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Do we need another university? | Sir, Dr Joseph Ryans claim (Dublin college merger: technological universities arrive with a TUD, Opinion & Analysis, December 31st) that policymakers in this country have been strong in defending our diversified provision that caters to differing talents and learning approaches is, well, a dud. They have done no such thing. They have instead pursued and presided over an egregious narrowing of options for school-leavers to an almost exclusively academic, book-based education. They have done so with an eagerness explicable only by Irelands collective inferiority complex regarding third-level education. If mammy or daddy doesnt pack a degree down their childs neck, a third-level college certainly will. The ensuing downgrading of qualifications now means practically any employable position at any salary level can demand a third-level qualification. Thus too many positions in the jobs market which previously were open to Leaving Certificate holders are now only available to graduates at enormous cost to parents, students and society. In years past, viable paths to apprenticeship-led careers were available in the institute of technology sector for those less inclined or interested in pursuing the holy grail of a degree. This was giddily jettisoned by most institutes of technology over the last two decades with the result that well-trained, competent electricians, plumbers, carpenters, mechanics, chefs, etc, are ever harder to find. Management in the remaining institutes of technology should abandon their vapid and vain ambition to become second-tier universities and commit instead to becoming first-rate institutes of technology. In so doing they can provide vital, valuable and valued alternatives to strictly academic learning and offer educational pathways to a fulfilling work life and excellent earning potential for thousands of talented young people. Yours, etc, PATRICIA MULKEEN, Ballinfull, Sligo. | https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/do-we-need-another-university-1.3746161?localLinksEnabled=false |
Will Funko Sink or Swim in 2019? | Funko (NASDAQ: FNKO) took investors on a wild roller coaster ride in 2018. The pop culture collectible maker went public at $12 in late 2017, plunged to $7 on the first trading day, then rallied into the low $30s last September. However, the subsequent market sell-off erased most of those gains, and Funko now trades just slightly above its IPO price. Let's take a closer look at this beaten-down growth stock to see if it can rally again this year. A banner featuring Funko's Pop! Monsters. More Image source: Funko. Funko generates most of its revenue from its Pop! vinyl figurines, which feature a wide variety of characters from comics, video games, TV shows, and movies. The Pop! lineup also includes plush dolls, keychains, T-shirts, and various accessories. Sales of Funko's Pop! branded products accounted for 76% of its top line during the first nine months of fiscal 2018, compared to 70% a year earlier. The rest of its revenue came from other action figures, figurines, and pop culture products. During the third quarter, Funko stated that over half of its products were "evergreen", meaning that they aren't tied to a current movie, video game, or TV show. Those products, which include classic characters like Mickey Mouse and Batman, are less likely to burn out than newer franchises. It currently has over 1,000 licensed properties in its portfolio. Many of Funko's products appeal to adults instead of kids, so it was well-insulated against the slowdown in the traditional toy market that slammed Mattel (NASDAQ: MAT) and Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) last year. None of Funko's individual retailers account for over 10% of its year-to-date sales, which insulates it from big bankruptcies like that of Toys R' Us. Funko's revenue rose 24% annually to $177 million last quarter, which beat estimates but represented the company's slowest quarterly growth rate since its IPO. However, Funko's growth still looks much rosier than Mattel and Hasbro's negative sales growth in recent quarters. Funko's growth was supported by robust demand for its Pop Vinyl figures, which posted more than 25% annual sales growth for seven straight quarters; 24% sales growth in its total figures; and 26% sales growth in its apparel, bags, accessories, and other products, which were boosted by its takeover of fashion accessories maker Loungefly. During last quarter's conference call, Funko CEO Brian Mariotti attributed most of the company's sales growth to "increased shelf space and stronger sell-through at existing retailers" instead of sales at new retailers. Funko expects its sales to rise 25%-26% for the full year, which represents an acceleration from its 21% sales growth in 2017. For comparison, analysts expect both Mattel and Hasbro's revenues to decline about 9% this year. | https://news.yahoo.com/funko-sink-swim-2019-012100553.html |
Is renegotiation after signing the first contract the new normal? | Sellers may be surprised to learn that often, the sales price on the first contract signed is not the same as the sales price at the closing because many issues can arise between the accepted offer and the final transaction. Todays buyers are likely to expect that everything that gets pointed out in the home inspection will be paid for by the sellers. That wasnt the case years ago, when buyers viewed work to be done as something that they were taking on, unless the problems were structural. Although the sellers dont always agree to every item, they often are asked to give money back. Mortgages can also provide for funds from the seller. There is a range of items, from inspections to closing costs, that banks and mortgage companies may allow the buyers to have paid by the sellers, and that range goes up to 6% of the mortgage amount on the high end. While everything must be disclosed, it can prove to be an additional hit to the sellers. Appraisals can cause changes if the home does not appraise for the amount being requested in a mortgage. If the sellers cant pay the difference, the sellers might decide to lower the price. This, as with money toward inspection items, is less likely to occur if there are backup offers that could be accepted, if the buyers do not want to leave the contract price alone. Finally, things that break or go wrong between the time of the accepted offer and the closing are the responsibility of the sellers, and, while it doesnt happen that commonly, the reason for the preclosing walkthrough is to make sure that the home is in the same condition as when it went under contract. The lesson here is that sellers shouldnt be angry or unprepared with an answer if any of these items are raised. Once you know that there can be bumps along the way, its easier to accept changes, or at least consider them rationally. Barbara Pearce, President & CEO, Pearce Real Estate, (203) 281-9340, [email protected] | https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/Is-renegotiation-after-signing-the-first-contract-13504525.php |
How can the average consumers avoid real estate cyber scams? | 1 / 1 Back to Gallery Cybercrimes such as phishing, hacking and wire fraud have become increasingly sophisticated and the people perpetrating them focus on situations where a lot of money is changing hands, making real estate transactions an ideal target. The National Association of Realtors warns about one example, a wiring scam during the closing stage of the home buying and selling process. Hackers will break into the email accounts of consumers and real estate professionals to get details about a real estate transaction. The hacker will then send an email pretending to be the buyer, seller, real estate agent or someone else involved in the closing process and say there has been a last minute change and provide new wiring instructions; the instructions send the closing costs funds directly into the hackers bank account. Here are a few tips the National Association of Realtors recommends to help avoid real estate scams: Do not send sensitive information via email This includes banking information, social security numbers or anything that could compromise your identity. If you must send personal or sensitive information via email, use encrypted email. Do not click on unverified email If you do not recognize the name or email address of the sender, do not open the email. Beware of any attachments or downloadable files from unknown email addresses; they can contain viruses or provide a way for a hacker to access your computer. Do not use unsecured Wi-Fi Using an open connection with free Wi-Fi can leave you vulnerable to hackers. Only access sensitive information on your home computer or on a secured network. Do not wire funds without verifying If you receive instructions to wire money, verify the instructions by contacting someone at a phone number you know is valid, not a phone number given in the email in question. If you suspect fraud, tell someone. Contact all parties connected to the transaction and report the incident to the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center or the Federal Trade Commission. Joel Grossman, Calcagni Real Estate, 2018 President, New Haven Middlesex Association of Realtors, (203) 272-1821, [email protected] | https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/How-can-the-average-consumers-avoid-real-estate-13504539.php |
Have Chelsea given a clue about their plans for Christian Pulisic? | Chelsea might just have dropped a clue about their plans for Christian Pulisic in their statement confirming his signing. The USA international is joining the Blues from Borussia Dortmund in a 57.6m deal, but will stay at the Bundesliga side until the end of the season. Announcing the news on their official website, Chelsea first and foremost stated Pulisics capability to play on the right wing, noting that he can also play on the left or in a central role. The statement note that the new boy plays as a right winger, or on the left or behind a striker. If anything is to be read into that, it appears that Pulisic could be lined up for the wide right berth in Maurizio Sarris team for the 2019/20 campaign. Sarri currently favours Spain international Pedro Rodriguez in that role. But the former Barcelona man will turn 32 before the start of next season. The other option in that position is Willian, who is aged 30 and out of contract at the end of next season. Pulisics signing will add a more youthful option and strengthen Chelseas hand in their contract negotiations with Willian. The Americans ability to play on the left wing also raises the prospect of him replacing Eden Hazard. Sarri has started to apply public pressure on the Belgian who, like Willian, is out of contract in June 2020 to make a decision on his future. In the event that Hazard does move on, Chelsea already have a big-name replacement on their books. | https://www.offthepost.info/blog/2019/01/chelsea-given-clue-plans-christian-pulisic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+offthepost%2FTLAa+%28Off+The+Post%29 |
Is Game of Thrones on Netflix? | Over the past few years Game of Thrones has gone from cult-hit to one of the biggest shows on television, watched by millions across the globe. Advertisement Based on the books of George RR Martin, HBOs smash-hit fantasy TV series tells the story of warring factions in Westeros fighting for control of the coveted Iron Throne in Kings Landing. But all the while winter is coming and north of the wall a ferocious frozen army is about to attack everything that the people of Westeros hold true. Who will win this epic battle and what will be left remains to be seen. Starring a huge ensemble cast including Emilia Clarke, Kit Harrington, Peter Dinklage, Sophie Turner, Iain Glen, Natalie Dormer, Alfie Allen, Maisie Williams and Jerome Flynn to name but a few, the series explores politics, power and family feuds in one of the most expensive and beautifully shot series ever to arrive on TV screens. In the UK Game of Thrones is broadcast on Sky Atlantic, and is available to download via the Sky Go service for Sky subscribers. If you dont have Sky, you can watch it on Now TV with a 14-day free trial. Advertisement Game of Thrones is not currently available on Netflix in the UK. | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-03/game-of-thrones-netflix/ |
Can Science Help a New Bourbon Taste Like a Bottle from 1917? | Attempting to restore a distillery built in 1887 is no easy job, but thats what the founders of Castle & Key Distillery set out to do. In 2014, Will Arvin and Wes Murry bought grounds formerly owned by bourbon distiller Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr. in Millville, Kentucky, with the hopes of returning the now decaying facilities which included a European-inspired castle to their former glory. This past September, their dream was realized when Castle & Key opened to the public, but as NPR recently reported, Master Distiller Marianne Eaves has perhaps an even loftier goal: recreating one of E.H. Taylors bourbons. During the distillerys renovation, Eaves apparently came across a bottle of 1917 Old Taylor bourbon an artifact of a distillery that hadnt produced any new spirits since 1972. But just as Castle & Key was using the old ground for the basis of its new brand, Eaves had an idea to also use this century-old bourbon to inform the brands new products. The most dominant flavor in that 1917 bourbon was the butterscotch note, she told NPR. That's something that bourbon aficionados and the dusty hunters recognize about historic Old Taylor bourbon is this beautiful, rich, creamy, sweet butterscotch note and the mouthfeel of that particular bottle was really unique for a historic whiskey. Unfortunately, though the bottle survived, the recipe did not. However, armed with a background in chemical engineering, Eaves turned to science for the answer. We decided to use a good old-fashioned GC gas chromatography, she was quoted as saying. Then we looked at these chemical compounds and from there, we were able to figure out what grains he was using, [and found] a yeast strain that has a similar flavor profile. So that's how we went about it and constructed our recipe based on it, loosely. We didn't really want to replicate what he was making exactly, but take those flavor cues from the past, and then model our recipe around that. Castle & Keys bourbon is currently being aged, so just how much the new whiskey will taste like that 1917 whiskey likely wont be known to the public until around 2022, according to the Courier-Journal. Still, waiting just three years to taste something inspired by a 105-year-old bourbon doesnt seem like a terrible trade-off. | https://www.foodandwine.com/news/recreate-vintage-bourbon-castle-key-distillery |
What caused that loud boom in Lebanon County on New Years Eve? | A loud noise was heard in Lebanon County on New Year's Eve. (Photo: ITHACA COLLEGE PHOTO) If you're wondering why there was a loud boom that shook houses around 9:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve, you aren't alone. Public safety officials acknowledged the boom, but said they don't have any explanation. "That was an odd one," said Bob Dowd, director of the Lebanon County Emergency Management Agency. "We didn't get reports of anything (specific) happening." Facebook commenters reported hearing the boom from as far away as Shippensburg, but the experience seemed to be the most intense in eastern and northern Lebanon County. More: Disabled woman forced out of her Lebanon home in 2014 still unable to return More: LDN: 5 benefits of a Lebanon Daily News digital subscription "It sounded like dynamite or something. Shook the house," said Facebook user Brenda Price of Myerstown in response to an abc27 story about the incident. "I live two miles east of Bethel. It sounded like a sonic boom that shook my house and rattled the windows," said Facebook user Kathi Kleckner. Lebanon County Fire & Emergency Alert, a popular but unofficial Facebook page run by volunteers, said on New Year's Eve that it received information an earthquake may have been the cause. However, the U.S. Geological Society said there were no earthquakes in the area, according to abc27. Lebanon County Fire & Emergency Alert later deleted its Facebook post about the incident. Explanation suggested by Facebook users ranged from fireworks to thunder, but others found those solutions inadequate because of the intensity of the noise. State police received calls about the boom, but also don't know the cause, a spokesman said. Read or Share this story: https://www.ldnews.com/story/news/local/2019/01/02/what-caused-loud-boom-lebanon-county-new-years-eve-sonic-weather-explosion-shippensburg-carlisle/2463536002/ | https://www.ldnews.com/story/news/local/2019/01/02/what-caused-loud-boom-lebanon-county-new-years-eve-sonic-weather-explosion-shippensburg-carlisle/2463536002/?from=new-cookie |
Who Are The Enemies Of The State That President Barrow Mentioned? | 0 SHARES Share Tweet QUESTION OF THE DAY For two years no one has heard about any uprising or armed attack against state institutions. However in his end of year message the President cautioned that cracks must not be left by those who show dissatisfaction with certain aspects of governance which enemies of the state could exploit. Enemies of a state are those who are armed to confront the security forces of a state. If that is the case he should inform the citizenry. Those who occupy the highest office in the land should always weigh their words and give a true reflection of the state of affairs in their state addresses. | http://foroyaa.gm/who-are-the-enemies-of-the-state-that-president-barrow-mentioned/ |
Are Community-Based Shared Scooters The Next Decentralization Success Story? | The subtle power of decentralized transportation is on the verge of flooding the globe. Lets step back for a minute. Much has been written about the effect of social media on human loneliness. We have difficulties finding the connectedness that we yearn for even as we use digital technologies to cast wider nets for meaningful relationships, in a tragically Sisyphean manner. And yet we continue to push that boulder up the hill. Digital platforms do play an important role in community building. They provide channels that were not available before, and solid friendships have formed between people with a lot of geography between them. There is some degree of a sense of belonging in many online communities, but that sense is easily shattered by negative feedback and cyberbullying. What digital communities do undoubtedly well is share social information. But community is much more than just the sharing of information. Community is, in the incarnation best suited to this discussion, a sharing of values and well-being. That requires real-world interaction and for all of its members to have direct, unfettered access to one another. This is important: for a community to function in a manner that empowers everyone equally, there cant be any gatekeeping. This is, of course, diametrically opposed to the prevailing model, where online platforms are centralized with some authority (usually the business owners) dictating what can and cant be done by its members. The authority can exclude members at whim, or restrict them in specific ways. A decentralized model, which I argue is the far more natural, humanistic one, allows each member to embrace or reject other community members based on their own criteria, and in degrees that they choose. Decisions are made by each member for each case, and not by an authority outside of that relationship. Returning to the original topic: decentralized transport. Specifically lets look at the shared electric scooter sector that has been taking the world by storm, and how decentralization will play a role. Bird, Lime, Spin and others have dominated the early shared scooter landscape. There are familiar advantages that come with centralized organizations taking the lead and establishing a foothold in the markets with new technology: focused vision, reduced costs, system-wide decision making, and so forth. The disadvantages are just as familiar, although perhaps less talked about: delays due to remoteness, bureaucracy, lack of employee empowerment and therefore lack of initiative, etc. Decentralizing the shared scooter business presents us with a vast new space for opportunities. Like so many models, centralization and decentralization fall on a spectrum. Although its safe to say that complete decentralization isnt yet available, some powerful facets of decentralization, which represent the first steps, are. Now lets bring the tangent about the value of community into these thoughts and allow them to dovetail. Rather than leaving it to a micro mobility giant like Lime to deploy hundreds or thousands of scooters in your city, with the giant setting the price and terms of service, consider a decentralized version of this: shared scooters that are owned by your neighbours or fellow residents. They may only own one, or they might own a fleet of dozens. Your neighbours deploy the scooters. Your neighbours service them, charge them and redistribute them. Your neighbours hire other neighbours to help them manage the fleet. Your fellow residents are far better suited to choose where the scooters should be deployed in your city. Perhaps most importantly, a local business cares a lot more about your community then a distant corporate giant looking to blanket the world with its product. Electric scooters have come down in price significantly in the past year, which translates into small capital outlays for anyone who wants to own a shared scooter (or more than one) in their community, creating revenue for themselves. Individuals within the community are empowered with the choice to be a customer, an owner, or both. No central organization decides what markets to open--this is up to city residents. All that is required is an app and a network with which decentralized transport assets and customers may discover and transact with one another. The former is under rapid development and the latter already exists. Decentralization comes with a number of advantages, but the most important one for the purposes of this article is empowerment. You decide if you want to own a scooter. You decide where to deploy it. You decide how to address your communitys needs, and thats perfectly sensible as youre on the ground and you know what you and your neighbours need. The revenue that Lime or Bird would generate goes into their treasury. The revenue you or your neighbours generate from your own scooter fleet goes back into your local economy. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnfrazer1/2019/01/02/are-community-based-shared-scooters-the-next-decentralization-success-story/ |
Why Has Global Liquidity Crashed Again? | Global Liquidity falling at its fastest rate since 2007/08 Crisis Over-zealous Central Banks are largely to blame. Not a broken banking system like 2007/08 Crisis Squeeze evidenced by flat yield curves and negative real term premia In the US, the impact of reverse QE is equivalent to another 10 rate hikes We will enter 2019 with Global Liquidity tumbling at its fastest rate since the 2007/08 Financial Crisis. Yet again investors are learning the hard lesson that low nominal interest rates are a dangerously ambiguous guide to monetary conditions. Already risk asset markets are skidding, in response to tight liquidity, and economic slowdown and probable recessions lie ahead. The future looks especially bad for those economies, firms and institutions that have spent the last decade kicking the proverbial debt can down the road. High debt levels always demand high liquidity to facilitate re-financing. Systemic risks rise if debt cannot be re-scheduled. Figure1 shows the scale of the recent drop in Global Liquidity. Liquidity here refers to funding liquidity, rather than market liquidity, although the two are closely linked. Since end-January 2018, World private sector liquidity has fallen by some US$3 trillion, with roughly two thirds of the drop coming from the Developed economies, while World Central Bank liquidity has fallen by another US$1.1 trillion, with two-thirds of its drop recorded in Emerging Markets, paced by their large foreign reserve losses. Added together, Global Liquidity has in total fallen by just over US$4 trillion to US$124.1 trillion. This 3% drop looks more serious when set against its 7% normal trend. Put another way, after its brief recovery Global Liquidity has fallen back again to stand some 25% below its long-term trend. The table reports the latest weekly activities of the key Central Banks: only Chinas Peoples Bank (PBoC) is still expanding its balance sheet. And, measured in current US dollars, latest data show World Central Bank money is down by nearly 10% at an annualised 3-month clip. We monitor Global Liquidity by closely watching three channels: Central Bank liquidity injections Private sector liquidity provision Cross-border capital flows The first channel is now fashionably dubbed QE or quantitative easing and measures the activities of policy makers in the money, repo and debt markets. The second looks beyond credit at all forms of cash generation by the private sector. It embraces bank credit, shadow bank credit and household and corporate savings flows in retail and, particularly, wholesale markets, and covers a history of financial engineering that extends back to the UK fringe banks in the 1970s and Japanese zaitech in the 1980s. Cross-border flows include all forms of net investment, but they are noteworthy because foreign currency borrowings, e.g. Eurodollars, are often used as collateral and levered up by domestic credit providers. It follows that Central Bank liquidity and cross-border flows represent what we term primary liquidity, while banks and shadow banks provide secondary liquidity. We define Liquidity broadly to include global or cross-border effects, and deeply, insofar that it extends beyond the traditional financial sector, to include corporate cash flows, and beyond retail banking by embracing wholesale money and repo markets. The link between the volume of liquidity and interest rates was anyway never one-to-one: a fact that is especially true in the post-2008 period. Moreover, the link between bank reserves, money and liquidity has been similarly blurred; with the size of Central Bank balance sheets playing a more complex role in the funding structure since they simultaneously affect both the supply of cash and the availability of collateral. According to Adrian and Shin (2009):The money stock is a measure of the liabilities of deposit-taking banks, and so may have been useful before the advent of the market-based financial system. However, the money stock will be of less use in a financial system such as that in the US. More useful may be measures of collateralized borrowing, such as the weekly series of primary dealer repos. Adrian and Shin, Money, Liquidity And Monetary Policy, New York Fed Staff Papers, January 2009 Funding and the specific role played by Central Banks are critical factors explaining the liquidity cycle. Central Banks have an outsized-effect in deregulated financial systems, where retail deposits are not the sole funding source, because what matters most is the ability to re-finance positions and at the margin Central Banks are the marginal suppliers of liquidity. Put another way liquidity is not fungible in crises, the very times that it matters most, and so Central Bank interventions are required. Since the supply of liquidity to roll-over existing positions matters more than the demand for finance for new projects, the size of the Central Bank balance sheet often outweighs the impact of interest rates. It follows that the relationship between interest rates and the supply of liquidity is rarely one-to-one. Central Bank interventions into the money markets significantly affect the elasticity of the financial system: in short, quantities matter and Central Banks increasingly determine the volume of funding liquidity and often directly impact the amount of market liquidity in modern financial systems. Figure 2 shows the dramatic expansion in the size of the US dollar money markets to around US$9 trillion and the dominant role played by the US Federal Reserve in the period since 1980. These markets have increasingly supplemented retail deposits and now fund a rising proportion of US credit and liquidity, notably wholesale lending activity. Admittedly, following the 2007/08 Crisis, they have essentially flat-lined in size. Although the money markets are exploited by both traditional banks and shadow banks as financing pools, what sets traditional banks apart from all other financial institutions is their ability to issue liabilities, e.g. demand deposits, that serve the non-bank sector as a means of payment. Consequently, traditional banks do not face the same funding constraints as other financial intermediaries, so making their lending more elastic. In theory, as long as capital requirements are met, the traditional banking system can accommodate additional credit demands by simply creating new means of payment in the process of making new loans. What shadow banks do is to transform these bank assets and liabilities and refinance them as longer and more complex intermediation chains, e.g. A lends to B who lends to C, etc. In doing this they provide alternative stores of value, e.g. asset backed securities, to institutional investors that do not want to hold all of their liquid assets as (uninsured) demand deposits. However, shadow banks largely repackage and recycle existing savings. By lengthening intermediation chains they became involved in large volumes of wholesale funding, without creating much new lending. The data show that they are involved in 66% of gross funding, but directly account for barely 15% of new lending. Shadow banks, therefore, increase the elasticity of the traditional banking system by relaxing banks capital requirements, through, say, selling loans externally to GSEs or internally to off balance sheet vehicles, so boosting the credit multiplier. A speculative appetite to borrow always exists and seemingly is independent of interest rates. Keynes dubbed this the unborrowed fringe. Yet, shadow banks could not have originated the credit boom that preceded the 2007/08 Crisis, since they themselves depend on bank credit. The fragility of this wholesale funding model based on short-term repos has heightened systemic risks, not least because it is market collateral-based and highly pro-cyclical, and it always threatens to feed-back negatively on to the funding, as well as the lending books of traditional banks. Traditional economics misses the importance of this gross funding dimension, because it takes every credit as a debt (debit), every debt as a credit: so assets and liabilities must match, and the system always balances to zero. Thus, it never acknowledges just how big these numbers are: regardless of how much credit or debt there is in the system, the net figure is always the same. But knowing this fact is akin to scaling the Worlds longest ladder and promising never to fall off! The vital role that Central Banks play in this funding mechanism is also not well understood, even by the policy-makers themselves. For example, some experts have even claimed that collateral, such as Treasury notes that were purchased by policy-makers as part of QE operations, when released back into the market from the asset side of the Fed balance sheet: is a far better lubricant for the financial system than the reduction in reserves balances on the liability side of the Fed balance sheet. ... Thus, a leaner central bank balance sheet... could justify a much higher policy rate in this cycle than currently being anticipated. Singh, FT April 2017 This is dangerous talk, particularly if it has recently played a role in persuading policy-makers to become more cavalier in their tightening actions. We maintain that the size of the Central Bank balance sheet serves as an unambiguous guide to the availability rather than simply the cost of primary funding. Thus, quantitative tightening is likely to have an out-sized effect in the modern financial system. This can be seen in Figure 3 which highlights the close relationship between movements in the size of the US money markets and changes in the size of the Federal Reserve balance sheet. The latest drop in the balance sheet spells out an ominous warning for US money market conditions. This Is A Different Crisis To 2007/08 Therefore, we suggest that, unlike the 2007/08 Crisis which was more about a broken banking system involving the sudden collapse of leverage among over-extended banks and shadow banks, the current credit squeeze looks more like the 1997/98 Asian Crisis when Central Banks, led by the US Fed, tightened the supply of primary liquidity and cross-border flows rapidly retreated. This time around financial markets are probably even more interconnected and more global. Consequently, this could be an Asian Crisis-like sell-off, but one not only confined to Asia. This is shown in Figure 4, which depicts the two moving-parts that explain fluctuations in total credit changes in the credit multiplier (black line) and growth in the monetary base (orange line). Although the supply of primary liquidity dipped, the 2007/08 Crisis was dominated by a forced de-leveraging as shown by the skidding credit multiplier the ratio between total credit and the official monetary base. In fact, pace its absolute decline in 2006, the US Federal Reserves balance sheet subsequently expanded rapidly as the crisis unfolded. This is shown by the orange line in Figure 4. The explanation for this collapse is that in the run-up to 2007/08 shadow banks had been borrowing against new collateral, such as US dollar deposits, and re-hypothecating existing collateral (i.e. the so-called collateral multiplier) to create what might be dubbed a shadow monetary base. We can crudely estimate the size this notional shadow base by keeping the credit multiplier fixed at its previous average value and calculating the funding gap required to justify rising total credit. This is shown in Figure 5. On the same chart we have added the cumulative flows of cross-border capital to Emerging Markets because these flows were likely dominated by dollar loans that were probably being sourced from the same off-shore wholesale markets. Not surprisingly, the two series co-move closely. The Collapse of World Central Bank Money In contrast, todays monetary problem is more about the other component, namely tight primary liquidity. This has four dimensions: US Federal Reserve tightening Tightening by other major Central Bank (e.g. ECB and BoJ) USD Area tightening (e.g. Emerging Market Central Banks) Legislative onslaught against the Eurodollar/ off-shore wholesale markets Figure 6 examines the growth in Central Bank money, broken-down into three parts: the US Federal Reserve, Central Banks in the non-US Developed markets and Emerging Market Central Banks. The scale of the current liquidity squeeze goes beyond the US Fed raising the bar on its reverse QE to US$50 billion per month and the ECB halting its QE from year-end. The chart shows how the US Fed has been tightening QE policy since 2015. The major non-US Central Banks started easing later and only began tightening earlier this year. Similarly, with Emerging Market Central Banks and as Figure 7 highlights, the EM cycle has been (as usual) largely dictated by underlying foreign exchange reserve movements. This, in turn, likely reflects an additional negative spill-over from US Fed tightening. Summarising the aggregate story, the chart shows that all three groups are now contributing to the sharpness of the overall liquidity slowdown. The fourth component of tightening is harder to pin-down because data is scarce. However, we suggest that the offshore wholesale markets are under fire from the US Federal Authorities, who seem keen to regain control of US dollar liquidity. The Eurodollar markets, which lie outside of US Fed or Treasury control, were a major factor behind the wayward shadow banking boom ahead of the 2007/08 Crisis. There have been three moves made to regain control: (1) the planned replacement of (uncollateralised) LIBOR with the new secured SOFR on-shore money market interest rate; (2) the 2018 tax amnesty that facilitated the repatriation of off-shore US corporate deposits, and (3) the recent removal of the tax allowance for interest payments on off-shore inter-bank loans. These official directives should substantially reduce the future attractions of using the Eurodollar markets. One way to show their impact is in Figure 8, which plots the amount of net funding that US-based banks receive from international banks. Since this represents dollar funding, the likely foreign sources are the Eurodollar markets. Figure 8 highlights the sizeable decline from the US$750 billion peak in 2015. Other Evidence of Tightness The scale of this tightness can be seen in two other statistics: (1) the real term premia on US 10-year Treasuries, and (2) the flat slope of the G4 yield curve. The 10-year Treasury is the canonical safe asset for World investors and a low term premia suggests a high demand for safe assets. To remove the distorting effects of inflation expectations on term premia, we calculate an inflation-adjusted series or real term premia. When the net demand for safe assets is normal, the real term premia should be around zero: greater demand for safety pushes it lower, and greater risk appetite among investors should push it higher. Consequently, these real term premia movements provide another way of judging whether monetary conditions are too loose or too tight. Figure 9 plots the real term premia for 10-year Treasuries against Fed Funds. It shows that because of the effect of reverse QE, the true Fed Funds rate is nearer to 5% than the prevailing 2.5% target: in other words, tight liquidity conditions are equivalent to the Fed undertaking around 20 rate hikes rather than the nine it has so far implemented this cycle. In Figure 10, we show the relationship between Global Liquidity and the term structure of World interest rates as depicted by the slope of the G4 government yield curve. Term premia again play a role here because tight liquidity conditions, by forcing investors into demanding more safe assets, push up bond prices and simultaneously pull down their yields and term premia. Thus, the general flatness of yield curves across the major economies again testifies to generally weak Global Liquidity conditions. It is simply not the case, as many suggest, that Central Bank QE lowers bond yields. Rather, because government bonds are safe assets, reverse QE, in fact, causes lower yields, and QE raises bond yields. This follows because term premia widen as the extra liquidity persuades investors to take more risks, so shifting asset allocation from safe bonds to risky equities. Conclusion We expect a major policy easing in 2019. However, only Chinas PBoC (Peoples Bank) among the majors is so far easing monetary policy. We anyway see China as leading this cycle. The US Fed is likely to follow given the scale of tightness in domestic and Global Liquidity and this must involve greater liquidity injections, rather than simply interest rate cuts. We have no view whether this takes the formal shape of an explicit QE4 policy or if it involves an unannounced increase in the size of the Feds balance sheet. Whichever, the immediate implications will be a yield curve steepening and ultimately a weaker US dollar. Financial shares and Emerging Markets may prove the main beneficiaries. | https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-01-02/why-has-global-liquidity-crashed-again?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+zerohedge%2Ffeed+%28zero+hedge+-+on+a+long+enough+timeline%2C+the+survival+rate+for+everyone+drops+to+zero%29 |
Should Celebs Get Political on Awards Shows? | For the past few years, political speeches have grabbed the most headlines at the Emmys, Golden Globes and SAG Awards (Oscars have been comparatively muted). Hollywood awards have a worldwide audience; even if its not televised, remarks will be repeated on Twitter, Instagram and the mainstream media. This year, people are angrier than ever about climate change, sexual predators and bullies in the industry, liars in D.C., world hunger and other horrors. There are three solutions. Option 1: Yes, get political. Its a free country (so far) and you can say what you want, onstage or on the red carpet. To many in the public, an awards speech (no matter how heartfelt) will incite a sigh of Oh, here we go again and then they zone out. As for your motives, you might be trying to enlighten the undecided masses, but its also possible you are simply trying to impress family and friends by showing them youre a champion of the downtrodden. Related Stars Talk Times Up, #WhyWeWearBlack at Golden Globes Golden Globes Honoree Jeff Bridges Reflects on 'Great Life' in Showbiz Some people can and should do it. Meryl Streeps 2017 Golden Globes speech was rousing and memorable. But unfortunately, were not all Meryl Streep. Option 2: No, dont get political. In 1972, Jane Fonda was highly controversial thanks to her activism. When she won her well-deserved Oscar for Klute, she said, Theres a great deal to say, but Im not going to say it tonight. So she simply thanked everyone. Also, a reminder: We live in an era of TMZ and Twitter. If your political speech is full of nuance and depth, the odds are good that only one sentence will be repeated. People dont read news stories, they read headlines. Another reason to avoid politics: Courtesy to others. At the Tony Awards in June, Andrew Garfield beautifully addressed LGBT rights and inclusion, concluding, We are all sacred and we all belong. Others made eloquent statements about arts funding and the magic of theatergoing. But the only sentence in the entire evening that was widely repeated on the internet and mainstream media was Robert De Niros Fuck Trump! Most of the news sources didnt even supply context. The lack of civility today bothers many people. The White House has mocked the disabled, prisoners of war, Gold Star families, Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants, you name it. Hollywood makes a mistake when they engage in finger-pointing with the president. Admit it: He knows how to use Twitter. Your speech may be intended to offer solutions, but maybe youre just adding to the noise. Option No. 3: Think Long-Range Instead of addressing hot-button topics, talk about long-range solutions. For example, reminding people about voter registration. (Yes, its still an issue; about half of eligible U.S. voters cast ballots in November.) Alternately, bring more attention to public schools. Many countries, including the U.S., are in urgent need of help with public schools, with the current system contributing to many problems crime, unemployment, drugs, etc. Lift up the next generation, give them opportunities. In a digital age, we all want results ASAP. With voting and education, you may not see results for another generation or two. But you will see results. And whichever option you choose, follow it up with activism which means volunteer work, not just tweeting your opinions. | https://variety.com/2019/film/spotlight/golden-globes-oscars-emmys-sag-1203098158/ |
When does the campaign start? | The new year has just begun, but time is running out for Pueblos two remaining mayoral candidates. Ballots went in the mail this week and the election is less than three weeks away. And yet its been an unusually low-key runoff election between Nick Gradisar and Steve Nawrocki. Perhaps they thought it would be unseemly to do much campaigning during the holiday season. But now the holidays are over and Puebloans are going to have to make a decision soon. In the general election, we endorsed Chris Nicoll because he had some very specific ideas for how to move the city forward and we thought he had the vision and energy to bring them to fruition. So far, what weve heard from Nawrocki and Gradisar has been pretty generic. Were hoping that will start to change this week, when the two men meet in a series of debates. The schedule for those is as follows: Tomorrow at 7 p.m., the League of Women Voters and Pueblo Pulp are sponsoring a debate at the Pueblo Community College Fortino Ballroom. KOAA will be live streaming that debate on its web site. Friday at 4 p.m., KKTV will broadcast its debate live. Friday at 7 p.m., The Pueblo Chieftain will hold our debate at the Occhiato University Center on the campus of Colorado State University-Pueblo. On Jan. 5 at 1:30 p.m., a group of community organizations will host a debate in the Ryals Room of the Robert Hoag Rawlings Public Library. On Jan. 7 at 7 p.m., the Latino Democratic Forum Debate will be held at a location to be determined. We encourage citizens to attend at least one of these forums in person or watch them on television or over the internet. And we encourage the candidates to tell us more specifically how they would propose to govern this city. Its easy to say youre for better roads, less crime and more jobs. Its more difficult to talk about ways to actually accomplish those things. Were not assuming Gradisar and Nawrocki dont have ideas about how to meet such goals. We think they do. They just havent done a very good job of explaining them so far. And make no mistake: Pueblo will be getting a good mayor, no matter who wins the election. Both candidates are good men who have long records of service to this community. As usual, the Chieftain editorial board will be making its endorsement recommendation soon. We want to see how the candidates perform in some of the debates before we do. At this point, were planning to offer our endorsement in Sundays newspaper. We realize not everyone is going to agree with our endorsements, in this election or any other. But endorsements are just suggestions based on the consensus of the editorial board. We hope that some people will find them helpful in making a decision. Most importantly, we hope that Puebloans will participate in this historic election. | http://www.agjournalonline.com/opinion/20190102/when-does-campaign-start |
Is a High-Protein Diet Right for Me? | First it was the eccentric health nut in your circle who swore by the paleo diet. Then, your social media friends started to convert to diets rich in eggs, nuts, meat and cheese. Suddenly, news headlines declared bacon and burgers were way healthier than pizza and pasta, and even your dad began the Dukan plan, a diet that wraps burrito fillings in lettuce "tortillas." No question, high-protein diets are hot. That depends. Here's exactly what you need to know to determine whether a high-protein diet is right for you. [See: High-Protein Breakfast Ideas.] The U.S. government recommends 10 to 35 percent of your daily calories come from protein. Another way to think about it is that most people should eat about 1 gram of protein per kilogram of body weight, expains Jessica Crandall, a registered dietitian in Denver and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "What we're looking at is usually 20 to 30 grams per meal at breakfast, lunch and dinner to support muscle mass and activity," she says. Broken down further, that means a container of nonfat Greek yogurt with breakfast, a half-cup of chickpeas on a salad at lunch and grilled chicken breast at dinner will do the trick. Any diet that demands a protein intake above the government's recommendations -- like the paleo diet, Dukan diet and Optavia (the newly branded line of products from the team behind Medifast) -- is considered a high-protein diet by U.S. News. (While Atkins and the ketogenic diet are often thought of as high-protein plans, technically they are low-carb diet and high-fat diets, respectively, although both could easily include higher-than-recommended levels of protein.) On a paleo plan, that may mean eating broiled salmon at breakfast, six shrimp at lunch, almonds and a pork chop for a snack (yes -- a snack! ), two more pork chops for dinner and more almonds for dessert. All in all, it adds up to more than 200 grams of protein a day. While that may be appropriate for some people, for most, it's overkill. It's possible to see health benefits from following a high-protein diet, especially if it means you're cutting out processed junk foods and sweets and focusing on lean meats, fruits and vegetables instead, Crandall finds. Plus, adds Jim White, a registered dietitian and fitness instructor with studios in Virginia, more and more research suggests that the government's recommended daily intake may be too low. "Increased intake in conjunction with exercise can boost metabolic rate as well as feelings of satiety, thus aiding in weight loss," he says. Some populations, too, can benefit from high-protein diets more than others, since how much any one person needs depends on factors like their muscle mass, gender, age and activity level, Crandall explains. Here are some of the people who may benefit from consuming more protein than the recommended allowance: -- Older Adults Adults over 50 have reason to add a handful of nuts to their salads, or wash their morning oatmeal down with a glass of protein-rich cow's milk. (News flash: Many alternative milks like almond milk are surprisingly low in protein.) One study of 50- to 75-year old adults found that those who ate double what federal guidelines recommend for daily protein intake helped protect against the muscle loss -- and accompanying health problems like falls and fractures -- that often comes with age. -- People Trying to Lose Weight Some research supports high-protein diets for weight loss. One small 2016 study in the journal Nutrients, for instance, found that women who followed a paleo diet lost over two-and-a-half times more weight in a month than those who stuck to a standard diet emphasizing fruits, veggies, whole grains and some low-fat dairy. In many cases, though, the weight loss associated with a high-protein diet may result from a calorie deficit, not the protein. Optavia, which U.S. News experts rank No. 2 for fast weight-loss, for example, typically doesn't provide more than 1,000 calories a day, so followers are bound to lose weight -- at least temporarily. Still, no matter how you do it, weight loss in itself can improve some health markers. "People can have metabolic improvements in cholesterol and blood sugars (on high-protein diets)," Crandall says. "The reason for that is that they're losing weight." | https://news.yahoo.com/high-protein-diet-120000979.html |
Is Vietnams ivory trade fuelling the elephant poaching crisis? | VIETNAMs illegal ivory markets are still thriving, according to a new report by TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network. Over two surveys conducted between November 2016 and June 2017, TRAFFICs researchers found more than 10,000 ivory items being offered for sale across 852 physical outlets and 17 online platforms. This suggests that Vietnams ivory markets, one of the worlds biggest, has persisted over the past few decades, the researchers say. The team carried out surveys in 10 cities, including Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Ha Long, Mong Cai, Vinh, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Buon Ma Thuot and Ho Chi Minh City; and three villages: Nhi Khe in Ha Noi, and Ban Don and Lak in Daklak province. Ho Chi Minh City and Buon Ma Thuot had the highest number of ivory items for sale. SEE ALSO: Chinas ivory ban pushes trade to neighbouring countries The two villages of Ban Don and Lak, however, had a disproportionately high number of items on sale compared to the number of stores. Among the online platforms, social media websites had the highest number of ivory offers for sale. TRAFFICs investigation found that Vietnams ivory markets, while persistent, keep changing. Researchers not only found ivory for sale in places where previous studies had found none, they also observed shifts in markets within their two surveys, over just an eight-month period. For example, they found that the quantity of ivory for sale in physical markets in Nhi Khe and Ha Long had declined considerably between the two surveys. At the same time, new ivory markets cropped up. Ivory was being offered on sale in Da Nang and Vinh, for instance, two places where ivory markets had not been recorded before. In fact, the researchers recorded an increase in the quantity of ivory on sale in these two cities between the two surveys of the latest study. The physical retail markets may even be expanding in Vietnam, the authors of the report write, as ivory was found in all locations surveyed, including for the first time in the cities of Da Nang and Vinh. Similarly, there was high turnover among sellers on social media sites, with many sellers no longer advertising ivory during the second survey, and several new ones emerging. The surveys also found a link between the physical and online ivory markets, with eight sellers found to be using both markets to sell ivory. Ivory sales in four cities Ha Long, Ban Don, Lak, and Nhi Khe were likely directly tied to Chinese tourism, the report found. In these places, ivory items were offered mostly at souvenir outlets on popular tourist streets. Many outlets displayed Chinese characters for ivory on their billboards instead of translating them into Vietnamese or other languages, and ivory prices were quoted in foreign currencies such as Chinese yuan and US dollar. During the two surveys, the sellers that the researchers interviewed said the ivory originated from Vietnam. But with fewer than 100 wild elephants remaining in the country, the TRAFFIC team believes that the ivory likely came from African elephants (Loxodonta africana), especially given that most ivory seized in Vietnam in recent years has come from countries that are home to the species. The surveyors found that the sellers knew that selling ivory was illegal. But it does not deter them from offering it openly for sale in Vietnam, Sarah Ferguson, director of TRAFFIC in Vietnam, said in a statement. Regulatory and enforcement efforts must catch up to the markets, or the Vietnamese illegal ivory market will remain one of the largest in the world. To tackle Vietnams ivory markets, the TRAFFIC team recommended closing legislative loopholes in legislation dealing with the trade in Asian and African elephants and their parts. SEE ALSO: Lifeline to elephants: Hong Kong bans ivory trade in worlds biggest market They also suggested increasing capacity building for law enforcement officers to help them stay up-to-date on market trends and marketing tactics that sellers use to avoid detection; reducing consumer demand for ivory by improving understanding of the motivations and practices of those purchasing ivory, and implementing behavior change communication campaigns; and conducting regular surveys that shed light on the changing nature of Vietnams ivory market. Until Vietnam takes decisive action against its persistent illegal ivory markets in line with its commitments under CITES [Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora], it will continue to undermine the international response to the elephant poaching crisis, said Minh Nguyen, research and data management officer at TRAFFIC. This article first appeared on Mongabay. | https://asiancorrespondent.com/2019/01/is-vietnams-ivory-trade-fuelling-the-elephant-poaching-crisis/ |
Should States Put Age Restrictions on Purchasing Assault Rifles? | Voters in Washington who approved a ballot initiative that increases the age limit on those who can purchase semi-automatic assault rifles are seeing their vote go into effect. The measure, which voters passed 59 percent in November's general election and went into effect on Jan. 1, toughens background checks and bans anyone from under 21 from buying a semi-auto rifle. Proponents of the initiative say its in an effort to help curb gun violence, according to an Associated Press report, while gun-rights advocates say it violates their Second and 14th constitutional amendments and gun sellers' rights under the Commerce Clause. The Second Amendment Foundation, of Bellevue, Wash., has filed a federal lawsuit to block the measure, according to the AP. Other states with age restrictions include Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and New York. It it unlikely the debate about guns will be settled anytime in the foreseeable future. But it seems to have become an increasingly hot topic, and so the debate continues. Yes, Im for age restriction on firearms sales. Another might say: Something needs to be done. This might not be the answer to stopping gun violence, but maybe it will help. The gun-rights advocate, however, might ask: Does restricting gun sales to those 21 and older really help curb gun violence? Idaho, as we all know, loves it guns and so its no surprise that people here, if asked the question if they would be for such an age restriction in the Gem State, would say no to such an initiative. But were interested in reading your answers to the last question: Do you think restricting a states gun sales to those 21 years and older helps curb gun violence? Comment below. | http://newsradio1310.com/should-states-put-age-restrictions-on-purchasing-assault-rifles/ |
Why Rupee fell? | Share: Only 100 days since the new government had been sworn in, and the economy had gone into a free fall. Primarily, the tale of doom was woven around the Rupee. Sensationalist rhetoric took over all sense, trumping any economic logic. The rise or fall of the Rupee - or any other currency for that matter - is not subject to the whims and wishes of the policymakers, or even the Central Bank. Its constrained by a variety of factors. As it happens on our planet, anything may be under- or over-valued in the short run, but it may be argued that in the long run, everything - every commodity, every idea, every person, converges to their true value. This applies even to the murky world of currencies. The Rupee had to adjust to its true value ultimately and it did. It did not fall - it was allowed to adjust, something that should have happened way earlier. For some time now, the Rupee had been grossly overvalued. In July 14, 2007 Article IV consultation, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) pointed out the overvaluation to be around 10 to 20% with respect to the Real Effective Exchange Rate and iterated its stance in the Staff Report of March 2018. Many independent economists also kept ringing alarm bells. But the outgoing government did not want to pursue the highly unpopular policy of devaluation with the elections around the corner. And some experts backed the governments stance on somewhat questionable grounds. They pointed out that the Rupee will result in a rise in dollar-denominated debt and increase the cost of imports which have become even more important since the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has kicked off. Resultantly, Rupee was not allowed to take on its actual value. The Rupee was kept strong as the economy kept weakening. Not really. China is one country which keeps an undervalued (weaker?) currency. Instead of fretting about a weak currency, they revel in being the leading exporters in the world. The undervalued yuan helps this. A person in, say, the United States, will be able to buy double the amount of any product, say Chinese apples, if $1 equals 6 yuans instead of 3. This will shift the demand for apples from other countries to China. What was happening in Pakistan was an inverted image of the above picture. It is easy to see why an overvalued Rupee meant lesser exports and more imports. A stronger rupee meant imports appeared cheaper to Pakistanis. This imports over exports imbalance caused a run on the foreign reserves in the country. Imports were using up the foreign currency reserves and there werent as much exports to finance them. This sent the reserves into a free fall. When the reserves dried up, the Central Bank lost its primary tool to keep the Rupee afloat selling foreign currency in the currency market. The State Bank could have bought Rupees in the currency market, using forex reserves, causing the Rupee to (nominally) appreciate. This is simply the result of the (artificial) increase in demand for Rupee. Its basic economic logic that anything that is in-demand fetches a higher price, and the same is true for the Rupee. But with the reserves dwindling, the State Bank loses lost this option as well. Falling exports, rising imports, no foreign investment, and no reserves. This was the backdrop against which devaluation came, which in turn is the result of a long, nasty history of structural bottlenecks in the economy, power and energy crises, undiversified industrial and exports base, misuse of central bank, and what not. Finally, the criticism of (effective) revaluation of the Rupee on the grounds of rise in debt and the price of imports is correct per se, but completely ignores the fact that the rate of Rupee, or any currency for that matter, is not determined in isolation, on an island, but is subject to myriads of other factors in the national and international markets. In short, the Rupee did not fall overnight. It had to be devalued based on the economic circumstances over the past 2 years or so. And the government deserves credit for letting the State Bank work with complete autonomy. The Rupees weakening, if coupled with the right policies for gaining investor confidence, will strengthen the economy. The government is yet to prove the latter. The writer is a Lecturer at SZABIST, Islamabad and a PhD Candidate at Ibn Haldun University, Istanbul. | https://nation.com.pk/03-Jan-2019/why-rupee-fell |
Why Is Gas In Idaho So Expensive? | You may be saying but prices arent high. Hear me out. Seven states or more currently have gas prices under 2 dollars a gallon for unleaded regular. Seven states or more currently have gas prices under 2 dollars a gallon for unleaded regular. A newscaster offered this week these are the cheapest prices in a decade and, yet. In Idaho were nowhere near 2 dollars a gallon. Four years ago the cost for a gallon in Twin Falls was 90 cents to a full dollar less than what were paying today. One explanation is oil was cheaper four years ago. O.K., but gasoline wasnt dirt cheap elsewhere around the country four years ago! Were as close now as we were in January of 2015. There are refineries close by in two neighboring states. Yes, but not a full 90 cents to one dollar per gallon. | http://newsradio1310.com/why-is-gas-in-idaho-so-expensive/ |
Is the best lunch in Mansfield served at a local high school? | MANSFIELD, Texas North Texas has no shortage of trendy restaurants. One of the hottest spots in Mansfield might be a surprise because of where it is and who is running the show. It was just after 10 a.m., and things were starting to get a little wild inside the kitchen. No mayo, tomatoes on side, crispy fish, fries, ketchup on side, said Emily Castleberry. Castleberry is the money manager, to go manager and expediter at Savvys Bistro in Mansfield. Shes taking phone orders and the requests are specific. Make it crispy. Not burned, but crispy! she loudly told executive chef Donovan Johnson. Johnson was working hard at the grill overseeing cooking and food prep, when he admitted that managing a kitchen is crazy. Takes perseverance, effort, a lot of hard work and sweat, he said. But when all goes right, its crazy good. Its fun! Its the best. The best feeling ever, he said. Its the only thing I want to do with my life! Everyone working inside Savvys Bistro wants to make cooking a career, yet no one is over 18. Savvys Bistro is not just run by high school students, but its in a high school. Its located at Ben Barber Innovation Academy in Mansfield ISD, and their full-service restaurant is a hot little lunch spot. We come here about once a week or so, said customer Sylvia Birk. Students do it all - managing, cooking, serving, cleaning, and overcoming the unplanned problems that inevitably pop up in restaurants. Some of them are also overcoming major obstacles in life. Isaias Ortiz is from Puerto Rico. Hes only 16. He was a child when he realized he loved to cook, but when a hurricane destroyed his island, his parents sent him to Florida to live with extended family. When I was in the plane and getting off the island, I started crying. I had no option. I felt like I was leaving everything behind, I was giving up on my life, my island, he said. Eventually, his parents relocated to Mansfield, and Ortiz joined them. He couldnt believe it when they found the award-winning culinary program at Ben Barber. Its like heaven in a kitchen, he said. Ortiz has realized he didnt abandon his dreams. Hes making them come true. He wants to own a bakery actually he wants to own a lot of them. Ill be owning one in Dallas, New York, Puerto Rico, everywherethats my plan, he said. Hes already a home baker, taking orders and making cakes for family and friends celebrations. Ortiz will no doubt succeed, said his instructor, chef Adair Smith. I mean Ive got plenty of stories out there where students are running their own kitchens, he said. His former students are at The Mansion at Turtle Creek, in Alaska and even London, but theyre successful in other areas of their life because of the way we teach, he said. Im teaching them way more than the restaurant business. Its about how to manage people. How to get along with people you dont like. Smith gave up a lucrative 18-year career in restaurants to expand the program at Ben Barber. Id never have this in Puerto Rico. So I just chose to hit it head on and not look back, said Ortiz. Smith teaches life lessons, but the most important lesson he can impart is that the only way to have a really good following is to serve really good food. I like to eat, look at me, said regular customer Flo Torres Adkins, with a hearty laugh. For the foodies out there, and people looking for a great place to come and have a great meal, I think this is the best kept secret! You just need to come over and try the food, you know, thats all Im saying! she said. Savvys Bistro is open two hours a day, three days a week when school is in session. The restaurant can seat 66 people and there have been times when theres a wait. 2019 WFAA | https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/is-the-best-lunch-in-mansfield-served-at-a-local-high-school/287-625907315 |
What New Years resolutions should 2019 buyers and sellers make? | 1 / 1 Back to Gallery With changing demographics, rising interest rates and political uncertainty, the 2019 real estate market is certain to be challenging. To be successful in 2019, our professional resolutions are to rededicate ourselves a deep knowledge of the market, outstanding traditional and digital marketing and always putting the interests of our clients first. We also have some suggestions for our buyers and sellers: 1) Buyers and sellers should resolve to work with a Realtor. When the market is tricky, having an expert guide is vital. You will enjoy the experience and knowledge of someone who has participated in the sale and purchase of hundreds of homes. 2) Get pre-approved by a mortgage company or bank and know what your monthly expenses will be. Factor in property taxes; oftentimes the higher Greenwich list price is offset by its significantly lower tax rate. 3) Create lists of must-have and would-like features, and share that information with your Realtor so you can see homes that are likely to work for you. Beyond the number of bedrooms and baths, consider your need for privacy or neighbors, travel time to work and school, and the long-term potential for the home to meet your needs. 4) Be realistic about price expectations. Buyers and sellers should be prepared to negotiate in order to get the deal done. Your Realtor will provide both comparable sales data as well as directional information on the market. A homes value will not necessarily be the same as it was a few years ago, as some locations have become more desirable, while others have lost some of their appeal. This is also true of home styles, when once it was the bigger the better, and now young buyers are looking for manageable homes that give them time and funds to devote to travel and leisure activities. 5) Be prepared to renovate. If you are looking for a good buy, look beyond the current paint colors, fixtures and landscaping. Walls can be painted or even moved. A new kitchen can reflect your preferences. 6) Sellers, keep your house in pristine condition, which indicates to buyers that maintenance has been a priority for you and will mean fewer problems down the road for them. Sharon Kinney and Margi Vorder Bruegge, Douglas Elliman Real Estate, (203) 536-2014 Sharons cell, (203) 912-8311 Margis cell, [email protected], [email protected] | https://www.greenwichtime.com/realestate/article/What-New-Year-s-resolutions-should-2019-buyers-13504502.php |
Should sellers buck the trend of painting with neutral colors? | 1 / 1 Back to Gallery When speaking to sellers about listing their homes for sale, one of the first items we address is interior paint color. Neutral colors are recommended for several reasons. The first is that neutral color is a palette that appeals to a broader pool of buyers. When buyers look at a house, they often consider the reasons to eliminate the property as a potential purchase candidate. The paint color is one of the first things about a home to influence their decision. When buyers like a house, they often start imagining how their furnishings will fit into the home. Neutral colors accommodate all furniture styles and dcor. Keep in mind that neutral-hued interiors creates a blank slate for buyers, who may want to choose a color scheme of their own. I recently spoke with a seller whod been advised to update the interiors of her home with more neutral paints, which she did. While she was preparing her own home for the market, she began looking at other homes to buy, and she recalled rejecting a property that had been decorated in bold colors, like purple. Neutral colors are also generally lighter and more flattering. Natural light on certain neutral paint colors can reflect subtle changes in the color, adding some dynamic to how a room shows. Plus, neutral colors are still in style. Years ago, Realtors advised their clients to paint their homes in Benjamin Moore Linen White. Now, the most popular colors are pale shades of gray, and sellers should not buck the trend. Maria Ruggeberg, William Raveis Real Estate, (203) 869-9263 office, (203) 912-7729cell, [email protected] | https://www.greenwichtime.com/realestate/article/Should-sellers-buck-the-trend-of-painting-with-13504491.php |
Would Thunder head coach Billy Donovan trade Westbrook for Westwood? | When the season ended in March, you couldnt really do anything basketball-wise, Donovan said. There was a lot of time. I feel like in the NBA, its 12 months a year youre thinking about your team and youre thinking about basketball. I dont think that the notion that guys that leave college to go to the NBA is all because they dont want to recruit. I dont think it has anything to do with that. I think youll probably find most basketball coaches in college would love to be able to do basketball more than theyve been able to do. | https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-ucla-donovan-hernandez-20190102-story.html |
How Will the Government Shutdown Affect Tax Returns in 2019? How Will the Government Shutdown Affect Tax Returns in 2019? | The government shutdown is happening as a result of Democrats and Republicans being unable to come to an agreement regarding funding for the Mexico border wall, which President Trump is seeking to build with $5 billion. However, Democrats are reluctant to pass funding on such a project that would prevent Mexico and Central America immigrants from coming in to the U.S. If the shutdown continues to take place through late January or perhaps even part of February, it could take a toll on tax returns and the U.S. economy. Namely, such a move could delay tax refunds, hurt the productivity of federal workers by halting their paychecks for the time being, shut down national parks and suspend federal funding for loans. However, if the government shutdown ends sooner rather than later, meaning in the coming two weeks or so, you should still be able to get your tax refund on a timely fashion. This timetable is linked with the fact that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said that this year, it had no plans to fully start processing tax returns until later in January. Once the IRS does begin accepting tax returns, you should have the ability to mail them in or submit them online even if the government shutdown persists. If the government shutdown persists past mid-January, it is unclear what the tax refund timetable will look like. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/how-will-the-government-shutdown-affect-tax-returns-in-2019/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
What Can Transoceans New Chevron Contract Do for RIG Stock? | Transocean (NYSE:RIG) recently announced that it has won a major five-year drilling contract from Chevron (NYSE:CVX), which will likely add $830 million to Transoceans backlog. The amount excludes mobilization and reimbursable charges. Notably, as of Dec. 5, the company had a total backlog of $12.2 billion. The drilling contract is for one of RIGs two dynamically positioned ultra-deepwater drillships, which is currently undergoing construction at Singapores Jurong shipyard. The drillship is expected to come online in the second half of 2021 and operate in the Gulf of Mexico region. It will be rated for 20,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi) operations, marking the first ultra-deepwater drillship with such a specification. It is expected to be the industrys most capable ultra-deepwater drillship, whose configuration will comply with Tier III International Maritime Organization emissions standards. In case of termination of the contract, RIG will receive compensation for its incremental 20,000 psi subsea investment in the rig. The termination, if occurred after April 2020, will fetch Transocean a substantial termination fee. Transocean has also inked a rig design and construction management contract with Chevron. Switzerland-based Transocean is one of the largest offshore drilling contractors and leading providers of drilling management services. Last month, the company completed the $2.7-billion acquisition of its smaller rival Ocean Rig UDW, Inc. The move gave RIG 11 drillships along with two floating semi-submersible rigs. The companys fleet now includes 50 offshore drilling units, comprising 32 ultra-deepwater, 14 harsh environment and four mid-water floaters. Moreover, four ultra-deepwater drillships are under construction at present. It also has a 33% stake in a harsh environment semisubmersible. This enormous fleet is expected to boost RIGs long-term opportunities and help the combined entity to penetrate into deep- and harsh-water markets more effectively. RIG Stock Price Performance Transocean has lost 36.5% in the past year compared with 44.7% collective fall of the industry it belongs to. Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider RIG stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Investors interested in the energy sector can opt for some better ranked stocks as given below: Calgary, Canada-based Gran Tierra Energy (NYSEAMERICAN:GTE) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company. Its bottom line for 2018 is expected to surge more than 300% year-over-year. The company delivered a positive average earnings surprise of 24% in the trailing four quarters. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Houston, TX-based Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SHLX) is a midstream energy company. For 2019, its bottom line, which has witnessed three upside revisions over the past 60 days, is expected to grow 27.7% YoY. The company currently sports a Zacks Rank #1. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it is predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce the worlds first trillionaires, but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Shell Midstream Partners, L.P. (SHLX): Free Stock Analysis Report Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (GTE): Free Stock Analysis Report Chevron Corporation (CVX): Free Stock Analysis Report Transocean Ltd. (RIG): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/what-can-transoceans-new-chevron-contract-do-for-rig-stock/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
Does Starbucks Stock Rely Too Much on China for Future Growth? | Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) stock may have pulled back from recent highs, due to the ever-increasing volatility in the stock market. The more fearful investors get, the more likely they are to sell solidly run companies like SBUX. The astute investor needs only look at the companys healthy profit, revenue, and gross margins to see that Starbucks stock is still a buy. Despite a favorable product mix that lifted growth in the quarter, SBUX investors do have one thing to worry about. Starbucks is expanding rapidly in China but if trade tensions keep escalating, a full-on revolt against U.S-based companies could hurt near-term prospects. A Strong Fourth Quarter for SBUX In its fiscal fourth quarter, Starbucks reported a non-GAAP operating gross margin of 42.7%. This already includes a 150 basis point headwind from costs associated with its Nestl transition. That, plus the divestiture of Teavana and the sale of Tazo to Unilever (NYSE: UN ) will lead to even stronger profitability. Starbucks succeeded in growing earnings by 17% year-over-year, to $2.42 a share. The impressive results validate the companys streamlining initiatives are paying off. Geographically, China is the coffee giants second-largest and fastest growing market. It furthered its expansion there by partnering with Alibaba Group (NYSE: BABA ). While Japan and Korea added positively to results, China is still a central part of the companys growth ambitions in Asia. Starbucks Still Has U.S. Growth Even as it tends to global expansion plans, Starbucks still grew revenue in the Americas by 8%, to $4.3 billion. Strengthening the in-store experience, developing mobile app drink orders, and innovating beverages are all paying off. Mobile Order and Pay, drive-through and out-the-window all did well, growing by more than 50%. Customers like the ease and convenience of putting orders in this way. New drink types are also resonating with customers. Cold Brew and Refreshers, plus the Nitro offering, are now at 700 more stores. By the end of 2018, it will have a store reach of 2,800. And Starbucks got ahead of the festive season by running holiday-driven specials one week earlier than usual. This should lead to better-than-expected revenue growth when the company reports this quarters results sometime in February 2019. Growth in China Starbucks reported strong revenue growth of 41% in the China-Asia Pacific region in Q4, and 38% for the fiscal year. SBUX benefited from opening 585 net new stores and entering 17 new cities over the last 12 months. In Q4 alone, it added 139 stores. At 3,500 stores across 148 cities in China, Starbucks is clearly expecting strong growth in the country. However, although Starbucks has not yet experienced any slowing demand, the sentiment against U.S.-based companies could start if the two countries do not resolve trade differences. Canada already felt the sting when it arrested prominent Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou at the request of the U.S. China responded by boycotting goods made by Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (NYSE: GOOS ). This sent GOOS stock from $70 down to $40 in the last two months. It has not happened yet but if the Chinese government finds some reason to encourage citizens to boycott Starbucks and other U.S. iconic brands, SBUX stock will suffer. But take these boycott risks with a huge grain of salt. On December 31, Canada Goose opened a new flagship store in Beijing, and the store was packed. GOOS rose 8% on the day as a result. There is also the risk of tariffs on the U.S.-based company for Chinese customers, however. Upside Outweighs Risks For now, investors may safely assume for now that Starbucks will continue thriving in China. Its partnership with Alibaba and its exposure on all of Alibabas ecosystem Tmall, Alipay, and Taobao, for example is creating a unique digital experience for customers. Starbucks has already expanded its delivery program at all its stores in Beijing and Shanghai, and in 11 cities in China. By the end of this year, Starbucks Deliver will be in over 2,000 stores across 30 cities. The Bottom Line for Starbucks Stock Wall Street analysts have a $69.20 price target on Starbucks stock. At a valuation of under 20x trailing P/E, Starbucks stock is not expensive relative to its future growth potential. When the company reports first-quarter results, strong holiday sales worldwide should impress investors once again. The report should have enough good news to send the stock back to 52-week highs. Disclosure: the author does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/does-starbucks-stock-rely-too-much-on-china-for-future-growth/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
What does yet another failure for KL Rahul mean? | Amarjeet Nayak FOLLOW ANALYST Feature 353 // 03 Jan 2019, 08:27 IST SHARE Share Options Facebook Twitter Flipboard Reddit Google+ Email KL Rahul walks back after getting out KL Rahul was given yet another chance by Virat Kohli to open the innings for India in the crucial Sydney Test, and he failed once again. However, it will serve no purpose to engage in a blame game, and pillory either Rahul for his lack of runs or Kohli for his continued show of faith in a struggling batsman for so long. But, it is important to find the best possible way in which Rahul can get back to form because he is one of the most supremely gifted batsmen that India has. He is also one of the very few players in this Indian line up who can be equally adept in all forms of the game. It is no secret that skipper Virat Kohli looks at Rahul as a certainty for the 2019 ICC World Cup. So, it is important for India to have an in-form Rahul, because an in-form Rahul enriches the Indian team in all three formats, unlike someone who plays in only one format of the game. Also read: Why players from both India and Australia are wearing black armbands After Indias loss in the second Test at Perth, Gavaskar had rightly pointed out that Rahul should have been sent back home, where he could play in the domestic circuit. It was a wise suggestion that was unfortunately not acted upon by the Indian team management. As one can see now, it has done him no good sticking around the Indian team and warm the bench, when he could have spent some time on the field in Indian domestic circuit. However, that time is gone now and unless India bats a second time in Sydney, there is no more-long format cricket for him for a long time. India will now play One-day internationals against Australia and New Zealand, and KL Rahul is an integral part of the Indian ODI team. Usually, he is seen as a reserve opening batsman behind Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma. Perhaps, it will not be a bad idea to play Rahul in those matches so that he gets time on the field and gets back to scoring runs, again. Because, with the kind of negativity surrounding him after all these recent failures, staying away from cricket will do him no good at all. However, if Kohli wants him to remain in the ODI squad without actually giving him a chance in the playing eleven, it may actually be better to send him back to India so that he could play in the Ranji trophy matches and try and get back into some sort of form. Advertisement | https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/what-does-yet-another-failure-for-kl-rahul-mean |
How Many Members Did Netflix Add in Q4? | Slated to report fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17, streaming-TV company Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) will soon reveal how many streaming members it ended the year with. Ahead of the quarterly update, expectations are high for the key metric. Year to date, the company has seen significant momentum with member growth, adding more members in the first three quarters than it did during the same time last year. Continue Reading Below What to expect For its fourth quarter, Netflix guided for 9.4 million net member additions -- a figure that would come in ahead of the 8.33 million members the company added in the fourth quarter of 2017. That would put total members at the end of the year at an astounding 146.5 million, up from 109.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Netflix said in its third-quarter shareholder letter it expects most of these new members to come from its international markets, where management is guiding for 7.6 million new members. Domestically, Netflix expects to add 1.8 million members. These figures compare with 6.36 and 1.98 million net member additions internationally and domestically in the fourth quarter of 2017, respectively. Highlighting the company's strong growth recently, Netflix added 19.5 million members during the first three quarters of 2018, up from 15.5 million in the first three quarters of 2017. With such significant momentum, it's no surprise that management is guiding for more member additions in the fourth quarter of 2018 than in the year-ago period. Importantly, investors should keep in mind that there's no guarantee Netflix will hit its guidance for the final quarter of 2018. Indeed, Netflix missed its guidance for net member additions by over a million members in its second quarter. The miss was a reminder of management's guidance method: The company doesn't intentionally try to undershoot its actual results but instead strives for accuracy with its forecasts. That means that "in some quarters we will be high and other quarters low relative to our guidance," management said in the company's second-quarter shareholder letter. Advertisement Looking ahead Of course, just as important as Netflix member additions during fourth quarter will be its guidance for member additions in Q1. This metric will importantly give investors a glimpse into how management expects member growth to fare 2019. Starting with its January quarterly update, management is only guiding for its paid member additions. Looking to the first quarter of 2018 to inform how this January's forecast may look, investors should expect Netflix to guide for around 8 million paid member additions -- in line with the approximately 8 million paid members the company added in the first quarter of 2018. Guidance for this many paid members would mean the company is maintaining its strong pace of growth. 10 stocks we like better than NetflixWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has quadrupled the market. * David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and Netflix wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys. Click here to learn about these picks! *Stock Advisor returns as of November 14, 2018 Daniel Sparks owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/how-many-members-did-netflix-add-in-q4 |
Should Amazon now start running petrol pumps? | Amazon derived 7.5 percent of its third-quarter revenue from physical stores, data compiled by Bloomberg show. Amazon.com Inc. is a dominant player in industries as diverse as cloud computing, streaming media, and of course e-commerce, but the next business it should set its sights on is decidedly more old fashioned: gas stations. That view comes courtesy of DA Davidson, which wrote that the company could benefit from expanding its portfolio of physical stores -- which already includes pop-up stores and the Whole Foods grocery chain -- as another means for it to advance its delivery efforts. This comes after the Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Amazon was planning to expand the number of Whole Foods stores. Adding gas stations would provide the company thousands of commercial locations to advance its delivery efforts, analyst Tom Forte wrote to clients. He suggested that such outposts could be used for Amazon Locker -- the companys centralized package pick-up locations -- or to utilize Amazon Go, its cashier-free checkout technology. In addition, selling gas would provide another revenue source; Forte noted that Costco Wholesale derived 10 percent of its revenue from gasoline sales. DA Davidson has a buy rating on the stock, along with a $2,450 price target, the highest of any on the Street, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The average is $2,155, which implies upside of more than 40 percent from current levels. Gas stations would also provide the company additional data on the physical whereabouts of consumers, as it would have thousands more locations where it would know where consumers were shopping, Forte wrote in a Wednesday note to clients. Amazon derived 7.5 percent of its third-quarter revenue from physical stores, data compiled by Bloomberg show. More than 50 percent came from online stores in the period. Shares of Amazon rose 1.1 percent on Wednesday, erasing an initial decline. While the stock encountered bouts of heavy volatility in the second half of 2018 -- dropping more than 30 percent between a September record and a Dec. 24 bottom -- it ended the year with solid gains, up 28 percent. | https://www.livemint.com/Companies/74TvDtHfQZxQ3m6emgOqYK/Should-Amazon-now-start-running-petrol-pumps.html |
Did RuPaul's Drag Race Star Trinity "the Tuck" Taylor Sashay Away With New Lips on Botched ? | On Wednesday's all-new episode, the RuPaul's Drag Race veteran (AKA Ryan Taylor) sat down with Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif to discuss his lumpy lips. According to the famed drag queen, he began doing "illegal injections" early in his career in order to keep up with his peers. After getting "injections pretty much everywhere," Trinity began winning countless pageants. Sadly, his lip injections resulted in long term consequences. "I started noticing a shift in my lips two years after I got them done," Trinity explained in a confessional. "That's when I started to notice the unevenness, the lumping and I was like, Oh god! What did I do?'" Although there was a solution to Trinity's problem, there was a chance that the silicone fillers could return even after extensive surgery. | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1000422/did-rupaul-s-drag-race-star-trinity-the-tuck-taylor-sashay-away-with-new-lips-on-botched?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
Will Bears' Trubisky find playoff poise? | LAKE FOREST It hasn't been a streak of accuracy on a level with Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees or Tom Brady. Nevertheless, Chicago Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky has eliminated interceptions over his past three starts. Whether Trubisky can continue making good decisions and throws in his first playoff game at Soldier Field against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles could go a long way toward determining if the Bears' season continues. "I think I've gotten better through the course of the season," Trubisky said, "just continuing to make adjustments, making those split-second decisions and just continue to get better and be critical of myself when I don't and learn from those mistakes." Trubisky suffered through a difficult three-interception game in the Bears' 15-6 win over the Los Angeles Rams, when he returned from a two-game absence because of a shoulder injury. After a third-quarter interception, Bears coach Matt Nagy went entirely to the ground game the rest of the way. Since then, Trubisky has become deadly accurate and clutch. "He just handles adversity," Nagy said. "He knows how to run this offense now. He's at a point right now where when he calls a play in the huddle, he can start looking at the defense rather than looking at the offense." Trubisky went 63 of 83 for 644 yards with three touchdown passes and no interceptions for a passer rating of 109.7 in wins over the Packers, 49ers and Vikings. Nagy called it a matter of coaches figuring out what plays and formations Trubisky performs best and knows best. "I think he's finally starting to really understand who we are becoming as an identity within this offense," Nagy said. So Nagy has some advice for Trubisky heading into his first postseason game, as the Bears try to take advantage of an Eagles pass defense ranked 30th in the NFL. "To not change, for him to continue to do just what he does," Nagy said. "Last week, he had a little bit of a test of it, and I thought he did a great job handling the situation." The 24-10 win at Minnesota on Sunday featured some of Trubisky's best play on third down. He accounted for seven third-down conversions. And he did it against the NFL's best third-down defense. "We all have our trust in him," running back Tarik Cohen said. "We've seen him make the best of plays when times didn't look so bright. Just the things he can do with the ball, his arm and including his feet, it's amazing to watch." Trubisky's running ability on third down has been a big key. He has run for 421 yards this season and acknowledges he's even surprised by his own ability to escape the pocket at times. "I always try to have eyes in the back of my head, have my head on a swivel, take care of the football and make smart decisions," he said. "But it's pretty cool in some situations you can escape from." Tight end Trey Burton played for the Super Bowl champion Eagles last year and sees Trubisky's second-year development on a course similar to Philadelphia quarterback Carson Wentz in his second season in 2017. Burton reeled off a list of Trubisky's recent improvements. "Some of the throws he's been able to make," Burton said, "some of the plays he's gotten us into from an offensive standpoint, some of the times when teams are blitzing and the way he's able to scramble, some of the intangibles that not too many guys have in this league, I mean you see him show up." Trubisky's development came about after plenty of self-criticism, especially after the Rams game. "Those are great learning experiences," Trubisky said. "And those were instances where I just came back was critical of myself, watched the film and really figured out how I could change my mindset and do a better job in practice during the week just getting prepared." The baby-faced Trubisky is sporting a playoff beard these days, as are all the Bears quarterbacks. It took a while, though. He started growing it the first week of the season. It seems an unusual time to start thinking playoffs. "I had faith," Trubisky said. The same could be said for Nagy's belief in his quarterback's development in the face of sporadic criticism. Now he has a quarterback not turning over the ball and converting third downs. "When you do those things big picture-wise, you're in good shape," Nagy said. Notes: S Eddie Jackson (ankle) and OLB Aaron Lynch (elbow) did not practice after missing the last two games. ... WRs Taylor Gabriel (ribs), Anthony Miller (shoulder) and Allen Robinson II (ribs) and G Kyle Long (ankle) all went through a full practice. | https://www.galesburg.com/sports/20190102/will-bears-trubisky-find-playoff-poise |
Will All Elite Wrestling Change The Pro Wrestling Landscape? | As 2019 started, Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks, members of arguably the most popular stable in sports entertainment today, announced plans for All Elite Wrestling. This new company was rumored after the success of the All In event that sold out 10,000 seats in Chicago just a few months ago. While details havent been revealed yet, a press conference is scheduled for next week, which might include more information about the foundation of the company. Tony Khan, the son of Jacksonville Jaguars owner, Shaq Khan, will be the president of the All Elite promotion. Since the Khan family purchase of the Jaguars in 2011, Tony Khan has worked extensively with the NFL franchise and also worked with the Fullham FC team that their family purchased in 2013. According to Forbes, the Khan family is worth an estimated $6.3 billion. In recent years, Tony Khan launched TruMedia Networks, a sports-based media organization. Join us January 8th in JACKSONVILLE for more information on Double or Nothingand AEW! pic.twitter.com/72gnO6fqOh Double or Nothing (@ALL_IN_2018) January 1, 2019 While the popularity and hype of the Elite group might lead some to overestimate the possibilities of this project, even the most cautious view of this scenario allows for the potential for a situation that could change the professional wrestling landscape. Granted, a lot of what this group is capable of will depend on several variables, but for the first time since WCW closed, it appears that there might be a legitimate alternative to WWE if AEW can get off the ground. However, it should be noted that everything is speculation based on potential, as there arent any results yet to give any indication what the impact of All Elite might be within the sports entertainment market. As is the case with any product, (and the point that I emphasized about Impacts TV deal in an article last week) distribution is the key to reach the more possible viewers. According to The Wrestling Observers Dave Meltzer, there are multiple television offers on the table, but nothing is official yet. Considering that they could be more than one offer from cable networks, its safe to say that AEW will have a TV deal somewhere, but what station could determine a lot about the potential of the organization. As I detailed in the column last week, Impact Wrestlings TV clearance will drop by 40% when they start on the Pursuit Channel this year, and none of the three largest cable systems will carry the channel. If All Elite is going to be a major force within the business, they will need a channel with wide clearance, which might determine the entire business model. The press conference next week will include details for Double or Nothing, the follow-up to the All In event. The original pay-per-view in September saw Ring Of Honor offer its production staff for the PPV, and the show featured talent from ROH, New Japan, and Impact. Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks are extremely talented athletes and some of the best of their generation so they are undoubtedly competitors that a promotion can be built around. However, if the success of All In is what led to this launch of All Elite then it must be considered that part of the draw of All In was the fact that it put talent from multiple organizations on the show. That being said, it would be wise if AEW continued the working agreements that were used for All In if thats possible. Its somewhat of a murky situation because Cody and The Bucks finished up with ROH at Final Battle just a few weeks ago, but are still scheduled for this weeks Wrestle Kingdom show at the Tokyo Dome so their New Japan status remains unknown. If All Elite runs TV tapings that cover multiple episodes and then produce an occasional live pay-per-view that would theoretically give the trio a schedule that would allow them to continue to work for New Japan. Another aspect would be that type of schedule could give AEW talent the opportunity to work elsewhere as well. Ring Of Honor and New Japan have worked together successful for the past several years and are scheduled to co-promote the G1 Super Card at Madison Square Garden in April. That scenario would become more complicated if Cody and The Bucks remain on the NJPW roster. An American partnership is really what allowed for the North American expansion of the Japanese product over the past few years and it was an important piece of the puzzle for the increased distribution of the product through the TV deal on AXS and the launch of the NJPW World streaming service. Obviously, a United States working agreement is important for New Japan to continue its expansion so it will be interesting to see if they can continue to work with each group. All things considered, in my opinion, it would make the most sense for All Elite to work with every promotion possible similar to the way the All In event brought different talent to the same card. Plus, the WWE owns 95% of the market in the United States so it doesnt make sense for smaller promotions to attempt to divide pieces of the pie instead of trying to expand accessibility to an alternative. That being said, All Elite and Ring Of Honor will be focused on the same demographic, which is why the Elite stable played such a major role in the renewed popularity of ROH in recent years. Even with the appreciation that Cody and The Bucks genuinely expressed prior to their ROH exit, it seems like it would be very difficult for the two promotions to trade talent because of the same audience they are attempting to draw with the similar style. At the same time, Kenny Omega is one of the members of The Elite stable in Japan, but as of this writing, his status hasnt been confirmed. As mentioned, I think the best scenario would be that AEW works with other organizations because theres not much of an upside to attempting to divide the audience. At the same time, with as much stellar talent that is around, the wrestling landscape has become crowded in recent years, and some leagues, such as the struggling Impact might be pushed out when more main stream options are available. Names like Pentagon, Sami Callihan, and others could get a bigger platform under the All Elite banner. Chris Jericho and Jim Ross are also names rumored for the project, which would provided some well known figures to the casual fan that might not be aware of The Elite. More than anything, this project brings the potential to change the landscape of the sports entertainment industry and provide a buzz that hasnt existed since WCW closed. AEW has the funding to really make an impact within the business and the importance of that cant be understated. If a product looks minor league, it will be perceived as minor league, which is something that TNA proved under the Dixie Carter regime. Tony Khan provides the funding and the business resources to present a top level product and the money to sign some of the best talent in the world. Now, All Elite has the resources to offer comparative or better money than the WWE, an aspect that could completely change the paradigm of the industry. Granted, an organization being put on the map cant be planned, but the pieces of the puzzle were organically put into place over the past several months so it at least appears that All Elite Wrestling has the best chance to offer a true alternative to the WWE since the wrestling boom of the late 90s. Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised. Until next week -Jim LaMotta E mail [email protected] | You can follow me on Twitter @jimlamotta | http://www.pwmania.com/will-all-elite-wrestling-change-the-pro-wrestling-landscape |
Did RuPaul's Drag Race Star Trinity the Tuck Taylor Sashay Away With New Lips on Botched? | On Wednesday's all-new episode, the RuPaul's Drag Race veteran (AKA Ryan Taylor) sat down with Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif to discuss his lumpy lips. According to the famed drag queen, he began doing "illegal injections" early in his career in order to keep up with his peers. After getting "injections pretty much everywhere," Trinity began winning countless pageants. Sadly, his lip injections resulted in long term consequences. "I started noticing a shift in my lips two years after I got them done," Trinity explained in a confessional. "That's when I started to notice the unevenness, the lumping and I was like, Oh god! What did I do?'" Although there was a solution to Trinity's problem, there was a chance that the silicone fillers could return even after extensive surgery. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1000367/did-rupaul-s-drag-race-star-trinity-the-tuck-taylor-sashay-away-with-new-lips-on-botched?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
What Fly Should I Use? | A Straightforward Guide to Simplify Fly Selection for Trout By Ethan Hollifield When it comes to fly selection; theres an infinite amount of possibilities. Looking through the bins in a fly shop or spending enough time on the vice will quickly show you how many endless material choices, color combinations, and overall varieties of what otherwise are simple patterns, can be accumulated by your average fly angler. Ive seen anglers on the water that bring with them over ten fly boxes stuffed in every free pocket to try and accommodate the vast amount of patterns available on the market in hopes that maybe the fly of the day is one of those hundreds of flies. Guiding taught me very quickly that carrying an ungodly amount of flies and changing patterns every other drift is the most ineffective way to fly fish that has ever been conceived. The lesson I would like for readers to take away from this is to develop a sense of confidence in how they fish rather than relying on carrying hundreds of flies hoping that one might work. The hope factor is something I cannot rely on as a guide; I have to know that something Im tying on for my clients is going to produce. This is how I developed this system. Ill go over some tips and what I look for on the water or at the tying vice that helps me determine my fly selection. Starting off with the number of flies themselves: I only carry three boxes on the water with me while I guide (all double sided). One box contains dry flies, the other nymphs, and the other contains a selection of streamers. Within these boxes are what I call my confidence flies. These are flies that will produce a fish 90% of the time in 90% of the water conditions youll face on the water. If you look in any of my dry fly or nymph boxes, youll see essentially 4 of the same types of flies: a pheasant tail, a hares ear, a zebra midge, and a parachute adams. I organize these patterns by size, color, and weight distribution as well as whether a fly has additional notations added to it such as rubber legs or elements of flash. My streamer box carries a selection of flies that either perform as a jig fly or flies that will move with an erratic action in the water: my two favorites being the bunny clouser or either a single hook/articulated zoo cougar. I carry a wide variety of colors and sizes to meet water conditions, as I need them. The method behind my reasoning is what drives trout to feed in most circumstances: opportunity. A trouts feeding habits on any given freestone stream is relatively consistent. They are going to intercept, in the current, what is available to them at a given time. This could be smaller mayflies or midges in the winter to large golden stoneflies in the summer. Either way, a pheasant tail variation to meet both the size and color of any of these insects is a hard pattern to beat, and the reason for that is simple and outweighs our understandings of trout behavior. This being presentation over fly pattern. This is the golden rule I tell all my clients to abide by. You can have the fanciest, most well tied flies ever conceived but they will mean nothing unless you can fish them correctly. So, rather than carrying every fly pattern known to man on your next outing: equip yourself with only a small selection of flies and focus more on applying correct presentations. Youll be amazed at how much your catch rate, and your confidence will grow. Ethan Hollifield is an Environmental/Physical Science Teacher and is also a guide for Southern Appalachian Anglers. | https://coastalanglermag.com/what-fly-should-i-use/ |
What Surprising Technology Has NASA Developed? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by C Stuart Hardwick, Award-Winning Scifi Author, on Quora: NASA did not give us Tang, Velcro, or the Fisher Space Pen, but they do a tremendous amount that most people never see. The grooves in newer highways used to control drainage and reduce noise were developed by NASA to prevent hydroplaning on runways. The main reason we no longer hear about crashes due to wind shear is the onboard predictive doppler radar developed by NASA to solve the problem. (The other is fixed-site doppler operated near large airports by NOAA and used in conjunction with ATC). The aerodynamic fairings that save long haul truckers 20% on fuel were developed by NASA. The supercritical airfoils developed by NASA improve the efficiency of modern airliners flying at high subsonic speeds. Aircraft winglets, which cut drag, improve lift, and permit larger aircraft on smaller runways, were developed by NASA. Computational Fluid Dynamicsas a practicewas founded and funded by NASA because they needed it for the shuttle. Most modern aircraft would be much more primitive and costly without it. The noise reducing chevrons on modern turbofan jet engines were developed by NASA. NASA found part of the cause of of the runaway engines involved in the Toyota Camry recall. NASA also developed the aircraft lightning protection standards in place today and small aircraft wing design changes that could cut fatalities in those craft by 30% if universally adopted. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/02/what-surprising-technology-has-nasa-developed/ |
Will Filipino flights to Israel go through Saudi Arabia? | Philippine government reportedly in talks with Saudi Arabia for the rights to fly through its airspace on a direct flight path to Israel. The Philippine government is said to be in talks with Saudi Arabia for the rights to fly through its airspace on a direct flight path to Israel, i24news reported Wednesday, citing local Philippine media. The negotiations are underway ahead of the anticipated launch of direct Manila-Tel Aviv flights by the state-owned Philippine Airlines this year, the reports said. We have rights already as far as Israel is concerned. Hopefully, we should get to overfly Saudi Arabia to Israel, Philippine Transportation Undersecretary Manuel Tamayo was quoted as having said. He added that securing Saudi overfly rights would reduce the travel time on the Manila-Tel Aviv route by at least one hour. Israel and the Philippines signed a bilateral air services agreement in 2013 allowing the countries to fly between any of their cities 21 times per week but so far, no direct flights have been launched, noted i24news. Philippine Airlines, the countrys national carrier, is eyeing the opening of direct flights to Israel in time for winter travel season. Last March, Air India launched direct flights to Tel Aviv which cross Saudi airspace. The move is believed to reflect growing ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia, although Saudi officials have repeatedly denied any ties with Israel. Israels national airline El Al, which operates four weekly flights to Mumbai, has also expressed an interest in flying over Saudi airspace in order to reduce flight time. | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257094 |
What about Littlemoss? | This is how the Laurus Ryecroft academy will look Credit: Laurus Trust/Pozzoni Architecture Written and Submitted by Michelle Lomas The new plans given the go-ahead to build a secondary school for no less than 1350 pupils is the wrong thing to do. In the past when this was a boys school there was 450 pupils and it was a nightmare. The Thameside Council has said this is needed but the impact on the residents of Littlemoss should be addressed. Let's talk the traffic on Lumb Lane or what we call the racetrack for all up and coming 'race car drivers'. Fast is not the word that comes to mind with the speeds used along the road with no intention or means of stopping or slowing down. This should be a bigger issue especially considering the accidents that have happened on this Lane, more recently a young man from the school being knocked down and seriously hurt - this should be a concern. The road is not and was not made for this amount of traffic it is expected to take. By building the school there will be 10 times more traffic and residents on Cryer Street will struggle to park their own vehicles. The amount of tutors, administration and staff required for a school of this size will not fit in Littlemoss, Droylsden. It will be above any bodies comprehension how on earth is this going to work with the amount of added traffic plus added buses for the children attending, which already has proven a pain with the outstanding poor behaviour of the school children themselves. The residents need a voice! Please can this be heard we need help or a lot of money spent on Littlemoss and the Tameside District in general. If this doesn't happen, Littlemoss will be unable to cope with the amount of traffic from buses, tutors, parents and more picking up and dropping off children as well as parking for the day. Furthermore, the new housing estate to be built on Robertson's Jam old site the contractors have been asked to put up 400,000 towards the revamp of the roads on top of the building site to be able to deal with the added traffic. | https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/what-about-littlemoss/ |
What Does the Government Shutdown Mean for Investors? | Shutdowns should not directly affect most investors or their investments, although these appropriations lapses ultimately cost the government money, and economists agree that they slightly reduce gross domestic product growth , particularly during longer shutdowns. Still, shutdowns provide an important piece of information: They are indicators of the extent of the gridlock between lawmakers. The partial shutdown of the federal government has stretched into its second week, and right now there are few signs of compromise. At the same time, major financial market indexes have bounced up and (mostly) down, partly because of the shutdown, among other factors. That gridlock, in turn, impedes the government from doing all kinds of routine business to keep the economy running smoothly, which has already recently led to a few annoyances for businesses and investors. A dysfunctional Congress or a clash between Congress and the president could potentially lead to much bigger problems in the next few months. Shutdowns have been regular features of American government ever since Congress set up the modern appropriations process in 1974. The first major appropriations lapse occurred in 1981, to be followed by shutdowns in 1984, 1986, and 1990. We got a break between 1996 and 2013, but 2018 featured two shutdowns. You probably do not remember them, and that's because most people don't unless they wanted to visit a shuttered park or needed to call the IRS for guidance. (Of course, hundreds of thousands of federal employees are currently furloughed or working without paychecks, but these workers were always paid back in previous shutdowns. Contractors working for federal agencies may not be so lucky.) However, the shutdown illustrates how difficult it will be for Washington to get anything done in the period of divided government that commences Jan. 3, 2019, when Democrats take the majority in the House. (To be fair, the last Congress was generally unproductive as well, during a period of unified government.) The shutdown is a lagging indicator for recent failures to pass legislation with bipartisan support, including bills that would have made technical corrections to the tax code, improved small employers' options for offering retirement plans to their workers, and enhanced lifetime income options for retirees, among other policy issues that we cover at Morningstar. More concerning, the shutdown is a leading indicator that Congress and the president just might fail to take care of the biggest piece of routing business there is: raising the debt ceiling. To cut to the chase, sometime this summer, Congress will need to raise the debt ceiling so that the Treasury can borrow enough to pay the bills that Congress has already incurred. The debt ceiling is often conflated with a shutdown, but it is a completely different animal, and a much scarier one. For arcane historical reasons, we separate the laws on the amount of money the government can borrow from its obligations to spend money above the amount of revenue we collect in taxes. In short, the debt-ceiling fight is about whether the laws about how much to spend will clash with laws about how much to borrow, and if they do, the U.S. government will default on some of its obligations--an outcome that will shake financial markets to their core given that the markets consider U.S. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds to be riskless. The most likely case is that Congress will raise the debt ceiling as it always has. In fact, the incoming house majority plans to adopt a rule to automatically raise the debt ceiling when they pass a budget, which should help mitigate some of these issues. Still, the last major debt-ceiling crisis in 2011 illustrated that Congress could extract policy concessions by playing chicken with the economy. That's a potentially dangerous precedent in a period of increasing gridlock and animosity. The current debt ceiling lapses on March 2, after which the government uses "extraordinary measures" to keep from defaulting on its debts. Investors should expect more volatility as markets try to price in the risks of the U.S. government failing to pay its bills and some continued drag on the economy to the extent it cannot perform other routine but important housekeeping. | https://www.morningstar.com/articles/906781/what-does-the-government-shutdown-mean-for-investo.html |
Who has scored goals for India at the Asian Cup? | The Blue Tigers have had six different goalscorers across all their three previous appearances in the AFC Asian Cup... The 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE sees India participate in the continental extravaganza for only the fourth time in the history of the competition. While India have never been heavyweights as such but six different players have managed to score eight goals in 11 games through the years. Goal takes a look at all the different Indian goalscorers in the history of the Asian Cup: 1964 Asian Cup It was in 1964 when Team India first participated in the AFC Asian Cup. With only four teams taking part in the entire tournament, India finished as runners-up behind hosts Israel, who were a part of the AFC back then. The Indians won two out of the three matches they played under British coach Harry Wright. They had beaten South Korea 2-0 in their first game with K Appalaraju (2') finding the back of the net within just a couple of minutes. Inder Singh (57') sealed the deal in the second half. After a 2-0 loss to Israel, India ended the campaign by beating Hong Kong 3-1 where a 20-year-old Inder Singh (45') scored again to end the tournament as joint-top goalscorer with Israel's Mordechai Spiegler. Sukumar Samajpati (60') and Subimal 'Chuni' Goswami (77') were the others who got their names onto the scoresheet. 1984 Asian Cup India had a forgettable campaign two decades later. The Blue Tigers couldn't even score once in the 4 matches they played in the group stage, losing against China, UAE, and hosts Singapore. A draw against Iran earned them just a point, finishing last in their group. Editors' Picks Solskjaer's super-sub magic rubs off on Lukaku and Sanchez for fourth Man Utd win Morata running out of chances at Chelsea after Southampton stalemate Chelsea's 58 million signing Pulisic can prove himself worth every penny Ozils future is with Arsenal, end of story' - Gunners star's agent rejects exit talk The team were coached by Serbian Ciric Milovan. 2011 Asian Cup After a 27-year hiatus, coached by Bob Houghton, India were back at the continental showpiece again. Australia thrashed them 4-0 first up before losing out 5-2 to Bahrain. Defender Gouramangi Singh (9') and forward Sunil Chhetri (52') scored the goals against the Gulf side. Sunil Chhetri (12') scored from the penalty spot in India's last match against South Korea in a 4-1 defeat as the Blue Tigers bowed out of the tournament in Qatar. Chhetri equalled Inder Singh's tally of two goals to become India's joint-top goalscorer in Asian Cup finals history. He will have an opportunity to add more to his tally in 2019 in the UAE. | https://www.goal.com/en-ae/news/afc-asian-cup-2019-all-indian-goal-scorers-ever/fex2l5qh7kxwzn6wygwmx1ar |
Is Warren Buffett Right to Be Holding UPS? | According to Berkshire Hathaway's (NYSE: BRK-A) latest quarterly SEC filing, Warren Buffet's investment vehicle is holding nearly 60 thousand shares in United Parcel Service (NYSE: UPS). While it's one of his smaller holdings, the investment guru is known for only taking positions in companies he's willing to hold for the long term because he believes in their core value. That said, let's take a look at the investment case for UPS and see whether it's a Buffet-like stock or not. Why UPS is a Buffett stock Given Buffett's preference for long-term investments with sustainable cash flow streams, UPS appears to immediately fit the bill. Alongside FedEx (NYSE: FDX) and Deutsche Post's DHL, UPS is one of the dominant forces in express and courier service. Throw in the long-term growth opportunity from burgeoning e-commerce demand and UPS looks well set to generate a steady flow of earnings and cash flow for years to come. A man carrying a large parcel More Not all e-commerce packages are easy to deliver. Image source: Getty Images. Moreover, a quick comparison of some its operational metrics with FedEx's shows that UPS tends to have a higher operating margin, earns higher returns on invested capital, and also generates more free cash flow from its assets than its key rival does. Unfortunately, it's not quite that simple. The case against UPS While a cursory look suggests UPS is a perfect fit, a closer look at the details of its performance in recent years suggests otherwise. In a nutshell, the company has faced three stumbling blocks that have forced the company to change its approach to business. Consequently, it's become harder to judge UPS's long-term cash flow. E-commerce growth has been positive for volume growth, but it's created margin challenges. The pressure of delivering a good service during peak demand days in the holiday season has led to profit shortfalls and the need to expand network capacity. UPS has been forced to increase its capital spending in order to modernize and expand its network in order to service e-commerce growth. The three bullet points above are all somewhat related and systemic in nature -- FedEx has also had similar issues. UPS e-commerce growth E-commerce shipment growth is good news from a revenue growth perspective. However, as you can see below, UPS and FedEx have seen margin pressure in recent years due to a combination of the difficulties of dealing with peak demand days and the fact that many large e-commerce deliveries -- mattresses and trampolines, for example -- can be bulky and/or inefficiently packed. | https://news.yahoo.com/warren-buffett-holding-ups-031800992.html |
What does it take to set a record high in January? | Copyright 2019 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. On average, January is our coldest time of the year. Our average high from January 6th through January 22nd is 32. That is our coldest average high through the year. The average low through that time is 19 and it remains at 19 through early February. In fact, the coldest temperature ever recorded in the Valley occurred during this month in 1994. On January 19th, 1994 the low hit -22F, the coldest temperature ever recorded for the Youngstown climate reporting station. On the warm-side, we are talking mostly 60s. The majority of the record highs fall above 60 for our area. Only once have we seen temperatures in the 70s in January. Here's the list of the 12 warmest days ever recorded in January: 1. January 25th at 71, set in 1950 2. January 14th at 69, set in 1932 3. January 22nd at 69, set in 1933 4. January 13th at 68, set in 2005 5. January 23rd at 67, set in 1933 6. January 26th at 67, set in 1950 7. January 13th at 67, in 2013 (Not the record for this date) 8. January 14th at 67, in 1995 (Not the record for this date) 9. January 8th at 66, set in 2008 10. January 9th at 66, set in 1937 11. January 15th at 66, set in 1932 12. January 13th at 66, in 1995 (Not the record for this date) While most of the records for the month are at or above 60, there are a few below that mark. Of the thirty-one days in January, only four of the record highs are below 60: 1. January 11th at 56, set in 2017 2. January 16th at 56, set in 1953 3. January 17th at 59, set in 2017 4. January 27th at 57, set in 2002 So in order to move into record high territory, the temperature will generally need to exceed 60 for the daytime highs. It is almost a guaranteed new record if the temperature reached 70, unless it occurred on the 25th. But any other day of the month, 70 would be a record. Anytime the temperature rises into the upper 60s in January would also have a high likelihood of being a new record. This type of warmth is usually brought into the area by large storm systems, pumping in warmer air from the south. Typically, temperatures in the 60s this time of year wouldn't last for much more than a day. | https://www.wytv.com/weather/weather-specials/what-does-it-take-to-set-a-record-high-in-january-/1684116017 |
Could Tesla price cuts mean demand is slowing? | DETROIT Tesla made about 9,300 more vehicles than it delivered last year, raising concerns among industry analysts that inventory is growing as demand for the companys electric cars may be starting to wane. If demand falls, they say, the company will enter a new phase of its business. Like other automakers, Tesla will have to either cut production or reduce prices to raise sales. A drop in demand could also curtail the companys earnings and jeopardize CEO Elon Musks promise to post sustained quarterly profits. On Wednesday, Tesla did cut prices, knocking $2,000 of each of its three models. The company said the cuts will help customers deal with the loss of a $7,500 federal tax credit, which was reduced to $3,750 this month for Tesla buyers and will gradually go to zero by the end of 2018. They have for a long time had more demand than supply, Gartner analyst Michael Ramsey said. Its becoming apparent that that dynamic is changing. Tesla reported that it produced 254,530 cars and SUVs last year and delivered 245,240. The companys deliveries for the full year matched Wall Street estimates, but its figures for the fourth quarter didnt reach expectations. Tesla said it delivered 90,700 vehicles from October through December. Analysts polled by data provider FactSet expected 92,000. Jeff Schuster, a senior vice-president at the forecasting firm LMC Automotive, said demand for Teslas lower-priced Model 3 has been artificially high for the past six months as the company overcame production problems at its Fremont, California, factory. Youve had these inflated months because of delayed deliveries, Schuster said. Were probably getting to that point where were getting to equilibrium and consumers arent necessarily waiting for vehicles. Last year, Tesla reported that about 420,000 buyers had put down $1,000 deposits to join the Model 3 waiting list. LMC predicts that Tesla U.S. sales will rise in 2019 because its the first full year on the market for the Model 3. It anticipates sales to then fall by about 10,000 in 2020. Losing the tax credit will hit those who have been holding out for the $35,000 version of the Model 3, Schuster said. At present, Tesla is selling only versions that cost more than $45,000. Under federal law, buyers get the full tax credit until a manufacturer reaches 200,000 in sales since the start of 2010. Tesla hit 200,000 in July but the full credit continued for vehicles delivered by Dec. 31. It was cut in half on Jan. 1 and will go away by the end of the year. Youve had your early adopters, those early followers have already come in to buy, Schuster said. Now youre trying to appeal to the mainstream market. I think that will have an impact on overall demand. At the same time, inventory appears to be swelling. The company parked hundreds of cars at lots and Tesla stores all over the country at the end of last year, which could indicate excess stock. Tesla wouldnt give inventory numbers but said it has lower stocks than its two biggest competitors, BMW and Mercedes. The Associated Press found one lot on the north side of Chicago where Tesla was storing dozens of vehicles in late December, and Mark Spiegel, a hedge fund manager who bets against Tesla stock, said other lots were full across the country. Tesla said it sometimes stores vehicles on lots as theyre being shipped to company dealerships across the nation. The lot in Chicago has fewer cars on it today, the company said. Our inventory levels remain the smallest in the automotive industry, the company said Wednesday. Tesla also says Model 3 sales should grow worldwide as it expands distribution and begins to offer leases. Deliveries in Europe and China will start in February, and a right-hand-drive version is coming later in the year, the company said. In addition, inventory dropped in the fourth quarter as Tesla delivered a few thousand vehicles more than produced. Tesla said it had about 3,000 vehicles in transit to customers at years end. But even with that number, Schuster said production still exceeded deliveries, which doesnt fit Teslas business model of building cars when they are ordered by customers. Still, even at 9,300, Teslas inventory is smaller than other automakers that have to stock dealerships, Schuster said. | https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/could-tesla-price-cuts-mean-demand-is-slowing |
Do we have too many prisoners serving life sentences? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email The UK has the highest number of prisoners serving life sentences in Europe, according to a report. Analysis of 2016 data found UK jails were holding 8,554 inmates serving life - more than France, Germany and Italy combined. Between them, Turkey and the UK accounted for two-thirds of the life-sentenced prison population in Europe. The Prison Reform Trusts (PRT) annual Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile reveals that life-sentenced prisoners in the UK make up more than 10 per cent of the total prison population, which is higher than any other European country and even the United States, where 9.5 per cent of prisoners are serving life. The UK also tops the list of European countries for the proportion of citizens serving life sentences, at 13 per 100,000 head of population. In France the proportion of citizens serving life sentences is far lower at just 0.7 per 100,000, while in Russia the rate is only 1.2 per 100,000. Among the prisoners serving life sentences in UK prisons are: Michael Stirling, aged 32, from Gratton Road Stoke, who murdered midwife Samantha Eastwood last year, and was jailed for life with a minimum term of 16 years in December. Andrew Craigie, originally from Stoke-on-Trent, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2007 after pleading guilty to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. He escaped from prison last year, but was recaptured. Arsonist Thomas Ashcroft, from Sheffield, set fire to the Royal Stoke University Hospital in June, 2017. He was jailed for life in February, 2018. According to the report, by Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit and Dr Catherine Appleton from the University of Nottingham, the growth in life and other forms of indeterminate sentences in the UK has been a significant driver of the overall increase in the prison population. Their report questions whether these sentences are fair and proportionate. In the Bromley Briefiings, Professor van Zyl Smit and Dr Appleton said: The UKs use of indeterminate sentences is plainly out of kilter with the majority of international comparators. But it is also at odds with its own historical approach to sentencing for the most serious crimes. The watershed was the legislation passed by Parliament in 2003, which inflated the punishment tariffs for formal life sentences and created imprisonment for public protection (IPP). That dissonance poses serious and urgent questions for Government, parliament and prison service alike. IPP was an indeterminate sentence introduced by the Criminal Justice Act 2003. It was intended to protect the public against criminals whose crimes were not serious enough to merit a normal life sentence but who were regarded as too dangerous to be released when the term of their original sentence had expired. Although IPPs were abolished in 2012, there are still 2,598 people in prison serving those sentences, which means they have no release date. Life imprisonment became the mandatory sentence for murder in the UK following the abolition of the death penalty in 1965. In most European countries murder does not carry a mandatory life sentence. The Bromley Briefings report also says that in the UK, the minimum term that life-sentenced prisoners have to serve are considered long and are getting longer still. It says the average minimum term imposed for murder has risen from 12.5 years in 2003 to 21.3 years in 2016. Peter Dawson, director of the PRT, said: A substantial minority of the prison population are serving sentences characterised by an absence of hope and in many cases a sense that punishment, though deserved, has ceased to be proportionate or just in its administration. This has profound implications for the way of life prisons provide, if the treatment of those serving the longest sentences is to be both humane and purposeful. In its assessment of the state of prisons, the PRT said safety has deteriorated rapidly in the last six years, with more self-harm and assaults than ever before. Stoke-on-Trent Central MP Gareth Snell said: People have to be deterred from doing the crime by the punishment available, but I believe prison should be about rehabilitation as well as punitive and helping people to not return to crime when they come out. They should have the skills, the opportunities and the life lessons to rebuild their lives when they come out and to stay away from crime. Where I think the system fails is that the support to rebuild peoples lives after they leave prison isnt there anymore. I have dealt with cases of people who have come out of prison and not been able to access housing and employment. That is where we have a massive failing. Stoke-on-Trent North MP Ruth Smeeth said: "The punishment has to fit the crime. But we need to make sure that the criminal justice system is working properly for everyone. Stopping people offending and re-offending in the first place. "But once an egregious crime has been committed people need to serve their full sentence." A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: Indefinite sentences are reserved for societys most dangerous criminals - those who commit serious sexual or violent offences like rape and murder and are a high risk to public safety. When indeterminate prisoners have served their tariff they can apply to the independent Parole Board who will consider whether they still represent a threat to society. | https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/many-prisoners-serving-life-sentences-2377513 |
Was the NRL 'sexting' scandal the beginning of the end for Sam and Phoebe Burgess? | Rugby league's golden couple Sam and Phoebe Burgess are believed to have split just three months after the South Sydney Rabbitohs star was cleared of involvement in an NRL 'sexting' affair. Just hours after the scandal came to light in September 2018, a then-pregnant Phoebe pulled out of a public appearance. Despite the athlete being cleared in the high-profile scandal, it appears the past few months have been a trying time for the married duo. The premiership winner is believed to have ended the couple's five-year relationship shortly before Christmas and was spotted leaving their family home on Wednesday with numerous overnight bags The premiership winner is believed to have ended the couple's five-year relationship shortly before Christmas and was spotted leaving their family home on Wednesday with numerous overnight bags. It's now been 15 weeks since a South Sydney internal investigation into the nude video scandal cleared Sam of misconduct, contract breach or violation of the code of conduct. Sam was originally identified as the player in the midst of a sexting scandal after it emerged his Facebook account was used to solicit a nude video chat with a 23-year-old woman in May. 'I have not sexted anyone': It's now been 15 weeks since a South Sydney internal investigation into the nude video scandal cleared Sam of misconduct, contract breach or violation of the code of conduct 'What hurts me the most is seeing my wife upset': At the time of the scandal, Sam praised his 'strong wife' for what he described as a 'tricky few days' Stills from the chat showed a man exposing himself and a man with his pants down. It was never confirmed who the man in the footage was, but the social media account was verified to his name. Just hours after the scandal came to light, his 26-week-pregnant wife and mother-of-one Phoebe pulled out of a Randwick Racecourse appearance, which she was expected to attend as an ambassador of Colgate. Just hours after the scandal came to light, his 26-week-pregnant wife and mother-of-one Phoebe pulled out of a Randwick Racecourse appearance, which she was expected to attend as an ambassador of Colgate Burgess's rugby-playing brothers both stood by him during the controversy, but his wife Phoebe never spoke publicly about the incident. During the scandal, the Rabbitohs lock thanked his family during a 'tricky few days' and said 'fortunately I've got a strong wife'. 'What hurts me the most is seeing my wife upset,' Sam said at the time. Sam hired celebrity lawyer Chris Murphy to pursue defamation actions after being cleared of any wrongdoing over the lewd photo scandal. 'I have not sexted anyone. I fully cooperated with the inquiry as I said I would. I have engaged lawyer Chris Murphy to pursue my remedies and he has retained defamation lawyers,' he said. That's odd! Sam and Phoebe's third wedding anniversary was on December 28, but it appears neither of the pair marked the occasion on their social media accounts 'I have given a full account to the Inquiry and answered every questioned asked. It's now in Mr Murphy's hands. The next move is up to him. I have nothing more to say at this stage.' he said at the time The Englishman met journalist Phoebe Hooke at a concert by the late Swedish musician Avicii in early 2014, debuted their relationship that year at the Dally M awards and wed in 2015. Sam and Phoebe's third wedding anniversary was on December 28 and Sam turned 30 on December 14. Unusually, neither milestone was marked on social media by 29-year-old Phoebe. Rumours of a split started last week after a social media post from Sams sister-in-law Joanna Burgess suggested Phoebe had spent Christmas away from Sam Rumours of a split started last week after a social media post from Sams sister-in-law Joanna Burgess suggested Phoebe had spent Christmas away from Sam. Phoebe is believed to be holed-up in the $3.8million marital home with her mother Sarah Hooke, pregnant sister Jemima Fairbanks and her husband Gene. Sam was seen arriving at the property in his Bentley at 4.40pm on Wednesday and leaving about half an hour later carrying three full overnight bags. Phoebe's mother Sarah arrived at the house with a large suitcase about 8pm The couple share two children - newborn son William 'Billy' Mark Burgess and daughter, Poppy Alice, who is almost two. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the couple's separate agents for comment. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6551393/Was-NRL-sexting-scandal-beginning-end-Sam-Phoebe-Burgess.html |
Will there ever be a CFB Playoff expansion? | When talking about the possibility of expanding the College Football Playoff, the word momentum gets tossed around a lot. Expansion seems inevitable. Because playoffs always expand. Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany told The Athletic last month he was ready to start talking about a larger playoff field, and prominent Big Ten athletic directors Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin and Jim Phillips from Northwestern have voiced support for that idea. At the moment I dont see that kind of momentum, Atlantic Coast Conference Commissioner John Swofford said. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who sits on the CFP management committee along with the 10 FBS conference commissioners, said now is the perfect time to talk about changes to the four-team playoff. The CFP is doing great in terms of fan interest. In terms television ratings. In terms of every measure it has exceeded our expectations, Swarbrick said. So being open to talking about the model, this is the perfect time to do it. Do it from a position of strength. But, he added, Doesnt mean theres any momentum for change. The current postseason system is not quite halfway through a 12-year contract with ESPN that runs through 2026. The fifth CFP national champion will be crowned Monday night when No. 1 Alabama faces No. 2 Clemson at Levis Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Like clockwork, the discussion over whether the current model is satisfactory has been cranked up for weeks and that word momentum is never far away. It would seem to me that the political momentum here is moving in the direction of taking a real hard look at expanding this in some way shape or form over the next period of time, which I think would be before the end of this 12 years, said Chris Bevilacqua, co-founder of Bevilacqua Helfant Ventures who has advised conferences in media rights contract negotiations. What is certain about playoff expansion is that it will not be a simple task. That alone suggests later after the completion of the current media rights deal is a better bet than sooner. I dont think this is on a fast-track at the moment, Swofford said. But I do think there is an openness and willingness to discuss it. There would be plenty of hurdles to clear, and the number of teams and how they are chosen is relatively simple compared to everything else. WHEN AND WHERE College football is currently a one-semester sport and university presidents want to keep it that way. There is a lot already packed into the window from Labor Day weekend when the season opens to about Jan. 10 when the championship game is played. Last year, the NCAA football oversight committee looked at creating a slightly longer season to ensure at least two open dates for each team every year. That meant starting preseason practice in July, before summer classes ended at many schools. The idea was dropped. Keeping the same calendar would mean playoff games in the middle of December, but that would conflict with final exams on many campuses. That space has also been declared off limits by university presidents. Now its not just the athletes who are being disrupted during finals, but the campus and the surrounding community. Or Blacksburg, Virginia? Clemson athletic director Dan Radakovich said. It has been suggested the quarterfinals could replace conference championship games. Good luck with that. First off, the Southeastern Conference has made it clear it has no desire to get rid of an event that is worth about $75 million to the league. Still, if an expanded playoff has automatic bids for conference champions, those title games become far more interesting and valuable to media companies holding their broadcast rights. Shortening the regular-season from 12 to 11 games also comes with a cost to schools that make millions hosting or get big payouts for going on the road. If so, the value of those games drops for a broadcaster paying the rights fee. HEALTH AND SAFETY AND MONEY More often than not teams that reach the CFP championship game will play a total of 15 games. With the long-term effects of football more scrutinized than ever before, adding even one more game is not something done lightly. We have different obligations than professional sports commissioners who are primarily in it for the entertainment value and driving as much revenue, said former Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe, who was a staunch playoff opponent back in the days of the Bowl Championship Series. A federal court case in California challenges the legality of the NCAAs amateurism model and compensation being capped at the value of a scholarship. The NCAA has no involvement with the CFP, which is run by the FBS conferences. The playoff currently generates about $470 million per year that is distributed throughout all levels of college football. Well if youre going to put one more (round) and everybody else gets enriched, whats going to happen with the ones who are playing in those games that are enriching everybody else? Beebe said. ESPN executives are quick to point out they do not decide what happens with the playoff and would be fine with expansion if thats what the decision-makers want. But its unclear how well-positioned the network is to cough up millions for more playoff games. IMPACT ON REGULAR SEASON AND BOWLS College football Saturdays are an event for every campus community and the decision-makers want to keep it that way. The playoff has already devalued the regular season in some ways and expansion would continue that trend. There are no more Games of the Century, regular-season matchups with ridiculously high stakes. But four playoff spots have kept more teams involved in the championship race deeper into November. Eight spots keeps even more teams involved, but eventually there will be an Auburn-Alabama game or Michigan-Ohio State game or maybe a conference title game that will feature two highly ranked teams playing for seeding. Its easy to scoff at the importance of all the bowls, with players skipping them more and more. But there are 130 FBS teams and maybe 15 percent have a realistic chance to make the current playoff. Increase the berths to eight and maybe that percentage doubles. The majority of teams are still playing for the best bowl spot possible. Thats how those schools keep their fans engaged. The current powerbrokers in college football mostly grew up in the bowl system. They created the playoff to protect it. Expansion would further damage it. And while some fans dont care about the Rose Bowl kicking off at 5 p.m. Eastern on New Years Day so the sun sets behind the San Gabriel Mountains in the second half, a lot of people with influence do. If everything else is sorted out, there are also questions about format. Charlotte athletic director Mike Hill favors an eight-team format, with automatic bids for Power Five champions and the highest-ranked Group of Five team along with two at-large slots. There are too many quality teams who could legitimately win the national title but are left out of the playoff, he wrote to AP. The challenge will be in determining where to play first-round games. ... It would be a major challenge with one weeks notice. NEXT STEPS The CFP management committee meets the morning of the Alabama-Clemson game in San Jose, California. For the first time since the playoff was launched in 2014, there is real intrigue about the future of format. There has been plenty of talk, but no signs yet it will lead to action. The BCS crumbled under the weight of negative public opinion. Fans hated it and the commissioners were tired of defending it. The CFP is not there yet. Theres widespread satisfaction with the four-team college football playoff, CFP executive director Bill Hancock said. But clearly there are some individuals who are thinking about whether or not its necessary to even begin any kind of discussion about the future. There may be some who want to talk now. There may be others who are not ready. We may ponder when to ponder. | https://www.waaytv.com/content/news/College-Football-Playoff-expansion-503830541.html?ref=541 |
Who was in the CoventryLive rugby union team of the year? | Here's the CoventryLive rugby union team of the year 2018! All 19 clubs who nominated more than 80 players have been represented in our 23-man squad celebrating achievements from levels five right the way down to level ten in Coventry and Warwickshire rugby! A maximum of two players per club could feature in the squad, which was selected by our rugby writer Bobby Bridge! If your club is not featured it was because we did not gain any nomination, email [email protected] to help us shine a light on your club during 2019! 15. James Fahy (Berkswell and Balsall) First team captain and leads by example. Has been an ever-present in what has been a tough couple of seasons. James is a consistent performer on the field and puts a huge amount of time and effort off the field as well. 14. Josh D'Arcy (Earlsdon) Finished as top try scorer for his club in the 2017/18 season, earning him the players' player of the year award. Topped off the season by playing for Warwickshire in all three county games finishing top try scorer for the county before unfortunately getting injured for the final. (Image: Ray Andrews) 13. Riley Haywood (Bedworth) What a first full year of senior rugby it has been for the Bedworth back. In the outside centre channel, Haywood produces some fantastic running lines and is no stranger to making hard yards too. His aggression in the tackle makes him a defensive leader as well.. 12. Matt Loveday (Nuneaton Old Edwardians) An unfortunate ACL knee injury halted Loveday's playing career at Hinckley but he has made up for lost time at Jimmy Gopperth and Craig Hampson's Eds. Comfortable at 10 or 12, he has become a second playmaker as well as being a defensive rock and an excellent kicker. 11. Josh James (Old Coventrians) An ever-present be it playing, training or coaching. JJ's skill, support and tenacity are second to none whether on the wing or in the centre. His general awareness of the play around him and his speed plus handling skills are superb. 10. Dan O'Brien (Newbold) Team-mate and coach Phil Reed described his fly-half as having a '10lb sledge hammer' at the bottom of his '6' 6'' 18 stone' frame. O'Brien can kick the ball miles and has had a fantastic year for Newbold and for Warwickshire. 9. Gareth Renowden (Kenilworth) Shows no sign of slowing down at 38 years of age having recently played his 250th game for Kenilworth. His game management has guided the club to top of the league and he has an eye for the line having scored quite a few tries this season already. 1. Jack Crimmins (Barkers Butts) Barkers Butts have a strong reputation for developing front row forwards with the likes of TJ Harris (Wasps) and Josh McNulty (Harlequins/Coventry) coming through their ranks. 19-year-old Jack is following in their footsteps with a series of man-of-the-match performances in 2018. 2. Dale Bowyer (Nuneaton) Firmly in the modern breed of all-action hookers, Bowyer was part of the Warwickshire Shield-winning Earlsdon side earlier in the year but made the switch to play three levels higher at Nuneaton having performed for Warwickshire during the summer. 3. Liam McCrea (Old Wheatleyans) The rock in Old Whealeyans' scrum. Described by his head coach Matt Cappell as being 'the best tighthead in the Midlands' who has been busy outsprinting wingers for 60-metre tries, hitting rucks like trucks as well as being a big leader on the pitch. 4. Chris Reynolds (Coventry Welsh) Moved from wing to second row to become an integral member of Coventry Welsh's pack. Goes from strength-to-strength as a player and helped his side achieve promotion to level eight in the first half of 2018. A true Coventry Welsh clubman. 5. Ben Anderson (Old Laurentians) The rock of Old Laurentians' lineout and a final marshal of a maul, Anderson is respected as the 'father of the team'. His most telling attribute is his quiet humility and he plays the game in the true spirit of our sport showing respect to his team mates , opponents and officials. 6. Ben Kearney (Pinley) Pinley's return to the west side of the draw in level eight has been a formidable one, as they top Midlands 3 West South at the season's half-way point. So much of that success can be attributed to their pack where Kearney and fellow flanker Gaz Brewerton are massive assets. (Image: Jodie Wilcock) 7. KJ Henry (Newbold) No Coventry and Warwickshire team of the year could go without a Newbold forward in the pack. Relegation may have come following a one-season stay in the Midlands Premier but the Kiwi flanker has been a consistent performer and a nightmare for opponents to silence out of games. 8. Morgan Dawes (Broadstreet) Having joined Broadstreet towards the end of 2017, Dawes exploded into level four rugby and was captain by February. An outstanding physical flanker who can play 8 who never gives up and has a big future in the game aged just 21. Replacements 16. Louis Addleton (Rugby Lions), 17. Chris Goode (Manor Park), 18. Mat Ashby (Alcester), 19. Jake Colton (Keresley), 20. Paul Davies (Stratford), 21. Brad Darlaston (Nuneaton Old Edwardians), 22. Elliott Sheepy (Old Coventrians), 23. Andy Murray (Broadstreet) | https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/team-of-the-year-coventry-15620909 |
Do the suburbs get more snow than the city of Chicago? | Matt, Palatine Dear Matt, I do not believe that to be the case. For example, the annual snowfall at Midway Airport is 39.3 inches (Midway being closer to the lake than OHare); at OHare International Airport, its 37.6 inches; at Rockford, 38.3 inches. The differences arent large, but they are significant nonetheless. Lake Michigan enhancement of snowfall totals and the occurrence of lake-effect snows in locations closer to the lake all argue that more snow will fall with some regularity at lakeside locations. Please note that these are generalized statements. Individual snow events will not necessarily conform to the more snow near the lake phenomenon. However, averaged over a period of many years, lakeside locations receive more snow than inland locations. | https://wgntv.com/2019/01/02/do-the-suburbs-get-more-snow-than-the-city-of-chicago/ |
Should NJ allow schools to offer daycare during class hours? | A source of hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue in their district can only operate for a few more months before the state forces it to shut down, so a group of New Jersey lawmakers have introduced legislation to reverse the state's current rules and open the door for other communities to cash in as well. The bill, introduced by a trio of 8th District legislators, would allow school districts to use public schools and district property for child care services during school hours. That's been going on at Marlton Middle School since 2014, when Teddy Bear Academy was created by the school district to occupy an unused wing. The district had been dealing with declining enrollment for years, resulting in unoccupied spaces throughout the district. But the Evesham Township School District was informed by the state commissioner of education in October that the childcare and preschool program for infants and toddlers must be shut down by June 30, 2019. School districts are only authorized to offer child care services before or after regular school hours, and only to school-aged children in the district, the state said. "The only way we're going to lower property taxes in this state is to come up with creative solutions, and that's exactly what the Evesham School District did," said Assemblyman Ryan Peters, R-Burlington, a sponsor of the measure. "It's a shame they were ultimately told no." The bill also would allow the on-site daycare to provide services for children who live outside of the district. Peters said that with this move, teachers would actually be able to bring their children to the school in which they teach, for all-day care. Bill sponsors said the academy inside Marlton Middle School has "allowed the township to beat back property taxes." "Many school districts are getting hammered by state aid reductions and are looking for any way they can to not pass the bill onto property taxpayers," said Assemblyman Joe Howarth, R-Burlington. According to the bill's sponsors, several other school districts in the state provided early childhood programs prior to the ruling, including Toms River, Barnegat and Piscataway. The challenge to Teddy Bear Academy's operations began during former Gov. Chris Christie's administration. The current administration's education commissioner made the ruling based on an Administrative Law Judge's recommendation that was submitted in July. More from New Jersey 101.5: Contact reporter Dino Flammia at [email protected] . | http://nj1015.com/should-nj-allow-schools-to-offer-daycare-during-class-hours/ |
What Is Nasty Cherry? | Two champagne flutes balanced on a bare ass floating in a pool is a hell of a way to announce a band but it is exactly how Nasty Cherry chose to kick off 2019 and it certainly has our attention. The mysterious girl group is already managing to make quite a splash (no pun intended) given that they have seemed to come out of nowhere in the past day. Looking like The Runaways if they all had their own mySpace pages, Nasty Cherry may not have released any music yet but they already have a co-sign from Charli XCX and that alone is enough to start turning heads. Digging through tagged images and piecing together information from Instagram stories, what we can gather is that Nasty Cherry is some sort of band comprised of members Gabbriette, Kitten's Chloe Chaidez, Georgia Somary, and Deborah Knox-Hewson. The only other post on the bands official account introduces Gabbriette as the group's singer and head "bitch" only adding to the mystery and excitement. As to what capacity Charli XCX is involved with the newly outfit has yet to be clarified but further digging turns up more photos of all five hanging out and even making a red carpet appearance at Spotify's Secret Genius Awards last year. But before we go leaping to conclusions it is worth noting that XCX also took to her socials today to announce that she plans to release an album in the coming year so she might already have her hands full. Clearly, only time will tell. Photo via Getty | http://www.papermag.com/nasty-cherry-2624986638.html |
What if the Oscars awarded stunts? | In 2018, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences attempted to introduce a Popular Film category. The effort failed for multiple reasons, the main one being, you know, the Oscars arent the Peoples Choice Awards. Another, as pointed out by numerous critics, is there are still areas of craft the Academy doesnt recognize. Stunts, is one of them. Over the years, figures from the stunt community spoke out in favor of a Best Stunts category at the Oscars to no avail. While Wade Eastwood, the stunt coordinator behind Mission: Impossible Fallout, isnt personally into awards or accolades, he recognizes how crazy it is that all these huge action films get Oscars for costume, hair, make-up, visual effects, special effects, music, acting, directing, etc., but not for the stunts or the stunt coordinating and choreography. A lot of times the action is a major reason that the film is so successful, he writes to EW over email from New Zealand, and in many cases its the coordinator/ 2nd unit director that writes the action that everyone sees. Stunts do receive recognition from some awards ceremonies, mainly through the Screen Actors Guild and the Taurus World Stunt Awards, but the Oscars constitutes a much larger stage. I feel, as a stunt performer, its always nice to be recognized by your peers, Black Panther stunt coordinator Jonathan Eusebio says. Being honored by the Academy is the highest honor you can get, but as a stunt person, Ive always believed in we just do our work. Were behind-the-scenes guys and we just want to be part of a good movie. So, until the time comes when the Oscars recognizes Best Stunts (if ever), well do it for them. Here are some of the best movie stunts of 2018. Mission: Impossible Fallout Standout stunt: Halo jump You cant talk about Mission: Impossible Fallout without addressing the time Tom Cruise leaped out of an aircraft at 25,000 feet above the ground. He became the first actor to perform such a feat on camera, and it was something Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie had been conceiving for quite a while. The action, most importantly, has to be story and character driven, otherwise its just action for the sake of action, which I never want to do, Eastwood says. In the story of Fallout, the crew needed a cool way to get Ethan [Cruise] and Walker [Henry Cavil] into Paris. Cruise, an actor who famously performs his own stunts (no matter how totally nuts they may be), performed over a 100 jumps on camera to get the cut sequence, according to the stunt coordinator. Eastwood remarks, We built the largest outdoor wind tunnel in the world at the studio so that [Cruise], myself, and my team could rehearse the complex action moves in between other scenes being shot and then transfer this to the skies later on. Prior to the release of Fallout, McQuarrie teased something that would top the opening sequence of the last movie, Rogue Nation the one where Cruise dangles outside an airplane in the midst of takeoff. The Halo jump was that thing. The Night Comes for Us Standout stunt: All. Of. Them. (But particularly Julie Estelles apartment brawl) Holy s is a phrase that comes to mind most often when watching The Night Comes For Us, one of the best action movies of 2018, and also one of the straight-up goriest. (For that reason, were only showing the trailer and not an actual clip from the movie.) The sequences just keep escalating. It starts with a backroom nightclub scuffle for actor and action coordinator Iko Uwais to demonstrate once again why hes one of the greatest talents the stunt community has to offer, followed by a brutal, arm-snapping, meat-cleaver-slashing butcher showdown, followed by an even more gratuitously gory display with a horde of South East Asian Triad henchmen invading an apartment. Uwais, known for The Raid movies, choreographed the action. Underneath the gallons of fake blood that no doubt went into making this movie, it demonstrates the precision and creativity that goes into his craft. A close-cornered apartment face-off between Julie Estelles The Operator, a mysterious woman on a mission to kill the leaders of the Triad, and two assassins could grow dull. But sharp movements, three distinct fighting styles, guerrilla camera shots, and the transformation of an air conditioner into a savage execution method keeps it lively. Black Panther Standout stunt: Casino fight Speaking of actors performing their own stunts, the casino fight scene in Black Panther with Chadwick Boseman, Danai Gurira, and Lupita Nyongo was 100 percent them, according to Eusebio. In that scene, you cant really cheat doubles. Its all them. The sequence, which took approximately four days to shoot, was initially mapped out as one continuous take. When we started designing that thing, there were a lot of factors involved. The performers have to be pinpoint, the camera moves have to be pinpoint, Eusebio notes. There were so many moving parts, however, that they decided to make it at least seem like a continuous shot, while figuring out different ways to stitch it together so everything [felt] very seamless. The actors had already been training well in advance of shooting the scene, but there were still challenges that arose the day of, as with most intricate stunts. The biggest obstacle for Eusebio was going from rehearsing individually with the actors to rehearsing all together on set. Thats when, because of time constraints with filming or just the fact that sometimes things dont work, adjusting on the fly is crucial. The results speak for themselves. Aquaman Standout stunt: Rooftop chase Whether you dubbed Aquaman a vibrant ocean fantasy or a bloated, waterlogged film, the stunt team fought their way from the depths of the Trench to the throne of Atlantis. One sequence most emblematic of director James Wans keen eye is the exhilarating chase between Arthur (Jason Momoa), Mera (Amber Heard), Black Manta (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), and a troupe of Atlantean commandos on the roof tops of Sicily. As his half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson) threatens to launch a war against the surface world, Arthur and Mera journey across the Seven Seas to track down King Atlans lost trident to defeat him. In a brief move to land, the film sees our heroes under attack by Black Manta, backed by Atlantean forces. Many of the battle sequences were complemented by elongated shots, tracking the action from one space to another. In the big chase, a crane-mounted camera began with Black Mantas assault on Arthur before zooming off to another end of the city where Mera dodged gunfire. Wans team tackled multiple moving parts, including a Texas Switch (wherein one stunt double ducks behind something to be replaced with another), a two-level chase, and visual effects to blend it all together. Game Night Standout scene: Keep away Epic stunts arent always chase scenes and close combat. Attention must be paid to physical comedy. Amid the late-night shenanigans of the film Game Night, a group of friends gather for what they think is a staged mystery-kidnapping experience for their regular game night, but its all in fact real. They find themselves in various situations reminiscent of familiar kids games: Annie (Rachel McAdams) has to pull a bullet out of Maxs (Jason Bateman) arm in a nod to Operation, Michelle (Kylie Bunbury) and Kevin (Lamorne Morris) stack items on top of a chair Jenga style to escape a locked room, and, in one of the center piece stunts, the gang find themselves in a game of Keep Away with a Faberg egg as henchmen pursue. The scene didnt come together until the crew found the location: a mansion with multiple levels and open balconies. Helmers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein and their team then went to stunt coordinator and 2nd unit director Steve Ritzi to design something that would look like one continuous shot wherein each cast member had a turn with the egg. They basically gave me some general guidelines and then I went there with several stunt people and started walking through different ideas and how can we make this continuous, and try to map a path that would work for the sequence, Ritzi says. Once he landed on the choreography, it was time to put it to the test. He gathered his stunt team and recorded a concept previz to make sure it worked. It did with the assistance of a camera zooming about the space on a cable and another instance of a Texas Switch with a stuntman swapping in for Billy Magnussen to tumble down the stairs. The principal cast rehearsed this sequence several times in rehearsal before deciding to just go for it. The first time, they got halfway through before having to reset. Another time, the stunt guy falling down the stairs lost control of the egg. In total, it was roughly four or five takes, Ritzi says, before they caught it all on camera. It was grueling on the stuntman, though. Each time were redoing it, hes doing another stair fall, Ritzi laughs. Related content: | https://ew.com/movies/2019/01/02/best-movie-stunts-2018-oscars/ |
How important is it to have a living trust? | Thinking about ones demise is not something people want to spend time thinking about. However, reality is that we all have to face this one day. It is just a matter of whether you depart this world prepared or unprepared. If you pass away with at least $150,000 in gross assets and you do not have a living trust (even if you have a will), your beneficiaries would have to open up a probate case before title to the assets can pass to them. When I say gross asset, I mean regardless of how much debt you owe on them. For example if you own a house valued at $350,000 at the time of your death, it does not matter that your mortgage balance is $300,000, a probate case has to be opened in order to pass title to that property. The same is true with other types of assets such as owning a business, a professional practice, bonds, equities, etc. This is a very low threshold to exceed specially in California where real estate prices, even after the economic crisis, remains in the upper end of the curve among the 50 states. Commencing a probate case is expensive and a very slow process. Someone qualified will have to file a Petition with the probate court to have someone appointed as executor or administrator. The Petitioners attorney gets paid a statutory rate for attorneys fees commencing with 4 percent of the gross estate. The probate referee will have to be paid for appraising the assets of the estate. If it is necessary to post bond, the premium on the bond would have to be paid as well. There is also the cost of administering the estate such as selling some of the assets to satisfy the estates obligations and to divide the estate according to the will or the intestate line of succession if there is no will. The entire process could take up years specially if certain beneficiaries and creditors file certain claims. The probate court file would be public record. On the other hand if you have a living trust, your estate can avoid the entire court system and court supervision. In certain situations, the process may also save you estate taxes which may be substantial if your assets exceed a certain threshold. Basically, you and/or your spouse can be named as the initial trustee of the trust while you are alive. The trustee is the person who manages the trust. This means you retain control of all your assets the same way as if you never had a trust. For revocable trusts, you can later on, at any time during your lifetime, revoke the entire trust if you change your mind. The assets held in your living trust will be managed by the trustee and distributed according to your directions without court supervision and involvement when you pass away. This can save your heirs time and money. Since the trust would not be under the direct management of the probate court, your assets and their value and your beneficiaries identities would not become a public record. Your heirs and beneficiaries would still have to be notified about the living trust and advised, among other things, of their right to obtain a copy of the trust. If you are contemplating setting up a trust or have an existing trust that needs to be updated because your family circumstances have changed over the years, you should set an appointment with an experienced attorney that understands and can competently advise you in the law. * * * Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney-client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, P.C. This article is not a solicitation. * * * Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH REYES, P.C. is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 747, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail [email protected] or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com. (Advertising Supplement) | http://www.asianjournal.com/immigration/immigration-columnists/how-important-is-it-to-have-a-living-trust-5/ |
What's The Deal With Printer Ink Prices? | NBC 7's Consumer Bob has answers. Youre not alone. A recent Consumer Reports survey shows the price of ink is the number one complaint for printer owners. Experts at Consumer Reports say one reason: Theres a lot of science and engineering behind printing, and it all has to work together seamlessly. Consumers expect a push-button experience and thats what they try to deliver. Consumer Reports says to think of what you paid for your printer as more of a down payment. The manufacturer hopes you come back to them and buy their original brand ink or toner. Thats the profit motive. So now they sell the printer cheaply, but can charge more for the ink and toner. And when it comes to that ink, most consumers arent even getting what they paid for. CR says tests have shown with many inkjet printers, more than half of the ink you buy never winds up on the page! Inkjets, which are a very popular type of printer, tend to use up more ink than other types of printers because they have to do a maintenance cycle. That maintenance cycle helps keep the printheads from clogging, which can ruin your prints. CR says consumers who print the average 25 to 35 pages a month should leave their printers on. Thats because turning a printer off and on can trigger more maintenance cycles. Dont worry about your electricity bill. CR says inkjets nowadays use very little power in sleep mode. Consider an affordable black and white laser printer, especially if youre mostly just printing text. You can also check out reservoir inkjet printers. They use ink reservoirs you fill yourself instead of cartridges. And those refills can last up to two years. Consumer Reports urges consumers not to be attracted by low prices when shopping for a printer, especially this holiday season. They say its important to consider the price of a printer over time, including ink. CR members can check out the two-year estimated cost of ownership in the printer ratings. All Consumer Reports Material Copyright 2019_ Consumer Reports, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/WHY-IS-PRINTER-INK-SO-EXPENSIVE-503826111.html |
Did We Just Witness the Biggest Longhorn Victory of All Time? | I remember the first Longhorn game I was deeply invested in well (and bitterly). It was the 1978 Cotton Bowl, in which Notre Dame dismantled Earl Campbells squad 3810. It was a disappointment I would learn to get used to. As a devoted fan, Ive seen a few peaks since thenthe Shock the Nation campaign of 1990, the tenures of Vince Young and Colt McCoybut a whole lot more valleys: the 1984 Cotton Bowl (a 109 loss to the University of Georgia that cost the Longhorns a possible national championship) and a bevy of mediocre to bad seasons from Fred Akers, David McWilliams, John Mackovic, late-period Mack Brown, Charlie Strong, and last years rookie Tom Herman season. But that was last seasons Herman. After Tuesdays Sugar Bowl win over Georgia, Ive been racking my brain to recall a victory that was (a) so sweet, (b) so unexpected, and (c) on a larger stage. Yes, there was the inaugural Big 12 Conference Championship Game in 1996 against the then-mighty Nebraska Cornhuskers, who were twenty-point favorites over the unranked Longhorns. Maybe we will beat them by twenty points, said Texas quarterback James Brown in a pregame press conference. The media and even some Orangebloods scoffed. The Longhorns didnt win by twenty, but they managed to beat the Huskers by ten, thanks in large part to John Mackovics epic fourth down gamble and Browns perfect execution of the roll left play of Longhorn lore. So that was very sweet and unexpected, but not on as big of a stage. And then that season ended on a 3815 pasting at the hands of Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl. The fact that USC was favored over Vince Youngs Longhorns in the 2006 Rose Bowl doesnt compareanyone whod been following the Longhorns closely that year knew that Young wasnt going to lose that game. Very sweet and on an even bigger stage, but totally not unexpected. Charlie Strongs victories over Oklahoma and Art Briless last Baylor squad were sweet and unexpected, as was Tom Hermans victory over the Sooners in October, but hey, those were regular season games, or relatively tiny stages. This one checks all the boxes. It was Texass first appearance in a prestigious bowl since the Colt McCoy shoulder stinger fiasco of 2010, and their first victory in one of the same since the 2009 Fiesta Bowl. Georgia was favored to win by two scores, anywhere from 11 to 13 points. And yes, the taste of victory was very, very sweet. Here are five takeaways from the most epic winning upset for the Longhorns in my forty-plus years of fandom. 1. Sam Ehlinger is amazing Let me don my Captain Obvious suit and cape for a moment and start with the quarterback. There is something mythic about him, from that famous picture of him as a savage-looking toddler in overalls flashing the double horns, to the heartrending story about the loss of his father, to his progression from exciting but error-prone freshman to a nearly flawless field general of a sophomore. His passing is vastly improved. He runs with the fearless authority of a 1960s fullback. Last year, he seemed to combine Tim Tebowlike running with the most reckless qualities of Brett Favre as a passer, but this year he began to combine the best of both. Most importantly, as with peak Favre, his team feeds off his leadership and grit. A signal-caller like Ehlinger can raise the game of an entire offense by those intangibles alone, but his actual play elevates him to something legitimately fierce for opposing defenses to behold. There are already whispers of Heisman 2019 talk in the air, and Longhorn blogger Geoff Ketchum tweeted this a few hours ago: Everyone needs to prepare themselves for 5,000,000 Sam Ehlinger/Tim Tebow direct comparisons for the next nine months. Geoff Ketchum (@gkketch) January 2, 2019 (Guilty as charged, Ketch.) There is destiny in the Sam Ehlinger story, a future 30 for 30 ESPN documentary. It is written: Watch and see. He is now well on track to having his bust carved on the Mount Rushmore of Longhorn quarterbacks. 2. We used graduate transfers effectively For reasons too complicated to go into here, with rare exception, UT has seldom dipped into the well of graduate transfers to paper over holes in their rosters. Herman ignored that precedent and brought in two, both of whom were absolutely key to this teams success in both the regular season and the Sugar Bowl. (A graduate transfer is a player who has completed his degree in four years but has a remaining fifth season of NCAA eligibility after redshirting in his first season.) Most obviously, there was Cal-Berkeley graduate transfer Tre Watson, a smallish running back at 510, 195 pounds, but nevertheless one who almost always moved piles of defenders for a few extra yards. (His 91 yards on the ground last night constituted 19 more than Georgias vaunted rushing attack last night.) No, he doesnt have the moves and speed of Jamaal Charles or the bone-crushing power of Earl Campbell, but he has surprisingly powerful runs, good hands in the receiving game, and a willingness and ability to block (all of which might portend an NFL future). And speaking of blocking, there is that other grad transfer, the former Rice Owl Calvin Anderson, who was the sort of left tackle you seldom noticed. Going unnoticed is the goal of every offensive lineman, because unless you make some spectacular block in the open field, the only time people pay attention to you is when you screw up. Anderson very seldom did all season long, and was the anchor of a line that gave Ehlinger more-than-occasional clean pockets from which to operate. (Which hasnt been the case on the 40 for a decade or so.) Ask any quarterbackit helps when you have more than 1.5 seconds before four or five behemoths are in your face with bad intentions. You can only imagine how Watson and Anderson must have felt when they lined up in the victory formation at the end of the game. Since they are graduate transfers, Herman only had them for one year, and they will be deeply missed. If Herman can find two more, or better yet three or four more like them for next year at areas of need, expect a duplication of this years success. 3. We need to thank Charlie Strong There are some vociferous Longhorn message board posters who regard anything and everything about Charlie Strongs tenure as an abject failure, but these guys are partially his team. It was his recruit, P. J. Locke III, who made a key interception. His recruitsCollin Johnson and LilJordan Humphreystretched the Bulldog D, opening up running lanes for Watson and Ehlinger. Defensive tackle Chris Nelson clogged up the middle of the line as effectively as former Longhorn great Casey Hampton, and defensive back Kris Boyd played one of his better games of the season. Linebacker Anthony Wheeler had perhaps his finest game as a Longhorn. And then there is defensive end Charles Omenihu, who wrecked shop in the Georgia backfield all evening long. Hate on Strong for his dismal record in terms of wins all you want, but give the man his due from stocking the larder with talent, and recall what little he was left with by his predecessor. But, of course, give Herman credit for making the most of what Strong left behind. 4. Were baaa-aaa-ckkk After the season-opening loss to Maryland and a near-loss to the Tulsa Hurricane, it was hard to look circle an easy win on the schedule. (Yours truly rashly opined that a 15 opening to the season might well be in the cards.) But then the Longhorns beat USC (who turned out to be, in technical terms, meh), TCU (likewise) and Kansas State in Manhattan. Yes, they are, came the answer after they beat Oklahoma in Dallas. Or maybe not, after they eked out a win over Baylor and then dropped two straight to Oklahoma State and West Virginia. They seemed back again after handling Tech and a good Iowa State team, but then they were not back once more after squeaking by Kansas and losing to Oklahoma in the conference championship. My brain hurts.) Now, after taking down number five Georgia, a team that almost certainly have been picked for the playoff over Notre Dame, Texas is again in BACK mode. Or make that BAAA-AAA-CKKK, as Ehlinger put it during the postgame festivities. 5. Well, that depends. For the second straight year, the defense is losing its best players at every level in linemen Chris Nelson and Charles Omenihu, linebacker Gary Johnson, and defensive back Kris Boyd. (As SB Nations Bill Connelly points out, eight of the top eleven tacklers on the Longhorn defense are seniors.) The offensive line loses three starters, and Tre Watson wont be running behind them either. There are lots of holes to fill: juniors, underclassmen, and new recruits will need to be coached and conditioned up, and what rough patches remain will have to be spackled over with a transfer or two. The expectations for next year might exceed whats on hand for Tom Herman and company. My personal opinion is that next years team is a viable contender for a Big 12 title and ten or eleven wins, but not a national championship by any means. 2020 is another story. But for now, in the afterglow of last nights win, with The March Grandioso still ringing in my head, the future is as bright as its been since 2010, the year the program went into hibernation. And the dang ol Maryland Terrapins are not on the schedule, even if LSU is. On January 2, 2019, this story was updated to correct an error. The game played between the Texas Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs took place on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, and was called the Sugar Bowl. Texas Monthly regrets this error. | https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/just-witness-biggest-longhorn-victory-time/ |
What Is Jazz Jennings Real Name? | Jazz Jennings is known as the star of TLCs I Am Jazz, and for being an advocate for the trans teen community. Although she was born male, she was diagnosed with gender dysmorphia and has since transitioned to female. Because of this, Jazz was not the name her parents gave her at birth, and in order to maintain a level of personal privacy, Jennings is not her familys real last name. Jazzs birth name was Jared. According to In Style, she chose the name Jazz after her sister played the role of Princess Jasmine from Aladdin in a school play. At the time the article was written in 2015, they said her mother Jeanette only recently started calling her Jazz. In an interview with the Miami Herald, Jazzs mom Jeannette revealed that Jennings is not actually their last name, saying Jennings is our pseudonym, to sort of make life easier. We try to hide our real last name as much as possible. Our last name is a very Jewish, long last name. We found it easier at this point. Shes known as Jazz Jennings. With the TV show, theyre not going to tell anybody where we live. The TV show is not going to reference our true last name. She asserts that they didnt agree to tell their story on TV for fame. It took 20/20 10 months to get them to agree to do a special, and she told Metro Weekly that after the family agreed, they said we dont want to show our faces. And we certainly dont want to give our first names or our last name. And you can do this and cant do that. ' Though they chose to show their faces so that the public could really understand Jazz, they have continued to keep their last name secret as best as they can, considering their current fame. Tonights season premiere episode description reads Jazz prepares for a final weigh-in for her gender confirmation surgery; Dr. Bowers shocks Greg and Jeanette with changes to the surgical plan; Jazz and her friends head out for a night of fun at prom, but it turns into a nightmare. Her gender confirmation surgery will be a prominent plot point in this season of the show. Which makes sense, since Jazz told ABC News that the surgery was really the last thing that will validate my identity as a woman. There is nothing else after this. I just get to be myself, be in the body that Ive always wanted. And then I can live my life as just Jazz. Make sure to tune in to the new season of I Am Jazz on TLC, starting tonight (January 1) at 10pm ET/PT, 9pm CT. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/jazz-jennings-real-name/ |
Who Is the Redhead On The Gifted Season 1 Cast? | The second season of FOXs The Gifted continues tonight at 9 p.m. ET. The series has given viewers plenty to unpack and question in terms of mysteries, but one of the biggest ones has been the identity of the redheaded character known as Dreamer (Elena Satine). The character was among the most enigmatic of the first season, so weve assembled a primer with everything there is to know about her. Dreamer, born Sonya Simonson, was a mutant with the ability to implant, remove and view memories. According to The Gifted Wikia, there is very little known about her early life and upbringing. Before the world discovered that she was a mutant, she worked at a shelter for battered women. During her time there, she secretly used her power to pull their worst memories from their mind so that they would forget the pain that came with them. She was eventually rescued by the Mutant Underground, where the details of her life begin to have more focus. The Characters Death Shocked Many In the Season 1 Finale eXploited As a key member of the Mutant Underground, Dreamer was also best friends with Polaris (Emma Dumont) and dating Thunderbird (Blair Redford). Her death in the season 1 finale eXploited shocked many, though it served as a powerful moment for both the showrunner and the series overall. In the season 2 episode X-roads, Sonyas death is avenged by Polaris, who utilize her magnetic powers to cause an airplane carrying the evil Dr. Campbell (Garret Dillahunt) to crash. In an interview with Assignment X, Dumont spoke on the impact that Dreamers death had on her character. She has so much regret and so much guilt about that situation, because if she was there, it wouldnt have happened, she said. Because she is such a powerful mutant, and shes always been there to protect Sonia, whose powers were more intellectual than they are physical. Dreamer Is Loosely Based on the Marvel Comics Character Beautiful Dreamer Dreamer is loosely based on a Marvel Comics hero known as Beautiful Dreamer. Like her comic book counterpart, she is a mutant with the ability to exhale pink smoke that allows her to read, take or implant memories into the minds of her targets. The similarities largely end there, however. The real identity and past of Beautiful Dreamer were never revealed in the comics, and her desire to serve the outlaw group known as the Morlocks (as opposed to the Mutant Underground) stemmed from her loneliness and desire for friends. The Gifted showrunner Matt Nix praised Dreamer shortly before her debut, telling CBR that that her seduction was part of her power. One of the things about her character is thats a really sexy power that isnt a gigantic power, he said. We arent blowing up a building with her it doesnt involve a six-week CG build. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/the-gifted-cast-season-1-redhead/ |
What Were I Am Jazz Stars Surgery Complications? | Jazz Jennings, the star of I Am Jazz on TLC, will be sharing her gender confirmation surgery experience on season 5 of her hit reality show. Ahead of the season premiere, Jazz spoke about the surgery complications she was faced with, continuing to handle her transition in the public eye with honesty and openness. For tonights season premiere episode, the description reads Jazz prepares for a final weigh-in for her gender confirmation surgery; Dr. Bowers shocks Greg and Jeanette with changes to the surgical plan; Jazz and her friends head out for a night of fun at prom, but it turns into a nightmare. This description, along with the press and promo that has been released thus far for the season, shows that the surgery will be a prominent plot point in the show. Which makes sense, since Jazz told ABC News that the surgery was really the last thing that will validate my identity as a woman. There is nothing else after this. I just get to be myself, be in the body that Ive always wanted. And then I can live my life as just Jazz. In an interview with Nightlines Juju Chang for ABC News, Jazz discussed the complications associated with her surgery. She said that before the surgery, her doctor asked her to lose 30 pounds. She then had a hard time finding surgeons who were willing to perform the gender confirmation surgery because she was such a difficult case. The difficulty she says was due to the hormone blockers and hormone therapy she started when she was eleven. Of that complication, she said being on the blockers is something that I dont regret at all. But the only, you know, downside to it was that I didnt have enough growth down below. So there wasnt enough tissue to work with when it came to the surgery. To solve that problem, she and her family found surgeons who would be able to use a brand new, groundbreaking technique: Theyre using the tissue I have, the peritoneum, and also, they may take a skin graft as well. She joked, I say its going to be like a patchwork vagina, Franken-vagina. So yeah, as long as its functional, thats all that matters. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, transfeminine bottom surgery is typically performed as a single stage procedure, to reconstruct male genitalia into female. Jazz said, however, I had to come back in for another procedure, but it was just all part of the journey. The good thing though is that it was only cosmetic and external so it wasnt too dramatic. She assured that her life was not endangered at any time, giving credit to the incredible surgeons that really just supported [her] throughout the entire process and took control over the matter. Nine weeks after her surgery, ABC News checked back in and reported that she was on her way to a full recovery. Tune in to the new season of I Am Jazz on TLC, starting tonight at 10pm ET/PT. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/i-am-jazz-jennings-surgery-complications/ |
How to make the most of Fat Burners to get a chiseled body? | Losing weight, having a strong and ripped body is a dream but when a person is morbidly obese, then weight loss can be a long journey. People procrastinate losing weight for various reasons like adopting a disciplined lifestyle, clean eating or just the fact that it is a long and time consuming process. But the fact is obesity has severe health issues. So, if you have decided to lose pounds and have a dream body like that of a bodybuilder then its important to understand about fat burners as at some point in your journey you will think about consuming them and you can purchase online within your budget using discount codes from Bydiscountcodes: Have a balanced calorie count to lose weight: The main rule of losing weight is to eat fewer calories than you burn and the main reason why people put on weight is when they eat way too much and dont work out. So, while you are on diet and working out, the most important thing is to not cut your calories up to a level that becomes a hindrance for fat burners to work. Yes, you heard it right, fat burners will not work as expected if your calorie deficit diet plan has marginally low calories. It is important to have calories you need according to your age and BMR but in the right form. The main rule of losing weight is to eat fewer calories than you burn and the main reason why people put on weight is when they eat way too much and dont work out. So, while you are on diet and working out, the most important thing is to not cut your calories up to a level that becomes a hindrance for fat burners to work. Yes, you heard it right, fat burners will not work as expected if your calorie deficit diet plan has marginally low calories. It is important to have calories you need according to your age and BMR but in the right form. Dont go overboard with stimulants: If you drink too much coffee or green tea than you need to take a break from it or at least reduce the number of cups. The most important thing to understand about fat burners is that they already have stimulants in it like caffeine; it may result in an increase in heartbeat, feeling anxious-jittery, internal inflammation, and lack of sleep, sweating, mood swings and even fat gain, as lack of sleep lead to weight gain. So avoid or at least limit the consumption of stimulants. If you drink too much coffee or green tea than you need to take a break from it or at least reduce the number of cups. The most important thing to understand about fat burners is that they already have stimulants in it like caffeine; it may result in an increase in heartbeat, feeling anxious-jittery, internal inflammation, and lack of sleep, sweating, mood swings and even fat gain, as lack of sleep lead to weight gain. So avoid or at least limit the consumption of stimulants. It wont work and sooner or later you will hit the plateau. Once in a while, it is important to eat more calories and gain 2-3pounds as it will help your body to start losing again and fat burners will work effectively. But while you are off the diet, dont go overboard and have a maintenance diet to keep up with the weight loss journey. It wont work and sooner or later you will hit the plateau. Once in a while, it is important to eat more calories and gain 2-3pounds as it will help your body to start losing again and fat burners will work effectively. But while you are off the diet, dont go overboard and have a maintenance diet to keep up with the weight loss journey. Exercise and rest are essential: Any dietician or weight loss expert in the world cannot refute the benefits of resting and workout for weight loss. Exercise is the fuel that will increase the benefits of fat burners and rest will repair your body. Fat burner alone will not work if you are not working out and resting properly. Lastly, it is important to take a break from Fat Burners. Even if you have a lot of weight to lose and you are just halfway through, you need to be off the fat burners for a few weeks. It is because the body gets habituated and can reduce the effectiveness of fat burners. So, while on weight loss journey, dont forget to use fat burners in a right and balanced way because an excess of everything is bad. | https://prommanow.com/2019/01/02/how-to-make-the-most-of-fat-burners-to-get-a-chiseled-body/ |
Can machines imitate how humans think? | Back in the late '40s, Alan Turing, fresh from his success as part of the team that cracked the Enigma machine, turned his thoughts to machine intelligence. In particular, he considered the question: 'Can machines think?' In 1950, he published a paper called Computing Machinery and Intelligence in the journal Mind that summarised his conclusions. This paper became famous for a simple test he'd devised: the Turing Test. The problem he found in particular was the word 'think' in his original question. He was of the opinion that the term was too ambiguous and came at the problem from another angle by considering a party game called the Imitation Game. Parlour games In the Imitation Game, a man and a woman go into separate rooms. The guests don't know who is in each room. The guests send the subjects written questions and receive answers back (in Turing's day these were typewritten so that no clues could be found by trying to analyse the handwriting; today we can imagine email or Twitter as the medium). From the series of questions and answers from each subject, the guests try to work out who is the man and which the woman. The subjects try to muddy the waters by pretending to be each other. The first part of the picture below shows this game. Turing wondered what would happen if we replaced the man or the woman with some machine intelligence. Turing's insight was to rephrase 'Can machines think?' into a more general 'Can machines imitate how humans think?' This is the original Turing Test, and is shown in the second part of the picture. It's still a variant of the Imitation Game, but now it's much simpler - possibly too simple. The first program to try to pass the Turing Test was a program called ELIZA, a program that pretended to be an empathic or non-directional psychotherapist, written in the period 1964-1966. ELIZA essentially parsed natural language into keywords and then, through pattern matching, used those keywords as input to a script. The script (and the database of keywords and the subject domain) was fairly small, but nevertheless ELIZA managed to fool some people who used it. The reason for using a psychotherapy as the domain is that it lends itself to being able to respond to statements with questions that repeat the statement ("I like the colour blue." "Why do you like the colour blue?") without immediately alerting the human that the therapist on the other end has no applicable real-world knowledge or understanding. ELIZA was so successful that its techniques were used to improve the interaction in various computer games, especially early ones where the interface was through typed commands. Chatterbots Despite its simple nature, ELIZA formed the basis of a grand procession of programs designed and written to try to pass the Turing Test. The next such was known as PARRY (written in 1972, and designed to be a paranoid schizophrenic), and they spawned a whole series of more and more sophisticated conversational programs called chatterbots. These programs use the same techniques as ELIZA to parse language and to identify keywords that can then be used to further the conversation, either in conjunction with an internal database of facts and information, or with the ability to use those keywords in scripted responses. These responses give the illusion to the human counterpart that the conversation is moving forward meaningfully. Consequently, provided the subject domain is restricted enough, chatterbots can and do serve as initial points of contact for support. For example, PayPal currently has an automated online 'customer service rep' it calls Sarah. Using the chat program is quite uncanny. As you can see above, the answer to my question ("How do I see the payments I made in January") appeared instantly and the natural language evaluation processing is extremely efficient. Notice that the word 'payment' is recognised and the more accurate 'transaction' is used in the reply). Such automated online assistants are available 24/7, and are helping reduce the loads on normal call centres. Aetna, a health insurer in the US, estimates that 'Ann', the automated assistant for its website, has reduced calls to the tech support help desk by 29 per cent. Of course, there are downsides to chatterbots as well. It's fairly easy to write chatterbots to spam or advertise in chat rooms while pretending to be human participants. Worse still are those that attempt to cajole their human counterparts into revealing personal information, like account numbers. | https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/software/can-machines-imitate-how-humans-think-1041113 |
Is Computerised Trading Really That Bad? | You know the feeling After typing in the code of a stock, you see a number that your brain just cannot compute. Surelythat cant be right. I must have typed in the wrong code. You blame your fat fingers for hitting a wrong key. But upon retyping the code, you know that unfortunately, your fingers are not to blame. Yep, we are all aware of a market melt down. Anyone who has been around the markets for a while has been through plenty of them. Ill take one of those every day of the week. A melt-up is exactly what the markets experienced only a week or so ago. Or, to be more precise, the US markets on Boxing Day. If you were tucking into some Christmas ham and missed it, the Dow rallied over 1,000 points on the day. At the close, it was up just a smidge under 5% its best ever daily performance (measured in points). The S&P 500 and NASDAQ also both had cracking days. The S&P finished 4.9% higher, with the NASDAQ rallying a whopping 5.8%. Of course, while they were huge jumps, they were nowhere big enough to compensate for the falls earlier in the month. If you look at a chart for December, all the major indices hurtled head first off a cliff. That huge bounce on Boxing Day left plenty of traders scratching their head. Free Report: Economist reveals five stocks to sell today. Download now. Algorithmic trading is to blame for the boxing day sell out The move was immediately put at the feet of one thing. That great enigma of the marketsalgorithmic trading. With most private traders and investors sitting on the sidelines, the percentage of computer driven trades (on a thin day of volume) were higher than normal. Algorithmic trading can account for up to 8090% of all share trades in the US. It can all seem a bit dark and mysterious, because in some ways, it is. Its impossible to know the origin and strategy of every computerized system plying the markets on any given day. However, computer trading is not as insidious as it first sounds. An algorithm is simply a set of instructions. It can be as simple as buying a fixed number of shares every time the share price falls back to a certain price level. A fund manager might implement such a strategy if they want to build up a stake in a company at their designated price point. Or it could be offloading a percentage of their holdings if the share prices falls by a certain percentage. In other words, a simple stop-loss strategy much like you already use for your own investments. For a fund, though, that might hold hundreds of stocks, it is simply too hard and time consuming to manually manage every trade. Using computer code is the best way to ensure that they implement their strategy as best they can. At the other extreme are strategies using maths so complex that only the best and brightest will ever comprehend. That is, for those rare individuals who get to choose between a career in the marketsor NASA. At the heart of every strategy, though, is something with which you will already be familiar. Computerised trading is not as simple as it seems Momentum strategies are perhaps the most popular of computerised trading. As the name implies, the aim is to catch a wave of growing momentum behind a stock, whether up or down. It might look for increasing (or decreasing) volume as a sign of a gathering strong move, or a potential change in direction. Or it might use a price-based system instead. It is also the strategy that cops the most blame when the markets take a tumble. As one computer screams sell!, so does anotherand then another. All adding to a snowball effect. Its this type of strategy that can add to volatility and cause huge falls. And thats why some want it banned. But like many things, it is not as simple as it first seems. Fund managers dont want their programs to dump them out of the market just as it bounces. Nor rapidly add to a long position just as the market stalls. That is why they add many parameters to their programs. It is not always about a blanket in or out, buy or sell. The other thing has to do with volatility. While computerised trading has grown at huge rates over recent years, volatility has actually been on the decline. Those in favour of computerised trading tender this in its defence. While that might be true, volatility is usually lower in a bull market. What we will find out, though, is how it plays out in a market fighting for direction, as it is now. But here is the thing with computer trading. It is not a set and forget exercise. The boffins who design them are always tinkering, always looking for the next angle. That is, a way to beat all the other players in the market. For a private investor, it might sound a bit baffling. Like they should leave the markets alone. But this is where things can play into their hands. The fight for price is a short-term event. And that is what much of the rapid-fire computerized trading is all about. Trying to get a whole lot of little gainssomething that can add up to a lot over time. The battle over value, though, is what really drives the markets long term. Meaning that even if computer trading distorts the prices and markets temporarily, we need to remain focused on value. All the best, Matt Hibbard, Editor, Options Trader Free Report: Australias Top 10 Mining Stocks. Download your free report now. | https://www.marketsandmoney.com.au/is-computerised-trading-really-that-bad/2019/01/03/ |
Could gulls' wings inspire smarter airplane design? | Flexing a single elbow joint enables gulls to adapt their wing shape to gusty conditions--a relatively simple mechanism that could inspire improved aircraft design Flexing a single elbow joint enables gulls to adapt their wing shape to gusty conditions, according to new University of British Columbia (UBC) research--a relatively simple mechanism that could inspire improved aircraft design. "While we know birds frequently alter their wing shape, this is the first empirical evidence demonstrating how that wing morphing affects avian stability," says UBC zoologist Douglas Altshuler, senior author on the paper published this week in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface. "And in this case, the gull's wing design points to a novel, and fairly simple, avian-inspired joint that may enable aircraft to adjust dynamically to challenging conditions." As wing speeds and maximum gusts increase, gulls sacrifice stability for maneuverability. By altering the angle of their elbow joint they shift from extended wing configurations to a flexed configuration, pulling the tips of their wings in and back. The flexed shape gives them more control. To determine the stability of different wing shapes, Altshuler and researcher Christina Harvey prepared gull wings over the anatomical elbow range and measured their performance in a wind tunnel. They also observed gulls in the wild. "The Wright brothers weren't the first to design an aircraft that was able to fly, but they were the first to successfully control and stabilize a powered aircraft inflight," says Harvey, now with the University of Michigan. "Likewise, it's not enough for birds to simply produce sufficient lift and thrust. They must also control and stabilize their flight paths to be able to successfully forage and migrate in their natural habitat." To get a fuller picture of how birds maintain their stability while gliding the researchers want to study a wider range of wind perturbations -- gulls often encounter unsteady, large-scale turbulence while flying in the wake of buildings or convective air flows over open water. Atmospheric turbulence in these conditions is likely larger than the wind tunnel turbulence the researchers used in the study. ### | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/uobc-cgw010219.php |
Can a video game-based 'digital medicine' help children with autism and co-occurring ADHD? | Philadelphia, January 3, 2019--Researchers at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) evaluated a digital medicine tool designed as an investigational treatment for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and co-occurring attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The results of the study, published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, confirmed the acceptability, feasibility, and safety of Project: EVO, which delivers sensory and motor stimuli through an action video game experience, designed by Akili Interactive, a prescription digital medicine company. As many as 50 percent of children with ASD have some ADHD symptoms, with roughly 30 percent receiving a secondary diagnosis of ADHD. However, since ADHD medications are less effective in children with both disorders than in those with only ADHD, researchers are exploring alternative treatments. Children with ASD and ADHD symptoms are also at high risk for impaired "cognitive function," including the brain's ability to maintain attention and focus on goals while ignoring distractions. As children reach school age and beyond, these cognitive impairments make it more difficult for them to set and achieve goals, as well as successfully navigate the demands of day-to-day life in the community. "Our study showed that children engaged with the Project: EVO treatment for the recommended amount of time, and that parents and children reported high rates of satisfaction with the treatment," Benjamin Yerys, Ph.D., a child psychologist at CHOP's Center for Autism Research (CAR) and first and corresponding author on the study. "Based on the promising study results, we look forward to continuing to evaluate the potential for Project: EVO as a new treatment option for children with ASD and ADHD." The feasibility study was conducted by a team of researchers at CAR in collaboration with Akili. The study included 19 children aged 9-13 diagnosed with ASD and co-occurring ADHD symptoms. Participants in the study were given either the Project: EVO treatment, which is delivered via an action video game experience, or an educational activity involving pattern recognition. The primary outcome measure for efficacy was the TOVA API, an FDA-cleared objective measure of attention. Key secondary outcome measures were caregiver reports of ADHD symptoms and the ability of the child to plan and complete tasks, as well as a cognitive test battery assessing working memory. The study found that children adhered to the treatment protocol by engaging with the treatment for 95 percent or more of the recommended treatment sessions. Both parents and children reported that the treatment had value for improving a child's ability to pay attention and served as a worthwhile approach for treatment. The study also found that after using Project: EVO, children showed a trend toward improved attention on the TOVA API score, and they showed general ADHD symptom improvement based on parent reports. Though the sample size of the study was small, the study showed that using Project: EVO was feasible and acceptable with potentially therapeutic effects. The research team is planning a larger follow-up study for continued evaluation of Project: EVO's potential efficacy. ### This study was sponsored by Akili Interactive, which provided financial support to Dr. Yerys and co-author Jennifer Bertollo. All other authors were advisers to Akili and participated in study design, data interpretation and manuscript preparation. Co-author Robert Schultz holds stock options for consulting work to Akili, and is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Akili. Co-author Geraldine Dawson is on the Scientific Advisory Board of Akili. Akili participated in the study design but did not participate in the data analysis, manuscript preparation or decision to publish. Yerys et al, "Pilot study of a novel interactive digital treatment to improve cognitive control in children with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring attention symptoms," J Autism Dev Disord, online December 20, 2018. About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, Children's Hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. In addition, its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought the 546-bed hospital recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit http://www. chop. edu | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/chop-ca123118.php |
What Would It Take To Challenge Trump In A Primary? | Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: We're going to turn now to one of the Democratic leaders in the briefing this afternoon, Minority Senate Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois. Welcome to the program. DICK DURBIN: It's good to be with you. DURBIN: Well, it was a pretty interesting gathering. It was in the Situation Room, which is considered to be a room for highly classified, top-secret information to be discussed. But we didn't get anywhere near that. We get into the top political information that was being discussed in Washington. It originally was billed as a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security on the border situation, but we moved almost immediately to the whole question of the government shutdown. DURBIN: I wasn't at the earlier meeting. But from what I gathered in the press reporting - and, of course, it was televised - this was a much different tenor. There were more people involved, including the vice president, of course, and Leader Schumer, speaker-elect - I would guess - Nancy Pelosi is the right title, myself and Steny Hoyer and then many others from the administration, as well as the Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and Senate. CORNISH: You said the president has taken the government, quote, "hostage" over the border wall, but your party hasn't given much ground either. And the dispute at hand is over border security and a wall. There wasn't a good response. But by the end of it, it was pretty clear - the Republicans and the president believe that they have a stronger hand if there are more agencies at risk because of the government shutdown. CORNISH: Earlier this week, the president said he was open-minded to linking funding for his wall to the DACA program. Today, he said he'd prefer to wait for a Supreme Court ruling on the legality of that program. He has repeatedly put things on and off the negotiation table. DURBIN: I've got to tell you, this is very personal to me. It goes back 17 years-plus when I introduced the DREAM Act. I can't tell you the hundreds, if not thousands, of young people that I've met and their families - they hang on every word, every news report as to their futures and whether they're going to be deported, whether they can legally work, whether they should continue in school. And I just don't want to open this door and start talking about this issue until there is some assurance that the president is willing to take any immigration reform proposal, including DACA and the DREAMers, in a more serious way than he was a year ago. CORNISH: But to follow up, you said there were a lot of people in that room. DURBIN: His is this the bottom word, the bottom line in this. He has the last word. He will decide when this government shutdown ends. Nancy Pelosi, tomorrow, believes the first act as speaker will be to have the House send over to Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, a bill that basically funds the eight agencies, leaving only one - DHS - unfunded. Mitch McConnell said over and over again and again today, I'm not going to pass anything in the Senate till the president says that it's - gets the green light, that he'll sign it. At this point, we don't have that assurance from the president. DURBIN: No, unfortunately. And the president had the power to end at least the major part of that shutdown with just a nod in the right direction toward Mitch McConnell. That's what Senator McConnell is waiting for. It's really in the president's hands. CORNISH: That's Illinois Senator, Democrat Dick Durbin. Thank you for speaking with ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. DURBIN: Thank you, Audie. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR. | http://www.kgou.org/post/what-would-it-take-challenge-trump-primary |
Is Habitat Restoration Actually Killing Plants In The California Wildlands? | By Eurasia Review In 2014, plant biologists with the California Department of Agriculture reported an alarming discovery: native wildflowers and herbs, grown in nurseries and then planted in ecological restoration sites around California, were infected with Phytophthora tentaculata, a deadly exotic plant pathogen that causes root and stem rot. While ecologists have long been wary of exotic plant pathogens borne on imported ornamental plants, this was the first time in California that these microorganisms had been found in native plants used in restoration efforts. Their presence in restoration sites raised the frightening possibility that ecological restoration, rather than returning disturbed sites to their natural beauty, may actually be introducing deadly plant pathogens, such as those related to Sudden Oak Death, into the wild. New work by a UC Berkeley team in the College of Natural Resources shows for the first time just how widespread and deadly the threat of pathogens from restoration nurseries may be. The team surveyed five native plant nurseries in Northern California and found that four harbored exotic, or non-native, Phytophthora pathogens. Strains of the pathogens from native plant nurseries were shown to be at times more aggressive than strains found in the wild, and some of them are rapidly developing resistance to the fungicides that can be used to control them, the researchers found. Working with restoration nurseries around the state, the researchers showed that new management techniques, coupled with new methods for detecting pathogens, can help these nurseries limit the spread of exotic pathogens. Some of these restoration projects cost tens of millions of dollars, but of course their actual value is much higher, because of the wealth of services healthy natural ecosystems provide, including supporting animal and plant biodiversity, providing good water and air quality, and enjoyable recreation sites, said Matteo Garbelotto, cooperative extension specialist and adjunct professor of environmental science, policy and management at UC Berkeley. Such services are highly diminished in ecosystems affected by exotic plant diseases, while water runoff and erosion, the establishment of exotic plants and animals, and even hotter wildfires may increase in conjunction with disease outbreaks in natural ecosystems, Garbelotto said. Pathogens evolve to outwit fungicides Bacteria that make humans sick are constantly evolving to resist the antibiotics designed to fight them, and resistance to fungicides has been documented in microbes causing diseases in agricultural plants. Garbelotto and his team wanted to know if the widespread use of fungicides in in native and ornamental plant nurseries could also accelerate the development of fungicide-resistance in plant pathogens. Their research was spurred in part by their discovery of a new strain of the Sudden Oak Death pathogen in Oregon forests that is highly tolerant of a fungicide commonly known as phosphite, one of the main weapons used against plant parasites in the wild because its application does not cause any known negative environmental side effects. Together with a group of New Zealand researchers, they decided to study fungicide resistance of Phytophthora a genus of plant pathogens that can case lethal cankers and root rot to two important fungicides, including phosphite. The researchers gathered numerous samples of Phytophthora from 11 species present both in forests and plant nurseries. They then tested the sensitivity to phosphite of multiple individuals per species. While most of the species tested were overall still sensitive to phosphite, strains of four species were able to resist the effects of the chemical, the researchers report in PLOS ONE. These include Phytophthora ramorum, the parasite behind Sudden Oak Death in North America and Sudden Larch Death in Europe, and Phytophthora crassamura, a species first discovered recently by the same UC Berkeley researchers in native plant nurseries and restoration sites in California. Some strains within each of these four species, although genetically almost identical to strains still susceptible to phosphite, were resistant to it. The presence of chemical tolerance or chemical sensitivity when comparing nearly genetically identical strains suggests that the development of resistance occurred relatively recently, perhaps in response to the widespread use of phosphites in native and ornamental nurseries, Garbelotto said. These pathogens can be literally flooded with these chemicals in plant production facilities, and at the beginning of the study, we hypothesized that in such predicaments these pathogens would be forced to evolve resistance Garbelotto said. Indeed, our hypothesis was correct, and we found that some of them evolved the ability to tolerate exposure to phosphite. While phosphite can still help to spur a plants immune system, this may not be enough to quell the spread of the disease, Garbelotto said. By pressuring these pathogens to evolve resistance to phosphites, we are effectively taking out phosphite as a potential tool to manage these disease outbreaks, Garbelotto said. Furthermore, the ability to quickly develop tolerance to a fungicide may be an indication these pathogens can adapt quickly to new environments. Thus, they may become formidable invasive organisms, infesting larger swaths of natural areas and causing significant disease and mortality of essential native flora. A widespread but reparable problem. Since the first discovery of Phytophthora in California restoration sites, research by the UC Berkeley team and others have traced the deaths of wild trees and plants back to strains of the pathogen originating in native plant nurseries, rather than strains already found in the wild. However, few studies have documented just how prevalent the problem is. In a recent study published in the journal Plant Pathology, UC Berkeley researchers examined 203 individual plants across five restoration nurseries in California and found that 55 of the plants were infected with Phytophthora. We were able to prove that this is a widespread problem in California, Garbelotto said. Most of the stock that they used is infested, and the levels were very high. For some species more than 50 percent of the plants we tested were infected. The team then worked with the infected nurseries to implement new best management practices to try to limit the spread of disease without the use of phosphite or of other fungicides. These simple guidelines, which included more careful management of water runoff and soil to reduce cross contamination, reduced the prevalence of disease to nearly zero a year after implementation. We were able to prove that after a year of following the guidelines, those facilities were clear of pathogens, and other facilities that did not follow the guidelines still had the pathogens, Garbelotto said. As a result of these findings, people are now putting a lot of money and effort into making sure that the plants are clean, by following similar guidelines and by making sure that no fungicides are used to avoid the development of resistance. | http://www.eurasiareview.com/03012019-is-habitat-restoration-actually-killing-plants-in-the-california-wildlands/ |
Are Two of the Stars of Black-ish Beefin??? | OH Boy! Im gonna need these two to get it together. If the reports are true, then 2 of the major stars on the hit tv show Black-ish are doing some serious squabbling. According to a RadarOnline.com, Tracee Ellis Ross and Jenifer Lewis are not getting along at all. One source claims that Lewis and Ross cant stand each other. According to RadarOnline.com, Tracee cant stand Jennifer and vice versa, theyre like oil and water, they dont mix well, says the source. Theyre just like their characters Jennifer wants to be the boss and Tracee isnt having it. According to on-set insiders, the entire production shut down for about 30 minutes a few weeks ago because of the drama between the two actresses. Source says there were some heated words exchanged between the two women after Lewis called out Ross for talking while she was trying to read her lines. Eventually, the women settled down and went on with the show. But feathers were clearly ruffled. Jennifer is way over the top 24/7, the source revealed. On the set AND in real life. Man! We finally get a great show and they cutting up! Please makeup ladies, we can live without Black-ish in our lives. was originally published on www.mycolumbusmagic.com Also On 100.3: | https://rnbcincy.com/162279/are-two-of-the-stars-of-black-ish-beefin/ |
Is AMD's Steamroller CPU design the company's last roll of the dice? | AMD has lifted the lid on its upcoming Steamroller CPU architecture. Due out next year, it's designed to compensate for the shortcomings of AMD's existing Bulldozer PC processors. For AMD, Steamroller must be one of if not the last roll of the dice in its mortal combat with Intel. You might think it's a somewhat premature announcement, given that we're still waiting for Piledriver, the follow up to Bulldozer, to land as a performance laptop and desktop processor. But if my experience with the Piledriver-based Trinity APU is anything to go by, it's not going to dramatically improve AMD's competitiveness. Being good enough Actually, you could have a separate debate regarding the relevance of the comparison between AMD and Intel processors. The important thing is having "good enough" performance. Not being better than an arbitrary performance target. As it happens, I'm planning to have a look at just that very question in the next few weeks. But until then, let's keep up the pretence that performance supremacy matters. Certainly some of the changes suggest AMD has directly targetted the single biggest problem with existing Bulldozer processors, namely per-core or single thread performance. So much for multi-core It's somewhat ironic in this age of alleged multi-threaded munificence that it was in fact old school single-threaded throughput that let Bulldozer down. But then mainstream PC processing has pretty much levelled off at four cores. Anyway, the really big change with Steamroller is the switch to independent decode engines for each integer engine in a Bulldozer module. In some ways, that's AMD eating humble pie. After all, the whole point about Bulldozer was supposed to be about clever sharing of architectural components. Instruction fetch is still shared across a pair of integer units, as it the floating point unit, but Steamroller is a large and significant step closer to having full fat cores. The downside, of course, is more transistors and greater power consumption. At least it would be if Steamroller was to be built on the same 32nm process as Bulldozer chips. But it will be a 28nm design, neatly offsetting those downsides. All in the details Elsewhere, detailed changes have been made, including larger registers, increased L1 cache and a dynamically resizeable L2 cache. How much difference any of this makes remains to be seen. But if anything is going to make Steamroller competitive, it'll be the improved decode resources. As one wag on an internet forum recently put it, it will then be followed by the ultimate AMD CPU design, Undertaker, burying the company once and for all. Admittedly, self-appointed internet sages have been foretelling the demise of AMD for several years now. But if Steamroller isn't any good, it finally finally come true. | https://www.techradar.com/au/news/computing-components/processors/computing/pc/is-amd-s-steamroller-cpu-design-the-company-s-last-roll-of-the-dice-1094595 |
Should I fit all-season tyres this winter? | While there are a lot of persuasive arguments for fitting a set of winter tyres, for most of us that isn't a very practical or particularly sensible option. I'm thinking predominantly of the south-east of England here, heavily populated and with very little snowfall. According to Met Office data, the average number of days of falling snow in a year is between 12 and 15 on lower lying areas, less than 10 on towns near the Channel. The average number of days of snow lying (measured if the ground is more than 50 per cent covered in snow at 09.00hrs) is between five on lower ground and 10 on higher ground. Equivalent lying-snow averages for the Scottish Highlands are 60 days and just three days for the coasts of south-west England. Tyre manufacturers will tell you that winter tyres aren't just about traction in snow and ice; they grip better in the rain, too. That is true - and while the south-east is relatively sheltered from prevailing Atlantic fronts, it still rains a lot and it's pretty well distributed around the year. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/advice/should-fit-all-season-tyres-winter/ |
What does 2019 hold for Strictly champion Kevin Clifton? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email 2018 was a great year for Grimsby's Kevin Clifton - and 2019 isn't looking bad either. He ended a difficult year - he announced his split from wife Karen Clifton in March - on a massive high by winning Strictly Come Dancing with partner Stacey Dooley. Victory was a long-time coming as it was his fifth final - but his patience paid off when he finally got to lift the glitterball. Well, quite a lot really. He's headlining two major touring shows in the next few months - Burn The Floor and Rock of Ages - and they are both coming to Grimsby Auditorium. Burn The Floor (Image: [email protected]) Kevin headlines the UK tour, which comes to Grimsby Auditorium on Friday and Saturday June 7 and 8. Tickets are 23.50, 28.50, 31.50, 38.50, Premium seats 46.50, and VIP Package (limited availability) 86.50 To book tickets call the Box Office on 0300 300 0035 Book on line at www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk There are no booking fees if you visit the Box Office personally. Rock Of Ages (Image: Grimsby Auditorium) Kevin Clifton stars as Stacee Jaxx It comes to Grimsby Auditorium on Tuesday, February 5 and runs until Saturday 9. Tickets are 16 to 44, and concessions are available. To book tickets call the Box Office on 0300 300 0035 Book on line at www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk There are no booking fees if you visit the Box Office personally. And as if that wasn't enough, he and sister Joanne will soon be launching their online dance classes. Yes, you can really learn to dance just like the Strictly winners from the comfort of your own living room. You can register your interest here now. The website says: "Learn the basic steps of Smooth, Waltz, Cha Cha, Quickstep, Salsa, Rumba, Tango and Rock N Roll with Strictly Come Dancing winners Joanne and Kevin. Our videos will teach you how to dance and give you the confidence you need to dance them." Joanne won Strictly in 2016 with her partner Ore Oduba - beating Kevin and his partner that year, former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp. (Image: Rick Byrne / Grimsbylive) Louise accompanied Kevin on a trip back to Grimsby just days after his Strictly win as special guest as his parents' dance academy's Christmas ball. And she's already publicly announced her admiration for Keith and Judy Clifton, with a special message of endorsement on the Clfton Dance Academy website, which says: "Dancing is transformative and Keith and Judy certainly know how to transform two left feet. "Its true when they say, the more you learn to dance the more you want to dance and the more you can." Keith and Judy also hinted in a special thank you to GrimsbyLive readers that Kevin would be back for Strictly Come Dancing 2019 - so watch this space, he's got a busy year ahead! | https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/news/grimsby-news/kevin-karen-clifton-louise-redknapp-2383329 |
Why does my childs new toy doll sound like that weird Crazy Frog thing? | As we settle down back into the normal routine of life after Christmas, the traditional new year clearout is on the horizon. This, as we all know, is when we surreptitiously remove all those old toys that have been stuck at the back of the cupboard, on the bottom shelf or at the bottom of the toy box for the past six months at least and not so much have been thought of, let alone played with. Your child's toy doll could catch you unawares We do this, of course, to make room for all the new things that have arrived at Christmas and to give the rooms a fresh new for 2019 look. This years new intake has been gleefully welcomed by little one, although I have my doubts about one of of her new dolls. Well, it apparently went wrong when the people at the factory decided to make it sound like the god-awful crazy frog thing that was number one in the charts a few years ago. Really. The dolls baby gurgle sounds almost exactly like one of the most irritating records/ring tones ever invented. Shall we make it sound like a baby? No, lets make it sound like a really annoying computer character from a rubbish record. Honestly. First time I heard it, I thought it was the TV and thought with horror said stupid frog was making a comeback. Then I realised it was even worse than that because it already has made a comeback and is now permanently in our house. And it gets worse. This dolls sleeping breathing sound sounds like a heavy breathing stalker on the end of a phone line. I didnt even know it did it until it went off without warning one night after wed all gone to bed. I was convinced someone had actually broken into our house, so loud was this noise and it was only when I was finally convinced someone hadnt got in through the bathroom window, that I realised it was the stupid doll. Again. Little one loves it though and thats what matters. And aside of the odd stumble, the rest of this years new arrivals have been largely trouble free. The only real issue has been the small characters from Peppa Pigs house routinely going missing and ending up (along with Skye from Paw Patrol, Supergirl and various components of games and jigsaws) either in the top floor or the roof space of the new dolls house. That is, mind, when the roof is not falling off because the window box pieces that hold it together have been relocated to down the side of the sofa or in the toy box along with other pieces of various items. Clearly, my little one is a demolisher, not an architect. Meantime, its back to planning the big clearout and the whole new task of trying to move stuff out and away before little one notices. Most of it will be going to a charity shop, the rest to the recycling centre. Im going online now to check on their rules regards accepting dolls that do crazy frog impressions. | https://www.eastwoodadvertiser.co.uk/lifestyle/why-does-my-child-s-new-toy-doll-sound-like-that-weird-crazy-frog-thing-1-9517222 |
What Am I Going to Do?? | As I write this column it is once again RAINING and is forecast to keep it up for another 36 hours. I cannot express how depressing the weather has been for me for the last two months and the fact that it rained primarily on the weekends really added insult to injury! Some of my saving grace has been being able to head over to The Belvedere Lounge at the Gaylord and take in the nightly holiday happenings in the Atrium, checking out the Harbor tree lightings above the Plaza and the holiday themed light show on the Capital Wheel from the party room balcony of my condo and the fireworks that have been happening every Saturday up to Christmas regardless of the rain. The holidays are over and the lights are gone and no more fireworks through the pouring rain. I am definitely not a candidate for MAGfest at the Gaylord but I guess there isnt really any reason I cant still seek solace at The Belvedere and the people watching while its going on there are definitely some characters that attend this gathering. Check them out via the link in the calendar listing in this section. I wrote about it in depth last January. Restaurant Week starts at the end of the month so that is something to look forward to. Will give me a chance to check out some places I dont usually frequent and save some cash at the same time. It follows on the heels of Restaurant Week in Old Town Alexandria so you all might want to check out the great food across the river. There is always the option of making a commitment to sticking closer to home and taking in the quiet that January brings to the Harbor and.maybe putting my Christmas decorations away before the end of the month. It is, however, a good time of the year to take a spin on the Wheel on a crisp clear day hoping we will have several of those without having to stand in line as well as take a stroll around the campus. Its a good opportunity to check out new construction and see what changes are happening along the waterfront. Also a good opportunity to head up the hill to the MGM for another form of fabulous people watching and to spend some of that Christmas money you got in your stocking. I have targeted a portion of my take and I am actually pretty lucky at the video poker its about the only thing I can afford besides the slots. I have to admit that I havent been to any of the performances in the Theater in the MGM so I guess that might be something to check out as well. Looks like Motor City Live will be performing A Motown Tribute several times during the month and I love that music so..just might be a good option. On a high note, I am looking forward to the New Year and all of the possibilities it offers. Nothing like having a new slate sort of to work with. And even more importantly, I am in hopes that the damned weather will straighten out and if there has to be moisture it will be in the form of nice fluffy snowflakes! Happy New Year to everyone and thanks so much for reading this publication. We celebrate 31 years this month! | https://oldtowncrier.com/2019/01/01/what-am-i-going-to-do/ |
Is Jay Inslees presidential campaign for real? | Widely regarded as smart, effective and informed, Jackson, a Democrat, was respected in both parties. When Jack Kennedy won the Democratic nomination for president in 1960, brother Bobby, his campaign manager, wanted Jackson on the ticket. Alas, JFK opted for Lyndon Johnson from Texas, and Scoop was given the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee as a consolation prize. In 1969, Republican President Richard Nixon asked Jackson to be his secretary of defense, which the senator turned down. When he finally stepped up to run in 76, Jackson had organization, money and the support of organized labor. His stalwart support of the war in Vietnam made him a pariah among the anti-war left, but the war was over, and Jackson had a superb liberal record on civil rights, the environment and labor issues. He had never lost a race. But he did in 1976. It was the first presidential election after Watergate. Several additional scandals, involving powerful Democratic Congressmen Wilbur Mills and Wayne Hays, had soured the public on leaders from Washington, D.C., where Jackson had been serving for over 3 1/2 decades. Good man, wrong time. Not likely. But lets weigh the pros and cons as well as two successful models he could emulate and one he should avoid. He has political experience in both Washingtons. While his achievements are slender, so were those of Sens. John Kerry and Barack Obama when they first became presidential nominees. No scandals that anyone is aware of that would merit serious attention. Supportive spouse an important and underrated asset. Ronald Reagan would never have become president without Nancy. Nor would Barack Obama have made it without Michelle, or especially George W. Bush without Laura. Inslee is lucky to have Trudy. Ability to raise money. Not New York, California or Texas big, but enough to get a campaign rolling. Regarded by most people as a nice guy. Likability is another huge factor in national success. It put moderate voters at ease with Ronald Reagans conservatism; it made voters more comfortable with Barack Obama. Ask Hillary Clinton what happens when voters dont like you. Moderate tone. Inslee is essentially a Seattle liberal, but he knows how to convey a moderate tone. If the Democrats want a white guy on the south slope of middle age, Joe Biden is known by everybody and probably would have won if he had been the nominee in 2016. But polls suggest the party wants a fresh face in 2020, which could augur well for Inslee. The unsuccessful candidate for Ted Cruzs Senate seat in Texas remains the most exciting figure in the party. He is younger, can raise more money and is more dynamic than Inslee. His driving political passion isnt driving voters to the polls. Climate change has been Inslees defining issue since his days in Congress. But poll after poll, year after year, shows that out of 20 issues, it ranks in the bottom five. And in Europe carbon-based taxes are setting France on fire. Not politically but literally. Easy to dismiss, if youre an oddsmaker, but two other longshots ended up on national tickets because they defied the odds. One was Jimmy Carter, who beat Scoop Jackson in 76. A former one-term Georgia governor and legislator, Carter, a peanut farmer and Sunday school teacher, was the candidate with the fewest ties to the nations capital in a year Democrats wanted someone outside the D.C. power structure, but not so liberal that they would relive the 49-state drubbing suffered by their nominee, George McGovern, four years earlier. Carter represented a New South politics that rejected the negative tone of George Wallace and made him palatable, if not preferable, to the liberal wing of the party. As Joel Connelly, the Seattle Post-Intelligencers national correspondent back then, recalls it, Carter basically moved into Iowa two months before the state's first-in-the-nation caucuses. He turned heads by staying at the homes of supporters, and shook hands in virtually every Grange hall and diner in the state. Quite a contrast with the high-powered glitz of Washington, D.C. He finished ahead of all his contenders, then built on that momentum by winning New Hampshire. Right candidate, right time, right tone and tactics. That is how an underdog becomes leader of the free world. Another model is Democrat Al Gore. In 88 Gore ran unsuccessfully as a moderate alternative to Jesse Jackson and the eventual (disastrous) nominee, Michael Dukakis from Massachusetts. His stature was elevated by the campaign, and four years later he was tapped by Bill Clinton as his running mate, something that Connelly and others have suggested could be Inslees realistic goal. With an assist from third-party contender Ross Perot, the duo ended 12 years of Republican rule in the White House. The model Inslee should not emulate: Democrat Martin OMalley, the ambitious former Maryland governor, who headed the Democratic Governors Assocation (as Inslee does now) and managed to run for eight months without saying anything interesting. In February of 2016 he packed it in and endorsed Hillary Clinton. Hardly anyone noticed. The lesson for Inslee is this: You cant outraise your opponents, so outwork them and outsmart them. That means setting down stakes in the Hawkeye state, as Carter did, or throwing an occasional sharp elbow, as Al Gore did against Jesse Jackson and Mike Dukakis. If the answer is yes, then say it. If the answer is no, youre better off skipping the race, campaigning hard for the eventual Democratic ticket and hoping for an appointment at Interior or Environmental Protection Agency. | https://crosscut.com/2019/01/jay-inslees-presidential-campaign-real |
When is the Twelfth night and why do Christmas decorations come down then? | Dont worry about taking down your Christmas decorations just yet (Picture: Getty) Christmas Day and New Years Eve might be over, but that doesnt mean your Christmas tree has to come down just yet. In fact, many Christmas traditionalists will keep their decorations on display all the way up till the Twelfth Night. McDonald's is finally offering a vegetarian Happy Meal While most of us consider peak decoration time to be during the run up to Christmas, Twelfth Night makes it acceptable to keep them up well into the first week of January. So if you want to stave off any post-Christmas blues, observing Twelfth Night gives you the perfect excuse to keep the tree and baubles up a little longer. There is some debate over the exact date, with some saying its 5 January and others 6 January. Advertisement Advertisement This is because some people count Christmas itself as one of the twelve nights, while others begin the count on Boxing Day. Either day is acceptable, but according to folklore, if you keep your tree up after the 6 January, it has to stay up all year. Traditionally, Christmas celebrations lasted for twelve days after 25 December. Thats because, after Jesus was born, 6 January marked the day when John the Baptist came to baptise him, and the three kings came with their gifts for the baby. This is known as Epiphany. If you go further back into habits and customs, some people used to believe that tree-spirits lived in the trees, holly, and ivy in their homes. These spirits would seek shelter there during the cold winter, but if they werent released after Christmas there would be problems with agriculture and harvests. So, if youre one for superstition, its best to do it sooner rather than later. MORE: Combining these common cleaning products can be incredibly dangerous MORE: Those doing Dry January will be happy to know the good effects can last for months Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/02/when-is-the-twelfth-night-and-why-is-it-the-date-christmas-decorations-should-come-down-8300996/ |
How will the real estate market perform in 2019? | It seems timely to take a look at the real estate cycles in years past and project what the market is likely to do in 2019. No one I know has a crystal ball that they can use to see the future with absolute clarity. But thanks to Steven Thomas, local real estate broker and economist, we have some data we can refer to and extrapolate from to try to predict how the market will behave this year. There is an annual cycle, the data show. We start each year with a low point for both inventory of homes for sale and demand for homebuying. The inventory usually gradually builds up until about Labor Day, then slides toward the holidays to the year-end low. Our historical data show that demand ramps up more quickly, with a sharp increase from Super Bowl Sunday, then gradually continues to increase until about Memorial Day, at which point, it begins to taper off for the remainder of the year. So, generally speaking, demand is at a high for the first five months of the year, then people get busy with kids graduations, vacations, and other distractions, which skid into the holidays, which now start at the end of summer. Inventory, however, starts out slowly, then keeps building until the end of summer. Maybe because sellers think that everyone wants move in the summer. Actually, more people are buying in the winter and spring. And even though we have about 59 percent more inventory now than this time last year, and there were about 24 percent more pending sales last year, the cycle should follow the same pattern. This increase in inventory and drop in demand has flipped us from the strong sellers market at the start of 2018 into a slight buyers market as we start 2019. This impact can be seen in the average days on the market, which has gone from 65 days on average last year to 127 days as of the beginning of 2019. Thats double from last year. For home buyers, this means you have more choices, more time to kick the tires, run the numbers, and get your loan even partially underwritten before you make an offer. You actually have time to go look at the house more than once, for more than five minutes, before you submit an offer. Youll also probably be the only offer on the table. Multiple offers on the same home are no longer the norm. For home sellers, this means put your house on the market the Thursday before Super Bowl Sunday, which this year falls on Jan. 31. Youll have it staged to perfection, take professional photos, and youll price it right at market value, and anything else you can think of to stick out for potential buyers. Despite the turning tide in supply and demand, the Orange County median home price peaked in May and September at $740,000 up from a 2017 peak of $710,000. Happy New Year. Leslie Sargent Eskildsen is an agent with Realty One Group. She can be reached at 949-678-3373. or [email protected]. | https://www.ocregister.com/2019/01/02/how-will-the-real-estate-market-perform-in-2019/ |
Is it safe to smoke weed while pregnant? | Some pregnant women use marijuana, and researchers are still unsure how the drug can affect a fetus. As a result, most medical experts recommend refraining from smoking weed during pregnancy. Marijuana is the illicit drug women most commonly take during pregnancy, and use is increasing in certain areas. As drug laws are relaxing in some parts of the world, it is essential for researchers to determine when marijuana is safe to use. In this article, learn about the possible risks of smoking weed while pregnant, as well as what the experts recommend. Safety Women should avoid smoking weed during pregnancy. Women should avoid smoking weed during pregnancy. Doctors advise against using marijuana during pregnancy, but many misconceptions persist. Some people believe that because medical use is legal in some areas of the United States, the drug must be safe to use while pregnant. Others may believe that smoking weed is dangerous, but that other forms of the drug, such as edibles, will not harm the fetus. However, research shows that using any form of marijuana can affect a fetus's growth and development, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Marijuana comes from the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plants. These plants contain a compound called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC has mind-altering properties that can cause a heightened sensation a "high." Dr. Heather Bradshaw, a specialist in cannabinoid pharmacology at Indiana University's Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, believes that there is no safe level of consumption, as the chemicals in marijuana may have lasting negative effects: "We are on the cusp of understanding all of the effects of THC and CBD on the brain, although it is a little early to definitively state what is or isn't affected during exposure in development. However, some research suggests that early exposure of THC to the brain can increase chances of schizophrenia and affect motor development." Marijuana use can also affect: memory sensations, such as the appearance of colors body movement thinking and problem solving The drug is illegal in many places, but legal to use for medical purposes in some parts of the U.S. It is legal for recreational use in a small number of countries. People may use medical marijuana to treat nausea, pain, and muscle spasticity. Possible side effects The possible side effects of marijuana use during pregnancy include: Low birth weight A meta-analysis of 24 studies involving pregnant women, marijuana use, and birth outcomes found a connection between low birth weight and maternal marijuana use. Reduced birth weight is associated with low oxygen levels, difficulty maintaining body temperature, and breathing problems, among other complications. However, not all of the studies in the analysis showed a connection between marijuana use and low birth weight. The researchers also found that babies born to women who had used marijuana during pregnancy were more likely to require a stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, compared with those who had not been exposed to the drug. A 2017 study of prenatal marijuana exposure and behavior in children also found a link to lower birth weight, especially in women who smoked cigarettes as well as marijuana. Stillbirth risk A 2013 study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) considered women who experienced stillbirth at 59 American hospitals. The researchers tested blood samples from the women and the umbilical cords. They determined that marijuana use was associated with a 2.3 times higher risk of stillbirth. However, the researchers cautioned that it was difficult to separate the effects of smoking marijuana and tobacco. People often use the substances together, and tobacco can cause pregnancy complications. Research challenges Ethical issues make it difficult for researchers to study the effects of smoking weed during pregnancy. Ethical issues make it difficult for researchers to study the effects of smoking weed during pregnancy. Modern, large-scale studies on marijuana use and pregnancy do not exist because there are many ethical issues concerning the study of pregnant women and developing babies. For example, it would be unethical to study the effects of marijuana by asking a group of pregnant participants to use the drug. If the babies of these women had any congenital abnormalities or developmental problems, the researchers would be at fault for harming them. As a result, most existing research involves women who reported using marijuana during pregnancy. According to research from 2017, some potential effects include: impaired fetal growth increased rates of preterm deliveries increased rates of stillbirths potential neurodevelopmental issues, such as behavioral problems that develop later in life However, it is difficult to prove that marijuana causes one or all of these effects because researchers cannot perform studies that control for other factors. Marijuana for pregnancy nausea A doctor can offer advice on treating morning sickness and nausea. A doctor can offer advice on treating morning sickness and nausea. Nausea, or morning sickness, is a common pregnancy symptom. Some doctors prescribe medical marijuana to treat chemotherapy-related nausea, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) report that some women use marijuana as a means to combat pregnancy-induced nausea. However, no research exists to prove that this is a safe or effective practice. Also, nausea tends to occur in the earlier stages of pregnancy, when the drug is more likely to affect the developing fetus. It is best to talk to a doctor about safe ways to reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Edibles and vaping Beyond smoking, some people use cannabis by vaping or consuming edibles, which are foods that contain the drug. These forms of marijuana do not contain the harmful substances in tobacco, but the CDC say that they are still not safe to use. These products contain active THC and other chemicals, and the medical community has yet to determine their effects on a fetus. Outlook The CDC, NIDA, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists do not recommend using marijuana during pregnancy. While some studies have concluded that marijuana has no effects on a fetus, other studies have linked prenatal use with low birth weight and an increased risk of stillbirth. Therefore, doctors recommend avoiding it altogether. If a pregnant woman is using marijuana and finding it challenging to quit, she should speak to a doctor or seek professional support elsewhere. Women in the U.S., for example, can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's 24-hour treatment referral line at 800-662-HELP (4357). | https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324069.php |
Was folgt aus der Bluttat von Bottrop? | Anzeige Oberbrgermeister Bernd Tischler wollte mit Brgern am Neujahrstag ein Jubilum feiern: Die Stadt Bottrop im Ruhrgebiet bekam vor 100 Jahren die Stadtrechte verliehen, deshalb sollte auf dem zentralen Berliner Platz das Neujhrchen-Fest stattfinden mit Bands, Bier und Sekt. Der Bergbau hat Bottrop ber Jahrzehnte geprgt. Vor wenigen Tagen erst wurde kurz vor Ende des alten Jahres das Ende des Bergbaus und die Schlieung der letzten Zeche Prosper-Haniel feierlich besiegelt. Doch dann wurde das Neujhrchen zum Ort eines stillen Gedenkens, die Musik wurde abgesagt. Auf dem Platz Walzer tanzen, auf dem wenige Stunden zuvor ein solch schlimmer Vorfall stattgefunden hat, das knnen und wollen wir nicht, erklrte Sozialdemokrat Tischler in seiner kurzfristig abgenderten Ansprache. Es sei niemandem zum Feiern zumute, man sei in Gedanken bei den Verletzten, Angehrigen und Freunden. Kurz nach dem Jahreswechsel von Montag auf Dienstag hatte Andreas N. nach bisherigen Erkenntnissen einen silbernen Mercedes Kombi in eine Menschengruppe auf dem Berliner Platz gesteuert. Insgesamt viermal attackierte der 50-Jhrige demnach Personen in Bottrop und Essen. Acht Personen wurden nach derzeitigem Stand verletzt: Eine 46-jhrige Frau, ihr Ehemann (48) und ihre Tchter (16 und 27) aus Syrien, ebenso ein vierjhriger Junge und seine Mutter (29) aus Afghanistan, ein zehnjhriges Mdchen aus Syrien sowie ein 34-jhriger Essener mit trkischen Wurzeln. Anzeige Die Ermittler haben den Tathergang bisher so rekonstruiert: N. fuhr erstmals an Silvester um 23.45 Uhr in Bottrop auf Fugnger zu, die sich noch retten konnten. Dann bewegte er sich weiter in Richtung Innenstadt und steuerte den Wagen auf dem Berliner Platz in eine Menschengruppe die vierkpfige syrische Familie und drei weitere Personen aus Syrien und Afghanistan wurden verletzt. Die 46-jhrige Mutter konnte dank einer Notoperation gerettet werden. Der mutmaliche Tter flchtete Richtung Essen, versuchte erneut, Personen an einer Bushaltestelle anzufahren. Sie konnten gerade noch ausweichen. Bei seiner vierten Attacke an einer Strae verletzte N. eine Person. Die zwischenzeitlich alarmierte Polizei konnte ihn dann in der Nhe seiner Wohnadresse stellen und vorlufig festnehmen. Noch ist bei dem Arbeitslosen, der im Stadtteil Essen-Borbeck wohnhaft war, vieles ungeklrt. Sein Motiv scheint fr die Ermittler zumindest schon jetzt klar: Der 50-Jhrige wollte Migranten umbringen. Die zustndigen Ermittlungsbehrden, die Staatsanwaltschaft Essen sowie die beiden Polizeiprsidien Recklinghausen und Mnster sprechen von einem gezielten Anschlag. Wegen mehrfachen Mordversuchs wurde N. am Mittwoch in Untersuchungshaft genommen. Anzeige Nach Einschtzung des nordrhein-westflischen Innenministers Herbert Reul (CDU), der sich auf den bisherigen Ermittlungsstand sttzt, steuerte der mutmaliche Attentter das Auto mit Ttungsabsicht in die Menschengruppen. Hintergrund war fremdenfeindliches Denken, sagte Reul im Westdeutschen Rundfunk. N. habe womglich aus einer persnlichen Betroffenheit und Unmut heraus dann Hass auf Fremde entwickelt. Nach seiner Festnahme soll der Mann gesagt haben, dass die vielen Auslnder in Deutschland ein Problem seien und dass er dieses Problem lsen wolle, berichtete der Spiegel. N. soll zudem psychisch krank sein und sich zeitweise in einer geschlossenen Einrichtung aufgehalten haben. Der Attentter ist den Sicherheitsbehrden vor der Bluttat nicht aufgefallen. Es gebe bisher keinen Ansatzpunkt dafr, dass dieser Mann irgendwelche Verbindungen hat oder dass er selber in irgendwelchen rechtsradikalen Kreisen sich bewegt, sagte NRW-Innenminister Reul. Die innenpolitische Sprecherin der Grnen-Bundestagsfraktion, Irene Mihalic, sagte, es sei wichtig, dass jetzt nicht zu schnell wieder der Deckel auf den Fall gemacht wird und man sich vielleicht voreilig auf die These eines psychisch kranken Einzeltters festlegt, der komplett kontextlos handelte. Die NSU-Morde und auch aktuelle rechtsterroristische Aktivitten belegten, wie gefhrlich es ist, den Blick fr Netzwerke und Umfeld zu verschlieen. Es msse sehr genau ermittelt werden, mit welchen Menschen der 50-Jhrige zu tun hatte und welche anschlagsbezogene Kommunikation es gegebenenfalls mit einem solchen Umfeld gegeben habe, mahnte Mihalic. Es msse aufgeklrt werden, ob rechtsextremistische Netzwerke strategisch hnliche Anschlagsformen entwickeln wie Islamisten. Die Bundesregierung uerte ihre Bestrzung ber die Autoattacken ebenso wie ber die Prgelangriffe im bayerischen Amberg am vergangenen Samstagabend, wo vier junge Asylbewerber wahllos Passanten angegriffen und zwlf Personen verletzt hatten. Beide Taten seien mit Bestrzung zur Kenntnis genommen worden, erklrte die stellvertretende Regierungssprecherin Martina Fietz am Mittwoch in Berlin. In Deutschland sei kein Platz fr Extremismus und Intoleranz, egal, von welcher Seite er kommt. Die Bundesregierung setze alles daran, diese kompromisslos zu bekmpfen. Im Zusammenhang mit den Autoattacken im Ruhrgebiet uerte NRW-Innenminister Reul auch seine Sorge ber eine aufgeheizte Debatte in der Migrations- und Flchtlingspolitik. Es gibt in dieser Gesellschaft im Moment zu viele mit unterschiedlichen Motivlagen, die meinen, sie htten das Recht, Gewalt anzuwenden und damit Probleme zu lsen. Das ist ein Irrtum. | https://www.welt.de/print/welt_kompakt/print_politik/article186475358/Was-folgt-aus-der-Bluttat-von-Bottrop.html |
Which Part of Cristiano Ronaldo's Statue Tourists Love to Touch? | So this statue of Cristiano Ronaldo is in Portugal (Twitter) The groin area on a statue of Cristiano Ronaldo has been polished until shines after being rubbed by tourists who 'can't keep their hands off'. The bronze has been buffed on the shorts of the figure, which has proved a big draw in the Portuguese star's home town of Funchal, Madeira. The statue was unveiled in 2014 with fans remarking on the 'figure-hugging' clothes on the representation of the footballing great. Since then, a steady stream of people have come to view the 800kg sculpture. But while one might expect the star's famous feet to show signs of wear, it is another part of the anatomy that seems to be receiving all the attention. Photos reveal how people seem to have been keen to rub the groin area on the 11ft statue, which was created by Madeiran artist Ricardo Veloza. Cruise holidaymaker John Rodgers was a fan of the player and posed for a picture holding his hand but then noticed the extreme wear on the shorts. 'I just wanted a picture of him to send to my family. But as soon as I put on the family WhatsApp group everyone started laughing. They couldn't help notice the well-rubbed area between his legs. 'Whilst waiting to get back on the boat I then realised a stream of tourists who were keen to touch that area. 'It seemed to make them all smile. Particularly a young blonde lady. She couldn't keep her hands off. 'It's just a bit of fun I suppose. But I thought handling in the penalty area was against the rules. 'Then it occurred to me, he won several Golden Balls as best player on the planet and a few Silver ones for coming second behind Messi.' Juventus forward Ronaldo, 33, has scored 85 goals in 154 appearances for Portugal and is considered one of the greatest players of all time with a record-equalling five Ballon d'Or awards According to Madeira Islands Guide, his imposing statue is located by the pier entrance of the city of Funchal - a transit point for thousands of tourists coming from cruises. This article has been adapted from its original source. | https://www.albawaba.com/editorchoice/which-part-cristiano-ronaldos-statue-tourists-love-touch-1233410 |
What is the positive impact of movies on social behavior? | Young people love watching and discussing movies. The cinematography is an integral part of their life just like music or hobbies. Watching a movie can either improve your life, ruin it, or have a neutral or no effect. Most people tend to believe that a good film should always leave a strong impression. However, the problem is that this impression may have both positive and negative consequences. According to numerous surveys and interviews, the most popular genres of movies today are: Anime Drama Comedy Horror Fantasy Action Each of these genres can have both positive and negative impact on youth. But, there is no universal opinion whether watching movies has more pros or cons. While some studies show that violent films make people aggressive and dangerous, other surveys highlight the benefits of showing specific films to students. In this post, we will talk about the possible impact of movies on society and young adolescents in particular based on the most popular genres. Examples of how movies can be beneficial to watch Violence reduction The top-preferred genre of movies nowadays is drama. Youth loves films about some rumors, intrigues, violence, relationships, bullying, etc. Many characters become their role models, meaning that kids start to mimic their actions and behaviors. As most of the protagonists in teen movies possess all the necessary qualities required to be a good person, that is not a bad tendency. Films help youngsters to see the difference between good and evil. Many movies can also help to make the right decisions and think independently. But, a film should not necessarily cover positive topics to provide valuable life lessons. Movies about school bullying and suicide initially aim to show the adverse consequences of such behavior. Many students share that they become less aggressive and mean as watching such a film is their chance to see how they look, put themselves in the shoes of other people, and analyze the consequences of their actions. It is interesting, but movies about violence can really reduce discrimination, hate crimes, school bullying, etc. The importance of education Students who skip school or drop classes have an opportunity to see the results of such actions in many modern films about education. Most of the wretched or unemployed people in movies do not have a good educational background. Youth tends to listen to what they say on TV more than their parents, relatives, or friends. Movie makers possess enough power to impact the minds of the young population. And, by watching films that stress the importance of education, teens start to realize the true value of learning. Beaty stereotypes Some experts may say that the negative impact of movies on youth is the way kids start perceiving relationships. In most cases, Hollywood hires only visually appealing people to portray their characters, and they rarely show the cast without make-up. Most of the actors and actresses who represent students in movies have near-to-perfect bodies and faces. That is why the boy-next-door is not cool enough to date him. Girls wish to date guys like Chris Hemsworth or Zac Efron instead of having more realistic expectations. But, at the same time, movies motivate boys and girls to take care of their appearance. Seeing a young woman in good shape inspires girls to attend the gym and eat healthy food. Trying to look like your idol is not wrong unless that idol is a mass murderer or a thief. Critical thinking Even though it might sound obvious, movies help teachers evaluate and develop critical skills that students should have by assigning them to write movie reviews. Of course, you can always find someone to do your homework for you (e.g., here https://www.bestcustompaper.com/write-my-essay-for-me), but we recommend practicing writing at least several movie reviews on your own. This activity trains the ability to summarize things and critically analyze issues. Many films have valuable life lessons. Sci-fi movies, for instance, can even educate young watchers. It is easier to understand how different things work when you can visualize them, and through visualization, students memorize what they should learn better. That is why if you have difficulties with understanding some scientific topic, you can pick a movie that explains this issue implicitly or explicitly. Summary After observing several examples of how movies can be helpful, lets create a list of benefits. Here are the positive impacts of films on social behavior: Movies are an excellent source of entertainment. They add some spice to life and are perfect antidepressants: if you choose the right movie when having a bad mood, it can save your day! Movies and media unite people. Experts proved that those who suffer from social anxiety and find it difficult to find a common language with others could overcome such obstacles through watching movies. A film is always a good occasion to meet new people and improve relationships with old friends. Movies inspire us to act. Our favorite heroes teach us valuable life lessons. They give us ideas and motivation to change something for better instead of simply sitting and waiting for the things to go their way. Films about famous people are the best way to influence social behavior positively. Movies are the source of knowledge. They can help to learn whats in trend, find out more about ancient times, or fill a few gaps in knowledge. Finally, watching a movie instead of reading a book saves plenty of time. Although its impossible to fit all the details from books, films usually contain 80-90% of the plot. That is more than enough for people with little to no time for reading. Even though movies can be useful, people should not ignore the possible adverse effects of watching too many of them. There are always two sides of the coin remember it! | http://www.themovieblog.com/2019/01/what-is-the-positive-impact-of-movies-on-social-behavior/ |
Is there a real estate crisis? | Since at least 2014, the countrys real estate developers have been warning of troubling times ahead. The sector slowdown had begun much earlier, as Executive reported in its October 2018 real estate special report, and sector stakeholders have, for several years now, expressed hope that the next year would be betterrepeating this mantra, as if speaking the words out loud would bring about the positive change they have been seeking. No to low confidence Confidence to invest in Lebanese real estate reached a low point in 2018. The sector was negatively affected by political uncertainty and economic distortions due to monetary interventions by Banque du Liban (BDL), Lebanons central bank. But the formation of a new government has the potential to bring relief on both fronts. After Lebanon forms a new cabinet, there will be a confidence boost, and a foundation for renewed economic growth can be set. This could come in the form of fiscal incentives, taxation changes, or legal changes that require government approval, such as regulating the rental market, alongside BDLs monetary measures. There are many possibilities that could manifest, if, and only if, the new government adopts a clear vision for the real estate sector. One thing to watch for in 2019 is a housing policycurrently being prepared by the Economic and Social Council (an advisory body to the prime minister made up of academics, economic associations, civil society, political parties, and government entities) as part of its 22-point socioeconomic planwhich will require approval by cabinet before any measures can be implemented. When it comes to asking whether or not real estate will experience pricing adjustments in 2019, the calculation should not only be considered in social or political terms, but also as a macroeconomic factor. In 2013, there was macroeconomic worry at the central bank because of deflation, and the response was to target specific sectors that BDL at that time thought would be beneficial to the economy, through stimulus packages that cost roughly $1 billion each year. The central banks annual subsidy package helped drive up GDP growth, and also contributed to inflation, according to a public sector economist with whom Executive spoke. On top of that, the 2017 public sector wage scale increase pushed inflation in general, but also property price inflation, as the wage hike increased the eligibility range for subsidized loans. It was the absence of the housing subsidization scheme in 2018 that proved a pivotal factor, clearly demonstrating that without subsidies (i.e. monetary interventions by BDL) the sector was worse off. The freezing of BDLs subsidization scheme was correlated to the central banks macroeconomic concerns, including the potential overheating of the economy as a result of rising inflation. If inflation was to be mitigated at a time when the state was opening the money supply tap in terms of the salary scale, the central bank needed to be careful with its incentive packages. When the public sector salary increase of $800 million was announced in late 2017, and later turned out to far exceed that amount, the central bank concluded that its measures, coupled with the wage increase, would have sent inflation soaring to 7 percent, or higher, in 2018. Inflation, if you recall before this year, was in the realm of 3-4 percent, and this year it hit 6 percent. If we were to add to that [BDLs incentive structure], inflation wouldve probably approached a double-digit level, the public sector economist told Executive. Unreliable data The real estate numbers that make headlines are most likely not suggestive of any sort of trend, or whether there is an impending market crisis or not. Before concluding that a real estate crisis can pull the Lebanese economy down, one must first determine whether there actually is a crisis, and that is hard to ascertain. The degree to which real estate transactions contribute to GDP, somewhere in the range of $8-9 billion each year, or $45-50 billion over the last five years, does show that the sector is important, but it should also be noted that it is an inflation driver. Subsidies for real estate can drive inflation higher, but the overall effect is very difficult to measure. There are more variables to consider when valuing the real estate component of the national economy than what are typically taken into account by analysts, who may have a bias toward thinking that everything is a threat to the sector and suggesting a larger crisis than may actually exist. This is all to say that there is uncertainty in the straightforward reading of real estate indicators: For example, reading selective indicators that are not thoroughly collected data observationssuch as the proxy indicator of cement deliveriesdo not necessarily reveal as much as one might think. Survey data on real estate perceptions, which is soft data, combined with hard data that is proxy, can lead readers of real estate indicators to conclusions that may be more dramatic than they are sensible. What Lebanon is lacking is reliable data, which is not at all unique to the real estate sector. We do not have an official price index to show price per square meter or transaction price increases in given areas. All the numbers we do have to work with are anecdotalso when the sector says it believes there is $3-6 billion in unsold residential units in Beirut, or that some developers have gone bankrupt, the factors leading to the unsold apartments or bankruptcies are unknown. We say there is a real estate bubble and that there is a downturn, but we do not have reliable data to say which activities of the sector have imploded, which are underdeveloped, or which are in a bubble state at present. Prognosis: uncertain Whatever the real status of the sector is, and where we are on the down leg of the cycle, stakeholders may actually have a better year in 2019 than in 2018. This time around, that optimism is based on hope and the tangible measures expected following the formation of a new government, rather than on hope only, as was the case in past years. Lebanons housing authority, the Public Corporation for Housing (PCH), is set to restart its subsidy in 2019 for lower-income, first-time homebuyers, thanks to a one-time allocation of $66 million by Parliament. The subsidy had been offered by the central bank but was discontinued at the end of 2017, leaving borrowers in limbo. In November 2018, Executive interviewed the head of the housing authority, Rony Lahoud, who at that time said the PCH was still negotiating with banks to adjust the financing mechanism for subsidized loans and, possibly, offer a new home loan product to qualifying beneficiaries. As for developers and apartment owners, a new real estate fund could partly ease the oversupply of high-end unsold apartments in Beirut. In October, real estate developers Namir Cortas and Massaad Fares launched Legacy One, a real estate fund that hopes to raise at least $325 million to buy up housing units in the $500,000-$2 million price range in Beirut. These developments, coupled with the formation of a new government and the implementation of a housing policy, could mark the beginning of a return of investor confidence to Lebanons real estate sector. In the context of the t-junction faced by the Lebanese economy, meaning the economic model has hit a wall and must change direction, the real estate sector in 2019 could very well experience a decisive directional move, either remaining static or moving forward. | http://www.executive-magazine.com/real-estate-2/is-there-a-real-estate-crisis |
What is pill testing? | The basic aim is to enable recreational drug users to make informed decisions about what substances they take. Pill testing is part of the Netherlands national drug policy it was introduced there in 1992. Government-sanctioned services have been in Austria since 1997, Belgium since 1993 and Switzerland since 2001. Pill testing is also available in Portugal, France and Spain. Not-for-profit organisations have been testing in the US and Canada since 1999 and in the UK since 2013. In New Zealand, pill testing is offered at festivals by the volunteer group KnowYourStuffNZ, which is independent but supported by the New Zealand Drug Foundation. Australias first professionally administered pill-testing outfit was in a mobile laboratory at Canberras Groovin the Moo festival in April. The testers used an infrared spectrometer to identify substances in a sample of each pill. (Commercially available do it yourself pill-testing kits have been used by some festival-goers for years. Each kit contains a solution which, dropped onto a grounded-up sample of a pill, will change colours to show the presence or absence of a substance such as MDMA. But these kits cannot confirm dose levels of a particular drug and do not provide information on other potentially dangerous cutting agents.) Party drugs: they don't come with a list of ingredients. Based on the Canberras Groovin the Moo festival, the process works like this: Attendees queue outside a tent in the medical precinct of a festival. Once inside, they sign a waiver releasing the testers from liability. They also speak to a peer educator to ensure they understand that the test does not guarantee the safety of the drugs. Were quite explicit in telling people that this test doesn't tell you if your drug is safe, says Dr David Caldicott, an emergency medicine consultant at Calvary Hospital in Canberra and a leader at the Groovin the Moo trial. It just tells you what were able to find in your sample. Each attendee provides a sample of their drug to a licensed chemist who photographs and weighs it before putting it under an infrared spectrometer where it is mounted on a piece of diamond and shot with laser light. Through the light reflected, the chemist can tell what is in the sample. The attendee then has a consultation with another peer educator to discuss their options now they know whats in their drug. In Canberra, of the 83 samples tested in April, just 42 contained mostly MDMA, the active ingredient in the drug known as ecstasy even though 70 people thought they had bought ecstasy pills. Seventeen of the samples had fillers or cutting agents as their main ingredient. Other substances found included antihistamine, caffeine, dietary supplements, oil, foodstuff and toothpaste. One man discovered that the main ingredient in what he thought was meth was actually N-Ethylpentylone, a stimulant that had been responsible for the hospitalisations of 13 people in New Zealand. Many partygoers change their mind about taking their drugs when they find out what's really in them. There are people at music festivals wholl never take drugs and those who will take drugs no matter what, says Dr Caldicott. But the biggest group using drugs at music festivals are those whose behaviour pill testers aim to change. I would say perhaps 80 per cent of people at music festivals are prepared to modify their behaviour if theyre provided information that allows them to do so and thats the group were targeting. Similarly, when people discover that the drugs they have are not the substances they thought they were, about half say they wont take them, according to Know YourStuffNZs Dr Jez Weston. He says his groups non-judgmental stance is one of the factors in changing behaviour as are the trust and reciprocity involved in the process, the attendees involvement in testing and the immediacy of the results. Our approach acknowledges the agency of the user, Dr Weston wrote on scientific blog Sciblogs, and therefore encourages mature decision-making''. A recently-published US-Australian study which surveyed ecstasy users at dance parties in New York found a similar percentage of participants reporting they would be less likely to use drugs found to contain unexpected substances. Gladys Berejiklian may be softening her stance. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has said pill testing gives drug users "a false sense of security" and her job as Premier was to keep the community safe. But following the recent deaths, Ms Berejiklian appears to have softened her stance. "If there was a way in which we could ensure that lives were saved through pill testing we would consider it - but there is no evidence provided to the government on that, she said. NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley recently signalled that pill testing should not be off the table. Former Australian Federal Police commissioner Mick Palmer has urged NSW to consider allowing pill testing. How a government which presides in a jurisdiction in which a medically-supervised injecting centre has operated successfully and with indisputable success in Kings Cross over 18 years, can be so vehemently opposed to trialling or even discussing or considering pill testing is difficult, almost impossible, to understand, he wrote in The Sydney Morning Herald. In Victoria, pill-testing supporters include the Greens and the Reason Party but the Victorian government is not in favour. We have no plans to allow for pill-testing at events in Victoria, Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said in December. The Australian Medical Association. And Professor Alison Ritter, from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, lists several reasons to pilot pill testing. They include that pills exposed as dangerous have been found to leave the black market; ingredients of tested pills start to correspond to the expected ingredients over time; pill testing changes behaviour once the ingredients are exposed; and pill-testing booths offer support and information over and above the actual testing. As long as their death serves a lesson to others Im OK with it'. | https://www.smh.com.au/national/what-is-pill-testing-20190103-p50pg5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed |
Did California sanctuary law protect alleged cop killer? | Californias sanctuary state law does not appear to have helped the immigrant accused of killing a San Joaquin Valley police officer last week, despite a sheriffs claim that immigrant-friendly policies protected the suspected shooter. Paulo Virgen Mendoza, also known as Gustavo Perez Arriaga, has been charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh. Virgen is an immigrant living in the country illegally. This is a criminal illegal alien with prior criminal activity that should have been reported to ICE, Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson said last week. Law enforcement was prohibited because of sanctuary laws and that led to the encounter with (Cpl.) Singh the outcome could have been different if law enforcement wasnt restricted. California has several laws that limit local law enforcement cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. $20 for 365 Days of Unlimited Digital Access Last chance to take advantage of our best offer of the year! Act now! Christianson has pointed to two SB 54 and the Trust Act as relevant in the case, but its not clear how they might have applied to Virgen. SB 54, Californias so-called sanctuary state law, prohibits police from targeting people based solely on their immigration status and limits what they can tell federal immigration authorities about people in their custody. It builds on the Trust Act of 2013, which prevents police from detaining people at ICEs request if they would otherwise be released. Both laws contain exemptions for people charged with or suspected of serious or violent crimes. Virgen had at least two prior arrests in the Madera area in 2011 and 2014 on suspicion of driving under the influence. Under a federal policy known as Secure Communities, local law enforcement would have shared Virgens fingerprints with the federal government. The federal government could have used the information to determine his immigration status, said UC Davis School of Law Dean Kevin Johnson, an immigration law expert. SHARE COPY LINK Paulo Virgen Mendoza, who is accused of killing Newman Police Cpl. Ronil Singh during a traffic stop last week, makes his first appearance in Stanislaus County Superior Court on Wednesday. Had ICE issued a a formal request that police keep Virgen in custody to give federal authorities time to arrest him, local officials may have been prohibited from complying in 2014 under the Trust Act. But theres no evidence ICE issued a detainer for Virgen then. I do not see how sanctuary laws can be blamed for this tragedy, Johnson said in an email. Johnson said ICE likely didnt try to arrest Virgen in 2014 because the crimes he was charged with werent serious enough. ICE placed a hold on Virgen following the shooting last week. An ICE spokeswoman said initial reviews show this is ICEs first encounter with him. SB 54 expanded the prohibitions on police cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including by limiting when local law enforcement can tell federal authorities when a person will be released from jail. But the policy didnt take effect until 2018 and so wouldnt have applied during Virgens previous arrests. Christianson didnt answer questions about what parts of the laws prevented law enforcement from turning Virgen over to ICE previously, as he had asserted. In an email, he simply pointed to the 2013 Trust Act as one of Californias sanctuary policies limiting police cooperation with ICE. President Donald Trump and ICE have joined Christianson in calling for tougher immigration laws in light of the shooting. There is right now a full scale manhunt going on in California for an illegal immigrant accused of shooting and killing a police officer during a traffic stop, Trump tweeted while police searched for Virgen last week. Time to get tough on Border Security. Build the Wall! In a statement, ICE criticized Californias sanctuary laws for restricting law enforcement cooperation and allowing public safety threats back into the community to reoffend. Jon Rodney, spokesman for the California Immigrant Policy Center, said the criticisms of Californias sanctuary policies are inappropriate. Its important that the awful acts that one person is accused of not be used to demonize whole communities, he said. The president along with ICE and the sheriff are using this terrible tragedy to scapegoat immigrants. | https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/state/california/article223850690.html |
Is it time to return to the Premier Oil share price? | You can see how the firms share price tends to exaggerate the moves of the price of oil in the recent plunge since early October. The share price is down around 57% and the price of oil is about 36% lower. Of course, such gearing tends to work in both directions, so its tempting to buy shares in Premier Oil to As financially geared plays on the price of oil go, Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) is a decent selection to make. I would like to receive emails from you about product information and offers from The Fool and its business partners. Each of these emails will provide a link to unsubscribe from future emails. More information about how The Fool collects, stores, and handles personal data is available in its Privacy Statement. Register by giving us your email below to continue reading all of the content on the site. Soon you will also begin to receive our FREE email newsletter, The Motley Fool Collective. It features straightforward advice on whats really happening with the stock market, direct to your inbox. Its designed to help you protect and grow your portfolio. (You may unsubscribe any time.) As financially geared plays on the price of oil go, Premier Oil (LSE: PMO) is a decent selection to make. You can see how the firms share price tends to exaggerate the moves of the price of oil in the recent plunge since early October. The share price is down around 57% and the price of oil is about 36% lower. Of course, such gearing tends to work in both directions, so its tempting to buy shares in Premier Oil to ride the recovery in the oil price when it comes. I think theres a good case for that. For example, every time the price of oil rises a bit, United States shale oil production seems to ramp up to choke off that rise in price. And longer term, the worlds dependency on oil looks set to retreat as alternative energy sources gain traction. Meanwhile, my Foolish colleague Alan Oscroft pointed out recently that Premier Oil has been making moves to pay off some of its debts, which could make the firms shares more attractive to investors. Theres nothing inherently safe in an oil company with no debts, just ask those holding shares in Soco International for confirmation of that. It doesnt seem to matter which direction the oil price is travelling, cash-rich, debt-free, oil-producing Soco just seems to keep going down! Yet my fellow Fool Roland Head raised the intriguing possibility that Premier Oil could become the target of an opportunistic takeover bid at these levels, just like several other oil companies have been. However, I think it would make a risky hold while you wait for something like that to happen because theres no dividend to collect along the way. At least a dividend would give you something back thats one trifle that long-suffering Soco shareholders have been able to cling onto. What worries me the most is that the economic sky looks more unsettled than it has for a long time and it makes me quite nervous for 2019. There is, for example, the possibility that the price of oil could halve again from where it is now instead of shooting back up as we hope. If that happened, I wouldnt want to be holding any Premier Oil shares in the hope of a takeover bid, knowing as we do, that so far they have been geared to the price of oil. | https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2019/01/03/is-it-time-to-return-to-the-premier-oil-share-price/ |
When do Christmas decorations come down? When is Twelfth Night and Epiphany? | According to some traditions misfortune befalls on anyone who keeps Christmas decorations up after Twelfth Night. Twelfth night marks the beginning of Epiphany, a Christian feast day which celebrates the visit to Jesus by the Tree kings or Wise Men. Twelfth Night can either fall on January 5 or 6, depending on different traditions. However, many believe Twelfth Night marks the end of Christmas, which means January 5 would be the logical day as it is 12 nights after Christmas Day. Twelfth night is considered the absolute final day of Christmas. According to some traditions, Christmas decorations should come down on January 5 According to the Church of England, Twelfth Night is January 5. But the Church also says the day of Epiphany when the three wise men came is January 6. However, some people disagree and count the 12 days of Christmas after Christmas Day has passed, making January 6 Twelfth Night. Like the Church of England, Google Calendar places the Epiphany on January 6 but does not clarify when the Twelfth Night is. Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, tells the story of how the star led the wise men to Jesus. The Church of England celebrates the occasion from January 6 until February 2. Rev Dr Duncan MacLaren, told BBC Radio 4: "Epiphany remembers the visit of the Magi, who came to Jesus bearing gifts - gold and frankincense and myrrh. Epiphany marks the day when the three wise men came to baby Jesus | https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1066436/when-do-christmas-decorations-come-down-january-2019-epiphany-when-is-twelfth-night |
Is the president above the law? | Susan Estrich (Photo: x) The Constitution establishes impeachment as the means of removal of the president by Congress. As we discover each time we go down this road, high crimes and misdemeanors means pretty much whatever the House and Senate think they do, which is to say it is a political standard. But nothing in the establishment of a political standard for impeachment places the president above the law, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly held, and as we all hold dear. Nothing in executive privilege immunizes the president or his agents from applicable criminal laws. High office is not a license to lie, cheat and steal at least so long as youre in high office. Not in our system. As I recall, that was part of the point. The difference between impeachment proceedings and proceedings on an indictment is the difference between political theater and the judicial process. I mean no disrespect to political theater: It is the script for our democracy. And I am the last one to pretend that what goes on in the courtroom is not loaded politically, on all sides. But there is still a difference, one this president may not respect but is at the core of our democracy. Congress does the will of the people. The courts enforce the law. The judicial process is full of showmen and spinners. Not every judge deserves to be one, by any standard. Jury consultants do everything possible to skew juries, if it gets that far. But a court of law is still different. The rule of law defines the proceedings. Process matters. Misdemeanors and felonies must be pleaded and proven, according to legal standards. Evidence must actually pass standards to be considered. Any semblance of politics gets you thrown out the door. This is what President Donald Trump fundamentally does not understand. He believes that he controls everyone he appoints, that everything is politics, and that all politics is about him. That may be true in Trumpland but not under the Constitution. Not what the Founding Fathers envisioned. Not at all. All wrong. Three branches of government. Checks and balances. No one above the law. The chief justice should not have to stand up for three branches of government. Checks and balances. Life tenure. The president makes no effort to hide his contempt. Make no mistake about it. These attacks on the Supreme Court are calculated. Trump gives one so much to worry about. But a president who considers himself above the law when the constitutional system of our democracy makes so clear that he is not may be the most worrisome of all. The miracle of our democracy is our ability to rise above partisanship when it matters most. At no time has the Supreme Court been more respected than when it has done that. At no time has it been less respected than when it is perceived to be doing politics. There is no Army to enforce the decisions of the courts. The U.S. Marshals provide security, a huge challenge itself. The rule of law depends on our faith and belief in it. Preserving that faith is more important than any president, even, or perhaps especially, President Trump. To find out more about Susan Estrich and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit: www.creators.com Read or Share this story: https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/01/02/column-susan-estrich-presidents-and-law-impeach/2463362002/ | https://www.jacksonsun.com/story/opinion/columnists/2019/01/02/column-susan-estrich-presidents-and-law-impeach/2463362002/?from=new-cookie |
Where to now for dropped Test batsman Aaron Finch? | At the same time as Victoria resume their Shield campaign against Queensland at Junction Oval on February 23, Finch will in all likelihood be in India preparing for the first match of a five-match ODI series that begins the following day in Mohali. There are two Twenty20 internationals against the same opposition that follow that series, and five more ODIs away to Pakistan. Dates for that series are yet to be confirmed by the Pakistan Cricket Board, but are expected to fall around late March and early April, all but ruling Finch out of any further involvement in the Shield season. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Importantly, Finch opted against nominating for the recent Indian Premier League auction, so he is likely to be available to play first-class cricket for Surrey - where he is contracted for 2019 - in the early part of the County Championship season before Australias World Cup preparations begin ahead of their first game of the tournament against Afghanistan in Bristol on June 1. Otherwise Finchs only other red-ball opportunity before the Ashes series could come in a specially organised Australia v Australia A hit-out in Hampshire, marked down for late July ahead of the first Test beginning at Edgbaston on August 1. Loading After the exceptional circumstances created by the ball-tampering scandal, and Finchs strong form for Surrey, a spot opened for him to open the batting for Australia in Octobers Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates. Finch made a passable start to his Test career, getting starts in all four innings, scoring between 31 and 62 in all four of his innings. Close friend Glenn Maxwell, himself a contentious ongoing absentee from Australias Test team, said that Finch had been a "victim of his own success" in the UAE. There is probably an element of truth to those comments, for Victoria have long felt Finch isnt a first-class opener in Australian conditions, a view that led to Finch controversially batting at No.3, below regular openers Marcus Harris and Travis Dean in his sole Shield match before the India series. However while there a was general level of satisfaction with the way Finch played in the Pakistan Tests, the man himself took a different view, frustrated with his inability to go on with the job in any of his four knocks. A century in that series would have bought Finch some more credits, perhaps enough to keep him in the Test XI for Sydney. Instead Finch was vulnerable to being axed following a few poor Tests. Having reached 50 just once in six innings, and falling into Indias trap at the MCG, the calls came from former players for Finch to be dropped. Its understood Finch was told that selectors had considered playing him in the middle order at the SCG, before ultimately deciding not to pick him on "team balance". Maxwell and former Victorian batsman Rob Quiney both said on Thursday that they hoped Finch got another chance in the middle order. | https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/where-to-now-for-dropped-test-batsman-aaron-finch-20190103-p50ph7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed |
Has Mayank Agarwal cemented his place into the Indian Test team? | Sri Sreshtan FOLLOW CONTRIBUTOR Feature 506 // 03 Jan 2019, 12:45 IST SHARE Share Options Facebook Twitter Flipboard Reddit Google+ Email Mayank Agarwal Representing your country is definitely a proud moment for any cricketer. There is no greater place to make your debut than the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Mayank Agarwal made full use of his opportunity by making his debut at the MCG in the boxing day Test. Making your debut in front of 70000-odd people and that too in away conditions could be a challenging task. Anyone could feel that there is a lot of pressure and a mountain of expectations to be met. It is important to stay calm and one should not be unruffled by the occasion. Mayank Agarwal walked out to bat as if he is seasoned campaigner and looked positive right from the ball one. Possessing a wealth of experience in the domestic circuit, Mayank took the attack to the opposition by cutting and driving with ease. He is a street-smart cricketer and he has the perfect knowledge of when to mix caution with aggression. He got on top of the bounce and did not allow that Australian attack to settle down and trap him. The way he used his feet and found his gaps with surgical precision has completely bewitched the opposition. The two 70s that he scored in Melbourne and Sydney clearly highlights that he is making a strong case for himself in the Indian team. KL Rahul and Murali Vijay had got a truckload of opportunities. But, they failed to cash in, often succumbing by playing outrageous shots. At 34, it is highly unlikely Murali Vijay would get back into the Test side. Rahul needs to work a lot on his game. Talent can only show you the path to success. But it is ultimately skill and mental composure that helps you to achieve your goals and Rahul is clearly lacking that. Moreover, the team management is also not keen on giving Parthiv Patel a chance. At 27, Mayank Agarwal is certainly looking strong and he has a lot to offer to the Indian team. Only time can tell. Advertisement | https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/has-mayank-agarwal-cemented-his-place-into-the-indian-test-team |
Does Kamie Crawford from Catfish Have a Boyfriend? | Max Josephs Catfish exit has left an empty chair next to partner and co-host Nev Schulman. Luckily for us, Kamie Crawford, model and Miss Teen USA 2010, is here to fill in, helping Nev get to the bottom of this weeks double-scoop of episodes. Her recent appearances on the MTV reality docu-series have people wondering if Crawford has a boyfriend. According to Instagram and posts on her official website, that answer is yes. Kamie Crawfords Boyfriends name is G In a January 2017 post, Crawford blogged about finding your soulmate, calling herself a serial monogamist that has taken a lot of time getting to know herself, her wants, her needs and at just 24 years old, Ive come to learn a lot about what love truly means just from the examples that have been set around me and what Ive experienced. Crawford, now 26, continued writing about a guy she met named G. Im still learning a lot about love, and I can definitely say that my boyfriend G has taught me a lot about what love is supposed to look like, she wrote. The two can even be spotted on Crawfords Instagram from time to time. The most recent post of G and Crawford is dated September 9, 2018. Crawford Won the Miss Teen USA Pageant in 2010 Crawford represented Maryland in the Miss Teen USA 2010 pageant where she made history by being the first contestant from Maryland to win the title. Crawford spent five months training for Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant after a friend talked her into it. I decided to enter the Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant after a friend, who had competed two years before me, encouraged me to take part. She thought I would be successful and have fun, she said. Crawford Signed With JAG Models in 2013 Crawford graduated from Winston Churchill High School in Potomac, Md. in 2010. She was captain of the cheerleading squad. After graduation, Crawford enrolled at the New York Film Academy, and three years later signed with JAG models. In 2015, she graduated from Fordham. Crawford told Essence that she loves being signed to JAG because she doesnt have to fit a mold. My favorite thing about modeling, especially with JAG, is that I dont have to try to fit into any mold. In the pageant community, there can be so much negativity associated with beauty queens gaining weight and it can be extremely hurtful. Model life is not as glamorous as pageant life. I will admit, I love the glitz and glam of pageantry! No one can pry me away from my gaudy eyelashes and sparkly dresses! Though Crawford Has Been Killing It as Co-host, Joseph Plans on Popping Back In to Say Hi Joseph left Catfish after seven seasons to further his filmmaking career, but he said that hell return eventually to say hi. In a statement he made via Deadline, he wrote, Hey guys, the time has come, sadly, for me to move on from Catfish. Working on this show for the last seven years has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Ive learned a lot about myself, my country and human nature in general. Nev and I have become brothers and our bromance has blossomed before your eyes. For a while now I have been straddling two careers as TV host and filmmaker and, while this level of busy-ness is a dream come true, my life can no longer sustain it. With Catfish still going strong after 7 seasons, 115 episodes, 31 specials and showing no sign of slowing down, I feel it is finally the time for me to make my exit. Although I have a heavy heart, I am also excited for everything thats to come for myself, for Nev, for our crew and for the show. Thank you for watching, thank you for the love and for the memes. Its uncertain how many episodes Crawford will appear in. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/kamie-crawford-catfish-boyfriend/ |
Is Anne Fulenwider Married? Does She Have a Husband? | Anne Fulenwider is a well-known name in the world of media, journalism, and communications. She has served as the editor in chief of Marie Claire magazine since 2012, and tonight, she will appear on Project Runway All Stars, where she will serve as a judge. Fulenwider has done extremely well for herself, and with all that time in the spotlight, people have grown curious about her personal life. Read on. Fulenwider lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Bryan Blatstein, and their two children, Evie and Sammy Blatstein. Her husband works as a branding/media strategist. Fulenwider relies on her family when things get hectic at work. During fashion week, for example, she says she has their nanny, her husband, and her parents on call. She tells The Cut, My husband, nanny, and parents are sort of on notice. September Fashion Week is almost always the first week of New York City public school and February Fashion Week is almost always that one week schools have off. That just means we always have a really fun big family vacation planned for April and for the Christmas holiday. The two do their best to relax on the weekends. Fulenwider shares with the outlet, On the weekends, I love nothing more than a glass of wine or a cocktail with my husband. Blatstein hails from Philadelphia. According to his LinkedIn, he has worked with a number of large companies, like Philips Healthcare, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Nestl, Gerber, Allergan, and more. He graduated from New York University in 1996, where he studied drama at Tisch School of the Arts. Blatstein went on to spend seven years as a media specialist group at Chandler Chicco Companies, followed by three years as senior vice president of TogoRun. Today, he works at inVentiv Health Communications. Fulenwider, meanwhile, worked as the editor-in-chief of Brides before taking her post at Marie Claire. Prior to those gigs, Fulenwider served as senior articles editor at Vanity Fair. She has also worked as a senior editor at The Paris Review and served as George Plimptons research assistant on his book Truman Capote. Fulenwider graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in English and American literature from Harvard in 1995. Asked by the Huffington Post how her life experience has made her the leader she is today, she says, Well I am an older sister so I have always been a bit bossy. And I discovered when I edited my high school newspaper that I really liked to lead a team not just the bossing people around part but also collaborating with smart people. As I came up in the industry I worked for great bosses, all of who had their unique leadership style, and I cribbed a little from each. From George Plimpton I learned to champion good work; from Graydon Carter I learned to demand excellence, and put my foot down when I needed to, and from Joanna Coles I learned to give everyone a chance. And then there is nothing like just being thrown in to the frying pan as a first time editor in chief. A lot of what I learned about leadership I learned on the job. I am a much better leader now than I was when I started. Be sure to tune into this season of Project Runway the final season begins tonight at 8pm ET/PT on Lifetime. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/anne-fulenwider-husband-married-dating/ |
What does half fingernail moons literally mean? | Web Desk: Fingernail moon are the rounded shadows at the base of your nails, also known as lunula means little moon. The place where each nail begins growing is known as the matrix and lunula is part of the matrix. A well formed lunula indicates good health of a person. It is an indicator of good thyroid health and digestion. Not being able to see your fingernail moons doesnt always mean that something is wrong with your health. Sometimes, you may only be able to see lunula on your thumbs, or possibly not on any fingers at all. In these cases, the lunula is most likely hidden under your skin. Though the connection is not completely understood, an absent lunula can indicate anemia, malnutrition, and depression. Make an appointment with your doctor if youre experiencing any of the following symptoms along with an absence of lunula: lightheadedness or dizziness unusual cravings, such as dirt or clay fatigue weakness loss of interest in your favorite activities significant weight gain or weight loss A very small lunula usually indicates low immunity and indigestion problem. It may happen due to slow metabolism and toxin overload. Other abnormal lunula features Azure lunula Azure lunula occurs when the moon of the fingernails turns blue. This may indicate Wilsons disease, it is a genetic disorder that causes an excess amount of copper to accumulate in the liver, brain and other viral organs. Symptoms other than azure lunula that occur in Wilsons disease include: fatigue lack of appetite abdominal pain jaundice (yellowed skin) golden-brown eye discoloration fluid buildup in the legs problems with speech uncontrolled movements Pyramidal lunula Pyramidal lunula occurs when the moons of your fingernail form in a triangle shape. Most often, this is caused by an improper manicure or another kind of trauma to the fingernail. The moons may stay this way until the nail grows out and the tissue fully heals. Red Lunula Moons that are red in color, called red lunula, can indicate a number of different conditions which may significantly affect your health. Red lunula can appear in those with: collagen vascular disease heart failure chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cirrhosis chronic hives psoriasis carbon monoxide poisoning These conditions should be treated by a doctor, so contact your doctor if you develop lunula with red discoloration. The bottom line In most cases, having no moons on your fingers isnt a sign of something serious. However, if youre not seeing moons, or if youre seeing changes to the shape or color of your moons along with other symptoms, youll want to visit your doctor. Theyll make sure you dont have an underlying health condition that needs to be treated. Source: Healthline | http://www.aaj.tv/2019/01/what-does-half-fingernail-moons-literally-mean/ |
Does it matter that Trump has only spent 6 percent of the wall money? | Over the last two years, Congress has provided nearly $1.7 billion to build or replace fencing on the southern border, but the Administration has hardly spent any of that money, and the projects it has undertaken have ballooned in cost. So far, only six percent of those funds have been spent. Six. Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.), in a statement, Dec. 10, 2018 Over the holidays, The Fact Checker noticed a Democratic talking point emerge that the Trump administration has spent just 6 percent of the money allocated for construction of border fencing and repair along the southern border. It has shown up in tweets, such as this one by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and in news stories. We traced this factoid to a statement by Leahy in early December. As Murphy asked: How about spending the money you have first? We have documented how President Trump claims that hes been building his promised wall even though Congress in the 2017 and 2018 fiscal years specifically denied him funds to spend on the concrete slabs that examined last year. He certainly acts as if hes blown through the money given to the administration, given he engineered a government shutdown to extract even more funds for a wall from Congress. So, in light of Trumps rhetoric, spending just 6 percent of the money sounds ridiculous. But, like we said, its a talking point and not an especially helpful one. The Facts When we initially asked the White House about this statement, a senior administration official said it was wrong: There is no basis to make this claim. The Department of Homeland Security has obligated 91 percent of appropriated FY 2017 and FY 2018 funds for the southern border wall. Leahys staff on the Senate Appropriations Committee responded that the 6 percent figure is based on data obtained directly from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in late November. The data they received shows: Total enacted funds, 2017 and 2018: $1,716,066,065 Gross Obligations: $1,602,675,723 Expenditure amount: $108,695,342 The expenditures portion works out to 6.3 percent. The percentage is even lower if you just look at the 2018 appropriations just 2.6 percent has been spent. Not so fast. Note that the gross obligations total is 93.3 percent. That was the same word the administration used. It also happens to be the metric used by lawmakers for years. Theres even a definition provided in a glossary of terms on the Senate website: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period. (There is no definition provided for expenditure.) Congress appropriates money for a federal agency. The agency then arranges to spend that money, or obligate it, through contracts and draws down that money over time. Essentially, its like putting money into a checking account for your housing renovation so you can write checks to the contractors. Asked what was more important, the obligation or an expenditure, former Appropriations Committee staff director Jim Dyer said: From my perspective its obligations. As an appropriator I cant control the rate at which funds are expended. Indeed in most agencies those rates vary. But I can control the total obligation, the total money I am willing to authorize. Moreover, the construction money in the 2018 bill is available for up to five years and the agency only got its hands on it in March or April of 2018, midway through the fiscal year. Heres the text in the bill: For necessary expenses of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for procurement, construction, and improvements, including procurements to buy marine vessels, aircraft, and unmanned aerial systems, $2,281,357,000, of which $846,343,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2020, and of which $1,435,014,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2022. This would argue that obligated funds is the best metric. But theres another wrinkle: A Leahy staff member said that because CBP partners with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to award these contracts, when CBP transfers the money to USACE, it is considered obligated. So he said its unclear whether any money has actually been assigned to a contract. We believe a more sensible tracking of the money focuses on when it is spent, not just on a bureaucratic shift to another government agency, he said. The senior administration official acknowledged the 91 percent figure reflected obligations from CBP to USACE. However, it turns out CBP has been issuing news releases whenever USACE has signed a specific contract. Heres $287 million (construction expected to begin in February), $167 million (February construction start), $172 to $324 million (April construction start) and $145 million (February construction start). That adds up to about $900 million just from fiscal 2018 appropriations. Its worth noting that the appropriation bill was highly specific about how and where the money could be used, and so far CBP appears to be following that plan. CBP has obligated more than 90 percent of the funds provided in FY 2017 and 2018, said Andrew Meehan, a CBP spokesman. "To date nearly 60 percent of those funds are obligated onto a contract referred to as contract award by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He said the contract award is when a vendor begins work, such as design, followed by construction. "Expenditures reflect when the contractor bills the government, after the work has been completed, making expenditure an inaccurate measure of execution. Meehan said that as of Dec. 31, 2018, USACE had just under $700 million on contract for construction in the Rio Grande Valley, Tucson, Yuma, El Centro and San Diego sectors. An additional approximately $300 million is ready to award as soon as the government reopens, he said. The remaining approximately $175 million supports CBP project management to include real estate, environmental, legal and program management support and will be obligated over the duration of the projects. Its worth noting that despite the concern expressed by Leahy in December, he (along with eight other Democrat members of the Appropriations Committee) voted in June to provide another $1.6 billion to fund additional border-fencing projects in the 2019 appropriations bill, including 65 miles of pedestrian fencing in the Rio Grande Valley. He called it a bipartisan compromise on these tough issues. The Pinocchio Test This is a good example of how lawmakers use the complexity of legislative sausage-making to confuse voters. Focusing on spending sounds reasonable, even though its not what lawmakers typically track when assessing how government agencies use the funds appropriated by Congress. Its especially misleading in the case of a large infrastructure project for which Congress has given the agency up to five years to use the funds. In this case, about 60 percent of the funds have been awarded in contracts to construct fencing along the border. Thats the relevant number, which is 10 times higher than the 6 percent touted by Democrats. Leahys figure is not invented out of thin air, but it is misleading enough to qualify for Three Pinocchios. Three Pinocchios (About our rating scale) Send us facts to check by filling out this form Sign up for The Fact Checker weekly newsletter The Fact Checker is a verified signatory to the International Fact-Checking Network code of principles | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/03/does-it-matter-that-trump-has-only-spent-six-percent-wall-money/ |
Did Kapoors give a stamp of approval to Arjun Kapoor and Malaika Arora's relationship? | bollywood Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor's New Year's bash at their Juhu home was attended by the couple's family and Malaika Arora Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Maheep Kapoor and Karan Johar at their New Year bash. Picture Courtesy: Instagram/sanjaykapoor2500. Sanjay Kapoor and Maheep Kapoor hosted a New Year's bash at their Juhu home, which was attended by the couple's family, including nephew Arjun Kapoor. It was an intimate affair with just family members around. Accompanying Arjun Kapoor was rumoured special friend, Malaika Arora. The two made their entry hand-in-hand. Sanjay and Maheep seem to approve of Arjun's relationship with Malaika. The two are often spotted at bashes at their home. Karan Johar was also among the guests. View this post on Instagram Family A post shared by Sanjay Kapoor (@sanjaykapoor2500) onDec 31, 2018 at 11:49am PST Malaika had also attended Anil Kapoor's birthday bash with Arjun and is mostly seen with the latter for all their outings. Speaking about Arjun's relationship with Malaika, uncle Anil Kapoor had this to say: "I know Arjun very well and whatever makes him happy, makes me happy." Malaika and Arjun are often spotted by the paparazzi on their luncheons and dinner dates together. The Gunday actor even paid a visit to Malaika's Bandra house to celebrate Christmas. Rumours are rife that they are all set to get hitched in April 2019, and have also purchased an apartment together. Also Read: Christmas Bash: Malaika Arora Makes Heads Turn In A Sexy Red Blazer Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates | https://www.mid-day.com/articles/did-kapoors-give-a-stamp-of-approval-to-arjun-and-malaikas-relationship/20185152 |
Is Ajay Devgn-Kajol's daughter Nysa Devgn Bollywood ready? | bollywood Though Nysa is studying in Singapore, if her recent pictures on social media are any indication, the youngster looks like she is all set for stardom Nysa Devgn Looks like one more star daughter is gearing up for B-Town. Ajay Devgn and Kajol's daughter Nysa, 15, is said to be keen to follow in the footsteps of her actor parents. Though she's studying in Singapore, if her recent pictures on social media are any indication, the youngster looks like she is all set for stardom. Kajol and family are on a vacation to the Maldives, and the actors are leaving no stone unturned to leave the entire world envy with their picture-perfect family. Kajol shared a sultry image silhouette of Nysa Devgn on her social media captioning, "30.12.18....15....infinite love credits @daanishgandhi [sic]" View this post on Instagram 30.12.18....15....infinite love credits @daanishgandhi A post shared by Kajol Devgan (@kajol) onDec 29, 2018 at 7:06pm PST Even Ajay Devgn shared a sweet post to wish his fans a Happy New Year. The budding star opted for a polka dots LBD and was all smiles while clicking a picture with daddy dearest. This wasn't enough to leave her fans drooling over the picture. Nysa's cousin Daanish Gandhi also posted an image, and this brother-sister duo is setting some major goals! View this post on Instagram Soneva Mafia A post shared by (@daanishgandhi) onDec 26, 2018 at 10:43pm PST See Photos: Ajay Devgn Photobombs Kajol, Shares Funny Moments With Yug And Nysa Catch up on all the latest entertainment news and gossip here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates | https://www.mid-day.com/articles/is-ajay-devgn-kajols-daughter-nysa-devgn-bollywood-ready/20187175 |
What is the national sweet of Pakistan? | Recently, in a quest to find the national sweet, the government of Pakistan decided to ask citizens on Twitter which among the above they would choose as the national sweet of the country. Gulab jamun emerged as the clear winner and fans of the sweet were glad that others agreed with their love for the treat. Around 15,000 people voted in the poll, with jalebi (34%) trailing gulab jamun (47%). Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2019 Gulab jaman are deep fried balls made of milk powder, flour, butter and cream or milk, and then soaked in sugar syrup. They are the life of every party and no desi celebration is complete unless these delights are present be it a shaadi, Eid, milad or any other celebrations. Answer: The right answer is Gulab Jamun. pic.twitter.com/zL0jgnjX06 Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) January 1, 2019 So for the ultimate love for gulab jaman, we present you with an easy recipe so you can make them anytime you want. Ingredients 1 cup sugar 3 green cardamom pods 1 cups water 1-2 drops of lemon juice (optional) 1/2 cup milk powder 1 tablespoon maida (all purpose flour) 1/8 teaspoon (a small pinch) baking soda 1 tablespoon ghee 2-3 tablespoons milk Oil or ghee for deep frying Directions Take sugar, cardamom pods, water and lemon juice and mix them in a deep pot or pan. Heat it over medium flame and cook until it reaches 1/2 string consistency or turns a little sticky while stirring occasionally in between. When the sugar syrup is ready, turn off the flame. Take the milk powder, maida and baking soda and mix them together in a wide mouthed bowl. Mix it well with a spoon and then add a tablespoon of ghee. Sprinkle milk evenly over the mixture and gently mix it well. The mixture should be soft so it absorbs the sugar syrup properly. Grease your palms with oil and divide the mixture into marble-sized small portions (around nine to 10). Add a teaspoon of milk (or a few drops) to the mixture to make the ball. Avoid cracks. Heat the ghee or oil for deep frying in a deep pan over a medium flame. Deep fry until they turn golden brown, it will take around six to seven minutes. Heat the sugar syrup for three to four minutes and add deep fried jamuns in it. Keep the jamuns in the syrup for at least two hours before serving to allow it to absorb the syrup properly. | https://www.samaa.tv/culture/2019/01/what-is-the-national-sweet-of-pakistan/ |
When does Dancing on Ice 2019 start? | Get soaps updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Everyone needs a post-Christmas pick me up to stave off the blues, so the new series of Dancing on Ice is just what the telly doctor ordered. The show returned in 2018 after a three year hiatus and is back again this weekend for a new run of skating fun. There are twelve celebrities signed up to compete to be the Dancing on Ice champion after putting themselves through weeks of gruelling and potentially bone breaking training. They range from actors to reality stars and a sportsman. The hosts and judges are all confirmed and raring to go and right from the outset there was a clear favourite. Heres all you need to know about Dancing on Ice 2019. The new series officially kicks off on ITV on Sunday 6 January at 6pm and will continue every Sunday after that with updates on This Morning during the week. For those who miss it, the show will be available on the itvPlayer. (Image: Getty Images) Theres a star studded cast of stars again this year, ranging from a soap star to reality names and a comedian. (Image: PA) Dynamic duo Phillips Schofield and Holly Willoughby are returning to take the helm again this year. The This Morning presenters will get to work another day of the week together and get all dressed up in their finery too. Judges this year are once again ice skating legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean, who used to coach and train the stars before the show took a break. Catty Jason Gardiner and his ascerbic wit is also back on the panel, ready to tell the stars exactly where theyve gone wrong. Completing the line up is Diversity superstar and all round nice guy Ashley Banjo. Karen Barber, who famously had an onscreen row with Jason after he said her opinion wasnt relevant anymore, will be Head Coach to the stars. (Image: REX/Shutterstock) X Factor singer Jake Quickenden was crowned Dancing on Ice champion of 2018 with his pro skater partner Vanessa Bauer. The public had the deciding vote and opted for Jake over Coronation Street actress Brooke Vincent and Rugby Union player Max Evans. The judges offered no guidance during the final, which fans of the show werent happy about, but Jake was over the moon with the result and collapsed to his knees when it was announced by Holly and Phil. | https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dancing-on-ice-start-date-13763677 |
Where in Spain is it easiest and hardest to repay a mortgage? | Madrid and Barcelona arent the cities in Spain where homeowners cough up the most for their mortgages. Thats according to a new study by Spanish finance evaluator Tinsa, who have drawn a ratio between average mortgage prices and monthly wages in different cities and provinces across Spain. The Balearic Islands and Malaga, home to some of Spains biggest expat populations, are at the top of the leaderboard. In the archipelago made up of Majorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera the average financial burden for families dealing with their first year of mortgage repayments is of 23.5 percent. The Balearics also had the highest average mortgage in Spain in the second trimester of 2018 - just over 175,000. Malaga is next in line in terms of the chunk taken out of monthly wages devoted to mortgage repayment 22.2 percent even though the average property price in this city and province is seventh in the table. In third position is Barcelona, where average mortgages stand at roughly 153,000, representing 18.2 percent of families monthly earnings. Madrid presents perhaps the most interesting findings on the list, as although average home loans are the second highest in Spain (172K), the financial burden to homeowners is less on average (9th in the table), largely due to higher wages in the Spanish capital. Source: El Pas/Tinsa Provinces in Spain where mortgage repayments represent the lowest burden for families include Tarragona , Len, Huesca, Lugo (all at around 13 percent), Teruel, Alava, Palencia, Castelln and Soria (at around 12). Most of these cities and the provinces in which they lie also have some of the lowest mortgage prices in Spain. The average mortgage in Spain is 121,737, representing 17 percent of earnings before tax and deductions. According to Spanish real estate valuation firm Sociedad de Tasacin, Spaniards currently need to work an average of 7.6 years to repay their mortgages, thats if all their wages were used for home loan repayments. Using this calculation, anyone with a mortgage in the Balearics would need to work 15.4 years to pay it off whereas in La Rioja it would be just 4.8 years. SEE ALSO: Spain's ten cheapest cities and why (or why not) you should move there Average monthly mortgage repayments are around 850 in the Mediterranean archipelago, roughly 500 higher than in cities such as Cuenca, Lugo and Ciudad Real. Homeowners in Madrid and Barcelona repay on average 739 and 731 a month respectively if theyve taken out a loan. READ ALSO: What you need to know about Spain's newest rent law changes | https://www.thelocal.es/20190102/where-in-spain-is-it-easiest-and-hardest-to-repay-a-mortgage |
Is Palmer launching a new game? | Clive Palmer claims he will release a game titled Clive Palmer: Humble Meme Merchant later this month. Picture: Shae Beplate. Clive Palmer claims he will release a game titled Clive Palmer: Humble Meme Merchant later this month. Picture: Shae Beplate. CLIVE Palmer can push people's buttons but he will now hand over that power to gamers. The leader of the United Australia Party claimed he would soon release a game app titled Clive Palmer: Humble Meme Merchant. Mr Palmer tweeted a short preview of the game on Thursday. As the name of the supposed game suggests, Mr Palmer is the central figure. In a concept not too dissimilar from the popular Super Mario franchise, Mr Palmer bounds around a map collecting biscuits while leaping over or destroying opposition politicians by jumping on them. Mr Palmer said the app was about Australia's political landscape. He said the game would feature various political figures including Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition leader Bill Shorten. The preview clip shows Mr Palmer dodging around Mr Shorten before jumping on a character which looks like Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. "A game developed about Australian politics is nearly complete and will be released later this month,'' Mr Palmer said. Queensland's richest man said the app was developed by an Australian company. Mr Palmer has this week been embroiled in further controversy after American hair metal band Twisted Sister claimed their hit We're Not Gonna Take It was used for a political advert. The rewritten song can be heard in the background with new lyrics that state 'We're not gonna cop it'. | https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/clive-palmer-says-he-will-release-a-new-mobile-pho/3614357/ |
Is Manchester United's Resurgence for Real or Just Temporary? | Manchester United has its fans believing again. Two weeks after Jose Mourinho was fired, the club is now enjoying its best run of the season, with four consecutive, convincing wins under the guidance of caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. United has outscored its four opponentsall bottom-half-of-the-table sides, it must be saidby a combined 14-3 scoreline, while Paul Pogba has responded to his lifeline at the club by scoring four goals in his last two games. The resurgence has United back in contention for the top four, as it finishes the festive season six points behind fourth-place Chelsea. Perhaps more importantly, though, it has restored self-belief and optimism at the club, which appeared to have diminished greatly as Mourinho's tenure reached its conclusion. We take a closer look: Scroll to continue with content Ad CREDITOR: O.K. Luis, Mourinho was sacked just before the congested holiday schedule. Four straight wins later, with Solskjaer at the helm, Man United fans are feeling good again, and the club is just six points out of a top-four place. Story continues ECHEGARAY: I think the best way to address Solskjaer's impact is by bringing up a prevalent notion that is all too real in the beautiful game: new blood energy. This is when the negative forces finally leave a club (Mourinho) and a new energy (in this case, the baby-faced assassin) comes in and like a proverbial spray of Febreze, it gives the club a new fresh, airy environment. It's quite literally what this team needed. Some changes were no-brainers (bringing Pogba back in, offering a more possession-friendly strategy), but you can clearly see the players are once again loving the game. And yes, so far, Solskjaer has made the right calls. But let's wait and see what happens next month and March, when they have to face PSG twice (in the Champions League last-16), Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City. So, if I'm a United fan, I'm cautiously optimistic, because as we all know, nothing good lasts forever. WILSON: Solskjaer Brings Back Air of Positivity at Man United CREDITOR: So there are a few ways to look at the uptick in form. The first is the cynical one and looking at the schedule. United arguably has had the easiest run of holiday fixtures in the Premier League, which certainly has helped Solskjaer hit the ground running. That said, there has been, like you say, a new energy about the club. It's how those points were secured, with an attack-first mentality and a fun way about the club. That Pogba has been reinstated in the starting lineup after Mourinho's exit and responded with four goals in the last two games surely is no coincidence. ECHEGARAY: Exactly, I totally agree. It's not about the results, but how they are playing in the first place. But like you said, these matches against mid- to bottom-table opposition are hardly going to anoint Solskjaer as the master of tactics. But I think there's a lot to be said for a positive dressing room and by the end of Mourinho's tenure, it was clear he had lost his players. Solskjaer could have also entered this situation and said, 'Right, guys. We are doing it THIS way and no other way,' but instead he has allowed them to be free on the pitch and use the attack as the focal point. I think the big test away at Tottenham on Jan. 13 will be the first indicator on how this team can handle pressure. Here's my question to you, though. CREDITOR: That's a good question. Restoring the feeling of joy around the club was his first task, and it was achieved rather quickly. Now, securing a top-four finishwhich would require a masterful piece of workshould be the ultimate goal. This group isn't winning Champions League, and any secondary trophy wouldn't be enough to compensate for missing out on a UCL place for next season. If United finishes out of the top four and goes back into the Europa League circuit, it'd be going backwards by a couple of years. Solskjaer is a fan favorite, and if he has the results to back it up (and keep United's stock market shares on an upward trajectory #modernfootball), you'd think he'd get a shot. Woodward is going to have to shell out to land any of the other top candidates, whether they're unattached or not, and he's already paying Mourinho millions not to be there. Solskjaer would wind up being more cost-effective. ECHEGARAY: Yes, 100%! We need to remember that Mourinho's exit was (and continues to be) expensive and Solskjaer is anything but. Here's the thing, though, I still think we are months away from seeing his Man United, the way he wants his side to play. I am also intrigued to see how he will fit Alexis Sanchez in the squad and if he brings in anyone in the transfer window, especially another center back. There's no way I see his side beating PSG in the Champions League, but a solid performance over a two-legged encounter will really show what he's made of. But if you want to know if this Man United resurgence is for real, the answer comes at the beginning of March: away at PSG, away at Arsenal, at home to Man City. That, my friend, is when you'll know who the real Man United is. CREDITOR: And that, barring any major signings this month, is when we'll see how United's imbalance is its undoing, in my opinion. It's an imperfect squad on paper and on the field. Mourinho wasn't wrong when he kept whining about it, never mind the fact that his purchases were the ones he lamented. Solskjaer has enough forward and midfield pieces to win the league games Man United should, but the back line isn't good or consistent enough and is susceptible to being exposed. Not by the Huddersfields and Cardiffs of the world, but by the top-tier teams Man United so desperately wants to be its peers again. I highly doubt you'll see that happen this season, but removing Mourinho from the equation was quite obviously becoming a must (and arguably was months and months ago), and ridding his fingerprints from the club was the first step toward turning these positive results with an already-high-priced squad into a more consistent theme. It's wait-and-see for me, but the start to the post-Mourinho era could not have gone any better. | https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/manchester-united-apos-resurgence-real-151241238.html?src=rss |
Could a former Whitby bank in the heart of the town be converted into a restaurant? | A former bank building in the heart of Whitby could be transformed into a restaurant, creating 50 new jobs in the process. Will Jones of Morgan Lloyd Jones Project Management Ltd has submitted plans to Scarborough Council to change the old home of NatWest at 78 Baxtergate into an eatery. The bank closed its doors last year and now the landmark building could be brought back into use. In the application, it states why the change of use from a bank to a restaurant would be good for the town. It states: There is an opportunity to reappraise and re-energise this building with a new use. It is our intention to remodel the interior of the building and develop a restaurant facility over three floors and provide associated services provisions in the basement and attic areas. This will bring new life to the building and maintain the use for the future. It is anticipated that 50 new jobs will be created by this development. There has been no indication what type of cuisine the restaurant would serve if granted planning permission. The application is now out to public consultation. | https://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/could-a-former-whitby-bank-in-the-heart-of-the-town-be-converted-into-a-restaurant-1-9517759 |
Which players are set to bounce back in the 2019 Fantasy Football season? | We previously discussed which brand name stars are set to disappoint in 2019. While it is devastating to think that the days of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski being valuable fantasy assets are over, its now time to move onto the opposite side of the spectrum. Its time to look at which NFL players are set to bounce back in 2019 after a down fantasy year in 2018. Scroll to continue with content Ad Of course, lets get the obvious one of out the way. LeVeon Bell may have missed the entire 2018 season, but hes still in his 20s and is a true workhorse back. While he may not command a top-five fantasy draft pick, hes expected to shine when he does return to the playing field (wherever that may be). Andy Behrens and Brad Evans analyze a couple of running backs and wide receivers set to return to form in 2019. | https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/players-set-bounce-back-2019-fantasy-football-season-181356444.html?src=rss |
Why did China want to land on the dark side of the moon? | China made history as it performed the first ever soft landing on the dark side of the moon. Its robotic Change 4 probe is now preparing to carry out its mission in the little-explored lunar region, which faces away from Earth and is also known as the far side. The pioneering landing demonstrates Chinas growing ambitions as a space power and is part of a wider strategy intended to help it dominate the heavens. Change 4 is designed to carry out scientific missions, but the dramatic dark side landing has symbolic value, with huge propaganda value domestically. It also gives a boost to Chinas international prestige by showing off its industrial and scientific prowess. This is the first picture of the far side of the moon and was taken this morning (Picture: AP) It landed in a crater called Von Krmn, which is named after Theodore von Krmn, who was PhD advisor to Qian Xuesen, founder of the Chinese space program. Advertisement Advertisement Its primary motive is scientific and its hoping to uncover traces of the moons interior thrown up when a huge object hit the lunar surface and left the crater behind. Yet its also part of a wider bid to become a big player up in space. In 2013, Change 3, the predecessor craft to the current mission, made the first moon landing since the then-Soviet Unions Luna 24 in 1976. The United States is the only other country that has carried out moon landings. The size of the space industry is likely to grow to $1 trillion by the 2040s, analysts predicted last year, so China is likely to have a commercial interest in space exploration. The lunar explorer Change 4 touched down at 2.26am GMT (Picture: AP) Beijing is currently playing catch-up with Russia and the US, so the dark side mission has to be seen as part of a long-term strategy to match and surpass its competitors successes. Ultimately, China wants to build a manned base in space, send a crew to the Moon and even launch a mission to Mars. Yet theres always the fear that the military is involved in some way. The Pentagon has already accused Moscow and Beijing of working to weaponise space, vowing to ramp up its own militarisation of the heavens in response to its rivals. China is unlikely to build a military base on the moon capable of raining destruction and terror down on Earth. It signed the Outer Space Treaty of 1967 which forbids nations from installing weapons of mass destruction in space. However, there are currently fears that this treaty will be overturned in the coming decades because it could ban countries or corporations from mining asteroids a hugely profitable and eminently achievable endeavour. Advertisement Advertisement Beijing has not signed the Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963, which prevents nuclear bombs from being detonated in space or on the moon. A simulated landing process of Change-4 lunar probe is seen through the monitor at Beijing Aerospace Control Center in Beijing (Picture: Barcroft) This means that it could, in theory, carry out a gigantic nuclear test on the moon, scare the bejesus of the whole of Planet Earth and force every other nation to surrender so it could reign supreme across the world. But, again, this doesnt seem like a very likely scenario at this stage of human development. The mission is also likely to spark the sort of wild speculation Nasa has become well used to dealing with. In 2009, Nasa deliberately smashed a probe into the far sides surface in order to throw up a dust cloud it could test for the presence of water. Yet this led to claims that Nasa had actually found an alien base on the moon and had decided to bomb it. The work of Change 4, which is carrying a rover, includes carrying out astronomical observations and probing the structure and mineral composition of the terrain. The far side of the moon faces away from Earth and is relatively unexplored. It is also known as the dark side of the moon (Picture: AP) The far side of the moon is a rare quiet place that is free from the interference of radio signals from Earth, mission spokesman Yu Guobin said, according to Xinhua. Advertisement This probe can fill the gap of low-frequency observation in radio astronomy and will provide important information for studying the origin of stars and nebula evolution. The mission of Change 4, which is carrying a rover, includes carrying out low-frequency radio astronomical observations and probing the structure and mineral composition of the terrain. The Long March 3B rocket carrying Change 4 blasted off on December 8 from Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in southern China. In May, a relay satellite Queqiao, or Magpie Bridge, named after an ancient Chinese folktale, was launched to provide communications support between Change 4 and Earth. China plans to send its Change 5 probe to the moon next year and have it return to Earth with samples, marking the first time this tricky feat has been performed since 1976. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/03/china-want-land-dark-side-moon-8304853/ |
What Kind of Single Democratic State in Israel/Palestine Do We Want? | by In CounterPunch on 12 October 2018 Jeff Halper presented the thinking of a new group of Israelis, both Jewish and Palestinian, promoting One Democratic State in Palestine (or Israel/Palestine, as Halper prefers) called the ODS Campaign. While any support for ODS is welcome, I believe Halpers version contains some problems, while in any case offering a basis for debate about ODS. First a bit of the history of the simple ODS idea, which describes a standard majoritarian democracy in Palestine (or all of Syria) limited by untouchable human rights. Its first proponents were Arab Ottoman subjects, many living in France, who fought and died for both independence and democracy. The Palestine Arab Congress, meeting in plenum seven times during the 1920s and usually chaired by Musa Kazim al-Husseini, opposed the British colonialists by repeatedly resolving that the indigenous wanted the freedom to become a representative democracy more or less like the British themselves had at home. Figures such as Musa Alami, Jamal al-Husseini, Ragheb Nashashibi, Henry Cattan, and George Antonius, as well as the Palestinian political parties which formed in the 1930s, kept lobbying for this solution to the Palestine question right up until 1948. The British themselves in their 1939 MacDonald White Paper foresaw a free democratic country with proportional representation as did, along with the US State Department, a large minority of the countries working on a United Nations solution in 1947. After the nakba, the PLO from the outset officially aimed for a secular democratic state, only in the 1980s accepting a deal with international powers to leave Israel alone in return for a Bantustine on 20% of Palestinian territory thus finally giving up the One in One Democratic State. The 2000s then saw a slew of articles and books devoted specifically to advocacy of ODS by Ghada Karmi, Tony Judt, Edward Said, Mazin Qumsiyeh, Virginia Tilley and Ali Abunimah. Since 2005 a good dozen international ODS conferences have been held, accompanied by some anthologies and the formation of a few small activist groups that adopted the Munich Declaration as their one-page political program. Finally, since the loss of Jerusalem during 2018, the mainstream press is full of opinion announcing the death of the two-state solution and flirting with the adoption of the only alternative to the present single apartheid state between the river and the sea. That is, there is nothing new, or even radical, in ODS. It calls for a bog-standard human rights-based democracy. What is needed now, with the wind at our backs, is for ODS supporters to thrash out our differences. This critique of Halpers thought attempts that, it being understood that his views are not necessarily identical with those of the ODS Campaign as such, whose final program is still being developed. STARTING WITH THE TWO-STATE SOLUTION The present political weakness of the two-state solution is a great chance for ODS, one recently grasped by Halper to lay out his ODS version in media such as Haaretz, Mondoweiss, Global Jurist and, most recently, CounterPunch. His view hopes to stop short of a bi-national regime such as the one he supported in earlier writings, while at the same time retaining Jewish-Israeli collective rights in Palestine. Starting with a critique of the two-state solution, his approach is to argue that Israel itself has scuppered the two-state solution by settlement [and] annexation in the West Bank refusing for historical and security reasons to give up that heartland of Eretz Israel it calls Judea and Samaria. That is, the solution is not feasible or practical: whether or not it should happen, it cant happen. The better case against the two-state solution, however, is that whatever its chances of realization, it is unjust. It partitions the Palestinian homeland, leaves apartheid Israel intact, and leaves that majority of Palestinians who are in the diaspora out in the cold. In other words it is incompatible with Palestinian self-determination. (Halper refers as well, confusingly, to the two-state solution as anoption to decolonization, implying that had Israel given the Palestinians a sovereign state on 20% of Palestine there would no longer be a need for decolonization.) In any case emphasizing unfeasibility rather than undesirability, as does Halper, distracts from the ODS message that it is actually a very good thing that Israel and the U.S. wont let it happen, rather than something to be bemoaned. I believe, moreover, that its wiser to quit spending our time burying the two-state solution and use that energy positively. Yes, the two-state solutions shelf-life has expired, giving ODS a great springboard for moving itself from idea to action. But the job now is the positive one of describing and recruiting for ODS. THE BONE OF CONTENTION: SOFT BI-NATIONALISM To date the ODS Campaign has advocated constitutional protection of certain collective rights over and above the individual rights of citizens, and for Halper the two most important such collectives are, as he puts it in his other articles, Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians. These are the distinct collectives named in his CounterPunch piece between which a kind of treaty must be made. The ODSC program protects the collective rights of all the peoples living in the country. Peoples not people, not other groups enjoying freedom of association are the collectivities to which some rights should constitutionally adhere. Leaving aside the important issues of exactly how these two collectives are defined (what about Arab Jews, or Druze, or individuals who dont self-identify ethnically?) and which of their rights should be cemented into the constitution, Halper writes: A kind of deal or swap becomes possible: we the indigenous will grant belonging (legitimacy) to you settler colonists which you will never get any other way in return for your recognizing our indigenous sovereignty, narrative and rights. Or: the deal is settler legitimacy in return for native rights. In a word, the new state must be built on acceptance of Jewish-Israeli collective political rights in Palestine. This is the basic Zionist premise that Jews, or at least those now residing in Palestine, have citizenship rights asJews, collectively, by virtue of the religion or ethnicity which enabled them to legally enter Palestine in the first place. I do not believe this can be squared with Palestinian liberation or self-determination, or with Halpers own program of decolonization or, indeed, with democracy. To be sure, the ODS Munich Declaration welcomes as citizens in the re-united state the Jewish Israelis now in Palestine, but as individuals who were born in or immigrated to Palestine, not because of their religion or genes. Indeed such privileging them as an ethno-religious group explicitly contradicts the Campaigns principle that No group or collectivity will have any privileges Unnoticed by Halper, even if we accept his reduction of the Palestinian populace to only two peoples, is that his Jewish Israelis and Arab Palestinians are defined on totally different criteria: While the one is biological, racial, or religious, the other is based on territory, on connection to and habitation of the actual land over millennia. In contrast to the Jewish Israeli collective it is diverse, including Moslems, Christians, and indeed Jews who lived there for centuries prior to the advent of Zionism. This is comparing apples and pears. Furthermore, while many Palestinians wish to identify the single emerging state as Arab, it is contested whether this should be defined only linguistically and culturally, or also ethnically. In Halpers opinion Only a justice-and-peace process based on decolonization defines a political settlement in terms that address the deeper issues involved, and thus lends the claims of the weaker indigenous greater moral weight as well as equal political weight and visibility. That is, Palestinian claims become merely greater, and the Jewish-Israeli ones are equal. Halper then writes that there must be Indigenous/settler reconciliation; the vision is of indigenous/settler accommodation rather than Palestinian liberation or self-determination. The astounding claim is that parts of the settler narrative may be integrated into a new representative one Which parts, exactly, of settler-colonialism are worth retaining?Indeed, in his Global Jurist article he writes that this history must be bracketed during the discussion of the constitution, in other words ignored or put off, perhaps, until final-status discussions. This is the parity fallacy, and constitutional recognition of the Jewish-Israeli people amounts in the end to the normalization and legitimization of a collective made up of settler-colonists. Perhaps Halper notices the irony of this within a declared program of decolonization. But mainly, in addition to flying in the face of indigenous self-determination and the illegitimacy of taking territory by force, it contradicts the bedrock that Palestine belongs to the Palestinians. Granting equal status to the two collectives constitutes co-ownership, one reflected in Halpers preference for Palestine/Israel as the name of the new state. At any rate, starting thus from the premise of the equal rights of the two peoples, conquerors and conquered have ended up with equal political status. This might be the softest Zionism ever formulated, but it retains the basic Zionist premise. It normalizes, if not Israel, then Zionism, contradicting even the effort by many Palestinians in Israel for a state of its citizens. And as so often, the Palestinians are being asked, even before negotiations begin, to pay for their natural human and political rights. Halper is aware that these concessions to Zionism are a big ask for Palestinians, yet his pragmatic argument is that without special protection Jewish Israelis will never support ODS: Ensuring collective and individual rights addresses Israeli concerns over their continued presence in the country In his Global Jurist article he more directly explains that this is the only way tosell ODS to Jewish Israelis. Perhaps. And it is understandable that to the extent that the ODS Campaign wants to address Israelis, perhaps some parts of their narrative must be adopted. But even a brief consideration of the question of how to sell ODS to Palestinians reveals that any hint of parity between the two groups perhaps fatally ruins its palatability for them or, for that matter, that part of the international public that does not endorse colonialism. Halper himself, after all, doesnt believe rational argument will work: decolonization must be forced on Israel [;it] will have to be imposed upon Israeli Jews for instance through BDS. As formulated in his Global Jurist article, convincing the Israeli Jewish public is nigh impossible. But if this is true, the proffered Jewish-Israeli collective rights lose even their tactical political value. They become superfluous, because Israel must be isolated and pressured to abandon its apartheid state. AN ALTERNATIVE ODS VISION The reasons why the totally secular model of ODS for instance in the Munich Declaration and in the Movement for One Secular Democratic State is both ethically preferable to and far less dangerous than one which gives standing to religion, or much less ethnicity, have been adequately adumbrated over the last several centuries, most recently in a superb rebuttal of Halpers soft bi-nationalism written by Naji Al-Khatib and Ofra Yeshua-Lyth in Mondoweiss. What is still too unclear, though, is the power of the contrasting ODS vision giving legal standing only to individual rights, as captured in the Munich Declaration on the model of the French, US-American, Swiss, Indian, South African and scores of other constitutions. These dispense with collective ethnic rights because they see the general danger of officially dividing society along such lines, in addition to protecting individuals from being pressed into perhaps unwanted ethnic categories. This lean constitutional formula has been very successful, and it should give pause to realize that Belgium and Lebanon, countries that enshrine cultural or ethno-religious collectives in their constitutions, have been less successful. This vision of the state made up of its citizens has answered the problem of discrimination against linguistic, cultural, ethnic and religious groups, which is Halpers concern. It cements the freedoms of association and assembly among with the other freedoms of religion, press, and general expression. Protection of the activities and collective life of any group defined on any criteria whatsoever follows unavoidably fromthese individual freedoms. The vision fulfils Halpers demand for respect for collective forms of cultural and religious association. It is a confusion, therefore, when either Halper or the Campaign writes that the Constitutional will protect collective rights and the freedom of association. These are not two different things, and there is no need to slide into Israeli exceptionalism on this issue. The 2012 Munich Declaration for ODS is also simpler than any vision which raises numerable questions about collectives, consociational or confederal democracy, and the dusty concept of ethnic national rights, whether Jewish or any other. The battles for universal suffrage, or against South African apartheid, upon which ODS should model itself derived motivational power from their simplicity: one person, one vote. FURTHER PROBLEMS Halper also departs from older ODS visions in subjecting the Right of Return to some qualifications. He is careful to restrict it to the degree that it is possible, and instead of advocating return to their homes, as General Assembly Resolution 194 of December 1948 has it, they can return to vaguer places from which they were expelled or their country or homeland. Now 93% of Palestine was Palestinian- or state-owned in 1948, and one wonders why return to and restoration of these actual properties should be watered-down. It is not as if the Zionists are now already sitting at the bargaining table, making concessions perhaps pragmatically advisable. Right of Return is moreover the Palestinians strongest trump. It is furthermore not true, as Halper writes, that the Palestinian narrative rejects the idea that Jews constitute a nation that even has rights of self-determination. Palestinian rejection has always been only of their right of self-determination on somebody elses land namely the Palestinians own. One can with sanguinity remain neutral on the question of a Jewish state, somewhere, but oppose it whereit has actually happened, namely in Western Asia: this of necessity meant military conquest, dispossession and ethnic cleansing. The same argument would apply to Christian, Moslem, Hindu or Buddhist colonialists. Yet Halper regards Zionism as a potentially legitimate movement for Jewish national rights, avoiding this crucial issue of where and raising the unanswered question of what potentialities would make a Jewish state in Palestine legitimate. A more general problem is the framing of ODS in the negative terms of decolonization or anti-Zionism rather than in terms of all the positive rights of all the Palestinians. An independent, self-sufficient narrative would simply derive ODS from these rights and our knowledge of the violent history of the British/Zionist conquest. ODS can be rigorously derived, for instance, from the four demands of the BDS movement, namely self-determination, right of return, full equality within Israel and full autonomy in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. ODSs opener should be in simple positive terms the entire world can relate to, not the specific and negative ones of Jewish settler-colonialism. BEGIN WITH THE PALESTINIANS Halper by contrast writes that Any approach to ending settler colonialism in historic Palestine must begin with Zionism. This is not only negative, but maybe we should begin with the Palestinians. Halper devotes most space to the history of Zionism, citing at length six early Jewish-Zionist settlers (and one Palestinian, Musa Alami, misspelled Alawi) who benignly advocated acknowledging and accommodating Palestinian nationalism. Creating the phrase settler Zionism, this culminates in the Israel-centric opinion that The native must be written back in. Halper does recognize the limited role of a group of Israeli citizens, even if it includes many Palestinians: A political struggle cannot be resolved without an end-game and in the case of Palestine/Israel an end-game formulated and led by Palestinians, with strategic support from critical Israelis and the international civil society. But the delegitimization of Israel and its eventual replacement (not transformation) by a democratic state should be explicitly presented as mere consequences, or by-products, of the realization of the rights of an indigenous group, not as the goal with which one begins the day. Typical of his focus on Israel, at the beginning of his article Halper asks, Is Zionism a legitimate national movement or simply another case of colonialism? But his answer is not clear. Remnants remain of Jewish national (ethno-religious) rights in Palestine, contradicting both the settler-colonial analysis and a democracy of citizenship. No brackets, moreover, should remain around the Palestinian history of injustice. Almost to the day twenty years ago Edward Said wrote in the New York Times Magazine the thought that underlies the secular vision based on individual human rights which, I think, is most likely to motivate the world to fight for justice for all Palestinians and the only solution compatible with that, namely ODS: The beginning is to develop something entirely missing from both Israeli and Palestinian realities today: the idea and practice of citizenship, not of ethnic or racial community, as the main vehicle of coexistence. The real job is the daily fight for acceptance of this idea of the equality of all individuals. To the extent it is won, minorities are ipso facto protected, and if it is not won, not even constitutional guarantees for collectives will suffice. The Zionist narrative should in any case move over to the edge of the discussion where it belongs, and the return of Palestinians to their homes as citizens move into the spotlight. | https://www.counterpunch.org/2019/01/03/what-kind-of-single-democratic-state-in-israel-palestine-do-we-want/ |
Why do we only see one side of the moon? | (Photo: Slavek Ruta/REX/Shutterstock) Chinas Change 4 spacecraft has landed on the far side of the moon and has provided the first pictures showing what it actually looks like. Nasa snaps the first high-res images of 'snowman' Ultima Thule The aim of the mission is to carry out astronomical observations and probes to determine the structure and mineral composition of the terrain. It is the first spacecraft to land on this part of the moon and it has left many wondering why we never see the moons dark side here on Earth. The same side is always facing us, which means that this is one of the few times that we have been able to see a new part of it. Advertisement Advertisement The reason we only ever see one side of the moon is because it rotates around the Earth at the same speed as it rotates around its axis. Its rotation means that the same side of the moon is always facing Earth while it is moving around the planet. This is referred to as tidal locking which means that an objects orbit period is the same as its rotational period. There was a time when other parts of the moon were visible from earth, but that was a long time ago when the moon had a different rotation. It is the gravity of the earth that has led to the moon sticking to this same rotation and it is the same for moons orbiting other planets in our solar system. The theory that the moon doesnt rotate is false, because if this was the case then we would see the dark side of it at certain points while it orbits the Earth. 2019 Full Moon dates 21 January 19 February 20 March 19 April 18 May 17 June 16 July 15 August 14 September 13 October 12 November 12 December MORE: Facebook Messenger ready to roll out dark mode to save your eyeballs MORE: People who lost everything in storage fire told they wont get insurance payouts | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/03/see-one-side-moon-8304995/ |
What are the bank holiday dates for 2019 and how many are there? | (Photo: Tim Grist Photography/Getty) Most of the country have returned to work now that the Christmas and new Year celebrations are over. The festive period includes three bank holiday dates Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day, which means plenty of time off for many of us. People who 'lost everything' in storage fire told they won't get insurance payouts The bad news is that its now a bit of a wait until we get another day off without needing to use up our annual leave. In the UK the next bank holiday isnt until April when we enter the Easter break which starts on Good Friday which is on 19 April this year. Easter is also very close to May in 2019, which means there will be three days off in the space of just a few weeks. Some Commonwealth countries also have the same bank holidays as the UK, including Republic of Ireland and Hong Kong. Advertisement Advertisement Scotland has 2 January as an extra bank holiday date as well as St Andrews Day on 30 November, but it doesnt have Easter Monday off and it has its summer bank holiday at the start of August instead of at the end. Both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland also have St Patricks Day, making England and Wales the only two countries in the UK that dont have a day off for their patron saint. Including New Years Day there are eight days of bank holidays in England and Wales, nine in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, and ten in Northern Ireland. MORE: A vegetarian Happy Meal is more than a menu choice its validation | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/03/bank-holiday-dates-2019-many-8304839/ |
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