question
stringlengths 9
197
| article
stringlengths 174
99.3k
| url
stringlengths 23
392
|
|---|---|---|
Will the Irish face the No. 1 Draft QB again in 2021? | The Notre Dame Football team took on Trevor Lawrence in 2020, and all signs point to them also potentially playing the No. 1 QB in the 2022 NFL Draft. During the 2020 college football season, the Notre Dame Football team was forced to play in the ACC due to the pandemic. However, the schedule change had no negative effect, as they went through the regular season with a perfect record. Luckily for the Irish, when they played against the Clemson Tigers, one of the best teams in the country, they didnt have starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence. At the time, Lawrence was still going through COVID-19 protocol, so the team had to roll with DJ Uiagalelei instead, a true freshman. Although he was a true freshman, Uiagalelei threw more than 400 meters, but it still wasnt enough to beat Notre Dame. In fact, with the win, the Irish defeated the No. 1 team in the country for the first time in nearly 30 years, but Clemson would take revenge in the ACC title game. With Lawrence back at the helm for the title game, the Tigers rolled and secured their spot in the College Football Playoff. A few months later, Lawrence would be the No. 1 quarterback and No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft, landing with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Notre Dame Football takes on elite QBs in 2021 During the 2021 college football season, the Irish will face the No. 1 quarterback again in the upcoming draft as they face some elite signal callers. In Josh Edwards Latest 2022 NFL Mock Draft on CBSSports.com, the number 1 overall choice is Sam Howell from the University of North Carolina, where Notre Dame plays on October 30. Outside of Howell, they will also face USC, who has a potential first round pick in Kedon Slovis, who went to the New Orleans Saints late in the first round in Edwards mock. In 2021, the Saints selected Notre Dame Football star Ian Book on Day 3, and he will have the chance to fight for a roster role this summer. The slate for the Irish in 2021 is a tough one, and the defense is sure to be tested by some of the better quarterbacks in the country. They have the talent in defense to take out Howell again in 2021, but it will be a tough hill to play him and Slovis in consecutive weeks. What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos | https://exbulletin.com/sports/959673/ |
Who died in Chicago Fire season finale? | CHICAGO Fire left us all on the edge of our seats when the show closed season 9 in true dramatic style. Fans are now wondering if one of the beloved members of Firehouse 51 is now dead. Season 9 ended on the most almighty cliffhanger when ALL of the Squad from Firehouse 51 were trapped under a boat, with water filling up rapidly. Leading up to the final moments of the finale, it looked like it was going to end on more personal storylines, with possible changes to the firehouse. But things took a turn when the Squad responded to a call of an overturned boat in Lake Michigan leading them to perform an underwater rescue. Severide (Taylor Kinney), Cruz (Joe Minoso), Capp (Randy Flagler) and Tony (Anthony Ferraris) took to the waters in scuba gear. 3 The Squad actors seen filming that fateful season finale - Cruz (Joe Minoso), Severide (Taylor Kinney), Tony (Anthony Ferraris) and Capp (Randy Flagler) Credit: Instagram The first part of their rescue efforts seemed to go smoothly as they managed to find the victim. But just as they tried to head back to the surface, things took for the worst as the boat collapsed on top of them and blocked their escape route. Things then got worse as the teams oxygen tanks ran out of air and the water was quickly rising. In the final moments of the finale, the water rises above their heads just as the episode fades to black leaving the fate of the four Squad members very much up in the air. Fans have been busy specualting if Joe Cruz will be the one who dies in the fire. It was after actor Joe Minoso shared a behind-the-scenes photo from set taken during the filming of the finale sequence. In the caption, he thanked the crew for the remarkable experience he had filming season 9. He then closed the caption by noting that he would see you all in season 10 HOPEFULLY. Given the way in which Chicago Fire season 9 ended with Cruzs life hanging in the balance, fans now believe he was teasing his own demise. Joe has been on the show since season 1 and ia much-loved member of the cast. Fear not, your favorite firefighter show is coming back for season 10. The show will continue on NBC, along with Chicago Med and Chicago PD. Sadly we don't know yet when it will air, but if we go by season 9, it should begin in November 2021. | https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3000482/who-died-chicago-fire-season-finale/ |
Why was Our Yorkshire Farm not on TV last night? | TELLY fans were left confused after Channel 5's popular reality TV show Our Yorkshire Farm didnt appear on our screens last night. Here's all you need to know. Our Yorkshire Farm was not on TV last night as Channel 5 decided to broadcast the first episode of historical drama Anne Boleyn. The new period show - starring Jodie Turner-Smith as the titular character - is based on the final months of Anne's life before she was beheaded. The three-part series will be shown in consecutive nights this week. The final episode of the current series of Our Yorkshire Farm was initially due to be shown before it was pulled for the new drama. Channel 5's decision to pull the reality show has been slammed by some on Twitter. One wrote: "Fuming! Just seen that Our Yorkshire Farm isnt on tonight because of the Anne Boleyn drama. One episode to go and you just bin it Channel 5?" "It's the highlight of my week!" Latest fan theories and rumours 'my cow!' Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen shrieks at husband Clive after major faux pas 'i've got thick skin' Towie's Bobby Norris threatened with beheading simply for being gay 'don't spoil it!' Our Yorkshire Farm usually airs on Tuesdays at 9pm. The show has not been cancelled and is expected to return later in the year, with the final episode of the current series due to be shown then. Channel 5 have not yet confirmed the shows return date. And neither has Amanda Owen - the main star of Our Yorkshire Farm - who usually keeps fans in the loop on Twitter. The My5 Twitter account told followers this morning: "Just to confirm, it was due to changes in the schedule that the final episode of this series of Our Yorkshire Farm will now be airing at a later date. "Rest assured the Owens will be back on your screens with more episodes later this year." All the latest EastEnders, Emmerdale, Coronation Street, and Hollyoaks spoilers Find all EastEnders spoilers here Find all Coronation Street spoilers here Find all Emmerdale spoilers here Find all Hollyoaks spoilers here | https://www.thesun.co.uk/tv/15140150/our-yorkshire-farm-not-on-tv/ |
Who gets Katie Thurstons First Impression Rose on The Bachelorette? | KATIE Thurston's season of The Bachelorette is less than a week away from its season premiere. As the day's inch closer, blogger Reality Steve has the latest spoilers, including which contestant gets Thurston's First Impression Rose. According to Reality Steve, Thurston wears a stunning red-colored gown during her first night on The Bachelorette and ended up kissing a few guys. Thurston welcomed 30 guys from all around the world who are competing for her final rose. However, there was one man in particular who got Thurston's attention on the first night, which is 27-year-old Greg Grippo. Grippo hails from Edison, New Jersey, and is a 2018 graduate of Saint Michaels College with a degree in business administration and management. Black Moynes is hoping that third time's the charm as he joins his third season of The Bachelorette. According to reports, Moynes will be making a wild card entry on Thurston's new season. Moynes, 29, was a contestant on both Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams' seasons of The Bachelorette. The 29-year-old reportedly makes it to the final four alongside Grippo, John Hersey and the fourth finalist is a mystery man. On his podcast, Reality Steve said, "Im not sure who the 4th guy is in the final 4 yet. Ive heard names but nothing Im confident about. Those three I am." 3 Blogger Reality Steve has revealed the final four of Katie Thurston's Bachelorette season Credit: Getty Images - Getty There are rumors that the fourth position was earned by either Mike 'Mikey' Planeta, James Bosnall or Justin Glaze According to Reality Steve, Thurston also leaves the show engaged, though it is unclear to who. He said: "Katie definitely got engaged at the end of this, and unless she breaks up before the finale, which I guess anything can happen, but shes happy and engaged as we speak, so Id expect that to last." There are speculations that Hersey won the season because Thurston posted a picture from his restaurant in San Diego. The Bachelorette is set to premiere on Monday, June 7 on ABC at 8pm. Tayshia Adams and Kaitlyn Bristowe will host the new series after Chris Harrisons departure from the franchise. | https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3000794/katie-thurstons-first-impression-rose-the-bachelorette/ |
Who was the original host of Wheel of Fortune? | PAT Sajak and Vanna White have been the faces of Wheel of Fortune for nearly two decades, but there were two hosts who came before them. The longtime game show has been a staple of American television since it first debuted. Wheel of Fortune first premiered in 1975, and the network version of the show was hosted by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford. They hosted the show from 1975 until 1981. According to Paley Matters, the two ended up leaving over a salary dispute with the shows creator, Merv Griffin, and NBC. Woolery wanted his pay to go from $5,000 per week to $10,000 per week, 3 Chuck Woolery hosted Wheel of Fortune for six years in the early days Credit: Rex Griffin offered $7,500 and NBC said they would pay the rest, but that offer was rescinded when Griffin threatened to move the show to CBS. Woolery left the show after his final episode on December 25, 1981. Stafford left the show to help cancer patients in Houston, Texas. She wrote a book called Stop the Wheel, I Want to Get Off! regarding her time on the show. I mean, for seven years I stood there and turned letters. I had to ask myself if that was any way for a grown woman to live her life, Stafford told the Chicago Tribune. For 39 years, Pat Sajak has been the host of Wheel Of Fortune. He joined "America's game" in 1981, back when the show aired on network daytime television. For his work on the game show, Sajak has received 19 nominations for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game Show Host, which he won three times. Sajak's co-host is Vanna White, who has been the hostess of the game show since 1982. 3 Pat Sajak and Vanna White Credit: Wheel of Fortune Since her debut on Wheel Of Fortune, White has appeared in more than 7,000 episodes of the famous game show. For her work on Wheel Of Fortune, White was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in April 2006. In 2018, White was inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame, along with Sajak, executive producer Harry Friedman and the game show itself. Jim Thornton became the voice of Wheel Of Fortune when he joined the game show as the announcer in 2011. Laura Trammell lives in Orange County, California and teaches public elementary school. She was also a contestant on an episode of Wheel of Fortune that aired on Tuesday, April 27, 2021. She then went on to become the first person to win a house in the bonus round. Trammell entered the bonus round of a cash prize of $23,690 and a trip to St. Thomas for a tropical island getaway. The question that ultimately won Trammell the prize was answered with "I caught a glimpse." To which Sajak replied "She caught a glimpse. "She caught a glimpse of her new home." Trammell was over the moon, looking shocked and letting out a cry of excitement. Most read in Entertainment TV LEGEND Mayberry RFD actress Arlene Golonka dies aged 85 Latest 'RIP ROB' Robert Hogan who starred in The Wire and Law & Order dies at 87 PERRY SAD Matthew Perry, 51, SPLITS from fiance, 29, days after 'worrying' Friends reunion 'ENOUGH' AGT fans slam Howie Mandel for giving choir group Golden Buzzer due to 'sob story' HE WEARS SHORT SHORTS AGT fans poke fun at Simon wearing short-shorts during premiere 'TRAPPED' Hillsong's Carl Lentz accused of 'sexually abusing nanny in front of his kids' The house Trammell won was worth $375,000 and in one of the Latitude Margaritaville communities for adults 55 and up in Florida. The community was helped developed by legendary singer Jimmy Buffett, who famously sang the hit song, Margaritaville. Her total score was $398,690, marking a new record for the show's highest non-millionaire winnings. | https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3000816/original-wheel-of-fortune-game-show-host/ |
Why the Hong Kong strike in Beijing will not invite any consequences? | Only when it seemed that things in Hong Kong could not get much worse for those who value civil and political freedoms do they have. New arrests and imprisonments continue for critics of the citys harsh new policies, with more restrictions on assembly, the press and academic freedom along the way. The rule of law has become something sometimes when politics is involved and the atmosphere is bleak for those who care. But not everyone is deeply interested in all of this, and for them, life in Hong Kong is improving. The sometimes violent street demonstrations, mostly by students and other young people worried about the future, have been suppressed. The recovery from an economic downturn exacerbated by coronaviruses is not yet complete. However, Hong Kongs economy is expected to grow 3.5% this year after a 2020 downturn, and the stock market has grown by about 7% since the New Year. This suggests that suppressing dissent, in part to prevent political contamination of Chinese territory, is not Beijings sole goal. He has stifled critics and restricted civic life, regulating Hong Kong in ways similar to those in continental cities. But it is also expanding the citys role as a vital link to global finances, all to the benefit of Chinas wealthiest individuals, its largest companies and their political friends. How it will help ordinary Hong Kong citizens themselves is less clear. Politically, the Chinese Communist Party, country-based security officials are Hong Kongs de facto rule these days is targeted by the publisher Jimmy Lai especially. His harsh anti-communist views set the toneApple DailytabloidHong Kongs most famous paperand have angered party officials for years. He has also been a loser since local advertisers began avoiding him for fear of Beijing retaliation. (Not an idle concern; Lai had to sell his previous clothing business when his political views led Beijing to ban his casual clothing from the continents shops.) He is now serving twenty months in prison after being convicted twice for participating in peaceful but unauthorized demonstrations (convicted along with many others) and faces much harsher charges under the tough National Security Act Beijing imposed last year. passed. This includes alleged cooperation with a foreign power against Chinese security when he lobbied US officials to put pressure on Beijing for its crackdown on Hong Kong; another sentence could effectively imprison the seventy-three-year-old publisher for life, perhaps in a continental prison. Hong Kong authorities seized his major majority stake in his company plus three local bank accounts in a clear attempt to close the potential Apple Daily problem. Recently, they warned bankers at HSBC and Citigroup that they too could be jailed for security breaches if they dealt with his six offshore accounts. Officials claim that all this has nothing to do with press freedom. Their wise cheerleaders agree; for example, ambitious politician Regina Ip, who spent the middle years of her career at Stanford studying under a leading democracy expert with little visible effect, insists she sees no way press freedom can be restricted by restricting her entry in funds. The overall printing campaign is more comprehensive. Among other things, Beijing-friendly investors have bought local newspapers and banned critical stories.RTHK, the government owned broadcaster modeled roughly onBBC, has become a propaganda route under the new managers; a forty-episode discussion has the Chief Executive Carrie Lam interviewing its allies about how Beijings tough security law has improved Hong Kong life. A journalist who used the public vehicle registration register for reporting purposes was convicted of a traffic offense. Members of the Foreign Correspondents Club have been warned to know their country and not to interfere with Hong Kong affairs and Chinas internal affairs under the pretext of press freedom. Hong Kong Journalists Association has said that local press freedom has reached a new minimum; its president, Chris Yeung, warns that the worst is yet to come. A hint of the worst was announced last week. Beijing has appointed two senior officials to head new offices accused of tightening control in neighboring Hong Kong and Macao. Someone will oversee the propaganda, including official information, and manage the media scene in both territories. The other will oversee security issues, including coordinating the actions of seven Hong Kong government offices with security tasks. The deputy head of a semi-official Hong Kong organization said the new offices would coordinate the ideological battle against anti-China forces. Meanwhile, education is being reviewed. Starting in kindergarten, students are being given patriotic education, such as learning to love China and the Communist Party. Last month all public schools held a day of national security to help defend our homeland. Students are memorizing violations under the new safety law, such as subversion and inheritance, with teachers being told to report any violations they see. Schools must report by August what they have done to enforce these rules. The Government Grants Committee has warned universities that their funding could be cut if they fail to comply with security law. A recent poll found that 40% of teachers surveyed said they wanted to leave the profession. The arts are also under attack. Curators of a stunning new Museum of Modern Art M +have yet to be openly warned about the emergence of anti-China pieces that incite hatred, such as works by world-famous artist Ai Weiwei. Whether a Swiss collector still plans to donate 1,500 pieces of modern Chinese art to museums remains unclear. The political review received final approval last week. Former seventy member Legislative Councilhalf of its members elected by popular vote, half of the interest groups are replaced by a body of ninety members, with seventy elected by the authorities. The voting system makes it impossible for more than ten of the others to be pro-Democrats even if some campaign; many have decided against membership in a manipulated system. The 1,200-member committee that elects the chief executive is being replaced by a group of 1,500 members, almost all of whom represent the interests of the party. One estimate estimates that the voters who will vote for this 1,500 will consist of 3,200 politically credible residents, with many choosing themselves compared to 239,000 voters in the previous system. There will no longer be an effective opposition able to oppose and sometimes change or block administration measures. The changes to finance also reflect Beijings wishes, making it easier for continental companies to raise foreign funds and for continental investors to participate. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is now dominated by Chinese firms, with old Hong Kong businesses often ignored. About 2,538 Chinese companies are now listed there, compared to just 248 on U.S. exchanges. (Many others were removed from the list in the U.S. because of questionable accounting, while Hong Kong standards are lower and thus more attractive.) Chinese companies last year amassed a record $ 52 billion through Hong Kongut. Meanwhile, finding the facts has become more difficult for investigative reporters and cautious investors; the government is closing down previous public data that provides useful information about company ownership and other data making it easier for Chinese corporations to maintain secrecy, including whether relatives of senior officials are involved. Hiding corruption can be made easier. or membership survey from the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong found that 40% said they could leave because of security law and a badly handled pandemic. But a big exit is unlikely; the stream of Chinese money is very attractive. Local offices of international financial firms such as Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse reportedly plan large staff increases. Many jobs will come from China. Continent specialists often have Western degrees, speak Mandarin better and sometimes better English than Hong Kong Cantonese language competitors, and have useful connections with important executives and officials at home. They are likely to compensate for any brain drain of Hong Kong financial specialists who see the changing political and social scheme and go abroad. Meanwhile, Chinas business continues to expand. Two current examples: Baidu, the search engine giant, plans to raise $ 3.6 billion by issuing new shares in Hong Kong, while JD Logistics, a delivery service, hopes to raise $ 3.4 billion. After thinking about possible commissions, most bankers will probably find ways to suppress any concerns about political repression. Less satisfied are some Hong Kong wealth giants, accustomed to dominating local exchange and shaping government policy. It is widely believed that these developers have accumulated wealth to keep house prices high (perhaps the worlds highest) rather than build more apartments. They are now under increasing pressure including the Communist Party to vacate land and make housing more affordable, fulfilling a demand that fueled popular protests. Beijing officials reportedly view these tycoons with contempt for leaving social problems and not forcing the government to pass the security laws required by the continent. An important business group for the Chiu Chow federation has already complained losing influence but Beijing does not seem to care. Where this leaves most of Hong Kong 7.5 million people is uncertain. Many hope to leave; Britain has said it will accept about three million people born before 1997 when the city was still a British colony (whether Hong Kong will let them go remains unclear). Others are looking for new homes in Canada, Australia, Taiwan and other countries that seem welcome; Hong Kongers have already spent billions on British and Canadian real estate. A recent survey found that 60% of young people aged fifteen to thirty want to emigrate. This may constitute a brain drain, but in recent years more continents have shifted than inhabitants have moved away. | https://exbulletin.com/world/959663/ |
Does the formation of immunity and its interaction with seasonal coronavirus affect the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2? | Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), has infected more than 171.2 million people worldwide and 3.65 million. The above are dead. As this is a new pathogen, little information is available on the duration of infection-induced immunity caused by SARS-CoV-2. There are several reports of reinfection in patients who have recovered from SARS-CoV-2, but these are rare cases. In most cases, protection lasts at least 6-8 months after COVID-19. Scientists believe that understanding the population-level immunokinetics caused by vaccines and infections is paramount to developing the most effective strategies to contain the current COVID-19 pandemic. seasonal Coronavirus It can affect cross-immunity, which also affects the duration of immune protection against the disease. For example, several genera of coronavirus can infect human populations, including alphacoronavirus (HCoV-229E, HCoV-NL63) and betacoronavirus (HCoV-HKU1, HCoV-OC43). SARS-CoV-2 belongs to the genus Betacoronavirus, which also includes SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV. According to researchers, seasonal human coronavirus (HCoV) peaks in the UK each year from January to February. Although some studies have shown that reinfection of seasonal HCoV occurs within a year, some studies have observed that immune protection lasts longer in certain individuals. I will. In addition, researchers found that these antibodies were effective against homologous strains of HCoV-229E for about a year. Similarly, cross-defense immunity exists between seasonal HCoV and the SARS family of coronaviruses. Researchers analyzed human sera from SARS-CoV-2 patients and found high IgG responsiveness to seasonal HCoV and low responsiveness to SARS-CoV-2. In addition, cross-reactive T cells for SARS-CoV-2 have been reported in 20% to 51% of healthy individuals due to seasonal coronavirus infection. Such cross-reactive T cells are found primarily in children and adolescents. This explains why children and adolescents are less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, mutual protection from seasonal HCoV helped shape some of the epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2. A new study on medRxiv* A preprint server that hypothesizes that mutual protection from seasonal epidemics of HCoV not only affects the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, but also protects children from disease. To assess the distribution of pre-pandemic immunity to HCoV, researchers use 6-year seasonal coronavirus surveillance data from England and Wales to estimate the duration of infection-induced immunity to seasonal HCoV. I entered it in a mathematical model. In addition, researchers have determined the relationship between mutual protection from seasonal HCoV and age patterns during the first wave of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In this study, immunity to seasonal HCoV was estimated to last for 7 years and 3 months (95% CI: 6.8-7.9) and R 0 to be 5.7 (95% CI: 5.4-6.0). This result does not comprehensively explain the reduced susceptibility of children to SARS-CoV-2 observed in the first wave in the United Kingdom. This estimate differs from the conclusions drawn in previous studies, including larger data from Michigan, where strain-specific reinfection was observed between 19 and 33 months after infection. Another report from Kenya showed that it had re-infected within 6 months. Previous studies have shown that coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-1 can provide immunoprotection up to 11 months after infection. SARS-CoV-2 Simulation A) An epidemic trajectory tailored to the number of daily SARS-CoV-2 deaths in England and Wales in 2020. Each facet has different intensity of cross protection and contains output from 100 simulations. The red line indicates the planned introduction date of SARS-CoV-2 i. B) Estimated R 0 value for SARS-CoV-2 with different intensity cross protection. The P point shows R 0, C 19 and the line shows the range of R eff, C 19 during the simulation. C) Simulation of age-specific serological test rates for SARS-CoV-2 by the end of May 020. As mentioned above, the current study found that mutual protection between seasonal HCoV and SARS-CoV-2 was vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 in children during the first wave in England and Wales. We conclude that this is one of the reasons why we did not. This observation is consistent with previous studies conducted in the United States, where 50% of pre-pandemic donors have T cells that are reactive to SARS-CoV-2. It became clear that he had it. In addition, these donors also had serological markers of recent seasonal HCoV infection, indicating that seasonal HCoV is involved in the induction of cross-defense immunity. Similarly, another Australian study reported that 48% of uninfected candidates retained cross-reactive T cells for SARS-CoV-2. Cross-reactivity showed a strong correlation with memory of seasonal coronavirus strains. Antibodies are cross-reactive, but their persistence varies from individual to individual and is short-lived compared to T cells. Researchers have identified cross-reactive immune responses in other pandemic coronaviruses. This study reveals that cross-protection from seasonal coronaviruses cannot independently reduce a childs susceptibility to infection. It may be due to several other factors. Children are not induced by common pathogens and produce a wide range of reactive antibodies, including different proportions of blood cell types. In addition, multiple infectious diseases can boost immunity through cross-defense. When assessing the strength of mutual protection (ie, strong or mild mutual protection between HCoV and SARS-CoV-2), SARS-CoV-2 epidemics occur annually or every few years. Predicted that it is likely to cause. Current research assumes that all seasonal HCoVs are one virus, so there is complete mutual protection between them. However, this assumption can lead to an underestimation of the actual duration of protection. This is because cross protection can be system-specific. In addition, researchers assume that the immune system against seasonal HCoV remains constant despite repeated infections. However, in the case of recurrent infections caused by viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), such assumptions can lead to different assessments of immunity. Researchers in the current study claim that a better understanding of the commonly prevalent coronavirus can help predict the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic. *Important Notices medRxiv Is published as a preliminary scientific report that has not been peer-reviewed and is therefore considered definitive, guides clinical practice / health-related behaviors, and is treated as established information. Its not a thing. | https://exbulletin.com/world/health/959631/ |
Does Israel really need a president? | As someone who has met and written about every president from Ephraim Katzir onwards, my answer is a definite yes, particularly because the position is apolitical. The answer is simple. The president is apolitical in terms of favoring any particular party or parties, but is not apolitical when it comes to defending Israels interests in the world. A perfect example in the current climate are the many conversations that President Reuven Rivlin has had with presidents of other countries in relation to the allegations of war crimes against Israel that have reached the International Criminal Court. It is important that leaders of other countries understand and agree with Israels right to defend herself against aggression. Rivlin has made public statements on this issue, spoken to other presidents on the phone or via Zoom and has even made emergency trips abroad to present Israels case on a face-to-face basis. On a local level, because he served as Knesset Speaker, and before that on various Knesset committees and as a minister, he is familiar with many issues affecting different segments of Israeli society, and he also knows who to call when problems need to be solved. Much of this is not reported in the media, but the president is somehow regarded as the father of the nation in a way that the prime minister, regardless of which party he or she might represent, could never be universally accepted. cnxps.cmd.push(function () { cnxps({ playerId: '36af7c51-0caf-4741-9824-2c941fc6c17b' }).render('4c4d856e0e6f4e3d808bbc1715e132f6'); }); if(window.location.pathname.indexOf("656089") != -1){console.log("hedva connatix");document.getElementsByClassName("divConnatix")[0].style.display ="none";} Most people need a parent figure of some kind, which is why Queen Elizabeth has remained so popular in Britain, and why organizations and institutions make every effort to have their milestone events celebrated at the Presidents Residence, or at the very least have the president grace their functions. To Jewish communities abroad, the president of Israel is the closest thing to royalty. An example was a large delegation from Australia that was led by a rabbi during the tenure of Shimon Peres. The rabbi recited the blessing said in the presence of kings, explaining that since Israel no longer has a monarch, the president is the next best thing. When presidents of Israel travel abroad, the itinerary almost invariably includes a meeting with representatives of the Jewish community, or a mega event to which the Jewish world at large is invited. There are never any spare seats. The people want to see the president of Israel, to be photographed with him and to shake his hand. I once quipped to Shimon Peres that even if he would charge a symbolic fee, he could make a lot of money for Israel from all the photos for which he agreed to pose. Its not only Jews to whom a president of Israel is important. When Chaim Herzog, the father of the new President-elect Isaac Herzog, visited Poland in May, 1992, he met with members of the Association of Polish Righteous Gentiles. As people who had saved Jews, they were very keen to meet with a man who as an officer in the British Army had been among the liberators of Bergen-Belsen. The Polish rescuers wanted to meet a Jewish rescuer. Six years earlier, Herzog had been the first president of Israel to visit what was then West Germany, and had insisted on going to Bergen-Belsen and reciting Yizkor, the memorial prayer for the dead, in order to heighten awareness of Holocaust history. When he was in Poland, he visited Auschwitz for the same reason, and unveiled a stone memorial from Jerusalem. When the prime minister of Israel makes a statement about existential threats or antisemitism, it is taken in its political, partisan context, whereas when the president of the state speaks on the same subjects, it is accepted that he is speaking on behalf of the whole nation. When something of great national importance needs to be said publicly abroad, its more often the president, and not the prime minister who says it. For instance, few people believe that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is sincere when he talks about peace with the Palestinians, whereas President Rivlin is believed , because from day one, he has repeatedly said both in Israel and abroad that Israelis and Palestinians are not doomed to live together, but destined to live together. He also draws frequent attention to the fact that his father translated the Quran and other Islamic literature into Hebrew well before the establishment of the State of Israel, indicating that the Rivlin family had good relations with the Arab community, something that continues to this day. In fact, President Rivlin from time-to -time telephones Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and vice versa, whereas Netanyahu would find it difficult to pursue such a relationship. On the Christian front, with the help of the Government Press Office, Rivlin meets annually with a very large delegation of mostly Evangelical Christian broadcasters from around the globe, who individually and collectively enable him to convey Israels message to literally hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The enthusiasm with which these broadcasters greet the president, has to be seen to be believed, especially at a time when antisemitism is so prevalent in so many countries including those which have good relations with Israel. The president is a diplomat, arbiter, promoter of good causes , and involved on many levels with the army, the intelligence service, industry, education, LGBTQ rights, womens rights, sports, people with special needs, civilian national service, Arab affairs, Diaspora relations and so much more, including many things to which the prime minister cannot devote time and attention, but which often need to penetrate public consciousness. Last week, when the Foreign Ministry hosted a farewell for Rivlin, he was hailed as President-Diplomat. That, in a sense, said it all. Isaac Herzog has experience in all of the above and more, and is therefore the right man at the right time. Even when there is not a presidential election , the question posed every now again by legislators, journalists and members of the wider public is: Does Israel really need a President? | https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/does-israel-really-need-a-president-669903 |
What Happened To CJ On 'House Of Payne'? Did He Return In The New Season Of The Show? | House of Payne is an American sitcom produced by Tyler Perry. A spin-off titled The Paynes was also released in 2018 by The Oprah Winfrey Network. The eighth season of House of Payne completed airing in August 2020. The ninth season of the show began airing in September 2020 and concluded in January 2021. The show was renewed for a tenth and eleventh season as well. The tenth season of House of Payne premiered on May 25, 2021. The story of House of Payne revolves around the Payne family in Atlanta. The main cast of the show consists of LaVan Davis, Cassi Davis, Allen Payne, Larramie "Doc" Shaw, China Anne McClain, Denise Burse, Lance Gross, Demetria McKinney, Keshia Knight Pulliam, with Palmer Williams Jr., Ahmarie Holmes, Quin Walters, Terayle Hill joining as the main cast from the ninth and tenth season. Clarence Payne Jr., or as he is commonly known as CJ is a character on the show played by actor Allen Perry. The ninth season of the show kept the fans on a huge cliffhanger regarding this character. The ninth season wrapped up in January 2021 and fans were left guessing what exactly happened to CJ on the show. He got into an accident in the season finale and nothing else was revealed about his accident. He gets into the accident shortly after his argument with Ella after he discovered that she had taken away the twins after Lisa and Malik's fight. Ella's stunned reaction after learning about CJ's accident has the fans worried. They flocked to Twitter to express their reactions and vent out what they feel about the possible ending. Many of them are afraid that one of their favourite characters from the show has died. The makers of the show have also kept quiet on the matter. Considering how there was no news of Allen Perry leaving or getting replaced on the show, fans can rest assured that CJ is not dead on the show, he just has to take a rest to recover from the accident. In fact, he is also credited as one of the main cast members of House of Payne season 10. He returned to the show and is seen wearing a neck brace. Image: House of Payne's Instagram Get the latest entertainment news from India & around the world. Now follow your favourite television celebs and telly updates. Republic World is your one-stop destination for trending Bollywood news. Tune in today to stay updated with all the latest news and headlines from the world of entertainment. | https://www.republicworld.com/entertainment-news/web-series/what-happened-to-cj-on-house-of-payne-did-he-return-in-the-new-season-of-the-show.html |
Could the Red Sox Actually Wind Up Winning the Mookie Betts Trade? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston Download our mobile app for iOS or Android to get alerts for local breaking news and weather. The optics of trading Mookie Betts were always going to be a loser. Homegrown MVP. Dynamic five-tool superstar. Winning personality. Face of a franchise. Evaluations of the deal that sent him to the Los Angeles Dodgers tended to look backwards, though, listing all of the great things Mookie had already done while focusing less on what he might be in the future. And while it's too early to make any definitive determinations on that front, the 2021 season has allowed for one possibility that would significantly alter our perception of shipping him west. He's starting to break down. There's growing concern about Betts in Los Angeles during this most un-Mookie-like season. He's hitting just .247 with five homers through 44 games. He has missed time with a sore back, a sore shoulder, and most recently, impaired vision caused by an unspecified allergic reaction. He's on pace to play about 130 games, which would be his lowest total since he became a regular in 2015. While he still owns an .802 OPS because he's walking a ton, his .437 slugging percentage would be the lowest of his career, and of even more concern, the five-time Gold Glover has played at best an average right field, with just two defensive runs saved and some negative zone ratings. Manager Dave Roberts admits that injuries have played a role in Betts' slow start. "I think that's fair," Roberts told reporters, including Dylan Hernandez of the L.A. Times, who also examined this subject. "Mookie's never going to use ailments or things as an excuse. He's a guy that prides himself on playing every day. But when you talk about the swing and performing consistently, you talk about the back, you talk about the front shoulder." While dealing Betts was primarily about economics, durability played a role in the decision, too. When the Red Sox shipped him out in February of 2020 after being unable to come to an agreement on a long-term extension, fans reacted with understandable emotion, but without seeing the bigger picture. As we noted before the deal, 5-foot-9 stars overwhelmingly do not make good bets in their 30s. Since integration in 1947, only seven players 5-foot-9 or shorter have compiled 50 career WAR: Joe Morgan (100.6), Tim Raines (69.4), Pudge Rodriguez (68.7), Yogi Berra (59.3), Luis Aparicio (55.8), Dustin Pedroia (51.7), and Kirby Puckett (51.1). Betts (47.6) should join them this season. That's two catchers, one Gold Glove shortstop who couldn't hit a lick, one center fielder built like a bowling ball, one broken-down spark plug, a Hall of Fame second baseman, and Raines, who would probably be Betts' closest comp, and he delivered his last All-Star season at age 27. Betts has never been built to last, and the Dodgers should be swallowing hard right now watching him struggle. He ranks in the bottom half of the league in categories he once dominated, like exit velocity, barrel rate, and hard-hit percentage. He's barely average in sprint speed and outfield jump. His .207 average on four-seam fastballs would be his lowest by about 100 points since Statcast started tracking such data in 2017. He's slower in the field and on the bases, and he's not getting around on fastballs like he did last season while leading the Dodgers to a World Series. Meanwhile, replacement Alex Verdugo has provided slightly better production at a fraction of the cost. Betts is in the second year of a $365 million extension, whereas Verdugo isn't even eligible for arbitration until next year. Mookie Betts' 2021 batting average .247 Alex Verdugo's 2021 batting average .287 Variation Double That's the makings of a trade that doesn't turn out to be even remotely as lopsided as feared, especially if prospects Jeter Downs or Connor Wong amount to anything.Of course, it's early. Maybe Betts is just slumping or his injuries are simply nagging and a month from now he'll look like the superstar of old. He doesn't even turn 29 until October, after all. Just don't be surprised if the coming seasons bring increasingly frequent "What's wrong with Mookie?" stories, at which point maybe the Red Sox won't look quite so desperately stupid for moving on. | https://www.necn.com/news/national-international/could-the-red-sox-actually-still-win-the-mookie-betts-trade/2477912/ |
Will Apple Be the Next Tech Giant to Buy a Studio? | The iPhone maker already has a giant footprint in entertainment through its services division which includes Apple TV+, Apple Music, the App Store, iCloud and more, Its revenue topped $16.9 billion in the first quarter, up from $13.3 billion in the year-ago period, and boasts 660 million paid subscribers in total. paid subscribers in total. And CEO Tim Cook has described streamer Apple TV+s ambition to be one of the most desired platforms for storytellers, singling out comedy series Ted Lasso, drama The Morning Show and the miniseries Defending Jacob as its titles with significant buzz. But the streamer is seen by some Wall Street analysts as lacking multiple, regular breakout hits, which has led some to argue for a studio acquisition. Morgan Stanley research released in April found only 8 percent of U.S. respondents said they use Apple TV+, a figure that lags far below Netflix (58 percent), Amazon Prime (45 percent) and Disney+ (31 percent). Apple has made a major strategic mistake not buying a Hollywood studio while Amazon, Disney, Netflix and others run away with content, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives says. Content is king, and Apple built a mansion with hardly any furniture in it. MGM was a no-brainer acquisition for Apple, and they missed a huge opportunity. Hal Vogel, CEO of Vogel Capital Management, suggests that Cook is afraid of shareholder blowback if he goes Hollywood in a big way. The likes of Apple, Alphabets Google and Facebook are often cited as cash-rich tech titans that could gobble up Hollywood studios without much financial trouble. But two of them also have signaled their lack of sustained interest in more traditional premium content production. Facebook and Googles YouTube already tried plotting bigger scripted content pushes, then scaled back their ambitions. But AT&Ts $43 billion deal to merge WarnerMedia with Discovery and Amazons MGM buy underscores the intensifying streaming wars as a potential catalyst for the next wave of industry consolidation, with some of the big tech companies increasingly seen as potential acquirers, CFRA Research analyst Tuna Amobi says. Apple could choose to ramp up its Hollywood division with a mega buy of a studio the size of, say, Lionsgate, which gets mentioned as a possible takeover target given its relative lack of scale Lionsgates market cap is $3.8 billion, while Apples is $2.1 trillion as well as its 17,000-title library and film and TV franchises like Hunger Games, Twilight and its Starz drama Power. Apple and Amazon are unique among tech giants, insofar as they each have streaming services, so there are synergies in owning content libraries, notes Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter. Or it could follow Netflixs lead and look to snap up smaller Hollywood shingles like Mark Millars comic book company Millarworld to bulk up its intellectual property ownership. Amazons smart acquisition of MGM will spur studio M&A by its big tech streaming competitors [that] now face a crisis of content, says Peter Csathy, chairman of advisory firm CreaTV Media. Netflix is in search of franchises. Apple, too. Even Amazon may not be done yet for both offensive and defensive reasons. This story appeared in the May 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. | https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/apple-buy-film-studio-amazon-mgm-1234961585/ |
How To Romance Vetra's Character In Mass Effect Andromeda Game? | Mass Effect Andromeda is a popular action role-playing video game that has been developed by BioWare. The makers have added a number of different characters in the game and the players can even romance with some of them. Thus the players have recently been asking questions like how to romance Vetra in the game. To help them, here is all the information required to start a romance with Vetra in the game. Read on. Mass Effect Andromeda Vera romance Guide Vetra can be found at the Tempest as soon as your journey starts in the game. The players will be required to speak to her after the first planet mission on Eos. It might not be a difficult task to romance as she will let out a strong romantic vibe from the beginning. The players can certainly romance with this character in the game by taking up a male or female ryder's role. While talking to her, the players can use the option, "You're intense. I like it." Using such options will certainly help you with romance in the game. The players can then progress with the romance by meeting her again and asking if she has someone special in her life. She will also ask you the same questions and then try to make things interesting by saying, "hopefully soon." Then you will need to go ahead with the story and complete, "Hunting the Archon," mission in the game. You will meet Vetra after the mission. She will start talking about the sentimental attachment to some things before starting the adventure. After completing the mission, you will be required to move towards Sulfur Springs on Kadara to meet Vetra. Choose all the romantic options available in the game and this will trigger Vetra romance in the game. Apart from this, here is a video taken from YouTube that can help you with all your doubts about Mass Effect Andromeda Vetra romance options in the game. The players should look at these videos as the romance in Mass Effect Andromeda has managed to get some applaudable changes from the previous edition released by the makers. Apart from this, here are other Mass Effect Andromeda romance options that are available in the game. Romance option for Scott Ryder Cora Liam Suvi Avela Kjar Romance option for Sara Ryder Peebee Vetra Reyes Vidal Romance option for Scott or Sara Ryder Jaal Gil Keri Tvessa Lexi TPerro IMAGE: MASS EFFECT TWITTER | https://www.republicworld.com/technology-news/gaming/how-to-romance-vetras-character-in-mass-effect-andromeda-game.html |
What Made Barrington Upgrade Landecs Stock? | Landec (LNDC) received a Buy rating and a $13.00 price target from Barrington analyst Michael Petusky today. The companys shares closed last Tuesday at $11.64. According to TipRanks.com, Petusky is a 4-star analyst with an average return of 11.7% and a 57.2% success rate. Petusky covers the Healthcare sector, focusing on stocks such as Merit Medical Systems, US Physical Therapy, and Anika Therapeutics. Currently, the analyst consensus on Landec is a Strong Buy with an average price target of $13.00. See todays analyst top recommended stocks >> Based on Landecs latest earnings release for the quarter ending February 28, the company reported a quarterly revenue of $138 million and GAAP net loss of $5.5 million. In comparison, last year the company earned revenue of $153 million and had a GAAP net loss of $11.52 million. Based on the recent corporate insider activity of 30 insiders, corporate insider sentiment is positive on the stock. This means that over the past quarter there has been an increase of insiders buying their shares of LNDC in relation to earlier this year. TipRanks has tracked 36,000 company insiders and found that a few of them are better than others when it comes to timing their transactions. See which 3 stocks are most likely to make moves following their insider activities. Landec Corp. engages in the design, development, manufacture, and sale of health and wellness products for food and biomaterials markets. It operates through the following segments: Curation Foods, Lifecore, and Others. The Curation Foods segment includes activities to market and pack specialty packaged whole and fresh-cut fruit and vegetables. The Lifecore segment sells products utilizing hyaluronan, a naturally occurring polysaccharide that is widely distributed in the extracellular matrix of connective tissues in both animals and humans. The Other segment consists of corporate general and administrative expenses, non-Curation Foods and non-Lifecore interest income, and income tax expenses. The company was founded by Ray Stewart on October 31, 1986 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA. | https://www.smarteranalyst.com/new-blurbs/what-made-barrington-upgrade-landecs-stock/ |
Why does the US intelligence spy on European allies? | Insight The spying saga shows that Washington will go to any length to stop EU states from getting closer to China and Russia. Embarrassing leaks that show the US National Security Agency (NSA) spied on high-ranking European Union leaders for years have opened up old wounds of distrust between close military and diplomatic allies. What has worried EU politicians even more is that Denmark's military intelligence service - the FE - cooperated with the NSA in a sophisticated eavesdropping scheme that targeted German Chancellor Angela Merkel among others. The revelations came in a pan-European media investigation led by Danish public broadcaster, Danmarks Radio, which said the NSA used Denmark's internet cables to retrieve calls and text messages of high-ranking officials from Germany, Sweden, Norway and France between 2012 and 2014. Even though the details of NSAs spy operation that focused on Europe have emerged in the past, the new information comes when President Biden is only months into office, while Washington is seeking to coordinate with European allies on a host of issues including Irans nuclear programme. Intelligence collection against allies suggests a lack of trust in what is being shared in normal diplomatic exchanges, said Ewan Lawson, an associate fellow at the London-based Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). Key European states have taken different positions to the US on a number of issues, perhaps most notably on relations with Russia and China. Reports of a sophisticated US spy network first surfaced in 2013 when the NSA analyst Edward Snowden leaked documents showing how Washington was spying on American citizens and allies in other countries. US intelligence collection against allies was part of the Snowden leaks and as such, this is not new and given it is relatively historical it is unlikely to have a significant effect on US relations with France and Germany, said Lawson. Nevertheless, the European politicians have reacted angrily. Clement Beaune, Frances Europe Minister, referred to the spying news as extremely serious. A penalty for dissent Sami Hamdi, the managing director of International Interest, a global risk and intelligence consultancy, said that Washington has been concerned for years that Europe might take an independent approach towards its foes China and Russia. Some European countries, such as Italy, have gone their own way and signed agreements to participate in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative - a multibillion dollar infrastructure investment project that the US says Beijing is using to expand its global influence. While the question of America continuing with its spying practice remains open for debate, Hamdi said the distrust between the allies is still there. Washington is deeply concerned by European countries mulling better ties with Russia, and the EU negotiating a trade deal with China at the same time that Biden seeks to isolate Beijing. President Trumps administration largely succeeded in convincing European partners to not use Chinas 5G gear. But some countries, such as EUs economic powerhouse Germany, have resisted US pressure on other projects that involve China or Russia. Biden is also concerned that Germany has pushed back hard on issues such as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project that Washington had resolved to impose sanctions on in its entirety, said Hamdi. The Nord Stream 2, a 1,200 kilometre-long pipeline that will transport Russian natural gas to Europe is being built at a cost of more than $11 billion. The project is vital for the EU to meet its energy needs. The US in April warned Germany that there was no room for compromise on the project and that it will use all possible means to stop its construction. Amid the spying saga, one country that has found itself in perhaps the tightest spot is Denmark. Lars Findsen, the former director of the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (FE) was suspended along with other officials last year after an internal investigation, which began in 2015, Danmarks Radio said. This is probably most difficult for Denmark in its relationships with neighbours, said Lawson, the RUSI research fellow. However, the narrative in Denmark seems to be that this was an operation conducted by its intelligence agencies without the knowledge of politicians and not part of an official policy. This is supported by the suspension of senior intelligence officials. Source: TRT World | https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/why-does-the-us-intelligence-spy-on-european-allies-47198 |
Who Won The Vaxamillion Lottery? | (Screen will be black until streaming event starts) The Ohio Lotterys second VaxaMillion winners will be revealed Wednesday at 7:29 p.m. You can watch the vaxamillion winners announced on the 7News Facebook page or on WTRF.com. The Ohio Lottery drew the names Monday and then did background checks to make sure people who were signed up met the criteria. According to the State of Ohio, this weeks drawing included 3,225,789 entries for $1 million and 132,903 entries in the 12 to 17 age group for a full ride college scholarship. Last week Abbigail Bugenske, of Silverton, was the first $1 million winner in the Vax-a-Million contest. Joseph Costello, of Englewood, won the four-year scholarship to an Ohio college of his choice | https://www.wtrf.com/vaxamillion/who-won-the-vaxamillion-lottery-2/ |
Is it better to have windows open in hot weather? | UK weather: Sun and cool temperatures forecast by Met Office FREE health tips to live a long and happy life SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forhealth tips to live a long and happy life When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Heatwaves have been enjoyed by many up and down the country. With temperatures forecast to remain high many will be desperate to keep their homes cool. On hot days the first thing many people will do is to crack open a window in a bid to stop themselves from overheating - but this might be part of the problem. It has never been more important to keep your home environment cool and comfortable. With working from home set to continue over the summer keeping your house at a comfortable temperature has never been more important. Sweltering home offices as well as causing great discomfort may lower your productivity and cause you to lose focus. Stuffy bedrooms will guarantee that you have a poor nights sleep. Keeping curtains closed can keep hot air out READ MORE How to sleep in hot weather: Opening all windows 'isnt always smart' In a desperate attempt to stop temperatures from soaring indoors many Brits will be wondering is it best to keep windows open or closed. As soon as temperatures rise dont be tempted to immediately throw open your windows. Many believe this will let the cool air in but if the temperature is higher outside than inside this will only set your house temperature soaring. Opening windows can make homes hotter If this is the case you should keep your windows closed and curtains drawn. This will help keep the heat out and to keep your home as cool as possible. If you do not know the exact temperatures outside compared to those inside the best practice is to keep your windows and curtains closed during the day in hot weather. If you open your curtains when the sun is beating down your windows can act like a greenhouse and heat up your home. DON'T MISS: Cleaning: Mrs Hinch fans share easy hack to leave windows streak-free [INSIGHT] Our Yorkshire Farm's Amanda Owen blasted after 'selling out' claims [INSIGHT] Hotel room cleaning tips: The 4 things you should clean on arrival [ANALYSIS] READ MORE Rightmove names the six most sought-after spa towns Whilst opening the windows if the temperature is warmer outside than inside can let in warmer air heating up your home. To make the most of the cooler temperatures be sure to open a window (if its safe to do so), at night or as soon as temperatures start to drop in the evening. This will let in that cool evening breeze and hopefully banish uncomfortably hot nights. Temperatures are often cool in the early mornings so leaving windows during this time can further help to cool your home but remember to close them as soon as temperatures start to rise. Make sure you allow cooler air to circulate If the idea of keeping all your curtains drawn during the day saddens you then tactically choosing which ones to keep open might be the solution. Keep your curtains closed in the rooms where the sun hits that part of your house. It depends on how your house is orientated but it might be best to keep your curtains drawn at the front or the back of your house. If you are working from home you might want to choose a room in your house where the sun does not shine directly in. Trending | https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1444446/Is-it-better-to-have-windows-open-in-hot-weather-evg |
Will Phoenix red-light cameras be re-activated? | The Operation Safe Roads team circled back with the city of Phoenix Street Transportation Department and Mayor Kate Gallego's office about red-light cameras in the city following the death of a Phoenix police officer who was believed to have been hit by a driver who ran a red light. In January of 2020, Mayor Kate Gallego had called a Work Study Session to discuss "a proposed methodology to evaluate, identify, and select locations for red-light cameras, and the current procurement of a new contract." According to city officials, there are 1,150 signalized intersections in Phoenix. Each year, these intersections saw an average of 1,520 red-light running crashes. Those crashes took the lives of nearly 90 people per year on average. KNXV The Phoenix City Council voted 5 - 4 back in November of 2019 to allow the contract with Redflex, who owns and operates red-light cameras at 12 intersections, to expire. The measure would have also added $800,000 to the more-than-$4-million current contract. It would have also extended the program until the end of this year. The opposition came from council members who claimed it was a money grab. Some said they didn't have enough information to vote properly. Here were the locations of the 12 photo radar cameras: 35th Avenue & Cactus Road 35th Avenue & Glendale Avenue 16th Street & Jefferson Street Tatum Boulevard & Thunderbird Road 67th Avenue & McDowell Road Central Avenue & McDowell Road 53rd Avenue & Indian School Road 50th Street & Ray Road 7th Street & Bell Road 12th Street & Camelback Road 35th Avenue & McDowell Road 24th Street & Thomas Road According to city officials, these cameras are no longer operating and no more conversations are currently scheduled to bring the red light camera program back. The most recent data from AAA shows Arizona tops every other state in the country when it comes to red light crashes. Data from the city of Phoenix shows the number of crashes at certain intersections between 2016 and 2018: | https://www.abc15.com/news/operation-safe-roads/will-phoenix-red-light-cameras-be-re-activated |
Is Alizeh Shah dressing beyond her age? | Actor Alizeh Shah has been criticized a lot on Instagram for her choice of clothes lately. She can be seen walking on Megan Thee Stallions hit song Cocky AF. One particular outfit that attracted comments was a pink bodycon dress. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPg7GlWBDmv Critics say the 20-year-old actor has lost her innocence in the process of pursuing fame. One of the critics said that Alizeh has lost respect after posting the video. Singer Momina Mustehsan defended her. If Alizeh was not famous already, people would not have been lurking on her social media handles, she pointed out. https://www.instagram.com/p/CPkza0ABrpJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=d9e7e353-5268-44eb-bdd4-cdc5a6f3a5df This is the second time Alizeh has faced backlash for her attire after she was called out for wearing a low-cut top at a mobile launch event. Follow SAMAA English on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. | https://www.samaa.tv/entertainment/2021/06/is-alizeh-shah-dressing-beyond-her-age/ |
Can English Pacer James Anderson Break Sachin Tendulkar & Anil Kumbles Test Records? | When one thinks of the next cricket player breaking Sachin Tendulkars record, a bowler is not someone who pops in the mind first. However, not all of Tendulkars recording are batting-based. 39-year-old English bowler James Anderson is set to break Tendulkars record for most Test matches on home soil. While this record will surely be achieved, Anderson might be on the verge of breaking another Indian cricket legends recordAnil Kumbles record for the highest number of wickets in Test. The event will likely happen with Englands upcoming Test series against New Zealand. This will be a two-match Test at Lords and Edgbaston starting June 2. Anderson is already considered to be one the great fast bowlers of current times and with these two records, he could add two more feathers to his hat. He is currently 4th-ranked Test bowler in the world. With a total of 94 Test matches playedd on home soil, Tendulkar holds this record for now. Anderson has played 89 Test matches at home so far. With the two Test match against the Kiwis and later the five-match Test against India, Anderson will bring his total to 96 if all goes well as both these series will take place in England. However, if England follows a rotation policy and Anderson doesnt play all the next seven Tests, then Tendulkars record will remain untouched for a little longer. As the next person with most matches on home soil is Ricky Ponting with 92 matches, it is impossible for the now-retired player to touch the record. However, Englands Alastair Cook, and Australias Steve Waugh both also have 89 matches each, same as Anderson. As for the most wickets in Test, Kumble has total of 619 wickets in Tests. Anderson on the other hand, has a total of 614 wickets till now. additionally, he might become the second bowler in the world to take 400 Test wickets at home as he has 384 currently. Since his debut in 2002 Zimbabwe, Anderson has played 160 Test matches. Get all the IPL news and Cricket Score here | https://www.news18.com/cricketnext/news/can-english-pacer-james-anderson-break-sachin-tendulkar-anil-kumbles-test-records-3802553.html |
Who Is Niha Khan And Why Are People Trending Vaccine Jihad On Twitter? | India has been severely hit by the third wave of the pandemic and people are struggling with the shortage of vaccination. While people struggle for the slots for their doses, a very disturbing event has come to light. ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) Niha Khan from Aligarh (Uttar Pradesh) has been accused of throwing 29 vaccine-loaded syringes in the dustbin. According to reports, she used to insert the needle inside the recipient's body but did not inject the Covid-19 vaccine. The FIR has been registered against Niha Khan under Section 203, 176, 465, 427, 120 B 3/4 of IPC at the Civil Lines police station of Aligarh. Niha Khan has been booked based on a complaint from the chief medical officer, Dr. Bhanu Pratap Kalyani. Chief Medical Officer Kalyani said: There is a possibility that some people might not have actually received the vaccine. I have set up an inquiry committee by two ACMO-level officers and have asked them to submit a report as soon as possible. ANI UP Dr Afreen, in charge of the Centre where Niha worked, has been accused of covering up the act, and her name also been added to the FIR. According to Sudarshan News, many have referred to the incident as Vaccination Jihad. The news channel also reported that Niha was also doing it intentionally and she wanted to show the BJP government led by Yogi Adityanath in a bad light. Heres the channels report: Shocking beyond belief@myogiadityanath ji, this merits serious investigation all over the state, not just onto conduct of just one nurse. She can't be alone in this. pic.twitter.com/JZPmblDUK7 Madhu Purnima Kishwar (@madhukishwar) May 31, 2021 People have started to trend Vaccination Zehad and Vaccination Jihad on Twitter after the incident. People have lost their cool and are saying that this is an embarrassment to the countrys healthcare system. Let us know in the comments section below. | https://www.mensxp.com/social-hits/news/88841-why-vaccine-jihad-is-trending-on-twitter.html |
Why are U.S. states banning transgender women from sport? | Article content By Rachel Savage June 2 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) Florida has become the largest U.S. state to ban transgender women and girls from competing in womens sport, part of a nationwide Republican drive to use local laws to challenge President Joe Bidens push for greater LGBT+ inclusion. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. In March 2020, Idaho became the first state to ban trans women and girls from womens sports leagues in schools and colleges, setting off a trend that swept more than 30 other state legislatures. That landmark law is now suspended, after a court challenge deemed it discriminatory. This year, Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi, Montana, Tennessee, West Virginia and Florida passed similar legislation and South Dakotas governor has signed an executive order supporting a sports ban. All have Republican governors. In May, the LGBT+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign pronounced 2021 the worst year for bills challenging gay and transgender rights in U.S. states. It plans to challenge the Florida law. More than 250 LGBT+ rights-related bills were introduced in state legislatures this year, it said, with 18 anti-LGBTQ bills then signed into law, topping the previous record of 15 set in 2015. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. On Bidens first day in office, he signed an executive order that banned discrimination based on gender identity in bathrooms, changing rooms and school sports a move opposed by many Republicans. The President believes that trans rights are human rights, and that no one should be discriminated on the basis of sex, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in March. Republicans have spoken out against trans girls competing in girls sport, saying they have an unfair physical advantage over other competitors, amid a fierce culture war between LGBT+ activists and social conservatives. I can tell you this: in Florida, girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said on Tuesday where he signed the bill. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. School policies for trans athletes vary, but are usually set by bodies that govern athletics, rather than state laws. Several states have no policies at all. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, which runs inter-college sport, says trans women must suppress their testosterone for at least a year before competing as women. Trans men cannot compete with women once they start taking testosterone, NCAA rules state. On the global stage, International Olympic Committee guidelines advise sporting bodies to allow trans women athletes to compete if their testosterone levels remain below a certain level for at least a year. Trans men face no restrictions. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. LGBT+ activists say the sports bills are discriminatory, and dispute claims of a physical advantage. Gillian Branstetter, a trans advocate and spokeswoman for the National Womens Law Center, said trans athletes have not consistently outperformed other female athletes in the 16 U.S. states that have trans-inclusive high school policies. Theres not been the abolition of womens sport. The nightmarish rhetoric (of) the people proposing these bills simply hasnt come to fruition, she said. Chris Mosier, a triathlete and the first trans man to represent the United States internationally, said the current debate was damaging for all trans people. Telling transgender and non-binary youth that they are not valid and not worthy of having the same experiences as their peers not only negatively impacts them it also impacts the way the rest of the country treats transgender people, he said. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content These are very dangerous bills that are attempting to serve as an entry point to larger scale discrimination, he said. The muscular advantage enjoyed by trans women only falls by about 5% after a year of testosterone suppressing treatment, according to a review of existing studies by the University of Manchester and Swedens Karolinska Institute. Britains Loughborough University found that hormone therapy reduced trans womens hemoglobin levels which affects endurance to equal that of non-trans women within four months. But strength, lean body mass and muscle area remained higher after three years of medication to block testosterone, it said. Tommy Lundberg, who co-authored the first study, said male athletes gain their 30% muscular advantages during puberty, but there are no studies of trans adolescents who may take puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones before puberty finishes. (Reporting by Rachel Savage //news.trust.org) Share this article in your social network Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Shopping essentials Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. NP Posted Sign up to receive the daily top stories from the National Post, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it please check your junk folder. The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again Trending | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/crime-pmn/why-are-u-s-states-banning-transgender-women-from-sport |
Is singer Harry Styles launching a beauty brand? | British singer Harry Styles is thought to be launching a beauty brand after registering a company which names him in the filing. Formed on May 25th, the private limited company is called Please As Holdings Limited, listing both Styles and long time executive assistant Emma Spring as company directors. The purpose of its business is the wholesale of perfume and cosmetics. Social media users have been speculating as to the name of the brand, which some are suggesting will be called SHE, the initials of the singers name spelled backwards: Styles, Harry Edward. While the trademark could also be used for Styles music merch, a beauty brand or fragrance may be a bankable brand extension for Styles, whos signature genderless style has been as defining for his image as has his music. Unisex categories such as fragrance, nail polish and jewellery could see Styles take a lead in the celebrity beauty business. While many celebrities have licensing deals with well-known beauty giants such as LOreal, no such deal has been announced. | https://fashionunited.in/press/celebrity/is-singer-harry-styles-launching-a-beauty-brand/2021060229251?Itemid= |
What happens if Aaron Rodgers doesnt show up? | Getty Images A recent report from another publication included this clear, unambiguous, and unmistakable remark: The Packers would trade Rodgers if they believed he was truly committed to never playing for them again. This statement implies that the Packers dont believe he is truly committed to never playing for them again. Which means that, to the extent hes suggesting by words (or lack thereof) and actions that hell never play for them again, the Packers are calling what could be a bluff. The financial penalties commence with mandatory minicamp. Per page 249 of the labor deal, the Packers can fine Rodgers $93,085 for missing all three days of the camp. Then, if he skips training camp, the Packers will fine him $50,000 per day. Under the 2020 CBA, the daily fines for missing training camp are mandatory and cannot be waived. If Rodgers sits out all of 2021, hell lose his $14.7 million salary. The Packers also will be able to recover $11.5 million in unearned signing bonus money and Rodgers $6.8 million roster bonus, which was earned earlier this year and (per a source with knowledge of the situation) will be paid out with his game checks. Assuming 40 days of camp, thats a total financial penalty for Rodgers of more than $35 million if he doesnt play this year along with a lost opportunity to play football in one of his remaining years of high-level athletic ability. Which helps explain why the Packers dont believe he wont show up. Thus, the privilege of skipping all of 2021 costs more than $35 million and one full season of adding to Rodgers legacy. Thats a huge price to pay. And it helps explain why the Packers dont believe Rodgers will stay away for all of the 2021 season. Rodgers could avoid roughly $2 million in fines by retiring before the start of training camp. Hed still lose $33 million by not playing this year. Thats money that will never be replaced, unless he convinces himself that hell be able to play year deeper into his forties by not playing this year. The Packers remain unconvinced. Which is one of the reasons why the Packers arent looking to give Rodgers what he wants. The Packers seem to believe (and for good reason) that he wont give up what he needs playing football and getting paid handsomely for it. | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/06/02/what-happens-if-aaron-rodgers-doesnt-show-up/ |
Are carbon offsetting apps legit? | Awareness of the reality and the severity of climate change is on the rise. More and more people are coming to terms with the facts that the planet is warming, humans are responsible, and there is very little time left for us to address it. That has plenty of people looking for answers on how they can shrink their carbon footprints and ease the burden on the planet we all helped cause. One increasingly popular solution is purchasing carbon offsets. The concept is pretty simple: You create carbon emissions by driving your car, traveling by plane, eating lots of meat, or even keeping your lights on and you can counteract, or offset, those emissions by paying to reduce or sequester carbon elsewhere. This is often done by donating to offset projects that plant trees in a growing forest; the trees naturally remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it in their trunks. Many major corporations use carbon offsets as a tool to decrease their overall carbon footprints, planting millions of trees that can suck up some of the carbon emissions created by their polluting. More recently, this mitigation method has trickled down to individuals. In the last few years, several apps focusing on carbon offsets for individual consumers have hit the market. Not only does this allow anyone to wipe out their contributions to climate change at least theoretically but it also does so with the tantalizing promise that you don't have to change anything about your lifestyle to do it. Most of these tools work similarly: They help you calculate your carbon footprint based on your daily activities or notable events that may produce excess emissions, then they offer you the ability to offset any contribution to climate change by funding emissions-reducing projects. But while buying carbon offsets sounds appealing, it's not quite that easy. There are lots of questions about the effectiveness of carbon offsets from a lack of transparency around these programs' execution, to a lack of certainty that simply offsetting our actions is enough to counteract climate change. The short answer here is yes. (If you're bothering to ask, you need to catch up on your reading.) But before trying to offset your emissions, it's worth figuring out just how big your carbon footprint even is. There are tools, from organizations like The Nature Conservancy or the United Nations, that can help you figure it out but if you want to pencil yourself in as the average American, assume you have a carbon footprint of about 16 tons of emissions per year. That's much higher than the global average, which is around 4 tons per year, and significantly higher than the 2 tons per year the average individual's impact should be by 2050, per a goal set by the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Shutterstock Some of that impact is likely out of your control. For example, if your utility provider doesn't use renewable energy and has a monopoly in your region, there's really not much you can do to change that. But it's definitely worth assessing your lifestyle to find some other ways you can lessen your overall impact on the planet. (And hey, Mic can help with that! Check out our guides to what going meat-free would look like, how to start a worm compost no matter the size of your kitchen, and how to do your laundry in a more eco-conscious way.) Okay. Then I would like a carbon offset, please! For the average American, purchasing a carbon offset would mean planting about 1,025 trees, according to Saving Nature which many carbon offset apps help facilitate. But the specifics of how that offset comes to fruition vary depending on which offset app you choose. Some apps, like Offcents, offer a pay-as-you-go plan, following your behaviors based on things like location data and other tracking information to generate an estimated carbon footprint that you'll offset as you go. Others like Capture operate on a credit system, asking you to pay a set amount for a certain offset size say, $20 for 3,000 pounds of carbon emission removal. Or you can choose a subscription model like Klima offers, in which case you'll pay a monthly fee determined based on your estimated emissions. The average American is probably looking at something around $15 to $25 per month for a carbon offset program. Here's the thing with carbon offsets: There's a lot of money to be had in offering to help people counteract their environmental impact, but there's also very little oversight in place to make sure the organizations selling these offsets are actually following through. "There are many questions about how carbon offsets and related biodiversity offsets are calculated," Katie Sandwell, a senior project officer with the Transnational Institute's Agrarian Environmental Justice Program, tells Mic. "Oversight is limited, methodologies for estimating offsets are contested, and corporations selling offsets for profit have an interest in over-stating the ecological gains that result from them." Last year, REDD+, one of the biggest carbon offset initiatives in the world, came under fire by researchers who found that the positive effects of REDD+'s emissions reduction plan had been significantly overstated and that program had been negotiated and enforced by the United Nations. Many other offset programs work with third-party verifiers, and there is a lot of ambiguity regarding how standards are set and enforced. Even operating under the assumption that these groups have the best of intentions, they may or may not actually be equipped to actually follow through on the promises for carbon reduction. The Climate Markets and Investment Association (CMIA), The International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), and International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) three of the largest trade groups developed around the mission of carbon reduction issued a joint statement in 2014 cautioning consumers against using carbon offsets "unless they are experienced enough and knowledgeable enough to fully understand the significant risks they face by doing so." A spokesperson from Verra, one of the largest certifiers of carbon reduction programs, tells Mic that it still supports that statement and warns that consumers may not be getting what they are promised if they don't exercise due diligence when purchasing carbon credits. If you want to go through with purchasing a carbon offset, research the details of the service you're using. All of these factors matter when you're trying to maximize the effect of your offset and minimize your personal footprint. It's not just that offset providers might not be able to follow through on their promises it's also that they may actively do harm in making those promises to begin with. Sandwell says some less reputable companies may be participating in "green grabbing," which she calls a form of appropriation. "In theory, planting trees or protecting ecosystems to prevent emissions or absorb carbon from the atmosphere sounds positive," she says. "However, depending on how this is done, it can have major negative impacts for local communities without delivering real environmental gains." Sandwell explains that, in order to plant more trees or perform other types of biodiversity-based carbon offsetting, traditional land users like Indigenous people may be evicted from the land or denied access to it by governments and corporations that want to use the land for carbon offset initiatives. For example, the Sengwer Indigenous people in Kenya were allegedly evicted from their ancestral homes by the government's Kenya Forest Service, so that the land could be used for biofuels and crops. "These programs are telling consumers that we can purchase our way out of the climate crisis making them at best misleading, and at worst conduits for blatant lies." Some experts also question how effective these man-made forests actually are at minimizing carbon emissions. Sandwell says many offset projects create "massive monocultural tree plantations" of single tree species, rather than foster the biodiversity that's necessary to create and sustain a healthy ecosystem. Studies have also found that these types of projects can result in "green deserts" that aren't nearly as efficient as diverse and naturally occurring forests are when it comes to carbon storage. Offsets can be useful but, as Greenpeace USA Senior Climate Campaigner Dr. Amy Moas tells Mic, we run into problems when we lean into offsets as a single magic-bullet solution. If we don't actually address the root causes of our personal carbon footprints, carbon offsets aren't going to make that much of a difference. "These programs are telling consumers that we can purchase our way out of the climate crisis making them at best misleading, and at worst conduits for blatant lies that risk distracting and delaying the vital work of addressing our climate crisis," Moas says. She worries that these programs are selling consumers on the idea that they can just pay a fee to make their carbon emissions go away, without having to actually make the necessary long-term changes to improve our planet's health. As Moas notes, you can market something as climate-friendly, but "simply marketing it as such does not make it so." The truth, according to independent policy analyst and communications expert Anja Kollmuss, is that we're well beyond the point of simply offsetting our carbon footprints. "The remaining CO2 budget we can emit if we want to stay well below 2 degrees [Celsius, the benchmark for warming if we want to avoid the worst effects of climate change] is extremely small," she tells Mic. "People should not have this false sense that they can somehow neutralize their climate impact." Instead, Kollmuss recommends making changes in your personal life to reduce your impact in a more direct way. This can come in the form of changing your diet, reducing your travel, and trying to clean up other carbon-heavy habits. If you're really keen to contribute financially, "donate money to organizations and politicians that work on making this change happen," Kollmuss says. "You cannot directly measure the impact your money has, but it will likely do more good than spending your money on offsets." You can also make a huge difference without opening your wallet at all. "Get engaged in the political process, at what level and wherever it feels most interesting and rewarding to you," Kollmuss says. After all, just 100 corporations are responsible for more than 70% of the planet's total carbon emissions. If you can use your voice to push for policies that will hold those companies accountable and mandate a reduction in their carbon footprint, it will have a much greater impact than paying for a stranger to plant some trees you'll never see. | https://www.mic.com/p/are-carbon-offsetting-apps-legit-79566444 |
What Is A Subprime Mortgage? | Taking out a subprime or nonprime mortgage is one option when you have poor credit. However, its not your only one; you may qualify for a government-backed mortgage such as an Federal Housing Administration (FHA) or U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan. These loans offer more relaxed credit score and down payment requirements. Its important to consider all your options before pursuing a subprime mortgage. Also know that nonprime home loans arent just for borrowers with bad credit. Some types of properties dont qualify for conventional loans, such as certain condos or log homes. If youre self-employed and dont have much taxable income, you may also be a good candidate for a subprime mortgage. The same is true of foreign nationals in the U.S. who dont have a credit history. Benefits and Risks One of the biggest benefits to subprime mortgages is that they provide an avenue for securing home financing when you dont qualify otherwise. | https://lacrossetribune.com/business/investment/personal-finance/what-is-a-subprime-mortgage/article_1fb67c61-1d9c-5320-ad2e-ecab1023fa36.html |
Is Valorant coming to mobile? | Valorant has been a huge success from Riot Games. It has an active ranked scene, avid fans, and in June 2021, Riot Games shared they have an average playerbase of 14 million playesr. Alongside that announcement they shared that theyre going to be making a Valorant mobile spinoff, and we can expect more competitive shooting in the future. The announcement follows Riot Games other title, League of Legends mobile spinoff, Wild Rift, another growing success on the mobile market. Its steadily become the new trend to create a popular shooter and bring it mobile, similar to other popular titles, such as PUBG, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends. The launch of a mobile game hinged on the PC version of Valorant becoming a success, and it only took a little over a year for this to happen. Right now, we dont know when Valorant is going to have its mobile spinoff, but we do know its coming. We can expect it might come with a slightly different name, similar to how the mobile version of League of Legends is referred to as Wild Rift. You can expect more updates in the future as Riot Games share more information about their growing franchise. | https://www.gamepur.com/guides/is-valorant-coming-to-mobile |
Is a Democratic Landslide in New Mexicos Congressional Special Election a Sign? | Democrat Melanie Stansbury won overwhelming in a special election for a suburban House seat in New Mexico Tuesday, tallying 60 percent of the vote en route to a 25-point win over Republican state senator Mark Moores. That a Democrat won the race to fill the seat vacated by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland is hardly surprising; the district swung to the left in 2008 and has turned out increasingly uncompetitive races over the past decade, including in 2020 where President Joe Biden carried the district by 23 points and Haaland won by 17 points. The timing of the race, however, gave the contest special importance as a potential barometer of support for the Biden agenda in a suburban district in a competitive presidential state far from Washington. National onlookers saw the margin of victory, rather than victory itself, as a key indicator of how the Democratic presidents policies were playing in the field. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's my line on the #NM01 special tonight (district was Biden +23, Haaland +16 in '20). Melanie Stansbury (D) by... >15: Dems should be very happy 10-15: about what we might expect <10: sign of a Dem turnout problem post-Trump Dave Wasserman (@Redistrict) June 2, 2021 The 25-point walloping appears to show that Democratic support for Biden his holding, as the party tries to hold onto its slim advantage in the House while simultaneously fighting against the American electorates habit of returning the opposition party to power in the House in the cycle after a newly elected president takes office. Stansburys opponent ran almost entirely on the rise in crime in the Albuquerque-based district in an effort to make the race a referendum on crime, a line of attack that is surely going to be front-and-center of the Republican election effort in 2022 amidst elevated national crime rates on the tail of the pandemic. Voters in NM-01 tonight: pic.twitter.com/dUdSuaQV2o Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) June 2, 2021 Tuesdays margin will calm Democratic nerves on the popularity of its agenda and the partys vulnerability to crime-related campaign tactics, but the win does come with a number of caveats that make universal lessons a bit harder to parse. Democrats took far more interest and invested far more resources in the race as national Republicans largely stayed on the sidelines. Stansbury raised three times more money, allowing her to blanket the local airwaves, while receiving a wave of visits from high-profile Democrat to maintain enthusiasm. | https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/06/democrat-win-stansbury-new-mexico-house-special-election-congress.html?via=rss |
Is Uranium the Next Green Energy Play? | This past week may have been pivotal for green energy investors. Major breakthroughs in the courts and boardrooms hit three different major oil companies. Fossil fuel companies are under significant pressure to reduce their reliance on oil and gas in favor of green alternatives. Most investors think about solar and wind when it comes to green energy investing. It tends to come as a surprise that uraniumthat is, nuclear energyis also green. The thing is, nuclear power essentially produces zero emissions. In the era of serious concerns over climate change, zero-emissions are a huge deal. Nuclear energy is also the most efficient type of energy on the planet. A small amount of raw material can result in massive amounts of electricity generation. That raw material is uraniumat least to start with. After its treated and enriched and eventually may become plutonium. Investors traditionally havent considered nuclear power to be green because of high-profile meltdowns and the negative publicity of nuclear waste. However, new nuclear reactors are orders of magnitude safer than the ones that had issues in the past. Whats more, nuclear waste takes up very little space, and methods for its safe storage and disposal are well known. All that said, its no surprise that uranium companies have done quite well lately. Global X Uranium ETF (URA), a fund that owns several companies involved in the uranium industry, is up nearly 40% year-to-date. At least one big fund or investor is still plenty bullish on uranium, at least through mid-October. The strategist purchased a large call spread on URA that doesnt expire until October 15. A call spread involves buying a call closer to the money while selling a further-away call at the same time. This strategy is used to reduce the upfront cost of the trade. In this case, with URA trading for $21.91, the October 25 calls were bought while the 30 calls were sold at the same time. The total price of the call spread was $0.62, and it traded 8,000 times. That means the total cost of the trade was just about $500,000 (which is the most that can be lost on the trade). On the other hand, the position can reach max gain if URA closes above $30 by its October expirationroughly five months away. At max gain, the trade will pay off with $4.38 in profits, a whopping 706% gains. The breakeven point for the position at expiration is $25.62, approximately 16% higher than where we are at the time of this writing. Call spreads are very useful for longer-term options trades like this one in URA. While the stock does need to climb another 16% to hit breakeven, $0.62 isnt a lot of money to spend with so much time until expiration. Given how well uranium stocks have performed lately, if the trade works out, this seems like a reasonable price to pay for a substantial payout. | https://www.investorsalley.com/is-uranium-the-next-green-energy-play-article-jay/ |
Is the housing boom about to bust? | Every woman and their dog is telling us to throw caution to the wind and join the property market frenzy. Prices will keep rising, they reckon, because interest rates are so low and theres all those new taxes on the way. So take a deep breath and borrow to the hilt to buy that dream house that will otherwise be permanently out of reach. Sounds pretty persuasive, especially for those sweating to buy their first home. Credit:Domain Beware, buyers: lines like these are heard at the peak of housing booms. Remember the worst days of the coronavirus lockdown last year. We couldnt buy or sell houses that easily. Auctions as we knew them werent allowed. | https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/is-the-housing-boom-about-to-bust-20210602-p57xem.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed |
Are Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Getting Serious? | A source close to Lopez tells People, This is not a casual relationship, adding, "They are taking it seriously and want it to be long-lasting." The update comes after Jennifer reportedly spent the weekend with Ben in L.A. The insider says she was in town for business, but also wanted to see her man. The source explained, "They will continue to travel back and forth between Los Angeles and Miami. They are very happy together." Just last week Affleck was spotted in Miami, and the couple was spotted kissing at Anatomy Miami Beach. "They were holding hands, hugging, kissing, a source told People. They weren't trying to hide the fact that they were together. They are very much into each other and being together." The insider went on, "Truthfully, they are really nice people. No one stands around the gym saying, 'Don't approach them.' No one bothers them; everyone is respectful. Everyone loves her. All the women are checking her out and her routine because she looks so amazing and is so strong." Fans started speculating about another round of Bennifer when they were photographed outside her home in April. The stars also participated in the Vax Live concert last month, although they did not appear together at the fundraiser. Soon after, however, Ben and Jennifer were spotted together near a Big Sky resort in Montana. Ben has a home in the area, and the exes were seen riding together, with Ben behind the wheel and J.Lo in the passenger seat. Lopez and Affleck began dating in 2002, and got engaged a few months later. They postponed their 2003 wedding, and ultimately split in January 2004. | https://extratv.com/2021/06/02/are-ben-affleck-and-jennifer-lopez-getting-serious/ |
Which Louisiana City Has the Most Billionaires? | BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) Louisiana lawmakers passed a 0.45% sales tax in 2018 to stabilize state finances and pledged the tax hike would be a temporary bridge to balance the budget. But three years later, Republican state Senate leaders are proposing to keep the tax on the books permanently and steer the dollars to road and bridge work. Critics are crying foul. They say the proposal being pushed in the waning days of the legislative session would renege on a promise made to residents. Backers of making the tax permanent cite the states $15 billion backlog of transportation projects. The debate is expected to be hashed out this week in the Senate Finance Committee. | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2263932660370/which-louisiana-city-has-the-most-billionaires |
Did each of these 20 players ever score a goal whilst on loan at Swansea City? | Swansea City suffered play-off heartbreak as they were beaten by Brentford at Wembley, but attention will already turn to next season. The challenge for Steve Cooper will be to build a side that is capable of going one better, and that will be tough as he wont have a huge budget to work with. However, the Welsh side will surely once again use the loan market, something which has been so helpful to them over the years. Here we test your knowledge on the players who have had short spells with the Swans, and you just have to say whether each individual scored a goal for the club or not. Good luck! 1 of 20 Morgan Gibbs-White Yes No | https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/did-each-of-these-20-players-ever-score-a-goal-whilst-on-loan-at-swansea-city/ |
What qualities would Sander Berge bring to Arsenal if he signed? | With the summer transfer now upon us, there are plenty of players who look set to be the subject of much speculation over the next few months, one of which is Sander Berge. The Sheffield United midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal among others in recent times, although it seems he will not come cheap. Recent reports have claimed that the Blades have slapped a 35million price tag on the Norwegian in the wake of that interest from the Gunners, despite their relegation from the Premier League. As a result, Arsenal are going to have to be sure that Berge will improve their squad if they are going to spend such a sizeable fee to bring the 23-year-old to the Emirates this summer. So with that in mind, weve taken a look at three qualities that Berge could bring to Arsenal, right here. A solid link-up One attribute that Berge ought to be able to bring to Arsenal if he moves to the Gunners, is the ability to link-up with his teammate. Across the course of his appearances for Sheffield United and Norway last season, Berge averaged a pass success rate of 86% for club and country, according to WhoScored. That is something that suggests the midfielder can be reliable in possession when it comes to retaining the ball, and means he is a player who ought to be able to fit in with the flowing style of play that Arsenal are associated with. Yes No A willingness to drive forward As well as linking up with his teammates at Arsenal, Berge is also a player who could have the capablity to take the Gunners further up the pitch if needed. Across the course of the season, Berge completed an average of 1.7 dribbles per game for club and country, including a return of 3.3 per game in three outings for Norway in the Nations League, as per WhoScored. That is something that suggests Berge himself is a player who is willing to take initiative in terms of taking the game to opposition sides himself, which could be useful for Arsenal given the spark they have seemingly lacked at times in recent years. A determination to prove himself It is also worth noting that if Berge does make the move to Arsenal this summer, he will no doubt feel as though he has a point to make. The price tag that the Blades have apparently placed on him is a big one for a player who has just been relegated, especially after two seasons where he has struggled to make an impact due to a combination of form and fitness issues, making just 29 league appearances since joining the Blades in the summer of 2019. As a result, you feel that if Berge does join the Gunners, he will be putting everything he has into his performances, to show that the North London club were right to take that chance on him, and that he is still capable of playing at the top level of the football pyramid. | https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/what-qualities-would-sander-berge-bring-to-arsenal-if-he-signed/ |
What Are Economic Indicators And How To Use Them Properly In Forex Trading ? | By Alberto Giusti Like the stock market, forex trading also depends on fundamental and technical analysis. In technical analysis the statistical data from trading activities price movement, the volume of trade, etc.) are studied to identify trading opportunities. On the other hand, fundamental analysis looks at the inherent value of an asset or an investment. But, as the forex market deals in currencies of countries and their value with respect to another currency, it is difficult to conduct a fundamental analysis of a country. In this scenario, news and information about the country play an important role. It tells us all the developments that might affect the economic indicators of the country. These indicators reflect the economic health of a country and determine the value of its currency. Follow NewsGram on Instagram to keep yourself updated. Economic indicators are reports that state the countrys economic performance. They are how one can easily measure the nations economic health. However, you have to also take into account that these indicators can be influenced by various political and natural factors. Some of the important economic factors which should be considered while forex trading are: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP is the total market value of everything produced in a country in a year. It is the most common but broad measure of the nations economy. It can be somewhat compared to gross revenue earned by a company in a year. Since the GDP is considered as a broad measure, you should consider another report also which is released a few months before the final GDP report. Industrial Production The nature of this report is evident from its name and states the total production of all industrial facilities including mines and other utilities in a country in one year. You can also know the extent to which each factory or sectors production capacity has been utilized in this period. Traders look for an increase in industrial production with near-maximum capacity utilization. Change in weather or natural disasters and political condition affect industrial production and this report too. Retail Sales This report states the total retail sales in a country over a year. This indicates the consumer spending of the country and also indicates the seasonal variations. This report can indicate the direction of the economy in a country and can be used to predict other indicators. Consumer Price Index (CPI) CPI can tell us if the country is losing money or making a profit on its products and services as it states the change in the prices of consumer products across 200 different categories. Other major economic indicators include Policies regarding interest rates Inflation or Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and Producer Price Index (PPI) Unemployment Business sentiment surveys and Consumer confidence surveys Trade balance Manufacturing sector surveys However, the indicators discussed here are not the only factors that influence the price of a currency. You also have to consider third-party reports and analysis along with technical factors as they can also affect the valuation of a currency. You have to use the economic indicators keeping in mind the currency pair you are focussing on at the moment as the relative importance of these indicators change according to the current economic state of the country. The most common way to trade on news or data is to watch out for a period of uncertainty before the release and then trade on the breakout, however, you need to keep in mind these points Make an economic calendar that lists all the indicators with their due release date. Dont always depend on the official channels but also listen to market rumors and speculations as markets often move according to them. ALSO READ: A Complete Guide To Learn About Different Bitcoin Trading Strategies! Listen to the market about the indicators getting the most attention. Quite often such indicators act as catalysts in the market for price and volume movements. Also, if you listen to the market you will know about the expectations of the market and whether the expectations are met. This is more important than the data as there might be a vast difference between the expectation and results. Look out for any revisions in the data as a change in the data can change the trade drastically. Another way is not to react too early but wait for some time after the data is released. Conclusion Trading news might sound easy but can be harder than you think. This is primarily because of the market volatility. You might make the right move but the market may not sustain the move. To trade successfully on news, you need to do your research well and listen to the market. (Disclaimer: The article is sponsored and hence promotes some commercial links.) | https://www.newsgram.com/what-are-economic-indicators-and-how-to-use-them-properly-in-forex-trading/ |
Is a commodities supercycle under way? | WHEN THE covid-19 pandemic first struck, the worlds appetite for raw materials plummeted. As demand fell, so did prices. Yet it was not long before they were soaring again. Some excited analysts have been quick to proclaim a new commodities supercycle, a prolonged period of high prices. To support their theory they cite resurgent economies, growing enthusiasm for the sort of green growth that devours minerals, and supply shortages. Yet in May the price rally stumbled, giving credence to supercycle-sceptics who insist the revival is temporary. The Economist Today Hand-picked stories, in your inbox A daily email with the best of our journalism Sign up A recovering world economy undeniably benefits commodities. In the previous supercycle, which began in around 2000 and lasted until 2014, China vacuumed up raw materials. Today it is again buying mountains of everything from copper to corn. This is a big reason why the Bloomberg Commodity Index, a broad measure of prices, has advanced by 55% since April 2020. Another index, produced by The Economist, has risen by 88% since its lowest point in April (see chart). Rich economies, too, are shaking off the pandemic. Optimists foresee a decade of roaring growth. Businesses are gleefully investing in physical capital. Governments plan to splurge on infrastructure projects: President Joe Biden wants to spend $1.7trn on Americas. These plans will gobble up raw materials. So will a focus on green growth. Wind-energy plants contain nine times more minerals than gas-fired ones, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Electric cars require six times more minerals than those powered by combustion engines. To meet the worlds climate goals the IEA calculates that consumption of lithium, which is used in batteries, must increase 40-fold by 2040. Prices have doubled so far this year. Supply constraints are adding to commodities gains. China is curbing steel output for environmental reasons. Dry weather has harmed corn production. The pandemic hurt South Americas mining industry. Shortages could drag on. Developing new mines takes a decade. By 2025, Goldman Sachs, a bank, sees the price of copper, commonly used in green technologies, rising by half. In recent weeks it hit a record high. So did the price of iron ore. But sceptics contend that a year-long rally is not enough to predict a supercycle. They point to contrasts with the previous supercycle. Then, a fast-urbanising China was in the throes of a construction craze. The country is now at a very different stage of development, argues Paul Bloxham of HSBC, a bank, casting doubt on whether its current infrastructure binge will last. Chinas leaders are warier than their predecessors of borrowing to build. They also worry that climbing raw-material prices will feed inflation. Officials recently warned producers against monopolistic behaviour, and investors against commodities speculation. This prompted the latest price dip. Energy markets, too, are much altered. Nowadays American shale drillers can raise output smartly when needed, serving to cap prices. Demand, however, is tepid. Despite this, on June 1st OPEC and allied oil-producers (most notably Russia) decided to stick with plans to gradually increase supplies. A decade ago oil surpassed $100 a barrel. Though prices have been rising of late, today a barrel of oil costs just $71. Looking ahead, a breakthrough in Americas talks with Iran over its nuclear programme could lead to sanctions being lifted, unleashing a gush of Iranian oil onto world markets. Noting the murky outlook for dirty fuels, some pundits predict an ex-energy commodity supercycle. The recent fall in commodities prices was slight, and they appear to be rising again. Citibank detected a buying opportunity in the dip. So did Goldman Sachs, tipping copper and soyabeans, supplies of which are tight, to climb further. In the 2000s, betting on a pan-commodities supercycle was profitable. In the 2020s, the spoils may go to those who can spot individual high-fliers. | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/06/02/is-a-commodities-supercycle-under-way |
How will California repay its soaring unemployment debt? | Gov. Gavin Newsoms revised 2021-22 budget has limited information about the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which comprises debt the state is projected to owe to the federal government. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) Gov. Gavin Newsoms revised 2021-22 budget has limited information about the Unemployment Insurance Fund, which comprises debt the state is projected to owe to the federal government. (K.C. Alfred/The San Diego Union-Tribune/TNS) By Dan Walter CalMatters A single paragraph on Page 180 of Gov. Gavin Newsoms revised 2021-22 budget refers to one of the state governments most vexing dilemmas an immense debt it owes to the federal government for support payments to millions of Californians who lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. By the end of the year, the states Unemployment Insurance Fund is expected to owe more than $24 billion that unless Congress forgives the debt must be repaid with interest. And if the state doesnt make its payments, the feds will hike payroll taxes on California employers to retire the loan. It could have been worse. Newsoms original budget projected that the debt would reach $48.3 billion by the end of 2021, but as employment picked up and the unemployment rate declined, the estimate was cut in half. The state began taking out loans when last years sudden spike in pandemic-related unemployment quickly exhausted the UIF. The state is responsible for the first tier of payments to jobless workers and by the end of 2020, California had borrowed $18 billion to cover its basic payments. California resorted to borrowing because its UIF had one of the nations most anemic reserves, as the federal Department of Labor often notes, due to a decades-long political stalemate. Two decades ago, the UIF had a healthy reserve, but then-Gov. Gray Davis and the Legislature, bowing to pressure from labor unions, sharply increased unemployment benefits without increasing payroll taxes to pay for them due to counter-pressure from employers. When the Great Recession struck a few years later, the UIF was quickly drained and the state borrowed from the federal government to cover benefits, eventually owing about $11 billion. The debt was repaid via higher federal payroll taxes over 10 years, but the UIF never recovered. Until the pandemic struck, the state was paying out about $5 billion a year in benefits and collecting just enough taxes to cover them, but not enough to rebuild a reserve. Today, with the state owing twice as much as the previous debt, two big questions loom. Newsoms revised budget offers $1.1 billion to pay down the debt, but the Business Roundtable is pressing him to allocate more from the states multi-billion-dollar budget surplus and/or federal relief funds. Addressing the UI Fund debt is a critical part of the states economic recovery, the Roundtables president, Rob Lapsley, said in a statement. The massive debt is a looming threat for every business in California. If unaddressed, the debt will lead to an automatic tax increase on every business in the state at a time when they can least afford it. Businesses did not cause this recession and should not bear the burden of paying off this massive debt, Lapsley added. However, the left-leaning California Budget & Policy Center says the $1.1 billion is already too much, describing it as a poorly targeted tax break to businesses that were not paying enough into the UI system before the pandemic at the expense of helping Californians most harmed by the economic crisis who need financial support now. Its likely that the feds will once again hike payroll taxes on employers to repay Californias new and much-larger debt, which will make them even less willing to pay more state taxes to rebuild the UIF for the next recession. If it sounds like a never-ending circular crisis, thats because it is. Its akin to consumers taking out credit card loans to make their credit card payments. CalMatters is a nonprofit newsroom committed to explaining California politics and policy. If you find our journalism valuable and relevant, please consider joining our Examiner membership program. Find out more at www.sfexaminer.com/join/ | https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/how-will-california-repay-its-soaring-unemployment-debt/ |
What is CSC Agriculture portal and how will it help the farmers? | The CSC e-Governance India Ltd (CSC SPV) has launched an e-marketplace or portal to help the farmers. It aims at empowering small and marginal farmers, who constitute 86% of India's farming community, acting as a one-stop destination and marketplace for them. The newly launched Agri services portal, CSC Agriculture, will enable small and marginal farmers to connect with the digital world and avail themselves of the essential agri services with ease and at an affordable cost. Farmers will now be able to access the portal with the help of the local CSCs for buying agri-input products, renting and hire of agriculture implements and machinery, soil testing, sale of farm produce, teleconsultations, loan and insurance facility. CSC SPV plans to reach out to around 6,000 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) by the end of this year, one in each block of the country. As of now, the platform has already onboarded around 1,000 FPOs which in turn will enrol around 1 crore farmers to help them facilitate various services available on the portal. Services available on the CSC Agriculture portal 1- Kisan E-Mart: It aims to empower farmers pan India by facilitating them to market local products on e-platforms. Farmers can sell their produce directly through CSC. 2- Soil Testing Centre: It provides farmers with information about general soil characteristics along with its mechanical properties such as the availability of micro and macro-nutrients after testing the soil samples. 3- MOVR: It allows farmers to digitally hire and rent farm machinery and other related equipment to their counterparts pan India. It aims to provide high-value farm equipment to farmers at an affordable cost. 4- Brand Cart: An initiative by CSC SPV to promote digital ordering and safe delivery at consumer doorstep, where VLE/ District VLE Society/ Kisan Points / FPO & FPC can work as an Agent / Retailer / Distributor. 5- Agriculture Tele Consultation: It aims to develop a platform that can enable various organizations to align their social and commercial goals for the benefit of the rural population in the remotest corners of the country. 6- Banking Services: It helps farmers with short, medium, and long terms loans with better interest rates as compared to the existing market rates. 7- Accounting Tools: It helps improve the operational efficiency of the FPO workforce and also aids in digitally tracking all business transactions in an easy and secure manner. 8- E-PashuChikitsa: Any animal owner can visit the nearest CSC to schedule an appointment with the doctor, can interact with the doctor via video or audio call or text messages and get the prescription for the same. CSC SPV Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Rakesh said, "At a time when rural India is hard hit by Covid pandemic, agriculture teleconsultations through technology have come as a boon for farmers. Apart from teleconsultations, a soil testing facility will also be provided to farmers through labs being set up at the blocks under the initiative." "CSC has always strived to improve the lives of citizens in rural areas through various interventions. We have been providing various services to farmers like teleconsultations, rental of machinery, IFFCO products, trading platform, etc. The agri platform is an effort to consolidate all those services and provide them under one umbrella so that farmers can gain maximum benefit from it," he added. He believes that the platform will transform the rural landscape of India. Warehousing and cold storage facilities will soon be introduced on the platform to help farmers increase their productivity and income. About CSC Agriculture Portal CSC Agriculture is an initiative of CSC SPV-- set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Electronics & IT. CSC SPV provides a host of electronic services to consumers through its Common Service Centres Scheme, besides ensuring its systemic viability and sustainability. Other government schemes including Kisan Credit Card, PM Fasal Bima Yojana, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and PM Kisan Maan Dhan Yojana for farmers will also be available through the CSC Agriculture platform. At present, CSC SPV operates around 3.74 lakh CSCs, 80% of which are functional in rural and semi-urban areas. | https://www.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/csc-agriculture-portal-for-farmers-1622636166-1 |
Is Faf de Klerk a sure starter for the Springboks against the British and Irish Lions? | CAPE TOWN - OVER the next few weeks, our rugby writers will be debating their Springbok choices from No 15 to No 1 for the upcoming series against the British & Irish Lions. Today we focus on scrumhalf. ASHFAK MOHAMEDS CHOICE: Jaden Hendrikse Jacques Nienaber is sure to start Faf de Klerk at No 9 against Georgia and the British & Irish Lions, due to his experience and the little preparation time available. But I feel that Sharks star Jaden Hendrikse is the best South African scrumhalf at the moment. Even at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, De Klerk had limitations in the technical aspects. His tactical and box-kicking is not always accurate, and his pass is not the smoothest. World Cup back-up Herschel Jantjies has battled to regain his 2019 form as well. Hendrikse, though, has displayed all the characteristics of a modern scrumhalf. He has a quick service, is able to make things happen on attack and is never shy of making his tackles. MIKE GREENAWAYS CHOICE: Faf de Klerk It will have been hugely reassuring for Nienaber to watch the impressive form of a number of SA players in the English Premiership over the last year. ALSO READ: Makazole Mapimpi must be at No 11 for the Springboks against the British and Irish Lions Seeing incumbent Bok scrumhalf De Klerk playing well week-in weekout for Sale Sharks along with the Du Preez twins, Dan and JeanLuc means the 29-year-old will be anything but underdone for the Lions series. While De Klerk is clearly the first-choice scrumhalf, there has also been very good form overseas from Cobus Reinach, now with Montpellier. Closer to home, Jantjies has been stirring into life for the Stormers, while Ivan van Zyl was playing the best rugby of his career for the Bulls before his injury, ahead of his July move to Saracens. WYNONA LOUWS CHOICE: Herschel Jantjies Jantjies may not have been in the same kind of sizzling form as he was during the 2019 World Cup since rugby resumed, but that kind of brilliance will always be tough to beat, especially considering how interrupted the rugby schedule has been due to the Covid-19 pandemic. ALSO READ: Dynamic Damian de Allende must don the No 12 jersey against the British and Irish Lions But, despite a few rusty performances during the early stages of the domestic season, Jantjies quality and game-breaking abilities are impossible to forget, and the fact that he has steadily improved in his Stormers outings is encouraging. The Boks certainly are lucky when it comes to their No 9s. With senior guys like Jantjies and De Klerk and lets not forget about Reinach, who has been in fine form for Montpellier its a hot contest. MORGAN BOLTONS CHOICE: Faf de Klerk Dont get distracted by any other talk regarding the No 9 jersey. Hendrikse, Zak Burger, Jantjies and Reinach are good scrummies, but they all lack that one thing that makes a No 9 great the niggle that peeves off the opposition. ALSO READ: Consistent Lukhanyo Am a certainty for Springbok against the British and Irish Lions De Klerk has that in spades. He is a great defender and distributor, a team man through and through who can stick to and execute a game plan, but it is his ability to get in the faces of the opposition that gives him that extra edge. It is not far-fetched to state that opposing teams hate to play against him, and already the Lions have begun the psychological warfare by declaring they WILL target the 29-year-old. IOL Sport | https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/springboks/is-faf-de-klerk-a-sure-starter-for-the-springboks-against-the-british-and-irish-lions-25905360-83ac-4113-9d3b-324b4e2405dc |
What Exactly Is "Lossless" Audio? | The term "lossless" is a big one in music streaming right now, no doubt because Apple Music and Spotify have announced they're bringing lossless quality audio into the mainstream. Apple is bringing lossless tracks to Apple Music sometime this June, and Spotify launching a lossless tier of its streaming service, called Spotify Hifi, sometime this summer. It's true that lossless quality music streaming has been around for years, thanks to dedicated lossless streaming services like Tidal, Deezer, Qobuz and, more recently, Amazon Music HD but it's always been expensive (like twice as expensive as most "Premium" subscriptions). Now that Apple and Spotify are getting into the mix, lossless audio is about to get way more affordable and accessible. Here's a rundown of everything you need to know. Digitally downloaded or streaming music has traditional come in "compressed" forms, like the MP3 or more recently AAC, the format used by the iTunes Music Store. These are files that have pointedly squished so they take up less storage space on your smartphone or digital music player. This squishing process is "lossy"; the end result is missing detail that the previous, unsquished version had, specifically at the low and high ends, so that it doesn't sound nearly as good. "Lossless" doesn't mean uncompressed, but rather it refers to a type of compressed digital audio file that uses advantaged data compression algorithms so that the audio track doesn't "lose" any detail in the compression process. For context, the average size of a compressed audio file, like a MP3 or a AAC, is about 1/4 the size of its original recording. The average size of lossless compressed audio file, such as FLAC or ALAC (Apple Lossless), is now a little more than 1/2 the size of its original recording. Lossless Audio and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos are coming to Apple Music subscribers beginning June 2021. Lossless just means that no detail has been destroyed in the compression process; the quality of the lossless file therefore depends on the original source that's being compressed. In popular use "lossless" means the same quality as a CD (16-bit/44.1 kHz), but there are a number of lossless streaming services that offer even higher-quality digital audio files. For example, Tidal gives its HiFi subscribers the option of listening to Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) certified tracks (up to 24bit/96kHz), while Amazon Music HD gives its subscribers the ability to listen to "Ultra HD" (up to 24-bit/192kHz). The catch is that most lossless streaming services don't have a huge catalog of these ultra high-resolution audio tracks. And not every lossless streaming service supports them. The bitrate of a digital audio file, or the amount of data transferred per second, is the primary metric we use to determine audio quality. The lower the bitrate, the less information and the worse a digital audio file is going to sound. If you've been a paying subscriber to a streaming service like Spotify or Apple Music for years, you've been listening to digital audio files with a max bitrate of 320 kbps and 256 kbps, respectively, which is about the same audio quality of an MP3. But that's only if you've flipped some switches in settings. Default bitrates are even lower. Spotify's default or "normal" setting delivers audio with a bitrate 96 kbps. The bitrate of a normal lossless audio track is around 1,411 kbps. This is over four times the audio quality of an MP3 file (with a bitrate or 320 kbps). So if you're wondering whether your audio equipment (and ears) can do justice to higher bitrate tunes, a great way to find out is experiment with telling the difference between the various flavors of lossiness streaming services already give you. The short answer is "no." In order to listen to lossless digital audio files, you have two main options. You can use an analog connection, like connecting your wired headphones to your smartphone or computer. Or you can stream the lossless audio over a Wi-Fi, through a pair of active speakers, such as KEF Wireless II or even multi-room speaker like Sonos (thanks to Qobuz). There are technologies that let you stream high bitrate audio over Bluetooth. For example, if your smartphone and headphones support either of some audio codecs, such as Sony's LDAC (up to 990kbps) or Qualcomm's aptX Adaptive (up to 570 kbps), you can stream stream high bitrate and low latency audio files over Bluetooth. However, these audio files aren't lossless (which is 1,411 kbps). Spotify HiFi will deliver music in CD-quality, lossless audio format to your device and Spotify Connect-enabled speakers. There are several different lossless audio codecs, which are digital music file formats that support lossless and CD quality audio. FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) and ALAC (Apple Lossless Audio Codec) are two of the most common. FLAC music files have been popular for years, but the downside is that they are not supported by Apple's devices and services. This means that if you have an iPhone or Mac and you subscribe to a lossless streaming service that plays FLAC digital audio files, you won't be able to play your music in its full lossless glory. (This is how Apple, with its new lossless audio codec, ALAC, is going to persuade music enthusiasts who own an iPhone to switch over to Apple Music.) Sorta. The term "hi-fi," which stands for high fidelity, doesn't have an exact definition any more. (It used to be synonymous with stereo back in the day.) Most audio professionals refer to hi-fi as audio that's the same quality as a CD or a vinyl record, which has a sample rate of 16-bit/44.1 kHz. The term "lossless" refers to a digital audio file that has the sample rate as a CD (16-bit/44.1 kHz). For years, the highest resolution audio that many lossless streaming services like Tidal, Deezer and Qobuz offered was CD-quality. Now that higher resolutions are becoming available for streaming, the water is getting muddier again. Only once you've verified that you can actually tell the difference. The truth is that the vast majority of people can't really hear the difference between a regular MP3 file and a lossless FLAC or ALAC file. The other thing is that, if you want to hear the better audio quality that a lossless audio track can deliver, you need to have the proper components that support it, such as the right speakers, headphones and streaming device. In order to get the most of our a lossless streaming service, you need to be streaming from a device that supports that specific streaming service's lossless tracks. For example, if you have an iPhone or Mac, there are only a few lossless streaming services that support ALAC (Apple's lossless codec), such as Tidal HiFi and Qobuz (and Apple Music soon). Additionally, if you normally listen to music on your wireless headphones or earphones, such as AirPods or Bose Headphones 700, since it relays on a Bluetooth connection (which can't play true lossless audio) there's a good chance that you won't be able to experience the best of a lossless streaming service. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io | https://www.gearpatrol.com/tech/audio/a36585957/lossless-audio-explained/ |
Are black parents placing their kids in schools where they are unwanted? | Karabo Mokoena Every year a young child becomes the face of a war black students have been experiencing for years. But the more public, the better. Cornwall Hill College has recently joined the long list of schools that are being publicly exposed for subjecting their learners to racism for numerous years. The headlines hit: Youre too smart for a black person: One of many shocking racism claims at Cornwall Hill. I channeled my DJ Khaled voice and said another one. I saw a young girl emotionally retelling the story of the first time she was made to feel like she was not good enough. She was only nine years old and by the looks of it, continues to carry the trauma of that incident. In youth month, 45 years after the country observed the marching and killing of young people protesting against a schooling system that refused to accommodate them, our children continue to fight this war. Choosing not to suffer in silence Black children who started attending multiracial schools after democracy dealt with the same racism, but suffered in silence. Black pupils have been referred to as these people their whole schooling careers in formerly white schools. Every year, a group of learners in racist schools blast their schools for the racial discrimination they have and continue to experience. It is 2021, not 1652. SAs diversity warrants school transformation, but not just on the surface. Post-apartheid schools that were never meant for black people opened their doors for some of colour. They transformed, but their policies did not. We are learning their policies remained the same and that is why black hair is not the Cornwall way at Cornwall Hill College. The transformation did not occur at the foundation of the school, which was never created to accommodate the natural state of black people. Sadly, the only way to fight a broken system is from the inside I applaud the bravery of Grade 11 pupil Singo Ravele of Cornwall Hill who, although emotionally, retold her trauma to the media. Her bravery, like that of other learners including Zulaika Patel, Melissa Ngcobo and more, continues to be effective. Not only have they inspired a generation of young people who are not afraid to call racism out, but their efforts are being recognised. Cornwall Hill College has found it necessary to apologise to parents about the slow pace and lack of transformation. It admitted to only having set up a diversity and transformation committee in 2020. This goes to show that while pupils had been advocating for transformation in the school, it was to little avail. The public slamming of racist schools seems to be the only language they choose to understand. Racist schools cannot be allowed to continue functioning with policies that dont reflect the diversity of this country. So, black learners belong in schools in the country of their birth No parents deserve to be inconvenienced by fear of subjecting their kids to racism, it may affect a child. Parents cant be forced to choose schools that are further away from home, or perform differently because transformation continues to be at the bottom of the priority list. Public shaming places diversity right at the top of their to-do list, forcing schools to effect significant change and teach their teachers and school administrators about what true diversity looks like. Let it be put on record that the new SA belongs to all those who live in it. All schools belong to all students, which means all schools and policies should accommodate all those who learn in them. | https://citizen.co.za/news/2511093/are-black-parents-placing-their-kids-in-schools-where-they-are-unwanted/ |
Why arent women of colour believed when they address mental health issues? | All three women have had their experiences of mental illness questioned and dismissed. (Picture: Getty/Metro.co.uk) Tennis superstar Naomi Osaka has announced that she is withdrawing from the French Open after being fined for declining to speak to the press during the tournament. The four-time grand slam champion cited mental health struggles namely anxiety and depression for why she chose not to do media interviews and her subsequent withdrawal. I would never trivialize mental health or use the term lightly, wrote Naomi. The truth is that I have suffered long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I have had a really hard time coping with that. I am not a natural public speaker and I get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the worlds media. Despite the candid and open nature of Naomis explanation, she faced a mixed response online, including backlash, abuse and disbelief from some. Naomi Osaka doesnt have mental issues, reads one tweet. What a fraud. Mental stress is nothing to lie about! said another. And it wasnt only the anonymous keyboard warriors. Prominent columnists labelled her narcissistic, and tennis great Billie Jean King initially said Naomi should woman up, before deleting her tweets and instead posting a more sympathetic statement. This is not the first time a woman of colour has come under scrutiny after revealing a struggle with mental illness. When Meghan Markle shared that she had considered suicide due to racist abuse and feelings of isolation in her interview with Oprah Winfrey, she was met with scrutiny and accusations of lying. Lord Alan Sugar tweeted: I find it hard to believe that Meghan was not allowed to seek medical assistance over her aledged mental state. So what would happen if she had acute appendicitis. I say she is lying [sic]. Nadia Whittome, Britains youngest MP, announced last week that she is taking a leave of absence from the Commons after suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. It comes just weeks after the 24-year-old revealed she has been getting death threats, racist abuse and trolling online. Many people posted messages of support and well-wishes for Nadia, but there were still those who were vocal about the fact that they didnt believe her. The political blogger known as Guido Fawkes wrote a post titled; Nadias shell shock shows politicians need life experience. The blog minimised the young MPs experiences and cast doubt on her claims, saying what she has been through is nothing akin to the trenches of the First World War. Women who live and work in the public eye would expect to come under a higher level of scrutiny than the average person, but this systematic denial of mental health issues when expressed by high profile women of colour is a concerning trend. We live in an era when #BeKind periodically trends on social media, and culturally, we have made huge strides forward in mental health awareness and understanding over the last few years. The uncomfortable truth is that when racially minoritised women speak about their mental health, they are less likely to be believed then their non-racialised counterparts, says psychologist Dr Roberta Babb. The main reason for this involves the pervasive and insidious impact of racism. Racism which perpetuates the denial of a racialised womans reality, in which trauma is a driving factor. White women will have been seen as vulnerable, their expressions of internal distress would not have been questioned or dismissed in the same way. (Picture: Karwai Tang/WireImage) Dr Babb explains that racist structures and beliefs maintain negative racial stereotypes that dehumanise women of colour, which may explain why they are not always afforded the same level of empathy. This process activates a variety of mechanisms which make it easier for people to act out their aggression and anxiety, and question, dismiss, deny or demand public proof of a racially minoritised womans private and personal emotional experience. Meanness and a lack of compassion about mental health in online forums is not a new issue, nor it is something only experienced by women of colour. Women of all ethnicities routinely have their pain underestimated and minimised by medical professionals. But Dr Babb says its important to keep in mind how racism, sexism and misogyny are closely linked in instances like this. Based on how people have responded in the past to both racialised and non-racialised womens expression of distress, it is likely that people may have responded differently to the situations described, explains Dr Babb. It is likely that white women will have been seen as vulnerable and in need of support and protection, and their expressions of internal distress would not have been questioned or dismissed in the same way that we have seen [with Nadia, Naomi and Meghan]. She adds that there is also often a sense of entitlement to demand public answers about personal experiences from women of colour even during periods of distress as proof of what they are saying. Unfortunately, when this is not forthcoming, racialised women can be targeted and find themselves on the receiving end of aggression, hostility and violence, which will exacerbate their current emotional distress, she adds. Jonathan Taylor, who is the managing psychologist at Pearn Kandola, says some of this comes down to different expectations about how women of colour are expected to behave, in comparison to white women. When white women are stereotyped, they are often perceived as being high in warmth, but lower in competence (and it is notable when women are seen to violate this highly competent but cold). Therefore, there is a general expectation and social acceptance of white women being open about their feelings, explains Jonathan. If the person is seen as similar to ourselves, we are more likely to respond with positive emotions like empathy. If someone is seen as highly competent, but different, the emotional response is more likely to be distrust or suspicion. Despite this, I have also seen a big outpouring of support online for each of these women, so think it is important that we recognise that many people have been supportive and responded positively. The Stereotype Content Model Decades of social psychological research suggest that we perceive other people along two dimensions how competent they appear to be (e.g., skill, intelligence, strength), and also how warm they appear to be (e.g., friendliness, trustworthiness, caring). This is known as the Stereotype Content Model. The two dimensions are often negatively related so, when we perceive someone as being highly competent, we often assume that this is accompanied by lower levels of warmth. Here, were not just talking about women of colour (which is in itself an intersection of two minority characteristics), were also talking about women of colour who are seen as highly capable in their fields like Naomi, Meghan and Nadia. But, because they are seen as highly competent, there is a risk that they will also be seen as less trustworthy, or seen as using the situation for their own benefit. We have seen many examples of this in media discussions about Meghan Markle. With Naomi, there was an initial assumption that she was dismissing the media for trivial reasons. The impact of these experiences is far-reaching, explains Dr Babb. It can be distressing to be the focus and recipient of such negative reactions especially at a time when you are already feeling unsettled, emotional and vulnerable. As a society, we are taught that its both important and brave to speak up about mental illness. However, when women of colour do just this, Dr Babb says they become the focus of negative and aggressive projections. This experience is stressful and traumatic especially as it often occurs within arenas that do not afford much privacy, she adds. Dr Babb says that this in turn can trigger, contribute to, and exacerbate symptoms of emotional distress. In an attempt to make sense of these painful and negative reactions, and at a time when they feel as if they have little power, rather than challenge the negative reactions, racialised women can turn the experience inward, she explains. This can see them question the reality and validity of their mental distress as well as question their sense of self, value and worth. This can have a negative impact on their self-esteem, confidence, relationships, job performance and physical health. It can also contribute to decisions to withdraw from roles and social experiences which leave them feeling exposed and vulnerable, and in extreme situations, when the distress or feelings of being trapped become unbearable, lead some women to self-harm or suicide. Jonathan reiterates just how damaging it can be to dismiss someones lived experience or question their integrity, particularly around sensitive and personal issues. Even today, it takes a lot of courage to put oneself out there and talk about mental health, particularly on a public stage, he tells us. People who are fighting their own struggles will see the reaction when people they perceive as similar to themselves speak out. It indicates the level of psychological safety to do so. If someones openness is met with suspicion or dismissal, it sends a strong message that it is not safe to speak out, or that it is not worth it. Instead of showing people the value of speaking up, it reinforces a message that it is better to stay silent. The State of Racism This series is an in-depth look at racism in the UK in 2020 and beyond. We aim to look at how, where and why individual and structural racism impacts people of colour from all walks of life. It's vital that we improve the language we have to talk about racism and continue the difficult conversations about inequality - even if they make you uncomfortable. We want to hear from you. Get in touch: [email protected]. MORE : The real reason young Black people are being pushed off the property ladder MORE : How to cope with anxiety about spending money now the world is open again MORE : How to ask for a pay rise in a pandemic | https://metro.co.uk/2021/06/02/why-arent-women-of-colour-believed-about-mental-health-issues-14686129/ |
Will Hima Das qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics? | The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is just 50 days away. Even though the fate of the Games continues to hang by a thread, athletes from around the world are giving it their all to qualify for the quadrennial event. Amongst the many athletes who are yet to book their slot at Tokyo is India's star sprinter Hima Das. Hailing from the north-eastern state of Assam, Hima Das shot to fame with her gold medal-winning 400m run at the World U-20 Championships held at Tampere, Finland, in the year 2018. Since that run, Das has grown from strength to strength and has clinched multiple international medals. All these achievements have led to Das being named the future of Indian athletics by sports fans in the country. But, even as the Tokyo Olympics near the 21-year-old is yet to qualify for it. With just 50 days to go for the quadrennial Games, Indian sports fans have one major question, "Will Hima Das qualify for the Tokyo Olympics?" Here, in this article, we try to break it down to you. First and foremost, Hima Das started off as a 400m runner before shifting to the shorter 200m sprints in January last year. Though this decision was majorly taken to her struggles with a back injury, this decision drastically reduced her chances to qualify for the Tokyo Olympics in individual events. In the current 'Road to Olympic Games 2020' rankings, Das is nowhere close to the qualifying spots, neither in 200m nor 400m women's individual sprints. The best bet for India in women's individual sprint will certainly be Dutee Chand who is ranked 41 in the rankings in both 100m and 200m and will most likely book her slot at the Tokyo Olympics through the World Ranking quota. While India's sole hope in women's 400m, Vismaya Koroth is ranked as low as 70, and the chances of her making it looks are very bleak. Well, the relay events are still a hope for the Dhing Express. So far, the only Indian team to qualify for the relay at the Tokyo Olympics is the Mixed 4x400m team comprising of Muhammed Anas, VK Vismaya, Nirmal Noah, and Jisna Mathew. The quartet qualified after their seventh-place finish at the World Athletics Championships held at Doha in 2019, On the other hand, both, Men's and Women's 4x400m teams are currently well placed, being ranked 14th and 15th, respectively. Both of these teams can qualify if there are not many changes in the rankings until the qualification period ends on 29th June 2021. Since Hima Das does not runs 400m currently, her chances of making it through to the Olympics in 4x400m Mixed and Women's relay teams are very bleak. Considering all these factors, the only event where we might see Hima Das compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is the Women's 4x100m relay. But, much like men's 4x400m, even this is dicey at this point in time. The Indian women's 4x100m relay team is currently ranked 22nd in the Road to Olympic Games 2020 rankings. They desperately need to compete in some competitions to improve their timings and rankings if they are to qualify. Though Hima Das was fairly confident of the Women's 4x100m team qualifying a couple of months ago in April, it does not really feel that easy now, with the team having to skip the World Relays in May due to covid-19 imposed travel restrictions in the country. There are murmurs about India hosting a small international event inviting athletes from countries like Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and others to help the Indian team in their bid to improve their timings; nothing has been confirmed as of now. And with the qualification period ending in less than 30 days, the chances of Hima Das qualifying for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are miniscule. | https://thebridge.in/tokyo-2020/will-hima-das-qualify-2020-tokyo-olympics-21834 |
How accurate is Channel 5's Anne Boleyn? | Channel 5's Anne Boleyn debuted last night to mixed reviews, with some praising the diverse casting and impeccable acting while other complained of boring and metaphor-heavy writing. Set in January 1536 at Greenwich palace, the episode shows the last five months of Anne Boleyn (played by Jodie Turner-Smith) life, opening with King Henry and Anne throwing a party, 24 hours after the death of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. It goes on to document Henry's courting of his third wife Jane Seymour, his jousting accident and journey into a tyrant and Anne Boleyn's miscarriage. Here FEMAIL fact-checks just how accurate Anne Boleyn really is... The claim: Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII threw a party 24 hours after Catherine of Aragon's death The show is set in January 1536, and opens on a party being thrown by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn 'less than 24 hours after the death of Catherine of Aragon'. Henry VIII's first wife - and mother of Mary I - had passed away aged 50 after being banished from court following their divorce three years earlier. Jodie Turner-Smith is pictured in yellow dress and famous 'B' necklace, at court celebrating, while Henry (played by Mark Stanley) is pictured in black and yellow robes. The couple drink and eat with courtiers, with a pigs head being served, and Anne describes Elizabeth as 'a perfect little monarch in the making' while Henry rebuffs 'our boy will be a great ruler, one for the history book,' gesturing towards her baby bump. Afterwards, Anne is seen playing cards with ladies in the court, referring to Jane Seymour as a 'spiteful little b****'. The show is set in January 1536, and opens on a party being thrown by Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn 'less than 24 hours after the death of Catherine of Aragon. Henry VII's first wife - and mother of Mary I - had just died aged 50 after being banished from court following a divorce three years earlier. FEMAIL fact checks the Channel 5 biopic The claim: Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII threw a party 24 hours after Catherine of Aragon's death: MOSTLY TRUE The claim: Anne Boleyn kissed Jane Seymour and told her to 'stay away from Henry VIII'l FALSE The claim: A jousting accident turned Henry VIII into a tyrant. PROBABLY TRUE The claim: Anne walk ins on Jane Seymour sitting on Henry VIII's lap and slaps her and pulls her necklace off, leading to a miscarriage. PARTLY TRUE The claim: Thomas Cromwell plotted against Anne Boleyn. TRUE The claim: Henry believed he'd been tricked into his marriage by witchcraft. FALSE The claims: Anne Boleyn was responsible for the first English language bible. MOSTLY FALSE Advertisement The facts: Anne and Henry had festivities following the death, but may have privately mourned Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn did have festivities following Catherine of Aragon's death - but historians believed they may have both privately wept. Anne, who had worked as a maid for Queen Catherine wore yellow following Catherine's death but historians re divided on the significance of this. Many believe it was a show of joy, as yellow was a symbol of celebration in England. This would mean the King and Queen were blatantly celebrating the death of a former monarch - perhaps showing relief at the passing of a perceived enemy. Eustace Chapuys, who served as the ambassador to England in Henry VIII's court wrote that 'Henry dressed in yellow, stuck a white feather in his cap and went dancing with Anne Boleyn's ladies. However some believe it was a sign of sombre as yellow was a colour of mourning in Spain - where Catherine was born. Anne's biographer Eric Ives says that the news of Catherine's death was met 'by an outburst of relief and enthusiasm for the Boleyn marriage'. He added that Anne was said to be 'overjoyed' and rewarded the messenger who brought the news to Greenwich a 'handsome present' Ives also believed Henry exclaimed 'God be praised that we are free from all suspicion of war!' VERDICT: MOSTLY TRUE The claim: 'Bastard' Mary mourns Catherine of Aragon's death, Anne Boleyn offers to become a 'second mother' to her In a later scene Anne Boleyn asks a lady-in-waiting to take her to Hatfield with her daughter Elizabeth. While in her bedchambers Anne asks the assistant: 'Tell me, the bastard, is she behaving herself' to which she replies 'Mary is the same as ever, consistently ungrateful for all the luxuries afforded to her'. She added that the King had sent her a 'generous sum'. 'You may pass my deepest sympathy to Mary on your return to Hatfield. Tell her if she wishes to come to court we would welcome her, I would happily be her Queen and second mother,' Anne says. In a later scene Anne Boleyn asks a lady-in-waiting to take her to Hatfield with her daughter Elizabeth. While in her bedchambers Anne asks the assistant: 'Tell me, the bastard, is she behaving herself' to which she replies 'Mary is the same as ever, consistently ungrateful for all the luxuries afforded to her'. She added that the King had sent her a 'generous sum'. 'You may pass my deepest sympathy to Mary on your return to Hatfield. Tell her if she wishes to come to court we would welcome her, I would happily be her Queen and second mother,' Anne says. The facts: Mary was deemed a bastard after Henry's marriage to Elizabeth was annulled and Anne Boleyn invited Mary to court Mary - Henry VIII's first child that lived past infancy - was born declared a bastard and demoted from 'Princess Mary' to 'Lady Mary' after her parents marriage was annulled, with her younger half sister Elizabeth taking her place in the line of succession. As a teenager, she was sent to live at Hatfield House to work as maid for Elizabeth (who had been sent to live there at just three months old) and not allowed to see her mother. While Anne often visited her daughter at Hatfield, she is believed to only have met Mary on a handful of occasions - although the tension was been said to be extreme. In 1534 - two years before the show is set - Anne attempted to reconcile with Mary, inviting her back to court and promising better treatment, if she would accept Anne as Queen. But Mary responded with, 'she knew of no Queen in England except her mother, but if Madame Anne Boleyn would speak to her father on her behalf, she would be much obliged'. Following Catherine of Aragon's death, Anne tried again to make amends with 'inconsolable' Mary -to no avail, although it's unclear if she went as far as offering to be her 'second mother'. VERDICT: MOSTLY TRUE The claim: Anne Boleyn kissed Jane Seymour and told her to 'stay away from Henry VIII' In the opening episode of the racy drama, Anne Boleyn asks Jane Seymour to go for a walk with her. Jane is alleged to be Henry's mistress at the time. In an earlier scene Anne refers to her as a 'spiteful little bitch'. On the walk, Anne asks Jane is she's in love and says it's 'difficult to love a man'. 'Remember who you are, don't betray yourself and you won't live to regret' she says before kissing her and declaring 'yes, I can see the appeal'. In the opening episode of the racy drama, Anne Boleyn asks Jane Seymour to go for a walk with her. Jane is alleged to be Henry's mistress at the time. In an earlier scene Anne refers to her as a 'spiteful little bitch'. On the walk, Anne asks Jane is she's in love and says it's 'difficult to love a man'. 'Remember who you are, don't betray yourself and you won't live to regret' she says before kissing her and declaring 'yes, I can see the appeal'. The facts: There is no evidence the pair kissed While Jane worked as a servant in both Catherine of Aragon's and Anne Boleyn's courts, there is no evidence that Anne and Jane ever kissed - although historians believe there was tension between the pair after Henry began courting Jane following Anne's third miscarriage. VERDICT: FALSE Henry has an accident while jousting and Anne comes running back to his bed. While still in his sickbed Anne and her brother George discuss what would happen to them if Henry died. Until that boy is born you have but one job. Concentrate on that if your so concerned about being a good wife. The claim: A jousting accident turned Henry VIII into a tyrant Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's second wife whose historical significance is often overlooked due to her brutal death Though perhaps best known in English history for the brutal way in which she met her end, Anne Boleyn's mark on the country's history is far more significant. Anne Boleyn Born the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard, in 1501, she first came into the eye-sight of Henry VIII in 1522 when she secured a post at court as maid of honour to the king's first Catherine of Aragon. It was not until 1526 that Henry began his pursuit of Anne - a pursuit which was initially resisted. Her refusal to be a mistress sparked Henry to approach the then-Pope to have his marriage annulled. When it became clear this would not be allowed, Henry began his drive to break the power of the Catholic Church in England - what later became known as the English Reformation. Henry and Anne formally married in January 1533 - a move which resulted in the Pope excommunicating Henry and him consequently taking control of the Church of England. But it was ultimately not a happy marriage after Boleyn failed to produce a male heir. In order to marry again he needed a reason to end his marriage to Anne and she was investigated for high treason and sent to the Tower of London. Her beheading in the tower of London followed the miscarriage of a male child, and increasing clashes with Thomas Cromwell who is blamed for orchestrating the charges against her after engineering the break from the Catholic Church. Court rumours also suggested that Boleyn's forthright manner and intelligence angered courtiers. She was politically astute and allied with Protestant reformers of the church, including Cromwell before he turned on her. And her execution immediately followed the death of Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon. That event legally freed Henry to pursue marriage with Boleyn's lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour, if his current wife were to die. She was convicted on 15 May 1536 and beheaded four days later. Henry began courting Jane Seymour in 1536. Anne did leave one more mark on English history though, her daughter, Elizabeth, who was crowned as queen in 1558. During her daughter's reign, Anne became venerated as a martyr and heroine of the English Reformation. Advertisement Although he keeps mistresses. in the early part of the episode Henry is seen as affectionate and kind towards Anne, praising her for being pregnant and looking admirably at his daughter Elizabeth. But off screen, Henry has an accident while jousting and Anne comes running back to his bed. While still in his sickbed Anne and her brother George discuss what would happen to them if Henry died. Until that boy is born you have but one job. Concentrate on that if your so concerned about being a good wife. The facts: Historians believed his jousting accident may have been a turning point While jousting at Greenwich Palace on 24 January 1536, Henry, then 44, was in full armour when he was thrown from his horse, itself in full armour, which fell on top of him. He was unconscious for two hours and doctors thought he was fatally injured. Historians believe the injury ended his sporting career due to life-long leg injuries, which also caused him to gain substantial amount of weight. Many believe there many have also been an undetected brain injury which changed his personality. Historian Lucy Worsley previously told the History Channel: 'We posit that his jousting accident of 1536 provides the explanation for his personality change from sporty, promising, generous young Prince, to cruel, paranoid and vicious tyrant. 'From that date the turnover of wives really speeds up, and people begin to talk about him in quite a new and negative way. 'After the accident he was unconscious for two hours; even five minutes of unconsciousness is considered to be a major trauma today.' However, there is no evidence the Queen tried to keep Mary away from the king. VERDICT: PARTLY TRUE The claim: Anne walk ins on Jane Seymour sitting on Henry VIII's lap and slaps her and pulls her necklace off, leading to a miscarriage After gossip around the court that Henry is unhappy with Anne, she tracks him down and walks in on him with Jane. The pair are flirting with Jane sitting on his lap. Anne then swiftly pulls her necklace off - a locket with a picture of Henry inside - and slaps her. The stress from this leads to her collapsing on the floor and miscarrying for the third time. Wake up after the miscarriage and see Henry with Jane Seymour, says 'I won't allow that whore to take my place' - The facts: Anne DID walk in on Jane Seymour and Henry VIII but the snatching of the necklace was a different incident - and the miscarriage could have been caused by several stresses Accounts from the time and modern accounts say that Henry did gift Jane a locket with a portrait of himself inside, and that Anne did walk in on Jane while sitting on Henry's lap - but the show falsely amalgamates these events. Shortly after Catherine of Aragon's death, Henry began courting Jane Seymour - one of Anne's servants. Henry gave her a locket with a miniature portrait of himself inside. Often, in the presence of Anne, began opening and shutting it to taunt Anne, who ripped it off her neck so hard it made her fingers bleed. In another incident, Anne is said to have flown into a rage after seeing Jane sitting on Henry's lap. While the drama shows her immediately miscarry after this, it's likely there was a combination of events which lead to her losing the baby. It came just five days after the King was knocked unconscious in a boating accident, and also on the same day as Catherine of Aragon's funeral. It's also likely Anne did slap - or have a physical altercation with Jane. Maid Jane Dormer who served in the court claimed that there was often 'scratching and blows' between Anne and Jane VERDICT: PARTLY TRUE Another scene shows Anne walk ins on Jane Seymour sitting on Henry VIII's lap and slaps her and pulls her necklace off, leading to a miscarriage. Anne Boleyn (Played by Jodie Turner-Smith)Jane Seymour (Played by Lola Petticrew) are pictured The claim: Thomas Cromwell plotted against Anne Boleyn The episode shows Thomas and Anne arguing about the dissolution of the monasteries and Anne confiding in her brother: 'Cromwell is taking advantage of Henry's mood to exclude me. He's taking secret meetings with my husband. Thomas also tells: 'Make no mistake, your influence lies in your belly, not your brain' The episode shows Thomas and Anne arguing about the dissolution of the monasteries and Anne confiding in her brother: 'Cromwell is taking advantage of Henry's mood to exclude me. He's taking secret meetings with my husband. The facts: Thomas as instrumental in Anne's downfall Thomas Cromwell was Henry VIII's chief minister - one of the most ruthless and powerful operators ever to dominate the politics of this country In a reign of unadulterated terror against the Church, he masterminded the dissolution of the monasteries and the biggest land grab since the Norman invasion of 1066 - seizing one-sixth of the nation's wealth and turning it over to his master, the King. While Catherine of Aragon was Queen, Cromwell helped end the marriage and install Anne as Queen. But after Anne's miscarriage at 14 weeks, Henry believed God's wishes were for him to not be married to Anne, and Cromwell conspired to get rid of her. Eric Ives, Anne's biographer, said that her fall and execution were primarily engineered by Cromwell despite being a former ally. VERDICT: TRUE Set in January 1536 at Greenwich palace, the episode shows the last five months of Anne Boleyn (played by Jodie Turner-Smith) life, opening with King Henry and Anne throwing a party, 24 hours after the death of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Anne Boleyn is shown in a portrait from the 1500s The claim: Henry believed he'd been tricked into his marriage by witchcraft After Henry coldly rejected Anne, she then travels into his bed chambers anyway. She then seduces him, before he stops saying it could hurt the baby before the pair proceed to have oral sex. The next morning, Anne is expecting Hannah to be in a great mood but is told by her sister-in-law, he's in a 'fury'. Jane Boleyn, the wife of her brother George, says: 'He's in a fury apparently, no one can shake it from him, we all know he's been unpredictable since his fall. I know we shouldn't believe idle gossip but i'm told.. 'Apparently he was walking with his uncle and he complained of being seduced and bewitched into his current marriage 'All nonsense i'm sure, there was even talk of sorcery, can you imagine?' The fact: Anne being charged witchcraft is a common misconception The scene here is clearly alluding to Anne later being charged with witchcraft - and beheaded. But Anne was never charged with witchcraft, and adultery, incest and treason. Mark Smeaton, a Flemish musician in the court, confessed to adultery after being tortured, while a handful of others were arrested but not charged for their involvement with the Queen. George Boleyn, the Queen's brother, was also arrest on charges of incest. Although little evidence any of this was true, Anne was also accused of treason as adultery on the part of a queen was a form of treason (because of the implications for the succession to the throne). George, and three other men accused, were killed on 17th May, Anne was beheaded two days later. VERDICT: PROBABLY FALSE The claims: Anne Boleyn was responsible for the first English language bible The episode shows Anne overjoyed as she's gifted a bible published in English by her brother George. 'It arrived late last night of the boat from Antwerp, I had the pastor bring it straight to you,' he says. 'The first full English language bible, now everyone can read the word of god in their own tongue,' she says. 'Thanks to you,' George adds. The facts: Anne Boleyn was a supporter of translation William Tyndale Anne was an ardent supporter of William Tyndale, the person responsible for translating the bible into English. Tyndale's Bible was published at a time where an English language bible would have been seen as shocking as for centuries they were in Latin - but Henry and Anne were sympathetic as they saw this as a support as a step toward independence from Rome. However, the claim it's 'all to thanks so Anne' is unlikely. VERDICT: MOSTLY FALSE | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9643325/How-accurate-Channel-5s-Anne-Boleyn.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490 |
What do expanded World Cups and an ICC event every year mean for cricket? | On Tuesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced the schedule of its events for the next rights cycle from 2024-2031, confirming the re-introduction of the Champions Trophy. Eight mens limited-overs tournaments would be played during this period, along with four World Test Championship (WTC) finals. Eight womens events and as many tournaments in the U-19 category, men and women, too, have been lined up. The expansion ostensibly has an eye to new broadcast rights deals. The 50-over World Cups in 2027 and 2031 will become a 14-team affair instead of 10. Also, starting from 2024, the ICC T20 World Cup has been expanded to 20 teams, an addition of four extra sides. The ICC actually has stuck to its plan of having at least one premier limited-overs tournament every year during the next rights cycle. Also, re-introduction of the Champions Trophy with eight top teams plugs the gap in 2025 and 2029, when the ICC otherwise wouldnt have any global event apart from the WTC finals. In the mens category, the 2024-2031 cycle will have four T20 World Cups, two 50-over World Cups, two Champions Trophy tournaments and four WTC finals. Star spent $1.98 billion to win the ICC broadcast rights for the ongoing cycle. It had forked out 80 per cent more than the previous cycles $1.1 billion. The current rights cycle comes to an end in 2023 and the global body will invite expression of interest for a new deal for the next eight-year cycle. The ongoing cycle has had 18 ICC tournaments plus a WTC final. The next cycle will have 24 tournaments men, women and U-19 combined plus four WTC finals. Obviously an increase in the number of matches and two extra elite 50-over events in the Champions Trophy will be the ICCs currency, when it goes for a new broadcast rights deal. The global body has already launched a digital collectables expression of interest process to develop and launch a digital collectables platform for cricket fans across the world. The ICC disbanded the 2021 Champions Trophy and replaced it with a T20 World Cup. The thought process behind it was to showcase T20 cricket as the commercial driving-engine of the game. Also, the games governing body decided to do away with a tournament that has been pretty similar to the 50-over World Cup. The Champions Trophys re-introduction not only serves the ICCs purpose of organising one premier limited-overs tournament every year, it also gives the global body extra negotiation muscle for the new broadcast rights deal, given the tournaments blue-chip status. However, asked about the Champions Trophys re-introduction, an ICC spokesperson told this paper: It worked as part of the event cycle. The BCCI has sentimental value attached to this tournament. Its former president, the late Jagmohan Dalmiya was the mastermind behind its introduction in 1998, as the ICC Knockout tournament. It is learnt that the BCCI under its present dispensation has agreed to the Champions Trophys re-introduction. Taking cricket to the Olympics is a priority for the ICC, with its Strategic Working Group (SWG) focussed on the globalisation of the game. At the moment, the ICC is targeting the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the T20 is the preferred format for the Games. The MCCs World Cricket Committee has thrown its weight behind the ICC in this regard and the BCCI, too, is ready to back the initiative subject to certain clarifications from the ICC. The expansion of the T20 World Cup has been done ostensibly with an eye to the 2028 Olympics. Ahead of an apparently inconsequential three-match home ODI series against England in March, India captain Virat Kohli had spoken about the need for consulting players before finalising the cricket calendar. Scheduling and workload, everyone will have to be very aware of and keep an eye out for. You never know when restrictions can come in place. In future, we might have to play in bubbles so its very important to consider how much cricket we are playing, he had said. Newsletter | Click to get the days best explainers in your inbox Through the qualification process for the global events, the changes will help offer context to bilateral limited-overs series. More teams in the 50-over World Cup and T20 World Cup will provide an opportunity to more Associate nations to compete at the highest level. A fatter broadcast rights deal for the next rights cycle will add more revenue to the ICC coffer and the Member boards in turn will get a larger slice of the pie. Also, a multi-nation ICC event every year will be a viewing bonanza for cricket fans all over the world. The downside is that cricket boards, especially smaller nations will struggle to eke out windows for bilateral series, which can negatively affect their internal revenue stream. Smaller nations will be more dependent on the ICCs revenue share. There will hardly be an off-season and every cricket board will have to create a larger pool of players to remain competitive. The Big Three India, England and Australia are expected to benefit from this, for they have more money and the leeway to delve into a larger talent pool. The corrupters like T20s. They like the explosion of T20 tournaments, the ICCs General Manager-Anti-Corruption Alex Marshall had said during a media day event at the global bodys headquarters in Dubai back in 2018. Recently, as the ICC banned former Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak for eight years for corruption, it revealed how a bookmaker, Mr X, targeted the Indian Premier League, the Pakistan Super League and the Afghanistan Premier League by allegedly making Streak as an intermediary. More ICC events on top of bilateral international series will cramp lesser T20 leagues for room. The IPL has a specific window. Cricket Australias Big Bash League and the England and Wales Cricket Boards upcoming The Hundred are likely to be unaffected. But the lesser T20 leagues, which according to Marshall, the corrupters like, might struggle to stay relevant. | https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/what-do-expanded-world-cups-and-an-icc-event-every-year-mean-for-cricket-7341350/ |
How did Lil Loaded die? What was his cause of death? | Picture: Getty/Instagram The Texas rapper passed away at the age of 20, reports claimed on May 31st, 2021. Lil Loaded real name Dashawn Maurice Robertson has died at the age of 20, his attorney has confirmed. The Texas rappers death sent shockwaves around the world, as he made such an impact within the music scene at his young age. Loaded was best known for his songs '6locc 6a6y', 'Gang Unit', and 'Link Up'.The news of his death spread quickly on Twitter, with expressing their shock. Lil Loaded became a YouTube sensation after his viral hit '6locc 6a6y' in 2019. Picture: Instagram/@lil_loaded Fans immediately took to social media to share their mourning and grief for the rapper, paying heartfelt tributes to him. Lil Loaded's death comes just months after he was arrested for the shooting of his friend Khalil Walker in Dallas. On Monday (May 31) The Dallas County medical examiners office confirmed that the young rapper, whose legal name was Dashawn Robertson, had died on Sunday. At the time, officials did not reveal the cause of his death. Lil Loaded's attorney Ashkan Mehryari said in a statement to XXL: "Sadly, the rumors are true and Mr. Robertson did pass away today." Mehryari also told Dallas News that his clients death was very tragic and that he did not see it coming. Lil Loaded performs during The PTSD Tour In Concert at The Tabernacle on March 11, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia. Picture: Getty Mehryari added that the rap stars record label truly believed in Lil Loaded and had invested heavily in his success. He had a very bright and promising music career ahead of him, he said. The Dallas Medical Examiner's Officer confirmed to TMZ that Lil Loaded had died on Sunday in Dallas County. An official cause of death hasn't yet been released, but the publication have been told the Cedar Hill Police is investigating his death. Loaded's attorney, Ashkan Mehryari, seems to believe his client committed suicide, as his statement read: "Sadly, Mr. Robertson passed away earlier today as a result of a reported suicide." Lil Loaded was best known for his tracks 6locc 6a6y, Gang Unit, and Link Up. Picture: Instagram/@lil_loaded Lil Loaded posted an ominous message before his death The young MC reportedly shared a message sometime before his death, which read in part: "Dear most high, please forgive me for my shortcomings and all of the times Ive fell short of making you proud." He added, "I ask for entrance into your kingdom thru all of my mistakes. I know you love all your children, and Im ready for my heart and soul to join you." Lil Loaded sadly passed away at age 20. Picture: Instagram/@lil_loaded Lil Loaded's friend claims the rapper committed suicide Cyraq, a man thought to be a friend of Lil Loaded, claimed that the rapper committed suicide over his girlfriend. He claimed the musician took his own life after reportedly having "relationship problems" with his girlfriend, Revolt TV reports. According to the NY Post, Lil Loaded had recently been charged with manslaughter for the 2020 shooting death of his friend, Khalil Walker, and was supposed to be in court this week for the case. He had been arrested in connection to the killing but was out on bond. R.I.P Lil Loaded. | https://www.capitalxtra.com/news/lil-loaded-cause-of-death-how-did-he-die-texas-rapper/ |
What is Amazon Prime Day 2021? How do I participate? | The highly anticipated Amazon Prime Day 2021 will be held for 48 hours on Monday, June 21, and Tuesday, June 22. Each year Amazon holds the online shopping event that features thousands of products offered at significantly lower prices to people who have a Prime membership. The best deals are usually offered on Amazons own devices and brands. Last year Prime Day was delayed until October because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the past it has been held in July. Prime costs $119 a year or $12.99 a month. It is free to join for 30 days. With Prime, members receive free shipping including two-day, same-day, release-date on pre-orders and two-hour in some ZIP codes. Members also receive Prime video streaming of movies and television shows, music and games and can get HBO, Showtime and Starz for an additional fee; savings from Whole Foods Market, books, earnings on a credit card, free grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh in some areas, Prime Pantry grocery and early access to special deals. Members receive special savings and deals on products. Some of the best savings can be realized on Amazon products such as Echo, Ring, Fire TV and tablets, Kindle and Alexa. Amazon also has Lightning Deals that last less than a day. These deals sell out quickly. Shoppers will find deals on name brands including Levis, iRobot, Samsung, Lego, Mattel, Black + Decker and Le Creuset. If you spend $10 with a small business on Amazon between June 7 and June 20, Amazon will give you a $10 credit to use on Prime Day. This includes Black-owned, women-owned and military family-owned businesses. Starting June 18, Prime members can shop with Alexa on an Echo device by asking, Alexa, what are my Prime Day deals? Amazon will offer savings on home and kitchen items, toys and games, clothing, health and personal care items, tools and home improvement, lawn and garden, sports and outdoors, baby, pets, major appliances and grocery items. Electronics: Save on JBL Headphones. Fire TVs Toshiba 32-inch Smart HD TV was $199.99 and is on sale for $129.99. Insignia 43-inch Smart 4K UHD TV was $319.99 and is on sale for $219.99. Insignia 24-inch Smart HD TV was $169.99 and is on sale for $99.99. Echo Dot, fourth generation, Smart speaker with clock and Alexa was $59.99 and is on sale for $44.99. Echo Show 5, first-generation 2019, was $89.99 and is on sale for $49.99. Echo Dot, third generation, was $39.99 and is on sale for $29.99. Fire TV Stick Lite with Alexa voice remote was $29.99 and is on sale for $24.99. Echo Auto hands-free Alexa for your car was $49.99 and is on sale for $24.99. Echo Dot fourth generation for kids, panda, was $89.99 and is on sale for $59.99. | https://www.pennlive.com/life/2021/06/what-is-amazon-prime-day-2021-how-do-i-participate.html |
Is Luka Doncic playing tonight against the LA Clippers in Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs? | Luka Doncic's availability for the Dallas Mavericks' crunch game five against the LA Clippers could come down to the wire on Wednesday night. The Slovenian has been struggling from a cervical strain suffered in Game 3 against the Clippers at the end of last week. Doncic was electric that night with 44 points and 9 rebounds, though the Mavs lost by 10 points as the momentum of the series swung toward their opponents. He was questionable to play for Game 4 a couple of days later, however there was no way he would miss out. Despite playing 36 minutes, the 23-year-old clearly didn't look right and was grimacing in pain on several occasions. Since then, there has been a lot of speculation about his availability for Wednesday night and, at the time of writing, the Dallas Mavericks have listed Doncic as probable for the matchup. Rick Carlisle on Luka Doncic: I dont know if hes 80%, if hes 85%. Dallas Mavericks team during game one against the LA Clippers Wednesday night is going to be an uphill struggle for the Dallas Mavericks, regardless of whether Luka Doncic plays. Everybody saw how he struggled at the weekend with his neck, scoring 14% of threes and shooting at 37% from the field. When asked about his superstar, Mavs head coach Rick Carlisle had this to say to the media on Tuesday: "He seems to be doing better, so that's good news. I'm not sure how much better, but he's definitely better." Doncic revels in the energy of the arena and has a lot of confidence in his immense ability. Hampered by this injury, however, means we may not see him back at his best in game five or for the rest of the series. Therefore, the Dallas Mavericks' other stars are going to have to step up. Although Luka Doncic shot the ball poorly, so too did his teammates. In fact, apart from his one made three, the Mavs scored only four other treys, scoring a measly 5-30 attempts. They also shot at just 34% from the field as a team. Overall, it was a really poor performance from the Mavericks who will want to put it behind them as they head back to LA. In the first two games of this series, Dallas won both at the Staples Center and were extremely efficient from the floor. Luka Doncic was unplayable in those matchups, averaging 35 points, 9 assists and 8.5 rebounds. LUKA DONCIC DUNKS ALL OVER THE CLIPSpic.twitter.com/fpYw0G9hLQ Nick Angstadt (@NickVanExit) May 26, 2021 In what has been a topsy-turvy series, there could yet be one chapter left to write for the young Mavs superstar. If he is able to play through the injury and receive effective help from his teammates, Luka Doncic may yet get revenge on the LA Clippers for last year's playoff elimination. Edited by Parimal Dagdee | https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/is-luka-doncic-playing-tonight-la-clippers-game-5-2021-nba-playoffs |
Is Joel Embiid playing tonight against the Washington Wizards in Game 5 of the 2021 NBA Playoffs? | The Philadelphia 76ers lost their opportunity to sweep the Washington Wizards after their star player and MVP candidate, Joel Embiid, injured his knee during the first quarter of Game 4. He landed awkwardly after an attempted dunk and was slow to get up from the floor. Embiid stayed in the game for a few minutes but was eventually escorted to the locker room with roughly 21 seconds left in the first quarter. Joel Embiid with the Philadelphia 76ers The belief in the Philadelphia 76ers locker room is that Joel Embiid is fine and will take the court in Game 5. He did stay in the game after the awkward landing but the team staff felt it was better to get him rest to avoid any long-term catastrophes. The Philadelphia 76ers are aiming for the title and forcing him to play an unimportant game after they already have a 3-0 lead could have had a negative long-term impact. As reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Embiid had an MRI on his right knee Tuesday and is expected to be evaluated further Wednesday. John Clark from NBC Sports Philadelphia reported that the players and staff didn't reach home until 6 AM because the Sixers plane broke down after the game and the team was forced to take a bus back to Philadelphia. He also wrote about Embiid's status, saying: "Im told the belief last night was that Joel Embiid would be OK. They were going to do imaging this morning to make sure. Hopefully everything goes well." However, he is listed as doubtful in the official injury report, citing soreness in his right knee. Some context about Joel Embiid being doubtful tomorrow night Sixers did not get back to Philly till 6am, then Joel had tests done, then probably got some sleep Sixers doctors are still looking over tests but Im told theyre optimistic about his long term health during playoffs pic.twitter.com/Yjswy0aqzs John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) June 1, 2021 Joel Embiid is averaging 30 points on 67% shooting in the series, and if he does lace up for Game 5, one can expect the Philadelphia 76ers to advance to the next round. Also Read: Washington Wizards vs Philadelphia 76ers Prediction and Match Preview - June 2nd, 2021 | Game 5, 2021 NBA Playoffs Edited by Arjun Panchadar | https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/news-is-joel-embiid-playing-tonight-washington-wizards-game-5-2021-nba-playoffs |
What makes a great online casino experience? | Online casinos are big business. The rise in these over recent years has been nothing short of phenomenal. Of course, what makes a casino the best may be very different for one person when compared to another, but there are some basics that need to be in place before you can class an online casino as great. Lets have a look at some of the things that add to the experience. Roulette is a must! When it comes to a great range of casino games, roulette is a must. The Japanese call it and any casino that lacks the game has no business calling itself a casino in the first place. Roulette is a classic game that was long enjoyed at land-based casinos and has proven just as popular online. The best casino experience is added to when an online casino has several variations of the game. Game providers such as NetEnt, Microgaming, and Play n Go have developed numerous variants to keep players entertained. A great casino experience will also see a range of stakes being available. Those with a conservative budget want to be able to get in on the action whereas high rollers want to be able to wager thousands on the spin of the wheel. The live dealer experience Online casinos have always offered a wide range of games. The only area where perhaps they couldnt live up to a land-based casino was with the atmosphere. That is no a thing of the best though and the best online casinos have a great range of live games hosted by professional croupiers. With the action being streamed from purpose-built studios, players have the chance to enjoy live versions of classics such as roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. There is the chance to interact with the dealer and the array of camera angles mean that you never miss out on any of the action. A live casino is a must at online casinos if you are seeking the very best experience. A great selection of slots Slots are perhaps the most popular games at online casinos. The reason for this is partly down to their simplicity, but what also plays a part is the sheer variety on offer. There are slots that are themed on great movies and TV shows or adventure and Greek mythology. There really is a slot that has a theme to suit any taste. There is also the chance of winning some great jackpots on these casino games. Progressive jackpots can see players winning life-changing amounts on a single spin. The best casino experience sees a wide range of slots to choose from meaning that there is enough for players to be constantly entertained. Its not just the number of slots that matters, it is also the quality. The best experience comes from top game providers such as NetEnt, Pragmatic Play, and Yggdrasil. | https://www.theleader.info/2021/06/02/what-makes-a-great-online-casino-experience/ |
Is Dan really dead in Lucifer? | Lucifer fans were shocked when one of the fantasy dramas main characters was brutally killed off in the latest batch of episodes. Advertisement Kevin Alejandro has played the LAPDs Dan Espinoza since the very first season, a formerly corrupt cop and ex-husband to Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German). Over the years, the character has taken on an increasingly comedic edge, often being the butt of jokes and pranks from his work rival Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis). Thats why it was so surprising to see him dropped into a life-threatening scenario in Lucifer season five part two, which ultimately ended in his demise. Sign up to receive the freshest reviews and recommendations for Streaming & On Demand Thanks, you are now signed up to our On Demand newsletter! We look forward to sending you our email updates. Sign in to/ register for a RadioTimes.com account to manage your email preferences Sign in Register To manage your email preferences, click here. Sign me up! Immediate Media Company Limited (publishers of radiotimes.com) would love to send you our On Demand newsletters. We may also send occasional updates from our editorial team. You can unsubscribe at any time. For details on how we use your data, please see our privacy policy. In Lucifer season fives penultimate episode titled Is This Really How Its Going to End? the LAPD uncover a trail of murders connected by a lab technician who stole from dead people for profit. One such item that this unsavoury character swiped was Amenadiels necklace, one component of a dangerous celestial weapon known as the flaming sword (check out our article on Azraels Blade for more information). Lucifers devious twin brother Michael wished to locate all three pieces of the flaming sword to assert himself as the new God, hiring a dangerous gang of mercenaries to track down the necklace. While investigating the stolen items, Dan crosses paths with this group and they abduct him to torture him for information, but he is able to launch an escape attempt when they momentarily drop their guard. Dan puts up a strong fight, taking down a couple of his captors in an intense action sequence, but is sadly shot in the back as he is running for freedom and the bullet wound proves fatal. He is discovered on the brink of death by Chloe and promptly rushed to hospital, but the doctors are unable to resuscitate him. Netflix Good news for fans of Lucifers Detective Douche! We can confirm that Kevin Alejandro will indeed return in the upcoming sixth season, although it remains to be seen what the nature of his role will be. In Lucifer season five, we learned the worrying news that Dan had been sent to hell following his death, a fate that seemed highly unjust given the kindness he was known for showing people on Earth. With Lucifer Morningstar established as the new God in the Lucifer season 5B ending, it could be that he will intervene in the afterlife of his late frenemy to get him to the heavenly kingdom where he belongs. Alejandro told RadioTimes.com in an exclusive interview: This is definitely not it for Dan. Joe [Henderson] and Ildy [Modrovich] figured out a way to bring him back in some capacity. I think it was important to us. Not only as filmmakers and storytellers, it was something that I personally wanted to complete. I want to complete that journey with the family that weve created. I think that they felt the same way and they found a respectable way, and a way that made sense, to let him be part of it. Whether how big or how small his role is in season six, to let me finish up that journey with everybody. In an interview with TVLine, the Lucifer showrunners teased more details about what season six could have in store for Dan, hinting that his death could bring about major change in how heaven and hell are governed. If Dan Espinosa doesnt go to heaven, after all hes gone through and all the wonderful stuff in his heart, then maybe theres something even bigger broken, said Joe Henderson. Ildy Modrovich added: We found a story for him that we just love, and its one of those examples of sometimes you paint yourself into a corner and you find something thats so much more fun and satisfying because of it. In trying to find your way out of it, you find something you never would have done or never would have thought of before. Lucifer seasons four and five are available to stream on Netflix. Check out our guide to the best series on Netflix or the best movies on Netflix. Advertisement Check out more of our Fantasy coverage or visit our TV Guide to see whats on tonight. | https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/fantasy/dan-death-return-lucifer-netflix/ |
Why is Euro 2020 not called Euro 2021? | Football fans get ready because, after a longer wait than we had expected, Euro 2020 is finally about to get underway and we couldnt be more excited for the first match to kick off. Advertisement The original dates were moved due to the pandemic it was hard to stage a football competition with multiple countries involved when most travel was off the table but the wait is almost over,with the contest starting on June 11th and all the Euro 2020 fixtures already confirmed. Well, we have the answer for you below and it is a simpler explanation than you may have expected. UEFA has said the name was kept in order to keep the vision of the competition, which played a part in the decision, but it also comes down to the cost and waste. To change to the name would require a change to the branding and all the things said branding has been placed on. The work for the competition would have started long before it was postponed last year and there is already a ton of merchandise around with Euro 2020 plastered all over it. Swapping it to Euro 2021 means all that would need to change, and any official merchandise fans have already picked up will become redundant or possibly a collectors item depending on how much of it is already out there. Stay on the ball. Get all the sporting action direct to your inbox. Our Football newsletter: news, views and previews of this week's games on TV Thanks for signing up! We hope you enjoy our Football content. Sign in to/ register for a RadioTimes.com account to manage your email preferences. Sign in Register To manage your email preferences, click here. Sign me up! Immediate Media Company Limited (publishers of radiotimes.com) would love to send you our Football newsletters. We may also send occasional updates from our editorial team. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we hold your personal data, please see our privacy policy. It will furthermore serve as a reminder of how the whole football family came together to respond to the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, and of the difficult times that Europe, and the world, had to go through in 2020, UEFA said in a statement. This choice is in line with UEFAs commitment to make UEFA EURO 2020 sustainable and not to generate additional amounts of waste. A lot of branded material had already been produced by the time of the tournaments postponement. A name change for the event would have meant the destruction and reproduction of such items. Starting next Friday, the competition will run for a month with the final, which we can at least dream will feature England, taking place on Sunday, July 11th at 8pm. For you non-football fans out there, look for some changes to your TV schedule to make way for it, including three soaps debuting on streaming before airing on their main channels. Check out our relaunched Football Times podcast featuring special guests, FPL tips and match previews available on Apple / Spotify / Acast. For the full breakdown of what games are coming up check out our Euro 2020 fixtures on TV guide. Advertisement If youre looking for something else to watch check out our TV Guide or visit our Sport hub for all the latest news. | https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sport/football/euro-2020-not-euro-2021/ |
Is the Air Jordan 1 High Switch Peach Neon a Must-Cop? | Fresh off the press in adult and GS sizing, the Air Jordan 1 Mid has been revealed in a vibrant Orange/White colorway that calls for shattered backboard vibes. We cant help ourselves. Whenever a sneakerhead sees an orange colorway on the Air Jordan 1 High, Mid, or Low, the brain automatically attaches a Shattered Backboard design to the makeover regardless of how close the new colorway is to the original. This new rendition features an entirely new look with white leather appearing on the toes, sides, and ankles with a metallic-like leather overlay system showcasing orange throughout the design. Tonal white Nike Swooshes graces the sides while being outlined by orange embroidery as black takes the next tasks of branding with a black Jumpman logo being placed on the tongues and a Jumpman logo gracing the ankles. Finishing off the design and keeping the same color scheme going, a white rubber midsole and orange outsole are placed on the bottoms adding the final touch of orange and white to the AJ1 Mid. | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2263872062834/is-the-air-jordan-1-high-switch-peach-neon-a-must-cop |
How many former The Ultimate Fighter contestants went on to become UFC champions? | The UFC's flagship reality show 'The Ultimate Fighter' was launched with the objective of providing a platform for promising MMA prospects. Since its inception, TUF has proved to be a hotbed of up-and-coming talent. So far, 11 alumni of the show have gone on to become UFC champions. 11 TUF contestants who became UFC champions UFC welterweight Matt Serra was the first of the many TUF contestants to become titleholders. In the fourth season, dubbed 'The Comeback', Serra was given the title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 69. Pundits had predicted GSP would win the bout. However, 'The Terror' pulled off one of the biggest upsets in MMA history by securing a TKO victory over the welterweight king in the first frame. pic.twitter.com/Xn7D9teZGu Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) September 4, 2020 Matt Serra's sensational championship victory kicked the doors open for TUF contestants who aspired to attain UFC gold. In 2008, at UFC 86, TUF season 1 winner Forrest Griffin fought tooth and nail to secure the undisputed championship against 'Rampage' Jackson. However, Griffin's title reign ended five months later when another TUF graduate, Rashad Evans, defeated Griffin via TKO at UFC 92. Dec27.2008 9 years ago today, An undefeated Rashad Evans knocked out Forrest Griffin, to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion pic.twitter.com/nxLoPASyJU MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) December 28, 2017 In 2014, bantamweight royalty TJ Dillashaw (TUF 14) claimed the title shot against Renan Barao at UFC 173. Dillashaw displayed his superior kickboxing acumen and finished the Brazilian in round five. May24.2014 TJ Dillashaw shocks the world when he finishes Renan Barao by knockout, & becomes the new UFC Bantamweight Champion pic.twitter.com/KbDnO9IuM0 MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) May 24, 2020 Seven months later, Carla Esparza became the first UFC strawweight queen when she defeated Rose Namajunas in the finale of TUF 20. Esparza submitted 'Thug Rose' with a rear-naked choke in round three. Drop your thoughts pic.twitter.com/bEzxA3SGsD MMAFighting.com (@MMAFighting) May 26, 2021 In June 2016, Michael Bisping (TUF 3 winner) defeated Luke Rockhold to become the undisputed champion at 27 years old. Bisping became the first Englishman to secure a UFC title, with his reign lasting for just over a year. Michael Bisping knocks out Luke Rockhold to become UFC Middleweight champion! (via @br_uk) https://t.co/sGw0MsVqUd pic.twitter.com/qrFIuxRWwP Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 5, 2016 Australian MMA starlet Robert Whittaker (TUF: The Smashes) shocked the world by going the distance against Yoel Romero in their interim title clash at UFC 213. 'The Reaper' secured a decision victory over 'The Soldier of God' to claim the interim throne in 2017. July 8, 2017 UFC 213 Robert Whittaker beats Yoel Romero for the interim UFC MW championship Nov 4, 2017 UFC 217 Unranked MW GSP beats Bisping to become the new UFC MW champ Dec 7, 2017 GSP vacates the title, Robert Whittaker promoted to undisputed champ. Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) February 19, 2019 TUF season 13 winner Tony Ferguson became interim lightweight champion in 2017. 'El Cucuy' submitted promising contender Kevin Lee at UFC 216 via a triangle choke to secure the 155lbs interim gold. As Tony Ferguson was break dancing in celebration, Kevin Lee walked away with his head down. #UFC216 pic.twitter.com/8fIsYBolPZ Simon Samano (@SJSamano) October 8, 2017 Rose Namajunas (TUF 20) was presented with a title shot against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 217. 'Thug Rose' claimed the undisputed title with a staggering knockout of Jedrzejczyk in the first round. "THUG ROSE! THUG ROSE! THUG ROSE!" On this day in 2017... Rose Namajunas stopped Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the first round at UFC 217 to become the strawweight champ! @dc_mma with the legendary commentary pic.twitter.com/c8GUPinE03 UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) November 5, 2019 UFC flyweight Nicco Montano became the promotion's inaugural women's flyweight champion in the TUF 26 finale when she defeated Roxanne Modafferi via a unanimous decision. Nicco Montano defeats Roxanne Modaferri via unanimous decision to become the inaugural UFC flyweight champion. #TUFFinale Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) December 2, 2017 TUF 21 winner Kamaru Usman lined up an impressive undefeated UFC streak to claim the title against Tyron Woodley at UFC 235. Delivering a dominant performance, Usman attained undisputed welterweight gold via a unanimous decision. Nigerian born, Kamaru Usman has beaten Tyron Woodley to claim the UFC 235 welterweight title. Usman won by scores of 50-44 twice and 50-45. With the win, Usman becomes the first UFC champion from Africa. pic.twitter.com/pdZjeGD5sW News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) March 3, 2019 Please spend 30 seconds answering this survey so that we can better understand how to serve your MMA needs. Edited by Sudeshna Banerjee | https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-how-many-former-the-ultimate-fighter-contestants-went-become-ufc-champions |
How many players does VALORANT have? | VALORANT, the newest tactical shooter from Riot Games, has generated tons of media buzz over the last year since its release. VALORANT has notched 14 million players, according to Riot. In addition to the raw player count, the esports portion of the scene is thriving. VCT Masters Two Reykjavik had over one million concurrent viewers watch the grand finals between Fnatic and Sentinels, according to Esports Charts. This player count is solid for a game in its first year. VALORANT attracts a wide variety of players. Its emphasis on consistent gunplay and balance attracts competitive players and its focus on the wider lore and relationships between its characters attracts a casual audience as well. Riot seems to be able to keep the two sides of the coin mostly happy. The lore has never affected the balance and vice versa so far. One of our top goals this first year was to earn the trust and respect of the global FPS community, and to prove to them that VALORANT will always uphold the fundamentals of a truly worthwhile competitive tac-shooter, said Anna Donlon, executive producer of VALORANT at Riot. To see our growing player community recognize and appreciate what were trying to do with VALORANT is beyond what we couldve expected and were thrilled to soon offer the same competitive VALORANT experience to even more global players. It's not hard to believe that 14 million number will increase rapidly, too. League of Legends, Riot's flagship title, reportedly boasts over 100 million players. With consistent growth fueled by the release of new agents with different abilities, content to keep players engaged in the wider story, and keeping the game balanced for actual play, it's hard to see VALORANT's momentum slowing down any time soon. Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more esports news and analysis. | https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/how-many-players-does-valorant-have |
When does VALORANT Mobile come out? | Riot Games has confirmed that its wildly popular tactical first person shooter VALORANT will be coming to mobile. Mobile gaming has quickly become one of the most popular avenues to play for gamers all over the world. Games like PUBG Mobile, Garena Free Fire, and CoD: Mobile have captivated millions of players worldwide and grossed more millions in revenue. VALORANT's foray into mobile gaming marks the first time a tactical, economy-based shooter is coming to the platform. There isn't a current release date for VALORANT Mobile, however. VALORANT is played with five players on each team, each controlling a unique "agent" with different abilities. For example, Jett, a character based around quick movement abilities and short-duration "smokes," is primarily used with the Operator sniper since she's more likely to be able to get out of bad situations. Viper, with her damaging "smoke" and poison cartridges, is primarily used as a "post-plant" agent. The goal of the attackers is to plant the "spike" at one of two or three bombsites. Once the spike is planted, the defenders have 45 seconds to defuse it. If the spike goes off before the defenders can defuse it, the attackers win. Victories are also secured by eliminating all five players from the opposing team. Round victories gain bonuses in credits, which can be used to purchase armor, stronger weapons, and more abilities for the next round. Maintaining the game's economy is key to being able to pull off an overall victory. Players need to be careful to not get trapped in bad economic situations as a team. The game ends when a team secures 13 round wins or wins by two if both teams are on 12 rounds apiece. After 12 rounds, the sides switch and the defenders become the attackers. While this seems like a lot of rounds, the short round timer ensures that each VALORANT game is action-packed. This article will be updated when information about VALORANT Mobile's release date becomes available. Make sure to follow us on YouTube for more esports news and analysis. | https://dotesports.com/valorant/news/when-does-valorant-mobile-come-out |
Whats Next For Boston Celtics After Disappointing 2021 Season? | By Matthew Geagan, CBS Boston BOSTON (CBS) The Celtics season is over, and thats a good thing. The 2021 season left everyone feeling green about Bostons basketball team, and its a campaign that is best left in the past. We could go on and on and on about what went wrong with the 2021 Celtics, from frustrating injuries that popped up every other day to weekly COVID issues to large stretches of uninspired play. Sure, the Celtics rarely had their best and full lineup available all at once, but there was a time when that was seen as a challenge for Brad Stevens team. This year, it was just a convenient excuse to plod through the regular season. And when they lost half of their star duo just ahead of the postseason, it ended any and all hope of any kind of upset in the playoffs. But now its over, and we can shift focus on the future. The good news is the Celtics still have Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, and theyre both incredible pieces to what should be a strong foundation for at least the next 4-5 years. The rest of the picture is a bit greyish, similar to those horrendous sleeved jerseys the Celtics had a few years back. For lack of a better phrase, the fireworks have already been lit too, with Wednesday mornings news of Danny Ainge stepping down and Brad Stevens heading to the front office. The Celtics wasted no time to make a change, a firm admission that something had to be done. And that should just be the beginning of a pretty wild offseason ahead. The Next Head Coach Brad is leaving the bench for the front office. That is pretty shocking. His first order will be to find a new head coach. The next guy has to be someone who can connect with players. A former player would be wonderful. Many will demand Kevin Garnett take over, because if anyone is going to whip the next generation of Celtics players into shape, its a ferocious creature like KG. Hes been waiting for an opportunity for a few years, whether as a head coach or GM, and spent last season on the L.A. Clippers bench. Mr. Big Shot himself would have some instant credibility in the Boston locker room, and hed probably even have a spot for Garnett his good buddy on the bench. The Kemba Conundrum Whoever is making the decisions this summer, their biggest one will be on Kemba Walker. Do they trust that the 31-year-old will be healthy next season after a full summer of recovery, or are they willing to get on their hands and knees and beg someone to take him off Bostons hands. Kemba was a breath of fresh air after the Kyrie era, but he just cant stay healthy. And thats a terrifying concept considering hell be the teams highest-paid player for the next two years. Trying to deal him wont be easy, and will likely require the Celtics to include some draft picks and young talent, and also take on a different horrendous contract. None of its ideal, but neither is having an oft-injured, undersized point guard who makes nearly $40 million on the books. Making A Smart Decision Ideally, the Celtics could find a way to get Walker off the books and hand the starting point guard job to Marcus Smart. Hes an extremely underrated ball-handler and maybe running the offense and setting up others would keep him from taking so many daggone threes. But if the Celtics cant get Kemba off the books, Smart may be the big domino to fall. Hes set to make a modest $14 million next season, but thats the last year of his contract. And hes going to want a lot more in the future. Boston could opt to package Smart and some others in hopes of shedding salary and making an upgrade somewhere on the roster. But in losing Smart, the team would lose its defensive heartbeat and its longest tenured player. Its not going to be an easy decision, but could be one the Celtics have to make. Fournier was not great after arriving at the deadline, and not at all what Celtics fans were envisioning with that monster TPE from Haywards departure. He was sidelined with COVID issues and never really got into a groove with Boston. Now hes set to become a free agent, and the Cs need to decide if they want him to be part of the future or not. He may be their best option, since Boston holds his bird rights. And they really cant sign any other free agents without some massive roster management elsewhere. A sign-and-trade is always an option, but that may only yield Boston another TPE, and we all now how those go. There is so much intrigue and promise with Robert Williams. Hes instant energy whenever hes on the floor and the ideal center for this team as he develops into a premiere shot-blocker and rim-rattler. If only he could stay healthy. Williams is eligible for an extension this offseason, but questions about his health make that an extremely difficult decision. And given the bounce hes shown when healthy, he may be the teams best trade chip this summer. Given the teams limited financial flexibility, the Celtics are really going to need some of the youngins to step up next season, and step up big time. The bench was downright laughable for 99 percent of the season, which didnt help as the team navigated injuries and COVID issues. At least there is some promise after Romeo Langford and Aaron Nesmith played well over the final month of the season. Langford looks like hell turn into a really solid defensive player, and if he can develop a steady three-point shot over the offseason, the Celtics may really have something with the 21-year-old. Nesmith carved out a nice role for himself toward the end of the season, and he could also be in the rotation to start next season. Payton Pritchard will also need to keep growing his game as a floor general off the bench. And hes not really a young gun, but if the Celtics can turn Jabari Parker into a successful reclamation project, then it would really help the teams depth next season. | https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/06/02/celtics-whats-next-offseason-ainge-stevens-walker-smart-wiliams-free-agency-trade-nba/ |
Is Krispy Kreme Looking To Bring Its Donuts To Boston? | 'You Don't Get To Behave This Way,' Cole Buckley, Celtics Fan Accused Of Throwing Water Bottle At Kyrie Irving, Ordered To Stay Away From TD GardenCole Buckley, the Celtics fan accused of throwing a water bottle at Kyrie Irving at the TD Garden Sunday night, was arraigned Wednesday. Report: Jason Kidd Expected To Be Head Coach Candidate For CelticsAn early report indicates that Brad Stevens' successor may be a former Celtics foe. Danny Ainge Retires, Brad Stevens Takes Over As Celtics President Of Basketball Ops.Massive changes are indeed coming for the Boston Celtics. What's Next For Boston Celtics After Disappointing 2021 Season?A fascinating offseason for the Celtics is already underway. Some More Patriots Have Arrived For OTAsLast week, a big chunk of the Patriots' roster showed up for optional OTAs. This week, a large number of some of the missing players have joined them. | https://boston.cbslocal.com/2021/06/02/krispy-kreme-ipo-stock-boston-expansion-donuts/ |
When is The Staircase series out on HBO Max? | A new series called The Staircase is coming soon to HBO Max. See if The Staircase will become your new favorite true crime miniseries. 4 The Staircase follows Michael Peterson's murder trial after his wife, Kathleen, was found in a pool of blood at the bottom a staircase in the couple's home in 2001 Credit: (c) 2017 Shutterstock. No use without permission. The Staircase follows Michael Peterson's murder trial after his wife, Kathleen, was found in a pool of blood at the bottom a staircase in the couple's home in 2001. Peterson was originally found guilty in 2003, but was granted a new trial after misconduct was revealed. In 2017, he took an Alford plea, which is a guilty plea in criminal court but the defendant asserts innocence. 4 Michael Peterson has since spoken out about a theory involving an owl killing his wife Credit: whatsup/netflix He has since spoken out about a theory involving an owl killing his wife. Since then, he has been living in Durham and written two books: Behind the Staircase and Beyond the Staircase. The miniseries will draw on the 2018 Netflix documentary that followed the same case. Colin Firth will play main subject Michael Peterson; the role was originally slated to be played by Harrison Ford. Michael's late wife Kathleen will be played by Toni Collette. Juliette Binoche will star as Sophie Brunet, the editor of The Staircase documentary. One of the prosecutors in Michael's case, Freda Black, will be played by Parker Posey. Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner will appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff. 4 Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner will appear as one of Michael's adopted daughters, Margaret Ratliff Credit: EPA The last cast member to be revealed is Rosemarie DeWitt, who will play Candace Hunt Zamperini, Kathleen's sister and a huge critic of Michael. No release date has been set for the miniseries. The Staircase will be available for streaming on HBO Max. | https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3000806/the-staircase-hbo-max-cast-premiere/ |
Are Dani and Jean-Luc Still together after Below Deck Sailing Yacht? | IT'S fair to say Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 2 has been FULL of hook ups and break ups. But one couple which seem to be totally smitten with each other is Dani and Jean-Luc. It's fair to say these two haven't been able to keep their hands off each other during the second season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht. The season is still airing on Bravo, so fans are keen to know what happened once the cameras stopped rolling, The series actually wrapped filming in August 2020, so a lot can happen in that time. While they look like they are falling in love on the show, viewers want to know if they have lasted the distance. 3 JL and Dani grew close during filming - seen here on the far left Credit: Instagram Jean-Luc played coy about their relationship status in an interview in April 20201 with MEAWW. He said: Me and Dani aboard Parsifal found an escape you could say in one another. To throw further fuel on the fire as to their relationship status, in April 2021 Dani revealed she was heavily pregnant. The father of the baby is yet to be revealed but it is not believed to be JL. Dani then revealed she had given birth in May 2021. With this in mind, JL could be the father, but neither party has made any suggestion that this is the case. Below Deck Sailing Yacht is currently airing its second season on Bravo. New episodes air Mondays at 9pm/8pm C. | https://www.the-sun.com/entertainment/3001240/are-dani-jean-luc-together-below-deck-sailing-yacht/ |
Will Eatala quit pink party today? | By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Speculations are rife that the former health minister Eatala Rajender will resign from his MLA (Huzurabad) post and primary membership of the TRS on June 2, the Telangana Formation Day. Rajender maintained a low profile during his third days stay in the national capital, on Tuesday. Analysts say Rajender might want to send a strong message on TS Formation Day to his supporters by resigning from the MLA post that he won on a TRS ticket. He might also announce his decision on joining the saffron party. According to top BJP leaders, the party has assured Rajender that they will not enter into an alliance with the pink party in the next general elections. Our State president has specified on multiple occasions that there will not be any alliance with TRS and its supremo, said a BJP leader. | https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/telangana/2021/jun/02/will-eatala-quit-pink-party-today-2310535.html |
Is Melanie Stansbury a Democrat or a Republican? | MELANIE Stansbury is a politician who was running to fill Interior Secretary Deb Haaland's seat after she joined the Biden administration. The 42-year-old was born and raised in New Mexico and grew up helping family landscaping businesses by sewing clothes, digging trenches, operating equipment, and bussing tables at night. She was the first woman elected to represent House District 28 in New Mexico. Stansbury attended Saint Mary's College of California and earned a Bachelors of Arts in Human Ecology and Natural Science. She later received a Master of Science in Development Sociology with a minor in American Indian Studies from Cornell University. After graduating and before running for office, Stansbury worked as a science educator through the Museum of Natural History as well as in the Office of Management and Budget and the U.S. Senate in the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in Washington, DC. Melanie Stansbury is a Democrat. According to her website, Stansbury has helped pass 14 pieces of legislation since taking office in 2019. These legislation have "focused on addressing childhood hunger, modernizing our electric grid, fostering resilience in our water and food systems, improving education, expanding economic opportunity and public safety, improving access to healthcare, and using sound science in decision-making." On June 1, 2021, Stansbury won a special House election in New Mexico. She claimed the seat previously held by now Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in the Biden administration. Most read in News RAPPER DEATH Rapper Lil Loaded dead at 20 after arrest for 18-year-old friends shooting GONE FOR GOOD Trump ends blog that replaced his Twitter less than a month after launch RAPPER 'SUICIDE' Rapper due in court for 'killing' best friend day after he 'shot himself' OH JOE! Biden gets riot date wrong & runs off stage to 'make sure' girls got ice cream MANSLAUGHTER RAP Lord Ashcrofts daughter-in-law CHARGED over Belize cop's shooting RAMPAGE Boy, 12, with AK-47 & girl, 14, with shotgun open fire at cops before she's shot Stansbury received 60percent of the vote against Republican opponent Mark Moores. Moores' ran on a platform based heavily on crime related issues, while Stansbury focused on economic fairness and climate change urgency. This election represented a confidence in the Democrat controlled White House and Congress, according to the New York Times. | https://www.the-sun.com/news/3001092/melanie-stansbury-party-new-mexico-congress/ |
Who was Rick Bonnell and what was his cause of death? | BELOVED sportswriter Rick Bonnell tragically passed away on June 1, at the age of 63. According to the Charlotte Observer, the sportswriter was found dead in his home on Tuesday, June 1. Bonnell was best known for his years as a sports writer for The Charlotte Observer. He extensively covered the Charlotte Hornets throughout his career, including this past one. Bonnell was The Observers first beat reporter to cover the Hornets during their inaugural season in 1988-89. The reporter served for a total of 33 years at the local paper. 3 Rick Bonnell wrote for The Charlotte Observer for 33 years According to his son, Jack, his father achieved his lifelong dream by covering an NBA team so long and so well." Bonnell was found unresponsive in his Charlotte, North Carolina, home at 7pm on June 1 by a friend. His cause of death has not been immediately revealed, however it is believed he died of natural causes. Jack confirmed his fathers death the night of June 1 and added that police had told him that there was no reason to suspect foul play. Following the tragic news, colleagues and friends swarmed to social media to commemorate the writer. Sports columnist Scott Fowler wrote: "We are all so devastated at The Charlotte Observer but I must report that our beloved colleague Rick Bonnell has suddenly passed away. Most read in News RAPPER DEATH Rapper Lil Loaded dead at 20 after arrest for 18-year-old friends shooting GONE FOR GOOD Trump ends blog that replaced his Twitter less than a month after launch RAPPER 'SUICIDE' Rapper due in court for 'killing' best friend day after he 'shot himself' OH JOE! Biden gets riot date wrong & runs off stage to 'make sure' girls got ice cream MANSLAUGHTER RAP Lord Ashcrofts daughter-in-law CHARGED over Belize cop's shooting RAMPAGE Boy, 12, with AK-47 & girl, 14, with shotgun open fire at cops before she's shot "Rick was a Hornets beat-writing legend, a father, a generous colleague. Honestly, I dont know what we are going to do." The Observer Senior Sports Editor Matt Stephens, tweeted, "Being Rick's Bonnell's editor has been one of my favorite parts of this job. "It didn't matter if you were an intern, editor, competing reporter or Michael Jordan; Rick made you feel like the most important person in the room, and you listened when he spoke." | https://www.the-sun.com/news/3001633/sportswriter-rick-bonnell-found-dead-june-1/ |
What is Unified Memory and how does it work on Apple Silicon? | With the release of Apples new M1-powered iPad Pro and 24-inch iMac, theres renewed interest in the amazing efficiency of the M1 chip. The launch of the M1 chip brought Apples first use of unified memory architecture (UMA) on Apple silicon. This new approach to memory enables Apple to squeeze out higher performance from less total RAM. Lets take a look, starting with a few basics about memory in general and how things are new with the M1 Mac design. RAM stands for Random Access Memory. This is the main component of the system memory on any computer. System memory provides a temporary repository for data used by your computer at a given instant. Data stored in system memory can include files youre currently viewing, as well as files needed by macOS. Traditionally, RAM exists physically as a long stick that fits into a slot on your motherboard. The M1 is actually a revolution in this way as well. Apple designed the M1 as a system on a chip (SoC), with the RAM included as part of this package. While integrating RAM with the SoC is common in smartphones such as the iPhone 12 series, this is a relatively new idea for desktop and laptop computers. Adding RAM to the SoC design enables faster access to memory, improving efficiency. In addition to physically adding the RAM to the SoC, Apple has changed the fundamental way the system uses memory. This is where unified memory on Apple silicon comes into play. Unified memory is about minimizing the redundancy of data copied between different sections of memory used by the CPU, GPU, etc. Copying is slow and wastes memory capacity. With a traditional memory implementation, part of your RAM is reserved for the GPU. If your laptop is advertised with 16GB of RAM, and 2GB is allocated to the GPU, you only have 14GB available for system tasks. Apple solves this problem with UMA, making memory allocation more fluid and increasing performance. Gaming provides the best example to understand the benefits of unified memory. When you play a game on your Mac, the CPU first receives all the instructions for the game and then pushes the data that the GPU needs to the graphics card. The graphics card then takes all that data and works on it within its own processor (the GPU) and built-in RAM. If you have a processor with integrated graphics, the GPU still maintains its own chunk of memory, as does the processor. The CPU and GPU work on the same data independently and then passes the results back and forth between their memory repositories. If you drop the requirement to move data back and forth, its easy to see how keeping everything in the same storage area could improve performance. The unified memory approach truly revolutionizes performance by allowing all components access to the same memory at the same place. Apple truly achieved greatness with the M1 SoC. In addition to integrating RAM physically, the new unified memory architecture allows more efficient use of available memory. Using this new memory implementation, the new M1 iMacs can do just about anything, including running Windows 10. Placing all memory in a single pool means that any component can ramp up usage when needed, seamlessly allocating resources where needed. Apple iPad Pro 11-inch The 11-inch model of the iPad Pro may not have that Mini LED screen, but it still has the game-changing M1 processor and comes in a highly portable size. Buy at Best Buy | https://www.xda-developers.com/apple-silicon-unified-memory/ |
What is Phase 5 in Illinois? | Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Tuesday that his administration intends to move the state into Phase 5 of COVID mitigation strategies next week. Don't miss local breaking news and weather! Download our mobile app for iOS or Android and sign up for alerts. We are (meeting our goals), and in fact its (Phase 5) scheduled for June 11, Pritzker said. Phase 5 of the states coronavirus reopening plan would remove all remaining capacity limits and restrictions on all sectors of the economy, according to the states COVID website. Conventions, festivals and other large events would be allowed to proceed at full capacity, and masks will not be required for vaccinated individuals in most settings, per CDC guidance. This news comes as the state continues to see dramatic declines in several key areas. Illinois has only reported more than 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 once in the last 10 days, including just 401 new cases on Tuesday. The states positivity rate on tests has continued to drop to record lows, and over the weekend the state set a new low-watermark for COVID hospitalizations, with just over 1,000 residents currently hospitalized because of the virus. Of the 1,031 COVID patients currently hospitalized, 284 are in ICU beds, and 162 are currently on ventilators, according to state officials. The city of Chicago has not yet announced whether it will proceed into Phase 5 with the rest of Illinois, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said that the city is seeing the same positive changes in metrics. "We hope to get to fully open by Fourth of July. We will see what happens by June 11," Lightfoot said last week. "We're definitely trending in the right direction, but the minute I say that I worry because we've been here before. But our cases are going down, our percent positivity is going down, hospitalizations, ICU - all the metrics that we follow on a daily basis are all trending in the right direction, but we've got to keep getting people vaccinated. But my hope is that we're going to keep moving on the trajectory that we're on, and we're going to see more opportunities for opening up." | https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/coronavirus/what-is-phase-5-in-illinois/2523629/ |
When is the next green list travel announcement? | The next green list announcement will reportedly take place this week. Last month, the government announced that 12 countries would be added to the UK's 'green list' of quarantine-free travel. Speaking at a press conference from Downing Street on May 7, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that the list would be 'necessarily cautious', adding that "we must make sure the countries we reconnect with are safe." The list came into force on May 17, and will be reviewed every three weeks. At each review, more countries could be added to the list. Here's what we know about when the announcement might take place. It is thought that Ibiza could be added to the next green list. According to the Independent, the first green list review will take place on June 3. Any changed brought in by this review will be implemented on the following Thursday, June 10, at 4am. We don't know for sure which countries might be added - but the following have been highlighted as possible contenders: Malta The Balearic Islands of Spain The Greek islands of Kos, Rhodes, Santorini and Zante Grant Shapps announced the green list last month. The following are currently on England's green list: Portugal Australia New Zealand Singapore Brunei Iceland Faroe Islands Gibraltar Falkland Islands South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Saint Helena Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Israel Some of the countries on the list are not allowing visitors from abroad, so it is advised to check on a country's restrictions before planning a holiday. Covid tests will be required before and after travel for those visiting green list countries. | https://www.heart.co.uk/lifestyle/when-next-green-list-travel-announcement/ |
Why isn't The Masked Dancer on tonight? | The Masked Dancer kicked off on Saturday night, and The Masked Singer spin-off is just as bonkers as ever. Like its sister show, The Masked Dancer sees a bunch of mystery celebs do a performance while dressed in elaborate costumes. As its name suggests, though, they perform a dance instead of a song. Unlike The Masked Singer, The Masked Dancer is on nightly - rather than weekly - but the show isn't airing on Wednesday evening. Here's your need-to-know on why that is.... The Masked Dancer continues on Thursday evening. The Masked Dancer won't be airing on Wednesday June 2, due to the fact that the football is on. England's friendly with Austria will be airing on ITV from 7:30pm-10:15pm, meaning that is clashes with The Masked Dancer's usual slot. The next episode of The Masked Dancer will be on Thursday June 3 at 7:30pm. So far, we've seen Viper be revealed as Diversity's Jordan Banjo, Louise Redknapp as Flamingo, Dita Von Teese was as Beetroot last night, and last night Eddie the Eagle was revealed to be Rubber Chicken. Rubber Chicken was eliminated on Tuesday night. Picture: ITV In an interview after his exit, Eddie said: "I loved being a Rubber Chicken. I could really be silly and play with the character but I did find the costume quite restrictive." He also added: "I was very nervous, I had to use a lot of energy to move the outfit, but it was nice to hide inside the costume it made things slightly easier." The following characters remain on the show: | https://www.heart.co.uk/showbiz/tv-movies/why-masked-dancer-not-on-tonight/ |
Why didn't the state build a giant reservoir to collect water? | In recent years due to climate change, we haven't been getting as much snow melt from the Sierra. Billions on high speed rail that's not going anywhere." Adam, short answer, all the best dam sites in the state are taken. They were all built in the 1940s, 50s and 60s when we needed dams to prevent catastrophic local flooding. In recent years due to climate change, the state been getting as much snow in the Sierra, which results in snow melts earlier, leaving us with much less water available in the summer. "The modern strategy is to invest more in below ground storage and off stream reservoirs," Tim Wehling, engineer with the California Department of Water Resources, said. "One of the most exciting off-stream dam projects on the horizon is Sites Reservoir." According to Wehling, the strategy of the proposed Sites Reservoir just west of Maxwell in Colusa County would be in wet years, siphon off excess water from the swollen Sacramento River and store it for use in dry years. Since it's an off-stream reservoir, it wouldn't block fish navigation like the dams of the 1950s. There's also the proposed Del Puerto Canyon Reservoir, just west of Patterson off of Interstate 5. If approved, construction would begin in 2022 and take six years to complete. It would also store water for farmers to be used during dry years. But, Wehling says adding reservoirs and dams isn't enough. "We need to use water more efficiently, choose landscapes better suited for our local climates, and do our parts to reverse climate change," Wehling said. | https://www.abc10.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/why-guy-question/why-didnt-the-government-build-a-giant-reservoir-to-collect-water/103-ebed0919-09d3-409b-a007-d89342d4c35d |
Which are the top industry players in the global ventilators market? | Pune , India , 2021-Jun-02 /EPR Network/ Growth in this Ventilators Market by Mobility (Intensive Care, Portable), Type, Mode (Volume, Pressure, Combined), Interface (Invasive, Non-invasive), End-User (Hospital, Home Care, ACC, Emergency Medical Services) Covid-19 Impact Global Forecast to 2025 is driven by the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, high prevalence of respiratory diseases, rapid growth in the geriatric population, increasing number of preterm births, and the rising number of ICU beds. Ask for PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=11018337 Based on mobility, the market for ventilators is segmented into intensive care ventilators and portable/transportable ventilators. The intensive care ventilators segmented is estimated to be USD 5.5 billion in 2020. It is expected to grow at AGR of 535.4% from 2019 to 2020.The intensive care ventilators segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the ventilators market during the forecast period. Growth in this segment is attributed due to the rising number of intensive care beds equipped with ventilators. The increasing ICU admission due to COVID-19 and readmissions in developed countries coupled with appropriate reimbursement is also responsible for the growth of the ICU ventilators segment. The ICU ventilators segment is further sub-segmented into high-end ICU ventilators, mid-end ICU ventilators, and basic ICU ventilators. Based on type, the market for ventilators is segmented into adult/pediatric ventilators and neonatal/infant ventilators. The adult/pediatric ventilators segment accounted for the largest share of the market in 2019. The large share of this segment is largely driven by the large adult population suffering from COVID-19, chronic diseases such as COPD & asthma, the high prevalence of smoking, and the rising geriatric population. Based on the interface, the market for ventilators is segmented into invasive ventilation and non-invasive ventilation segment. The invasive ventilation segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the ventilators market during the forecast period. Growth in the invasive ventilation market can be attributed to increasing severity in COVID-19 patients and the rising prevalence of respiratory diseases, neurological diseases, and sleeping disorders. Based on the mode of ventilation, the ventilators market is segmented into volume-mode ventilation, pressure-mode ventilation, combined-mode ventilation, and other modes. The combined-mode ventilation segment accounted for the largest share of the ventilators market. The large share of the segment is attributed to its advantages over conventional pressure-mode ventilation and volume-mode ventilation. The ability of combined-mode ventilation to provide both modes of ventilation makes it a desirable product in the ventilators market On the basis of end-user, the ventilators market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, home care, ambulatory care center, and emergency medical services. The emergency medical services segment is projected to witness the highest growth in the ventilators market during the forecast period. Growth in this segment is attributed to the high incidence of trauma injuries, such as road accidents and falls, sports injuries, and criminal injuries. Request for Sample Pages : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=11018337 North America is expected to account for the largest share of the ventilators market in 2019, followed by Europe. The prominent players in the ventilators market are Philips Healthcare (Netherlands), ResMed Inc. (US), Medtronic plc (Ireland), Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited (New Zealand), Drgerwerk AG & CO. KGAA (Germany), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan), Getinge AB (Sweden), Asahi Kasei Corporation (Japan), Air Liquide (France), Vyaire Medical, Inc. (US), GE Healthcare (US), Hamilton Medical (Switzerland), Smiths Group plc (UK), Allied Healthcare Products, Inc. (US). | https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/02/941053 |
What happens to loans when a borrower dies? | Many families who lost breadwinners are unsure what happens to the deceaseds loans or credit card outstanding. Engaging with collection agents would be the last thing on their minds. Steps that financial institutions will take for the recovery of dues vary based on the category of the loan. In some cases, like a home loan, lenders have regulations to help them in recovery. In others, like a personal loan, there is no legal recourse for a lender. A lot depends on collateral and if theres a guarantor, a co-applicant or a co-borrower in the loan. Lets look at the steps a lender could take for loan recovery. Home loan: As home loans are long-tenured products, lenders structure them in a way that their recovery is not affected in case borrowers die. Lenders ensure that there is a loan co-applicant. Many dont sanction the loan unless the borrower has an adequate life insurance policy. If one of the co-borrowers dies, the responsibility to repay the loan is on the other. The co-borrower who is alive will need to continue repaying the loan. The co-borrower should inform the lender of the death of the other borrower. The lender will remove the deceased from the loan. If the repayment was linked to the bank account of the deceased, the lender will change it. The co-borrower who is alive will need to start repaying from his or her bank account," said Gaurav Pawra, CEO, Clix Housing Finance. If the borrower had purchased a group life insurance policy from the lender, the latter would approach the insurance company for a claim. The lender will reduce the loan depending on the insurance payout. The co-borrower will continue to pay the remaining amount. If the claim amount is higher than the loan outstanding, the insurer will pay the additional money to the nominee. If a borrower had individual life insurance, the nominee could claim it and settle the loan. If there are no co-borrowers, the lender will first resort to the life insurance option. If the insurance claim is not adequate to pay the entire loan, the lender will provide some alternatives to the legal heirs. The first option for the family is to repay the loan by arranging money. If the legal heir, say, the son of the deceased, is willing to pay the EMI, the lender will add him as a co-applicant after checking his creditworthiness. If neither the family (legal heirs) can repay the outstanding nor can legal heirs be added to the loan, the lender can take possession of the house under the Sarfaesi Act. It can then auction the property to recover its dues. No lender allows another person to pay the EMI on behalf of the borrower due to KYC and money laundering regulations.. Personal loan/credit card: Personal loans and credit cards are unsecured. If a borrower or a card user dies, the lender will write them off. There are no provisions to hold the legal heir responsible for the repayment of a loan," said Satyam Kumar, CEO and co-founder, LoanTap. According to Kumar, most lenders and card issuers these days ensure that there is an insurance policy for personal loans. On the death of the borrower, lenders would file a claim with their partner insurer. In some cases, the family could be willing to repay the personal loan out of love and affection for the deceased. The lender could waive charges, penalties (if any) and would even be willing to take a haircut if need be," said Adheer Dhar, a banker who has worked with Citi. Vehicle loan: When a borrower takes a loan for a car or a two-wheeler, the vehicle is mortgaged with the lender. On the death of the borrower, the lender will approach the family to settle the loan. In case the family is not in a situation to repay, the lender can take possession of the vehicle, which it will auction to recover the dues," said Kumar. According to him, in rare circumstances, if the legal heir is willing to repay the EMI, the financial institution may book a new loan in his or her name and ask the family member to take ownership of the vehicle by way of transfer. Education loan: Most lenders dont give an education loan without a guarantor. If the loan amount is higher than a specific limit, parents of students must also offer collateral. If the borrower dies, the bank will approach the guarantor (typically, parents) to repay. The financial institution can also auction the property offered as collateral if the guarantor is unable to repay the loan. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. | https://www.livemint.com/money/personal-finance/what-happens-to-loans-when-a-borrower-dies-11622647121656.html |
Can an employer require COVID-19 vaccination? | Vaccinations give us some reassurance that we're safe from the novel coronavirusbut since no vaccine is 100 percent effective, you could still catch COVID after getting your shot(s), which is known as a breakthrough infection. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that not only are these cases very rareas in, there's only about a 0.01 percent chancethey're also more likely to be asymptomatic or mild, which means the vaccines are working as intended. In recent months, medical experts have said that not only does the vaccine prevent you from developing severe COVID, but vaccinated people who are infected are less likely to transmit the virus. Unfortunately, scientists just recently made a new discovery about breakthrough infections that may debunk that notion. According to a new study out of the University of Washington (UW) Medicine, vaccinated people who get COVID may be more likely to spread the virus than previously believed. | https://www.newsbreak.com/news/2264441941847/can-an-employer-require-covid-19-vaccination |
Will Ties Ever Be Relevant Again? | IN 2018, Rutledges, a 54-year-old classic mens clothing store in Colorado Springs, Colo., sold a healthy 35 neckties a month. In 2020, that number has dipped to just 15. In an interview, the stores vice president Luke Faricy joked that when he recently compared those sales figures, he cried a little bit. Ties were once an easy-to-sell accessory for Rutledges, with locals and tourists alike snatching them up. Today, neckwear sits largely ignored on the sales floor. During the pandemic year, oh-so-casual Zoom shirts leapfrogged corporate attire. Interest in the necktiealready waning in recent decadeswas nearly extinguished. Seigo Katsuragawa, the proprietor of Seigo, a beloved, tie-focused store on Manhattans Upper East Side, said this past year was the worst in his companys 30-year history. 9/11 was bad, he said, but it was nothing like this. Although some of his favorite customers have come by to check in on the store, theyve told Mr. Katsuragawa they just dont wear ties anymore. Theyre dressed up in T-shirts and polo shirts, not ties, he said, sounding more than a bit wounded. He might find some solace in knowing that hes not the only haberdasher taking a hit. Glenn Au, who owns Juniors, a by-appointment mens clothier based in Philadelphia, sees sunnier days ahead. This spring, Juniors, a relatively small business just over a year old, has nevertheless sold through about half its ties, which come in traditional patterns like deco-ish squares and red-and-gray repp stripes. Mr. Aus customer base is working professionals like attorneys and doctors. He attributes the uptick in neckwear interest to the fantasy of going back to the office. | https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-ties-ever-be-relevant-again-11622645946 |
How is Rising Cancer Burden Catalyzing Demand for Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment Market? | The Growth of Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment market is huge. The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application and industry To remain ahead of your competitors, request for a sample https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=6074 Award-winning consulting firm Fact.MR has recently published an extensive report on the global market for hyperthermia cancer treatment for the forecast period of 2021-2031. According to the study, the market is anticipated to accrue impressive gains, expanding at a CAGR of around 6% to surpass a valuation of US$ 250 million by 2031. Rising cancer prevalence is attributed as the chief growth driver for this market. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that, globally, 1 in 5 people develop cancer during their lifetime, and 1 in 8 men and 1 in 11 women die from the disease, respectively. These new estimates suggest that more than 50 million people are living within five years of a past cancer diagnosis. Also, according to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in women and the second-most common cancer overall. Over 2 million new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed across the world in 2018. Hence, the scope for incorporating sophisticated treatments is increasing, paving way for enhanced adoption of hyperthermia cancer treatment. For critical insights on this market, request for methodology here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=6074 Furthermore, various governmental initiatives to fund extensive cancer research programs are proving to be a boon for market growth. For instance, in April 2016, the U.S. Government allotted US$ 5.2 billion to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for cancer research and training. This has enabled the U.S. healthcare system to deploy a host of advanced cancer treatment and diagnosis solutions. Key Take aways from Market Study Microwave hyperthermia cancer treatment devices to account for over 40% revenue share through 2031 By application, treatment for breast cancer to remain key revenue generator Prospects for deep tissue ional perfusion appear highly promising, expected to post significant gains By enduser, hospitals to yield over two-fifth of the global revenue share through 2031 High cancer incidence and prevalence rates to stimulate demand across the U.S. The U.K. to stimulate high demand amid growing preference for minimally invasive cancer treatment Rapid advancements in medical technology to bolster uptake across France and Germany Read More Trending Reports of Fact.MR- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/respiratory-virus-vaccines-rd-focused-on-covid-19-efforts-factmr-301230897.html Rising demand for improving clinical outcomes and inflicting minimal patient discomfort is prompting healthcare providers to deploy a broad range of advanced surgical and therapeutic options, including high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), widening the growth prospects of market players, says a Fact.MR analyst. Competitive Landscape Fact.MRs has profiled the following hyperthermia cancer treatment solution providers in its research report: PYREXAR Medical, Celsius42 GmbH, Hydrosun GmbH, Oncotherm Kft., Andromedic S.r.l., Yamamoto Vinita Co. Ltd, Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co. Ltd., innoMedicus Ltd., Gamida-Cell Ltd., and RanD. Some key expansion strategies deployed by the afore mentioned players include strengthening distribution networks and introducing new approaches to treat and diagnose potential cancers. More Insights Available Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the hyperthermia cancer treatment market, presenting historical demand data (2016-2020) and forecast statistics for the period of 2021-2031. The study divulges essential insights on the market on the basis of device (infrared devices, ultrasound devices, microwave devices, and others), treatment method (loco-regional and whole body), application (breast cancer, liver cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, head & neck tumors, prostate cancer, and others) and enduser (hospitals & specialty clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others) across five major regions of the world (North America, Europe, Latin America, AsiaPacific, and the Middle East & Africa). Fact.MRs Domain Knowledge in Healthcare Our healthcare consulting team guides organizations at each step of their business strategy by helping you understand how the latest influencers account for operational and strategic transformation in the healthcare sector. Our expertise in recognizing the challenges and trends impacting the global healthcare industry provides indispensable insights and support encasing a strategic perspective that helps you identify critical issues and devise appropriate solutions. Key findings of the Market report: Prominent manufacturers, raw material suppliers, equipment providers, traders, and distributors in the Hyperthermia Cancer Treatment market. In-depth analysis of important market segments, market potential, impacting trends, and challenges. Critical examination of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each Market player. Extensive investigation of the effects of the growth of relevant industries. Accurate data regarding the future prospects of the Market during the forecast period. Then Fact.MR has just the right thing for you insights from trusted sources and up-to-data information on various industries to empower companies and clients. With new-age market tools, our dedicated team of professionals thrive to provide clients with current market situation across different geographies. Explore Fact.MRs Comprehensive Coverage on Healthcare Landscape Prepackaged Medical Kits and Trays Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5413/prepackaged-medical-kits-and-trays-market Cables and Leads for Medical Equipment Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5418/cables-and-leads-for-medical-equipment-market Coatings for Medical Devices Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5421/coatings-for-medical-devices-market About Us: Market research and consulting agency with a difference! Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 Corporate Headquarter: Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.factmr.com | https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/02/941614 |
What are the Primary Applications that Generate Demand for Vinyl sulfone? | The Growth of Vinyl sulfone market is huge. The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application and industry To remain ahead of your competitors, request for a sample https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=6076 Over the past-half decade, dyestuff manufacturing has shown a promising growth across the regions. Rising research and development investments in dyestuff manufacturing has not only bolstered the market value but also enhanced the integration of the dye stuffs in textile industry. Growth of dye stuff industry has boosted the demand for the vinyl sulfone family which includes divinyl sulfone, phenyl vinyl sulfone, methyl vinyl sulfone and vinyl sulfone ester. Asia Pacific is considered to be the hotspot for dye stuff manufacturing and over the past half-decade, shift in policies in developed economies regarding utilization of harmful chemicals has turned the trade winds and investment storm towards the region. Thus creating a hot spot for dyestuff manufacturing but also for the vinyl sulfone market. All in all vinyl sulfone is anticipated to grow at a faster rate on the back of dyestuff manufacturing over long-run forecast period. For critical insights on this market, request for methodology here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=6076 As per a new report published by Fact.MR, the vinyl sulfone market is anticipated to surpass US$ 1.2 Bn in 2021, and is poised to expand at a CAGR of around 4% over the next ten years. Key Take aways from Study The vinyl sulfone ester type to capture a major chunk, equivalent to three-fourth of the global market share, and are set to create an absolute $ opportunity of around US$ 600 Mn over 2021-2031. Among the application,the dyestuff manufacturing sector has been the fastest-growing segment, owing to rise of the textile industry over the past decade. The market in Germany, China, and the U.S. is expected to rise at around 3% CAGR through 2031. Asia Pacific captures more than one-third of the global market share. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, demand forvinyl sulfones was hit in 2020, which saw a decline of 2% over the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Read More Trending Reports of Fact.MR- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zinc-sulphate-manufacturers-to-flourish-across-emerging-markets-china-and-india-to-maintain-lead-in-the-agrochemicals-segment-factmr-301223831.html The global vinyl sulfone market is anticipated to add 2X value by 2031, says a Fact.MR analyst. Short-term Strategy Conservative and organic method is anticipated to be followed as key strategies by the vinyl sulfone manufacturers over the short-run forecast period owing to the shrinkage in investments in the market. Lower cash flow and higher savings in the market is set to cease the market growth. But manufacturers are set to strengthen their sales channel by collaborating under two-part tariff to secure the long-run revenue. More Valuable Insights Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the global vinyl sulfone market, presenting historical demand data (2016-2020) and forecast statistics for the period of 2021-2031. The study divulges essential insights on the market on the basis of type(divinyl sulfone, methyl vinyl sulfone, phenyl vinyl sulfone and vinyl sulfone ester) and application(dyestuff manufacturing, chemical intermediates, proteomics and others[colour, paint, rubber, leather, plastic]) across five major regions (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East & Africa). About the Chemicals & Materials Division at Fact.MR Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the highly seasoned chemicals & materials team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence needs. With a repertoire of over thousand reports and 1 million-plus data points, the team has analysed the chemicals & materials industry across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. Reach out to explore how we can help. Key findings of the Market report: Prominent manufacturers, raw material suppliers, equipment providers, traders, and distributors in the Vinyl sulfone market. In-depth analysis of important market segments, market potential, impacting trends, and challenges. Critical examination of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each Market player. Extensive investigation of the effects of the growth of relevant industries. Accurate data regarding the future prospects of the Market during the forecast period. Then Fact.MR has just the right thing for you insights from trusted sources and up-to-data information on various industries to empower companies and clients. With new-age market tools, our dedicated team of professionals thrive to provide clients with current market situation across different geographies. Explore Fact.MRs Comprehensive Coverage on Chemicals and Materials Landscape Low VOC Adhesives Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5414/low-voc-adhesives-market Consumer Appliance Coatings Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5420/consumer-appliance-coatings-market Glass Bonding Adhesives Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5442/glass-bonding-adhesives-market About Us: Market research and consulting agency with a difference! Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 Corporate Headquarter: Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.factmr.com | https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/02/941619 |
How is Rising Prevalence of Cancer Driving Demand for Radiation Dermatitis Treatment? | The Growth of Radiation Dermatitis Treatment market is huge. The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application and industry To remain ahead of your competitors, request for a sample https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=6102 Fact.MRs recent report on the global radiation dermatitis treatment market forecasts a healthy growth pace, expecting a revenue share of nearly US$ 700 million by 2031, with an estimated CAGR of around 5% throughout the 2021-2031 forecast period. Increased frequency of radiation-based cancer treatment is attributed to be the chief growth driver for this market. According to the report, the market accrued significant past gains, reaching around US$ 400 million in value as of 2019. Growth is especially forecast to remain strongest across Asia Pacific, with countries such as China and India emerging at the forefront amid swift advancements in oncology. Approaches such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are grabbing major eyeballs. For critical insights on this market, request for methodology here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RM&rep_id=6102 Manufacturers are investing in a slew of innovative treatment approaches, including the introduction of film-forming gels. For instance, Switzerland-based Stratpharma has introduced its StrataXRT film-forming wound dressing gel that easily spreads across the affected site in minimal quantities. StrataXRT film-forming gel dries as a thin, flexible, and protective layer, which is gas permeable, waterproof, inert, and devoid of any measurable pH value. The formulation promotes a moist wound healing environment. Companies are taking cues from such developments to manufacture film-forming gels that provide symptomatic relief from acute inflammatory response, discomfort, and itching. Key Takeaways from Market Study By product, demand for topical hydrophilic creams expected to incline massively through 2031 Topical corticosteroid medications to witness impressive uptake over coming years By distribution channel, retail pharmacies to remain dominant, online pharmacies surging in popularity The U.S. to emerge as a potentially lucrative market amid high skin cancer prevalence and treatment rates India to emerge as a promising market for radiation dermatitis treatment in future High adoption of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to elevate Chinas growth prospects Read More Trending Reports of Fact.MR- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/respiratory-virus-vaccines-rd-focused-on-covid-19-efforts-factmr-301230897.html Multiple wound care and management practices are spurring innovations in the radiation dermatitis treatment domain, prompting key market players to introduce highly novel therapeutic approaches, widening growth prospects, says a Fact.MR analyst. Competitive Landscape Prominent radiation dermatitis treatment players include 3M Company, Molnlycke Health Care AB, Smith & Nephew Plc, Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation, Intermed S.A., ConvaTech Group Plc, and BMG PHARMA S.p.A, among others. Major expansion strategies involve new product launches, acquisitions, and collaborations. In February 2020, Integra Lifesciences launched the AminoExcel Plus Placental Allograft Membrane, an advanced wound care offering to support soft tissue repair. AmnioExcel Plus is a next generation, thicker, tri-layer, non-side specific allograft consisting of amnion-chorion-amnion layers that aids in creating an environment to help close complex wounds. In January 2020, ConvaTech Group released the ConvaMaxTM superabsorber wound dressing used for the management of highly exuding wounds, including leg ulcers, pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and dehisced surgical wounds. The product helps manage excess moisture to help protect skin integrity, available in silicone adhesive and non-adhesive forms. Key findings of the Market report: Prominent manufacturers, raw material suppliers, equipment providers, traders, and distributors in the Radiation Dermatitis Treatment market. In-depth analysis of important market segments, market potential, impacting trends, and challenges. Critical examination of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of each Market player. Extensive investigation of the effects of the growth of relevant industries. Accurate data regarding the future prospects of the Market during the forecast period. Then Fact.MR has just the right thing for you insights from trusted sources and up-to-data information on various industries to empower companies and clients. With new-age market tools, our dedicated team of professionals thrive to provide clients with current market situation across different geographies. Explore Fact.MRs Comprehensive Coverage on Healthcare Landscape Prepackaged Medical Kits and Trays Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5413/prepackaged-medical-kits-and-trays-market Cables and Leads for Medical Equipment Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5418/cables-and-leads-for-medical-equipment-market Coatings for Medical Devices Market Forecast, Trend, Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Market Insights 2020 to 2030: https://www.factmr.com/report/5421/coatings-for-medical-devices-market About Us: Market research and consulting agency with a difference! Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 Corporate Headquarter: Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates Email: [email protected] Visit Our Website: https://www.factmr.com | https://express-press-release.net/news/2021/06/02/941638 |
How are college faculties upskilling in the face of COVID-19? | 64% find practice-oriented online trainings a fruitful solution for learning a new skill Internshala Trainings, the e-learning arm of Internshala, recently conducted a survey with college faculties to understand their perspective on upskilling through online trainings, since the lockdown was announced in 2020. The key highlights of the survey result suggest that 64% of the respondents feel practice-oriented online trainings is the best solution for learning a new skill for college faculties. Only 35% of the respondents said that employed people should choose a blend of physical classes and e-learning for upskilling. Advertisement Popular trainings and respondents' characteristics As per the survey, programming and data science trainings were the most popular skills that faculties learned, with 22% and 16% share respectively. Core engineering, management, and career development trainings were the next popular choice of the respondents with 13%, 12%, and 11% enrolments in each. Professors, lecturers, HoDs, and training and placement officers from Bengaluru and Hyderabad majorly enrolled in these online skill-based trainings. 53% of all the faculties specialised in teaching engineering, 17% teach science and technology, and 11% and 10% were management and commerce specialists. Learning objective of the faculties Talking about their online learning goals and outcome expectations, 40% of all the faculties shared that they enrolled in an online course to learn a new skill during their free time. 24% of them enrolled with the objective of polishing or upgrading their teaching skills in general. 14% of the faculties wanted a career advancement in their current field of teaching, and 10% of the teachers registered for a training course to be able to learn and teach a new subject. Impact of assessment techniques on learning outcomes When asked about the contribution of assignments and projects in online trainings, 60% of the faculties believed that they enhance memory and help retain information for a longer time. 28% of the respondents felt that assignments and projects make learning fun and engaging, and 5% felt that they add weight to their portfolio or resume. 64% of the faculties also suggested that the inclusion of more live interactive sessions with instructors and the addition of more gamification elements could make online learning a much interesting experience. Faculty sentiments on online learning challenges Expressing their opinion about the difficulty level of learning different skills online, 47% of the faculties feel that technical skills are the most difficult ones. 28% of the total respondents found analytical and critical thinking skills, a bit difficult to grasp online. Owing to the multiple personal and professional responsibilities faculties handle, 73% of the respondents faced time management issues while learning a new skill online. And 15% of the respondents said that procrastination and lack of self-motivation decelerate their learning capacity. Referring to the survey, Sarvesh Agrawal, the founder and CEO of Internshala Trainings said, "Although, initially our efforts were largely inclined towards providing skill-based education to Indian youth, we have been lately innovating our beginner level trainings and specialisations to suit the requirement of working professionals too. Faculties have always been our prime focus, to extend our training services, as learning and teaching goes hand-in-hand for them. Owing to this, we also launched the 'Faculty development program (FDP)' - an initiative wherein faculty members across India got free access to our certified online trainings, during lockdown." "This survey gave us a broad idea on how online trainings has been fruitful for Indian faculties. We hope that based on the faculties' feedback, we would be able to make the curriculum more industry-relevant, improve our product, and bring similar initiatives like FDP to help them continue skilling up." he added. PWR PWR (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) | https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/education/1597370-how-are-college-faculties-upskilling-in-the-face-of-covid-19 |
What Happens When A Feminist Fave Like Chrissy Teigen Messes Up? | Stacy Lee Kong: After Courtney Stodden reminded the internet that Chrissy Teigen was a terrible Twitter troll back in the day, I kept looking for feminist-leaning publications to weigh in. And Im still waiting, tbh. Content warning: This newsletter contains references to suicide. After Courtney Stodden revealed that Chrissy Teigen had relentlessly bullied them on Twitter starting when they were just 16, Teigen lost deals with Bloomingdales and Macys, was mocked by Pete Davidson on SNL and totally abandoned the social media platforms that helped her go from B-list celebrity to media mogul and feminist favourite. And Im barely seeing anyone talk about it. Dont get me wrong, Ive definitely seen your basic heres-what-happened news hits, most recently after Davidsons snarky aside during his Pete on Update segment and those cancelled deals. But for the most part, few, if any, womens mags and feminist publications have offered up the analysis I was expecting. Im not actually that surprisedbut I do think its worth thinking a bit more deeply about why thats the case. What Chrissy Teigen said to Courtney Stodden was actually horrifying A quick refresher: on May 10, the Daily Beast published a profile of Stodden, who first entered the public eye a decade ago when they married then 51-year-old Doug Hutchison, an acting coach who, until that point, was best known for his role in The Green Mile. Just 16 at the time of their wedding, Stoddens parents had to give permission for the union, which youd think would be a pretty clear sign that something was amiss. But, not only did the world seem unable to recognize that Stodden was being groomed and abused, somehow, Stodden also faced the brunt of the public criticism over the match. And among the worst was Teigen, who wouldnt just publicly tweet about wanting me to take a dirt nap but would privately DM me and tell me to kill myself. Things like, I cant wait for you to die, they told the magazine. Worse, they say Teigen continued to DM them up til a couple years ago. This wasnt the first time Stodden has spoken out about Teigens past behaviourtheyd previously posted about it when she left Twitter in March over the apps negativity. But this time, the story took off in a way it hadnt before. asking for a friend who really wants to know how to look like an idiot. And of course, the aforementioned dirt nap tweet: My friday fantasy: you. dirt nap. mmmmmm baby. Candace Owens launched a (bad-faith) campaign against Teigen, including starting a hashtag (#survivingchrissyteigen) and publishing an op-ed calling for accountability from the star, in which she misgenders Stodden throughout. Teigens Twitter statement was barely an apology And while the story didnt drive the same number of social media posts as previous Teigen stories, enough people were talking about it that she eventually responded with an apology that gets worse every time I read it. Not a lot of people are lucky enough to be held accountable for all their past bullshit in front of the entire world. Im mortified and sad at who I used to be. I was an insecure, attention seeking troll. I am ashamed and completely embarrassed at my behavior but that chrissy teigen (@chrissyteigen) May 12, 2021 It initially started by saying shes mortified and sad at who [she] used to be and characterizing that past self as an insecure, attention seeking troll, then quickly turned self-aggrandizing. I have worked so hard to give you guys joy and be beloved and the feeling of letting you down is nearly unbearable, truly, she wrote. These were not my only mistakes and surely wont be my last as hard as I try but god I will try! ! View this post on Instagram A post shared by Courtney Stodden (@courtneyastodden) But the worst part, the part that shows this statement was more about salvaging Teigens image than actually making amends, was her claim that shed tried to connect with Stodden privately but was also posting publicly for accountability, which Stodden quickly debunked. I accept her apology and forgive her. But the truth remains the same, I have never heard from her or her camp in private. In fact, she blocked me on Twitter, they wrote on Instagram. All of me wants to believe this is a sincere apology, but it feels like a public attempt to save her partnerships with Target and other brands who are realizing her wokeness is a broken record. I know this all went down weeks ago, but Ive been thinking about it ever since, as it touches on so many bigger issuesand I kind of cant believe that my go-to feminist publications arent thinking about it too. I know its very fashionable to look back on the way we as a society spoke about and treated young women (or people we perceived to be young women) in the early oughts with horror and disbelief, but Im not sure that applies here. I mean, it was never actually acceptable for an adult to tell a child to kill themselves. And yet, thats exactly what Teigen did in the online equivalent of shouting it from the rooftops. Worse, as one of Friday Things Instagram followers pointed out in a DM conversation when this story first broke, whether it was intentional, Chrissy used stories like Courtneys to gain fame and wealth. In 2011, when Teigen was sending these vile messages, she was 26 and at the beginning of her career. Shed been named rookie of the year in the 2010 edition of Sports Illustrateds swimsuit issue and subsequently appeared on some competition shows, including a brief stint on Deal or No Deal alongside Meghan Markle. But the cookbooks, product lines and higher-profile TV gigs, like co-hosting Lip Sync Battle and her own short-lived Quibi show, were years in the future. Im not trying to downplay the role her talent played in growing her career, but her massive social media following, garnered through exactly these types of mean-spirited tweets, was a huge part of determining her bankability. We made Teigen as much as Teigen made herself. Weve seen several people belatedly face consequences for their past tweets recently, including Alexi McCammond, the would-be EIC of Teen Vogue who stepped down before she even officially started when old tweets containing anti-Asian sentiments resurfaced earlier this year. And well likely see many more, especially as the gulf widens between what people used to get away with saying and whats acceptable now. Because even though public opinion is shifting, rich and powerful people dont stop being rich and powerful over a little social media censure; eventually, Teigen will re-enter the public eye and maybe even rejoin Twitter, and Im not sure what that will feel like. I think this speaks to a bigger question of how we approach wrongdoing, though. What Teigen did was horrifying and I dont know that an apology and some time out of the spotlight feels like enough punishment. At the same time, I believe in growth and redemption, and Im trying to actively shift my mindset away from punitive responses to wrongdoing. I just dont know what that would look like here. A better apology, maybe. The same Friday Things commenter who pointed out that Teigen used Twitter to build her brand also suggested redistribution of wealth (I.e., a big-ass donation to a relevant charity) as a meaningful gesture. Late last year when news broke that Ken Jennings would be guest-hosting Jeopardy! following Alex Trebeks death, some of his own problematic tweets resurfaced, including ones making ableist jokes. He had apologized in 2018, and did so again in December, and that was it. In 2016, Blake Shelton apologized for his old tweets, which were sexist and homophobic. Hes also doing just fine. And its not just celebrities; recently, the CEO of Washingtonian, a monthly city magazine, had to apologize for an op-ed that threatened to penalize employees who wanted to continue working from home. Shes still the CEO of Washingtonian. By this point, public figures saying theyre sorry is more PR strategy than actual admission of wrongdoing. (I mean, theres an entire Twitter account devoted to parsing these apologies.) I obviously dont think Teigen (or McCammond for that matter) should be able to dodge consequences for the harmful things theyve said in the past. But I do think its worth considering why white people, especially white men, dont receive the same level or scale of punishment that racialized women do. All of which is to say, theres a lot to think about here. I think its hard to criticize someone youve held up as a role model and a feminist icon. Maybe they feel complicit. Theres also a very cynical part of me that wonders if theyre trying not to jeopardize future access to her. I get all thatIve written about Teigen several times before, and Ive always been sympathetic. But if media is going to make social justice part of its business model, it cant pick and choose who it applies that lens to. When Teigen left Twitter in March, Jezebel posted a take on whether she needed the platform, or the platform needed her. Because if we neglect to cover it when our feminist faves f**k up, were doing everyone a disservice. This op-ed was adapted from Stacy Lee Kongs weekly pop culture newsletter, Friday Things. If youd like to read more, sign up here. | https://www.chatelaine.com/opinion/chrissy-teigen-messes-up/ |
Is It Proper? Is it proper to publicly announce donors names and contribution amounts in shul? | Advertisement When we were in the midbar, the Jewish nation was on an incredibly high spiritual level. And so when Hashem asked for nedavos, contributions, for the mishkan, everyone came forward willingly without any fanfare, without any tensions just wanting to be a participant in the great opportunity of helping to bring the Shechinah closer. The simply reality is that we are not living in those times. We are extremely outward focused. While it may be distasteful, and while it may not engender the greatest feeling, its very important that people get recognition, and their name goes up [on plaques], and they receive acknowledgement for donations that they make. As one who is personally involved in running a Torah organization, many times people would say things like, I wish I could give; I just dont have money, and they would make a small contribution. Yet I know they go out and spend $100 or $200 to eat out without blinking an eye. The simply reality is that we are on a level where acknowledgement and recognition are appropriate. It certainly encourages people to give. And while it may not seem like the most pure approach, it is nonetheless proper. And institutions need to continue doing it. Rabbi Ben Zion Shafier, founder of The Shmuz * * * * * Many synagogues find it essential to conduct public appeals in order to raise funds. Calling names of donors is a way of increasing contributions. It encourages people to participate as generously as possible, and discourages people from avoiding to make their donations. Their reputations are at stake! Absolutely not. These appeals degrade the sanctity of the synagogue, often causing frustration and embarrassment. While halachic justification for this practice can be found, it is still unseemly and unpleasant. But the problem isnt primarily with the fundraisers; the problem is with the community at large. If everyone met their financial responsibilities generously, there would be no need for public appeals. But unfortunately it is the rare synagogue that can maintain itself without public appeals that name the donors and the amount of donations. Some synagogues have sought other ways of raising funds e.g. scrolls of honor, online campaigns, appeals without actually mentioning donors names, etc. Let each of us contribute as generously as we can. If we all do our share financially, we will be contributing to the holiness of our sanctuaries. And if we dont meet our financial obligations on our own, get ready for the next appeal in shul! As far as the donor is concerned, giving tzedakah anonymously is a great merit. However, if gaining recognition will induce one to give more generously, then we can invoke mitoch shelo lishma ba lishma better to do a mitzvah with ulterior motives than not to do it at all, since doing it will eventually lead one to doing it altruistically. If the reason one publicizes his donation is to encourage others to give or in order to make the donation in honor or memory of someone, then that is praiseworthy. Additionally, putting ones name on an object that one donates to a shul or yeshiva or other charitable institution is sanctioned by Chazal. In this way one accrues ongoing merit to that individual or merit to the honor or memory of the one it was donated for. And for the sake of the institution, it is definitely a plus to publicize donors so as to encourage others to follow suit. For the public in general, publicizing donations will incentivize others to likewise donate, as jealousy for good causes is not a negative feeling. Additionally, one should respect and honor people who do mitzvos and donate to tzedakah, and knowing who they are enables one to relate to them properly. Rabbi Zev Leff, rav of Moshav Matisyahu, popular lecturer and educator * * * * * The distinction between the UK, where I currently reside, and the North American model, is that here people offer blind pledges, whereas there it is like a bidding war. To be sure, there is a basic principle of mimeni tiru vichain yaasu (Shoftim 7:17), which implies that sometimes it is necessary to set a public example so that others will follow. I remember my father, zl, in Toronto one year making an appeal from the pulpit for much needed funds for the shul. It was the only time he ever made an appeal and in doing so he announced a rather large sum he was donating along with my mother. That set the bar, as it would have been inappropriate for anyone to give less than the rabbi. In the UK appeals are made and people will/might send in their donations thereafter. Ive heard many a fundraiser here bemoan the prim and proper British approach rather than the far more effective tactic across the pond. Ultimately, if people like to keep up with the Cohens when it comes to simchos, houses, cars and what not, why not also when it comes to giving tzedakah. Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet, popular Lubavitch lecturer, rabbi of Londons Mill Hill Synagogue | https://www.jewishpress.com/judaism/halacha-hashkafa/is-it-proper-is-it-proper-to-publicly-announce-donors-names-and-contribution-amounts-in-shul/2021/06/02/ |
Is Family Karma Scripted or Real? Is Family Karma Legit or Fake? | Bravo has an eye for what makes excellent reality television, and Family Karma is an interesting addition to its list of offerings. The reality series follows a group of Indian Americans who have been friends for a long time. Their friendship runs deep as their families moved to Miami, Florida, in the 70s and 80s and have been a tight-knit unit since then. Several aspects of the show bring up questions of whether the series is genuine or not. While TV shows and films in the West have started to represent the Indian community more actively in some way or the other, they still paint an incomplete picture. Therefore, it is understandable if it gets a person wondering how authentic this Bravo reality series is. Here is everything weve gathered to put your mind at ease! The one thing that stands out about the series is the relationships among the cast members, be it with their parents or friends. One can tell how much these relationships mean to them because they arent just close to each other but also have strong bonds with the important people in each of their lives. In an interview, Anisha Ramakrishna shared that the families on the show have known each other for more than 25 years. Since Bravo was looking for a group of friends and their family that genuinely hung out together, this set of people fit the bill perfectly. The intergenerational relationship is a fascinating aspect of the series that Shaan Patel also brought up in an interview in April 2020. He was surprised that people belonging to other minority communities could strongly associate with the experiences of the cast members. A friend of his who grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch community said he could relate to the show since parents in his community were also very involved in their childrens lives. Just as in the series, he has seen friendships trickle down to the next generation because parents and their kids spent time together. Anisha claimed that the show documents their regular lives as they actually live with their parents. Another thing that hits close to home for many people is the constant push and pull between the modern and the traditional. While the young adults in the series lean towards the American way of life, their parents try to ensure that they remain rooted in their culture. As far as culture and tradition are concerned, marriage often becomes a bone of contention between the two generations. So, what we see on the show is not too far removed from the experiences of many individuals in the Indian American and modern Indian communities. In the conversation with NBC Miami, Anisha and Shaan said that many of the dramatic day-to-day struggles they face find their way into the show. They also admitted that even though they might not always be at ease sharing everything onscreen, what the viewers see is raw and honest. People can immediately spot when something is fake, and the entertaining and heartwarming equation with ones family is difficult to fabricate indeed. Taking all of these points into consideration, it is clear that Family Karma offers an authentic glimpse into the lives of the cast members. The experience of doing the show together has got the seven of them even closer in real life, as revealed by Shaan in his April 2020 interview. | https://thecinemaholic.com/is-family-karma-scripted/ |
Why is iOS 14 so bad? | I've been watching iOS releases closely since, well, since the operating system was called iPhone OS, and iOS 14 looks like it's the worst release to date. First, let's wind back a bit. iOS 14 was released back in September 2020, a release that followed months of developer and public beta testing. Right out of the gate, iOS 14 had its fair share of bugs. There were performance issues, battery problems, user interface lags, keyboard stutters, crashes, glitches with apps, and a bunch of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity troubles. iPadOS was also affected, seeing similar issues and more, including weird charging problems. Over the past few months, we've seen a whole raft of releases -- 11 for those keeping score -- and every release has brought with it both fixes and new bugs. At the top of that list are the ever-present battery drain bugs. Early releases had battery drain bugs, and the latest iOS 14.6 release has battery drain bugs. There's always a short-term increase in power consumption following an update as a result of the iPhone carrying out essential tasks (and I have no doubt some people are misidentifying these short periods as bugs). Still, there's little doubt that increased battery consumption has been an on-going problem for iOS 14. Then there are the performance issues. iOS 14.5.1 contained a bug that particularly affected the iPhone 11 line, throttling performance so bad that they were outperformed by the now aging iPhone XR. This one was fixed with the release of iOS 14.6. Then there's that notifications bug. A bug that's been around since iOS 14 first began hitting iPhones, and a bug so frustrating and hard to fix that it's making people switch to Android. That bug remains unfixed. This is the most persistent iOS bug I've seen. Over the months, I've had a chance to speak to several people at Apple, and it's not clear what the issue is. Some cite the aggressive yearly update cycle combined with updates throughout the year. Others say that there's a continuous push to add more features, while one said that the size of the ecosystem and the support for too many older models is, at least, part of what's causing problems. I'd say that there are three things at play here. First, Apple is pushing iOS out at an aggressive pace. There's a yearly update cycle that not only has to support a growing base of devices, but also support the latest iPhone release. Within that yearly cycle, there are smaller cycles where Apple is fixing bugs, patching security vulnerabilities, and adding new feature down the line. That's a lot to manage. And in that sort of environment, expect non-security bugs to be triaged, and the biggest, most widespread getting the most attention. Then there's the issue of the size of the ecosystem. With more than a billion active iPhones, Apple is supporting an enormous ecosystem. And it's also an aging ecosystem, given that iOS 14 will run on the iPhone 6s, a line first released September 2015. It's likely that many of these older devices will have worn out batteries and possibly have accumulated damage and other wear and tear, issues that could be mistaken for bugs. But since newer iPhones are also suffering from bugs and problems, we can't just blame older hardware. Over a billion devices in active service means that there's a good billion pairs of eyes on iOS, and countless different apps, accessories, home networks, and cellular networks at play. The more people that use something, the more bugs that are going to be shaken out. Add on top of that the fact that people have a high expectation when it comes to how they want their smartphone to perform, doubly so when it comes to a flagship line like the iPhone, and people are going to jump on bugs. It still perplexes me how something like the notifications bug can continue. The thread on Apple's own support forum is huge, people are calling tech support and getting nowhere, and iPhone owners are resorting to buying Android handsets to fix the problem. There's clearly a bug here, and sure, it's hard to get a clear idea of how many people are affected, but the lack of a fix is very disturbing. With WWDC just around the corner, all eyes will now shift to OS 15, and the cycle will begin all over again. | https://www.zdnet.com/article/why-is-ios-14-so-bad/ |
Will NFTs Save Healthcare? | NFTs are not only reserved for artwork. Representational Image Pixabay 2020 saw the rise of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Unlike other cryptocurrencies, which are used as a form of money or digital asset, NFTs are intended to be the equivalent of a certificate of authenticity. They act to give permission to own a portion of a digital representation of a tangible asset. Everything from works of digital art, music, to bits of video was exchanged with NFTs. NFT sales have reached an estimated 3 billion in the first part of 2021 alone. While it is straightforward to see the advantages of NFTs in the entertainment industry, the same framework can be applied in the world of healthcare. Your health data, pharmaceutical drugs and elements of the human composition such as blood can be represented by NFTs. In fact, blood donation organizations already encourage the use of NFTs for blood donations. Blood donors are marked with a specific token that can then be followed through the system. The donation can then be followed from transport to the hospital, into a blood bank, and into its eventual recipient. Blood can then be registered by its NFT into a digital blood bank where the need for particular blood types can be tracked by a blockchain system and delivered to where it is most needed. On the other hand, the use case for manufacture of pharmaceuticals using NFTs could mark a particular batch of drugs, making it both easier to track and mark it off as authentic. Any issues in the process could be identified by those who track it through the system, allowing problems to be fixed much more quickly. If a drug was recalled from the market, it could be marked on the NFT and brought to the attention of anyone who was able to track it. Prescription orders could also be connected to an NFT, easily tying them back to whoever wrote them and preventing forged prescriptions. One of the most promising uses of NFTs in healthcare is in the representation of health data. Today, patients are aware their data exists, but usually have no access to it or control over where it goes. Recently, Alphabet Inc.s Google and national hospital chain HCA Healthcare Inc. HCA struck a deal to develop healthcare algorithms using patient records, the latest foray by a tech giant into the $3 trillion healthcare sector. The data is spun off from patients in real-time, whereas, the use of NFTs would enable these patients to track how their data is being used. An NFT would not only mark off the data as belonging to that particular person as a form of identification but also guaranteed ownership, which will enable the patient to be able to access it and track where it goes, even being able to provide the owner of the data with residual income. This can also be applied to other research initiatives that intend to use patient generated data. According to Karly Rowe, Vice President Patient Access, Identity, and Care Management Product at Experian Health, patients that are aware of their data and understand how it's being managed can help ensure accuracy and therefore their own quality of care and security. They should also understand and trust how a healthcare organization is managing its data. Despite these risks, many healthcare organizations still dont have a comprehensive patient identity management strategy in place. Identity truly is the backbone of healthcare's digital transformation and identity management demands enterprise-level thought, strategy and solutions. Inaccurate or incomplete patient information poses serious, even fatal, risks to patients, while patient identity management can have multiple impacts across an organization - both financial and reputational. For instance, Experian Health created the first Universal Patient Identifier (UPI) approved by The National Council of Prescription Drug Program (NCPDP) to meet new pharmacy billing and electronic prescribing standards that go into effect in January 2022. With all of these advantages, its safe to conclude NFTs are not only reserved for artwork or slam dunks from your favorite NBA player. Earning for the use of your data may be sooner than later, although it is evident that is long overdue for patients to control their data. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissamcfarlane/2021/06/02/will-nfts-save-healthcare/ |
Is There A Title IX Issue With Notre Dames Football Recruiting Billboards? | Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images Getty Images The digital billboards Notre Dame recently unveiled featuring its football players might seem like a recruiting story at first glance, but experts agree its also a Title IX story, particularly as we move into the NIL era. Kaitlyn Collyer, an associate at Church Church Hittle & Antrim who represents institutions, coaches and student-athletes in NCAA matters, points out that Title IX requires schools to provide equal treatment in certain program benefits, including publicity and promotions and recruiting. She says if the Office of Civil Rights was evaluating whether a school equally publicized or promoted its mens and womens teams, one area they might review is the quality, quantity and availability of promotional devices, like billboards. Using Notre Dame as an example, if football is the only sport with billboards, then OCR could say there is a disparity in favor of mens sports, said Collyer. In terms of recruiting, OCR reviews, among other areas, the opportunity to recruit and financial resources available for recruiting. Notre Dames billboards target recruits in their current players hometowns. Theyre pitching to prospective student-athletes that Notre Dame can help build your brand and online presence, should you choose to come to South Bend. Collyer says if this type of recruiting resource is not available to womens programs, OCR could conclude there is a disparity in favor of the mens program. However, she says thats not the end of the review. Its important to note, OCR does not look at these program benefits in a vacuum and equal treatment does not mean identical treatment. If, for example, some womens programs had access to more chartered flights for travel and each female student-athlete got her own hotel room when the men had to share, OCR could conclude that these benefits offset each other. Jeff Schemmel, president of College Sports Solutions, says the billboards may be justified because of the potential for revenue production in football versus some other sports. These decisions are made not only to highlight the lives and accomplishments of student-athletes, but also made with a clear eye toward ticket sales and related revenue production. The distinction is made that this use is part of an overall plan to generate revenue in sports with the greatest potential to produce revenue for all sports. Dr. Lindsay Darvin, a former NCAA student athlete and now an assistant professor and gender equity researcher within the Sport Management Department at the State University of New York College at Cortland, still thinks promotion like this is problematic. The men athletes are receiving free marketing to improve their opportunities to earn money off of their own NIL and the women athletes would need to receive similar promotional efforts. Last year, I asked experts about a similar billboard campaign by Illinois. Julie Roe Lach, a partner at Church Church Hittle + Antrim, said in that instance that shed look to factors such as whether mens teams were primarily promoted through paid advertisements while womens teams were being promoted primarily through free options such as social media. As we enter this new era where student athletes are able to profit off their name, image and likeness, there may be additional scrutiny given to marketing and promotion by the athletic department because of its ability to positively impact a student athletes individual marketability. With the potential to create Title IX disparities, it may be more important than ever for athletic departments to closely track its marketing and promotion efforts for each sport. Conducting proactive internal or external reviews for Title IX compliance, whether broad or specific to certain areas, is an important part of any healthy athletic department. A tracking system would certainly help ensure schools are appropriately balancing the program benefits theyre providing to their student-athletes, said Collyer. Departments should absolutely be tracking how their promoting their men and women student athletes as well as the overall quality of those promotional efforts, which likely translates to the money being spent on those materials, said Darvin. I would imagine these numbers will become highly important when the inevitable happens: women athletes recognize that they are less recognizable than their men athletes counterparts based on free promotion from their institution that historically and consistently favors the men. Schemmel acknowledges theres a bit of a balancing act happening within athletic departments when it comes to marketing and Title IX. As always, the dilemma in this day and age for most Division I schools is that their institutions are demanding that they become more entrepreneurial and less dependent upon university funding. This requires investment in those things that can provide a positive financial return on those investments. With name, image and likeness legislation set to go into effect in at least five states on July 1, 2021, and the potential for NCAA legislation by then as well, this is just one example of how Title IX analysis might change as we move in to this new era of NIL rights. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kristidosh/2021/06/02/is-there-a-title-ix-issue-with-notre-dames-football-recruiting-billboards/ |
Could second-year linebacker Khaleke Hudson be a factor in 2021 for Washington? | The second and final week of the Washington Football Teams voluntary OTAs kicked off on Tuesday, and one play immediately stood out. Second-year linebacker Khaleke Hudson was in coverage on a Washington receiver down the left sideline when he turns around with his right hand and picks up an impressive one-handed interception. The play got Washingtons entire defense fired up. The Football Team entered the offseason in desperate need of help at linebacker. The selection of first-round pick Jamin Davis should resolve part of the issue, but Washington still has at least one other need at linebacker. Third-year pro Cole Holcomb will figure into the mix outside. Holcomb impressed the coaching staff last season and figures to start at one of the outside spots. Youve had defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio mention how Davis will likely play outside as a rookie, but many believe the rookie will thrive inside as a rookie. Washington likes veteran Jon Bostic inside. But, the coaching staff understands he was a part of the problem last year. Bostic is a smart, tough player who lacks the athleticism to run sideline to sideline and cover tight ends. If Davis can handle the middle as a rookie, that could open up a place for a player like Hudson. Hudson, a fifth-round pick in 2020, played in all 16 games as a rookie, making two starts. While Hudsons primary focus was on special teams, he proved he could help at linebacker. Now, with a year in this defensive system, Hudson could surprise in 2021. In one of his two starts, the 6-foot-0, 220-pound Hudson had eight tackles for the WFT in a December loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Washington needs linebackers. It should be a fun battle to watch in training camp to see which players step up and where Davis will play as a rookie. One thing is certain, dont count out Hudson. | https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/2021/06/02/could-second-year-linebacker-khaleke-hudson-be-a-factor-in-2021-for-washington-football-team-jamin-davis-cole-holcomb/ |
How Will Amazon Reimagine MGMs Film Studio? | Even before the Amazon deal, MGM had new projects in development for the Creed, Legally Blonde, Tomb Raider, RoboCop and Pink Panther franchises, in addition to the James Bond entry No Time to Die. Shortly after Amazons May 26 announcement that it was buying MGM in a deal valued at $8.45 billion, Amazon Studios chief Jennifer Salke and her boss Mike Hopkins held a town hall with employees from the Hollywood studio. They expressed how good this will be for Prime customers and growing their entertainment portfolio, says one person who attended the virtual session. And they intend to do theatrical. How this plays out relative to which titles is unclear. Afterward, MGM Motion Pictures chairman Michael De Luca and his top lieutenant, Pam Abdy, made calls to producers informing them that it was business as usual, per several sources. That is, until a regulatory review is finished and the deal closes sometime next year, possibly in the first quarter. Until then, the film team management structure at both shops will be the biggest guessing game in Hollywood. Ditto for MGMs future as a stand-alone entity. Amazon is still trying to figure out what they are buying. It will be a process, a source says. While Amazon has let other acquisitions, such as Whole Foods, remain as stand-alone units, theres an argument to be made to streamline the studio business as Disney did when it acquired 21st Century Fox assets versus keeping Amazon Studios and MGM separate. Hopkins, who is senior vp Prime Video and Amazon Studios, hinted at plans in the May 26 announcement by calling out the treasure trove of IP that we plan to reimagine and develop. That library includes 4,000 movie titles James Bond and Rocky, among them and 17,000 TV shows. All the above. And maybe even as series. Salke, who reports to Hopkins, is widely praised for her TV prowess, but Amazon Studios film efforts have been topsy-turvy. Since Salke arrived three years ago, the focus has shifted toward buying more commercially minded titles and tentpoles such as Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Tom Clancys Without Remorse and the upcoming Chris Pratt sci-fi film The Tomorrow War. Some observers see De Luca working complementary to Salke, while others see him signaling that he would like to run all of the film unit. Still others say that De Luca has a history of chafing with oversight from above, and that could send him to the exit. MGM declined to comment. De Luca, who knew MGM was being shopped when he arrived two years ago, has been on a spending spree, stocking the companys pantry with A-list projects like Ridley Scotts House of Gucci, with Lady Gaga and Adam Driver. And the company spent well into the $70 million range to acquire Adrift, with Darren Aronofsky, Jared Leto and Jason Blum, a deal that surprised even well-pursed Netflix execs who lost the package. MGM also paid $55 million to pick up Combat Control, a drama with Jake Gyllenhaal and director Sam Hargrave, and also nabbed Paul Thomas Andersons latest as well as Ron Howards Thai cave rescue drama. Everybody knew he spent like crazy. He was beating streamers. This was a unique moment at MGM, says one rival studio executive. Adds another rival, Hes done a good job and made MGM competitive. The ability to build a varied slate would well serve a content-hungry, deep-pocketed streamer like Amazon Prime. James Bond, co-owned by MGM and Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilsons London-based Eon production house, no doubt is MGMs most valuable franchise, albeit a complicated one. MGM has full distribution rights, but Eon has full control over what gets made. The 25th Bond film, No Time to Die, which is set to open in the fall, isnt impacted because Amazon wont own MGM by then. The morning of the Amazon-MGM announcement, EON issued a statement saying Bond films would remain theatrical in an attempt to douse rumors that 007 would become the sole property of Amazon Prime: We are committed to continuing to make James Bond films for the worldwide theatrical audience. MGM has made it clear there will be no changes to the studios 2021 theatrical slate, which is handled by subsidiary United Artists Releasing. That includes the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson (Aug. 13); The Addams Family 2 (Oct. 1); No Time to Die (Oct. 8); House of Gucci (Nov. 24); Joe Wrights Cyrano (Dec. 24); and an untitled Paul Thomas Anderson feature that expands nationwide Dec. 26. Also, sources tell THR that Amazon has OKd giving some of MGMs 2022 titles a proper theatrical release versus an immediate berth on Prime. (Creed III comes out in November 2022.) Day-to-day work is expected to stay the course for now. Fox didnt stop working on movies when Disney said it was buying them, notes one producer. The same will go for MGM. Alex Ritman contributed reporting. This story appeared in the May 26 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. | https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/amazon-mgms-film-franchises-1234961542/ |
Will Kiefer be the key for midtable Shiga Lakestars? | IF he clears all legal obstacles, Kiefer Ravena is moving from the NLEX Road Warriors of the PBA to the Shiga Lakestars of the Japanese B.League. In his three years in the league, Ravena only made it as far as the semifinals just once with NLEX in his first conference in the 2018 Philippine Cup where the Road Warriors took down Alaska in the quarters before falling to Magnolia in six games. Since then, the Road Warriors have never come close to a semis berth, even going 5-6 for ninth place, inside the Clark bubble in the 2020 Philippine Cup. MORE FROM SPIN MORE FROM SPIN Shiga, though, is considered one of the middle-rung teams in the top flight of Japan's professional league. In the five-year existence of the B.League, the team has never made it through the playoffs. The Lakestars' best showing was in the 2019-20 season where they had a 21-20 record, but the regular season was halted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading below This past season, Shiga finished at 13th place with a 23-36 record behind American reinforcements Jonathan Octeus, Aussie banger Angus Brandt, and Jordan Hamilton, a former NBA first-round pick who played for the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, and New Orleans Pelicans in a journeyman career. Continue reading below Recommended Videos PHOTO: Edward Solo Continue reading below However, Hamilton, the team's top scorer with 20.9 points per contest, won't be with the Lakestars next season after signing with B2 squad Kumamoto Volters. Still, Shiga has a promising squad waiting for Ravena. Kevin Hareyama is a 6-foot-3 forward who averaged 8.3 points and 2.9 rebounds last year, while in the backcourt is 5-foot-10 court general Masaya Karimata who posted 8.0 points on 33-percent shooting from deep, to go with 3.0 assists and 2.1 boards in the Lakestars' past campaign. MORE FROM SPIN MORE FROM SPIN Shiga coach Shawn Dennis also shares a curious history with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director Tab Baldwin, with the two working for Basketball New Zealand in the early 2000s. While Baldwin was leading the Tall Blacks from 2001 to 2006, the Australian Dennis was an assistant coach for the Tall Ferns from 2005 to 2006. We are now on Quento! Download the app to enjoy more articles and videos from SPIN.ph and other Summit Media websites. | https://www.spin.ph/basketball/what-awaits-kiefer-ravena-at-shiga-lakestars-in-japan-league-a2437-20210602 |
What's Up With Bed Bath & Beyond Today? | Bed Bath & Beyond Inc (NASDAQ: BBBY) is trading higher Wednesday after the company announced the launch of three new brands. What Happened: The company announced that it will launch its Our Table, Wild Sage and Squared Away brands over the next two months. Our Table will feature a new line of modern kitchen and dining wares. Wild Sage is a youthful, eclectic collection of stylish and free-spirited pieces for the home. Squared Away will be a new line of storage, organization, and cleaning solutions for the home. "I am pleased that we are ahead of schedule in delivering our Owned Brands plan, launching product assortments strategically sequenced to cover our core destination categories of bed, bath, kitchen & dining, indoor decor and storage & organization," said Mark Tritton, president and CEO of Bed Bath & Beyond. See Also: Understanding Bed Bath & Beyond's Unusual Options Activity CEO on CNBC: Tritton told CNBC that Bed Bath & Beyond is eliminating some of its older product lines and refreshing stores with new products. The company is focused on capitalizing on the "back to college" student shoppers this year, Tritton said, adding that Bed Bath & Beyond will be offering new brands with attractive price points for college students. Tritton expects to see the company's bottom line benefit in the third and fourth quarters, he said. Price Action: Bed Bath & Beyond has traded as high as $53.90 and as low as $7.19 over a 52-week period. At last check Friday, the stock was up 42.60% at $39.13. Photo by Mike Mozart from Flickr. | https://www.benzinga.com/news/21/06/21392467/whats-up-with-bed-bath-beyond-today |
Can Ethereum overtake Bitcoin in a few years? | Ethereum vs Bitcoin debate in the crypto world is not new. But there is a simple answer to this. While Bitcoin is the replacement of gold, Ethereum can be the replacement of fiat. Bitcoin is treated as a store of value and Ethereum can be treated as a medium of transaction. I am asking this because the growth rate of ETH is much higher than Bitcoin in the last year. The market cap of Bitcoin and Ethereum are still miles apart but this gap has consistently narrowed down. Before the crash, while Bitcoin was near $1 trillion, Ethereum was around $500 billion. And at present, Bitcoin has a market cap of $684 billion while ETH is at $304 billion. So, we could say that Eth is currently at half of that of Bitcoin. This means in order to cross Bitcoin in a few years the growth of Ethereum should be more than 2 times that of BTC. Now if you take a look at stats in the last year ETH has grown by around 900% and Bitcoin has seen just a 275% jump. This means it has performed more than 3 times better. So, if this happens for one more year Ethereum would cross Bitcoin in terms of market cap. There are a lot of practical uses of Ethereum that make it really a great replacement to Bitcoin. Remember that BTC will be BTC but, Ethereum still can overtake it. Most of the altcoins that are coming out are built on its network and at the same time, it is going to see a major upgrade via ETH 2.0. This will address the environmental issue by implementing the proof of stake instead of proof of work. At the same time, there will be sharding which will help in increasing the number of transactions per second. The gas price of transactions is also supposed to decrease which means that the usage will increase. All in all, there are a lot of good things happening to the network that can help ETH cross Bitcoin in some time. Do remember that having the potential doesnt mean it will be able to topple BTC easily. This is because the market king has always dominated and sways the market along with it. If it falls, Eth also falls and if it rises so does Ethereum. So, until this market co-relation breaks things are going to be difficult. Let us know in the comments. Also, if you found our content informative do like and share it with your friends. Also Read: Dogecoin added to Coinbase pro: trends on Twitter! | https://techstory.in/can-ethereum-overtake-bitcoin-in-a-few-years/ |
Was sind die neuen Compliance Pflichten fr Nachhaltigkeit? | Mit dem Seminar Neue Compliance Pflichten: Management von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken erlernst du folgendes Fachwissen: Management von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken: Compliance Pflichten sicher umsetzen Risikomanagement: Bewertung und Steuerung von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken Corporate Social Reponsibility: Pflichten aktiv steuern Buche das Seminar Neue Compliance Pflichten: Management von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken; bequem und einfach online mit dem Seminarformular online. 289c, 340a, 341a HGB, DSR 20 und DIN ISO 26000 Risikomanagement: Bewertung und Steuerung von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken Neue BaFin-Anforderungen an das Management von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken Risikoanalyse als Basis fr das Management von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken Risikoklassifizierungsverfahren: Beurteilung von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken Verwendung von ESG-Ratings Stresstests und Szenarioanalysen Durchfhrung der ESG-Risikoanalyse mit Kennzahlen Nachhaltigkeits-Management: Erstellen des Sollmanahmenkatalogs und Ableiten der risikoreduzierenden Manahmen Corporate Social Responsibility: Pflichten aktiv steuern Aktive Steuerung von Nachhaltigkeitsrisiken in der Geschftsorganisation: Neue Aufgaben fr die Compliance Funktion Neue Anforderungen an die Qualifikation der Risikocontrolling-Funktion ESG-Risiken im Auslagerungscontrolling sicher managen Bundeslagebild Korruption: Prvention mit Nachhaltigkeits-Management Neue Prfungsaktivitten der Internen Revision Effiziente Kommunikation von ESG-Risiken: Verantwortlichkeiten und Schnittstellen fr das CSR-Reporting klren Kontrollplan fr das Management von ESG-Risiken: Die wichtigsten berwachungs- und Kontrollhandlungen Die inhaltlichen Details sowie weitere Seminare zum Thema Personalmanagement findest Du direkt hier. Unser Service-Team steht Ihnen gerne jederzeit zur Verfgung: 089/452 429 70 100 | https://www.mittelstandcafe.de/was-sind-die-neuen-compliance-pflichten-f-r-nachhaltigkeit-1907027.html |
Will there be a PS5 restock on Prime Day 2021? | Amazon Prime Day is just a few weeks away. The shopping extravaganza will begin later this month on 21 June and end on 22 June. The online retailers annual two-day sale will see savings across Amazons entire website, including clothes, tech and toys. Weve been speculating on what deals well see make an appearance over the course of the shopping spree on our Prime Day live blog, which we urge you to follow for all the best deals as and when they happen. But what many people want to know has nothing to do with grabbing a bargain at all. Instead, its got everything to do with the PlayStation 5. If youve been knees-deep in the PS5 restock ruckus, youll know how difficult it is to secure one of Sonys elusive consoles. Ever since the console was first released in the UK back in November, people have been struggling to buy the console from every retailer under the sun. The situation has become so dire that its spawned a whole Twitter community of stock trackers, as well as a 24,500-strong community of Redditors all trying to nab the console before it sells out again. Read on for our predictions for Prime Day 2021. Read more: Our IndyBest team hand-picks every deal we feature. We may earn some commission from the links in this article, but our selections have been made independently and without bias. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Thats the big question on everyones lips. With all the chaos Amazon has endured while trying to keep the PS5 in stock, we think the chances of a Prime Day PS5 drop are pretty slim. Prime Day already puts a large amount of strain on the retailers website, with millions of people around the world trying to snap up a bargain. Gamers consistently crash retailers websites whenever theres a PS5 restock, forcing companies like Game and Very to enforce queues to restrict the load. Its unlikely that Amazon would want to add to its Prime Day traffic by releasing a bunch of PS5 consoles as well. An Amazon PS5 restock on 2 June lasted barely 30 minutes before the console sold out, with customers taking to Twitter to complain about error messages and not being able to pay once they went to the checkout. Instead, we predict that Amazon will have a PS5 drop either in the lead up to Prime Day or after it has finished. One thing were more hopeful Amazon will have a sale on, however, is PS5 accessories and PS5 games. In our dreams. Its unlikely that Amazon will even have the PS5 in stock on Prime Day, let alone put it on sale. Amazon has seen such high demand for the console at its regular price that we find it hard to believe that any retailer will lower the price at all. That said, less in-demand consoles like the Nintendo Switch lite and the Xbox Series S might see reductions. The Switch lite bundle with Minecraft (currently unavailable) was on sale last year, reduced from 179.99 to 124.99. While its extremely unlikely that the PS5 will be in stock on Amazon Prime Day, we think its more likely that PS5 games, and potentially even some PS5 accessories, will be getting some discounts. Heres a round-up of a few games and accessories you should keep your eyes on during the two-day event. Many of the PS5 games are already discounted thanks to the Days of Play event. Demons Souls: Was 69.99, now 49.99, Amazon.co.uk (Sony) This is one of our top picks for the best PS5 games. A complete remake of From Softwares infamously punishing action RPG, Demons Souls on PS5 is a showcase of what the new console is capable of. In our round-up of the best PS5 games, our reviewer said that the oppressive gothic architecture, yawning arches and festering dungeons of this cult classic look spectacular on the new hardware, while remaining faultlessly faithful to the aesthetic and vibe of the original game. Buy now Yakuza: Like A Dragon: Was 49.99, now 34.50, Amazon.co.uk (Sony) Like A Dragon is a blend of turn-based street fighting, weird mini-games and goofy, dialogue-heavy roleplaying in which youre throwing bicycles at drunk businessmen one moment and carrying out missions for a gang of nappy-wearing adult babies the next. It defies summary. Knowingly strange and wantonly convoluted, there really isnt any other game like it, our reviewer said in our round-up of the best. Buy now Sony PlayStation 5 pulse 3D wireless headset: 89, Amazon.co.uk (Amazon) Theres no shortage of gaming headset options out there but the PlayStation 5 pulse 3D wireless headset is a little bit special. In our round-up of the best PS5 accessories, our reviewer said that it is made with certain PlayStation 5 games in mind, its 3D audio means you can feel fully immersed in the experience, feeling like things are truly happening all around you. Its a distinctive way of doing things that stands out more so than conventional headsets, even if not all games fully take advantage of it just yet. Buy now Seagate 4TB HDD: 84,99, Amazon.co.uk (Amazon) Sadly, the PS5 has no expandable storage so you have to invest in an HDD. The official dates for the Amazon Prime Day event are June 21 and June 22, according to a press release from the retailer. The two-day shopping extravaganza will see discounts on everything from tech to gaming and home appliances. Sadly, not every Amazon customer can access the Prime Day sale, its only for those with a Prime membership, which costs 7.99 a month or 79 a year. Subscribers enjoy access to same-day delivery, more than 800,000 free ebooks along with the use of Prime Video and Amazon Music. If you are already signed up, youll automatically be able to shop the sale, but if youre not and are keen to find huge savings on your favourite brands, you can sign up for a free 30-day trial any time before it begins. We update it throughout the day. IndyBest product reviews are unbiased, independent advice you can trust. On some occasions, we earn revenue if you click the links and buy the products, but we never allow this to bias our coverage. The reviews are compiled through a mix of expert opinion and real-world testing. | https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/gadgets-tech/video-games-consoles/ps5-restock-amazon-prime-day-2021-uk-b1858327.html |
Why is Holby City being cancelled and when is the last episode? | We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. If you're wondering 'Why Holby City is being cancelled?' is the question on everyones lips but the BBC medical drama Holby City is coming to an end after TV bosses announced that the long-standing programme which has run for 23 seasons will cease production in 2022. The news comes as a shock to some TV licence payers, as many are surprised to see the long-standing drama, which continued filming through lockdown measures, come to an end, and a petition has even been set up begging for a U-turn on the decision, which has already got thousands of signatures. Holby City has been cancelled in order to reshape the BBCs drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country, according to an official statement released by the BBC. The statement reads, We are incredibly proud of Holby City but its with great sadness that we are announcing that after 23 years, the show will end on screen in March of next year. We sometimes have to make difficult decisions to make room for new opportunities and as part of the BBCs commitment to make more programmes across the UK, we have taken the difficult decision to bring the show to a close in order to reshape the BBCs drama slate to better reflect, represent and serve all parts of the country. Fans have been assured that Holby City will continue to be aired on BBC One every Tuesday until March 2022. The BBC added, Holby has been a stalwart with audiences, delighting millions of viewers each week and winning hundreds of awards with a compelling mix of cutting edge medical stories and explosive personal stories. Holby City is filmed in Borehamwood at the Elstree Studios. Located just north of London, the set includes a surgical ward and operating theatre. But over the years, there have been some Holby City episodes shot abroad on location. As a spin-off show to Casualty, medical researchers are employed by the drama to verify script accuracy to make the show more realistic. The first series of Holby City averaged 9.27 million viewers and an episode is estimated to cost in the region 370,000 to produce. One episode runs each week over the course of a year. The drama follows the everyday lives, professional and personal, of the doctors, nurses and patients who find themselves, for various reasons, in the wards of the frenetic cardiac unit of Holby City General Hospital. The unit is run by the autocratic Consultant Surgeon Anton Meyer (played by George Irving) assisted by arrogant sidekick Registrar Nick (played by Michael French) who find themselves in a continuous running battle with Consultant Muriel McKendrick (played by Phyllis Logan) over beds with the rest of the staff caught in the cross-fire. Video of the Week Meanwhile, when the show first started out in 1999, it began with eleven main characters in its first series, all of whom have since left the show. New main characters have been both written in and out since, with a core of around fifteen main actors employed at any given time. In casting the first series, co-creator Mal Young sought actors who were already well known in the television industry, something which has continued throughout its history, with cast members including Patsy Kensit, Jane Asher, Robert Powell, Ade Edmondson and John Michie. | https://www.goodto.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/why-is-holby-city-being-cancelled-and-when-is-the-last-episode-602436 |
How will Prince Harry and Meghan announce the birth of their baby daughter? | Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle are expecting their second child in the summer. In a television interview with TV mogul Oprah Winfrey, they revealed they are having a girl who will be the younger sister of their two-year-old son Archie. As they grow from a family of three to a family of four this summer, many people will be waiting to hear news of the babys arrival. Since leaving the royal family, they have done things on their own terms and the announcement of the arrival of their second child will likely be no different. The Duke and Duchess of Sussexs first-born child, Archie, was born on 6 May 2019 at Portland Hospital in London. At the time, Harry and Meghan were still working members of the royal family and Harry made the announcement in front of news cameras at Windsor Castles stables. New dad Harry said: Its been the most amazing experience I can ever possibly imagine. How any woman does what they do is beyond comprehension, and were both absolutely thrilled. As per royal tradition, a notice of birth was also placed on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace and the palace informed the press and released a statement online. When the announcement of their second pregnancy was made, Harry and Meghan had left the royal family and moved to the United States, where they still live. On 14 February this year, they released an intimate black and white image, shot in their back garden in California, with Meghans bump clearly visible, through their PR team. The date of the announcement holds sentimental value as, on the same day in 1984, news broke that Princess Diana was pregnant with her second child - Harry. A spokesperson for the couple said: We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child. Very few details were given. However, in an interview with Oprah Winfrey, it was revealed they are expecting a girl in summertime. As we have seen with their official announcements made since leaving the royal family, its expected the couple will choose to do it on their own terms, away from any royal tradition or obligation. Its likely the news will not be made public immediately after the birth and may involve a single image being released via their communications team to mark the happy arrival. | https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/meghan-harry-baby-news-announcement-b1853671.html |
Will Clippers Cyborg Kawhi Break Luka Doncics Mavs? | Luka Doncic is sick and tired, and his Mavs are in danger of being broken by Kawhi Leonard The Dallas Mavericks offensive machine is not necessarily broken beyond repair, but it is broken. He is Kawhi Leonard, and he is, as it was put to us the other day A cyborg. In a league in which some stars care little about defense, Leonard is one of the NBAs most dominance two-way forces. In this first-round Mavs-Clippers series, it took him a minute to take charge as a scorer; in Games 1 and 2, both Dallas upset wins, Mavs superkid Luka Doncic was the best player on the floor. Luka is hurt, laboring through a neck strain that doesnt allow his head or be on a swivel, which is at the root of his magic. We also bet hes sick and tired. Sick, in the sense of being ill, a bug, run-down, something. And tired, maybe of the way the Kristaps Porzingis partnership is unraveling. Those two issues are Dallas off-season concerns - with the off-season staring this franchise coldly in the face as Wednesdays Game 5 at L.A. approaches. READ MORE: Why Clippers' Rajon Rondo Needs To Hear The Boos From Mavs Fans Luka will bravely insist hes 100 percent, but the 22-year-old MVP-level star wears his truth on his sleeve - all the joys and all the pains. Kawhi, meanwhile, will reveal nothing, part of the complimentary cyborg label issued him by Mavs radio voice Chuck Cooperstein. Mavs coach Rick Carlisle has talked of Kawhi and running mate Paul George essentially being able to bully their way to the rim. Adds DallasBasketball.com analyst Grant Afseth: Leonard made it a point to be aggressive getting to the rim early in possessions in Game 4. Sometimes, a straight-line drive was all it took. His ability to play through contact/traffic is incredible. He did not feel resistance even when the Mavs had a big man in position. One difference in this series: Luka - who has done some wild things in this series as a scorer, highlighted by a one-legged runner from behind the arc - has a knack for making hard shots. Leonard - maybe the sports most efficient scorer - has a knack for making easy shots. Maybe, but Dallas has to find other avenues of success, too - and one of them might have to be to concede to Leonards greatness while Luka plays through pain. They might not have that in them. The precocious Doncics BBIQ remains central to any chance Dallas has of re-taking the series lead. But it frankly might be a sidebar to what Kawhi Leonard can accomplish in his robotic ability to break down an opponent And to break an opponent. | https://www.si.com/nba/mavericks/news/will-clippers-cyborg-kawhi-break-luka-doncic-mavs |
Whats It Like Being a Jamaican in Spain? | On our Jamaicans to the World Facebook Live show, Jamaicans.com founder Xavier Murphy spoke with Karen Marriott and Ana Strachan Porcar. They are Jamaicans living in Spain. Hi, Im Xavier Murphy, the founder of Jamaicans.com. And today I talk to Anna Strachan Porcar and Kiki Marriott, who both live in Spain. Hi Anna. Hi Kiki. Ana: Hi, doing well. Kiki: Hi, good. Looking forward to this. Xavier: Good. All right, so the first question I get, lets get to it. The first question. Im going to start with Anna. Ana: I am from Kingston. Most of my time was spent living in Red Hills. Xavier: Okay. Kiki: Well, Im going to say, St. Andrew and St. Andrew. My Parish and my school. Xavier: On that note, youre representing your school and you are my sister because I went to Jamaica College. Kiki: Thats right. Ana: I went to Ardenne. Fabulous high school. Xavier: Okay. I cant say anything against Ardenne. My brother went to Ardenne and so I have connections to both schools. Ana: Great. Xavier: Lets dive right into it. Tell us your story and how you ended up in Spain. Im going to start with Kiki. Kiki: Okay. I did my first degree at the university in Jamaica, the University of the West Indies. Afterward, I just wasnt sure what I wanted to do and I applied for scholarships to study a language somewhere. I ended up going to Madrid for five months, which turned into a year. Thats a long story. Madrid wasnt great for me because there were lots of problems with the whole organization that was giving me the scholarship, which was a part of the Spanish government, unfortunately. I had problems with my accommodation. I had problems getting my course. Yes, I had a lot of problems, but I did last a year in Spain and I learned Spanish and I was sure that I was never coming back to this country. What happened was, I then went off to the UK to do a Masters Degree. I went to study at the University of Leicester and I did the MA in Mass Communications. On the first day of my course, we were having tea with the Mayor of Leicester with all the international students and the Mayor of Leicester says to me, Oh, youre doing Mass Communications, there is a boy from Spain who Id like to introduce you to. Well, this ended up being my husband. And I met him. The first time we spoke was in front of the Mayor and then afterwards, I went up to him and I started speaking to him in Spanish on the steps of one of the buildings at the universities, we were going to have dinner. He said to me, Im not Spanish, Im Catalan. It was kind of like, no, dont speak to me in Spanish. And I was like, okay. And I said, But, you know, I thought I would like to practice my Spanish because I just lived a year in Madrid and you know, its great. And he said, No. Well, Im not here to speak Spanish. Im here to learn English. So I said, Right, you and I are not going to be friends. So, here we are 26 years later and our 21-year-old twins. Xavier: Im going to get to you in a minute Ana. Ana: I Love her story. Xavier: I want people to understand that, you touched on a point and we dont want to dive too deep into it because it can start an actual deeper discussion. Very deep. But I want people to understand there is a couple of regions in Spain and there is the Catalan language I believe. Which is still there. I wont get into how its recognized and how its not recognized. Im gonna leave that alone. But that is what Kiki was talking about. Kiki: Yes, pretty much. Yes. Xavier: Okay. All right Ana, tell us your story. I met my husband five years ago in Jamaica at a Soca Party by Rockport Mineral Bath and we went on a date days later. He passed all my tests and so did I. Now we are here because hes studying a two-year degree program in Barcelona and we decided that it would be a good idea to come back home, especially because of the pandemic and because financially it would serve us well to be with his parents and to save money as he studies. And since we have a newborn, its the best time to be with family anyways. Xavier: Okay. So, Im going to get a little nosy here now. Ana: Work. He finished his Masters in Civil Engineering and went to, I forget the, Oh gosh, I forget. It is one of those, Eastern European countries to work for a year. Then he applied for jobs all over the world and got offers in Mexico and Jamaica and decided at the airport to go to Jamaica. We met each other at his three-year anniversary of being in Jamaica. Yes. I hear you said something to him in Patois and he practically understands. Ana: Yes. He speaks Jamaican. Hes been there for eight years actually, before we left. Its seven/eight years before we left. Ana: Absolutely. He worked in construction in Jamaica. He has had to speak our language in order to communicate with authority or they would treat him differently if he didnt know what they were about. So, yes. Xavier: Thats very interesting. And again, we could go into this language, and Ana, like you say its a language. I also believe its a language, but then thats another debate. Ana: Well, I also think he embraced Jamaican because hes Catalan and he understands how connected people can be with their language and how much a part of them it is. So he embraced our language and Im grateful. Xavier: That a very interesting discussion because, yes, theres nothing as colorful as the land use. Nothing as, theres just certain words when you say it, it brings, I dont know how to say it. Its like it puts it all together. Ana: It just put it all together. Kiki: It makes the heart sing. Xavier: Exactly. Kiki: In both Spanish and Catalan. Yes. Ana: Not at all. I only speak English and Jamaica. I am bilingual, however, I have a long way to go when it comes to Catalan and Im on the beginner levels Spanish. Kiki: No, thats not true. Youre more than beginner level. You understand a lot. Ana Ana: I do understand a lot more than I can say. That is true. Xavier: Well, that is the start. They say if you start to dream in the language, you know, youre there. Ana: Yes. I look forward to that dream. Kiki: I dream in all languages. It depends on who Im talking to in the dream. And sometimes I speak, I mean it might depend on what I was listening on the radio before I fell asleep. Language is a funny thing because in our house we have three languages between the four of us, my husband and the children. So generally, I speak to my children in English and they answer me in English. Their father speaks to them in Catalan and they answer him in Catalan, but Xavi and I switched back and forth between English and Catalan. The children switch back and forth between Catalan, English and, Spanish. So people tend to see us like on a bus or a train, If the four of us are sitting together and were having conversations and were switching all the time, they look at us like were crazy people. Xavier: Because you are all speaking these different things. Kiki: Yes. If were talking about a show that we watched on Netflix in English, then its natural that were going to speak about it in English. But if were talking about Spanish politics then maybe we switched to Spanish, but if were talking about something to do with Catalan culture, then it would be Catalan. So, you know, its the moment and the subject and whatever. Xavier: Im going to talk a little bit, we just got into, you know, people looking at you. Lets talk about the people in Spain. You know, the people. Give us a little bit about the people. Ill start with you, Anna. If you could tell us your experience with the people in where you are, in Spain. Ana: Well, I have had very good experiences with Spaniards here. I have very few Spanish friends, but when I do travel into the city, into the cafes or the restaurants, Im always treated with respect. In fact, many of them speak English, so, I have never had a problem communicating. Even in the restaurants when I go to a concert, maybe at Mizzou, if they dont respond to me in English, theyve understood my English and then we can communicate. I have had very good experiences, just seeing things from afar. There was an unfortunate experience with a black Face. A sort of local small-town celebration, carnival celebration. And I do think that was ignorance. But other than that, the people have been very welcoming, especially in my family. Theyve also been to Jamaica, so theyve met some of my family and I love Spain from that perspective. Xavier: Good. Kiki: Well, I mean, Ive been here now for 26 years and Ive practically gone native. At the moment I cant imagine moving from here to go live anywhere else. I love it here. And the people for me, I feel very much at home in Spain. The people are, I would say perhaps in the South of Spain people are more kind of in-your-face, kind of. Catalan people tend to be a bit more reserved, but they are very genuine. So, you know, youll meet them and theyll be a little reserved at first and then you start talking and you get to know people. When they welcome you into their home, its like, youve made it. When they invite you home for dinner or something, its like, you are going to be their friend because they dont do that easily. Ive made a lot of friends over the years and theyre good people. I think its a good society for someone from outside, especially here because Im living in a big city. There are lots of people from all over the world, a lot of respect for different cultures. My children have not encountered I mean, once I remember there was one boy at school who said something racist to my son and my son didnt say anything, but his friend went and told the teacher and that boy got suspended for a week. The parents were brought in for a big conversation and what have you. So, I mean, it didnt bother my son, but it was not tolerated. Xavier: Right. You know, I visited, and you were my gracious host. We are twins. My wifes name is Karen. Even though you see Kiki on the screen, her name is Karen. She said, Xavi her husband. Her husbands name is actually Xavier, like me. So Kiki and I are twins. They got married the same year we got married. But, my visit there, it was, you guys were very gracious. We spent a short time there. I absolutely love where you are in Barcelona. We absolutely love the visit there and would have to come back. Now, the thing we did not really get into when I was there, which Im going to ask you all about is, you know, we talk about people, now wi haffi talk bout the food (we have to talk about the food). I am going to start with you, Ana. Tell us the one thing you got there and you said, You know what, man, this is absolutel delicious. If I or someone was to visit, youve got to try this. So tell us what. Ana: So many things in Barcelona that deserve, You got to try this. Theres Jamon, obviously, theres Paella. Theres Jamon Xavier: Okay. Ana: Right. Xavier: The first thing that comes to mind now hominy corn. Ana: No. so sorry. Xavier: Youve got to explain what Jamon is because- Ana: That probably the first thing that came to my mind too but its J-a-m-o-n and its ham. Spanish ham but its cured. It can be cured for months or years and that obviously affects the taste. So, its raw but it tastes good. I know were not supposed to eat raw meat, but its now raw, raw. Its cured. Its so good. There is fuet which is also meat. There is Paella, but I have to say I am allergic to shellfish and Spain has such a variety of food from the sea that they do in every way shape and form. The food pretty. The food is so pretty. So, I know it tastes good. I mean, if you go in a fancy restaurant, theyre never empty. Im missing out, honestly, because I cant eat half, not even half, three-quarters of the food but what that can have, I mean, comparison with Spain and food there is none. I love Jamaican food. I miss Jamaican food all the while, but theres, the food here is just- Xavier: Good. Good. So Kiki, as a vet here who has been here, youve probably gone to a couple of regions. Kiki: Well definitely- Ana: Kikis husband and Kiki herself are excellent cooks. Kiki: Especially my husband. His family, theyre all about food and my mother-in-law is an amazing chef, really. Xavi started cooking really, when he left home, because when he was at home, he was never required to cook and he was never invited into the kitchen. It was when he was away at university that he started missing home-cooked meals and he would call the sisters and ask them for recipes. This is way before YouTube. So, that was when he started cooking and hes just got better and better over the years. Then when I was pregnant, I had very bad morning sickness with the twins So, I stopped cooking for a few months. Then I was breastfeeding and I was exhausted all the time so I kept on not cooking and Xavi just came into his own. He goes to the market every week, sometimes I go with him. He buys all this wonderful, fresh seafood and he cooks all these amazing dishes. Hes always looking for new recipes so, were never repeating dishes. Always new stuff and we love trying out new things. So, I mean, yes. Talk about the Paella, talk about the shellfish, talk about, you know, all those things, but Im going to tell you that my favorite food and you can, I mean, ask anyone who knows me. I love artichokes. That is one thing that I would miss if I left Spain, because I have not found artichokes, like the ones Ive found here, in any country except Italy. Let me tell you Italy is a country that knows how to respect an artichoke. We have many different ways of cooking artichokes, but I love them just roasted in the oven. My mother-in-law gave me the recipe, which was just with a little bit of vinegar and oil and some spices and herbs. I tweaked her recipe and I added soy sauce. Ana: Right. Xavier: Your secrets out. Kiki: But guess what, she has put soy sauce in her artichokes now a few times. I guess what she has in her artichokes now sometimes. Theres also this vegetable called a Calot, which is actually a special kind of onion that is pulled out of the ground, pulled out of the ground progressively while its growing. Theyre putting it out little by little, day by day, week by week. What you get is something that looks like a leaf, but its not a leaf, its an onion. Then you go into the countryside or you come to my roof and you do a big fire and you roast these onions in the fire. Then you have them in a sauce called romesco sauce, which is made with almonds and hazelnuts, tomato, onion, wine, vinegar. Sweet pepper. Its absolutely delicious. So you have these hot roasted, long onions, you pull off the skin, your hands get really black. Then you dip it in the sauce and eat it like that. Its only during the autumn going into the spring so its a special kind of party when you do that. Generally, people go out to the country, they go to country restaurants, or if they have like, someone has a home out in the country, they might go there and hed do that. Its a whole ritual. And I love that Xavier: Great. Kiki: We live in the center of Barcelona but we do it up on our roof when friends come over. Xavier: Yes, I saw your garden on your roof. Kiki: My cactus garden. Xavier: Im going to ask you this since were on food. I know Kiki you are a chef so you probably get around to doing what you need to do but there must be something that you miss. Tell me something that you miss. The Jamaican food you miss. Kiki: Breadfruit because I cant get that here. I have friends who come from London that bring bammy for me. I have friends who come from US, come from Jamaica, they bring ackee. But breadfruit, I have one dear, dear friend who a couple of times has crossed the Atlantic without frozen breadfruit and it made it all the way to me. Xavier: So, theres no African store that has it. Kiki: No. They dont have breadfruit. Believe me. I have been Ive been 26 years searching for it. Ana: Oh gosh. Ana: I dont think Ive been away from home to miss anything too much. Just now Im trying to cook Christmas cake and I cant find browning. So I have to make browning from scratch. Xavier: You have to be burning sugar. Ana: Yes. That it. Weve found sorrel, weve found the wine and the rum so, just the browning I cant find. Xavier: Okay. Thats a good thing there, that you can find most of your ingredients. Ana: Oh, yes Kiki: Yes. You can get everything now. Ana: Really, you can. Its such an international city, Barcelona. It really is. Xavier: Good Ana: But it still has its culture which is great. Kiki: Yes Ana: Very Catalan, very Spanish. Has someone outside their borders you can find your niche. Kiki: Ana and I last year made bammy once, from scratch. Ana: Yes. Kiki: Well. It didnt look great but it was good. Ana: We ate it. Xavier: You just have to make, do with what you have, I guess. You know, theres a lady that we had featured before, and she was making patties and when she showed the pictures, Im like, listen, you need to open a patty shop there. Im like, listen, you need to open a Patty shop. So you never know. Ana: Thats not a bad idea. Xavier: Im going to ask you about the being in Jamaica and there. So tell me about one of those experiences where somebody realized youre Jamaican and what happened. I want to start with you Anna. Ana: Oh gosh. I only spent eight months here last year and then went back home and now Ive been here for four months. I actually havent interacted because of the pandemic. Then I was pregnant. Gosh, has anyone, you know, no. Just family, friends and then weve just gone into where Jamaica is, what our official language is, and then that leads into the language conversation and how were fighting for Jamaican to be an official language like English. So thats the only thing I can reference. Xavier: All right. Kiki: I would say, you know, in the old days it used to be, when I say old days is because I go way back. Because remember Ive been here for like 26 years and then I lived that year in Madrid even before that. So, in the early days, it was, Oh, Jamaica, Bob Marley. Then people would start singing, you know, one love or something like that. But now when you say Jamaica, people give you the Usain Bolt pose, you know. Jamaica is very much a brand now. If you go into Las Ramblas in Barcelona and you walk along and you see the kiosks with all the magazines and newspapers and the tourist souvenirs, youll find t-shirts that say Jamaica and Brazil. Its a brand. Its just that everybody thinks Jamaica is cool. And I see people in hoodies that say Jamaica all the time. If I had a Euro for every person that passes by on the street wearing a Jamaican t-shirt or a Jamaican hoodie, Id be rich. When people hear that youre from Jamaica sometimes people go, Oh. What, youre really from Jamaica? Like, you know, they think, Oh, maybe shes from Britain because a lot of British people, like second generation Jamaicans and stuff like that. No, really from Jamaica, off the boat. They just think its cool. They just think its, theres like this whole cool vibe about Jamaica, which is why theyre all these young boys wearing hoodies that say Jamaica on them and theyve never been there. Then they say, Oh, I really want to go. You know, they dont know that much about Jamaica to be honest. But I have to say that, when I, that first year that I lived in Madrid, I was staying in a university residence and it was all people from different parts of the world. There were a few Spanish people from other regions of Spain. I met people from all over Spain, but not from Madrid because obviously, people from Madrid were living at home and going to the faculty from home. There was one guy from the Canary Islands. Somehow this guy, we had such a great vibe because he kept saying to me, Youre an islea and Im an isleo. You know, he always said that to me and the other Jamaican girls. I said, but you know, your Spanish, youre not an Island person. I am like, anyways, you know, we in Jamaica, we have this idea that Jamaica is this massive Island. It is not. So, that was something that struck me much later on after I had been to Sydney and Majorca. Then, you know, you take off from Sicily and you look down and you see the Island, you know, youre in the plane and then you see the whole of the Island. I say, Wow, isnt it great when you take off and then you can see the whole Island. Then suddenly it struck me. Its like, Well Ana when you leave Jamaica you can do that. Then I taught, when you look at the map I went home and Im looking at these Islands that we consider to be really small islands and Jamaica is just a smidgen bigger than them. I realized that Jamaica, because also in terms of cultural importance, because of people like Louis Bennett and Bob Marley, Usain Bolt, and all these people, people have this impression that Jamaica is First of all, people say to me all the time because I say, well, Jamaica is a poor country. They go, No, Jamaicas not poor. And Im like, Yes, it is. Its a poor country. Its a third world country. Then they also have this impression that Jamaica is like, I dont know, it must be bigger because you couldnt produce so many athletes and you couldnt produce a team that went to the world cup with such a tiny population. So yes, I have come to embrace my small Islandness. Then Ive been on holiday in Majorca and Menorca, which are close to Catalonia and they also speak of variants of Catalan. Its so funny to me because when Im there, Im at the beach in Binibeca. White sand, music, Bob Marley music blaring from the beach bar, and then the waiter comes and speaks to us and he is speaking the Majorca variant of Catalan. Which to me sounds like a Jamaican speaking English. You know this kind of lazy slow Then Im like, My God, Im an island girl. And I do come from a small Island. Ive learned to embrace that about myself. Xavier: Well, there was so much you put in there, in that part, you know. Dont, I was like this [Finger over mouth] Dont tell us that. We believe that the Caribbean is Jamaica. Thats what we believe. Kiki: Jamaica and company. Xavier: Its funny because yes, its funny because wherever you, you know, people ask you certain question and you say, Oh, Im from the Caribbean. They only think of Jamaica and they may think of the Bahamas and Haiti, you know, just a couple of places. Theyre so much more, so much rich places, so much shared culture, so much different cultures that are there, which is totally amazing. But well save that one for another show. We will be venturing this show with some of the folks that have moved to the Caribbean islands. So folks which kind of move out to Europe and Africa and so on. Which we have moved to the Caribbean also, but Im going to ask you about music because you kind of touched on music a little bit there. Ana: Absolutely. All the time Kiki: All the time. Ana: All the time, on the radio all the time. Kiki: When you go into bars, shops, everywhere. Plus Reggaeton is huge here. Reggaeton, thats all the young people listen to. Xavier: It would be interesting to know if they know the history of reggae and where it comes from. Kiki: Yes they do. She calls herself Bad gal. Thats her stage name Bad Gal. And I mean, a lot of the musicians here have gone on a pilgrimage to meet Jamaica and have played in studios there and have, you know, spent time learning about reggae from the masters. There is a huge respect for Jamaica and music here. Huge Xavier: Wow. Thats good to know. Questions, so Im winding down. My question is this, if there was something or an experience, an attraction, and I know its somewhat of a challenge, pandemic, COVID times, and maybe Kiki, you can give us some insight on this being the vet here. Kiki: Okay. The typical tourist things to do are great, you know, go to the La Sagrada Familia which is Gaudis huge cathedral in the middle of the city. Its just beautiful and it blows your mind. Theres so much detail. Ana: Made me cry. Kiki: Or if you love football, its good to see a match at Camp Nou. I mean, nothing better its an amazing stadium. But for me the number one experience that I try and get, everyone who comes here to do is to go and see Castell. Those are the human towers and that is the most Catalan thing that you could do. Its actually is a sport. Kiki: Human Towers. Yes. Its an actual sport. Xavier: Okay just explain. Kiki: This actually began over a hundred years ago, out in the farming country. They have these traditional dances, like they dance and beat sticks and they do all these traditional things, but they started building towers where humans would kind of get into circles and then they would get on top of each other and stand on each others backs and then stand on another level and another level. And so its become a tradition that is, I mean, they have an association thats like FIFA and they have a tournament that runs all year. And so they have like local days. So it coincides usually with the Patron Saints Festival day for each town. You have certain towns that have had their human tower building group. The groups typically have, like, you wouldnt start a group if you didnt have like 60 or 70 people, because you need a lot of people to do it. You need people to go up in all those layers and then you need people at the bottom just to hold them all together. Kiki: So the world record now is like ten. Ana: Its Amazing Kiki: Its the most emotional experience to watch them do these castells. Its amazing. Ana: I havent seen it live but towards the very end a little tiny little girl or boy climbing up these people and you are hoping. You are hoping nothing happens to this little girl or boy. Kiki: Sometimes they fall. Sometimes the whole thing falls apart and people get hurt. But it is like the most emotional buzz. The thing about the human towers is, its something that really unites people because you have to trust people when youre standing on them and when theyre standing on you. These are big groups of people. You have a whole family that has been doing it for generations, but you also have people that just arrived in Catalonia and want to make friends. The go along to these human towers. They have people of all ages, all sizes, all shapes, all colors, because at the bottom you need big strong guys. Because theyre going to have seven layers of people on their shoulders. Then you have people that just go and stand at the back and press their backs to help them support them. Kiki: Ive been invited, but theres no way Im doing that. No way. I have a few friends who have done it in their time and they generally left it because first of all, it takes a big commitment because you have to practice a few times a week, then at weekends you usually have the tournaments. Ive also had friends whove been injured, like, you know, after a dislocated shoulder or two, youre like, okay, maybe its not worth it. But I mean, they really are very good about safety and now the children that go right up to the top have to wear helmets. I wont tell you why, but- Xavier: So Ana, youve been there like you said. You have been there pre pandemic, so youre kind of seeing things. Ana: Yes. Xavier: So what would you say is something that you totally, it could be an attraction. It could be an experience that you enjoy. Ana: Well, you mentioned the La Sagrada Familia. Its really great. I cried the first time I visited. Ive been to the Opera house because thats part of my profession, watching these performances and the La Boqueria, its a market but theres so much diversity in products there. Its a must-see, but also Ive visited the South of Spain. I went to Granada, Cordova, and Seville. I think those places are worth the visit. You get to understand the history of Spain and how much influence the Moors has had on Spain in the early years. Then go watch a Flamenco fail. Because that also has a variety and the combination of music. So I think the South of Spain is worth your time too. Kiki: Definitely. Another thing, dont come to Catalonia and expect to see Flamenco because its not from here. If you come to Catalonia come to see Castells. Let me make sure I have it right. Ana: Dance and music. Xavier: I think I may have seen one, but I have to go back because maybe, I dont know the difference between which one is which. Kiki: The Castanet. Ana: The Castanet. Its such a sensual kind of performance. Theres guitar. Theres, I dont know this kind of instrument, but it looks like a drum. Kiki: Its a box. Kiki: La caca. Its a box. Ana: That. The singing is so earthy and powerful. I am mesmerized by flamenco. I absolutely love the dancing, the heavy footing. Its like tap on sterilized. And its, more than that obviously, but thats the sound you get when the heel is hitting obviously, and its sensual and its, its a mix of Spanish Romani, African. I love them. Xavier: Good. My wife had a trip there for work and I tagged along. I was the bag person. So I tagged along. Again, Im trying to figure out directions because we did go to Morocco. Kiki: South. Xavier: We were the south end. Okay. Kiki: Yes. Thats the place for Flamenco. Yes. Xavier: Okay. So then thats what I saw. It was amazing to me. You had a young boy involved and the ladies were, you know- Ana: How nice. Xavier: Yes, yes. So I believe I saw it and it was great. It was really good. They were really into this performance. Ana: They surely were. Xavier: You could see the attachment and so on. So great. All right. So winding down. Last question. Im starting with you, Anna, and then well get the vet to- Ana: Well, Im in a transition period. So, with my Headspace right now, I would say they should always remember their why. Why they moved to Spain. So when you get melancholy, sometimes youve missed your family, you miss home, I dont know if it is the pandemic but I am here with a newborn and my husband is in full-time school and Im outside the city of Barcelona and it can get a lot. So just remember your why. But also just go for it, really go for it. Youre in a new country. Just go for it. Involve yourself in as many experiences as possible. Eat, eat, eat some more Xavier: All right. Good advice there. Kiki: Yes. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. I think you have to kind of not go with preconceived notions and embrace what you find. But I think that will put you in good stead for wherever you go in the world. But I found, for example, some people who have moved here because you know, Barcelona is a great city, everybody knows about Barcelona. The Olympics were here. Its quite a glamorous place to visit. But they come here and then theyre like, But the people dont speak Spanish. I dont want to learn Catalan. And you say, Well, why dont you want to learn Catalan? Oh because Spanish is more useful. And Im like, Yes, but youre here now. Nobodys saying you cant use Spanish. In fact, most foreigners who come here and dont plan to stay here dont bother to learn Catalan. But when you do learn Catalan and you go somewhere and youd speak to people in Catalan, they start a conversation with you, which they wouldnt have done if you spoke to them in Spanish, because they realize that you have a respect for their culture and they love it. And so it has opened a huge amount of doors for me in many ways, including work-wise and friendships. I just think whenever you go to a new culture, you have to embrace the things that those people love about themselves. So, if speaking another language is what it takes, then feel that. Eating their food, do that. Ana: Yes. I agree with you Kiki. Kiki: Theres so much. The culture here is so rich. There are so many different places in Spain. And you know, so here in Catalonia, you have Catalan culture then in the Basque country, its completely different. They speak another language. In Galacia they speak Gallego, which is closer to Portuguese and they have a whole different culture. Even in the way we observe Christmas is very different in all the regions. Ana: Yes. Xavier: I did have that final question here but thats interesting. Kiki: Well, here in Catalonia, to be honest, now, this is the one thing that I still find a little difficult to stomach about Catalon culture. Its very psychological, and so there is a lot of poop involved in the Christmas celebration. Ana: Yes. They have a log that poops, presently. Kiki: I brought the log. This is the log. Okay, this is a tiny version of it, but its actually- Xavier: Hold it up again let me see. Okay, I see it. Kiki: Its actually a piece of a tree, but you have to imagine that this is just a little one that you could put on your shelf as a decoration. The real tree trunk is a real tree trunk. Ana: Real tree trunk. Kiki: People paint a face on it and they put the hats on it, then they put like a blanket over it and they leave it in- Ana: To be warmed. Kiki: They leave it in their main room. Then the children, every night the children bring nuts and fruits and leave it in front of Tio. During the night the Tio eats the nuts and the fruits and the Tio gets fatter and fatter. Then on Christmas Eve, the children get sticks and they beat him up. Okay. Ana: To get the toys they beat the log. Kiki: To get the toys and the presents. They have a song that they sing that they sing and it says, poop it out. Poop out the toys and poop out the presents. Ive never had one in my house. Okay. I bought this, this afternoon for the purpose of this. This is the first time a tio has come into my house. It will not stay here for very long. Ana: And my son has one to play with. Kiki: This is another Catalon Tradition. This is the Cropper. The Cropper you have a nativity scene. This is the crapper from the front, this is the crapper from behind. Ana: Thats poop. Xavier: Wait. Kiki: Its a part of Christmas. Ana: Thats right, putting the nativity scene beside Jesus Kiki: In your nativity scene. Now when I first saw it, I was just like, What is that? and my husband said something like. Its because we want people to understand that Christmas is real, and therefore we have to put something like that to represent that at the moment that Jesus was born, somebody was actually taking a crap somewhere. This figure is called the crapper. Ana: Its basically, dont take yourself too seriously. Kiki: That too and then, you know the scholars in Catalan history will tell you that it has to do with fertility and that its supposed to bring good luck to our household. So in every nativity scene in Catalonia, there will be a crapper. And that is the unique thing that we have had in our nativity scene. Ana: Whats at the Christmas marquee. Kiki. Kiki: Crappers. Yes. And Ill tell you one more story. One more story. The year that my children born, there are November babies. So at Christmas, or on Boxing day which here, we celebrate St. Stephens day. All the time they came to my house for lunch. So we had like, I dont know, 18 people here, big upheaval to put tables in the living room, and what have you. Sofa on its end in the corner and all the rest of it. I have been up all basting a turkey, I think, anyway, my mother-in-law arrives. My mother-in-law is a very elegant uptown lady still put on its end in the car now, all the rest of it. And Ive been all up all night, these Turkey, I think, anyway, my mother-in-law arrives and my mother-in-law is a very elegant uptown lady. She says, Kiki, I have a special present for you. I said. Really? she has it all wrapped up in this beautiful box. So I removed the ribbon and everything, I opened the box. And when I opened the box inside the box was a little blue nappy and a little pink nappy. Inside each nappy was a turd, but a very accurately represented turd made of chocolate. And I was just speechless, but thats Catalan people for you. They think poop is funny. Ana: Yes. Its in almost all their jokes. Xavier: Okay. Ana: On that crapper, they have celebrity versions. Kiki: Thats right. Ana: Prime Ministers, presidents. So you can buy anybody you choose. Kiki: Bob Marley. You can find a Bob Marley Crapper. Ana: Yes. Culture. Xavier: I learned something totally new today. I dont know how I am going to see what I just saw. I dont know how Im going to erase this particular memory, but, yes interesting. on that note I want to say, ladies, thank you very much for telling our viewers, telling your story on Spain and how you got there. I mean really great information. You know, really good information I should say. I typically close out this way. Ana: Well, thank you for having me. I miss Jamaica so much. I miss my family. I miss our language. I miss our code but traveling is important. Xavier: Yes. Ana: Spending time outside of the tourist experience is important. We always advocate for that in Jamaica, actually. We dont know the real Jamaica when they go to a resort and stay. We love when a tourist does their best to speak our language. Xavier: Right. Ana: So, its the same thing here. Just reciprocate. I told her it does their best to speak our language. Just reciprocate. Traveling is amazing and Im grateful for the opportunities here. The health care. Xavier: Thank you. Kiki: I dont know, I mean, this is home for me. Obviously I miss Jamaica. I miss my family. I miss my friends, but this is very much home for me. Theres a Catalan musician who is, hes world-famous. He said, Home is where your children eat. And I think we as Jamaicans, we understand that very much because we are people My father used to say, Jamaicans, I like salt, them in everything. Xavier: They are everywhere. Ana: And we love the Jamaican community over here as well. I have to say Kiki has been a huge support. I mean, Kiki is an awesome Jamaica. She is an awesome Catamacian now. She is Catalan Jamaican. Kiki: Yes. That was the word that my father coined to talk about my children. I think its great when you can draw on different cultures because, you know, I always said to my children, well, you know, you never lived in Jamaica, so youre not really Jamaican. So my daughter goes around the world telling people Im European and Caribbean. Xavier: An identity. So I want to close on this note. I want to be like the most informal way of saying bye-bye. I think in Spanish its adios in Spanish, but I want to do Catalan today. Youre going to teach me how to say it informally in Catalan. Thats how were going to end. Ana: Well, I say, adeu. Okay ladies, adeu Ana: Adeu Kiki: Adeu | https://jamaicans.com/whats-it-like-being-a-jamaican-in-spain/ |
How should brands show up for Pride this year? | Pride month has arrived, and this years celebrations will be a little different from our pre-pandemic world. Across the nation, pride parades and other events are expected to take place both in-person and online, a step back toward normalcy after last years celebration went fully virtual. For instance, Pride in the Park, a two-day festival in Chicago featuring artists, food and other entertainment, is expected to take place in person. LA Pride, however, will remain fully virtual. Brands typically make a big showing for Pride. Despite the virtual nature of the celebrations in 2020, Adidas, Disney and ASOS gave back to the LGBTQ+ community through donations and partnerships with advocacy organizations such as the Trevor Project, GLAAD and The National Center for Transgender Equality. Other brands including Apple, Bombas and Converse dropped rainbow-themed collections. But brands should proceed with caution around Pride, as Gen Z has notably called out brands for rainbow-washing and performative activism. | https://www.campaignlive.com/article/brands-show-pride-year/1717783 |
Will Republicans support Donald Trump's summer coup attempt? | A president who loses an election cannot be reinstated. If that person has only served one term, like Donald Trump, he can run again for that office. But there is no provision in the U.S. Constitution to remove a president who has won the election and replace him with someone who has lost. That doesnt happen in democratic republics. That happens in banana republics. But that, apparently, is what Trump wants. According to The New York Times Maggie Haberman, the former president has been telling people that he expects to be reinstated this summer. Not coincidentally, it seems that staging a violent coup might be the only thing that keeps Trump or some of his associates out of jail. Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. has convened a special grand jury, apparently to look into possible criminal activity within Trumps businesses. ABC News chief legal analyst Dan Abrams said of such a move, you dont get a grand jury like this unless they believe they have evidence of a crime ... so all the evidence, all the signals are towards a likely indictment of someone, if not more than one person. Trumps unhinged former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who needed a Trump pardon to stay out of jail, said at an event in Dallas last weekend that a Myanmar-style coup should happen here. Then later claimed that his words has been twisted. No. Whats twisted is the way elected politicians continue to bow in fealty to an unelected autocrat who seems bent on destroying the democracy that once got him to the nation's highest office. The audit isn't about overturning the election Arizonas sham audit is a prime example. Trump has been fixated on the faudits going on in states like Arizona, hoping to spread the delusion that they will somehow cause the outcome of the election to be reversed. It wont happen. Even the person behind the circus of incompetence and partisanship going on at the state fairgrounds, Arizona Senate President Karen Fann, has said, This (audit) has nothing to do with overturning the election or decertifying electors or anything like that. It never has been about anything like that. Tell that to Trump. Tell that to Trumps most zealous followers. And while youre at it, explain to them the difference between a democratic republic and a banana republic. One allows for the peaceful transition of power following elections. The other stages coups, in which innocent people get killed. Reach Montini at [email protected]. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/06/02/republicans-support-donald-trump-reinstated-coup-attempt/7505953002/ |
Has the Joss Whedon Scandal Ruined the Buffyverse Forever? | The truth about fandom icon Joss Whedon shocked Whedonverse fans worldwide when it came to light at the beginning of 2021. After Ray Fisher came forward about his negative experiences on the set of Justice League, Charisma Carpenter, star of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series, came forward to back him up. Michelle Trachtenberg, Amber Benson, and Sarah Michelle Gellar all backed Charisma up on her claims and co-stars David Boreanaz, Anthony Stewart Head, and Eliza Dushku. As big fans of many of Joss's works over the years, many of us are still reeling from these revelations, so TV Fanatics, Leora Waltuch, Jessica Lerner, Christine Orlando, and Justin Carriero sat down to discuss our reactions. Jessica: So, I'm a millennial; I did not watch Buffy live growing up, but I did find it in high school. When I started watching, I really related to it because the first three seasons essentially use the monsters as an allegory for what everyone goes through during high school. It was really great to see it from that perspective. There's this entire fandom online. So, that also had the impact of, "Oh, yes, there are other people out there who love it. It's not just me," and that kind of goes with "Yes, you're not all alone." Christine: I mean, I'm probably the oldest one here. So, I remember Buffy as the first young woman action hero we saw on TV. You never saw that before. High school girls were considered "the cheerleaders" or somebody's girlfriend. They were never the lead; they never went out and basically kicked ass while still talking about clothes, shoes, and relationships. I remember that was very different about Buffy when it first hit. That made it really special. (I didn't watch it right from the beginning; I kind of picked it up later, about midway through the series, and then I went back and watched everything to catch up.) Justin: I was a little kid when I first watched it. I will always remember Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 1 Episode 12: Prophecy Girl, the Season One Finale. I'm a huge Buffy fan. When I initially started it, it was my first "teen show." It really taught me about supernatural TV and the different types of TV show that I was watching back then. I watched it as it was initially airing during the '90s and the 2000s. It was just one of those shows: it was smart, witty, the characters actually felt grounded for the most part. It wasn't something polished that you'd seen like Beverly Hills 90210. These were outcasts and people who seemed more along the lines of just wanting to be friends and have fun while also stopping supernatural creatures during high school and so forth. I thought that was really interesting and really great. Pre-Joss Whedon stuff, Buffy was my favorite scripted show, and it still is. That's why I think this will be a great discussion. Leora: I like how you said that it still is your favorite. Justin: I think a lot of it stems from the memories of it and the nostalgia. I grew up with Buffy. I remember seeing Buffy fight The Master for the first time, the feeling of seeing her fight The Mayor, and the feeling of seeing her fight all these iconic characters. I remember seeing Willow and Tara kissing for the first time. There's a lot of iconic moments that are very much ingrained in life. Overall, it's a really great strong show. There are a lot of great elements to it and such iconic characters. I'm trying to keep Joss Whedon as separate as possible and think of it as, "this is the art, and these characters who are now in pop-culture are great, and the show as a whole is so amazing. There's just this one bad element that's attached to this." Leora: Yeah, I see that. I want that to be true, so badly, honestly. For me, it was also a lot of nostalgia. I grew up with it, too; reruns, but still over a decade ago. I watched everything out of order, starting with reruns of Angel the Series Season 4. I'm big into shipping. I fell in love immediately with Fred and Wesley. I also enjoyed Cordelia and Angel. I think that they were really great, but Fred and Wesley are still my favorite couple in any show ever. I'm still so mad about how that ended! I enjoyed the way the show explored vampire lore, evil, and the idea of the soul. I thought Angelous was just the greatest sadistic villain. (I really love sadistic villains; I think they're fascinating). I thought Faith was so cool, and I liked Connor. On Angel the Series Season 5, they brought in Spike, who was awesome. Spike and Angel were always talking about Buffy, and I'm like, "Is this chick really as great as they seem to think she is?" Then I watched Buffy, and she was. Jessica: What's interesting for me was that I watched during the heyday of all this vampire craze, Twilight thing. I read Twilight, and I'm like, "This is awful! Why are people so obsessed with this?" Right around the same time I was watching Buffy, The Vampire Diaries came out. It was really different. The vampires were scary and evil. They weren't some tortured creature that you want to save: they were evil. I thought, "Wow, that's actually pretty cool. They're subverting the genre," not realizing until later. "Oh, wait, no, that's how they made the genre." Leora: Yeah, vampires are always supposed to be evil. There's definitely always been a level of sexuality to vampires; sucking the blood is a metaphor for sex. There is the fact that they stay young and pretty. Dracula was considered attractive, so that's always been a thing, historically. However, the idea of the tortured, romantic, sexy vampire is a lot newer, i.e., Anne Rice and Twilight. (I have never read Twilight. I've heard horrible things about Twilight; I have no intention of reading Twilight.) I saw The Vampire Diaries, and I have mixed feelings about it, but it doesn't hold a candle to Buffy. It just doesn't. The vampires are evil, and they're supposed to be evil. I think that it is important that it stays that way. The idea of evil is something that is sort of addressed. It's black and white thinking versus shades of grey. People love redemption arcs. People love the idea that bad guys can become good guys. We don't want to look at "the other" as the bad guy because that's where prejudice and racism stem from. At the same time, for a show like this, you need to have completely bad characters because you need to justify the fact that we kill them. People need that in fiction sometimes, a clear-cut idea of, "We kill the bad guys, and it's okay to kill them because they're not human." Christine: Going back to your original question about how the news about Whedon changes things: it's kind of the same feeling I have when I see Harvey Weinstein's name in the credits for a show. It makes me cringe. I mean, even if you're the show creator, the show is more than one person. A lot of people put a lot of time and effort into making that product. It does take away a little something from that, knowing that people behind the scenes may have been abused and may have been miserable while they were making it. That now is in the back of my mind when I watch Buffy. You watch certain scenes, and it kind of takes you out of the fantasy of the show, knowing that there was this very real-world situation going on where actors and crew members were treated badly. At least it does for me. I still love the show; that hasn't changed, but there's just that little part of it now that's kind of tarnished because of that. That's just my take on it. Jessica: Jumping off that point, I still love Buffy, and I think they're two different things. However, watching it now, I think it's a little different because you'd heard rumors that Harvey Weinstein did all this creepy stuff, but Buffy was so revolutionary. She was a kick-ass female Vampire Slayer. It was so empowering. To find out that the guy behind one of the most empowering female characters of all time actually degraded women just makes it worse because Buffy was so high up there. Leora: It's because he should have known better. In the audio commentaries on the DVDs and interviews with him, everyone has been lauded until recently as this great feminist. He says things in interviews that we quote, and we point to you, and we're like, "yes, this is how people should behave." The whole concept of the show came from him. J.K. Rowling's stance on transgender people and transgender rights is horrible, but then you look at Harry Potter, and you're sort of like, "well, but there aren't any transgender characters in it represented either negatively or positively." So, it doesn't apply and translate the same way, as this guy was lauded as this great feminist and created something supposed to be such a feminist show. Everybody was like, "Yes, this was his idea, and that was his idea. He's such a genius." I remember interviews where they said things along the lines of, "It's a shame he's not gay because he has such a great grasp on LGBTQ representation and rights." Now we know he was pretending the whole time. You're the creator of Buffy! We expected so much more of you!" It's just not the reality, unfortunately. If that's true, I mean. At this point, it's allegedly said. Leora: I believe it. Justin: It's troubling because there's been a lot of these rumors over the years. Now they've come to the point that they are a fact. Throughout the years, the Charisma Carpenter situation with her character (I know we'll get to that question soon) was something that went through the fan threads for the longest time. Now everything's being revealed that this happened. I completely agree, Christine. Sometimes watching through past episodes of Buffy and Angel, now you have a thought that pops up in your head. There's the scene of Cordelia dying, and for her to die in this way, you can't help but think of Joss Whedon and what he did to Charisma. You think of how he treated Dawn in previous episodes, and Sarah Michelle Gellar and all these different characters. Leora: Since you brought up Cordelia and Charisma Carpenter, let's address that because that's a big thing. Charisma Carpenter was the first person from the Buffyverse to speak out. What she said explains so much about the Cordelia plotline for Angel Season 4 and Angel Season 5. A lot of people have commented on how her arc for those seasons never made total sense. I actually started the show with Angel Season 4, and I really enjoyed it. I know that's an unpopular opinion, but to paraphrase Gunn, it was like a supernatural soap opera. It had a lot of really fun elements. However, I also love the Cordelia character, and I agree that it was very unfair to her character. I'm not sure how else they could have handled her pregnancy. It was interesting the way that they wrote it. Her swan song, Angel The Series Season 5 Episode 12: "You're Welcome was a great episode, but it would have been better if they found a way for Cordelia to live. It would have also been nice if she and Angel could finally have some sort of relationship because I just got to say it: Cangel is better than Bangel. It just is! But we don't have to get into that. Christine: I kind of have to opt-out because I never watched Angel the Series. It just seemed too dark to me. I was never a huge fan of the character Angel, which I know is controversial. So I just never got into it. Leora: If I can plug for a second, he's very different on Angel, the Series. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, he was the tragic love interest. He was always sort of brooding and dark, and we didn't really ever get to know him. On Angel, you get to see sides of him where he can be silly, awkward, and incredibly vain. You find out that he's a terrible singer and that he likes Barry Manilow. They address the fact that he's not very good at paying attention to the details of the people in his life. He misses things. Cordelia's big role in the beginning, long before I think it occurred to them to make them romantic, is to be the person who's like, "Hey, you're not acting human. You need to remember to act human." He's so much more flawed in a very human way, which is fun, and they also just have some really great characters and great plotlines. Darla's whole arc is amazing. I love that character, and when I compared it to what we saw of her on Buffy The Vampire Slayer, I'm disappointed because it is not the same badass person. Darla's the best. I love her. Jessica: I mean, Leora and I had this discussion before, but I actually think Angel the Series Season 4 is the worst season. Part of it is just how they handled Cordelia's storyline. Obviously, they had to write her pregnancy in, but first, she's possessed, and then she sleeps with Angel's son, and then that gets her pregnant. Leora: Right, but she does that while she's possessed, so it's not really her. Jessica: I know, but I'm just saying, we don't know that she's possessed at the time. It's just such a clusterfuck, and it's such a big mess. Initially watching it, while I was sad to see her go at the end of Angel the Series Season 4, Angel the Series Season 5 was such a breath of fresh air. Spike's there. They kind of reset with the monster or supernatural catastrophe of the week. It didn't really register until later when looking through the fan forum that she had been written out that way. When you think about it, you think, "Wow, what they did to her was awful." What also came out was that Joss Whedon apparently asked her, "Are you planning on keeping the baby?" It's not that he incorporated pregnancy. What he put her through was awful. Leora: He fired her for choosing to keep the baby, which is terrible. As great as the last episode with her is, she did not deserve to be fired just because she is a mother. That is very wrong. Jessica: The only reason that she's there is that Sarah Michelle Gellar couldn't be. It was supposed to be that Buffy that was there. Leora: Ah. I didn't know that. That's terrible. At that point, it makes so much more sense for it to be Cordelia. I'm not disparaging Buffy and Angel. There are some problems with that relationship, but overall, I really enjoyed it. They had this sort of epic/tragic dynamic that was incredibly romantic. However, they were never really friends how Angel and Cordelia were friends long before they were anything else. He would need someone who could really do that for him at that point because he had just lost his way. Because this is what I do. You make a mess, and I clean it up." Justin: With the Buffy and Angel, I know, we can get on a huge tangent with that. I'm going to say that I find their relationship one of the most toxic in the actual series, just because I find that theirs is very much of an ill-fated love because they can't be together. They're always creating so many barriers of why they can't be together, but they could find a way. However, with Cordelia and Angel, I find that, as you mentioned, Leora, they were friends first. They were able to develop themselves and really find themselves as their own individual people. Then they find each other as a couple that could work together and balance each other. I think Angel as a TV show was great for their two characters by themselves because they could stand on their own and develop. Angel the Series was one of the best things that happened to Cordelia. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer, she's fun, witty, has those great one-liners, but on Angel the Series, she was able to find herself, develop, become the hero, and solve mysteries by herself. She became what Buffy essentially was without the superpowers. It's terrible how the end of the series develops. Joss Whedon essentially weaponized the show against her. He was able to control her, not in real life, but he took away her character's agency on the show. I think she revealed it on Twitter or somewhere that she wasn't planning to come back for that final episode on Angel the Series Season 5. She only agreed because Joss Whedon promised her that he wouldn't kill her off, and then she found out on the day of set reading the last page that he killed her. It's just terrible to find out that her ending to the story in the "Buffyverse," "Whedonverse," (whatever the right way to say that now is) ended on this terrible, terrible outcome because he was able to get the final nail in his revenge plot against her. It sucks because Cordelia is one of the best characters in the Buffyverse. Jessica: I'll agree. She had one of the best character developments. I disagree with some of your things about Buffy and Angel being toxic because there's this Spike/Buffy rape scene that is problematic. Justin: Yeah, Buffy and Spike: Terrible. Jessica: I know some people like to romanticize that, and I understand that, but if you're planning to ... One of the things looking back makes you say, "Wow. This kind of puts things in perspective," is not only how he treated Cordelia. He also didn't want to hire Amber Benson as Tara, to begin with, because she was on the heavier side. Christine: That's pretty bad. She was gorgeous. Jessica: His treatment of Cordelia, his not wanting to hire Amber, who was amazing, etc. Just looking back, there are all these red flags. We kind of brushed them aside because he was the creator of this feminist icon. So we thought, "No, he can't be a misogynist, or sexist, or someone who would treat women that way." Christine: I will say that we talked about the late '90s/early 2000s when there was no Twitter. There was the internet, but not the constant stream of it today where everything gets out there. It was just a different time, and I think it was easier for these things to be kept secret. Now, thankfully, in some ways, it's much easier for it to hit the light of day where everyone can see what's really happening. That has its pros and cons, but I think it's a pro in this case. Everybody's got a camera, and everybody's got video, and you can actually show, look, this is what happens. When it happens, you can get out there, and you can talk about it. You don't have to wait for a reporter to talk to you or some TV show to put you on in an interview. You can just put it out there to fans. That's something that really didn't exist when the show was on. Leora: It's easier to hold people accountable in that way. However, since the "Me Too" movement started, I feel like there are still so many people getting away with these things. We want to disassociate Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the Series from Joss Whedon, but we still want to do our rewatches. I was on a social media platform discussing this with some people. Someone said, "Oh, I'm so glad I never watched it because now it's not ruined." I posted a comment along the lines of, "Well, you should maybe still check it out because it's really great! Just separate it from him in your mind." Another person hopped on and said, "No, no, no! You should not recommend it to people! People should not be watching it! He still gets money from it!" Can we say, "Yes, watch Buffy! Watch Angel! It has all these good things?" Christine: There's kind of an asterisk to it now. This was a really good show for its time. At the time, we didn't know what was happening behind the scenes. It doesn't necessarily take away from it being a good show that people might like, but I'm not even bothering checking out the Nevers on HBO because of this. Anything else he does in the future, I'm probably not going to make the time to tune in for. Leora: He was fired from The Nevers, actually. Leora: Yeah. He said he decided to take a step back, but there's some doubt about whether or not it was his choice. Either way, he's not a part of it anymore. Christine: Anything that his name is associated with now; it's like, "Nah." There's so much TV out there that you can't possibly watch it all, which makes it easier to cut that out. It's a tough call. If somebody feels that way about the show and doesn't want to watch it because of him, I don't know that I could fight that. Leora: From the financial standpoint, yes, he still gets paid when people watch it. However, I would assume that all the people that he was toxic to, such as Charisma Carpenter, would also get royalties when people watch it. I would at least hope so. I would imagine that it would be somewhat good for their careers and their financial situation for people to watch because they worked really hard on it and did a good job. It's tragic that they were treated so badly on it. Sarah Michelle Gellar said she doesn't want to be associated with Joss Whedon anymore, but she's still proud to be still associated with Buffy. She's showing it to her kids now, which is adorable. Justin: II think the show as a whole has many great moments in it. There are a lot of great life lessons beyond it being a supernatural show. Buffy and The Scoobies deal with loss on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 5 Episode 16, the Joyce death episode. It is a really sad and iconic one. Some things are part of its legacy as a great TV show that you can watch again. However, if somebody doesn't want to watch it for many specific reasons like vampires aren't their thing, or essentially the Joss Whedon situation, don't push them. As much as you love a show and stan and fight for a show, everyone has their reasons why they won't want to watch something. If there is a reason why then it probably won't be interesting to them. So, don't push it. Your love for the show doesn't equate to them having to love the show. Buffy as a whole is a great show that people can come back to. There are many great moments, but it's essentially where the person is and why they do or don't want to watch it. Leora: Part of it for me is that if I hadn't been pushed, I wouldn't have watched the show in the first place. I remember having no interest. I thought I was just gonna be someone fighting vampires; that sounds boring to me. I'm not really into action scenes. I find them kind of boring. I need to be invested in the people themselves, so there needs to be more going on around that. Someone in my life who I trust pushed me a lot to give the show a chance, and I'm really grateful because it means so much to me. I'm definitely the sort of person who tries to get people in my life to watch things partially because once they watch it, I can talk about it with them. It's fun to watch something with someone and see them react to something for the first time and be like, "Oh my God! Angel's a vampire! Oh, my God! Angel's evil! Oh my God, Buffy killed Angel!" (Not all the "Oh my God!" moments are about Angel, but those are all pretty big ones.) Christine: That's the fun of TV, being able to share it with people. Leora: Exactly! Jessica: I rewatched Buffy during the pandemic before everything coming out about Joss Whedon because it's one of my comfort shows. I would still recommend it, but I think you need to have a disclaimer. Before, I have pushed people saying, "this is a really great show; check it out." I may not push as hard anymore. I would still recommend it, but I'd add, "FYI. Remember that this is by that person?" Christine: My daughter's 11. I don't think she's quite ready for Buffy yet, probably the next couple of years. I'll probably have her watch at least the first few episodes and see what she thinks of it and if she likes it. We've done several shows that way. Sometimes she falls down the rabbit hole with me, and it is something that we share. We've rewatched entire shows, so so we'll see how that goes. Leora: I always dreamed of having a daughter and showing her Buffy: discussing it and assigning term papers on this thing and that thing due when we watch the next episode. Christine: It's a lot of fun actually, as your kid gets older if they start to like the TV that you like. It really is a lot of fun to see how they see it because sometimes they don't see things the same way. It brings up some interesting conversations. It'll be interesting when we get to Buffy. Christine: In regards to the question of whether or not we can still consider this a feminist show, I think it is just because of when it aired. It was very different. You didn't see a young female character like this on TV at the time. So, in the same way, for example, The Mary Tyler Moore Show was considered a feminist show simply because she got a job and a career. This will always also be considered. However, when you go back to that time frame, I was recently watching a repeat of NYPD Blue, which was a big hit at the same time Buffy was on. My takeaway from that episode was that there was a new female detective, and the captain had to come and say, "Yeah, we don't have a female locker room. You're just gonna have to make do." That was the late '90s/early 2000s; that wasn't all that long ago in the scheme of things. Then there was a rape storyline, where the rape victim had to have the police officer try and explain to her husband how being raped wasn't her fault. He was blaming her because she wore a sexy dress. Somebody had to sit him down and try and explain to him not to be angry at his wife for being raped. My reaction was, "Oh, my God!" It's not 1952! This was the year 2000, and this was still on TV. This was what was out there. That doesn't hold up to me. There are episodes of Friends that don't hold up to me. I loved the show at the time, but when I see these episodes now, they make me cringe. There will be things in Buffy that don't age well because that happens with a lot of TV. Aspects of it are going to be great, and aspects of it won't hold up. I do that with my daughter. Well, it was the 1950s. That was the way it was. Even though the real-life Lucy was the star of a show, that was still a relatable plotline at the time. I think I Love Lucy is still a fantastic show. With all TV, fortunately, or unfortunately, it's a microcosm of when it was on. If it's racist or something like that, maybe we don't want to watch. Buffy is still a great show, but there are things that they dealt with on Buffy that I wish they had done differently. Maybe they would if it was done now, but that's just how TV works. Christine: Sexual Assault on the show. For example, when Faith takes over Buffy's body, she goes and has sex with Riley. That's almost made like a joke. Riley was having sex with somebody when he didn't know who it was, and Buffy almost kind of blames him for it afterward. He didn't know. That always bothered me. Leora: I think she blames him for not knowing; she felt he should have recognized that it wasn't her. There's a history in magical lore shows and stories of this mystical way to impersonate another person and then have sex. It's referred to as magical rape. I'm not overly familiar with Arthurian mythology, but I believe someone impersonates Guenivere to sleep with Arthur or Lancelot. What's known as dubious consent and magical rape goes back quite a way in fiction. Christine: When Buffy was invisible, she started having sex with Spike, and he has no idea what's happening until he finally realizes that it's her. It was kind of played for laughs, but I always thought that was a little icky. I haven't done a rewatch of the series in a while, and I'm sure I'd find things that would make me say, "Oh, okay, yeah. That was the '90s." Justin: There were many random, weird instances of people using magic to have fun and do very questionable things. The one that popped into my head, not Buffy, was from the soap opera Passions. It was Kay using the powers to become Charity, sleeping with Miguel, and then getting pregnant. It was supposed to be this big dramatic storyline, but looking back now with 2021 goggles, she took away his consent. Buffy as a whole tried to use magic as allegory. For example, on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6, when Willow becomes addicted to magic, that's clearly a euphemism for drug use. I feel like if that were done in 2021, that would be much more overt, doing a storyline properly with much more respect than it actually was treated. They have a couple of other cases like that. For example, with the storyline of Xander being in love with Buffy and trying to find ownership over her because of his crush on her, that's a huge issue altogether. Some of that is potentially because it was the '90s, but other times, maybe that was just bad writing from the person creating it. So it's very questionable. Jessica: I'm going to jump in and say obviously one of the most problematic things is Spike attempting to rape Buffy. Christine: I hated that they did that. Jessica: They try to blame it on him not having a soul. On Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7, he's this romantic lead, and they are in love. I have very conflicted feelings about it. When we get to Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7, I'm trying to hold on to my anger. He's like a different person, but I still hate that they put me in that position. Christine: Buffy and Spike were incredibly flawed, but I enjoyed them. I hated that she was always so mean to him. They were kind of this fun, dark couple that I always thought had the potential to be so much more. Then they had him try to rape her. It was like the jumping-off point for this plot where they wanted to redeem him, and for me, there was just no redemption from that! That just obliterated his character for me. If you wanted to have him do something really dark and then come back from it, they could have found something else. However, to have him sexually assault the woman he claimed to love, and then have him go off and find his soul and say that everything's gonna be okay, and go back to this romantic plotline ... That was one of those jump-the-shark moments for me in the show where I could never look at it the same way. Leora: When I first watched the show, I was a preteen. My reaction to Buffy and Spike was, "They're so romantic. Why is she so mean to him?" When I rewatched in my 20s, I found their relationship on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 incredibly toxic. I realized he was not the innocent victim in it. He can see how much going to him is destroying her. She's coming to him because she is deeply depressed and because she is just at this place of loss and hopelessness. She's using him, and she hates herself for it. It's not good for her. He can sort of see that. She's told him that. However, he gets what he wants to get out of it, so he doesn't turn her away. He tries to draw her into the darkness with him because then he gets what he wants that way. I feel like if he had a soul at that point, he would have been a friend and said, "Yes, I love you, but you are not making smart decisions right now. You are feeling vulnerable. You are in a bad place. For both of our sakes, I think you need just to go home." That wasn't what he wanted. It's incredibly toxic. So, when the storyline reached its climax with his attempted rape, it forced the audience to remember that Spike is still evil. I hate to say this because it's something Joss Whedon said in the commentary on The DVDs. I don't want just to say what Joss Whedon said because I don't know if I can take what he said at face value now, but it made sense. He said that the audience was forgetting that Spike was evil. They had fallen so in love with Spike and so in love with the relationship that they have forgotten that Spike is evil. Again, when I was younger, I believed the trope that love can redeem a villain, i.e., you fall in love with someone, and it makes you good. I'm older, and I'd like to think a little wiser. I've come to realize that that isn't realistic. If you're a bad person and you fall in love with someone, even if it's someone good themselves, you don't become good just because you love them. Spike still didn't have a soul. Loving someone who was a hero didn't make him a good guy. He would do anything for her; he was still a bad guy. On some level, he still wanted to be a bad guy. His reaction to attempting to rape Buffy was a cross between being disgusted with himself for almost doing it and questioning why he didn't go through with it. She stopped him, but he could have kept fighting her. She was still injured and weak. He could have kept trying until he succeeded, but he got snapped out of it once he realized what he was doing. He was horrified with himself, but he was also questioning himself. A lot of it came down to remind us that he doesn't have a soul. He can't be good. The message that loving someone doesn't make you good is essential. Shows have a tendency, even today, of using a relationship and a love interest as the therapist who changes the person and redeems them. That's not how change works. A person has to want to change. They have to make a choice and put in the effort to redeem themselves. If they do it for someone else, it won't work, and it won't be real. Also, putting all of your issues on your partner and expecting them to be your savior is really unfair to them. When Spike went to get his soul, he was doing it for selfish reasons. He thought Buffy would want to be with him if he had a soul. It wasn't until after he had it that he changed. It became about more than Buffy. He realized he had done terrible things, and now that he could understand that, he wanted to change for him. Buffy the Vampires Season 7 presented a different plotline for him and made him essentially a different character. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel the series had at this point established what having a soul meant in their lore. They leaned into that and were able to take him on a journey of redemption. By the end of his redemption arc on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7, they had developed a healthy dynamic and become a couple that you actually could root for. You could never root for them without him having a soul and going on that journey. I don't think he ever would have gone to get it if he hadn't crossed a line. If they just had him kill someone, I don't think it would have been enough for him to say to himself, "I need to make some kind of change," because he would not have been disgusted with himself. He would have thought, "I'm still evil." Before that, he still did evil things as late as Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6, and he embraced it. A part of him might even think that was why Buffy liked him. He said to her on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 Episode 15, "You know what I am. You've always known. You come to me all the same." This was the thing that had to happen for him to say, "Something has to change." Monologue over. Justin: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show that I find sometimes blurs the line between love and obsession. Spike's interest in Buffy very early on was very much an obsession with her. When it was blending towards him, saying that he loved her, that's still felt very much like he was obsessed with her. His actions towards her were, "Well, I want to be with you, so why can't you just be with me?" He crossed that line many times to the point that he seemed to feel if he couldn't have her, he'd rather see her dead. That was very much along the lines of him being a demon and being allowed to embrace his evil side. It even goes back to the Buffy and Angel relationship because they couldn't be together due to the actions of the moment of true happiness. So that was the dichotomy of "What I can't have, but what I want." Going back to Spike, the issue they have is that nothing he could have done once they've crossed that line would have absolved him of what he actually did. The problem is that the show itself never properly handles the redemption of its characters through the big consequences of what happens. It's sort of brushes it away. Maybe it has a moment or two of trying to approach it with gloves, i.e., a grand gesture or maybe a moment with the scoobies. They never actually showcased the long-standing incidents. Even after he had done all that, Spike's redemption arc was to get a soul because he wanted to make that grand big gesture of being like, "this is how I'll get forgiveness. This is how I can be with Buffy. This is how we can all be happy." But even then, it led to him making that gesture, but then being "manipulated" by The First and going on a killing spree and becoming another serial killer in Sunnydale. That in and of itself should be enough of a reason why Buffy and Spike should not have been together because he still was going back to his old ways. It continually steamrolls itself and makes it where even though these characters were doing bad things but never finding forgiveness in themselves, when we look at their actions, it is a serious issue. I feel like Spike is a character that they keep trying to redeem, but everything he's done, even with a soul, just doesn't absolve him of those issues. Jessica: I'm just going to say that a lot of these anti-heroes kill people on vampire shows. They kill people, and it's fine. We still love them. On The Vampire Diaries, we have Damon Salvatore. On The Originals, we have Klaus. They do bad things. They do terrible things, but we still root for them. That's problematic of a larger issue. Leora: I'm glad you brought up Vampire Diaries because that is definitely a comparison that I've made in many ways in my mind. The Vampire Diaries isn't a show against vampires. It's a show for vampires. The leads are vampires, and the implication is that the vampires are supposed to be the good guys. It wasn't until Vampire Diaries Season 7 that I realized, "No, the vampires aren't the good guys." They're the main characters, so we think we're supposed to root for them, but even Caroline, who is the "good vampire," turned off her humanity switch and crossed some serious lines. The main characters are the bad guys, they are not good people, but we're supposed to excuse it because they are the show's focus. On Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, excluding a select few, the vampires were the bad guys. I like that the show took that stance. In regards to Spike and his redemption arc, he never killed under his own control once he got his soul. He was basically brainwashed. I would argue that his redemption arc was good. I do agree that they could have addressed the attempted rape a little more. I think that once he had his soul, he was no longer the person he was before he had his soul, so he couldn't be held responsible. I guess it's like if someone gets amnesia and has to start over. If they have a new personality and never remember who they were before, it's not fair to hold that new person responsible for the actions of their former self. That doesn't mean that if the old person hurt people, those people don't still have to deal with those consequences. So, I would have liked to see more about Buffy dealing with the fact that she had been assaulted. Maybe part of the reason they didn't address it, aside from the fact that they were focused on redeeming Spike, was that there was so much going on during Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7. The characters didn't have time to breathe. They didn't even celebrate her birthday that year. She was incredibly preoccupied, and they touched on it a little, but they didn't really touch on it as much as they could have. I hear they touch on it a little in the comics at some point; supposedly, she and Spike talk about it. They could have definitely addressed what it meant. It wasn't the first instance of any kind of rape in the show. People brought up that on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 Episode 17, when Jonathan made the world love him, he had those two twins who were sleeping with him. That is basically rape. Also, there was Katrina and what Warren and The Trio tried to do to her on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 Episode 13. Some people refer to the fact that Willow made Tara forget that they fought as mind rape, which isn't a concept I completely understand. I can sort of see the premise. If she made her forget their fight, and then they were intimate ... they wouldn't have been intimate if she remembered that they fought. I guess that could be construed as dubious consent. Christine: It's not quite the same, but it's sort of like roofying somebody's drink. They no longer have the ability to consent or say no. I know that's not exactly the same, but I think that's the parallel people look at when they think of that storyline. I love the Dark Willow storyline. It's one of my favorite storylines on the series. Leora: Yeah, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 is my favorite season. Jessica: Since we've reached Dark Willow, let's address how they killed off Tara. Christine: It's the old '90s/2000s bury-your-gays trope. If there's a gay character, one of them has to die because that's just the way it was always done. We never used to really have gay characters that were main characters on shows. Now we have them, but we've got to punish them by killing one of them for some reason. Leora: I can see how people could definitely get there. It could be an example of the bury-your-gays trope. However, from what I understand of that trope, it has them die because they're gay, or as punishment for being gay, or to further a straight character's storyline. Tara had been a fully developed influential character on the show for a while at that point. We knew she was gay for over two seasons, and she hadn't died up until that point for being gay. Jessica: She also wasn't a series regular. Leora: No, she was not a series regular, which was very sad. She deserved to be a series regular. However, my point was that she had been around for a couple of years, as gay and in a gay relationship, and in that time, it didn't feel like she wasn't accepted or like she was any more likely to die than the other characters. True, she was killed off to further the storyline of another character, but that other character was also gay (possibly bi, but that's a different discussion). Willow was the main character who was gay, and it was to further her storyline, not a straight character's, that they killed Tara off. Some of the writers have said that they should not have killed off Tara. I would have loved it if they'd found a way to bring Tara back because Willow and Tara Should Have Ended Up Together! However, I also really appreciate the direction they went with Willow's storyline. I can't see her going over the edge and becoming the big bad of Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 6 the way she did if they hadn't killed Tara. I can understand from a storyline perspective how that might have felt very necessary. Christine: I both agree and disagree. I feel like it was an easy out just because it seemed like so many shows killed one of their gay characters that it's literally considered a trope now for TV. From a story perspective, I think to get to the Dark Willow phase, you needed something serious to push her over the edge. She was obviously headed down a dark road with magic before that happens. It could have been interesting if something else pushed her and Tara was there for her. I think I would have preferred that. At the same time, I love scenes like Willow tracking down Warren, with the little bullet that she's putting into him, and then he's trying to beg and explain, and she's like, "Bored now." Maybe I have a dark nature, but I always love that scene. Leora: I love that scene too! Jessica: My problem with how they killed off Tara isn't the fact that they that she is a lesbian character dying. It's the fact that she and Willow just reunited! They literally were just intimate and making up, and then they kill her! Also, the fact that Amber Benson was a series regular only for that episode, because Joss didn't think anyone would suspect. It's not that they killed her off, which is also problematic, but it's how they went about killing her off. It's kind of like how they killed Lexa off on The 100. She and Clarke literally just reconciled; they had sex and then stray bullet. Justin: I would have loved it if Tara and Willow were the first same-sex couples to have a happy ending by the time the series ended. I felt like their story would have been one that would have seamlessly progressed to the end and would have made perfect sense. (I'm still not a fan of Kennedy. I feel like there's a complete issue to talk about altogether.) I do like a bit of the final few episodes and the development of Dark Willow, especially the battle in the magic shop, and Anya in the background trying to like deal with all that, etc. I love Anya. Xander's character at that point was at a different type of crossroads. Christine: I would have preferred that because Xander always kind of bored me, to be honest. I know he has his fans, but I was never the biggest fan of Xander. He had his place, especially the first few seasons, but as time went on, I ended up liking Anya more than I liked him in that relationship. I never thought of it in the way Justin just said, that they could have gotten Willow to the same place by having killed off Xander instead of Tara, and I think I would have preferred that. Leora: I could see that. That could definitely have been an interesting way, but I don't think they ever would have killed off one of the core four. They did have a history, and they continued with a history of killing off the love interests and people close to the core four. Pretty much everyone besides Buffy, Willow, Xander, and Giles was fair game. When the dust settles at the end of the series, Willow's the only one with a living love interest. Spike is dead. Anya is dead. Giles only ever really loved Jenny, and she died ages ago. Dawn never really had a proper love interest. They've all loved and lost. Xander's only other love interest was Cordelia, who is in a coma over on Angel the Series, and will be dead soon. It would have definitely been interesting if they'd killed Xander, but I feel Xander was such an integral part of the show that they would never have done that. Jessica: No, they wouldn't have killed Xander because Xander's is essentially an extension of Joss Whedon. Xander always gets the best quips. He doesn't actually add much to the show besides getting really great zingers or one-liners because he's never really that interesting. Leora: I always felt Xander was like the Sokka; he's the guy who expresses the feeling of: Everybody around me has powers and abilities and things to contribute, and I'm just here. I'm just this normal human guy who can't do anything. Yet somehow, I still have value, which I can see definitely appealing to viewers. Nobody watching the show was a witch, a slayer, a vampire, a former demon, or a watcher. They might be smart or know how to hack a computer, but mostly they're just ordinary people. Xander had a lot of issues. They made it very clear he had a bad home life. He had a lot of stuff with his family that was really difficult to deal with. Even when he's dealing with his really low self-esteem and knowing that he really doesn't have anything to contribute, he still cares about his friends and about helping them save the day. He cares about making sure Buffy, Willow, and the people he cares about make it out of whatever alive. He can contribute something to that cause, which matters. That being said, there are definitely episodes where he doesn't come off very well. Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2 Episode 16 particularly. I can't defend that to anyone. Also, I see Xander differently because I didn't watch everything in order. When people call him the "nice guy," they're referring a lot to how he treated Buffy in the early seasons. By the time I was watching it, his feelings for Buffy were a lot less significant. He was already in a relationship with Cordelia (and then he cheated on her with Willow). He knew that nothing was ever gonna happen with him and Buffy, and he had more or less accepted it. The idea that he had been pining for her wasn't something that I was so aware of or familiar with, and I found it very weird when I got to that point. Jessica: He and Dawn get married in the comics and have a baby. Leora: I've heard that. I had mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it sounds super weird, and it definitely changed that scene where he's telling her that she's extraordinary and makes you view it from a whole other lens. On the other hand, of all the things I've heard about the comics, it's definitely not the worst. He had two really great love interests, both of whom are dead, so while I'd prefer him to end up with Anya, I could maybe get on board with him and Dawn. Jessica: Emma Caulfield actually asked to be killed off. Leora: I've heard that. I don't really blame the writers for killing her for that reason. I just really wanted her and Xander to end up together. Just curious. Jessica: I believe if there was ever a revival, she didn't want to be a part of it, or even if Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 7 hadn't been the last season, she was just done with the show. Christine: I wonder why that is. Now, I wonder why that is. Leora: That's a good point. Maybe it had to do with Joss Whedon's toxic environment. Christine: Yeah, "I want nothing more to do with this." I'm speculating here, but it's got to be something behind the scenes. Leora: After playing a role for a long time, some actors just decide they want something different. Leora: Four, plus a few episodes on Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 3, when they introduced her character. Christine: I could be wrong. We have no idea. It just sounds odd to me. Justin: The one I'm very curious about is something that Michelle Trachtenberg said in one of her posts; that the producers and everyone basically said, "He can't be in a room with her ever again." It must be really serious for whatever he was saying to a teenager at the time. Christine: She was just a kid at the time. That's yikes! Leora: It wasn't so much that he can't be in a room with her as he can't be alone in a room with her, which makes me think that he probably tried something, which is disturbing. Jessica: He could have just said something very inappropriate for a 14-year-old to hear. Christine: Yeah, it could be that. Either way, though. He's a grown-up. He's supposed to know how to treat someone who is still a kid. It's disturbing. Justin: Just from rewatching Buffy throughout all these years, he's the one character from the beginning that does not hold up. How he talks to/about Buffy and Willow, and even his quips about general life, he says many terrible things in terms of his approach to the world. It's a lot of misogynistic, homophobic, and very much negative stuff. At the time, we very much brushed it away, saying, "Oh, that's just Xander. He's just a teen boy." When you step back, these are really terrible things that anyone now would never say, for the most part. I just find that if that is a reflection of Joss and he saw himself in that character., then that's just one of the terrible things. Justin: Throughout the entire series, but especially him at his beginnings, if that's just his initial character development, that is pretty shocking. Then how he grows from there, seeing that they don't really change much about him. He has some growth, but there's still a lot of those moments throughout the rest of the series. Justin: At the beginning of the series, I think it was along the lines of his comments towards Buffy and saying things about why he was very much in love with her and treatments. He would take quips about what she's wearing, "Buffy in the Buff," and basically those types of fantasies that he held in his mind. Then going into Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 2, with Larry, who was like one of the first LGBTQ characters on the show, Xander was very homophobic with his comments towards that character. Those types of quips were peppered throughout the rest of the series. They were treated as humor, and Xander being Xander when just surface level that is actually a terrible type of direction for the character. Leora: They have said that, at the time, Joss Whedon had planned to make either Willow or Xander gay, and he hadn't decided which one it was going to be. So there's foreshadowing for both on the early seasons. I know that the exchange with Larry was supposed to be that for Xander the same way Vamp Willow was meant to show foreshadowing for Willow. I can agree that there is harmful stuff there, though it is more in the beginning. It's stuff you would hope Xander would learn from, especially because his friends are all pretty much girls. Unfortunately, I don't think there was the same level of awareness of LGBTQ back then, even if it doesn't seem that long ago. Christine: Yet it was. When you watch things, it's very different, the way things are talked about. It's very odd. Whether you're male or female, gay, or straight, or trans, or whatever, it's all just people. Characters that we see on TV are just a reflection of people. Everybody gets their due. We don't have to be like, "Oh, finally, we get to see this! They're not hiding that!" It'd be nice if, eventually, we get there. We're getting there slowly. When you look back at what was just in the '90s/2000s, we've certainly made some progress, but there's still a way to go. I think Buffy reflects that. Leora: There are other franchises that Joss Whedon's name is associated with: Firefly, Dollhouse, The Avengers, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog, etc. Christine: I never watched Dollhouse, even though I really like Eliza Dushku. Leora: Yes, and Amy Acker and Summer Glau. Honestly, I don't even remember the concept anymore. I just remember that the concept kind of sounded a little cringe-worthy. So I never even tuned into it. Leora: It's so disturbing and creepy, but it also really makes you think and question a lot. Honestly, it was a good show. I definitely got more into it than Firefly. With Firefly, there's a problem in that it's basically celebrating the Confederacy. It's a metaphor for the South and the Confederacy. Christine: I never really saw it like that. I saw it more as Star Wars Evil Empire versus the Rebel Alliance sort of a thing. So I guess I viewed that very differently. I never put it into Earth terms. I really enjoyed Firefly. I didn't watch it until many years later. I binge-watched it, and I enjoyed it a lot. I wish it could have gone on. It certainly had some issues. I'd love to watch it with my kid, but I think the Reavers might scare her a little too much. Then there's the fact that Inara is a companion, which is basically a high-end prostitute. I both liked that storyline and don't like that storyline because I think we're never getting rid of sex workers. You can moralize it all you want. They call it the oldest profession for a reason. It's not going away. I do think they deserve protections that only will happen if it's legalized. They have The Companions Guild, where there are rules, and there are health checks, and they can blacklist clients. I'm not necessarily against that. I think those are things that should be more discussed in the present day. At the same time, Inara is basically a prostitute. Christine: Yeah, there are scenes there that do bother me. It's been a while since I've watched it, so I can't point to anything specific, but that's also a sticking point for me when I'm watching it. I don't like that. He keeps putting her down. He keeps calling her certain names, etc. I still enjoy the show a great deal, but there are parts of it that I wish had been different. Jessica: The premise of Dollhouse is problematic, in and of itself. The things that people want those dolls to do, and we're going back to that consent thing. Leora: Certainly. The idea is that they signed consent forms when they agreed to be a doll in the first place for those five years, but -- Jessica: I mean, Echo didn't exactly have a choice. It was either go to jail and face charges or be a doll for a couple of years. Leora: She was trying to investigate from within and bring down the company. It was the sort of show that gave me nightmares, but I was also fascinated with it. Jessica: I'm just saying the premise of Dollhouse is problematic. Christine: The premise is why I never even watched it. I mean, it could have been a great show, but the premise sounded so icky at the time that I just said no. Even though I really enjoyed the actresses who were the show's stars, I had no interest in watching it. Leora: I don't think I knew the premise going in. I knew it was called Dollhouse. I knew it was Joss Whedon. I knew it starred Eliza Dushku. That was enough for me to look at it. Now, if it has Joss Whedon, I'm not going to take a look at it. In fairness. I don't think the Marvel movies are as good as everyone thinks they are. I lost interest in them a long time ago. I felt like his movies were never as good as his TV shows. Also, it's a boys club. The Marvel movies that he did are a boys club. This is not for women in the same way that Buffy was. Somehow, he wrote a show for women, where women take center stage and use that to make it seem like he's a feminist. When he writes a movie like Avengers, the guys were the worst kind of male. Tony Stark and Thor, a lot of those guys were the absolute worst. Cap and The Hulk were okay. People compare the Snyder Cut to the original Justice League. I only saw the Snyder Cut, but I thought it was really good. I've heard that Justice League before was really bad. So, he's had some not-so-successful stuff, and it's good that we're not looking at him like he's a god anymore. Because it was a good episode. Christine: I usually hate musical episodes. I heard they were doing a musical episode, and I thought, "oh God, no!" and I just loved that episode. It was so much fun. Leora: It ruined me for musical episodes. I have yet to see it's equal. It is so good. I've expected that level of quality every time I see a show that will do a musical episode, and it never hit those notes. Pun intended. Justin: That album is saved on my Spotify because it's amazing. If anyone listening listens to Buffering the Podcast, when they did their Episode 4: the musical one, they did an entire podcast of them singing in a musical with different songs. I recommend checking it out. Jessica: Okay, I will not start any new Joss Whedon products unless it's a continuation. A while back, there was talk that they would do like a spin-off or a reboot of Buffy but with a black Slayer. I won't start any new ones. I will go back and rewatch my old favorites, keeping in mind everything that's happened. Christine: I agree. With The Nevers, I heard his name attached to it, and I thought, "No, I'll just skip that one." There's so much TV out there, and part of our jobs is to watch TV. Once you realize what was happening in the shows before, you just don't want to. I don't want to associate with that or watch that necessarily. It's a shame because some of those shows were good. I just hate thinking that people were being mistreated behind the scenes now, and that's a part of what I think when I watch them now. Justin: Yeah, I agree with Jessica and Christine. I will watch the previous series and do rewatches of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It's still an amazing show. However, it is one of those things where I will not watch it if he does come up with something new in the future. I'm not supporting Joss Whedon, the opinion has changed completely from everything he has done before, and I definitely won't support him as a person. Well, that wraps up our discussion on enjoying certain franchises in a world where we know what kind of person Joss Whedon really is. Is Xander a "nice guy?" Let us know in the comments. Leora W is a staff writer for TV Fanatic.. | https://www.tvfanatic.com/2021/06/has-the-joss-whedon-scandal-ruined-the-buffyverse-forever/ |
Will there be a fourth stimulus check this summer? | Many of us have spent the last of those $1,400 stimulus checks that arrived earlier this spring. Just like a morning cup of coffee, Americans are getting used to those "stimmy checks," as they are now fondly called. Individuals earning less than $75,000 a year took in: $1,200 in the spring of 2020 $600 in January 2021 $1,400 in March 2021 Congress has talked about possibly providing a fourth check in the upcoming infrastructure stimulus package, but so far it has not made any progress. In the meantime, more than 2 million people have signed a Change.org petition asking for recurring $2,000 stimulus checks. Don't laugh. It's not completely far-fetched: 21 Democrats in Congress have signed a letter asking for recurring payments. But many small business owners and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce claim all the free money showing up in checking accounts (along with extended unemployment payments) makes people not want to work and may be partly responsible for the labor shortage this year. President Joe Biden's thin majority in the U.S. Senate, meanwhile, does not appear to have the votes right now for another round of checks, according to the latest report from Yahoo Finance. YouTubers cash in But from the "doesn't that stink" file is all the YouTubers cashing in on a fourth stimulus check. They're not getting one they're just speculating about whether there will be one, and they're collecting ad and sponsorship money while they do it. Dozens are posting stimulus check videos every few days and making more money from speculating than they ever would from stimulus checks. According to Business Insider, some of these YouTubers are earning thousands of dollars just guessing if there will be more checks. The king of these videos is "It's Jimmy," with more than 300,000 YouTube subscribers watching his almost daily stimulus check updates. Consolation for many parents But although another round of $1,400 or $2,000 checks may not happen, there is one consolation for tens of millions of American parents. The IRS in July will start sending out monthly $300 Child Tax Credit checks to most families with children, as it diverts what had been a once-a-year tax credit to monthly checks, at least through the end of this year. You can bet the YouTubers will be making hundreds of videos, and earning thousands of dollars more, from those child checks. As always, don't waste your money. __________________________ Don't Waste Your Money" is a registered trademark of Scripps Media, Inc. ("Scripps"). Like" John Matarese Money on Facebook Follow John on Instagram @johnmataresemoney Follow John on Twitter (@JohnMatarese) For more consumer news and money saving advice, go to www.dontwasteyourmoney.com | https://www.kgun9.com/money/consumer/dont-waste-your-money/will-there-be-a-fourth-stimulus-check-this-summer |
How can the NFL balance media access with mental health? | Getty Images Reporters who cover the NFL have in recent years become more and more sensitive to the mental health of the men who play professional football. As long, that is, as the sensitivity to mental health doesnt threaten media access to players after every game, no matter how agonizing the outcome. Thats the balance that needs to be struck, and the sports media issue of the moment. Naomi Osakas withdrawal from the French Open brings to the front burner the tension between player mental health and mandatory participation in press conferences. I recently wrote that players should be give the option to talk to reporters, and that if it were voluntary plenty of players would still choose to speak. Many in the media strenuously object to that approach, for obvious reasons; they dont want their jobs to become harder if players have to be coaxed to speak. They prefer the automatic, knee-jerk entitlement to players being available after every game, even if the players dont want to be. The position that access should remain mandatory continues to ignore the fact that players arent actually required to say anything. As long as they show up, they can give non-responsive answers or repeat catch phrases like Im just here so I wont get fined. And they wont get fined. Thus, if it truly were voluntary to show up in the first place, plenty would still choose to talk. Its not, as some would argue, just a game. Players can lose their starting jobs and, eventually, their roster spots if they make too many mistakes. They can land elsewhere, but at less money, and theyll have to move. Eventually, a career will be over before the player wants it to be, forcing him to prematurely figure out how to finance a lifestyle based on consistently earning an NFL salary. Too many fans have a shut up and entertain us attitude when it comes to pro athletes. Plenty of those same fans also have a shut up and talk when youre expected to attitude when it comes to press availability. Even those fans who pay no attention at all to the things said by players in post-game press conferences will rattle off phrases like, Youre paid to do it, so just do it. Its appropriate to have the broader conversation about whether they should be required to do it. Years ago, the NFL needed players to be willing to talk to reporters in order to give reporters reasons to write articles about the game. Today, media outlets dont need to be plied with automatic access to write about the NFL or its team. Media outlets and those who write/speak for them will find a way to cover the teams and the games. Again, Im not suggesting that there should be no locker-room access. But the players who dont want to talk shouldnt have to. | https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/06/02/how-can-the-nfl-balance-media-access-with-mental-health/ |
What if the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is actually a mass of dark matter? | Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers at the International Center for Relativistic Astrophysics has found evidence that suggests Sagittarius A* is not a massive black hole but is instead a mass of dark matter. In their paper published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters, the group describes the evidence they found and how it has stood up to testing. For several years the scientific community has agreed that there is a mass at the center of the Milky Way galaxy and that the mass is a supermassive black holeit has been named Sagittarius A*. Its presence has never been verified directly, however, instead it has been inferred by noting the behavior of bodies around it. In this new effort, the researchers suggest that another type of mass could produce the same reactions by other bodies and in fact could help explain some anomalies that have been seen. Back in 2014, astrophysicists were confronted with a problem they could not explaina gas cloud that had been named G2 moved to a position close enough to Sagittarius A* that it should have been destroyed and pulled in by the black hole. Instead, the gas cloud continued on its way, unharmed. The researchers in this new effort suggest the reason G2 was able to survive its journey past Sagittarius A*, was because Sagittarius A* is not a black holeit is a mass of dark matter. To come to this conclusion, they created a simulation of the Milky Way, where Sagittarius A* was replaced by a mass of dark matter and then let it run. In so doing, they found the Milky Way could run pretty much the same way it would if there were a black hole at its centernearby S-stars would behave the same, for example, as would the rotational curve of the Milky Way's outer halo. The researchers went even further, suggesting that such a mass would be composed of darkinos, which would belong to the same group as fermions. If they were to clump together, the simulation showed, they would have characteristics very similar to a black holethe exceptions being its most extreme features. Explore further The fastest star ever observed 2021 Science X Network | https://phys.org/news/2021-06-black-hole-center-milky-mass.html |
Whats next for Keston Hiura? | Keston Hiura just cant seem to get it going in the majors this season. The Brewers first baseman is hitting just .127. Hes logged just one hit in eight games since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Its tough to watch at times, voice of the Brewers Jeff Levering told Wisconsins Morning News on 620 WTMJ on Wednesday. Everybody knows what he can do from the 2019 season, where he has one of the great rookie years, and you think that hes on this great path. Last year, things went a little sideways. You could blame the pandemic. You could blame the 60-game season, just not getting himself going. This year, its kind of the same deal. I feel like he has to have just a couple of balls fall, and then he gets his mentality back in there. Levering thinks another roster move could be on the horizon. As Craig Counsell said on the post-game show [on Tuesday], youve got to have some production from that position. Youve got to have some production from that spot in the order. If the Brewers arent getting that from Keston Hiura, theyre going to have to make a change. Hiura and the Brewers have the day off on Wednesday. They start a 4-game weekend series against the Diamondbacks at American Family Field on Thursday night. | https://wtmj.com/homepage-showcase/2021/06/02/whats-next-for-keston-hiura/ |
Will Leclerc's new gearbox bring Ferrari joy in Baku? | Despite the drama of Monaco, Ferrari have plenty of reasons to be hopeful for further success at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend. Alongside a podium finish for Carlos Sainz in Monaco, Charles Leclerc's car will feature a new gearbox as a precautionary measure. This followed a bitterly disappointing experience for the 23 year old who managed to earn a pole position in his home Grand Prix, but was forced to miss the race entirely due to a left driveshaft hub failure. While the gearbox was found to be not at fault for the crash in Monaco, Leclerc still felt that the equipment could have been a contributing factor. As a result, Ferrari have decided to play it safe by equipping the car with a new gearbox in a bid to kickstart the season. Prior to Monaco, Ferrari had made their worst start to a Formula 1 campaign since 1980. As a result, it was looking like another hugely underwhelming season was about to unfold for the Scuderia. But with a decent result for Sainz and an impressive qualifying time for Leclerc in Monaco, there's reason to be hopeful that Ferrari can deliver the goods in Azerbaijan this weekend. Why the Azerbaijan GP could be the turning point The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is famous for being one of the most impressive street circuits. It features one of the longest straights on the calendar and could provide plenty more passing opportunities compared to the constrictions of the Monaco GP. If you find some small online bookmakers on wetten.com, you'll see that many of them give you relatively short odds for Ferrari to pick up some points on the Baku City Circuit. This is because it is the kerbs of the Azerbaijan GP that could give Ferrari the edge as a result of the excellent suspension that powered the team to some impressive race times in Monaco. The twists and turns of the Monaco circuit proved to be well-suited to the Ferrari car and it presented the best overall weekend performance for the team in the current season. As a result, hopes are high that Ferrari might again manage to negotiate the kerbs of the city circuit in Baku. Reasons to be realistic in Baku Although Ferrari might find an edge in negotiating the tight turns of the technical sections of the Baku City Circuit, the team will almost certainly be left in the dust of Mercedes in the long straights of the track. As a result it could prove to be a fascinating duel between Ferrari and McLaren in a battle for third place which could be an overriding theme for the season. All of this points to the picture that Ferrari will be concentrating on next year as it aims to try and improve its engine in the coming months. As such, the team will be realistic about their chances of gaining another podium finish in Baku. Last year saw a respectable performance from Ferrari in Azerbaijan with both Sebastian Vettel and Leclerc ending up in the top five places. But with even Ferrari's managing director predicting that the team could slip behind Woking rivals, McLaren this time around, it's clear that Sunday's race won't be massively enjoyable for the Scuderia. As a result, we can expect a much closer race this time around, and Ferrari will need to put in a solid performance to stay ahead of the likes of Alpine, Aston Martin and AlphaTauri. Much will depend on how the team overcome their technical issues, as Sainz and Leclerc have already shown that they have the skill required to deliver big results if things go right. | https://www.pitpass.com/69843/Will-Leclercs-new-gearbox-bring-Ferrari-joy-in-Baku |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.