art," he says. In the last 40 years, it's risen to prominence as evolutionary biologists started to explore its role in shaping the human brain. Since then, it's become a core psychological concept, and part of what biologists think makes us distinctly human. Since empathy is baked into our very being, Breithaupt argues that we must be aware of the good and bad it can enable. NPR's Jonathan Lambert spoke with him about empathy's biological and moral dimensions. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. For a while neuroscientists thought there was an empathy center in the brain, some little spot somewhere. They thought we could understand this spot and then understand empathy. But then they came to a much larger realization: Empathy is not in one place in our brains, it's everywhere. Imaging studies showed that we use every part of the brain both for our own actions, our own feelings, but also for the observation of other people. So basically the whole brain does empathy. That changes a lot of things. It shows us that empathy affects all our thinking. It's with us every moment. I think that means that empathy is so important to us that it's something we can't neglect. Yes we're biologically primed for it, but we also have to cultivate it and cultivation is something that can [be a] lifelong learning task. It never ends. So science seems to suggest that empathy is sort of baked into our being. I think most people might assume that's a good thing. I'm not going to try to convince you to say that empathy is bad or that we should be against empathy. I think it's fundamental for us. It's absolutely something that we have to understand to know how we operate. I also think that in most cases empathy does more good than bad things. I want to put it in proportion there are dark sides to empathy. People assume that empathy is good because it is good for the recipient of empathy I'm actually skeptical about this. Empathy might be a little bit more selfish than many people assume. The empathizer feels less alone, they share experiences, they learn something. It's actually the empathizer in most cases. Beings without empathy live in their own world. They can't really understand that other beings are out there with minds of their own. But beings with empathy understand that there are all these different minds around [that] have different experiences and different feelings. They can participate in them. Someone with empathy lives more than one life. Of course sometimes that means that you have to carry the suffering of others, but in many cases their joy becomes your joy. So it's a richer, much more complex life. And in that sense of course empathy is wonderful for you. In your book you talk about something you call "vampiristic empathy." Vampiristic empathy is a form of empathy where people want to manipulate the people they empathize with so that they can, through them, experience the world in such a way that they really enjoy it. An extreme case of this is helicopter parenting. Helicopter parents are constantly trying to steer their kids into the direction they think are the right directions. Of course they want the best for their children. Very understandable, I have kids and I want what's best for them too. But I think there's something else seeping in. There's this sort of living along with the kids, imagining how it must be like to have a life that's marked by successes, where obstacles disappear and life can be enjoyed. But that also means that the parents are co-experiencing that life, so they start taking over ... they basically want to use the child almost as a pawn. In a sense, extreme helicopter parents are robbing their kids of a selfhood so that they can basically project their own self into these kids. You write that empathy can actually make us more polarized instead of bringing us together. People imagine that empathy can help resolve tensions in cases of conflict, but very often empathy is exactly that thing that leads to the extremes, that polarizes people even more. It can happen this way, be it a family feud or something that escalates to a civil war. Humans are very quick to take sides. And when you take one side, you take the perspective of that side. You can see the painful parts of that perspective, and empathize with them and that empathy can fuel seeing the other side as darker and darker or more dubious. One example of this comes from Northern Ireland, which has a long history of conflict. In the early 2000s school administrators there tried to resolve the conflict between the Catholic and Protestant youth by bringing empathy into the curriculum. They emphasized that students would learn both sides, and the atrocities committed by one side or the other were always put into context. Students learned this curriculum, but follow-up studies showed that this new generation was more polarized than the one before. So what this group had internalised was there's always two sides and, in the end, they know their side. So they reorganized this information to empathize with people on their side and withdraw from the other side. So Northern Ireland had to abandon this project. The other case is that of terrorists. I think a lot of terrorists may not lack empathy. Rather, they see some plight of a group they identify with, they see them suffering and see it as something horrible, and that becomes more extreme and activates them to become active terrorists. [Empathizers] may overextend themselves. If you are a medical doctor who sees a lot of suffering and pain every day it can be very quickly become too much. Something like a third of medical doctors suffer from "empathy burnout" that is so severe that it affects their functioning as doctors and their personal life. They become the victim of feeling empathy. In one sense, yes. Empathy is weakly correlated with altruistic behavior. So there is a connection. I do think empathy can help people help each other, and that makes us human. My core argument here is that in many cases of altruistic help or humanitarian aid people actually don't really empathize as much with the person in need. They identify more with the helper, the hero, the person who intervenes even if it's an imaginary helper. It can be good when it leads to good action, but it can have downsides. For example, if you want the victims to say 'thank you.' You may even want to keep the people you help into that position of inferior victim because it can sustain your feeling of being a hero. If you want recognition and if that doesn't come, it can turn into resentment. That's an unfortunately common impulse. On the political scale I think it happened in Germany. In 2015 Germany opened its borders, very laudably, to refugees. Initially there was a wave of huge enthusiasm and then suddenly a huge drop in enthusiasm and a lot of resentment. I think we can learn to use empathy in a somewhat controlled way. We can learn when to block it, when to not allow empathy not to be manipulated and when to fully turn it on. Yes, we are born with empathy, but it needs constant practice [to know] when to use it and when not to use it. So the dark sides are so important to know because they teach us that in some cases you shouldn't empathize. But when it's good, we should embrace empathy, because it can lead to such richer, fuller lives. Jonathan Lambert is an intern on NPR's Science Desk. You can follow him on Twitter: @evolambert. | https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/04/12/712682406/does-empathy-have-a-dark-side?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr |
Can Jalen Hurts step in for Kyler Murray and hold off Spencer Rattler in Oklahoma? | Arizona Republic sports columnist explains how father's strength holds up Jalen Hurts. Former Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts walks off the field after the Crimson Tide lost to Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship. (Photo: Kyle Terada / USA TODAY Sports) Oklahomas spring game will give fans in Norman a chance to take a look at Alabama transfer Jalen Hurts, who said his father raised him for big-time moments by teaching him to answer the phone. No pressure, but the guy is going to face murmurs all season long about whether he can win the Heisman Trophy like Kyler Murray and Baker Mayfield. And hell hear whispers questioning whether or not hes just a placeholder for Pinnacle quarterback Spencer Rattler. But theres no one better equipped to deal with all that than Hurts, and we learned why at the National Quarterback Club awards ceremony in Phoenix in January. After he lost his starting job to Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama in the College Football Playoff national championship game after the 2017 season, Hurts was understandably distraught. Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. "It wasnt easy, he said. "I remember my dad, after the championship game, were all in the room together, kind of an emotional moment, and I asked him, What are we gonna do? And he said, Were gonna fight.'" Hurts decided to stay at Alabama rather than transfer. He reflected on the advice of his father, Averion Hurts. My pops raised me to do things the right way, Jalen Hurts said. Theres a right way and a wrong way. He always says, Do whats right, because its right to do whats right. Tagovailoa beat him out at training camp. But Hurts trained and prepared like a starter. He chose to play rather than redshirt. We have a saying in the Hurts household, he said. When the phone rings, you answer it. Well, in the SEC championship, my phone rang. Get crucial breaking sports news alerts to your inbox. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Varies Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Breaking News Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters He stepped in with Alabama down seven in the fourth quarter against rival Georgia and led the Crimson Tide to a 35-28 victory. This is the mental toughness Jalen Hurts is bringing to Norman, Oklahoma. Reach Moore at [email protected] or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @WritingMoore. There's plenty Moore where this came from. Subscribe for videos, columns, opinions and analysis from The Arizona Republics award-winning sports team. Watch the Shot Clock | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/football/2019/04/12/oklahoma-quarterbacks-jalen-hurts-spencer-rattler/3446600002/ |
Are the Kyler Murray draft rumors an Arizona Cardinals smokescreen? | Arizona Republic sports columnist considers a possibility that's more real than you might think. Alabama defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. (Photo: Matthew Emmons / USA TODAY Sports) The Arizona Cardinals could go defense with the top pick in the draft. No, seriously. All this Kyler Murray vs. Josh Rosen stuff could be a straight-up smokescreen intended to drive up value and assess the trade market. A team 'wide open to move it up' It could be a ploy to trade down with the Raiders, get a few picks and still nab a dominant inside force that helps a 3-4 defense get disruptive. Pretty well documented we have a lot of needs, and were doing all we can to address em, Raiders coach Jon Gruden said recently at the NFL owners meetings. Stay in the know. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. We are wide open to move it up, he said later. Hes got three first round picks to sweeten any deal he might put together. So, trade with Oakland. Slide back to No. 4 and get a pick or a few for later in the draft. Then Gruden grabs Murray. The 49ers take Ohio States Nick Bosa at No. 2. (Which is widely predicted in the inexact world of mock drafting the sacred art of the educated guess.) The Jets, who need an edge rusher the way a pancake needs syrup, take Kentuckys Josh Allen or Houstons Ed Oliver with the third pick, and bam, Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim picks Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams. Or -- and stay with me now, because this one gets tricky -- Keim could draft Williams with the first pick. OK, one more defense-first scenario. Draft Bosa. Keim isnt talking so we dont know what hes thinking. Kingsbury, however, isnt shy. Theyre both dominant players, he said of Williams and Bosa at the owners meetings. Theyre cant-miss prospects. Cardinals players wont give up too much. David Johnson, on the first day of the teams strength and conditioning workouts, was asked how he would feel if the team selected Kyler Murray. I like Josh, he said. Of course, immediately after that Johnson also said, its a business, which is athlete-speak for, trades happen, and theres nothing thats gonna change that. Finding 'that force in the middle' Defensive end Chandler Jones, meanwhile, might have some relevant thoughts. Get crucial breaking sports news alerts to your inbox. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Varies Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Breaking News Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters He said he would love to play alongside a disruptive interior guy. Thats tremendous, he said. Thats tremendous. And then he said, We have those guys on our roster. Im not Steve Keim, so Im not sure what were gonna do in the draft. But when you have that force in the middle, the quarterback cant step up, it makes the edge rush easy. All you have to do is beat your guy and run by him and theres a sack, right there. Thats tremendous to have as an edge rusher. Williams also would address the problems Arizona had stopping the run last year. The Cardinals were dead last in rushing yards allowed (2,479) and rushing touchdowns allowed (25, five more than any other team.) The knock on the idea of going with Williams is that its not wise to spend big money on his position. The theory there is that the best guy at nose tackle can only help a team so much. Better to go with a cheaper player and spend more on a quarterback, wide receiver, corner or edge rusher. Aaron Donald, however, has proved just how disruptive a guy can be from the middle. He had 20.5 sacks and four forced fumbles last year for the Rams. No one could rightfully expect that type of production from anyone else, but Williams, playing in the SEC, had 71 tackles, 19.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage and eight sacks. As for Bosa, the Cardinals have Jones, one of the best outside defensive linemen of his generation. And they just signed Terrell Suggs, who had seven sacks last season at age 36. Then again, Boas had six tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery touchdown in three games last year at Ohio State. Three games. The bigger concern with Bosa is injury history. He blew out a knee in high school and last year had some sort of abdominal and groin injury that required surgery. Football is far too physical to take chances on guys with injury histories. His brother Joey Bosa is a force for the Chargers, when hes on the field. The elder Bosa missed four games as a rookie and nine games last season. Look, no one knows anything this time of year. Thats the fun, and thats the whole point. Take if from Johnson. We dont know whats going on and what theyre talking about, as far as draft picks. Just come ready to play. and let the chips fall. For the rest of us, weve got to think it through to figure out what wed do if we were Steve Keim. And theres a real chance he could be thinking defense. Reach Moore at [email protected] or 602-444-2236. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter @WritingMoore. There's plenty Moore where this came from. Subscribe for videos, columns, opinions and analysis from The Arizona Republics award-winning sports team. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nfl/cardinals/2019/04/12/arizona-cardinals-nfl-draft-top-pick-defense/3441832002/ |
Can Eric Staal, Jason Zucker return to previous form for Wild? | The Wild scored 257 goals in 2017-18 and fell to 211 this season. No coincidently, their top two goal-scorers of 2017-18 had big drop-offs this year. Eric Staal went from 42 goals to 22, while Jason Zucker fell from 33 to 21. Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan and Puck Drop editor Randy Johnson discuss. Randy: With the Wild ranking 27th in goals this season, the team will need help to return to the playoffs, let alone offering a more entertaining product, especially at home. General Manager Paul Fenton doesnt have a magic wand to fix this overnight, so improvement in-house is needed. That starts with Staal and Zucker. For Staal, the biggest enemy is Father Time. Hell be 35 before the seasons first month ends, and when you look at his history, a repeat of his 42-goal season of 2017-18 isnt likely. Staal averaged 38.3 goals in his prime years of 2005-06 to 2008-09, but since 2011-12 he didnt reach 30 goals until that 42-goal mark. A season in the mid-to-upper 20s is more realistic. As for Zucker, age isnt as big of a concern. He nearly was traded to Calgary at the deadline. Sarah: Thats one of the most intriguing questions surrounding the Wild this offseason. Its certainly possible Zucker ends up as the poster boy for the next chapter of the shakeup. But a case could be made to keep him. Zucker is in position for a bounce-back season, and hes made it clear he expects to be a 30-goal scorer. Hes reached the 20-goal plateau in four of the five seasons hes been a regular with the team, and the last time his output sagged he responded by establishing a career-high. Whats also been a strength of Zuckers is his production at even strength. Of those 21 goals, only seven came on the power play. Since 2014-15, Zucker has 91 even-strength goals which is tops for the Wild. And after the team managed just 141 goals at 5-on-5 this past season, which was 28th in the NHL, it needs all the help it can get in that area. Randy: I would hope that if Zucker is moved, the return would be much better than weve seen with the Niederreiter and Granlund deals this winter. And Im in favor of keeping a four-time 20-goal scorer whos reached 33 and should enter the season hungry to atone. Im willing to take the chance that he does, without knowing the type of assets that GM Paul Fenton would receive in return. Sarah: Still, this is a team primed to receive some external help. Maybe another trade brings in a proven scorer, or its possible that player arrives via free agency. The Wild will have plenty of money to spend after creating flexibility with its in-season moves. But it seems like both -- in-house improvement and additional assistance -- is what the team needs to boost the offense. And if that doesnt happen, the Wild could be facing another non-playoff finish. | http://www.startribune.com/can-eric-staal-jason-zucker-return-to-previous-form-for-wild/508486592/ |
Can vegans drink wine? | The Economist and Forbes have both declared 2019 the year of the vegan, pointing to a soaring trend in plant-based lifestyles. In Canada alone, 6.4 million Canadians follow a diet that restricts meat, according to recent findings from Dalhousie University. And those numbers are expected to grow. But I wonder how many vegetarians and vegans know animal products are often used to make wine. Egg whites or milk protein is often used to clarify and stabilize wine before bottling. But gelatin, isinglass (fish bladders) or chitin (crustacean shells) can be used too. Theyre fining agents that remove suspended bits from the liquid before being filtered out. So those choosing a plant-based lifestyle may take issue with consuming a drink that was made using animal products. In Canada, the only time a fining agent needs to be declared on the label is if its a known allergen with 10 ppm or more of the substance still remaining in the wine. For instance, grab a bottle of the 2016 Rymill The Yearling Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, Australia (LCBO 544080 $14.25) and youll see the words CONTAINS: SULPHITES AND EGG in small print on the back label. A trend does exist toward winemakers choosing animal-free fining agents such as bentonite clay and charcoal. But short of contacting the producer, its tough to know if animal products were used to make a wine. A fairly comprehensive resource is barnivore.com a searchable database that calls itself your vegan beer, wine and liquor guide. To save you the legwork though, let me point you toward some wines that are both vegan and undervalued. Article Continued Below 2017 Fonseca Periquita White from Portugal (LCBO 377127 $8.50 in stores). ( Fonseca ) One such find is the 2017 Fonseca Periquita White from Portugal (LCBO 377127 $8.50 in stores). Its a bone-dry blend of four white varieties Verdelho, Viosinho, Viognier, and Sauvignon Blanc and offers more concentration and complexity than many wines at that price point. It brims with bright aromas of lemon zest, freshly-sliced pear and chalk. Then, it sprints across the palate with bright, broad flavours of the same. Then, this clean, juicy wine finishes with an attractive little twist of grapefruit and dusting of dry chalk. Score: 91 FOR WINE COLUMN ON UNDERVALUED WINES FOR FALL 2016 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay, California (LCBO 175430 $19.95 in stores and online, also available at select grocery stores) Uploaded external by: Evans Hammond Carolyn If you prefer your whites wooded, reach for the very reliable 2017 Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay from California (LCBO 175430 $19.95 in stores and online). Its a creamy-crisp vegan white with alluring aromas and flavours of lemon meringue pie as well as feathery touches of toasted coconut and burnt sugar. Its a dry, delicious wine that is well worth the money. Score: 92. 2016 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State (Vintages Essential 210047 $19.95 in stores and online). ( Chateau Ste. Michelle ) Fans of sun-drenched Cabernet Sauvignon looking for a smart, vegan bottle should reach for the 2016 Columbia Crest H3 Cabernet Sauvignon from Washington State (Vintages Essential 210047 $19.95 in stores and online). It delivers a saturated swirl of super-ripe black cherries dunked in dark chocolate then quietly unfurls with layers of cassis, black licorice and earth. Its a dry, opulent wine that could sell for more. Score: 90+ A local vegan find is the 2017 Sandbanks French Kiss Cabernet-Merlot, VQA Ontario (LCBO 361881 $19.95 in stores and online). This sweet-centred red tastes more ripe and full-bodied than many Ontario reds with its lush, robust hit of raspberry jam jar goodness laced with ripe fig, wild cherries and cream. Score: 88. 2018 Chateau Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc, AC Bordeaux (Vintages 387787 $17.95 in stores). ( Chateau de Lagarde ) Lastly, a great value vegan wine Ill be purchasing myself is being released April 13 through Vintages. Its the 2018 Chateau Les Hauts de Lagarde Blanc, AC Bordeaux (Vintages 387787 $17.95 in stores and online) a mouth-watering white blend of 60 per cent crisp, understated Sauvignon Blanc and 40 per cent lanolin-scented, slightly waxy-textured Semillon. The cool, steely core nuanced with lemon curd, damp herbs, honeysuckle, beeswax, and wet stones tastes sophisticated and pure. Score: 92. Carolyn Evans Hammond is a Toronto-based wine writer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Reach her via email: [email protected] | https://www.thestar.com/life/food_wine/advice/2019/04/12/can-vegans-drink-wine.html |
What are the key dates between now and the new Brexit deadline? | This week, a six-hour debate among EU leaders concluded with Theresa May being offered a six-month extension to article 50. Britain will remain a member state of the EU until 31 October, with the option to leave earlier if the prime minister can secure House of Commons support for her Brexit deal. Here are some of the key upcoming dates in the political calendar. 12 April Parliament is in recess. The cabinet ministers David Lidington and Michael Gove are holding talks with Labours John McDonnell to try to reach a compromise on Mays deal. If the sides cannot agree, the government hopes they can at least decide on a process of indicative votes or the path for the withdrawal agreement bill as a way to try to find a parliamentary consensus. 15 April The UK will need to publish notices for EU elections the prime minister has said she is determined not to hold. 23 April MPs return to parliament after Easter recess. This is the week in which a new parliamentary process could begin in an attempt to find a consensus whether by new indicative votes or the government introducing the bill, which MPs could amend, either to add a confirmatory referendum or soft Brexit options such as a customs union. 25 April The closing date for European parliament elections nominations and candidate lists. 2 May Local elections take place across England and Northern Ireland. The Conservative party has said it is expecting poor results. The Liberal Democrats are expected to kickstart their contest to replace Vince Cable as leader after the polls. 9 May EU leaders will hold a summit on the future of Europe in Sibiu, Romania an event that was supposed to spell out the blocs post-Brexit future. May has agreed not to attend. Mid-May The approximate time legislation for any second referendum would need to begin passing through the Houses of Parliament, according to Alan Renwick, the deputy director of the Constitution Unit at University College London. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The UK is due to hold European elections on 23 May if the House of Commons has yet to approve Mays deal. Photograph: Olivier Hoslet/EPA 22 May The final day on which MPs could pass a withdrawal deal and avoid holding European parliament elections. 23 May European parliament elections take place across the UK and the rest of the EU, with any campaign likely to be dominated in the UK by smaller protest parties including Nigel Farages Brexit party and Ukip, as well as Change UK. 26 May Results are declared from 10pm, with the Conservatives expecting massive losses. From the limited amount of polling that has been carried out so far, Labour is currently ahead, with significant vote shares likely for smaller parties. 27 May May would probably need to quit this week in order for a new leader to be in place by summer recess. However, this could technically take place later because only a fortnight would be required for MPs to vote on leadership candidates. 30 May 11 June The Commons would probably be due to go on a short Whitsun recess, which would be cancelled if the prime minister is still attempting to pass a Brexit deal, in order to prevent new MEPs from having to take their seats in the European parliament. 20-21 June EU leaders will assess the progress Britain has made over the past few months at a European council summit. 28-29 June May, along with EU and world leaders, is due to attend a G20 summit in Osaka. When the prime minister pledged to Tory MPs that she would stand down, she had planned this to be her final overseas summit. 30 June The date past which May said she would not countenance the UK staying in the EU, and the day before MEPs must take their seats in the European parliament. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Nigel Farage in the European parliament. New MEPs will take their seats for the first time on 1 July. Photograph: Patrick Seeger/EPA 2 July New MEPs sit at the inaugural session of the new European parliament. 25 July The rough date on which the Commons would be expected to rise for summer recess, and the date by which the party would, ideally, like a new Conservative leader to be installed if a contest took place. Mid-August The approximate time by which the prime minister would need to call a general election to be held before the article 50 extension expires in order to meet the requirements of the Fixed-Term Parliaments Act 2011, and also the timetable set out in the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, which requires 25 working days for an election campaign. 25-27 August The prime minister is due to attend a G7 summit in Biarritz, France. 5-12 September This is the date on which the Commons would be likely to return from summer recess, bar any early recall of MPs to deal with Brexit crises. 22 September 2 October The Labour and Conservative party conferences are held on consecutive weeks. 8 October The date MPs would return to parliament, 18 working days before the UK would be due to leave the EU. Facebook Twitter Pinterest The final practical date on which the UK could hold a general election would be 10 October. Photograph: Xinhua/Barcroft Images 10 October The last practical polling date on which a prime minister could hold a general election or second referendum the final Thursday before the next European council. The Electoral Commission is suggesting it would need 10 weeks to organise a poll, as set out in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, and that there would be a campaign of at least four weeks. In practice, a change of policy or government this late in the timetable would be likely to require a further extension if a radical change of direction is expected. 17-18 October EU leaders meet for the final European council summit before the UKs extension is due to expire. 31 October The six-month article 50 extension will expire. 12 December The next date on which Tory MPs can hold a confidence vote in May, if she remains at the helm. | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/apr/12/uk-brexit-deadline-key-dates-eu-extension-october |
Is there any heat to the 'healthy' air fryer hype? | Contrary to its name, air fryers don't technically fry food. It's a compact kitchen appliance that circulates hot air around the food to cook it and give it a crispy taste and browned color. You simply place the food in a basket-like container, the air fryer cooks it and the excess fat drops down to a pan at the bottom. Cooking with an air fryer will take longer than deep frying, but not by much. When comparing recipes, french fries generally take about six minutes to deep fry where an air fryer would take 12 minutes. Deep frying chicken takes anywhere from 15 to 20 minutes, but using an air fryer would take 25. They're marketed as a healthier way to cook foods like chicken wings and fries to even tortilla chips and spring rolls with little to no oil while maintaining that fried flavor and crispiness that people enjoy. In fact, sales show that consumers are buying into the newest fad with four million units sold over a recent 12-month period. And experts really do believe that air fryers may be a reasonable option for people looking to eat less fried foods and make a transition to a healthier lifestyle. More: 5 tips to help you master your air fryer Air fryers require less oil than traditionally frying foods, making them generally healthier than their oil-immersed counterparts. Because while some oils may have health benefits, you're still better off getting those benefits from non-fried foods. "A lower fat food is considered healthier than its high fat counterpart, but it is important to look at the bigger picture and evaluate other foods typically consumed," says Dinah Dalder, a clinical assistant professor of Nutrition Sciences at Purdue University. Using less oil also means fewer calories, which can be helpful for those looking to lose weight, says Ali Webster, a registered dietitian at International Food Information Council Foundation. For those who eat things like french fries or fried chicken regularly, using an air fryer to cook them can cut calories and fat content. "Fats and oils are more calorie dense than protein or carbs, so calories can add up quickly when frying foods," Webster says. "Traditionally, fried foods are also often coated in some kind of batter prior to being dropped in the oil, which ticks up the calorie count even higher." More: Intuitive eating: How eating what you want can be better than dieting But if you're looking to lead a healthier lifestyle, simply buying an air fryer won't cut it. You also have to pay attention to the types of food you're consuming. "An air fryer may be a reasonable option for someone who can afford an extra kitchen appliance, but may not necessarily be the best choice for making dietary improvements," Dalder says. "An individuals diet may improve by eating less fried foods overall and adding more fruits and vegetables." It's also important to note that eating fried foods here and there isn't going to be detrimental to your diet. "Having fried foods once in a while isnt going to harm your diet or your waistline," Webster says. "But the excess calories can really add up if youre eating fried foods multiple times a week or possibly multiple times a day, and that will be reflected in your body weight." Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2019/04/12/air-fryers-healthy/3435163002/ | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2019/04/12/air-fryers-healthy/3435163002/ |
Who is the most conservative Louisianian in Congress? | In the view of the American Conservative Union Foundation, it's the House majority whip, Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson. Scroll over this chart, or tap it on mobile devices, to see numbers: Save for Rep. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, all eight members of the Louisiana delegation voted much more conservatively in 2017 than the average member of Congress, according to the foundation's annual rankings, released Monday (April 16). The most conservative Louisianians last year were Reps. Clay Higgins, R-Port Barre, and Mike Johnson, R-Benton, both at 93 percent on the foundation's scorecard and among the most conservative in the entire 435-member House. Scalise was not graded by American Conservative Union Foundation in 2017, having missed 3 1/2 months of votes after being shot and badly wounded June 14. Over entire congressional careers, however, Scalise, a 10-year member, scored highest among incumbent Louisiana members at 94.6 percent; Richmond, a seven-year House member, is lowest at 6.1 percent. Here's how Louisiana views Donald Trump, and how opinion has changed New polling shows Louisiana more approving than U.S., though down from his peak The 54-year-old American Conservative Union calls itself "an umbrella organization harnessing the collective strength of conservative organizations fighting for Americans who are concerned with liberty, personal responsibility, traditional values and strong national defense." These days it might be most widely known for the Conservative Political Action Conference that it sponsors annually. For 2017, its foundation looked at votes on 25 bills in the House, 21 in the Senate, covering fiscal, economic, social, cultural and national security issues. Among them were confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court, repeal of the Affordable Care Act known as Obamacare, taking funds away from Planned Parenthood and tax reform. The scorecard is "designed to reflect how an individual views the role of government in an individual's life," the foundation says. CONSERVATIVE SCORECARD NAME 2016 2017 Career Rep. Steve Scalise 88 * 94.6 Rep. Clay Higgins ** 93 92.6 Rep. Mike Johnson ** 93 92.6 Rep. Garret Graves 88 89 90.8 Rep. Ralph Abraham 84 81 82.8 Sen. Bill Cassidy 69 80 82.6 Sen. John Kennedy ** 80 80 House average NA 42 NA Senate average NA 48 NA Rep. Cedric Richmond 0 9 6.1 . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: [email protected]. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. | https://www.nola.com/politics/2018/04/conservative_congress_louisian.html |
How Much Did WikiLeaks Damage U.S. National Security? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images To its supporters, the WikiLeaks disclosures have revealed a wealth of important information that the U.S. government wanted to keep hidden, particularly in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This included abuses by the military and a video that showed a U.S. helicopter attack in Iraq on suspected militants. Those killed turned out to be unarmed civilians and journalists. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, now under arrest in Britain, has often argued that no one has been harmed by the WikiLeaks disclosures. But many in the national security community say the leaks were harmful to a broad range of people. However, they generally say the damage was limited and has faded since the first big WikiLeaks dump in 2010, which included hundreds of thousands of classified documents from the U.S. military and the State Department. Chelsea Manning, a former Army private, spent seven years in prison for leaking the documents to Wikileaks in 2010. Manning, who was freed two years ago, was taken back into custody last month when she refused to testify before a grand jury in a case involving Wikileaks and Assange. P.J. Crowley, the State Department spokesman when the WikiLeaks story erupted in 2010, said those most at risk were civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq who were secretly passing information to the U.S. military. "A number of people went into hiding, a number of people had to move, particularly those civilians in war zones who had told U.S. soldiers about movements of the Taliban and al-Qaida," he said. "No doubt some of those people were harmed when their identities were compromised." WikiLeaks has made multiple disclosures over the past decade, including one in March 2017 when the group released what it said were CIA technical documents on a range of spying techniques. This revealed ways that a state-of-the art television could serve as a listening device even when it was turned off. Larry Pfeiffer, the CIA chief of staff from 2006 to 2009, said these kinds of breaches can impose long-term costs, though they can be difficult to quantify. "It informs the potential enemies of a technique we use, that they can now develop countermeasures against," Pfeiffer said. This also forces the spy agency to go back to the drawing board, he added. "Once invalidated, it now creates situations where the U.S. intelligence community is going to have to expend resources and going to have to spend both dollars and people to develop new methods," said Pfeiffer, who now heads Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence at George Mason University. On the diplomatic front, WikiLeaks shared many examples of U.S. diplomats writing in unflattering terms about foreign leaders, causing the U.S. embarrassment. But more importantly, said Scott Anderson, a former State Department lawyer who served in Iraq in 2012 and 2013, some of these countries have vulnerable opposition leaders and human rights activists who were quietly in contact with U.S. diplomats. These private, sensitive discussions suddenly became public with the WikiLeaks dumps. "That can really chill the ability of those American personnel to build those sorts of relationships and have frank conversations with their contacts," said Anderson, now at the Brookings Institution. Anderson notes that the U.S. still has a program to issue visas to Afghans and Iraqis to the U.S. in return for the help they provided and in recognition of the danger they face. Crowley pointed to the impact of leaks that upset former Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi. "We had an ambassador in Libya and we had to remove him from his post because he was directly threatened by Moammar Gadhafi's thugs," said Crowley. Some countries, Crowley added, took a much more relaxed approach to the disclosures, even when they were criticized in the documents. "One foreign minister told the U.S. secretary of state, 'You know, don't worry about it. You should see what we report about you,'" Crowley recalled. Many of the assessments today are similar to the one offered nine years ago by Bob Gates, who served as defense secretary when the WikiLeaks disclosures took place. "The fact is, governments deal with the United States because it's in their interest. Not because they like us, not because they trust us and not because they believe we can keep secrets," Gates said. Yes. Yes. I think fairly modest." Greg Myre is a national security correspondent. Follow him @gregmyre1. | https://www.npr.org/2019/04/12/712659290/how-much-did-wikileaks-damage-u-s-national-security?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr |
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