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What was the white flash during the lunar eclipse? | As Sundays lunar eclipse was under scrutiny by skywatchers, the spotlight was stolen very briefly by a little white flash. The dot appeared at the lower left edge of the moon just as the eclipse reached totality, around 8:40 p.m. on the United States West Coast. When observers realized the photobombing dot was seen in video recorded across the range of the eclipses visibility from the Americas to western Europe and Africa they began speculating it was something on the moon itself and not in the atmosphere. A Spain-based project that monitors impacts on the moon confirmed it: A meteoroid had struck the so-called Super Blood Wolf Moon as millions watched. The Moon Impacts Detection and Analysis System estimated it was on the smaller side, no more than 12 inches across, and said it most likely came from a comet. The moon, like the Earth, is routinely hit by rocks from comets and asteroids, but the impacts are rarely seen when the moon is reflecting the suns light. | https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2019/01/23/what-was-the-white-flash-during-the-lunar-eclipse/ |
Should women be required to register for the military draft? | CLOSE Congress appointed a panel to assess expanding the Selective Service System, which could include women signing up for the draft or mandatory public service for all. The panel, more than halfway through its work, is asking even bigger questions. Read this: Kentucky grandpa says he sold meth to save his son from Mexican cartel The National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service will deliver an interim report Wednesday that hints at the breadth of its charge but gives few clues as to how it's going to resolve the most controversial issues. "Personally, I dont think we will remain with the status quo," commission Chairman Joe Heck said. "But where we end up on the spectrum is yet to be determined." Heck, a retired brigadier general and Republican former congressman from Nevada, called the question of whether women should be required to register for the Selective Service on turning 18 "visceral." In this Aug. 21, 2015, file photo, Army 1st Lt. Shaye Haver, center, and Capt. Kristen Griest, right, pose for photos with other female West Point alumni after an Army Ranger school graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, Ga. (Photo: John Bazemore, AP) "When we pose this question to people, its not like they say, 'Oh, let me stop and think for a minute.' They have an answer," he said. "Either it's yes, women should have to register just on the basis of equality, or no, women should not have to register because they have a different role in American society." Former U.S. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., now the chairman of the National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service, during his 2016 senate campaign. (Photo: Erik Verduzco, AP) In 2017, the Pentagon argued in favor of keeping the Selective Service system and expanding it to include women. "It would appear imprudent to exclude approximately 50 percent of the population the female half from availability for the draft in the case of a national emergency," the Pentagon said in the report, which was released under the Freedom of Information Act. The military said it's committed to an all-volunteer force and doesn't have plans to implement a draft. But expanding the draft to include women would help by doubling the number of recruiting leads, officials argued, and foster a sense of gender inclusion in the national defense. The commission's review is the most expansive examination of the draft system in U.S. history. Its conclusions are only advisory; whether to implement them would be up to the president and Congress. Congress has been divided. Lawmakers created the commission in 2016 after the House refused to go along with a Senate proposal, supported by both conservative defense hawks and liberal feminists, to expand the draft to women. President Barack Obama, in his last weeks in office, came out in favor of a gender-neutral draft in response to a question from USA TODAY. Read this: Thank you, Louisville, for donating thousands of items for our troops Congress, unable to resolve the issue, did what it often does: created a commission to study the question. With a multiyear budget of $15 million, the 15-member panel is immune to the partial government shutdown. The commission is taking on a debate that's been brewing for generations. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, citing a shortage of nurses, proposed drafting women in his 1945 State of the Union Address. The draft was suspended at the end of the Vietnam War in 1973. When President Jimmy Carter reinstated draft registration in 1980, he proposed adding women. Congress disagreed. In 1981, the Supreme Court decided 6-3 that male-only draft registration was constitutional because women weren't eligible for most combat roles. You may like: Mitch McConnell and Rand Paul spend their PAC money very differently Last year, a federal judge in Houston ruled that the high court precedent might no longer apply because "now, women can serve in combat roles." That decision kept alive a lawsuit brought by the National Coalition for Men, which represents two draft-eligible men challenging the sex-based draft. "We take no position on whether there should or should not be Selective Service," said the men's lawyer, Marc Angelucci. "We all would have disagreements about that. "What we are concerned about is the sex discrimination against men. And we oppose that whether or not there's a draft." Angelucci said he doesn't trust Congress or the commission to resolve the issue. Neither does Edward Hasbrouck, an antiwar activist who was jailed for four months in the 1980s for refusing to register for the draft. The prosecutor in that case: Robert Mueller, who became FBI director and is the special counsel investigating Donald Trump's presidential campaign. "The commission was created as a stalling tactic," Hasbrouck said. "It may come back with recommendations that are completely ignored." Hasbrouck is one of more than 25,000 people who signed a petition urging the commission to end the draft. "I think any objective serious examination of the last 40 years of draft registration would conclude that draft registration has failed," he said. "It cannot be enforced. There's no reason to think it can be salvaged by expanding it to women." In the 16 months since the commission was organized, it has traveled the country to solicit public input and received more than 3,000 comments. It's accepting additional comments through the end of the year. One theme of many of those comments is a desire for some form of all-inclusive service in which military service would be just one option. Some of those alternatives already exist: the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps, City Year and Teach for America. That idea, too, is fraught with constitutional concerns. More: Faith is power behind 'Marshall Strong' one year after school shooting The commission met with legal scholars in October. Heck said they split on whether the government can require compulsory public service. The 13th Amendment the one that ended slavery prohibited "involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted." Heck would not rule out some form of all-inclusive service, such as devoting the last semester of high school to public service. The panel is looking at ways to promote a culture of service in which, even if it wasn't compulsory, Americans would be expected to devote at least part of their young adulthood in service. "Our goal is to create what we call a universal expectation of service," Heck said. "So that over the course of one or two generations ... we inculcate this ethos of service so that the person who doesn't serve is the odd person out." Watch this: Julie the bald eagle returns to the wild in Clarksville Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2019/01/23/should-women-required-register-selective-service-military-draft/2655985002/ | https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2019/01/23/should-women-required-register-selective-service-military-draft/2655985002/ |
Can Louisville basketball prevail in first game as a ranked team? | CLOSE Mack's Louisville Cardinals beat Georgia Tech 79-51. Gentry Estes, Louisville Courier Journal Louisville men's basketball finally cracked the national rankings this week, and the Cardinals' first game as a top-25 team is against another ranked foe. Louisville, ranked 23rd in the AP Poll and 24th in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, hosts No. 21/19 North Carolina State on Thursday at the KFC Yum Center, a chance for the home team to prove its staying power among the top tier of college basketball. The Cardinals (13-5, 4-1 ACC) are actually listed higher than the Wolfpack (15-3, 3-2) in the NCAA's NET rankings and Ken Pomeroy's rankings a hint at the subjective nature of rankings and that an upset could be in store. NC State has won three Atlantic Coast Conference matchups by a combined 15 points. Three of Louisville's four ACC victories were won by a margin of greater than 15 points. But the Wolfpack have also been without injured point guard Markell Johnson for two games and, even so, rank 16th in effective field goal percentage. Coach Kevin Keatts, a former Louisville assistant, led his squad to a tough win at Notre Dame and will be eager to steal another road win in Louisville. Read this: Louisville's Malik Williams wears No. 5 to honor legacy of a friend Buy Photo Louisville's Christen Cunningham celebrates after knocking down a three. (Photo: Scott Utterback/Courier Journal ) Here are three keys to the Cards pulling off a win: Lock in on defense Simply put, the Cards are at their best when their defense is at its best. Louisville held Georgia Tech's shooting to just 38 percent from the field in Saturday's win, and the Cardinals defense is holding ACC opponents to an average of 42.6-percent shooting. NC State averages 86.7 points per game and shoots 49.4 percent from the field. The Wolfpack's small-ball, four-guard offense is led by senior Torin Dorn (14.3 ppg) and redshirt junior C.J. Bryce (12.2 ppg). NC State sometimes has three or four ball-handlers on the floor at a time, meaning Louisville players have to be extra vigilant and stay with their man to avoid defensive chaos. Keep the Wolfpack off the glass Despite being relatively undersized, NC State is one of the top offensive rebounding teams in the ACC (second behind Duke, to be exact). The Wolfpack rank 10th in the nation in rebounding margin and attack the glass to generate points. NC State forward DJ Funderburk will have not only the coolest name of any player on the floor Thursday, but the best offensive rebounding percentage (13.6). The 6-foot-10 sophomore has come off the bench and grabbed a team-high 41 offensive boards this season. You may like: You'll pay less for Louisville basketball season tickets next year Continue sharing the ball Louisville's offense is loaded with enough talent that nearly any player can spark a run at some point. Of course, that means working on ball movement and finding the open man. Coach Chris Mack said he thinks Louisville can count on certain players (Jordan Nwora, Dwayne Sutton and Christen Cunningham) to give him the same thing night in and night out, but otherwise wants to see more consistency from his team. The Cards' assist rate has skyrocketed over the last few games, which in turn leads to better shots and a higher field goal percentage. On the other hand, missing shots can negatively affect Louisville's defense (exhibit A: the last few minutes vs. Boston College). Better passes, better shots, happy Chris Mack. More: Nwora, Sutton power Louisville basketball past Boston College Danielle Lerner: 502-582-4042; [email protected]; Twitter: @Danielle_Lerner. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/daniellel. LOUISVILLE VS. NC STATE 8 p.m. Thursday, KFC Yum Center TV: WAVE-3 Radio: 790-WKRD | https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/college/louisville/2019/01/23/how-louisville-basketball-can-win-first-game-ranked-team-vs-north-carolina-state/2650731002/ |
How Will J.K. Rowling Continue To Dominate Markets In 2019? | J.K. Rowling has been a household name for over twenty years, and last year alone saw the release of Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - the second film scripted by the Harry Potter author - as well as the publication of Lethal White, the fourth novel in her bestselling Cormoran Strike series written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. Listed as #42 on the Worlds Highest-Paid Celebrities List with estimated earnings of $54 million as of July 2018, a new Wizarding World brand logo was even created in 2018 to identify official works inspired by her fictional world. Box office numbers for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, the second film in the five-part Fantastic Beasts series, were lower than expected, opening with global takings of $253 million and bringing in a total gross of just over $650 million to date. Fantastic Beasts 3 was due to start production in Summer this year, however, Warner Bros Entertainment recently informed Deadline that production has been delayed until Fall, reflecting the new approach of Warner Bros executives: not rushing big productions. The future success of the series looks pinned on the third instalment, and with an original expected release date of November 2020 (continuing with the trend of the first two films), the delay in production this year could give the time needed to address plot questions raised by the second instalment, and increase the overall profitability of the series. Books continue to be Rowlings strongest suit, and last year the Harry Potter series celebrated 500 million copies sold. In their latest report, U.K. Harry Potter publisher Bloomsbury shared intent to increase focus on Harry Potter as one of its strongest assets. Sales of the Harry Potter series have grown by 31%, indicating the continuing success of Rowlings publications into 2019. Bloomsbury recently announced that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, illustrated by Jim Kay, will publish on October 8th, and with the upcoming celebrations of Harry Potter Book Night and the 20th anniversary of the publication of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 2019 looks to be another opportunity for 'special anniversary' sales. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child opened on London's West End in 2016, and on Broadway in 2018. The play recently set a new house record at Broadway's Lyric Theatre, grossing over $2.5 million in ticket sales for the week ending December 30, 2018, passing the high mark set by the two-part play for the week ending November 25, 2018 ($2.3 million). Winning 24 major theater awards in the U.K. and a record-breaking nine Olivier awards and six Tony Awards, the play continues to fill theaters on a daily basis. Having just opened preview performances at The Princess Theatre in Melbourne, Cursed Child will also open at San Franciscos Curran this Fall, followed by Hambergs Mehr! Theater am Gromarkt in 2020, showing no signs of growth slowing down anytime soon. In January 2018, Universal Orlando Resort hosted its fifth annual Celebration of Harry Potter event, an exclusive weekend dedicated to fans of J.K. Rowlings Wizarding World. Universal Orlando Resort recently announced that the event will not take place in 2019, to allow time to work on exciting new experiences for guests to continue to celebrate The Wizarding World, including a new thrill ride on its way to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Hogsmeade, as well as other experiences that have yet to be announced. With studio tours showcasing the behind-the-scenes of the Harry Potter films based in London and Hollywood, as well as the global touring exhibit Harry Potter The Exhibition, visitors wanting to know more about the film series and get a closer look at the costumes, props, sets and secrets behind the movies are a constant supply of income, with thousands of guests visiting the exhibit each day. Warner Media International Limited (previously Timer Warner Limited) reported in 2017 that the studio tour had made $435.7 million in revenue since opening to visitors in 2012. Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden Limited most recently reported a 15% increase in turnover in the year ending December 2017, as a result of ongoing investment in the companys facilities at Leavesden. The tour itself brought in over 100 million ($128 million USD) of this turnover in 2017 - 69% of the overall turnover. Special events at Warner Bros Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter continue to bring new and old guests alike. Introducing The Art Department and Valentines Dinner in the Great Hall will kick off their 2019 programme, and their announcement that a new feature is on the way continues a tradition of marketing plans designed to engage Potter fans. Wizarding World merchandise continues to expand at an almost alarming pace, from new ventures in tech, to various ranges at global retail outlets. Jim Citys 2018 mobile game Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery averages a 4.5 star rating on Apples App Store and Androids Google Play store, and received the Google Play Best of 2018 Fan Favorite award in 5 countries. Hogwarts Mystery is the first mobile app to release under the new label Portkey Games (from Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment), created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the magic of the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can define their own Wizarding World story." In 2019, new mobile game Harry Potter: Wizards Unite will launch under Warner Bros Entertainment, Portkey Games and Niantic. Niantic recently filed that it had raised $245 million in Series C financing leading up to the eagerly anticipated launch of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, helping ensure that it will be a strong contender to rival Niantic's viral game, Pokmon GO. Official Harry Potter site and digital publishing and e-commerce company, Pottermore Limited recently reported an expected" decrease in revenue and pre-tax profit, with revenue decreasing from 40.3 million ($52.2 million) in the year ending March 2017 to 32.8 million ($42.5 million) in the year ending March 2018. However, the company shows an overall increase in sales from 2015, thanks to a strong sales performance of the Harry Potter eBooks and digital audiobooks, as well as investment in franchise planning with Warner Bros and celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone in the U.K.. Digitalisation and updating of Rowling's previous works and companion books, and the sales of special collections have offered the opportunity to bring in higher revenue in recent years, and collaborations with Audible on new projects (such as new audiobook project Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald - Makers, Mysteries and Magic) offer new ways forward in selling fans digital Wizarding World experiences. Overall, 2019 looks to be another year of expanding J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World beyond the Harry Potter books and film series, and marketing strategies capturing the attention of fans worldwide. The delay in Fantastic Beasts 3 production will likely be an opportunity to focus on developing the series in response to negative reviews, whilst new ventures in gaming, publishing, theater and new additions to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and the Warner Bros Studio Tour will keep the franchise at the forefront of consumers' minds long into 2020 and beyond. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/emmapocock/2019/01/23/how-will-j-k-rowling-continue-to-dominate-markets-in-2019/ |
Who is Lola Pearce in EastEnders and why is she returning with Ben Mitchell? | Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email EastEnders have confirmed fan favourite Lola Pearce is returning to the BBC soap with daughter Lexi. Actress Danielle Harold is reprising her role four years after her exit from the show, with the character written out at the time. Its since been announced that they wont be coming back alone, with Lexis father Ben Mitchell also heading back to Walford, with a different actor playing him. Lola made her EastEnders debut in 2011, as the secret granddaughter of Billy Mitchell . Billys son, who he and his ex gave up for adoption when he was a baby, had sadly passed away, and after tracking Lola down he took her in. Actress Danielle Harold plays Lola, and has done since the characters debut in 2011. Danielle will reprise the role when Lola returns to Walford later this year. Ben Mitchell is Lexis father, conceived after the pair slept together in a bid to "test his sexuality" after he thought he might be gay. Hes never really been a part of Lexis life, but that could be about to change as the trio head back to Albert Square. Ben will now be played by actor Max Bowden. Lola was dating Jay Brown at the time of her exit, but the couple faced trouble after the murder of Bens niece Lucy Beale. Ben was arrested for the murder, after he and Jay hid Lucys phone and purse which they had robbed from her on the night of her murder. Jay planned to flee, fearing he too would be arrested, and asked Lola and Lexi to move to Newcastle with him where their friend Dexter lived, and she accepted. Not wanting Lola to leave, Billy reported Jay to the police and he was arrested for robbery, but not wanting to stick around Lola left with Lexi alone. Her return storyline has not yet been confirmed, with it only known that she and Lexi will return at the same time as Ben. Lola dumped Jay over the phone shortly after her exit, and confirmed she had started a new romance with Dexter. Its not known what has happened between Lola and Dexter ahead of her return, or if there are plans for her to reunite with Jay. EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC1. | https://www.irishmirror.ie/tv/who-lola-pearce-eastenders-returning-13898253 |
Why Open A Reverse Mortgage Before It Is Actually Needed? | We can further explore this question with a more realistic example. Exhibit 1.1 below provides an illustration of the impact of opening a reverse mortgage at different points in time using a few basic assumptions. For more information, download our Reverse Mortgage 101 Cheatsheet. Still keeping matters relatively simple, I assume that the one-month LIBOR rate stays permanently at 1.25 percent and the ten-year LIBOR swap rate remains permanently at 2.25 percent. The lenders margin is assumed to be 2.75 percent, and home inflation is 2 percent. For a sixty-two-year-old with a home worth $250,000 today, the exhibit charts three values over time until the individual is ninety. The home value grows by 2 percent annually, and it is worth $435,256 by age ninety. The principal limit for a reverse mortgage opened at sixty-two is $102,500 (based on a principal limit factor of 41 percent for the 5 percent expected rate. The principal limit grows at an effective rate of 4.5 percent, and the principal limit is worth $351,544 by age ninety. Finally, Exhibit 1.1 also shows the available principal limit if the reverse mortgage is not opened until each subsequent age rather than at age sixty-two. By delaying the start of the reverse mortgage, and assuming that the expected rate of 5 percent remains, the principal limit grows because the principal limit factor is higher at advanced ages, and because this factor is applied to a higher home value. Nonetheless, even at age ninety, the available principal limit for a new reverse mortgage is only $284,222, which is based on a PLF of 65.3 percent applied to a current home value of $435,256. The message from this example is that opening the line of credit earlier allows for greater availability of future credit relative to waiting until later in retirement. Exhibit 1.1: Comparing Principal Limits Based on When the Reverse Mortgage Opens Admittedly, Exhibit 1.1 does look less impressive in terms of the potential value of opening the reverse mortgage early compared to the same exhibit from the first edition, before the October 2017 rule changes. Exhibit 1.2 compares the growth in the principal limit for loans from before and after the October 2, 2017, change in program parameters. Under the old rules, the principal limit could grow more rapidly, as it started from a higher initial base and included an ongoing mortgage insurance-premium of 1.25 percent in the effective rate instead of the current 0.5 percent. By age eighty-three, the principal limit exceeded the value of the hometwenty-one years after the loan was initiated. More broadly, Exhibit 1.2 shows how the pace of principal limit growth was substantially slowed by the October 2017 rule change. Exhibit 1.2: Comparing Principal Limit Growth Beginning at Age 62 for HECMs before and after October 2017 This example assumes that interest rates remain low. But if interest rates increase in the future, the value of opening the line of credit today would be greater. Rising future interest rates would help to bring back some of the excitement about line-of-credit growth that was tempered by the October 2017 rule updates. With lower rates today, the available PLF is higher. Then, higher future interest rates would cause the future effective rate to be higher so that the principal limit grows more quickly. Rising rates would also increase the expected rate used to calculate principal limits on new reverse mortgages in the future. This would reduce the principal limit on newly issued future loans. An example of this is provided in Exhibit 1.3. The scenario is the same as in Exhibit 1.1, except that later in the first year of analysis, interest rates permanently increase by 1 percent, which raises the effective rate to 6 percent for HECMs issued at later ages and the effective rate for principal limit growth to 5.5 percent. The exhibit shows the widening gap in available principal limit created by opening the reverse mortgage sooner. If interest rates rise in the future, the case for opening the reverse mortgage sooner than it is potentially needed becomes stronger. Exhibit 1.3: Comparing Principal Limits Based on When the Reverse Mortgage Opens, Assuming that Interest Rates Permanently Increase by Age 63 All of this may sound too good to be trueand it probably is, to some extent. Perhaps this is why it is difficult to grasp the concept of line-of-credit growth throughout retirement. Ive previously noted that unused lines of credit work for borrowers to the detriment of lenders and the governments insurance fund. Such use of a reverse mortgage still exists today and would be contractually protected for those who initiate reverse mortgages under the current rules. I wrote in the first edition of my book that at some point in the future, I expect to see new limitations on line-of-credit growth, especially as more people start to follow the findings of recent research on this matter. A round of such limitations came into effect in October 2017 and have weakened the case for the growing line of credit, though value still exists for these strategies. Line-of-credit growth may be viewed a bit like an unintended loophole that has been strengthened by our low-interest-rate environment. Further limitations on line-of-credit growth could potentially be created someday for newly issued loans. Until then, research points to this growth as a valuable way that reverse mortgages can contribute to a retirement-income plan. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/wadepfau/2019/01/23/why-open-a-reverse-mortgage-before-it-is-actually-needed/ |
Can Arsenal Overcome Its Injury Woes? | Hector Bellerin went down like a sniper had taken him out from the roof of the Emirates during the second half of Arsenal's 2-0 win over Chelsea last Saturday. When video replay showed contact with another player didn't cause him to go to the turf, it was clear this injury would be a bad one. The low-key injuries are often the worst. Indeed, you could classify Bellerin's injury among "the worst." The 23-year-old Spaniard ruptured one of his cruciate knee ligaments and will miss the remainder of the season. It's possible he won't be fully recovered for the start of the 2019-20 campaign in August either. But this is far from the first injury Arsenal has faced this season. In fact, the Chelsea match marked Bellerin's return to the starting lineup following a month-long absence because of a calf injury, and now he'll return to a packed injury list. In addition to Bellerin, central defender Rob Holding will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL against Manchester United in December, while striker Danny Welbeck is out for the season with a broken ankle suffered in November. That's on top of the run-of-the-mill injuries that have kept players such as full-back Nacho Monreal, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, full-back Stefan Lichsteiner and central defenders Konstantinos Mavropanos off the pitch. Arsenals first season under a new manager in two decades was always going to be tough and the slew of injuries on the back line have made it all the tougher. Now Unai Emery and his men enter the backstretch of the season as the walking wounded but with the hope they can overcome these injury woes and still make a return to the UEFA Champions League. The biggest issue with all the injuries is that the majority are coming on defense, which was Arsenal's weakest area even when at full strength. The Gunner's 32 goals conceded is the 10th-most in the Premier League this season, and their four clean sheets ranks 15th, while the four teams ahead of them in the EPL table have at least nine apiece. The severe injuries Arsenal has suffered this season would hamper any team. Unluckily, most have also come at the one spot they can ill afford more attrition. Holding's absence has been the toughest to deal with because Arsenal was already thin (and bad) in central defense. While Sokratis of Shkodran Mustafi struggled at the back during the first half of the season, Holding was coming on strong as the lone bright spot and was beginning to solidify himself as an automatic selection at central defender. With Movrapanos and Monreal, who moonlights as a central defender, out at the time of Holding's injury, and Laurent Koscielny just returning from a long injury spell of his own, Arsenal was left with only Sokratis and Mustafi at the back for much of December. Emery was even forced to experiment with Granit Xhaka at center back. Koscielny has now fully recovered and reclaimed his spot in the lineup, having started Arsenal's last four Premier League matches, and that's an enormous boost for the defense. While Koscielny isn't as quick or athletic as he once was, he's a leader with plenty of experience running a defense. Intelligent defending was something the Gunners clearly lacked in the first half of the season, and Koscielny's ability to provide intelligence and a calming presence in the back upon his return has been a tremendous boon. Bellerin's absence is deleterious because of just how good he is when at this best, he's one of the top right-back in the Premier League but Arsenal isn't actually hurting for options at his position. The obvious candidate to replace him is young Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who shifted to Bellerin's post when the Spaniard was stretched off in the Chelsea match. Maitland-Niles, 21, is one of the most promising young talents at Arsenal, and fans have been clamoring for him to get a chance in the starting XI, though none will have wanted it to happen like this. After him, there's the Lichsteiner, a much more experienced and veteran presence, if well past his prime. Between those two, Arsenal should be fine at right-back, but should worst come to worst, Carl Jenkinson is still knocking about at the club and could be used even though he might be the least-talented player at the club. Of the long-term absences, Welbeck's has been the easiest to cope with because of the other options Arsenal has in attack. Welbeck was always going to be used as backup to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. Without Welbeck, Arsenal is obviously thinner at the front, but not to the point where it's been a hindrance. The Gunners rank third in the league in terms of goals scored (48) and they should stay near the top for the rest of the season barring further injury to attackers. With the impending return of Mkhitaryan, one of the team's best supporting attackers when fit this season, Arsenal's offense could even improve in the coming weeks. Emery has already ruled out signing an emergency replacement for Bellerin, citing the three potential replacement mentioned above. It seems unlikely any players will be signed to replace the long-term injured players if only because of the club's current transfer policy. Emery said recently the club can only loan players this January, and the most prominent reported loan targets Denis Suarez, Ever Banega are midfielders. It seems Arsenal will be dancing with who brought 'em. The bright side for Arsenal is that its injury situation isn't the worst in the league. It isn't even the worst in North London. Tottenham finds itself in a fair bit of trouble as well. While none of Spurs' absences are as long-term as Arsenal's, they will be without Harry Kane and Dele Alli, their two best players, until mid-March. On top of that, Son Heung-Min will be away from the team for the rest of January while competing in the Asian Cup of Nations with South Korea. With plenty of tough matches coming up before Kane and Alli are expected to return from injury including two legs against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and a North London Derby Tottenham's season could fall apart over this stretch if it can't cope with their absences. For Arsenal to make the top four this season, it will need help, and these injuries to Spurs' stars may be just the help it needs. But that alone won't be enough. The Gunners must also help themselves first and foremost by playing more solid at the back but also by relying on their world-class attackers. They have the best attack force in the league outside of title favorites Liverpool and Manchester City, and that may well be their saving grace. If Arsenal can stay healthy the rest of the way, it may have just enough firepower for a top-four finish. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cybrown/2019/01/23/can-arsenal-overcome-its-injury-woes/ |
Are children finally saying no to sugary drinks? | Sugary drinks could be going out of fashion among children and teenagers, data suggests. Government figures show the proportion of children drinking sweetened soft drinks has dropped by as much as a third since 2009. On average, sugary drink consumption fell by 26 per cent among all under-18s between 2009 and 2017. And the biggest drop was among four to 10-year-olds 35 per cent fewer children in this age group regularly drink soft drinks than in 2009. News of the drop comes less than a year after the UK introduced its sugar tax on soft drinks, which experts believe has helped reduce consumption. Figures released by Public Health England showed children aged 18 months to 18 years old in 2017 drank 26 per cent fewer soft drinks than in 2009 A report published by Public Health England today revealed the most recent data for how the nation's diet changed over the eight years between 2008/9 and 2016/17. There has been a 'significant downward trend' in consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks in all age groups except over-65s, it found. The proportion of 11 to 18-year-olds who regularly consume sugary drinks has dropped by 17 per cent. Even children who continue to drink the sodas and juices are consuming less sugar than they did in the past. For example, among 11 to 18-year-olds who drank them regularly, daily sugar intake dropped from 285 grams per day to 185g per day. From April 2018, soft drinks companies have been required to pay a levy on drinks with added sugar. If a drink contains between 5g and 8g of sugar per 100ml the tax is 18p per litre, whereas if a drink has more than 8g of sugar per 100ml, the tax is 24p. Fruit juices and milk are not included in the tax. The move aims to help tackle childhood obesity. Sugar-sweetened soft drinks are now the single biggest source of dietary sugar for children and teenagers. Some drinks, including Fanta, Lucozade, Sprite, Dr Pepper and Vimto, had their recipes changed so they contained less than 5g of sugar and the price did not need to be put up. However, others like Coca Cola and Pepsi refused to reduce the amount of sugar and, as a result, the price of them increased. The Government has predicted the levy will raise 240million a year, which will be spent on sports clubs and breakfast clubs in schools. The sugar tax raised 153.8m in the first six months after it was introduced, between April and October 2018. The news of the 'significant' drop comes after the Government last year introduced its tax on sugar-sweetened drinks in a bid to tackle childhood obesity. The sugar tax came into force in April and requires manufacturers to pay extra tax on beverages which contain more than 5g of sugar per 100ml. If a drink contains between 5g and 8g of sugar per 100ml the tax is 18p per litre, whereas if a drink has more than 8g of sugar per 100ml, the tax is 24p. 'The reduction in sugar consumption is thanks to the combined effort of health officials, the industry and schools coming together to agree there's a problem and make a change,' Katharine Jenner, spokesperson for Action on Sugar told MailOnline. 'And the sugar tax will have had an impact because, as well as there being less sugar in the drinks, it also has the halo effect of letting people know the drinks are unhealthy. 'Not everyone will have known how bad they are for you and putting a tax on them sends a very clear message to the public.' The sugar tax raised 153.8million between April and October, exceeding the Government's prediction of 240m per year. Other points in PHE's National Diet and Nutrition Survey included no change to fruit and vegetable or oily fish consumption, but a decline in red meat eating. Red and processed meat consumption dropped by 19g per day among people aged 19 to 64 but adult men still eat more than the recommended 70g per day. All age groups have also been eating less salt and there was a falling intake of vitamins and minerals, while many still don't get enough fibre. It comes after official data in October revealed English children are fatter than ever, with a record number of 10 to 11 year olds now severely obese. NHS statistics showed the proportion of children who are in the worrying weight category jumped by more than a third since 2007. And more than a third of 10 to 11-year-olds are overweight to some degree, the figures, branded 'totally unacceptable' at the time, also showed. Data from NHS Digital in October revealed more than 24,000 10 to 11-year-old children in England are severely obese, and the problem is worse in poorer areas (map showing the percentage of severely obese Year 6 children in local authorities across England) WHERE THE FEWEST CHILDREN ARE SEVERELY OBESE Richmond-upon-Thames (1.5%) Dorset (2.3%) West Berkshire (2.3%) Surrey (2.3%) Wokingham (2.4%) East Riding of Yorkshire (2.4%) West Sussex (2.5%) Cheshire East (2.5%) Wiltshire (2.6%) Buckinghamshire (2.6%) Hertfordshire (2.6%) Source: NHS Digital | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-6624281/Are-children-finally-saying-no-sugary-drinks.html |
When is the 2019 Carabao Cup final? | The Carabao Cup final will take place on Sunday February 24th at Wembley Stadium. Kick-off time is expected to be 4pm, but it's yet to be confirmed. City will face either Tottenham Hotspur or Chelsea in the final, with Spurs holding a 1-0 aggregate lead going into the second-leg. Pep Guardiola's side's run to the final - which they'll look to win for a consecutive time - has been fairly comfortable though there has been some challenging moments. Blues kicked-off their campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory over League One side Oxford United, thanks to goals from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden. Next up Premier League strugglers Fulham travelled to the Etihad. City dominated the game and won 2-0 through a brace from Brahim Diaz, who left City in January to join Real Madrid. City's toughest task in the cup was when Leicester City pushed them to penalties in the quarter-finals. Kevin de Bruyne had given City an early lead with his first goal of the season but they were unable to extend it and Marc Albrighton equalised late on to force a shoot-out. The Foxes' penalties were poor as Christian Fuchs blazed over and back-up goalkeeper Aro Muric saved from James Maddison and Caglar Soyuncu to give Alexs Zinchenko the chance to smash home the winner and send City through. Burton awaited next after their remarkable run saw them defeat four teams in higher divisions - Aston Villa, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough - to reach the semi-final. City all but sealed their place in the final after a strong side mauled the underdogs 9-0, showing how seriously Guardiola is taking the competition. City should confirm their place in the final in the second-leg where they'll then look to retain the trophy they won by beating Arsenal 3-0 in the final a year ago. | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/when-is-carabao-cup-final-15720045 |
Should owners of wall that collapsed in Harrisburg be forced to clean up the multi-million dollar mess? | For nearly three years, tons of dirt, asphalt and even a car have been sitting on top of Howard Henrys tire shop after a wall collapsed onto his property in Harrisburg. The 100-year-old wall belonged to one of Henrys neighbors, the owners of the McFarland apartment buildings. It formerly propped up one of their parking lots, which is why a car also tumbled down the hill when the wall collapsed on May 5, 2016. On Wednesday, Henry appeared in court to ask a judge to force McFarlands owners to clean up their debris, which he argues has been trespassing on his property and preventing him from using his property. The legal action filed by Henrys attorney Mark Wendaur in 2017 is part of a three-pronged approach to try to get Isaac Dohany and Jacob Friedman, the owners of the McFarland apartments, to clean up the multi-million dollar mess. Henry also filed a lawsuit against the owners and hes filed action against the city of Harrisburg to force them to enforce a condemnation order. The debris field has remained exposed and untouched since the day of the collapse, even after two engineer reports concluded that action needed to be taken to stabilize the McFarland building because of risks of additional collapse. Senior Judge Lawrence F. Clark on Wednesday brought up another concern about the unclaimed car left in the debris: gas in the tank that could ignite a fire near Henrys warehouse containing 10,000 tires. The judge asked Henry what he thought would happen if a fire erupted among the debris that crushed his warehouse. Henry called it a tire mans nightmare. It would blacken the city for months, he said. Its dangerous to be there. An engineer and expert witness, Greg Lebo, also testified that he believed McFarlands condemned 8-unit apartment building and garage pose a additional risk of collapse that could cascade through Henrys building and push a steel beam in his roof across Cameron Street along with the roof structure. Lebo said he observed movement in the debris and worsening damage on the McFarland building. But Adam Klein, who is representing McFarlands owners, pointed out that there had been no significant additional collapses since the initial ones in 2016 despite near-historic rainfall in 2018. Klein asked Henry on cross examination how much he paid for his property and inventory, whether he had taken any action to sell his inventory or mitigate his damages and whether he had obtained any final repair estimates to be able to reopen his tire and automotive repair shop. That triggered objections by Henrys attorney and a lengthy discussion over the precise legal issue at hand for Wednesdays hearing. Clark noted that the hearing was for a preliminary injunction against the McFarland owners not about damages. Clark said there were three roads to Rome, the first two of which focus on a property owners commission. But the final road concerns omission, Clark said. Its all McFarlands property and its on their neighbor and its been going on 3 years, Clark said. The issue is whether its intentional conduct, not for putting it there, but whether its intentional with regard to failure to remove it. The third road regarding omission is central in this case, Clark said. The law creates an absolute duty to remove that which is yours from the land of someone else and failure to do it can be construed to be intent, he said. Klein and attorney Michael Kelley argued that the expense to clean up the debris and rebuild Henrys building could be more than double the fair market value of Henrys building. Henry testified that he obtained a recent property assessment for $1.5 million. Klein said the costs of clean up likely would exceed $3 million. Klein said Henrys building likely would be a total loss, because any cleanup efforts would further damage his building, just for the equipment to try to get access to the debris. Are you telling me now, that its your position because it might cost more than fair market value to remediate the collapse that you are therefore as a matter of law relieved of your responsibility to remediate? Clark said. No, Klein responded. But he said it would not be feasible to spend $20 million, for example, to repair a $500,000 property. He also noted an injunctive relief is an extraordinary measure to take under Pennsylvania law Clark noted that while Klein believes Henrys property represents a total loss, Henry believes his property could be salvaged and rebuilt, once all of McFarlands debris is removed. Its virtually immaterial what the burden on McFarland would be as far as cost, Clark said. Damages are a topic that will be discussed later in the case through Henrys lawsuit, Clark noted, In the meantime, there are a lot of claims of responsibility, he said. But the one guy whos not responsible for any of it, is the that guy sitting right there, Clark said pointing to Henry. If there ever was a case where there was a true innocent victim this is it. This is it. It is indisputable what happened to this mans property. The question for the hearing, Clark said, was whether the law authorize the court to order McFarland to clean up the debris pile. The hearing broke for lunch at about 11:30 p.m. and was expected to resume at 1 p.m. | https://www.pennlive.com/news/2019/01/should-owners-of-wall-that-collapsed-in-harrisburg-be-forced-to-clean-up-the-multi-million-dollar-mess.html |
Can HPV Vax Confer 'Herd Protection' to Young Women? | HPV detection declined in young women after the introduction of HPV 4-valent and 9-valent vaccine during a >10-year period -- even among those who were unvaccinated, researchers found. From 2006 to 2017, rates of 4-valent and 9-valent vaccine-type HPV had significant declines among both vaccinated and unvaccinated young women ages 13 to 26, reported Jessica Kahn, MD, of the University of Cincinnati in Ohio, and colleagues, in Pediatrics. They argued that research has shown that the effectiveness of HPV vaccines in community settings could be lower because "women in the community may have been infected with vaccine-type HPV before vaccination and may have lower compliance with the vaccination series or be less healthy than those in the clinical trials." "Assessments of vaccine effectiveness and herd protection are essential to guide public health messaging, clinical counseling, vaccination recommendations, and cervical cancer screening recommendations," they argued. Researchers examined a cohort of young women, ages 13 to 26, who were recruited from hospital-based health clinics over a period of 11 years for four surveillance studies. Patients were eligible for participation if they were sexually experienced. Researchers added that they "determined the proportion of vaccinated and unvaccinated women who were positive for vaccine-type HPV across the studies." Cervicovaginal swabs were collected by self-swab or clinician swab from each participant, the authors said. Vaccination status was defined as receipt of one or more HPV vaccine doses before enrollment, as assessed by the Ohio statewide immunization registry. Overall, there were 1,580 participants, with a range of mean ages from all four studies of around 19. Around 70% to 77% of participants identified as African American or multiracial, and about 50% to 56% said they had two or more male lifetime sexual partners. HPV vaccination rates increased from 0% to 84% over the course of the four studies, with 97% of study participants receiving the 4-valent vaccine. Among young women who received the vaccine, rates of 4-valent vaccine-type HPV declined from 35% to 6.7%. But rates of 4-valent vaccine-type HPV among unvaccinated women also exhibited substantial declines -- dropping from 32.4% to 19.4%. Proportions of vaccinated women with one or more of the five HPV types in the 9-valent vaccine, but not the 4-valent vaccine, also declined from 23.4% to 7.3%, but there was an increase in the portion of unvaccinated women with one or more of these five HPV types (from 22.9% to 36.1%), the authors said. Vaccination effectiveness was 90.6% in wave 3 of the study, but 80.1% in wave 4 versus wave 1, they added. This was a noteworthy finding of the study, stated Amanda F. Dempsey, MD, of the University of Colorado Denver in Aurora, in an accompanying editorial. "This definition [of vaccination as 1 dose of vaccine] suggests that some, or maybe even many women in the cohort had not received the 3 doses recommended for full protection ... [and] makes the high vaccine effectiveness reported actually quite remarkable and adds further evidence that this vaccine is highly protective," she wrote. Moreover, Dempsey said that the adjusted odds of women vaccinated with the 9-valent HPV vaccine being infected with these five additional HPV types ranged from 0.22 to 0.48. "Evidence of cross protection is important with the recent transition to the 9-valent vaccine in the United States because many women question whether there is a benefit to being revaccinated with the 9-valent vaccine after having completed the full course of the quadrivalent vaccine when they were younger," she wrote, adding that there is "no specific recommendation" from CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to get the 9-valent vaccine after receiving the 4-valent vaccine. A study limitation was the small portion of women who received the 9-valent vaccine in wave 4, which limited the ability of the authors to examine trends in HPV prevalence due to the effects of the 9-valent vaccine. They also noted results may not be generalizable to the general U.S. population. This study was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and was funded by the NIH. Spinner disclosed no relevant relationships with industry. Co-authors disclosed support from Merck, and relevant relationships with Roche, BD, Abbott, Merck, and GlaxoSmithKline. One co-author disclosed serving as co-chair of a study of HPV vaccines in men with HIV that was funded by the NIH and to which Merck provided vaccine and serology testing. Dempsey disclosed relevant relationships with Merck, Sanofi, and Pfizer. 2019-01-22T18:30:00-0500 | https://www.medpagetoday.com/pediatrics/vaccines/77569 |
What happened to the momentum of the Women's March? | Activists hold up signs at the rally before the Women's March on Washington 2018 on Jan. 20, 2018. (Photo: Jasper Colt, USA TODAY) The third annual Womens March has come and gone with much less fanfare and numbers than expected. Given the recent media frenzy fraught with controversy surrounding the Kavanaugh investigation, the news of female abductions/murders and the ongoing #MeToo movement, one would think that women would gather in record numbers. When men accuse women of feminism, it is an attempt to shame and silence the audacity of that woman who thinks her voice, opinion and message has something to offer and possesses genuine and relatable value. Feminism is simply the theory that there must be political, economic and social equality between the sexes. In a perfect world, there would be no need for the Womens Movement but the facts remain: Women, and by that I mean white women, still earn about 80 cents for every dollar earned by men; women are still not equally represented in government; women are subject to legislative infringement on their reproductive rights; women are all too often dismissed as hysterical when involved in domestic disputes that render them powerless and desperate and women are still reduced to the sum of their physical attributes by both men and other women. This is just the proverbial tip of the iceberg that is sexism. I have a theory of my own. I call it the Female Counter-feminist Theory. Some women are afraid to identify as feminists because they fear being considered man-haters by men. Perhaps some fear men will not find them as attractive as their non-feminist counterparts. Feminists do not hate men. Feminists do not think women are superior to men. Feminists believe women are equal to men. Bear in mind, we are all on the same side if we are on the side of freedom, justice and the pursuit of happinessour inalienable rights. Only those who fear change, progress and an equal distribution of power would be in opposition. Rethink the word and you just might find you really are a feminist at heart. And thats quite alright. Rest assured. Youre in good company. Jeanne Quagliata is a Latin teacher at Gates Chili Central School District. Read or Share this story: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/opinion/guest-column/2019/01/23/what-happened-momentum-womens-march-essay/2649893002/ | https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/opinion/guest-column/2019/01/23/what-happened-momentum-womens-march-essay/2649893002/ |
Why Did Amber Portwood Fake Quit Teen Mom OG? | It wasn't the first time. Amber Portwood quit Teen Mom OG at the end of last year, but now, shes reportedly returning. According to a report from Radar Online, Portwood who has been known to threaten MTV with a potential exit in the past was going through a lot last year when she decided to announce the end of her run on the reality series. Amber wasnt in the best frame of mind, a source close to the reality star said on January 23. During the eighth season of Teen Mom OG, which concluded at the end of last year, Portwood was seen telling her cousin about her plan to kill herself. She admitted that it doesnt feel good to be alive right now. Also during that same season, Portwood took to her social media pages on a number of occasions and suggested that MTV was responsible for the ongoing depression she suffers as the result of the frequent hate she receives online. As Radar Onlines insider explained, Portwood did her best to remain professional despite her negative stance towards the network throughout production on Season 8. She did her best to show up to work and do her job, the source said. She didnt want to disappoint the fans and the crew so she did her best. She gets along well with the crew and has worked with some of them for 10 years, they are like family. Although there were swirling rumors which suggested Portwoods behavior had been upsetting to her bosses and producers, the source said she is definitely not a diva and always treats her MTV film crew like they are part of her family. As for Teen Mom OG Season 9, Portwood is in the works to begin filming soon. She is said to be excited to get started with her production team. Shes doing really well and feeling better. She cares so much about everyone, the source explained. She had second thoughts about leaving. She now wants to stay with the MTV family and share her story. Because of the fans, and her 10 year history on the show, she doesnt want to leave abruptly. Also returning to MTV for the ninth season of Teen Mom OG, according to the Ashleys Reality Roundup, are Catelynn Lowell, Cheyenne Floyd, Bristol Palin, and Maci Bookout. Teen Mom OG Season 9 filming is expected to begin soon, if it hasnt already, and will air on MTV sometime later this year. | https://www.inquisitr.com/5262862/why-did-amber-portwood-fake-quit-teen-mom-og/ |
Was wird aus der EU-Mission "Sophia"? | Deutschland hat mit dem angekndigten Rckzug eines Schiffs der Bundeswehr aus der EU-Mission Sophia im Mittelmeer eine Debatte ber die Zukunft des Einsatzes ausgelst. Der italienische Innenminister Salvini erklrte in Rom, die Bundesregierung tue Italien einen Gefallen. Die Vorgabe aus dem Jahr 2015, nach der aus Seenot gerettete Flchtlinge immer nach Italien gebracht wrden, sei gegen das nationale Interesse seines Landes. Bundesverteidigungsministerin von der Leyen kritisierte dagegen das von Italien gefhrte Oberkommando der Mission. Dieses habe das deutsche Schiff in die entlegendste Ecke des Mittelmeeres geschickt, wo es keine Schleuser und keine Flchtlinge gebe. Die deutschen Soldaten seien dort seit Monaten ohne eine sinnvolle Aufgabe gewesen. Hintergrund ist, dass sich Italien seit geraumer Zeit weigert, gerettete Flchtlinge an Land zu lassen. EU-Innenkommissar Avramopoulos nannte die Mission eine Erfolgsgeschichte. Sie habe eine groe Zahl von Schleusernetzwerken aufgedeckt. Zugleich rumte er ein, dass es letztlich die Entscheidung Italiens sei, ob Sophia fortgesetzt werde. Derzeit sind noch drei Schiffe im Rahmen der Mission im Einsatz. | https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/mittelmeer-was-wird-aus-der-eu-mission-sophia.1939.de.html?drn:news_id=969541 |
Is Jacob Rees-Mogg starting to panic that 'Europhile kamikaze MPs' could box him in? | One might have wondered if Tory Brexiteers were softening after Nadine Dorries suggested on Monday night that fellow Brexiteers could end up voting for Theresa Mays deal to save it from these Europhile kamikaze MPs. But Jacob Rees-Mogg sought to knock such an idea on the head today, declaring at a Eurosceptic gathering that while he hoped for reformation of this deal to make it more acceptable, he could not vote for it as long as the backstop is there. Given that Theresa May has repeatedly warned that theres no deal without the backstop, its disappearance looks nigh-on impossible. And if he means exactly what he says, that suggests he and his like-minded Eurosceptics would not be satisfied... | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/01/23/jacob-rees-mogg-starting-panic-europhile-kamikaze-mps-could/ |
Is Brexit really to blame for a fall in visitor numbers to the UK? | Visitor numbers to the UK fell 5.3 per cent in 2018, according to the UNWTO. Not a disaster, you might think. But then consider the fact that every single other major travel destination in the world witnessed an increase in international arrivals, and the statistic starts to look slightly troubling. Even America, which was said to have suffered from a so-called Trump slump, saw a modest increase in visitors. And while we may rejoice that fewer people are clogging up the streets of London, Edinburgh and Oxford, the drop in numbers meant a 2.3 per cent fall in spending, representing a loss of more than 560 million to the economy. In a year when the UK celebrated a Royal wedding (historically, a sure-fire way of attracting tourists), the blip is even more unexpected. Indeed, earlier in the year, VisitBritain had predicted that 2018 would be another bumper year for the UK. The national tourist board anticipated that visitors would spend 27 billion and that numbers would reach a record-breaking 41.7 million (up from 39.2m in 2017), helped by the falling value of the pound. A 4.4 per cent increase in numbers was predicted, rather than the first slowdown in almost a decade. Figures have fallen below those of 2017, a year in which there were concerns that our tourism industry would be affected by the London and Manchester terror attacks. Research conducted by VisitBritain shows that interest from European travellers, which accounts for more than two thirds of all overseas visitors, has indeed fallen over time from 76 per cent in August 2016 to 73 per cent in spring 2018 and finally to 69 per cent in autumn 2018. But if the result of the referendum in June 2016 really had created an instant anti-Britain sentiment on the Continent, it would be expected that visitor numbers would drop almost immediately. In fact, the reverse happened. In the months following the referendum result, the pound plummeted, attracting visitors who suddenly found a trip to Blighty far more affordable. Sterling has since somewhat steadied, with a few fluctuations in between. The prolonged period of instability in the pound could be enough to put off travellers who can opt for other destinations in Europe without the hassle of converting their money. Or, as our France expert, Anthony Peregrine, put it: The rise in the pound, though barely perceptible to the naked eye, might have been enough to put off some continental cheapskates. But the positive PR the Royal wedding created for the UK on a global scale suggests that it cannot be the fluctuation in currency alone causing the problems. But nor can it be that our neighbours immediately retaliated to the implications of Brexit. Instead, the longevity of inaction has been suggested as the cause by Peregrine, who told Telegraph Travel: It is quite wrong to suggest that French people or, perhaps, any other foreigners spend much time thinking about Brexit. Brexit is our problem.They have their own countries, and their own problems to think about. Why dont you like us any more?' Theyre offended at what they see as our impoliteness, he continues. Our bad manners, really. And this builds up resentment in even the most charming of people. As holiday destinations are not life-and-death decisions, this resentment might just be enough to tip the balance against Blighty. Id wager that it is. Lee Marshall, our Italy expert, echoed Peregrines sentiment. For the view from Italy, yes, I think there has been a small dip in peoples enthusiasm for the UK alongside an ongoing curiosity about how messy Brexit has become. (We once had a reputation for getting things done efficiently... thats starting to go by the board). Italian friends who were shocked by the vote are now surprised that were still hanging around. Paul Sullivan, our Germany expert, too, reported similar sentiments. From the conversations I've had with friends and internationals here in Berlin, Brexit has divided people abroad as much as at home, he said. Many see it as a passing political fiasco that wouldn't stop them liking or visiting Britain, especially Scotland, but others have definitely said they will not be visiting anytime in the near future. The reasons for the latter are varied, but range from bad personal experiences in Britain following the referendum to uncertainty about visas and other technical aspects of travel. Marshall agrees that the problem is not a simple one: Im sure there are other factors involved: the UK (London in particular) is regarded as expensive, and the fluctuating exchange rate doesnt seem to have altered that perception. Speaking to Telegraph Travel, Patricia Yates from VisitBritain said: Tourism is one of the UKs most valuable export industries and needs no trade deals to attract overseas investment. It is also a fiercely competitive global industry and people have a lot of choice. The inference being that there is no logical reason for Europeans to be shunning Britain. And while a sense of increasing resentment may come into play, the pound and perceived expense of the UK cannot be ignored as a stumbling block for visitors. Indeed, when asked about what may have caused the decrease in numbers, the tourist board said: There continues to be widespread agreement that Britain is an expensive destination. We have seen a slowdown from our European markets and it is crucial that we work to retain as well as grow this region, emphasising our welcome and good value, said Yates, who referred to forward bookings from Europe as difficult. She added: We are working on a specific campaign in Europe Friends of Europe to encourage Europeans to visit Britain this year and experience our warm welcome and great value. Yates' view of a slowdown in European markets is supported by research by the UN's travel arm. Long-haul markets are, according to VisitBritain, promising rapid growth. It is encouraging to see strong forward bookings from the US, our most valuable inbound visitor market, said Yates. These are up 31 per cent for the first six months of 2019 and also up 31 per cent from China, the worlds most valuable outbound market. Join the debate. | https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/is-brexit-to-blame-for-falling-uk-visitor-numbers/ |
What will it take for Britain to turn on Ant and Dec? | Present-day English nationalism, said the Irish thinker Fintan OToole, has a problem: it knows who them are; it doesnt know who us are. Sure. But also, Ant and Dec. The pair won the National Television award for best presenters for the 18th year running on Tuesday, causing a backlash, which is today-speak for Piers Morgan pulling some trinket of vitriol out of his scammers overcoat. Morgans facts were correct: Ant McPartlin could not have won an award for his 2018 output. He had indeed taken a year off; perhaps Morgan was even correct to say the only time hed got out of bed was to walk the dog. For anyone who wants to judge him, there is plenty to go on: last March, drunk in charge of a vehicle, McPartlin crashed into a car containing a four-year-old, and spent the rest of the year fighting alcohol and substance addiction. But judgment, scorn, shared disgust, its a rusty old tin drum to warm your hands upon. Given the choice, we would prefer to empathise, walk a mile in a mans shoes, preferably with his dog. Often we dont have that choice because its all moving so fast your pitchfork has got halfway around the world before your best self has its pants on. Thats the first jewel in the crown of Ant and Dec: they are never moving too fast. They are like a two-man Slow Presenter movement in a world of over-processed noise. Which is not to say theyre witless, or even at all quiet. Rather, they have a high tolerance for silliness and self-parody, an idealised brotherhood since no brothers like each other that much, which all combines in this talismanic way to ward off hate. You could never raise a mob, with Ant and Dec around. Too much wholesomeness is built-in obsolescence for a TV personality. After a while, it gets on your nerves. When it comes to Ant and Decs failures, none were magnificent. There was just a trace of amusement in all four of their eyebrows whenever something was a bit rubbish, the choreography of PJ and Duncan; certain choice episodes of Byker Grove; the thick seam of nonsense histrionics running through Im a Celebrity. Hard to say, but it insulated them against the ennui of their niceness, not to mention the stain of their success, the untold wealth and fame that could put anyone off. They are funny, but theyre no Frankie Boyle; they have warmth in the Johnny Ball tradition, steaming off them like an Icelandic hot spring; but I dont think its any intrinsic trait that makes them so popular. Rather, its what they bring out in us: a near-infinite indulgence and capacity for understanding. We inscribe our best traits on to them, and thereby love them more. Every time they win an award, it is a medal for the nation, for being more Ant than Piers. | https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/commentisfree/2019/jan/23/what-will-it-take-for-britain-to-turn-against-ant-and-dec |
How much have Portsmouth earned from this seasons Checkatrade Trophy? | Have your say Its a much-maligned competition that vast sections of the Fratton faithful have steadfastly boycotted. But this seasons Checkatrade Trophy has provided Pompey with a windfall thats not to be scoffed at. Pompey celebrate their win over Peterborough. Picture: Joe Pepler Tuesday nights 1-0 victory over Peterborough United moved the Blues into the semi-finals of the competition. David Wheeler bagged the only goal of the game with five minutes remaining at Fratton Park. And the on-loan QPR wingers left-footed strike took Pompeys earnings in the competition to 160,000 this term. To put that into context, the transfer fee paid for Ronan Curtis from Derry City in the summer believed to be 100,000 has been well covered. And with Kenny Jackett plotting the Blues path into the Championship, the cash could prove invaluable either in this months transfer window or further down the line. Pompey were given a 20,000 participation fee for competing in the Checkatrade Trophy before a ball was kicked. And the club collected 30,000 for winning every game in Southern Section Group A. The Blues picked up 10,000 apiece for their 4-0 victory over Gillingham, 1-0 win at Crawley and 3-1 success against Tottenham Hotspur under-21s. Jacketts side were drawn against Arsenal under-21s in the second round. Goals from Brett Pitman and Andre Green grabbed the hosts a 2-1 triumph and 20,000 to boot. And the success Gunners set up a third-round tie at Southend earlier this month. Despite the Shrimpers fielding a strong side, the much-changed Blues ran out comfortable 2-0 victors. Louis Dennis netted his first goal for Pompey, while Gareth Evans was also on target. That ensured an additional 40,000 was added to the Fratton Park coffers. And the victory against Steve Evans Peterborough bolstered the Blues war chest by another 50,000 taking the clubs total Checkatrade Trophy earnings to 160,000 for the campaign. In terms of prize money and television rights from both the FA Cup and Checkatrade Trophy, the Blues have accumulated 522,500 Pompeys path to the fourth round of the historic competition has proved the club with 362,500. And with 180,000 up for grabs when QPR travel to Fratton Park on Saturday, there is certainly a lot to play for. | https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/pompey/how-much-have-portsmouth-earned-from-this-season-s-checkatrade-trophy-1-8781589 |
Is artikel 185 WVW nog wel van deze tijd ? | Artikel 185 WVW is het artikel in onze Wegenverkeerswet dat bij de afwikkeling van schadegevallen het meest tot onbegrip en frustratie leidt. Dit artikel biedt onder andere de fiets en voetganger (de niet gemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemer) een verregaande vorm van bescherming wanneer deze verkeersdeelnemer een ongeval overkomt met een gemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemer als tegenpartij. De vraag is of deze bescherming nog wel van deze tijd is. De werking van artikel 185 is bijzonder. De gemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemer wordt in alle gevallen aansprakelijk geacht, tenzij deze overmacht aannemelijk kan maken. Met andere woorden, wanneer een fietser geen voorrang verleent aan een bestuurder van een scooter zal de scooterrijder overmacht aan dienen te tonen om zijn schade volledig verhaald te krijgen. De jurisprudentie (en er is veel jurisprudentie te vinden rondom dit artikel) leert ons dat overmacht in de praktijk vrijwel nooit aannemelijk te maken valt. En dat betekent dat de schade van de scooterrijder vrijwel zeker niet volledig verhaalbaar is op de (verzekeraar van) de fietser, ook al heeft de fietser feitelijk de verkeersfout gemaakt die tot het ongeval heeft geleid. En dit is met in acht neming van het hedendaagse verkeer steeds lastiger uit te leggen. Totstandkoming artikel Het oude artikel 31 van de Wegenverkeerswet (de voorloper van artikel 185 WVW) kwam tot stand in 1935 en trad in werking in 1951. Een tijd waarin het aantal motorrijtuigen in Nederland nog te overzien was en de ongemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemers niet gewend waren aan veelvuldig op de weg aanwezige motorrijtuigen. Daarbij werden de motorrijtuigen in die tijd gemaakt van zware materialen en werd bij de vormgeving van de voertuigen geen rekening gehouden met de veiligheid van fietsers en voetgangers. Dit verhoogde de vernietigende kracht van motorrijtuigen ten opzichte van de ongemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemers, waardoor mede de noodzaak voor een dergelijk artikel was geboden. Nu, respectievelijk 81 en 65 jaar later is het verkeersbeeld drastisch gewijzigd. Inmiddels zijn we gewend aan de miljoenen op de Nederlandse wegen aanwezige motorrijtuigen en met de techniek en vormgeving van motorrijtuigen wordt terdege rekening gehouden met de verkeersveiligheid. Bestuurders van motorrijtuigen moeten een bewijs van rijvaardigheid bezitten en enkele verkeersregels zijn met de invoering van het nieuwe RVV ten gunste van het ongemotoriseerde verkeer gewijzigd. Bewustwording Naast deze veranderingen is in de afgelopen decennia voortdurend gehamerd op bewustwording van de risicos die het gebruik van een motorrijtuig in het verkeer met zich brengt. Daarentegen is een dergelijke bewustwording bij ongemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemers nauwelijks waarneembaar. Met name fietsers lijken alle verkeersregels aan hun laars te lappen. Men verleent geen voorrang, men rijdt door rood licht, men fietst in het donker zonder verlichting, men slaat links- en rechtsaf zonder daartoe richting aan te geven, men stopt niet voor overstekende voetgangers op een zebrapad, men fietst gedrien naast elkaar, men rijdt over trottoirs enzovoort. Momenteel is het nog steeds zo dat in dergelijke ongevalssituaties de ongemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemer wordt beloond met een gehele of gedeeltelijke schadevergoeding, terwijl de gemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemer, die vaak niet meer verweten kan worden dan alleen dat deze een motorrijtuig bestuurde, met ten hoogste een gedeeltelijke schadevergoeding het nakijken heeft. Eigen verantwoordelijkheid Een gang van zaken die heden ten dage steeds lastiger uit te leggen is. Wellicht wordt het tijd voor verandering in deze regelgeving, waarmee volwassen ongemotoriseerde verkeersdeelnemers tevens meer gewezen worden op hun eigen verantwoordelijkheid in het verkeer. Auteur: Marc Diks, 112schade.nl Dit is een partnerbijdrage van 112schade. Bekijk hier een volledig overzicht van de partnerberichten van 112schade. | https://www.amweb.nl/branche/nieuws/2016/10/is-artikel-185-wvw-nog-wel-van-deze-tijd-101299 |
Why Wont Apple Support Nvidia Silicon With macOS Mojave? | For the most part, asking why Apple wont support things is a futile endeavor. Much ink has been spilled criticizing the companys various design decisions and raising questions about its product families, particularly in recent years, as prices have risen and product decisions have seemed to prioritize form over function. But even with all of that said, the companys attitudes towards Nvidias GPUs could really use some explaining. For years, Nvidia cards have worked in Mac systems on an unofficial level, which meant you could get things to operate if you were willing to roll up your sleeves a little bit. This continued to be the case through macOS 10.13, which supported Nvidias Pascal family. While this support has been unofficial, it made sense for Apple to at least keep its hand in the proverbial game. eGPU support has been a major value-add for both Macs and PCs over the last few years, and the concept of using an external GPU opens the door to the vendor Apple isnt integrating into its own hardware, whomever that might be. In addition, there are professional areas and applications where Nvidias GPUs and CUDA support are preferred over AMD. But with macOS 10.14 (Mojave), that support is gone and according to AppleInsider, they cant even figure out why. According to Nvidia, the problem lies entirely with Apple. A statement released by the company last year reads: Developers using Macs with NVIDIA graphics cards are reporting that after upgrading from 10.13 to 10.14 (Mojave) they are experiencing rendering regressions and slow performance. Apple fully controls drivers for Mac OS. Unfortunately, NVIDIA currently cannot release a driver unless it is approved by Apple. Our hardware works on OS 10.13 which supports up to (and including) Pascal. AppleInsider notes that even the supported graphics cards limited to the GTX 680 and Quadro K5000, both Kepler-era GPUs took a performance hit under Pascal. But the websites attempts to find an answer as to why Nvidia GPUs were now persona non grata on Mac hardware in any capacity kept running into roadblocks. According to them, engineers at Apple are agreeable to the idea and theres certainly no reason Apples Metal 2 UI cant run on Nvidia hardware, but there was a consistent feeling that support for Nvidias higher-end cards would be welcome, but disallowed quietly at higher levels of the company. AppleInsider concluded that the issue is long-standing quiet hostility between Nvidia and Apple at a fairly high level. This, of course, is perfectly possible. Its also technically possible that its some facet of the deal between Apple and AMD, though its unclear why Apple would ever agree to such a limit in the first place and seems generally unlikely. But regardless of the underlying reason, its a situation wed like to see the companies resolve. Gamers and professional users are best-served when they have the freedom to deploy the software and hardware solutions they want to use in as flexible a manner as possible. There do not appear to be technical reasons why Nvidias GPUs cannot be supported on macOS 10.14 (Mojave). If Apple wants to rely solely on AMD as a formal partner for its integrated GPUs, thats entirely its own business. But the major benefit of the eGPU ecosystem is precisely that users have far more freedom to upgrade their graphics card, even if theyre limited to a mobile system. Disallowing product support for the largest graphics card vendor and the major GPU player in the AI and ML markets is anti-competitive and consumer-hostile. It also strikes directly against Apples claim to care about professional users and professional markets. Nvidia and Apple should work together to support at least Nvidia GPUs in eGPU configurations, up to and including the RTX family. A petition to that effect has been started already. Now Read: Alienware M15 | https://www.extremetech.com/computing/284260-why-wont-apple-support-nvidia-silicon-with-macos-10-14-mojave |
Whats Happening With Financial News Websites? | Today Seeking Alpha announced the acquisition of CressCap which provide quantitative ratings and data. This acquisition will turn Seeking Alphas into a blended platform that provides crowd-sourced articles as well as quantitative stock ratings. SeekingAlphas traffic has been stagnant for the last 6 months but it is still the 5th biggest financial news website operating in the US. I talked to Steven Cress earlier today about the acquisition as well as developments in the financial news space. The user experience at the top financial portals like Google Finance, Yahoo Finance, and MSN Money has been declining in recent years. Steven Cress believes that this is because readers arent interested in news stories that summarize one or two bullet points from press releases or regurgitate known facts about earnings releases. Quality financial content requires a strong skill set from the authors and portal sites cant provide this. I think the user experience at top financial portals has been deteriorating because ad rates dropped to unsustainable levels. We used to generate enough display advertising revenue from each article to pay our writers sustainable rates. Those days are long gone and we put most of our high quality content behind a paywall. Big portals arent willing to invest in a business with declining revenues, so this is creating an opportunity for sites like SeekingAlpha to fill the void. Steven Cress says that sell side analysts put out research reports about a company about 6-10 times a year. So investors dont always have access to timely reports. Quant analysis and ratings provided by CressCap is based on real-time data. Steven Cress believes robo research provided by CressCap coupled with SeekingAlphas crowd-sourced articles will equip retail investors with superior tools and help them achieve better returns. I believe this is plausible but not optimal. Retail investors are known to underperform the market because they are trading against institutional investors such as hedge funds that have access to much higher quality data, research, and analysts. Having access to more data and nice looking quant ratings and ratios is better than not having these but at the end of the day retail investors are still trading against hedge funds or quant funds who are much better equipped. Insider Monkey has a unique approach to investing. We know that we cant outspend hedge funds, so we ride the coattails of the best performing hedge funds. Not all hedge funds are created equal, some hedge funds consistently outperform the other hedge funds. Our flagship strategy invests in the consensus stock picks of the 100 best performing hedge funds. Unfortunately we share these stock picks in our premium newsletter (ad rates dont provide enough revenue so we have to charge $449 a year to cover our costs). Since its inception in May 2014 our flagship strategy returned 74% versus 50% gain for the S&P 500 Index ETF (SPY). So, we were able to outperform the market by about 5 percentage points annually by riding the coattails of the best performing hedge funds. I doubt that an average SeekingAlpha reader generates this type of outperformance but SeekingAlpha as a website is doing fine. Based on data from Similarweb 30 million readers visit SeekingAlpha on a monthly basis. This puts SeekingAlpha at the 5th spot among the most visited financial news websites. WSJ stands at the 4th spot with 67.5 million monthly visitors. Marketwatch ranks 3rd, Bloomberg ranks 2nd, and Yahoo Finance is the most visited financial news website in early 2019. WSJ is already behind a paywall. Bloomberg is in the process of moving to a subscription model. I believe most financial news websites will be forced to move to a subscription model or shut down over the next few years. Somebody has to cover the cost of producing stock research. | https://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/whats-happening-with-financial-news-websites-694570/ |
Was ist heute eigentlich rechts(extrem)? | Die Hauptrichtung der FP-Politik, der Kult um den "kleinen Mann", die "Fleiigen und Anstndigen", die "Gerechtigkeit" fr die Angehrigen des eigenen Volkes "Dann werden wieder sterreicher bei Gemeindebauten bevorzugt und nicht Zuwanderer und Asylanten" (Strache) , trgt eindeutig rechtspopulistische Zge. Wenn Strache allerdings wieder die Idee aufwrmen wollte, hier arbeitende "Auslnder" aus der Sozialversicherung auszuschlieen und in eine eigene, viel weniger solidarische Sozialversicherung zu verbannen, dann wre das rechtsextrem. Letztlich darf man sich keinen Illusionen hingeben. All die sehr rechten Parteien in Europa, ob sie nun rechtspopulistisch oder rechtsextrem sind oder beides, haben ein ganz anderes Bild von einer politischen und gesellschaftlichen Ordnung als die Verfechter einer liberalen Demokratie. (Hans Rauscher, 23.1.2019) Dennoch ergibt die Prfung nach den Kriterien fr Rechtspopulismus und Rechtsextremismus, dass in der FP beides anzutreffen ist. So wie es Anton Pelinka 2014 formulierte: "Rechtsextrem ist eine mehr oder weniger gut begrndbare Wertung, genauso wie rechtspopulistisch. "Die FP hat gelernt, rechtspopulistische Forderungen, die ans Rechtsextreme anstreifen, gleichzeitig mit Beteuerungen der eigenen demokratischen berzeugung zu prsentieren. Waren Strache und Hofer frher noch grundstzlich fr einen xit aus der EU und damit gegen eine Errungenschaft der europischen Friedensordnung, sind sie (allerdings im Verbund mit EU-Feinden wie Marine Le Pen) jetzt fr eine "andere EU". Ein fhrender Funktionr der FP , der frhere Generalsekretr und jetzige Innenminister Herbert Kickl, hielt 2016 in Linz die Hauptrede vor dem "Kongress der Verteidiger Europas", einer Versammlung groteils rechtsextremer Vereinigungen (und sprach sie vom Rechtsextremismus frei). In allerjngster Zeit fiel Kickl dadurch auf, dass er im Zusammenhang mit strengeren Manahmen gegen Asylwerber die Europische Menschenrechtskonvention und das rechtsstaatliche Prinzip infrage stellte.In dem Zusammenhang ist die Haltung der FP zum Islam zu sehen. Strache will eine eigene Gesetzgebung offenbar analog zum Gesetz gegen NS-Wiederbettigung, das die FP nur widerwillig akzeptiert gegen den "politischen Islam". Antiislamische Ausflle seitens der FP sind gar nicht zu zhlen. SOS Mitmensch hat soeben die Sammlung Antimuslimischer Rassismus in der sterreichischen Spitzenpolitik vorgelegt, in der die FP prominent vorkommt. Strache erteilt in seiner Rede am "Akademikerball" 2018 Antisemitismus eine klare Absage. Die NGOs Mauthausen-Komitee und SOS Mitmensch sowie die Website FP-Fails dokumentieren laufend. Auerdem finden nach einiger Zeit die geschassten oder suspendierten Funktionre mehr oder minder diskret wieder zur Partei zurck besonders wenn sie so prominent sind wie der niedersterreichische FP-Politiker Udo Landbauer, gegen den ein Verfahren wegen eines antisemitischen Liedtextes in seiner schlagenden Burschenschaft wegen Verjhrung eingestellt wurde.Die schlagenden Burschenschaften sind bei der Beurteilung der FP besonders wichtig. Unter der Fhrung von Heinz-Christian Strache (Vandalia), Norbert Hofer (Marko-Germania), Johann Gudenus (Vandalia) und Manfred Haimbuchner (Alemannia) sind die Burschenschaften der innere Kern und die Personalreserve der FP geworden. Etliche davon stehen unter Rechtsextremismusverdacht. Historisch ist die Antwort klar: Die FP (und ihre Vorluferpartei VdU) war eine "Grndung von Ex-Nazis fr Ex-Nazis" (der Politologe Anton Pelinka). Aber: Beim "Akademikerball" 2018 hielt Strache eine Rede, in der er den versammelten schlagenden Burschenschaftern eine klare Absage an den Antisemitismus vorhielt und den Nationalsozialismus verurteilte. Letzteres tat er auch bei verschiedenen anderen Gelegenheiten. FP-Mitglieder und -Funktionre aus der dritten Reihe, die durch NS-Affinitt, entsprechende Postings in den sozialen Medien etc. auffielen, wurden groteils aus ihren mtern entfernt oder aus der FP ausgeschlossen. Allerdings ist die Zahl dieser " FP-Einzelflle " sehr gro. Rechtsextrem ist die polnische Regierungspartei PiS, die die Aushebelung des Verfassungsgerichts mit der Parole begrndete: "ber dem Recht steht das Wohl des Volkes. "Rechtsextrem ist der italienische Innenminister und De-facto-Premier von der Lega, Matteo Salvini, der Migranten in ffentlichen Verkehrsmitteln separieren, Sinti und Roma "zhlen" will und die "guten Dinge" an Mussolini preist. In Deutschland hat der Verfassungsschutz die Parlamentspartei AfD als Rechtsextremismus-Verdachtsfall auf eine "Prfliste" gesetzt. Interessant dabei die Begrndung, nmlich der "biologistisch-rassistische oder ethnisch-kulturelle Volksbegriff". Wer "eine Gesellschaft will, in der bestimmten Gruppen von Menschen ein von vorneherein abgewerteter rechtlicher Status zugeschrieben wird und diese einer demtigenden Ungleichbehandlung ausgesetzt werden, wendet sich gegen die Garantie der Menschenwrde". Innerhalb der EU gibt es bereits drei rechtsextreme Regierungen bzw. fhrende Politiker. Parallel mit dem Aufstieg rechter Parteien in Europa. Verhltnismig einfach ist die Sache mit dem Rechtskonservativismus (siehe Wissen). Er will eine andere Gesellschaft, hat aber keine undemokratischen Ziele und Methoden. Aber die Grenzen zwischen Rechtspopulismus und Rechtsextremismus verschwimmen, und auch innerhalb des Rechtspopulismus gibt es Schattierungen. Wenn der Wiener Brgermeister Michael Ludwig lnger in der Stadt ansssige Brger beim Zugang zu Wohnungen und Arbeitspltzen gegenber Neuzuwanderern bevorzugen woll, so ist das argumentierbar, aber milde rechtspopulistisch. Fragen, die ziemlich engagiert in den Onlineforen, auch des STANDARD, diskutiert werden. Burschenschafter am Akademikerball in der Wiener Hofburg. Am Freitagabend wird die Wiener Innenstadt wieder von Uniformen aller Arten beherrscht werden: einerseits die schlagenden Burschenschafter entweder in "Vollwichs" oder im Frack, aber mit schwarz-rot-goldener Schrpe und ebensolchem Mtzenband (Version Strache und Hofer); andererseits mglicherweise wieder der "Schwarze Block" der (meist deutschen) Linksextremen mit vorschriftsmigem Kapuzenpulli; dazwischen die Einsatzpolizei in ihrem schweren "Riot-Gear", die die einen vor den anderen schtzen soll.Es ist wieder "Akademikerball" in der Hofburg. Hinweis: Chat mit Hans Rauscher Hans Rauscher wird am Donnerstag ab 14:30 Uhr mit Ihnen, liebe Leserinnen und Leser, zu diesem ewig jungen Thema diskutieren. Posten Sie Ihre Einschtzungen und Fragen zum Thema "Was ist heute rechtsextrem?" bereits hier im Forum. Diese Postings werden in der User-Diskussion aufgegriffen. Lexikon der Spielarten der politischen Rechten Rechtskonservatismus Er ist eine Spielart des Konservativismus insgesamt. Konservative wollen eine traditionelle gesellschaftliche Ordnung, die sie begnstigt, entweder beibehalten oder wiederherstellen; oder durch einen neuen (Neo-)Konservatismus so adaptieren, dass diese Ordnung lebensfhig bleibt. Etwa im Sinne des Frsten in Lampedusas Roman "Der Leopard": "Wenn alles so bleiben soll, wie es ist, muss sich alles verndern." Der Rechtskonservatismus stellt im Unterschied zum Liberalkonservatismus einen weitgehenden Ausschlielichkeitsanspruch. Die liberale Rechte will auch anderen politischen Strmungen eine Wettbewerbschance geben, der Rechtskonservatismus betrachtet andere Ideologien mit uerstem Misstrauen, geht aber meist nicht so weit, das demokratische System selbst infrage zu stellen. Rechtskonservative glauben an die Ungleichheit des Menschen und stehen emanzipatorischen Bemhungen der Linken und Liberalen skeptisch gegenber. Aktuelles Beispiel: Rechtskonservativ ist, wenn Sebastian Kurz sagt, die Krzung der Mindestsicherung solle "die Menschen stark machen und nicht in Abhngigkeit halten". Rechtspopulismus Populismus zielt auf die Erzeugung von Stimmungen und einfache "Lsungen" ohne Rcksicht auf die Realitt ab. Das kann mildere Formen annehmen, aber auch klar autoritre. Nach der Definition des deutschen Politologen Jan-Werner Mller (Was ist Populismus?) erheben (Rechts-)Populisten einen Alleinvertretungsanspruch: "Wir sind das wahre Volk." Alle anderen sind daher illegitim und mssen ausgegrenzt werden, besonders "Eliten". Soziale Wohltaten sollen "an das einzig wahre Volk gehen und nicht an diejenigen, die nicht dazugehren"; Populisten lieben Verschwrungstheorien, weil sie einfache Erklrungen liefern. Einmal an die Regierung gelangt, verstehen sie Regieren als "nie endenden Wahlkampf" (Mller). Der Anspruch, das "wahre Volk" zu sein und den einzig authentischen Volkswillen zu vertreten, ist antipluralistisch und damit zumindest tendenziell antidemokratisch und ein flieender bergang zum Rechtsextremismus. Aktuelles Beispiel: Die von Sebastian Kurz, Heinz-Christian Strache, aber auch SP-Politikern vertretene Behauptung, Flchtlinge wollten nur "in unser Sozialsystem einwandern". Rechtsextremismus Das gemeinsame Merkmal von Rechtsextremismus seien Vorstellungen ber die Ungleichwertigkeit der Menschen, definierten 2006 deutsche Sozialwissenafter. Der (inzwischen emeritierte) Politologe der Uni Klagenfurt, Willibald Holzer, hat schon vor 25 Jahren im Handbuch des sterreichischen Rechtsextremismus die Hauptmerkmale des Rechtsextremismus herausgearbeitet. Ganz oben steht auch bei Holzer "die Behauptung natrlicher Ungleichheit", biologistisch gesehen und nicht hinterfragbar. Die Vlker seien mit einer "unvernderlichen Eigenart (Identitt) ausgestattet und dem Individuum ... sogar bergeordnet". Im Unterschied zum Rechtskonservativismus ist der Rechtsextremismus aber sehr viel eher bereit, andere gewaltsam zu unterdrcken.Weitere Merkmale: dauernder Protest gegen "das herrschende System und demokratische Institutionen"; die Berufung auf einen Alltagsverstand (gesundes Volksempfinden);"Sndenbockmentalitt" und Neigung zu verschwrungstheoretischen (paranoiden) Welterklrungen, in denen man sich gerne zum Opfer macht (Tter-Opfer-Umkehr);nationalisierende Geschichtsbetrachtung bis zur NS-Verharmlosung;kultureller Rassismus und (oft codierter) Antisemitismus; autoritre Einstellungen;eine von Gewaltmetaphern durchsetzte Sprache;Verwendung von "Volk" und Volksgemeinschaft" als zentralen Begriffen.Damit ergibt sich automatisch die Ausgrenzung und Bekmpfung des Fremden. Eine moderne Variante ist der Ethnopluralismus, der besonders von den sogenannten Identitren verwendet wird, als scheinbar harmlosere Form: "sterreich den sterreichern, die Trkei den Trken". Der Rechtsextremismus betrachtet manche Menschengruppen als inhrent minderwertig, weshalb ihnen nur ein minderer Rechtsstatus zusteht. Jeder Individualismus, jede freie Entwicklung des Einzelnen gefhrdet die Einheit des "wahren Volkes". Alle Bewegungen, die nach einer Emanzipation der Menschen streben, sind daher Feindbilder des Rechtsextremismus. Da sozusagen das eigene Volk nicht irren oder Verbrechen begehen kann, werden der Nationalsozialismus und der Faschismus verharmlost bzw. ihre Verbrechen berhaupt geleugnet. Damit ist auch die Grenze zum Neonazismus berschritten.Ganz wichtig sind Sndenbcke ("Auslnder", Muslime). Sie sind notwendig, um ihnen die Verantwortung fr echte Missstnde zuzuschieben, aber auch um erfundene Missstnde instrumentalisieren zu knnen. Rechtsextreme betrachten die Konsensdemokratie als gefhrliche Schwche fr das Wohl des "wahren Volkes". Demokratische Institutionen wie Parlament und Grundrechte, aber auch eine intensive Brgerbeteiligung an der Politik widersprechen diesem Ideal. Das fhrt zum Autoritarismus als "einzig wahrer" Herrschaftsform des Rechtsextremismus.Entsprechend seinem Anspruch auf absolute, durch keine soziale, moralische oder zivilisierte Begrenzung eingeschrnkte Herrschaft ist der Rechtsextremismus folgerichtig auch absolut gewaltbereit. Aktuelles Beispiel: Rechtsextrem ist etwa, wenn FP-Klubobmann Johann Gudenus sagt: "Jetzt heit es Knppel aus dem Sack! fr alle Asylbetrger, Verbrecher, illegalen Auslnder, kriminellen Islamisten und linken Schreier!" Zum Thema: | https://derstandard.at/2000096928358/Was-ist-heute-eigentlich-rechtsextrem?ref=rss |
Are top-fund lists worth looking at? | Advisers are questioning the value that best-buy fund lists have after Hargreaves Lansdowns opinion-splitting decision to reform its flagship Wealth 150. According to a recent report from consultancy Platforum, 61 per cent of advisers use the services of fund research agencies, while an increasing number of providers and fund supermarkets are launching lists of the top funds they recommend. Seeing the forest through the trees Hargreaves decision earlier this month to trim its Wealth 150 to a new Wealth 50 list, leaving out stars like Terry Smith but sticking with an under-pressure Neil Woodford, created a significant buzz among investors. The general consensus among advisers, however, seems to be to not put much weight behind such decisions. Serenity Financial Planning adviser Tina Weeks says her firm prefers to use evidence-based portfolios rather than pay attention to fund lists. Thomas and Thomas financial planner Darren Lloyd Thomas says his firm does not pay attention to fund lists in order to remain impartial. He says: We wouldnt use them, because we like to be independent, so it is important to us that we follow our own investment processes and are not subject to outer influence. Others do not pay attention to these lists, as they feel that they are too broad and therefore irrelevant for their firms investment process. Ethical Investors managing director Lee Coates says that his firm only uses ethical funds so it cannot use traditional best-buy schedules. The updated Hargreaves Lansdown list, for example, segmented its 63 recommended funds into sectors, but only one fund made the ethical category. Coates says: Its difficult, because ethical funds are so personal to the ethics of the individual. It is virtually impossible to have 40 of the most ethical funds because of different ethics, so it is near enough impossible to use them for us. Appealing to the right audience While advisers asked by Money Marketing do not seem to give much weight to top-fund charts, they are often not the lists primary target. Hargreaves list is mainly intended for the platforms clients, who, according to a spokesman, use its investment platform on a direct-to-consumer basis. Similarly, Fidelitys Select 50 list appears on its direct platform Fidelity Personal Investing. Its platform for advisers, FundsNetwork, does not have a best-buy or top-funds ranking. A Fidelity spokesman says: We launched the Select 50 to make it easier for investors to choose from more than 2,000 funds available on Fidelitys open architecture Personal Investing platform. The Select 50 allows investors to benefit directly from the expertise and insight of our investment analysts, helping them make better-informed decisions to meet their long-term investment goals. AJ Bells platform offers its own select list to its direct customers, rather than to intermediaries. An AJ Bell spokesman says: Our favourite fund list is only available and marketed via our direct-to-consumer business. Of course, advisers could go and look at it because it is on the AJ Bell Youinvest website but we dont promote it to advisers. Square Mile Researchs list, the Academy of Funds, on the other hand, is meant for advisers only, with a cautionary note that limits access to the list on the companys website. Directing traffic The best way to determine whether including a fund on one of these lists bears any weight would be to look at whether it prompted flows into featured funds. Flows into individual funds on the list through those channels are rarely disclosed. When asked whether Bestinvest which runs the Spot the Dog list of underperforming funds keeps data on outflows from funds after they make the list, its communication managing director Jason Hollands says: This isnt something weve looked at in any systematic way. Spot the Dog is produced for direct investors, so isnt aimed at IFAs who will need to take their own view on whether to hold or switch out of funds enduring prolonged periods of poor performance. What I can say is that funds with three years of steep underperformance are often already experiencing outflows and we have certainly seen investors look to move where they have these funds though our message is that this is not a sell list per se. It is also the case that over the years a number of dog funds have subsequently been snuffed out entirely, merged or closed down, as groups decided to cut out uncompetitive products. AJ Bell, Fidelity and Hargreaves responded to this by saying that they do not disclose flows into individual funds. However, a Hargreaves spokesman says that the Wealth 150 the Wealth 50s predecessor used to make up around 40 per cent of funds on its investment platform. | https://www.moneymarketing.co.uk/top-fund-lists-no-country-for-advisers/ |
Has unhappy Mahrez been given the Sane treatment by Pep? | Pep Guardiola's terse response was something of a giveaway. Asked about Riyad Mahrez's absence from the Manchester City squad at Huddersfield, the Catalan had just four words in total. "Rotation, tactical decision," he offered. "No." And that was it. Usually there is a lengthy reason, outlining why everybody deserves to play, and that he feels sad or unfair for leaving somebody out altogether. EUROPEAN SOCCER LIVE & IN HD ON DAZN | DAZN CA Guardiola knows how to say just enough without saying too much when he has an issue with one of his players; he did it with Sergio Aguero, Benjamin Mendy and, to a lesser extent, Leroy Sane, and it appears to be the case with Mahrez now. Sources close to the City squad have told Goal that the Algerian has complained about his lack of playing time of late. The City boss said on Tuesday that team selection and keeping everybody happy is "the hardest part" of his job, though the burden is not entirely on his shoulders; earlier this season, he told his players they have to be happy in training or they'll be out. "Everybody plays," Guardiola argued. "There's not one guy with more than two or three games without minutes. They have to show me what they can do and, after that, I make a selection." So, the players must grin and bear it if they have a problem and perhaps Mahrez is not quite there at the moment. City's club record signing started against both Burton and Rotherham in the cup competitions at the start of January but has not featured in the Premier League since the win at Southampton over Christmas. He was left on the bench against Liverpool and Wolves and left out completely at Huddersfield on Sunday. Members of the City squad have become aware of Mahrez's discontent in the past couple of weeks and expect him to start at Burton on Wednesday night, as Guardiola fields a team comprising youth team prospects and players in need of game time. On Tuesday, Guardiola was asked about whether players have been especially unhappy about being left out of matches in recent weeks, but he instead protested that everybody, with the exception of Fabian Delph, who was banned, has been given plenty of opportunities and that they should be happy. Yet that does not answer the question whether players feel grateful for those opportunities or not. "I have an incredible squad," Guardiola said last week after Kevin De Bruyne was named on the bench against Wolves. "If Kevin plays it's because he deserves to play. [Ilkay] Gundogan made six or seven assists in the last two games but didn't play today. Both deserve to play. "Bernardo deserves to play, Dinho for what he has done against Liverpool. It is what it is. Today one of my favourite players, Phil [Foden], was in the stands but there are a lot of games. "Maybe next game new players are going to play, but they have to be ready. They have to know that they have to play good, because if not another one is going to play." Even when Sane was left out of the squad altogether back in September, with sources telling Goal the night before the game that the Germany international was being sent a message, Guardiola stood up for him in public. "Last game Phil Foden was not in the squad," the Catalan said at the time. "We were so sad for Phil like I am sad for Leroy now. "But sometimes I have to leave one out because we have six strikers and I decided to play with two strikers, we have two wingers plus another one on the bench so that's why we decided for this game he would not be there." It was completely fair logic, even if it was not completely honest. But there wasn't even any of that on Sunday and given Foden, the man who usually misses out, was on the bench in Mahrez's place, it shows that something is not quite right. Guardiola even said on Tuesday that he has told his players this month that if they are not happy they should go to see the club's sporting director and arrange a transfer elsewhere, although there is no suggestion Mahrez's situation is anywhere near as dramatic as that. It wasn't with Sane, either. Guardiola simply felt the Germany international needed a kick up the backside to correct his focus and the winger, to his credit, has responded brilliantly to his spell on the sidelines. Aided by Mendy's injury, Sane has nailed down his place in the City team and is one of the most in-form players in the league once again. That is the challenge that now faces Mahrez. | http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/soccer/news/has-unhappy-mahrez-been-given-the-sane-treatment-by-pep/1b1h1y7thlrm81m3e7j400l3dp |
Who will be Laois' All Time Great? | Since its launch a few weeks ago, the search for Laois' All Time Great has certainly been generating some conversation with suggestions coming in from near and far. Now the nominations are in and the shortlisting is revealed, as the Leinster Express prepares to find out who readers believe is Laois' All Time Great. The search drew people from all sections of the community: business, charity, sport, entertainment, politics and historical. Now that we have unveiled the final shortlist, we will launch our series of polls pitting our nominees head-to-head to make it to the quarter-final, the semi-final and eventually, the final in the coming weeks. All will be revealed this week! Its the ultimate quest for Laois' All Time Great and you, the reader, will decide who is truly worthy of this prestigious accolade. To cast your vote in round one go to www.leinsterexpress.ie on Friday and get involved! | https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/all-time-greats/359442/who-will-be-laois-all-time-great.html |
What? How Much Is a Hot Dog at the Super Bowl? | First of all, I can't afford the tickets, and secondly, I have too much fun in my own living room on Super Bowl Sunday. I've often wondered what food will cost at the Super Bowl. I was amazed to learn the prices for this year. Most people go to the Super Bowl for the football, but those who plan to attend the game with the goal of scarfing down as much food as possible are in luck. The Atlanta Falcons announced they wont raise their food or drink prices when the Patriots take on the L.A. Rams on Sunday, February 3rd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For example, fans can buy a pretzel or a hot dog for just $2.00, waffle fries for $3.00, and bottle of water for just $2.00. These are incredibly fair prices for any event. especially the Super Bowl! I'll spend $100 on groceries at home! | http://ksoo.com/what-how-much-is-a-hot-dog-at-the-super-bowl/ |
What South Dakotan Has Played The Most NFL Games? | Well geez, that's easy. It's got to be Adam Vinatieri . Yes. Yes it is, and you're right, that's an easy one. Vinateiri has been playing in the NFL for about a hundred years ( OK, since 1996 ) and wants to play again next year. That football going straight through the goal posts is a familiar sight when the Rapid City native puts his foot to the ball. He's still got it, so you can bet an NFL team somewhere (Vikings?) will want to have him trot onto the field to kick another game winner. Hmmm... Make your best guess, and before we get to that, just so you know, Adam is inching to most games played in the NFL ever ! Adam is at 353, and tied for second with Gary Anderson behind #1 Morten Andersen (382). Yes, they're all kickers. It's the healthiest spot on the roster of an NFL team. Well, we need to head west river again. Rapid City's John Dutton played in 185 games for the Baltimore Colts ( Yes Virginia, the Colts were once in Baltimore ) but more notably with the Dallas Cowboys. Pro Football Reference Has A Complete rundown of South Dakotans who played in the NFL , and it's a pretty good size list! Wikipedia Contributed To This Story | http://ksoo.com/what-south-dakotan-has-played-the-most-nfl-games/ |
Can we make artificial intelligence ethical? | A live demonstration uses artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology at CES 2019, on Jan. 10 in Las Vegas. (David McNew/AFP/Getty Images) (David Mcnew/AFP/Getty Images) Stephen A. Schwarzman is chairman, CEO and co-founder of Blackstone, an investment firm. I am not an engineer. Or a coder. Or a scientist. But I am someone who has spent years looking at companies and industries to see which are poised for growth and which are on the decline. And one thing I see every day is that most companies and industries are about to be transformed, if they havent been already, by artificial intelligence. AI will reshape the world in ways we cant imagine, much as the printing press and the Internet did at their inceptions. That means the United States must remain the lead player in AI if we are to guarantee our future in a competitive global economy. Already, many countries are investing heavily in artificial intelligence, and the United States, too, has made great progress. But this is a moment that calls for Americas unique capacity for leadership, not just in advancing the technology, but in preparing for the ethical questions and disruptions AI will create. Too often, we think only about increasing our competitiveness in terms of advancing the technology. But the effort cant just be about making AI more powerful. It must also be about making sure AI has the right impact. AIs greatest advocates describe the Utopian promise of a technology that will save lives, improve health and predict events we previously couldnt anticipate. AIs detractors warn of a dystopian nightmare in which AI rapidly replaces human beings at many jobs and tasks. If we want to realize AIs incredible potential, we must also advance AI in a way that increases the publics confidence that AI benefits society. We must have a framework for addressing the impacts and the ethics. Companies must take the lead in addressing key ethical questions surrounding AI. This includes exploring how to avoid biases in AI algorithms that can prejudice the way machines and platforms learn and behave and when to disclose the use of AI to consumers, how to address concerns about AIs effect on privacy and responding to employee fears about AIs impact on jobs. As Thomas H. Davenport and Vivek Katyal argue in the MIT Sloan Management Review, we must also recognize that AI often works best with humans instead of by itself. Thats especially true in cases in which human judgments are necessary to identify content that is inappropriate, or areas such as marketing where companies must ensure AI doesnt inadvertently apply biases. These situations benefit from people who are bilingual, marrying AI fluency with expertise in fields as varied as history and cross-cultural communication. And then, of course, theres the question of workforce disruption. Trucking and ride-sharing companies, for example, will be among the first to take advantage of self-driving vehicles. An ethics-driven approach would seek to understand and develop new opportunities as the demand for drivers declines. An ethical approach to AI requires coming up with a long-term understanding of the values we want to see reflected in this technology and shaping rules that create confidence AIs applications will reflect those values. Those values and rules will be found at the intersection of ethics, law and international relations; they wont come from Silicon Valley alone. But universities full of critical thinkers, insulated from short-term market pressures and focused on big ideas are the proper place for advancing the technology and the implications they bring. The federal government will need to provide significant increases in funding for AI to help the United States maintain its technical edge and step up its coordinating role in the ethics and workplace arenas. Weve seen this collaborative model work very well before, from the Human Genome Project to the early days of the Internet. This is the key reason I helped conceptualize and provide foundational funding for the new College of Computing at MIT in Boston. MIT and other universities are best positioned to employ a multidisciplinary approach to AI that is focused on the ethical application of its uses in the real world. The sooner we come to an understanding of AI that ensures its powerful capabilities are a net positive for people and workers, the more wisely we can develop and deploy it. And the more talented young people from all disciplines we train to think critically about AI, the more we can guarantee our leadership in this vital area for the long term. Read more: Robert J. Samuelson: Why robots wont steal all our jobs Erik Brynjolfsson, Xiang Hui and Meng Liu: Artificial intelligence can transform the economy Feng Xiang: AI will spell the end of capitalism Bill LaPlante and Katharyn White: Five myths about artificial intelligence Letters: Humans are bad at understanding AI | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/01/23/can-we-make-artificial-intelligence-ethical/ |
Which Super League forwards would make Hull FC's team? | Get Hull FC updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email One of the big issues relating to Hull FC during the off-season and into the pre-season has been the depth of the clubs pack. The Black and Whites have plenty of options in the front row and the back row ahead of the new season but the front row in particular is light on experience to start the year. Lingering injuries to Josh Bowden, Chris Green and the uncertain knocks for Levy Nzoungou and Lewis Bienek mean Hull could be under the pump come round one. One of the ways to look at this is to ultimately see how many forwards from other sides would be in Hulls best 17. Starting with arguably the best pack in the league and Castleford Tigers look strong ahead of the new season. The likes of front rowers Liam Watts, Grant Millington and Junior Moors would warrant spots in the FC side, as would back rowers Mike McMeeken, Adam Milner and Jesse Sene-Lefao. But Castleford are a rare breed right now. Not many teams are that talented in the pack. Even lesser name Nathan Massey would probably do a good job for Hull somewhere. Catalans Dragons, for instance, are not as stacked as the Tigers but still have some strong forwards. Remi Casty and Sam Moa are solid, while the back row of Kenny Edwards, Benjamin Garcia and Greg Bird trumps FCs. Huddersfield Giants, however, only have two players who realistically could break into the Black and Whites side in Ukuma Taai and Sebastine Ikahihifo. More FC forwards would warrant spots at the Giants. Another team not exactly swimming in forward talent is Hull KR. Robbie Mulhern and Mitch Garbutt would be starters at most Super League clubs but delve further down the list and only Joel Tomkins jumps out. Leeds Rhinos have plenty of talent but only Adam Cuthbertson, Brad Singleton and Stevie Ward particularly lead the way. London Broncos dont have any forwards of real note, while Josh Jones is the only star at Salford Red Devils. St Helens is naturally a different story. The reigning League Leaders Shield have talent such as Alex Walmsley and Luke Thompson in the front row who are special players at this level. (Image: SWpix) Zeb Taia, Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Joseph Paulo are also outstanding options in the back row. Even a player such as Kyle Amor would do a job for Hull. Moving across to Wakefield and this may be a bit controversial but considering the new interchange rule which should minimise the influence of big and heavy forwards, its fair to say Hull would not benefit too much from having any of the Trinity forwards. Pauli Pauli and David Fifita are strong in short stints but it remains to be seen if they are as effective with less rest. Warrington Wolves are again a different story. Much like Castleford and Saints, they have an outstanding pack. Chris Hill, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie, Jack Hughes, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Jason Clark would all have a home in FCs team. The final team is Wigan Warriors and much like Wakefield, its not a group of forwards that has the edge on Hull. Sean OLoughlin and Liam Farrell are the exception but Hull arguably have a stronger front row. To sum up, there are four teams with packs this writer would deem as stronger than Hulls at this point. They are Castleford, Catalans, Saints and Warrington. But that puts the Black and Whites right in the middle of the road when it comes to the forwards in this years Super League. Its fair to say Hull would love some of the players mentioned above but they do have plenty of potential and well have to wait and see what FC provide. FC do look like light by one seasoned professional in the front row but that could be made up by the potential amongst the young and fringe members of the squad. One things for certain, the pressure is on Hulls forwards this year. Follow the Black and Whites on Hull Live Our daily newsletter - To get the latest headlines direct to your email inbox every day, click here. Follow our Hull FC page on Facebook - Like our Facebook page to get the latest news in your feed and join in the lively discussions in the comments. Click here to give it a like! Follow us on Twitter - For breaking news and the latest stories, click here to follow our Hull FC page on Twitter. | https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-news/hull-fc-news-super-league-2461223 |
How far can tail posture act as an indicator of tail-biting? | In a new study, the scoring of pigs with hanging tails at feeding was found to be a useful tool for identifying tail damage, which may otherwise be difficult to detect by the caretaker. Authors Torun Wallgren, Anne Larsen and Stefan Gunnarsson (2019). Animals, 210: 26-37. Special Issue Environmental Enrichment of Pigs. Tail biting is a large welfare problem in modern pig production, causing pain and reduced health and production. The identification of tail biting is important for minimising the risk of the escalation of the behaviour and its consequences. Tail posture (ie, tail hanging or curled) has been suggested to depend on the presence of tail wounds and, therefore, has been suggested as an indicator of tail biting. The aim of this study was to investigate if tail posture was feasible as a tail damage indicator in a commercial setting. The study was carried out on one batch of 459 un-docked finishing pigs (30120 kg in weight). Weekly scoring of tail posture was combined with the scoring of tail lesions. Tail posture was observed at feeding to facilitate the usage of the method in commercial settings. A curly tail was observed in 94 percent of the observations. Pigs with tails scored with wound were 4.15 (p < 0.0001) times more likely to have hanging tails, and pigs scored with inflamed wounds were 14.24 (p < 0.0001) times more likely to have hanging tails, compared to pigs with nondamaged tails. Tail posture correctly classified tails with wound or inflamed wound 67.5 percent of the time, with 55.2 percent sensitivity and 79.7 percent specificity, respectively. By observing the tail position at feeding, we were able to identify pigs with tail wounds in 68 percent of cases simply by scoring pigs with hanging tails. To conclude, the scoring of pigs with hanging tails at feeding was found to be a useful tool for identifying tail damages, which may otherwise be difficult to detect by the caretaker. | http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/45919/how-far-can-tail-posture-act-as-an-indicator-of-tailbiting/ |
How can computer-based learning aid with on-farm pig euthanasia? | The first interactive euthanasia-specific training programme in the US swine industry offers the potential to improve timely and humane on-farm pig euthanasia. Authors Mullins, C.R., Pairis-Garcia, M.D., Campler, M.R., Anthony, R., Johnson, A.K., Coleman, G.J. and Rault, J.L., 2018. The development of an interactive computer-based training program for timely and humane on-farm pig euthanasia. Journal of veterinary medical education, pp.1-8. Study abstract With extensive knowledge and training in the prevention, management, and treatment of disease conditions in animals, veterinarians play a critical role in ensuring good welfare on swine farms by training caretakers on the importance of timely euthanasia. To assist veterinarians and other industry professionals in training new and seasoned caretakers, an interactive computer-based training programme was created. It consists of three modules, each containing five case studies, which cover three distinct production stages (breeding stock, piglets, and wean to grower-finisher pigs). Case study development was derived from five specific euthanasia criteria defined in the 2015 Common Swine Industry Audit, a nationally recognised auditing programmed used in the US. Case studies provide information regarding treatment history, clinical signs, and condition severity of the pig and prompt learners to make management decisions regarding pig treatment and care. Once a decision is made, feedback is provided so learners understand the appropriateness of their decision compared to current industry guidelines. In addition to training farm personnel, this programme may also be a valuable resource if incorporated into veterinary, graduate, and continuing education curricula. This innovative tool represents the first interactive euthanasia-specific training programme in the US swine industry and offers the potential to improve timely and humane on-farm pig euthanasia. | http://www.thepigsite.com/swinenews/45918/how-can-computerbased-learning-aid-with-onfarm-pig-euthanasia/ |
What is Kim Kardashian's net worth? | From the infamous TV show that catapulted her into the spotlight, to a lucrative marriage with one of the world's biggest rap stars - here's everything you need to know about Kim Kardashian and how she made her fortune. Kris Jenner and Robert Kardashian welcomed their daughter Kim into the world on 21 October 1980 - which makes her 38 years old in 2019. She grew up with her sisters, Kourtney and Khloe, her brother Rob, and her two half-sisters Kendall and Kylie. Her step-parent is Caitlyn Jenner (formerly known as Bruce Jenner). Kim with her mum Kris and sisters Khloe and Kendall Kim Kardashian - who was once a friend of heiress Paris Hilton - first hit headlines in 2007 when a sex tape that involved her and her ex-boyfriend Ray J was leaked on the internet. Later that year, Kim and her family began to appear in the ongoing hit E! television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians. This also led to two spin off shows, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Kourtney and Khlo Take Miami. She has since made further TV appearances, including a short stint on Dancing with the Stars with Shirley Ballas' son, Mark Ballas, and as a guest judge on America's Next Top Model. Kim has appeared on international magazine covers and even made a cameo appearance in the Ocean's 8 film. She is considered by many as a cultural icon of the digital 'selfie' age. According to Forbes, Kim Kardashian West was worth $350million in 2018 - which is around 268,520,000. Part of this fortune is thanks to her makeup brand KKW Beauty, which focuses on contouring kits. She owns 100% of the business and Forbes estimated that it had made $100million in revenue last year. Kim is number 54 on the fourth annual list of America's Richest Self-Made Women. Her sister, Kylie Jenner, also owns a makeup company and is widely predicted to become the world's "youngest ever self-made billionaire". Kim's social media presence plays a huge part in her fortune. With over 125 million followers on her Instagram (@kimkardashian), she really doesn't need to worry about wasting money on marketing her brand. Kim also posts sponsored photos and has come under scrutiny for the products she chooses to promote in exchange for money - including 'weight loss lollies'. In 2017, Michael Heller, CEO of digital marketing firm Talent Resources the same firm that arranges most of the Kardasian family's deals and endorsements told Us Weekly that Kim charged up to $500,000 per post in that year. Kim with Kanye and their children Kim married her third husband, rapper Kanye West, in 2014. According to Capital Extra, the controversial public figure was said to be worth $160million in 2018 ($190million less than Kim!). They have three children together: North West, Saint West and Chicago West. The couple announced they are expecting their fourth child this year, who will be born via surrogacy. Sign up to our newsletter to get other stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. | https://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2019012366965/what-is-kim-kardashian-net-worth/ |
Did Meghan Markle just lend The Duchess of Cornwall her handbag? | The handbag the royals can't get enough of... The Duchess of Cornwall looked her typically fabulous self on Wednesday afternoon as she paid a visit to the Jewish Cares Brenmer Centre. Dressed head-to-toe in racing green, the wife of Prince Charles looked in great spirits as she greeted the community. The Duchess carried a lovely tote bag, in the same green shade - by DeMellier London. The 295 arm candy is known as the 'Mini Venice' and you can purchase it in a variety of different shades including purple and blush pink. However, you may not know that this particular handbag was also carried by The Duchess of Sussex in January 2018! After all, sharing is caring and the bag itself goes perfectly with the mother-of-two's all-green look. Plus, the royal family are known for being frugal with their fashion - regularly recycling the same items - so you never know! Duchess Camilla carried a green tote by DeMellier London Mother-to-be Meghan, 37, styled her bag slightly differently to Camilla. On an official visit to Cardiff last year, the former Suits star wore a smart black jacket by Stella McCartney and a matching scarf, while wearing trousers by Welsh brand Hieut Denim, and a pair of black velvet heeled boots. Meghan has the same handbag, which she carried in Cardiff Her bag was the perfect finishing accessory and sold out as soon she was pictured with it. DeMellier London founder Mireia Llusia-Lindh told HELLO! : "We are truly honoured that Meghan is wearing one of our bags, she is a fantastic role model to women all over the world and a great addition to the Royal family." 295, DeMellier London Many of Meghan's accessories became instant sell-outs. MORE: The Duchess of Cornwall's special link to Prince Louis The royal caused a sensation online when she visited Brixton last year - not only was this the first time she rocked a 'messy bun' but the 45 knitted jumper she wore was from British high street chain Marks & Spencer and was selling for four times the amount on eBay. READ: The Duchess of Cornwall takes a fashion risk and wow, just wow | https://www.hellomagazine.com/fashion/royal-style/2019012366972/meghan-markle-same-handbag-as-camilla-parker-bowles/ |
Why must tweens and teens and their parents always argue? | (Photo: Gettyimages) Actually, not all teens and all parents argue with each other all the time. But most do it at least some of the time, about a wide variety of topics. It's not just about failing to do household chores, or spending too much time on the cellphone, or staying up or out late. As our January Student Voices essay and video contest winners can attest, it can run the gamut from empty and half-empty water bottles being left piled up in the bedroom, to having to find a babysitter for a pet lizard to being forced to participate in an annual Family Weeding Day. Congratulations to all the winners: First place winner: Grades 7-8 Asbury Park Press' October Student Voices Contest Winner, Mya Burgos (Photo: Mya Burgos) Chickens, lizard, dog at center of debates I don't care what Dad says when he comes home from work and the back deck is covered in three-inch deep chicken poop. I'm keeping my animals. I don't fight much with my parents, and when I do, it's usually about my animals. Yeah, I'll admit, the pets are a pain, and I'd have so much more free time if we did get rid of them, and, yes, I'd probably get my sense of smell back, but they are my family, so I love them. So deal with the poop. And, yeah, sure, Dad has a good point that getting a babysitter for eight animals is no cheap task, but Grandma enjoys taking care of the lizards. They even each have their own little guest towels. I have no idea why, but the lizards seem happy when we drop them off there and clean when we pick them up, so I don't ask. But even I have to admit that Dad has a point when he brings up Pumpkin. Such an innocent name for such a cold-blooded assassin. She easily kills squirrels and chipmunks and mice. And birds. And rats. And rabbits. And one or twice I've seen her dragging an opossum twice her size across the street. But her purr is so adorable! Yes, the chickens poop. And Pumpkin kills. And the lizards stink. And the dog sits on our heads. But they're my family, and they're worth fighting for. And they're still here, despite the poop. So thanks Dad. I need to take a break from writing now; I'm curled up on the dog's bed and my back is killing me. Pumpkin stole my chair. I was afraid of what she'd do to me if I moved her. Mya Burgos, Memorial Middle School First place winner: Grades 9-12 Maggie Capasso of Freehold Township High School won first place in the Student Voices Essay and Video Contest. (Photo: Cheryl Lanza) Empty bottles in room get under mother's skin My mom is one of my best friends and we are a good example of the apple not falling too far from the tree. She listens to me, we laugh at the same jokes, and we both cry during Hallmark movies. My mom and I spend most of our weekends together, and I am definitely the favorite child, even thought she won't admit it. While I stay home on weekends instead of partying, do all my homework and try to keep my grades up, my mother still finds a reason to yell at me. In my room, I tend to collect water bottles. Some are empty, some are mostly full, and some are in between. My mom cannot stand my collection of Poland Springs, and we often get into arguments regarding the bottles. My mother was not a neat child and my grandmother drilled into her brain that cleanliness is an important aspect of life. She said that without being clean, nothing in life will go properly. Personally, I am not sure how that logic developed, but it is something I have been forced to live by. Since my grandmother had passed on her 'wisdom' to my mother, my mother has enforced the cleanliness rule for most of my life. Me, being the lazy person I am, hates this rule. However, I do not break it on purpose. Often, I drink a water bottle and bring it to my room, only to forget it when I go back downstairs so I get another. Quickly a wall of Poland Springs is built and my mother is Ronald Reagan changing, "tear down this wall." After being scolded for five minutes and arguing for another five minutes, I finally pile the bottles into a garbage bag and throw it in the recycling bin. Truly, my mother is probably right about my room being disgusting as my floor and dresser disappear into a sea of plastic, but I will never admit it. For now, I'll just keep arguing with her until it's time to throw away another bag of bottles. Maggie Capasso, Freehold Township High School First place video winners CLOSE Student Voices Video winners Brooke Bascom and Kelly Sweeney of Point Pleasant Borough High share what they argue with their parents about. Asbury Park Press Brooke Bascom and Kelly Sweeney, Grade 11, Point Pleasant Borough High School, Teacher: Shannon Orosz (Photo: Shannon Orosz) WATCH: Second place winner Watch:Third place winners Second place winner: Grades 7-8 Ryan Mclaughlin Spring Lake Heights Elementary won second place in the Student Voices Essay and Video Contest. (Photo: Nicole Kirk) Pulling my hair out on Family Weeding Day In my family, we have a special tradition one that everybody despises. While a bunch of special family traditions include consuming mouth-watering foods or watching a certain movie, our common spring and summer activities consist of pulling filthy weeds out of the soil and collecting narly twigs and sticks before tossing them in a pile on the street to be cleared by the town. These dreadful days are known as "Family Weeding Day," and all three of us children will do ANYTHING to make our way out of completing this task our most frequent strategy being putting up a fight. "But I already made plans with my friends!" I cry, praying that my dad will let me off the hook, though his common response will contain the swaying argument of "I told you that you would be weeding last night, specifically so you won't make plans with your friends!" "Well, I didn't hear you say that!" I lie. This is just the beginning of a lengthy debate that never fails to end with me in between a plethora of bushes, dirt falling down deeper and deeper into my fingernails, with the sun beating down on my aching back. Family Weeding Day has been going on for over a decade now, and I never fail to wonder why my parents, my admirable, compassionate parents, force us kids to do this gruesome task while containing a cluster of other options that don't end with me in the garden on my hand and knees. Recently, though, I have perceived that they do have valid reasons for making my siblings and me participate in Family Weeding Day. Many of them contribute to our success in our adult lives including teaching us how to be diligent in our work, and a coward when it comes to stepping out of our comfort zone and getting our hands dirty (literally). Knowing that my parents are only compelling us to assist them in the yard to make us finer in the long run almost will cause me not to protest, whine and grumble next time I am informed Family Weeding Day is coming up. Ryan McLaughlin, Spring Lake Heights Elementary. "Put your dishes in the dishwasher." "Make your bed." "Wake up earlier." "Go to the gym." "Do something with your life." I get it. These things are important. They teach us how to be responsible, hygienic and healthy. I just don't see why they have to happen Right Now. No, not later, this very instant young lady or I'm taking that phone and selling it. I happen to like to sit and reflect on a good microwaved meal after it's been prepared and devoured, or to catch up on the Z's I've been missing out on because of school. So, yeah, I'd love to clean the plates and the pots and pans (it's actually kind of satisfying), and I'll make my bed at around 12:30 in the afternoon after I've had my coffee and woken up. And trust me, I'd love to be a buff goddess and go to the gym five days a week, but it's so far away. But not when you tell me to do it. My parents always argue with me about how lazy I am and how hard I make their lives, but I prefer to use the word procrastinator. I just take a little longer than the usual goody-two-shoe, golden child my parents must have expected. And I understand that I need to know how to do chores and be active in order to live a happy, healthy, independent life, but part of that is the freedom to decide when to do that. Tell me when to do something and I guarantee that it'll take me an hour longer to do that out of sheer pettiness. So holy crap I'll do it in a minute! Jeez, let me live my life! Quinn Crowning, Point Pleasant Borough High School Second place video winner CLOSE Student Voices video winner, Nick Genovese of Saint Leo the Great School, shared what he argues with his mom about. Asbury Park Press Nick Genovese of Saint Leo The Great School won second place in the Student Voices Essay and Video Contest. (Photo: Lianne Brock) Watch:Third place winners Third place winner: Grades 7-8 Lesson learned about procrastinating on homework Damian Soumbeniotis of Millstone Middle School won third place in the Student Voices Essay and Video Contest. (Photo: Linda Nuzzi) "When is your project due, Damian?" I always finish my projects on time, it's no big deal. She should know that. She knows that. "It's due next week, mom, on Monday." "I want you to do it now and get it done so you don't have to do it later." But I have a whole week to do it! I can relax, now, I have time to do it later. "I don't want to do it now, I will do it tomorrow, I have other work to do today." So, days pass, and the cycle repeats itself. You feel like there is an endless amount of time until the work is due, because you're not currently working. Little do you know, time will eventually catch up with you. "Is your project done yet, son?" I will get it done, I always do. He should know that. He knows that. "No, dad, I was going to do it tomorrow, it's not due until Monday." The truth is, eventually, Sunday will come, and the work will never be done. I watch the sun go down beyond the horizon, as the joy of the weekend fades away, and helplessness sets in. I spend the last moments of my free time working on a project that could have been done a week ago. What I never seemed to realize is that waiting until the last moment never works. Not for anything. Although I always get the work done, it's never as thorough or well done as it could've been if I had done it earlier. Every day that I let go to waste, a sickening sense of dread would slowly fill me, like a ship slowly sinking into the sea. Now I can appreciate my parents wisely warning me to do my work early. No longer will we argue about completing work. Now, when I get an assignment, I do it as early as I can, so I can let the days after go by like a light breeze in my hair, knowing that my work is done and I can get started on bigger, better things. "Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well." -Mark Twain Damian Soumbeniotis, Millstone Township Middle School Third place winner: Grades 9-12 Lauren Evangelista of Lacey Township High School (Photo: Sandra Laird) Overreacting at request to take out the garbage Taylor's mom enters her room. Mom: Taylor, I need you to take out the garbage and clean your room; it's disgusting! Taylor looks up from her phone and looks around her room Taylor: It's not that bad, it's fine. I'll do it later or something. Mom: No I need you to do it now. Mom: Taylor do it now. Taylor: Oh come on, I'm watching a video and I... Mom: I said now! If I come back and this room has no progress being made, you're punished for the rest of the weekend. Taylor: Ugh, whatever. Taylor (in a fake, cheery voice): Nothing! Mom: And watch your tone, missy! Taylor's mom shuts the door and it makes a loud thud. She wait until her mom's footsteps slowly dissipate down the hallway, then slips her earbuds back in and continues to look at her phone. Fifteen minutes go by and nothing in Taylor's room looks cleaner nor is the garbage to the curb. Taylor hears her mom's footsteps stomping down the hallway to her room. Taylor: Oh shoot! (She whispers) Taylor springs from her bed and frantically throws anything on the floor into her closet. The rest, she kicks under her bed. The door opens slowly. Mom: Wow, Taylor, good job; it looks great. Taylor: Um, yeah, uh, thanks. Mom: Now please take the garbage out to the curb. Taylor: UGH! But I just cleaned my room! Mom (in an irritated voice): Taylor. I always do it! Mom: I'm not asking anyone else to do it, I'm asking you Taylor rolls her eyes and storms past her mom. She takes out the garbage as she was told with a sour look on her face and walks back in. Later Taylor realizes that all she was asked was to clean her room and take out the trash, and she made a huge fuss over it and overreacted. She apologizes to her mom and tells her she was sorry for her attitude. Lauren Evangelista, Lacey Township High School, Third place video winners CLOSE Heather VanDeventer & Florencia Ventura of Saint Leo the Great School won third place in the Student Voices Video contest. Asbury Park Press Heather Vandeventer and Florencia Ventura of Point Pleasant Borough High School won third place in the Student Voices Essay and Video Contest. : Student Voices December winners Read or Share this story: https://www.app.com/story/opinion/contributors/student-voices/2019/01/23/teenagers-parents-argue-cleaning-room-making-bed/2613059002/ | https://www.app.com/story/opinion/contributors/student-voices/2019/01/23/teenagers-parents-argue-cleaning-room-making-bed/2613059002/ |
Will South Carolina crack down on puppy mills? | COLUMBIA In some parts of South Carolina, hundreds of dogs are kept at one site often in unsanitary conditions to breed puppies sold to pet stores across the state and beyond. How those breeders do business gets little or no oversight from the state, allowing the operation of puppy mills that critics say are bad for dogs and people alike. But that could change if legislators adopt South Carolinas first-ever requirements for a commercial dog-breeding license. A proposal in the S.C. House would set standards for how dogs can be kept, and require inspections to breed and sell dogs empowering the state to crack down on puppy mill operations. Advocates say it is an authority the state needs. Bobby Arthur, animal shelter manager for Aiken County, told legislators Tuesday that he has seen hundreds of dogs removed from a puppy mill operator. But that happened only after the conditions amounted to animal cruelty the point at which animal control officers now can get involved. Its got to be complaint-driven, Arthur said of the system now. Were not welcome, have to go get a warrant. ICYMI: These are the top animal stories from the Independent Mail in 2018 Dana Long has a little more leeway. Long is an animal control officer in Orangeburg County, where a local ordinance requires inspections of any dog breeder who has more than one breeding female. We had two little old ladies who between them had 172 dogs in horrible conditions, Long told legislators, adding her countys ordinance allowed inspectors to require the conditions be improved. We went back, and conditions had greatly improved, she said. Unsanitary conditions are not only bad for the dogs, but they can become a problem for new pet owners. Long says her department dealt with a mange outbreak that it traced to puppies sold on Facebook. Dogs from puppy mills also can spread disease to their humans. They bought a puppy because it was cute and fluffy, but they soon found out they were duped because of the poor shape they were in, said Marli Drum, the superintendent of Columbia Animal Services. Drum and others told lawmakers Tuesday they would like to see even tighter restrictions on breeders than legislators have proposed. The proposal currently before a House panel would define a commercial breeder as someone with 20 or more breeding females. That number should be reduced to five to seven, said Barbara Nelson, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Albrecht Center in Aiken. However, some state representatives worried the proposal gives inspectors too much leeway to inspect private homes, where many breeders operate. I have Fourth Amendment concerns, said state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, D-Charleston. If this bill passes, they open themselves up to warrantless searches of their home. But Kelsey Gilmore-Futeral, state director of the Humane Society of the U.S., compared the bill to home day-care centers inspected by the state Department of Social Services, where she formerly worked. One of the problems we had inspecting day cares is that people did not want DSS coming in, going through bedrooms, pulling back shower curtains, she said. If you run a business out of your home that requires regulation, youre subjecting yourselves to an overview of your private residence. Gilmore-Futeral added South Carolina is one of the few states that doesnt now require a breeders license. That makes us a magnet for people who cant breed in other states, she said, because we dont look at them at all. Read or Share this story: https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/2019/01/23/commercial-dog-breeding-south-carolina-crack-down-puppy-mills/2655599002/ | https://www.independentmail.com/story/news/2019/01/23/commercial-dog-breeding-south-carolina-crack-down-puppy-mills/2655599002/ |
What's with the new Washington police station lobby phone? | WASHINGTON There's a nondescript phone and sign on a wall in the lobby of the Washington police station. Nondescript, but essential. Washington's police dispatchers have been working temporarily since the end of October at the Tazewell/Pekin Consolidated Communications Center in Pekin, also known as Tazcomm. The dispatchers will move permanently sometime this spring to the renovated Morton police station as part of a state-mandated Tazewell County emergency response center consolidation. With the dispatchers gone, the Washington police station is no longer open to the public 24 hours a day. But it is staffed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week by police administrative service specialists, who can help people who come into the station. "We've found that nearly 98 percent of the people who come into our station come in between 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.," said Washington police chief Mike McCoy. From 11 p.m. to 7 a.m., people who come into the Washington police station can use the phone in the lobby to reach Tazcomm directly. The yellow sign taped to the wall over the phone has that information and lists lobby hours. The creation of the police administrative service specialist positions, those employees' hours, and their additional work responsibilities like police records and statistical analysis was the response of Washington city and police officials to the departure of the dispatchers. There are two full-time and three part-time police administrative service specialists. Two full-time dispatchers and one part-time dispatcher switched jobs and remained working at the Washington police station and two part-timers were hired. McCoy told the city council earlier this month he's satisfied so far with the arrangement at his police station. "We're keeping those folks busy," he said about the police administrative service specialists. Steve Stein can be reached at (248) 224-2616 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @SpartanSteve. | https://www.pekintimes.com/news/20190123/whats-with-new-washington-police-station-lobby-phone |
Who Smashed It Best? | I cant even begin to talk about last night. So Ill start with the good news. Americans Sam Querrey and Ryan Harrison have made in to the semis in mens doubles (tonight) at the Australian Open, besting Jack Sock, another fellow American, who is already one of the greatest doubles players of all time. Harrison will be in town in less than two weeks time for the RBC Tennis Championships of Dallas at the T Bar M Racquet Club, February 410. This is the annual local ATP tournament where you can see guys like Sock, Kei Nishikori, and the bicep-thumping Frances Tiafoe up close by the ice tea dispenser in the club hallway (Hey, Taylor Fritz!) for as little as $20. (Disclaimer: I am an at-large board member for the Dallas Tennis Association, which hosts a silent auction for the Dallas Tennis and Education Academy at the event.) Harrison is worth watching. Hes one of the top 10 American male players (Highland Park resident John Isner is #1), and hes still chasing his big break. That is, when hes not making big breaks. The guy is known for smashing rackets. He once took out five in a matter of minutes at Indian Wells, even stomping one for good measure. Serena Williams racket smash at the U.S. Open final was the one heard round the world when it resulted in a point penalty, followed by a game penalty, followed by the loss of the match to Naomi Osaka, but in the crushed frame scheme of things, it was relatively tame (a single blow broke it in four places). Harrison was back to smashing rackets last week, during a straight-set loss to Daniil Medvedev. But he wasnt the only player brought to violence in the summer heat of the Australian Open. Lets compare. Naomi Osaka v. Su-Wei Hsieh, Round of 32 Smash cut: Osaka bounced two rackets with no damage, almost threw one (she caught herself), and had an unintended throw resulting from a fall. Style points: 4/10 End game: No damage here, but she gets credit for graciously accepting the racket back from the ball boy. And for winning the match. Borna Coric v. Lucas Pouille, Round of 16 Smash cut: After Coric guessed wrong and Pouille passed him easily at the net, Coric gave the racket one good throw, breaking it in half on the first attempt with an impressive follow-through. Style points: 6/10 End game: Coric lost in a heartbreakingly close match to a guy who had never before won a match at the Australian Open: 7-6, 4-6, 5-7, 6-7. Dominic Thiem v. Alexi Popyrin, Round of 64 Smash cut: After being broken on his serve at 5-6, costing him the set, Thiem smashed his racket on the ground, chased it down, then repeatedly hit it again, resulting in an unusual Pac-Man-shaped break. Style points: 8.5/10 End game: The 19-year-old Popyrin was leading 7-5, 6-4, 2-0 when Thiem retired due to heat exhaustion. Glad we're not that racket!#Thiem dropped the opening set 7-5 to Aussie WC Popyrin. Is an upset brewing?#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/PXD3Y2Jvkh #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019 Ryan Harrison v. Daniil Medvedev, Round of 64 Smash Cut: After a missed overhead return of serve (a classic day-lady move that is difficult to counter and underused in mens professional tennis), Harrison smashed his racket convincingly on the ground three times, shattering it and effectively proving that, perhaps counterintuitively, the strings down method is much more effective than the side racket smash (see Thiem, above). Style points: 8.74 End game: Despite a disappointing loss in straight sets, he has advanced to the semifinals in doubles with partner and fellow American Sam Querrey. Frustrations boiling over for Ryan Harrison on Court 8. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/GNhX0UTraT #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 17, 2019 Alexander Zverev v. Milos Raonic, Round of 16 Smash cut: After being broken like 15 times in the first two sets (I cant do the math, but it was a lot), Zverev retreated to his shady bench on the crossover and gave his racket 8 good whacks. Style points: 9.87 End game: Zverev (thats Alexander, not Sasha to you) clearly wore it best (why does Roanic always look like a parody of your grandfather at the 75-and-over drills at Brookhaven?) and smashed it best. But he found his footing too late and lost in three sets. I smashed 9 rackets last night. In my head. | https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2019/01/who-smashed-it-best/ |
Who is Peter Murrell the SNP chief executive and why is he facing calls to quit? | The golden rule of working in a backroom role in politics is to never allow yourself to become the story - though sometimes it has been an unavoidable fact of SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrells life. While the role at the top of Scotlands governing party is not necessarily a high-profile one, Mr Murrell has found himself in the spotlight more than predecessor due to his marriage to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon with her husband Peter Murrell. Picture: Danny Lawson/PA Wire Their relationship and Mr Murrells track record came under scrutiny yesterday after former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill called on Mr Murrell to move on from his role as Chief Executive. READ MORE: Kenny MacAskill: Salmond case shows agenda of Sturgeons inner circle Mr MacAskill also said that he felt a situation of a husband-and-wife in the top positions of an organisation wouldnt be tolerated in the media, business, or public sectors. We look further at one of the most important figures in modern Scottish Politics. Humble beginnings Ms Sturgeon married Peter Murrell, who is six years her elder, at a ceremony in Glasgow nine years ago, but the pair had been together since early 2003. Both met through their work with the party, but while Nicola Sturgeon worked as a lawyer and sought elected office as an MP candidate and then an MSP, her husband worked for the party behind the scenes. Mr Murell, in a grimly ironic circumstance given the current internal battles at the party, worked at the Banff and Buchan office of then-MP and party leader Alex Salmond. READ MORE: Kenny MacAskill calls on SNP Chief Executive to stand down After a period of ship-steadying under Chief Executive Michael Russell (now the SNPs Brexit Secretary), Mr Murrell took over the reigns at the head of the party and set about setting the SNP on the long and often arduous path to Government. Mr Murrell was seen as a calming influence as inter-party strife marked the troubled reign of now-Deputy First Minister John Swinney as leader of the SNP from 2000-20004. The path to Bute House It is often forgotten that while eventually running on a joint ticket with returning Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon launched an abortive leadership bid of her own in 2004. Ms Sturgeon threw her lot in with Alex Salmond, who handily defeated Roseanna Cunningham and the aforementioned Michael Russell. Peter Murrell was an important figure in setting up some of the key internal changes that transformed the SNP from an opposition party to one which has governed Scotland for nearly 12 years. Mr Murell attended the now-infamous Craigellachie Hotel summit in 2005, at which senior SNP figures resolved to ensure that the SNP won the 2007 Scottish election. He is also credited with steering through the delivery of the Activate system, which allowed party activists on the ground to relay voter information back to party HQ. Controversy The comments from Kenny MacAskill might have rankled Mr Murrell, but as he approaches 18 years in his role as Chief Executive of the SNP, he has not been immune to criticism. Eyebrows have been raised within the SNP and elsewhere over the salary of Mr Murrell, which is not disclosed by the party but which has been estimated as totalling upwards of 100,000. That salary was raised during a fiery Holyrood exchange between Ms Sturgeon and then-Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, who said that with a combined salary of well over 200,000, Ms Sturgeon and her husband should not benefit from free prescriptions. Even in 2014, when Ms Sturgeon was set to ascend unopposed to the party leadership and the role of First Minister, the couple moved to stress that there would be a division of power at the top of the party. Nicola Sturgeon told the Herald at the time: Ive been deputy leader for years while Peters been chief executive for 10 years. Thats not been an issue thats given rise to any concern internally. In the constitution of the SNP, the oversight of the administrative side of the party lies with the business convener, not with the leader. So Im comfortable there are no issues that arise. With the Alex Salmond case, however, questions have again arisen over the concentration of power among a coterie of top advisers, including Mr Murrell. Those questions were first answered in the wake of the SNPs loss of 21 seats at the snap general election of 2017. If Kenny MacAskills intervention is anything to go by, those questions are only going to get louder and more frequent. | https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-is-peter-murrell-the-snp-chief-executive-and-why-is-he-facing-calls-to-quit-1-4861417 |
Could Dani Dyer join EastEnders as the new Stacey Slater? | EastEnders viewers could be seeing double Dyers on Albert Square, after Danny Dyer revealed that hed love daughter Dani to join him on the hit BBC1 soap. Advertisement Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com at the National Television Awards after picking up the gong for Best Serial Drama Performance 41-year-old Danny said working with Love Island winner Dani, 23, would be his dream job. Id love her to come into it, shed be great for the show, shes a very good actor, said Danny. Shes obviously gone off and done Love Island and its worked out alright. Shes great, shes brilliant and I love her so much. Id love to work with her, itd be my dream job working every day together. When asked what sort of role the younger Dyer would play in the soap, Danny said, Id like to see her play someone naughty. Itd be great if we wasnt family in it. We should be maybe enemies. I dont know if that would work if Im an enemy of a 23 year old. I think its more exciting to play if youre enemies. It gives us lots of different dynamics. Viewers will see more of the Dyer family on screen for Dannys one-off historical special, Danny Dyers Right Royal Family. But while we do see a glimpse of the Dyer family dynamic as the clan gathers together for an Elizabethan feast, were unlikely to see a reality show anytime soon. Not really my thing, said Danny. The one thing thats still sacred to me is that when I go home and close my front door, thats mine. It doesnt matter how much money you want to throw at me for it. Yes Im famous and Im in this weird sort of position of where people know who I am and people want selfies with me, but ultimately Im a normal dad and husband and I dont want to give away the one sacred thing Ive got. He added in true Danny-style, I dont think you could air it. You just couldnt air it. Itd be far too coarse. Danny Dyers Right Royal Family starts tonight at 9pm on BBC1 Advertisement EastEnders airs weeknight (except Wednesdays) on BBC1 | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-23/eastenders-danny-dyer-dani-dyer/ |
Does Rana die in Coronation Street as Bhavna Limbachia confirms exit? | Rana Habeeb is looking likely to meet a tragic end in Coronation Street (Picture: ITV) Coronation Street fans have been left shocked by the news that Rana Habeeb is leaving the cobbles. Actress Bhavna Limbachia has confirmed that she plans to quit the soap although has extended her contract news which is bound to upset those who have been following Rana and Kate Connors love story. And while details of her actual exit have not been revealed, sources have suggested it could be a sad ending for the pair, with the character being killed off. The fans are certainly worried Not been online in a day or so as worked a 12 hour day yesterday but just come online and heartbroken over what Ive read . . . RANA HABEEB CANNOT DIE!!!!!! corrie is cancelled nour (@EmilysSalinger) January 22, 2019 i didnt even watch corrie for her but rana habeeb lives matter shaz (@vanitysjcap) January 22, 2019 Rana Habeeb is really gonna pull a lexa. Nobody speak to me for at least 4-6 years. Rachel (@lvnawinters) January 22, 2019 Ranas certainly been through the mill lately, with her relationship with Kate coming under threat over her kiss with Adam Barlow just before Christmas. Advertisement Advertisement Kate had gone to desperate lengths to get pregnant, getting drunk with Adam and seducing him before he realised what she was up to. She realised what a mistake shed been about to make and wanted to do whatever she could to protect her relationship with Rana. But Rana learned of her infidelity and immediately called everything off and it appeared to be the end for these two. They made amends on New Years Eve and their wedding was back on but its now prompted fears that the nuptials could end in tragedy with Ranas death. Its even been suggested that she will die in Kates arms during their big day as if the whole prospect of her dying wasnt heartbreaking enough already. Well reports suggest that Bhavna herself wants a permanent exit for Rana so that she and Kate didnt have to split up. Speaking in a Twitter video released earlier today she explained: Hi guys I just wanted to give you a little message to say thank you for following Ranas journey and for the continued support of the storyline. I do have some news my journey at Coronation Street will be coming to an end but dont worry guys, I have extended my contract. Following media reports this morning I just wanted to send you all a message @itvcorrie pic.twitter.com/Toa2pCFo7h Bhavna Limbachia (@BhavnaLimbachia) January 23, 2019 Ive had a wonderful time here but theres still lots more to film and Im really grateful to Iain, our producer, for respecting my decision to leave and we have collaborated to come up with an amazing exit storyline so thank you so much. I really should get going now as these scenes wont film themselves! Advertisement Advertisement A Coronation Street spokesperson told Metro.co.uk: Bhavna Limbachia will be leaving Coronation Street later this year, she spoke to Producer Iain MacLeod when he joined the show about her plans to leave. She has been fully involved in the discussions about Ranas leaving story, the details of which we are hoping to keep under wraps for the viewers. If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/rana-die-coronation-street-bhavna-limbachia-confirms-exit-theories-8380162/ |
What are Danny Dyers royal connections? | Danny Dyers royal ancestors include King Luis IX, William the Conqueror and more. (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock/Getty) EastEnders star Danny Dyer is carving a name for himself as a historians muse back on our screens tonight on his new BBC show, Right Royal Family. in 2016, Dyer discovered that hes a direct descendant of not one, but two kings of England, in addition to a royal adviser and the important reformation advocate, Thomas Cromwell. As a result of these revelations, Danny Dyer is going to front a two-part documentary show on BBC One in which well see him exploring 800 years of British history by eating, dressing and living exactly like his ancestors did. This means that well get to see Dyer munch on Viking treats like sheeps tongue and fermented shark; model some 1300s era underpants; and walk through the streets of Paris dressed like a peasant, holding a crown of thorns and leading a procession of singing monks. Advertisement Advertisement You know, chill Wednesday night stuff. In 2016, Dyer found out that he is a direct descendant of William I, also known as William the Conqueror, and King Edward III. Now, having taken a closer look at his history for Right Royal Family, hes found that theres even more in his family history thats worth writing home about. Lets take a closer look at Danny Dyers famous royal relations. Rollo the Viking Danny Dyer can trace his lineage far back through Norman history to Rollo the Viking, the very first ruler of Normandy who won his land through a combination of victories on the battlefield and allegiances with the right people. Rollo, which is the latinised version of a name that historians cant quite agree on, reigned from the year 911 to 927, is the great-great-great-grandfather of William the Conqueror, who well get to in a minute. His descendants continued to rule over Normandy for almost 200 years until 1204. Danny Dyer learning to shoot a longbow like his ancestor, William the Conqueror. (Picture: BBC/Wall to Wall Media) William the Conqueror William the Conqueror, sometimes known as William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England, and it was he who led the French invasion of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Williams youth was marked by various struggles among Norman aristocracy for power. He had to fight to gain authority over those who sought to control him or supersede him, both because he succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy when he was just a child, and because of his illegitimate status. Advertisement Advertisement Hes also Danny Dyers great-grandfather 30 times over. Well let you decide which one you think is a finer achievement. Hing Henry II King Henry II of England was born in 1133. He started his reign as king in 1154 and was made Duke of Normandy when he was just 17. He was plagued by rebellions and conflicts from his sons and wife over what they would inherit later in his life, but King Henrys rule was not entirely unsuccessful. Before he turned 40, he reigned over England, much of Wales, half of Ireland, and half of France. His changes to law during that time is thought to have laid the foundations for what we now know as English Common Law. Dyer looking very regal dressed as Henry II at Dover Castle. (Provider: BBC/Wall to Wall Media) King Edward III King Edward III was born in 1312 and history remembers him for his military success and for restoring order after his father, Edward II made a right hash of his rule. After disagreements with his barons and the French royal family, coupled with the losses of battles in Scotland and famine, Edward II was forced to hand the crown over to his then-14-year-old son Edward III, and died shortly after, probably in an act of murder. Advertisement Edward III reigned for 50 years and is credited with fostering a new spirit of camaraderie between himself and his high-status subjects. Polydore Vergil, a scholar born in the 1400s, wrote about how Joan of Kent, the young Countess of Salisbury and reportedly the kings favourite at the time, once accidentally dropped her garter at a ball. The other guests tried to ridicule her, so in response, the king tied the garter around his own leg, saying shame on him who thinks ill of it. Louis IX and Danny Dyer Two saints as far as were concerned. (Picture: Getty, Rex/Shutterstock) King Louis IX The french King Louis IX was crowned when he was only 12 years old, and ruled from 1226 until 1270. Louis IX was known for his kindness and for his devout religious practices. When he became king, it is said that over 100 of the poor would eat in his house most days, and that he would often serve them himself. He was canonised as a saint by the pope 27 after his death, which, as medieval historian Dr Emily Guerry tells Dyer in the show, is very rare. There are very few saints that arent virgins or martyrs, she explains, so to have a blood of a saint in your blood is an extraordinary thing. That blood is sacred blood. It can work miracles in the church. Thomas Cromwell and his descendant Danny Dyer. Dyer is also related to Henry VIIIs adviser and English Reformation advocate, Thomas Cromwell. Advertisement When Dyer found this out in 2016, he noted the many various connections between himself and Cromwell, stating: He came from a slum, I come from a slum. Cromwell left the country at 14, I started acting at 14. He was a self-taught lawyer. Im a self-taught actor. Cromwell had two daughters and a son. Ive got two daughters and a son. Cromwell wrote his last letter to Henry VIII begging for his life, on 24 July, which is my birthday And I drink in the Anne Boleyn pub. Danny Dyers Right Royal Family begins tonight, Wednesday 23 January, at 9pm on BBC One. MORE: Megan Barton-Hanson and Wes Nelson pucker up after Dancing On Ice drama at the National Television Awards MORE: Ollie Locke and Georgia Toffolo take the tube to the National Television Awards but theyre still fancy AF | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/what-are-danny-dyers-royal-connections-the-eastenders-stars-regal-family-tree-8378305/ |
Is paying for a personal trainer worth the money? | Staying fit is expensive. Theres the basic gym membership, the additional spinning classes at the weekends, the latest Lululemon gear it all adds up. So for many of us, the thought of also paying for a personal trainer can seem like a ridiculous luxury. But bespoke, tailored fitness certainly has its benefits. Our bodies are unique and optimal fitness is a never a one-size-fits-all package perhaps a personalised approach is the best way to get the most out of your workout. But when the average price for a PT session in London is 50-60 per hour (its closer to 40 outside the capital), its a decision that cant be made lightly. We spoke to some experts and gym-goers to find out if its really worth shelling out your hard-earned for a one-to-one session. If the gym has never been your thing, then paying for a PT makes sense. Advertisement Advertisement If youre terrified of dumbbells and cant work out how to turn the treadmill on, investing in someone to show the basics seems like a wise idea. Aimee always had a complicated relationship with fitness. Not being naturally sporty, she found herself in a workout rut, but her personal trainer changed everything. Im not exaggerating when I say my PT, Georgia, changed my life, Aimee tells Metro.co.uk. For as long as I can remember, I have had a turbulent relationship with my body and its ability to do sport. Ive never been gifted in the sports department and, to be truthful, I was terrified that everyone would be laughing at the fat girl trying to do a burpee. My PT changed that. I started seeing her around two years ago after becoming increasingly bored of pounding miles away on the treadmill and the shin splints and self-hatred that came with it. I told Georgia what I wanted to achieve to feel good in my own skin and strong and she taught me how to lift weights. I see her once a month (at 48 per session) where she gives me a routine I can do alone three to four times a week. In the sessions we concentrate on getting my technique right and trying new exercises something I would never be able to do alone. Shes given me confidence to walk into a weights room and be happy in my skin. Its a common misconception that personal trainers are nothing more than drill sergeants, barking at you to keep doing press ups until your arms turn to jelly and you want to throw up. Advertisement Advertisement But if you find a good PT, they can provide so much more. Lewis Paris is a London-based personal trainer whos philosophy incorporates a well-rounded approach to fitness. As well as the cardio and the weights, Lewis considers nutrition, rest and building good habits to be critical components for healthy living. The general objective of a personal trainer is to be able to motivate and curate a tailored plan to suit the needs and goals of their client, this can be quite relative as no one person is the same, Lewis tells us. I take the title personal trainer quite literally. Personal is the keyword, although it can be a lot to take on, in my opinion I believe its important to set basic touch points and standards with a comprehensive consultation so I can understand everything about the person I could be working with. No matter the fitness level, a personal trainer will be able to find a persons weaknesses and create an effective plan to strengthen them. Beginners will have basic knowledge and will be coached to understand the importance of technique and nailing the fundamentals, which are carried throughout all exercises. Advertisement Claudia doesnt agree. The super-fit sportswoman is incredibly active, but she says paying for a PT helped her to optimise her specific goals and fine-tune her training. I was training for fitness and weight-loss, so I was also put on a specific training program and diet that helped me achieve that, Claudia tells Metro.co.uk. It helped break my training up into bite-sized goals and it kept my sessions interesting. Im pretty self-motivated with the gym, but when I started to feel too tired or maybe getting ill, I know Id have to justify myself to him. The average price for a PT session in London is 50-60 per hour. Outside of London the average price is 40-50 so keep these figures in mind when you are getting quotes. Its important to look at what other benefits your PT may be offering including personalised nutrition plans or movement analysis sessions. At the very top end you can pay around 150 for a single session. Obviously it depends on your budget, but its worth shopping around. Hattie agrees with this she found working with a PT incredibly motivational, and, as a netballer, she finds it reassuring to have someone there who will reduce her risk of injury when working with weights. My PT is really just there for strength work and weights. With a personal trainer on board, I can make sure my sessions are incredibly targeted so I can just work on leg strength if thats what I want, she explains. Advertisement Although I know my way around a gym, I still find it much safer having a PT with me theyre there to catch the weights and perfect my form so Im not going to do anything to injure myself. You can pay for a PT on a freelance basis, completely separate from a gym and they will either train you in their own space or outdoors. Or if youre already part of a gym, there are usually trainers you can pay for there. Normally, the cost for PT sessions isnt included in standard gym membership, and you will have to pay an extra fee on top. For example, at Pure Gym, their personal trainers receive a fee directly from the client as though they were freelance. On their website it says; The cost for a personal training session varies from PT to PT. As a benchmark, a personal training session usually costs somewhere around 30-65, and is 45 minutes to one hour long. PT prices in London are usually slightly higher, costing an average of 40-65 per session. This cost is separate to your membership and you would pay your PT directly. Lesley, a sports-lover and netball coach, says she actually saves money on gym membership by opting to use a PT instead. Ive had the same PT for about 10 years, explains Lesley. He comes to my house rain or shine, two or three times a week. And I do my sessions whether Im in the mood or not. Sometimes Im chatty, sometimes I cant talk at all. It saves me money on a gym membership because I actually do a purposeful hour of training. Having a personal trainer on board will greatly increase the chances of someone reaching their goals within a specific time-frame, increase their knowledge of exercise and technique, provide routine, which encourages good habits, expert guidance and advice, prevent recurring or future injuries, improve lifestyle choices and install belief. Its very important to state the facts in regards to what will work effectively and what wont. Doing classes six times a week cannot be sustained long enough nor is it effective, quality over quantity should be the mindset! Yes it encourages a healthy lifestyle, yes you will see results, yes its time-efficient but it can lead to over-training (or under resting), injury, muscle imbalances plus workouts, which are not tailored or specific. Technique is very important and I emphasis this a lot within all of my sessions. When my clients develop the correct techniques it helps to enhance confidence and help them develop and advance their exercises quicker which they may have previously felt was unattainable thats the beauty of my job. Lewis Paris, personal trainer It is a lot of money, but if fitness, strength and endurance is your goal then it will likely be money well-spent. That being said, its really important to shop around and trial as many PTs as you can before signing up for anything long-term. Personal trainers have wildly different styles, and theyre not all going to be your cup of tea. These days I am skeptical about PTs, as some arent in it for the right reasons, Claudia tells us. Ive had a few crap trainers who were talking absolute nonsense because they thought I wouldnt know any better. Or they didnt keep on top of my progress outside of the hour per week I trained with them. My time is precious, as is anyones who works 8-8 during the week, and if I am paying a fortune to improve myself for an hour of my evenings, which I technically could do by myself, it had better be worth it! We couldnt really have said it any better. MORE: Rio Ferdinand explains why your DNA could hold the key to getting fit Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/paying-pt-worth-money-8375402/ |
When does having a lot of clutter become hoarding? | We dont need to tell you that a lot of people are talking about clutter. Blame Marie Kondo and her Netflix show, which has propelled the concept of chucking away anything that doesnt spark joy to new heights of fame. The conversation has made a load of us look at our surroundings and our mass of possessions with new eyes. You might have taken up vertical folding, or done a full clear-out of your bookshelves. But what if you watch the show and find the onscreen couples clutter far, far more minimal than your own, you might be struck by some worries. Last year hoarding was officially recognised as a medical disorder, which means that there are defined diagnostic criteria for hoarding disorder versus just being cluttered. Advertisement Advertisement Its important to remember that you can have hoarding behaviours without having a hoarding disorder, the same way as you may experience depressive symptoms but not experience depression longterm. Essentially, the difference between having a lot of clutter and showing hoarding behaviour comes down to how you feel about the clutter and how its affecting your day-to-day life. Symptoms of hoarding: Hoarding is considered a significant problem if: the amount of clutter interferes with everyday living for example, the person is unable to use their kitchen or bathroom and cannot access rooms the clutter is causing significant distress or negatively affecting the quality of life of the person or their family for example, they become upset if someone tries to clear the clutter and their relationship suffers Symptoms of hoarding: keep or collect items that may have little or no monetary value, such as junk mail and carrier bags, or items they intend to reuse or repair find it hard to categorise or organise items have difficulties making decisions struggle to manage everyday tasks, such as cooking, cleaning and paying bills become extremely attached to items, refusing to let anyone touch or borrow them have poor relationships with family or friends Items that are often hoarded include: newspapers and magazines books clothes leaflets and letters, including junk mail bills and receipts containers, including plastic bags and cardboard boxes household supplies NHS Symptoms of hoarding include feeling extremely attached to items and becoming upset if people try to touch, borrow or tidy them, difficulty making decisions, and a poor relationship with family or friends as a result of your excess possessions. Advertisement Advertisement If you find yourself feeling a strong emotional attachment to items that have little or no value whether thats in terms of money, purpose, or sentimentality thats a sign that your clutter may be stepping into hoarding territory. Similarly, if your clutter is preventing you from moving around your home, leaving the house, or is causing friction in your relationships with family and friends, that indicates that hoarding has become an issue. How much clutter you actually have does come into the diagnosis, however. HoardingUK, a charity which supports people with hoarding behaviour, shared with Metro.co.uk the images used to assess whether someone may have a hoarding disorder. People are encouraged to look at the images and select which most closely resembles that room in their home. A rating of four or above is enough for the charity to encourage the person to get help with hoarding. Take a look below: (Picture: The International OCD Foundation) (Picture: The International OCD Foundation) (Picture: The International OCD Foundation) A level five or above on the clutter image rating would trigger some sort of statutory engagement, HoardingUK explains. The London Fire Brigade wants to be informed and an Adult Safeguarding might be considered with consent of the person. The Care Act (2014) recognised hoarding behaviour as a form of self-neglect. As such it recommends that a persons social care needs be assessed. Advertisement This is still not standard practice and even where it is there is nothing there to provide support for the person after the alert is raised in too many places across the UK. HoardingUK is the UK National charity which supports people with hoarding behaviour. We work to ensure that peoples rights and responsibilities are understood; to provide practical and psychological support and to work to improve outcomes for all impacted. To put it all more simply: If you feel like you have a lot of stuff, thats not automatically cause for panic. If your clutter is causing you distress or impacting your life in a negative way, or you simply feel worried or guilty about how much stuff is in your home, its worth reaching out for support. Chat to your GP about any mental health concerns or contact HoardingUK by phone or through their website. MORE: Illustrations highlight all the unsolicited advice people give about mental health MORE: Boohoo is being called out for selling obsessive Christmas disorder pyjamas MORE: Too many parents of special needs children are being let down Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/lot-clutter-become-hoarding-8378811/ |
Has Game of Thrones' Maisie Williams dropped massive hint on character's future during Birmingham visit? | Get daily 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 Maisie Williams has been in Birmingham talking to media students about her career on and off the screen and of course, Game of Thrones made an appearance. The actress is best known for her role as Arya Stark in the hit HBO series and recently finished filming for the final season. Unlike Kit Harrington who said he felt "grief" when filming ended, Maisie said she was "happy to take my hat off and say, 'alright, I'm done'". She continued: "It really does feel like its in my past. As the premiere comes closer I feel like Im digging my heels in. "Thats the most exciting part of creating the show, and being able to celebrate it and do the big red carpet and all that. "Those are the wow moments of my life. Finishing the show was one thing - but releasing it is going to be really emotional. "I made a vow when we started the final season that I would make the most of every single second because I knew I was going to miss it when its gone." Watch Maisie Williams hint about her future in the final series above. When asked about what happens during season eight of Game of Thrones she was staying tight-lipped, but she may have given away a slight clue about her character's future. "I just wanted to get from season one to season eight, and I did that," she said. (Image: PA) "Whatever happens in these final few episodes, I'm happy that I at least made it to 8-01." Is that a hint that Arya Stark may not make it to the end of the final season?! Well there's not long to wait. The final series of Game Of Thrones will come to UK screens on April 15, 2019. | https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/game-thrones-maisie-williams-dropped-15723303 |
When is the Boots 70% off sale? | Boots are angering bargain hunters with their stalling (Picture: Getty Images) Weve been sleuthing for weeks to find out the start date for the Boots sale, and it seems weve been foiled again by the health and beauty retailer. After using clues to deduce when wed see those long-awaited 70% discounts, it turns out that the pattern has changed completely. Many people were even getting up early to nab their bargains, only to find that no such bargains existed yet. Gutting. Never fear, though, as it does seem like its still happening. Heres the down-low. Hurry up, Boots (Picture: Getty Images) Last year the sale fell on Friday 19th January. The year before that it was Friday 20th January, and the year before that, Wednesday 15th January. Every year before that has been a Wednesday. Therefore, we were pretty certain that if it wasnt 16th January, the sale would most probably begin on Friday 18th. Advertisement Advertisement That day came, though, and still no sale. Even Martin Lewis was shook, tweeting: Important I tipped off unconfirmed reports this morning on @GMB that Boots may be starting a clearance tomorrow reducing sale items from 50% to 70%. It has now confirmed this is NOT happening. From there, its just been a waiting game, particularly focusing on today and this Friday. Today was sale-free, so we can assume (although we my be wrong) that Friday 25 may just be the day. Rumours have been doing the rounds that it wont be long, with some eagle-eyed shoppers saying theyd spotted posters in stores. Its the latest its ever been, but expect the clearance within the next week. As with previous sales, youll likely see the biggest discounts in store, so get down there to bag the best bargains. Itll most likely be Christmas stock reduced the heaviest, so brands like Soap & Glory, Jack Wills, and Champneys are a great place to start. Met Office advice as UK braces for ice Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/boots-70-off-sale-8378540/ |
What is a double blowjob and is there a female version of it? | The other day, a friend of mine (lets call him George) told me about his best-ever oral sex experience. As someone who regularly writes about unusual activities in the bedroom and answers controversial questions such as whether its OK to masturbate in hospitals, I wasnt expecting him to bring anything new to the table but I was wrong. Let me present the double blowjob. Similar to a solo blowjob, but much less known and not clearly defined which was made evident when I discussed this with colleagues in the office. Some thought it included two women and one man, while others assumed it was two men (and effectively, two penises). With nearly 10,000 videos on Pornhub and 363,878 on Porn.com, I found that theres actually a bunch of variations. The Classic This is the most common kind, and also the one George tried. It involves two women and one man (though can definitely be done with just men, too); the women are on their knees in front of the man who is seated on either a bed or a sofa. Advertisement Advertisement One will focus on the balls, either playing, licking or sucking, while the other does the same with the shaft. Theres also a bonus trick once the man ejaculates, the women pass the sperm between them. Yum. The Classic 2.0 A spicier version of the classic, but with a few added extras. Think of it as Nandos lemon & herb flavour vs extra hot. Firstly, the man is lying down, with his legs hanging off the edge of the bed. One woman (or once again, man) is on the floor, playing with the scrotum or giving head to the man. The other woman is lying on top of him in the 69 position. It requires a bit of maneuvering. The Ol Switcheroo According to the Urban Dictionary, the ol switcheroo, also known simply as switcheroo, is when a man has sex with a woman from behind and at one point stops, has a friend take over and goes in front of her and waves. Just to clarify, this is never OK, unless the girl is fully aware of the scenario and consents to it. When it comes to the double blowjob, the switcheroo is the same concept, but rather than penetration of the vagina its oral sex. The Double Blowjob: Female Edition Based on research through various porn sites, the double blowjob appears more popular among a mixed gender scenario with at least one penis involved, however there is a female version, too. The search brings up 1,659 results on one site, while on another it simply redirects you to female porn star pages. Advertisement Advertisement As for the blowjob, its actually very similar to the the Classic: there are three women, with one women lying down or on all fours, while the other two pleasure her by giving her head and rimming her bumhole. Some lovers also bring toys into the mix for the double-ended deepthroat, i.e. both sucking on either part of a double-ended dildo (though its unsure whether this is for pleasure or just to provide a good show for a third party). You might balk at the idea of calling an act with no penises a blowjob but its 2019 and were a very modern bunch. Its unlikely the double blowjob will ever trump the original, but if youre looking to spice things up by inviting a third or fourth person to your couple activities, its potentially worth a go. Or, if youre single, try a sex club or sex party and jump into a group sex scene, mouth first. Here's what the expert said A double blowjob is that rarest of things: two people performing oral sex on the same penis, Stuart Nugent, Sex Expert at LELO, tells Metro.co.uk. Because two heads are better than one, obviously. It doesnt happen very often, at least outside of porn, because of the slightly unusual relationship dynamics it implies. The two givers would have to be very close and very generous friends, or in a sharing relationship. But when it does happen, its very sexy. Theres no specific female variation per se, although female-focused threesomes will generally incorporate similar sensations. Being kissed while another partner performs oral sex is one example. Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/double-blowjob-female-version-8352546/ |
How many times has Emmerdale won best soap at the NTAs and when was their last win? | The Emmerdale cast have had reason to celebrate after winning best soap at the NTAs (Picture: Getty Images) Emmerdale was one of the big winners at the National Television Awards on Tuesday night after scooping the prize for best soap. The show once again fought off competition from EastEnders, Coronation Street and Hollyoaks to take the trophy at the awards, which are voted for entirely by the viewers. It was one of two prizes the ITV show took home from the star-studded ceremony at the O2 Arena, with actor James Moore who plays Ryan Stocks also winning the award for best newcomer. Actress Isabel Hodgins who plays Victoria Sugden spoke on behalf of the cast members as they took to the stage en masse, thanking cast and crew members as she said: Thank you so, so much to everyone who voted. James Moore also picked up the best newcomer prize (Picture: Getty Images) Emmerdale is an amazing place to work and its full of such hardworking people. Advertisement Advertisement This is an amazing way to start 2019 and it means the world, she added. Well, this is their third consecutive win, having also scooped top honours in the category in 2017 and 2018. The shows had its fair share of nominations also, having been shortlisted in the category almost every year since 1995 only missing out in 2009. It tops off a rollercoaster year for Emmerdale, with Charity opening up about the abuse she suffered as well as meeting her son Ryan and becoming engaged to Vanessa. Chas and Paddy broke our hearts when they said goodbye to their baby Grace while fans have also been gripped by the murder of Joe Tate, the return of Kim and the wedding bells for Robert and Aaron. Emmerdale airs weeknights on ITV at 7pm. National Television Awards 2019 winners Quiz Show 8 Out Of 10 Cats Does Countdown A League Of Their Own Catchphrase Pointless The Chase - WINNER New Drama A Discovery Of Witches Bodyguard - WINNER Girlfriends Killing Eve The Cry Talent Show Britains Got Talent Dancing On Ice Strictly Come Dancing - WINNER The Voice UK The X Factor Drama Call The Midwife Casualty Doctor Who Our Girl Peaky Blinders - WINNER TV Presenter Ant & Dec - WINNER Bradley Walsh Graham Norton Holly Willoughby Phillip Schofield Factual Entertainment Ambulance DIY SOS: The Big Build Gogglebox Paul OGrady: For The Love Of Dogs - WINNER The Great British Bake Off Drama Performance Cillian Murphy: Thomas Shelby, Peaky Blinders Jodie Comer: Villanelle, Killing Eve Jodie Whittaker: The Doctor, Doctor Who Michelle Keegan: L. Cpl Georgie Lane, Our Girl Richard Madden: Sgt David Budd, Bodyguard - WINNER The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award All Round To Mrs Browns Ant & Decs Saturday Night Takeaway Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! If you've got a story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk Entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you. | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/many-times-emmerdale-won-best-soap-ntas-last-win-8378671/ |
Could candy floss bouquets be the next hot wedding trend? | (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto) Sure, flowers are lovely. Weve seen people replace bundles of peonies with rescue puppies and kittens, brides clutching pizza on the big day, and men moving their floral decorations into their beards. Now the next big bouquet trend might just be candy floss. Were all for it a bouquet that doubles as a snack sounds like a grand idea, especially when youre trying not to fall asleep during the vows. Pictures of bridal parties holding massive bits of candy floss have been popping up all over Instagram and Pinterest. Were not surprised that pop of pink looks pretty sweet in the wedding photos. There are a few challenges you might come up against, though, should you choose to go down the candy floss bouquet route. Advertisement Advertisement First, its best to steer clear if its going to rain on your wedding day. Water will dissolve that lovely bouquet into a sticky mess. Secondly, youll need to warn your bridesmaids not to snack on their floss until after the photos are done, unless you want wildly different bouquet sizes revealing who got peckish during their ceremony. And last of all, be warned if you intend on inviting any children to the wedding: youll need to have a good supply of the stuff. Any small child who sees an adult carrying sugar they cant have will inevitably cry and cause a load of stress. Keep a candy floss machine on hand for anyone who wants a treat. Bear these things in mind, proceed with caution, and youre golden. Do enjoy having a perfectly Pinterest-y day. MORE: The age of man is truly over as woman marries her duvet MORE: Bride dumped days before wedding after tumour made her put on five stone MORE: Man who had his fingertips amputated gets new nails tattooed on Advertisement Advertisement | https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/23/candy-floss-bouquets-next-hot-wedding-trend-8377820/ |
What will the Thackeray memorial mean to Mumbai? | The late Bal Thackerays fondness for Mumbais Shivaji Park was apparent; he held the first rally of the fledgling Shiv Sena here on Dussehra day in 1966. His visits to the Mayors Bungalow opposite the Park came in the 1980s, when the party won majority in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Sena men and women were appointed mayors. Thackeray would occasionally drop in, occupy the large chair upholstered in saffron in the conference hall, and address loyal Shiv Sainiks. In July 2000, the Mayors Bungalow turned into a make-shift police station when Thackeray was to be arrested in a case of inflammatory writing during the 1992-93 riots. Shiv Sainiks had threatened that Mumbai would see the full force of their violence if their chief was arrested; the then home minister and Thackerays bete noire Chhagan Bhujbal was determined to have him turned in. The Vilasrao Deshmukh government and Mumbai police were unwilling to risk detaining Thackeray from his residence in Bandra East and driving him to the magistrates court. Furious negotiations with Sena and BJP leaders ensued. Thackeray came to the Mayors Bungalow and was arrested by waiting cops; he was freed within minutes by the magistrate, the case was dismissed. On January 23, his 92nd birth anniversary, Thackeray was posthumously gifted the Mayors Bungalow by the BJP-Sena government. The documents of the 90-year-old Grade II heritage property, sprawled across nearly three acres on Dadar beach, hosting a colonial era bungalow of 4,500 square feet, were handed to Uddhav Thackeray who heads the Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak trust. It will oversee the making of the memorial. Mumbais 76 mayors have occupied the Bungalow; mayors will now live in a bungalow in the citys zoo. In a stroke, the Maharashtra government also altered the property classification from green zone to residential, freed it from Coastal Regulation Zone restrictions, made due changes in the citys Development Plan 2034, and sanctioned 100 crore. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will implement the project. The memorial will have, besides his statue, his cartoons and caricatures, some personal effects, a library and seminar-lecture halls. Thackerays political legacy is divided. Sena workers and sympathisers are rooted in their belief that but for him the Maharashtrian identity would have been wiped out from Indias premier city; six years after he passed away, his influence and appeal have not diminished. Others see him as a complex man with fluid and fluctuating political principles, a man who used his turn of phrase and oratory to turn Bombayites upon each other, fracturing the citys social fabric and relative religious calm. It is a fact that the 1992-93 post-Babri riots redefined the socio-cultural demography of Bombay. The Justice BN Srikrishna Commission, probing the riots, saw Thackeray like a veteran general commanded his loyal Shiv Sainiks to retaliate with organised attacks against Muslims and that the doctrine of retaliation was largely responsible for the vigilantism of Sainiks against Muslims. The Muslim protest violence against Babri Masjid demolition turned into a full-scale Sena versus Muslim rampage. Thackeray did not face the law for this except that brief mock arrest. The Shiv Senas reign at the BMC for nearly 25 years during which Thackeray held his remote-control saw Mumbai slide down every index of liveability, old Maharashtrian bastions like Girguam and Parel turned less Maharashtrian, Marathi medium schools shut down, and the archetypal Marathi manoos largely fending for himself/herself in a fast-changing city. Memorialisation is undoubtedly an important aspect of cities. Monuments and memorials are constructed to commemorate events, persons, even ideas. They serve to knit people together with a common strand, remind people of sterling values to uphold, even become places of reconciliation. If memorials were meant for noble purposes, the one to Dr BR Ambedkar would have been constructed years ago. Some memorials serve political needs, exemplify the dominant political narrative of their time. With an impending general election, the BJP-led Devendra Fadnavis government has reached out to its angry ally, Shiv Sena, through the Thackeray memorial. First Published: Jan 24, 2019 00:04 IST | https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/what-will-the-thackeray-memorial-mean-to-mumbai/story-NnG07gKAovVXZSkdjB8CCJ.html |
Can Nancy Pelosi Really Stop Trump From Delivering the State of the Union? | President Trump isnt ready to let Nancy Pelosi prevent from delivering the State of the Union address at the Capitol next week. On Wednesday morning, the president sent a letter to the House speaker clarifying his intention to address the nation as planned. I look forward to seeing you on the evening on January 29th in the Chamber of the House of Representatives, Trump wrote. It would be very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule and very importantly, on location! President Trumps letter to Speaker Pelosi on the State of the Union pic.twitter.com/B4QN9hDJnv Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) January 23, 2019 The address was called into question last week, when Pelosi uninvited Trump from delivering it in the chamber over which she presides. She cited the government shutdown, now in its fifth week, as her reasoning. Sadly, given the security concerns and unless the government re-opens this week, I suggest that we work together to determine another suitable date after government has re-opened for this address or for you to consider delivering your State of the Union in writing to the Congress on January 29th, Pelosi wrote. Trump responded in Trumpian fashion, writing a petty letter informing Pelosi that he was canceling a congressional delegation she had been scheduled to lead through Brussels, Egypt and Afghanistan. Im sure you would agree that postponing this public relations event is totally appropriate, the president wrote. I also feel that, during this period, it would be better if you were in Washington negotiating with me and joining the Strong Border Security movement to end the Shutdown. Pelosis trip to Afghanistan had previously not been made public, and Trumps letter forced the State Department to call it off, for fear of endangering the safety of the House speaker and her counterparts. You never give advance notice of going into a battle area, you just never do it, Pelosi told reporters. Perhaps the presidents inexperience didnt have him understand that protocol. The people around him, though, should have known that, because thats very dangerous. Its unclear what will happen next Tuesday if Trump shows up at the Capitol. The House and Senate must agree to hold a joint session of Congress for the president to be able to speak, meaning it is very much up to Pelosi whether Trump will deliver the address in the Capitol. Though the House speaker has yet to respond to the presidents latest letter, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) told reporters that the House has no plans to allow him to speak. Its absolutely not clear what his present intention is, Jeffries told reporters on Wednesday. But I can say that unless the government is reopened, its highly unlikely that the State of the Union is going to take place on the floor of the United States House of Representatives. | https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/pelosi-trump-state-of-union-783371/ |
Will Capital One's Consumer Loan Business Survive The Next Recession? | The Capital One Financial (COF) business model is highly dependent on a growing U.S. economy, with a low level of consumer loan delinquencies and charge-offs. Luckily, investors in Capital One have witnessed relatively small/falling credit write-downs of around $7 billion in 2017 and an estimated $5.5-6 billion in 2018, using data from the first nine months as a proxy. In a worrisome development of late, the company has witnessed an uptick in delinquencies since September. My bearish argument revolves around the increasing odds of recession in 2019-20, with sharply increased charge-offs destroying earnings for Capital One. Given a severe recession like 2007-09, the company could be forced to raise additional capital or sell business units to cover losses and remain solvent, greatly diluting existing shareholder value vs. the start of 2019. Image Source: Capital One TV Commercial Capital One is part of a select group in terms of size and focus on the higher-risk consumer loan market, especially uncollateralized credit cards. The company holds $110 billion in credit card loans, and another $60 billion in consumer auto/mortgage/personal loans currently. We have all seen the ads with Jennifer Garner and others hocking quick and easy signature loans through mass media outlets. During good economic times, the company is able to earn strong levels of profitability as loan losses remain low. On the flip side of the coin, the 2007-09 recession nearly bankrupted the company, as credit losses jumped. You can review the chart and table below highlighting the correlation between credit card delinquencies and the Capital One stock drop from $84 a share in early 2007 to under $8 at the March 2009 bottom. The stock price discounted expanding write-off levels, trading well ahead of the news on the ground. Great Recession credit market problems reached their zenith at the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, 6-9 months after the stock price bottomed. The above table of delinquency and charge-off rates for credit cards from 1989 to 2016 is from Wallethub using 2017 Federal Reserve data. By any measure, credit card delinquency rates have stayed at record low levels for a record length of time since 2013. All told, Capital Ones credit card delinquency rate of 4% today is roughly one-third the rate of the last recession and below the long-term 30-year industry average above 5%. If we get that as our reality soon, Capital One will have huge problems dealing with such a monster, in my estimation. Below are charts of the weakening performance of Capital One vs. peers in the banking business, especially the higher-risk consumer-focused companies of Discover Financial (DFS) and American Express (AXP). The major diversified banks in the U.S., including JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Citibank (C), Bank of America (BAC), and Wells Fargo (WFC) also began to fade vs. the S&P 500 return last year. Plus, the Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) was an important laggard in 2018. The price bounce higher in early 2019 looks like a good technical area to sell Capital One shares, or even consider shorting it. You can review the overhead price resistance area in the chart below. The $85-90 range looks like it will be a formidable supply obstacle to overcome. At the very least, a retest of the mid-$70s area, just above the December selloff low seems probable. Hints of the weak quality of the Capital One loan portfolio abound. Perhaps the biggest in my mind deals was the summer of 2017 Federal Reserve stress test snub. Every large U.S. bank passed, but Capital One had to refile and was the only banking company of 34 that did not raise its common dividend in June-July 2017. Again, after the summer 2018 stress test results, Capital One did not raise its $0.40 quarterly dividend payout, while other large banks did. The company has been returning capital to shareholders through equity buybacks at elevated prices the last few years. Nevertheless, the present 1.9% dividend yield is below the S&P 500 stock market average, the financial industry average, and well below the major bank average rate. According to the last available balance sheet from the September 2018 10-Q filing, the company has one of the largest credit card loan portfolios in the nation at $110 billion, and one of the highest consumer loan percentages of total assets at 50%. Compare Capital One's 50% asset exposure to U.S. consumer loans against 80% for Discover, 35% for American Express, 12% for Citibank, and less than 10% for JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo. The strong 2018 performance of Capital Ones operating income has been almost entirely a function of low and lower loan loss reserves taken, on top of Trump tax law changes. You can review the 3rd Quarter increase in profits below, as write-offs fell considerably. While mainstream analysts are counting on 2018s peak earnings and margins as sustainable, the stock market pricing of Capital One is starting to look forward to the final stages of the credit cycle and an approaching downturn. When that happens, loan losses will rise substantially, and if past cycles are a guide, interest income will fall with declining interest rates. This double whammy typically produces a material drop in earnings during a recessionary period. Its possible that all earnings will be wiped clean for a year or two, and the company will have to deal with charge-offs eroding underlying shareholder worth from the $35 billion tangible book value number today. The present $85 stock price is equal to a stock market capitalization of $40 billion. In 2010, at the end of the last recession, the company wrote off about 7% of ALL loan value. Thats well above todays ultra-low 2% credit loss expense annualized in the September Quarter, reported on $240 billion in loan value. If we get a whopper recession again, Capital One could be writing an extra $10 or $15 billion off earnings yearly. Considering 2018 earnings may peak just shy of $6 billion, the downside to profitability and shareholder worth is gigantic, given another major recession. While the current 0.8x price to accounting book value looks cheap (1.2x tangible book value after subtracting $15 billion in goodwill and intangible assets), the 2009 low price was just 0.15x book value. To say that such a low valuation will never happen again is akin to someone saying at the depths of the financial panic ten years ago, the stock market will never recover or trade at record high valuations similar to 2007 or 2000. WRONG. History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymes, is the famous quote from Mark Twain. Final Thoughts If you are looking to sell financials, Capital One should be near the top of your list of prospects to continue researching. My personal view is we are headed for a serious downturn, either in terms of damage to the economy or playing out over a prolonged length of time. Tightening credit conditions as evidenced by the nearly inverted Treasury yield curve in late 2018; the appearance of an actual trade war with China during the summer months; and a sharp decline in confidence and wealth caused by the 20% stock market swoon in the 4th Quarter just ended - all presage a slowing economy in the first half of 2019. Depending on events on the ground, a slowing economy could easily tip into recession. Then, the most overleveraged U.S. economy in history, including sovereign debt, business debt and consumer debt in aggregate vs. economic output, could turn into an economic fiasco quickly. Dont say it cannot happen. From my 30 years of trading experience, whenever we get three or more significant issues dragging on wealth, output and confidence, we fall into recession. Holding too much leverage going into a recession is what turns a mild one into a deeper one. Seeking Alpha author Danielle DiMartino Booth wrote an interesting article this past week about late cycle credit card usage and how it relates to 2018 trends. It appears the November-December swoon in Capital One shares has plenty of fundamental logic to back the selling. We are long overdue for a recession, nearly 10 years into our current expansion. The clock is ticking. Please consult a registered financial advisor if you are contemplating a Capital One short position. The unique risks of short selling, including the potential for unlimited losses are different than holding a long-only position. Always short a diversified basket of stocks to reduce the risk of one equity creating oversized losses. Disclosure: I am/we are short XLF. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Additional disclosure: I/we may initiate a short position in COF over the next 72 hours. | https://seekingalpha.com/article/4234984-will-capital-ones-consumer-loan-business-survive-next-recession |
How deadly is it being a tow truck operator? | WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) - The life of a AAA worker. "It is always an experience," says Ryan Schiefelbein. "It is something new every time, a fantastic opportunity." Schiefelbein spent part of the day towing a white Ford Escape. "It could be an alternator or battery issue," he says. From the safety of the Beacon parking lot, it made the call pretty easy. "Main thing is making sure members are safe," he says. "I don't think think a lot of the public realizes what we go through on a daily basis and what we are subjected to." On the side of street, it is a much different story. "We put our lives on the line for members, and the public on a daily basis," he says. At times, Schiefelbein is feet away from traffic where there are plenty of close calls. "I have had a few," he says. His fleet manager says every six days a tow truck operator dies. He says that is about 60 per year. "It humbles you," he says. "At the end of the day, you go home and you cherish things that you have and you come back and do it with a smile on your face every day," he says. Schiefelbein's boss gets it. He understands just how dangerous the job is, and Tuesday's weather doesn't help. "That can quickly end in tragedy," he says. They ask the public one thing when you see them out working. "Just be patient with us and slow down, a little bit. When you see our lights on, move over and give us a little space," he says. AAA wants to remind Kansans is a Move Over State, meaning it is state law that you move over for tow trucks and first responders. | https://www.ksn.com/news/local/how-deadly-is-it-being-a-tow-truck-operator-/1717826192 |
What Worries Global CEOs The Most? | Trade conflicts and protectionism are major concerns in Asia-Pacific and the US January 23, 2019 3 min read A chief executive officer (CEO) has overall responsibility for effectively steering a company to success, and their role becomes more important when the organization expands to new territories. PwC's annual global CEO survey, released alongside the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, finds that the worlds CEOs are increasingly worried about trade disputes and the unpredictable geopolitical landscape. Trade conflicts, policy uncertainty, and protectionism have replaced terrorism, climate change, and increasing tax burden in the top 10 list of threats to growth. Stressful Times Ahead The 22nd survey of 1,378 chief executives in more than 90 territories explores what CEOs are saying about the year ahead. Conducted in September and October of last year, the survey drills down on CEO insights in top-of-mind areas such as growth, data and analytics, and artificial intelligence. The CEOs have turned their focus to navigating the surge in populism in the markets where they operate. Trade conflicts and protectionism are major concerns in North America and Asia-Pacific and also weigh on CEOs minds in Western Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Middle East. Of those CEOs who expressed extreme concern about the trade conflicts of 2018, the one between the US and China overshadowed other protectionist moves as particularly worrisome, with 88 per cent expressing concern. It outweighed other trade tensions not only in the minds of Asia-Pacific and North America CEOs but also those in Western Europe, the report states. Asked how they were adjusting their operating model and growth strategy to accommodate these trade conflicts, most of these extremely concerned CEOs responded they are not doing much beyond adjusting their supply chains and sourcing strategies. On a global basis, less than a third of these CEOs are shifting their growth strategy or production to alternative territories, or delaying capital expenditures or foreign direct investment. Trade War is Top Worry Of Chinas CEOs who are extremely concerned about trade conflicts, a majority are taking a strong reactive approach. The report notes that the CEOs of China stand out as the most proactive and vigorous in pulling every lever. Sixty-two per cent of those extremely concerned about the trade war are adjusting their supply chain and sourcing strategy. A majority are shifting their growth strategy to alternative territories. Roughly four in 10 are shifting production and delaying capital expenditures. Jaime Augusto Zbel De Ayala, chairperson and the chief executive officer of Ayala Corporation in the Philippines, says, Interestingly, I do believe that the escalation taking place between China and the United States is actually leading to renewed opportunities within ASEAN. I think supply chains are getting disrupted, and I do believe ASEAN will be a net beneficiary of this disruption as companies look to a China-plus-one model, or perhaps even consider moving out of China to be able to continue selling to the United States. | https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/326807 |
Where's Timothe Chalamet Oscar Nod for 'Beautiful Boy'? | Timothee Chalamet, one of the best young Hollywood heartthrobs to emerge since the golden 1990s Leo era, has an understandably devoted following. Teens stan for his curly hair, oddball Instagram presence, French heritage, and rumored romance with Lily Rose Depp. Also his acting abilities, which they say should have been honored with an Oscar nomination yesterday. Chalamet, who received a Best Actor nomination at last year's Academy Awards for his role in Call Me By Your Name and gave another acclaimed performance this year in Beautiful Boy, failed to secure a Best Supporting Actor nod yesterday. (It's a tough one this year the actors who did make the cut are Mahershala Ali, Adam Driver, Sam Elliott, Richard E. Grant, and Sam Rockwell.) Chalamet plays a young drug addict in Beautiful Boy, opposite Steve Carell as his father. So far this awards season his performance in the film has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, an SAG Award, and a Critics' Choice Award, all in the Best Supporting Actor category. This is the question fans are asking. Many Chalamet lovers are calling for a mass boycott of the currently host-less Academy Awards ceremony. Or at least publicly venting their frustrations on Twitter. One even made a fake Oscar trophy out of paper and awarded it to her Chalamet cardboard cut out. We'll still be watching, mainly to see if Gaga gets a statue. We can only pray Chalamet still attends the show, preferably wearing another custom-made Louis Vuitton masterpiece. | http://www.papermag.com/timothee-chalamet-oscars-2626830469.html |
What the Hell is Cuomo Doing to the MTA? | Andy Byford's Fast Forward plan is starting to feel like a pipe dream. Governor Cuomos reign of terror on the MTA continues but his ongoing attacks on a fiscally necessary fare hike and the transit agencys own credibility is undermining the regions transportation network at a critical moment. Without additional revenue from regularly scheduled fare hikes, transit officials have warned that painful service cuts will be necessary to close the agencys budget deficit. But in an interview with the Times on Wednesday, Cuomo reiterated his opposition to the fare hike set that the MTA board is expected to approve tomorrow. But Cuomos comments went beyond a mere objection to an increase in fares that the MTA says is necessary. I have no faith in what they say, Cuomo said. Tighten your belt. Make the place run better. His assertion flies in the face of analysis by MTA Chief Financial Officer Robert Foran, who serves under MTA Managing Director Veronique Hakim, a Cuomo hire. Theres clearly longer-term structural issues that we can address to make the MTA more efficient, but thats just the point theyre long term, said one MTA source familiar with the agencys financial planning. We keep cutting in ways that are short-term. At this point, were going to start causing harm. The governors Times comments which he reiterated Wednesday on WNYC were just the latest salvo in the governors months-long assault on the MTA, which began in earnest after he was reelected in November. For years, Cuomo treated transit like a disposable fiefdom, robbing its coffers for meaningless vanity projects while putting little public effort into addressing increasing service troubles riders. With the 2017 service crisis and subsequent hiring of Andy Byford, Cuomo seemed to tell skeptical city voters that, by putting a professional in charge, hed turned a new leaf. Now, with another four-year lease in Albany, the governor is reverting to his old ways, attempting to both disavow himself of the agency and strong-arm its leadership to do his bidding. Since November, hes claimed that fare hikes could be avoided if transit officials only did more to root out waste, without showing any interest in identifying that waste (one obvious contender are the agencys labor contracts, which Cuomo personally negotiated). The unilateral cancellation of the L-train shutdown showed just how easily the governor can steamroll the MTA to get what he wants. Last week, the engineers overseeing the project admitted, despite the governors insistence that the shutdown was unnecessary, that a complete closure and tunnel rebuild would have been advantageous. That could spell disaster for the Byfords Fast Forward plan, released in May. The crux of the plan is to build rider confidence through outreach and transparency, then move forward on the difficult-by-necessary enterprise of shutting down whole lines in order to bring their signals and switches to modern standards. Those shutdowns, if they still happen, are certain to cause consternation. But in exchange for that short-term pain, more than half of riders will be served by lines with modern signals within five years. Over three years of outreach and planning for the L shutdown, the MTA and city DOT created a model in terms of both public outreach and service mitigation that could be replicated in the future. Byford has implored elected officials to not lose sight of the top-line goal of fixing the transit system through distracting standoffs over particular projects. Now, theres no telling where Cuomo wont stick his hands. Necessary and urgent things like bus network redesigns and transparency measures will be judged based on their political liabilities not their vitality to the functioning of the nations largest transit system. Reinvent Albany (@ReinventAlbany) January 23, 2019 The core of the Byford plan is full-line shutdowns to do signals and switches at a much faster pace, said John Kaehny of the government watchdog group Reinvent Albany. What Byford is trying to do is just absolutely at odds with what Cuomos doing. And Cuomos approach comes at a particularly odd time, given that the governor is pushing a fee called congestion pricing on drivers to enter Manhattan below 60th Street. That new pool of revenue is earmarked for transit improvements to be made by the MTA the very agency that Cuomo says isnt working. Thats an odd approach for someone who needs the votes of recalcitrant legislators in Albany, some of whom also share doubts about the MTAs credibility. Yet on the radio on Wednesday, Cuomo took more shots at the MTAs staff and board, accusing them of negligence for not seeking a less impactful approach to the L tunnel project. If hes unhappy with his own management team, he can remove the top managers and put new people in, Manhattan Institute researcher Nicole Gelinas told Streetsblog last week. The governors approach to the L train tunnel may be less effective, but its also less painful and short-sighted politics have always won the day at Cuomos MTA. | https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2019/01/23/what-the-hell-is-cuomo-doing-to-the-mta/ |
Is Kendall Jenner on The Masked Singer? | NBCs The Masked Singer continues tonight as the panel of judges attempt to guess the identity of the costumed performers. Among the dozens of celebrities who have been theorized to be under the masks, one name that keeps popping up is reality TV star and model Kendall Jenner. It appears the jury is still out on whether she is. People have theorized that Jenner is the Alien since the second episode aired on NBC. Much of the speculation had to do with the fact that Jenners background seemed to fit with the clues that the Alien gave. Fans Have Theorized That Kendall Jenner Could Be the Celebrity Under the Alien Mask Im excited to be here, because in my family, anonymity is a completely alien concept, they said. Growing up in the publics eye, my life was never really my own. I let others define me, but no one will ever control me again. The Alien also revealed that they had many sisters, which makes sense given Jenners famous family. A number of fans have also pointed out that the Alien has a model body, which would support Jenner being behind the mask. Outlets like Daily Mail have also speculated that Jenner could be using The Masked Singer as a platform to try out a career as a singer. Jenner is best known for her modeling, and the few instances in which she has sang has been met with negative reaction. She sang on the Lil Dicky and Chris Brown single Freaky Friday, and also was featured in an Instagram video where she and Bella Hadid sang karaoke for formers 23rd birthday. Others Have Speculated That the Alien Is Singer LaToya Jackson That said, there are many who feel that the Alien is actually LaToya Jackson. Like Jenner, she has two sisters, Rebbe and Janet Jackson, and the clue no one will ever control me again could function as a reference to Janets famous 1986 album Control. LaToya has also released albums of her own, which may serve as a better fit to the clue that showed a gold record. The Alien also referenced a snake in her clue video, which may tie to LaToyas 1989 Playboy shoot, in which she appears with a snake wrapped around her body. Tune in tonight at 8/7 c to watch the Alien perform. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/the-masked-singer-kendall-jenner-alien/ |
Has Trump boredom set in? | Take a cue from Democratic political advisers. In the final month of the 2018 campaigns, their candidates mentioned Trump in only 11 percent of their ads. They generally stuck to their plans for the future. That apparently worked for them. It started during the midterm campaign. Democrats stopped talking about President Donald Trump all the time. Now presidential hopefuls are doing the same. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, once a relentless sparring partner on Twitter, all but ignores Trumps goading comments. Perhaps, but the change in approach seems to reflect something more, something beyond mere Trump fatigue. We may have entered the era of Trump boredom. Share your thoughts on the news by sending a Letter to the Editor. Email Share your thoughts on the news by sending a Letter to the Editor. Email [email protected] and please include your full name, address and telephone number for verification only. Letters are limited to 200 words. Some of that may come from the sense that hes mattering less. The midterm elections were a repudiation. His poll numbers keep dropping. His latest escalation, closing the government, is eating into his base of ardent supporters. Many who sort of liked him are giving up. The precedent has to be set that a president cant close the government because he didnt get his way on some matter. Throwing the country into turmoil is not a normal negotiating tactic. Americans, meanwhile, are getting nervous about the economy, which has been Trumps pride and joy. Just wait till sluggish growth collides with trillion-dollar budget deficits. Ive been unfollowing Twitter mates who habitually list Trumps old crimes and personal frailties as if they were news. They dont seem to understand that for many, raw anger has turned into acceptance of what he is. Theres no fixing Trump. Hes a problem that needs managing. Enter House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. She is a model of self-control. She speaks in the calm manner needed for dealing with people who act on impulse. Mother of five, shes a proven master at containing tantrums. Measured leadership in national politics is exactly what most Americans want. Theres a yearning for normality in their national politics. On this subject, we urge some of the hotheads on the left to modulate their emotions. It is in their interests to play it cool, assuming that their interests center on getting Democrats elected and not building their own brands for a niche audience. Thus, it was pleasant to watch a Golden Globe Awards presentation that didnt bubble over with rage at the man in the Oval Office. The moral preening in the past was hard on the stomach, including for many who agree with the messages. Hollywoods elite should know that celebrity does not necessarily confer superior political insight. Take a cue from Democratic political advisers. In the final month of the 2018 campaigns, their candidates mentioned Trump in only 11 percent of their ads. They generally stuck to their plans for the future. That apparently worked for them. Meanwhile, the serious scandals grow. The older scandals tied to sexual behavior are minor next to the extraordinary, but now thinkable, possibility that a president has been working for a foreign adversary. Continually repeating the smaller misdeeds only distracts from the bigger stuff. What Democrats need is their own media environment in which they control the message. And that means leaving Trump little opportunity to grab attention at their expense. The worse things get for him the more bombastic his diversions will be. An impeachment proceeding would add another layer of chaos on a fatigued American public. New revelations might force that action, but this should not be the Democrats focus at this point. The best day for sending Trump home would be Nov. 3, 2020, Election Day. (Law enforcement may have plans for him later.) Whatever the means for removal, its obvious that time is running out on the Trump years. Dont drown out the sound of the ticking. | https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/has-trump-boredom-set-in/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all |
Could Trump And Hill Democrats Make A Deal To Curb Medicare Drug Prices? | Believe it or not, there is a chance President Trump and congressional Democrats can reach an agreement this year to limit the growth in Medicare drug prices. It certainly wont be easy, given the toxic relationship the president and Democrats have built up in just the past few weeks. But both sides have good reasons to make a deal, and they may not be that far apart on the substance of an agreement. After all, lowering drug prices has been on the Democratic agenda for years while Trump has been talking about the idea since the early days of his presidential campaign. And, as with many issues, he has been extremely flexible about how to do it. At times, hes even seemed to embrace proposals such as allowing Americans to import drugs directly from Canada or even having government negotiate prices with drug makersideas that have strong support among progressive Democrats. Top priority In his first state of the union address, Trump highlighted the subject: One of my greatest priorities is to reduce the price of prescription drugs. In many other countries, these drugs cost far less than what we pay in the United States. That is why I have directed my Administration to make fixing the injustice of high drug prices one of our top priorities. Prices will come down. And the Administration has indeed proposed several initiatives aimed at lowering drug prices. They include a requirement that drug makers disclose prices in their direct-to-consumer marketing. Most ambitious, however, was a proposal by the Department of Health and Human Services to tie US prices for Medicare Part B drugs to the prices in other developed countries that are nearly always lower. The HHS plan is far from ideal. It has many technical problems. And Part B drugs, such as vaccines and chemotherapy, account for a relatively small share of all Medicare drug spending. Still, the idea of benchmarking US prices to those in other countries has significant Democratic support. Similar ideas Indeed, earlier this month, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and two dozen liberal House Democrats introduced a package of bills to lower drug prices. Two of the three are similar to Trump Administration ideas, at least conceptually. The bills would: Peg the price of prescription drugs in the US to the median price in Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan; Direct the HHS Secretary to negotiate lower prices for Part D prescription drugs Allow patients, pharmacists, and wholesalers to import drugs from Canada and other major countries. Of course there are differences between the more cautious Trump versions of these ideas and the more expansive Democratic ideas. For example, Sanders would tie all US drug prices to an international benchmark while Trump would limit the idea to Part B drugs only. Still, it is not be hard to see a compromise. Motivating a deal Reaching agreement may be tougher in the Republican-controlled Senate, where key lawmakers have close ties with the pharmaceutical industry. But even there, some lawmakers are looking for deals. For example, the Senate Finance Committees new Republican Chairman, Chuck Grassley of Iowa, has introduced a bill with Minnesota Democrat (and possible presidential hopeful) Amy Klobuchar to allow Americans to buy prescription drugs from approved pharmacies in Canada. OK, a drug deal seems crazy. After all, the government has been partially shut down for more than a month over a largely symbolic argument over a border wall, and the House speaker and the President cant even agree on whether Trump can give his state of the union address in the House chamber next week. Yet, in some ways the current battles over border security and the government shutdown may motivate both Trump and congressional Democrats to show voters that they can reach agreement on an important consumer issue. Presidential politics The drug industry is worried. One lobbyist told me recently that drug makers live in fear that Trump will throw them under the bus and cut a deal with Hill Democrats. The industry is gearing up a major lobbying effort to block a deal, while some firms are quietly working with lawmakers to craft compromise legislation that would allow some benchmarking of prices. There are many good reasons why a deal may not happen: The mercurial president may walk away from a perfectly reasonable compromise or Democrats may not be willing to give a weakened Trump a major political talking point for the 2020 campaign. The two sides may not make a deal, and indeed probably wont. But they could. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/01/23/could-trump-and-hill-democrats-make-a-deal-to-curb-medicare-drug-prices/ |
Is Trump really just going to show up and try to deliver his State of the Union? | A week after it first flared, the State of the Union row between President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is back on. The latest escalation: a letter from Trump declaring that he will give the speech Tuesday, over her objections. I will be honoring your invitation, and fulfilling my Constitutional duty, to deliver important information to the people and Congress of the United States of America regarding the State of our Union, Trump wrote. I look forward to seeing you on the evening on January 29th in the Chamber of the House of Representatives. The letter sets the stage for a potentially high-profile and fraught standoff. And perhaps most intriguing: It puts Trump in the position of making good on a very big promise if Pelosi wont budge. Either option carries with it the potential for real embarrassment. As my colleague Colby summed it up: Legally speaking, Trump has no right to deliver the speech in the House chamber. The Constitution says only that a president must provide an update on the state of the country. This used to be done in writing (an option Pelosi helpfully suggested in her letter to Trump last week). Congress can provide the chamber and has for more than 100 years, but it must be done through a joint resolution. Pelosi earlier this month invited Trump to deliver the speech, but such a resolution has been neither taken up nor passed. Its worth noting that Pelosi hasnt technically uninvited Trump. In her letter last week, she merely suggested a postponement (or a written version) because of security concerns related to the shutdown. Trump is essentially daring her to follow through. But ever since Democrats won back the House in November, Pelosi has shown she wont exactly back down from a fight. In fact, this is a fight she started. To give in now and just schedule the speech would be a pretty clear capitulation to Trump. He will have said, Im delivering the speech, and she will have effectively said, Okay, nevermind about all that stuff I said before. With Democrats in control of the shutdown battle, its tough to see how she would do that, unless they reach some kind of compromise for the purpose of de-escalating the whole thing. So lets assume for the purposes of argument that she says no dice. To do so would be to run afoul of the law. And even if it worked, it would mean delivering a speech to a chamber that might be empty or include no Democrats. The alternative and much more likely outcome seems to be that Trump just doesnt show up. But that would mean Pelosi had called his bluff. Trumps letter makes clear he will show up, so he has set that expectation. To back down on this would be a pretty striking move for both main parties involved, especially given that everyone is looking for a sign of weakness in the other sides shutdown resolve. But somethings got to give, and its got to give by Tuesday. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/01/23/is-trump-really-just-going-show-up-try-deliver-his-state-union/ |
Is speed really an issue? | Campaigners calling for a review of speed limits on major routes and residential roads in Horncastle have been dealt a blow. Data produced by Horncastle Town Council indicates that in the last 12 months, only ONE of the towns notorious hot spots showed an overall average speed above the existing limit. The data is based on information recorded by the councils two reactive speed signs. While some roads did have a relatively high percentage of speeding drivers, councillors admit overall results indicate speed is not a major issue. The signs were sited at 16 mobile locations including Boston Road (A153), Louth Road (A153), Jubilee Way (A158) and Lincoln Road (A158). Data was also recorded on so called rat runs like Stanhope Road, Prospect Street and Accommodation Road. Only the average speed on Jubilee Way exceeded the 30mph limit. That came during an eight day period last July when the average speed was 30.5mph - .5 over the limit. Average speeds are only one factor in a raft of information Highways officials use to decide limits. The Town Council admits it is debateable how useful the data is. Town clerk Amanda Bushell admitted the results were surprising in light of recent concerns raised about speeding. She admitted that on the evidence of the data, councillors did not appear to have a powerful argument to take to Lincolnshire County Council and Road Safety chiefs. In Stanhope Road, for example, during an eight day period in December, the average speed was 18.5mph. Only 66 of 10,938 vehicles logged exceeded the limit. During an eight day period on Louth Road in December, a sign logged 17,136 vehicles but only 496 (2.89%) exceeded the 40mph limit. On Lincoln Road - where moves are underway to extend the 30mph zone - only 3.17% of drivers were recorded breaking the 40mph limit. Hemingby Lane twice saw a high percentage of drivers topping 30mph (47.90% and 31.86%) but again the average speed was lower than the limit. Speaking at this months town council meeting, Mayor Coun Brian Burbidge admitted speedingis still a issue in some locations. He added another major worry was the number of vehicles using routes in Horncastle - and not just the A153 and A158. He said it was amazing an average 1,244 vehicles a day were using Stanhope Road while 1,172-a-day used Prospect Street during the towns major roadworks in October. When the roadworks werent in place, that dropped to an average of 450-a-day. Councillors noted some divers exceeded 60 and 70mph, but it was pointed out that could involve emergency vehicles. Coun Burbidge said: The average speeds in some locations are worth looking at but overall, there does not appear to anything too excessive. Several councillors said data was affected by routes like Boston Road, Jubilee Way and Lincoln Road suffering nose-to-tail jams for half the year. Councillors agreed to discuss the data with police before deciding whether to press for any changes to limits. Coun John Lechler questioned whether the signs actually encouraged drivers to slow down. Coun Burbidge insisted they did and he had seen countless examples of drivers braking when flashed by a sign. Councillors agreed to two new locations for signs - including Banovallum Gardens. They will also have find a new site in Foundry Street because a proposed lamppost already has too many other signs! | https://www.horncastlenews.co.uk/news/is-speed-really-an-issue-1-8780661 |
What happened to the Broncos? | The years are starting to roll on since the Broncos last title in 2006. Since the last Broncos title the winners have been the Storm (two legitimate, two taken away for salary cap breaches), Roosters (two), Sea Eagles (two) and the Saints, Cowboys, Sharks and Rabbits with one each. Ironically it looks like a list of clubs with the weakest juniors in the league. Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Reddit Email Share The Broncos have all the wealth and facilities any team needs to succeed. For much of this time they have had one of the games great coaches and huge crowds to cheer them on. The Broncos have plenty of top juniors to draw on and a very stable era free from major turmoil. Consider some of the issues faced by plenty of their rivals over this period. The Knights have been impotent due to a lack of quality juniors emerging and by being Tinklered. The Wests Tigers have had all sorts of financial and other problems. The Storm, Dogs, Eels and Sharks have had major salary cap or drug issues which have taken them out of contention at times. Advertisement Advertisement The Titans were on the way out and rescued and the Sea Eagles have had too many dramas to list in one article. The Eels and Raiders are still waiting for some champion juniors to emerge since their last titles in 1986 and 1994 respectively. I can only really come up with one main factor: recruitment. The big five Queenslanders of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cam Smith, John Thurston and Cooper Cronk played a huge number of games in this era and all won premierships but none of them with the Broncos. Add one of these players to the team and its easy to imagine a title or two. The Storm and Cows are brought right back to the field and the Broncos are dramatically stronger. Since 2006 Inglis, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cronk, Thurston and Cam Munster have played starring roles in grand final wins in the halves for teams other than the Broncos after leaving Brisbane. Thats close to the top five halves of the current era and some of the best from any era. | https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/01/24/what-happened-to-the-broncos/ |
Did 'The Conners' Finale Set Things Up for a Second Season? | The Conners wrapped its first season Tuesday night, and the finale left viewers with more than one cliffhanger. While no official word on a second season has been given, the final episode, "We Continue to Truck," set things up nicely for a potential return. After a rocky start many Roseanne fans vowed not to watch without former star Roseanne Barr The Conners ended on a high note. Go Behind the Scenes of 'The Conners' Season Finale With the Cast We were on set for the final episode of the first season! Plus, learn what's next for the beloved TV family. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show pulled in an audience of just under 8 million for the Season 1 ender, which is its highest-performing episode since fall of last year. Among many of the twists and surprises were Aunt Jackie's (Laurie Metcalf) break-up with Peter (Matthew Broderick), whom she caught cheating when she found a bra in his bag and multiple calls to an unknown number in his phone bill. Of course, the break-up didn't come without baggage, as Jackie wound up at the old Lunch Box now a Chinese restaurant and made an emotional scene. Luckily, Dan (John Goodman) and Darlene (Sara Gilbert) were there to intervene and take her home. Then there's Becky (Lecy Goranson), who, in the midst of getting to know her baby-daddy Emilio (Rene Rosado), learns that he's been deported by episode's end. Of course, this is just part of the drama that also includes a love triangle for... Darlene. When David (Johnny Galecki) comes knocking at the Conner family door, Darlene answers and learns that he's broken up with his girlfriend Blue (Juliette Lewis). This news doesn't serve to help her indecision about moving to Chicago with her current boyfriend, Ben (Jay R. Ferguson). Considering Johnny Galecki's impending Big Bang Theory finale, his open schedule could allow for some more Conners screentime. Fans will definitely want to know. She's got the support of Dan, Darlene, and the rest of her family, but maybe we'll see more self-fulfillment than her looking for love in a possible second season. Scroll down to see their reactions below. Wow Everyone did a great job on #TheConners tonight! But when Jackie went back to the Lunchbox?! .. omg #LaurieMetcalf is brilliant! @TheConnersABC @ABCNetwork Kristie Nizzia (@kristienizzia) January 23, 2019 Love #theconners so excited David is back looking forward to the love triangle. Such a good show! End game Darlene and David they just fit! Heather lopez (@Heather659) January 23, 2019 Really loved #TheConners season finale. Hope this is a spin-off than can survive, because theyve done a great job so far. . (@og_wahoo) January 23, 2019 I will always love David and Darlene because they have history but her and Ben....im leaning more in Ben's way#TheConners Jhene_I_Jade (@QueenMzMona33) January 23, 2019 | https://www.tvinsider.com/746519/the-conners-finale-cliffhangers-season-2/ |
Could Kansas abandon daylight saving time? | Sign up for one of our email newsletters. TOPEKA, Kan. Imagine no longer falling back or springing ahead. Imagine a world where you dont have to figure out how to set your microwave or dashboard clock. If you live in Kansas, imagine its a day that may be closer than you think. A bill before state lawmakers would exempt Kansas from daylight saving time. Beginning after 2 a.m. Nov. 3, 2019, there would be no more clock-turning twice a year. The state would remain on standard time. Rep. Kristey Williams, an Augusta Republican, said she decided to introduce the bill after hearing from constituents. I think they dont like switching back and forth. Thats the tough spot, going back and forth, Williams said. Before you decide it will never happen, consider this: the Sedgwick County Commission, which represents the states second most-populous county, has also officially adopted elimination of daylight saving time as a legislative priority. David Dennis, a Sedgwick County commissioner, pointed out that despite its name, the amount of daylight remains constant. We really dont save any daylight whatsoever, Dennis said. Advocates say it is more than a matter of personal convenience. They cite evidence that the twice-yearly time shift is costly and a possible health hazard. Studies in the New England Journal of Medicine and the American Journal of Cardiology report increased hospital admissions for heart attacks on the Monday after time shifts. Chumra, a Washington economics and analytics firm, estimates that health issues, workplace accidents and cyberloafing immediately following time changes cost businesses $430 million a year. Opponents say there are compelling reasons. While it is widely assumed that daylight saving time was created to help farmers to stay in their fields, it was actually a World War I-era measure devised to save electricity. And the energy savings are significant. The U.S. Department of Energy says that the four-week expansion of daylight saving time in 2007 saved 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours the amount needed to power 100,000 households for an entire year. Perhaps most compelling is the potential for the confusion it could bring to a metropolitan area of more than 2 million spread across two states one that is daylight saving-observant and one that is not. Like, say, Kansas City. Ive got meetings in Missouri all the time and for me to try to keep that one figured out, that would really be something, said Sen. John Skubal, an Overland Park Republican. Kansas City Mayor Sly James said he hadnt given the idea a moments thought. Until he had a few thoughts. I think its always problematic when you have people that are living in the same house doing different things and on different schedules and basically having two sets of clocks, James said. Its hard enough to remember when youre traveling across the country what time zone youre in. He added: That wouldnt make a whole lot of sense to have to remember what time zone youre in when youre traveling across state lines as we do every day. OK, the store closes at 10 oclock. Is that Kansas time or Missouri time? While Hawaiis remote location minimizes the impact of having no daylight saving, out-of-state visitors to Arizona can encounter frustration. As a lawyer, if I have airline flights or telephone conference calls with people in Arizona, I have to always straighten out which time is it going to be, said Rep. John Carmichael, a Wichita Democrat, calling elimination of daylight saving a good idea but a decision that should be made by Congress. An Arizona Republic story in 2017, the 50th anniversary of its opt out, noted that some network television shows and sports events outside the state (such as Monday Night Football) begin later during daylight saving, forcing fans to stay up later. Dont look to Congress to make a change, according to U.S. Sen. Jerry Morans office. Morgan Said, a spokeswoman for Moran, said the senator believes that any daylight saving time exemption proposals are best debated at the state level. The Kansas measure has been assigned to the House Federal and State Affairs Committee, and Williams suggested reporters reach out to the committee chairman to see if he is interested in pursuing the bill because ultimately he is going to have the say on that. The chairman, Rep. John Barker, an Abilene Republican, said Monday that he didnt plan to work the bill currently because there wasnt much interest from members of the committee. Williams said there are numerous issues before lawmakers, but this is the one thing that impacts every single Kansan every single day. Kansas House Speaker Ron Ryckman, an Olathe Republican, said that if Kansas and Missouri switch together it might make sense. I would like to see some details, especially for the ones who live in metropolitan areas next to Missouri, Ryckman said. Missouri lawmakers have explored the idea of dropping daylight saving time in the past. In previous years, a constitutional amendment has been proposed to stop the practice. Its never advanced through the Legislature. I think its actually an idea with some merit, Missouri House Speaker Elijah Haahr, a Springfield Republican. The idea that as you travel across the country you have to change your watches and clocks, it seems like a relic of a bygone era. | https://triblive.com/usworld/world/14535058-74/could-kansas-abandon-daylight-saving-time?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+alltribstories+%28TribLIVE+News%29 |
Is Disha Vakani Not Returning To Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah? | Disha Vakanis Return But in March 2018, the actress told the makers that she is not yet ready to return to work as she wanted to concentrate on her baby. Hence, the makers, as per Disha's convenience, shot a few scenes at her house and used those shots as filler shots in the episode. In September 2018, it was said that she might comeback during Navratri, but that didn't happen. There were also reports that Disha had laid conditions on her return and had also hiked her price. Disha Might Not Return To The Show! Apparently, the makers said that they would love to have her back, but cannot comply with her conditions. But as per Spotboye report, after discussions, both the parties have mutually decided to end their association! A source was quoted by the entertainment portal as staying, "It's been almost a year Disha has been missing from the show. However, it hasn't affected the TRP as such and so, the makers are also ok with the idea of not having her on the show." Producers Cryptic Statement Confuses Viewers The producer of the show made a cryptic statement when asked about Disha quitting the show. He was quoted by Bollywood life as saying, "Can't say about the authenticity of that news. I don't know. Maybe true. I don't know about the final decision. My team is talking with her." Disha Is Very Much Part Of The Show! But according to Tellychakkar report, the makers have rubbished the reports. PR of Neela Telefilms and the makers of the show, told Tellychakkar, "Disha is still very much a part of the show. The rumours are baseless. We are hoping for her come back in the show." | https://www.filmibeat.com/television/news/2019/is-disha-vakani-not-returning-to-taarak-mehta-ka-ooltah-chashmah-heres-the-answer-281912.html?utm_source=/rss/filmibeat-fb.xml&utm_medium=23.50.225.237&utm_campaign=client-rss |
Is UP Poll Duty a Congress Strategy to Keep Jyotiraditya Scindia Away From MP? | In a sudden move, Congress on Wednesday appointed senior party leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as the AICC general secretary in charge of UP West while Priyanka Gandhi was handed the responsibility for UP East.The important political development comes just couple of days after Scindias mysterious late-night meeting with former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at his residence which set tongues rolling in MP.The move to appoint Scindia in UP is widely seen as a Congress ploy to distance the leader from party affairs in Madhya Pradesh where the party decided to name veteran Kamal Nath as CM.Though seven to eight Scindia loyalists have been accommodated in the Kamal Nath cabinet, it is widely believed that it is Kamal Nath-Digvijaya Singh combo that is calling all the shots in MP now.Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday heaped praises on his sister and Scindia, calling both of them powerful leaders of the party but the move to move Scindia to UP will mean handling of the Lok Sabha campaign in MP by Kamal Nath and Digvijaya Singh.Though Gandhi claimed that Scindia was being deployed in Uttar Pradesh for just two months, it seems difficult to believe that Congress would allow Scindia to shift attention from this politically relevant state.It should be noted that the Congress move has come at a time when CM Kamal Nath is attending World Economic Forum at Davos.Besides, its equally interesting that apparently sidelined in MP BJP, former CM Chouhan too has been recently appointed as BJP national vice president despite his open declaration that he doesnot plan to go anywhere and would stay in Madhya Pradesh.Scindia was given a rousing welcome as he reached Bhopal late Wednesday evening from Guna. *Rental / capacity fee of Rs.130/- as charged by cable / DTH operator may apply. **GST extra. | https://www.news18.com/news/politics/is-up-poll-duty-a-congress-move-to-keep-jyotiraditya-scindia-away-from-mp-2011867.html |
Whats in a (string quartets) name? | To make a name for yourself in the string quartet biz you've got to first choose a name. Some string quartets have named themselves after composers. Think Beethoven, Alban Berg and Borodin. Others after artists: Modigliani, Mir, Vermeer. Still others after their leader: Kolisch, Belcea, Kopelman. And then there are those named after a city, region or geographical feature: Budapest, Orford, St. Lawrence. Some names come with stories attached. The Afiara String Quartet got their name from a member's fat-fingered typo of "affair." No one in the group is named Parker. Daniel Chong is the first violinist, his wife Jessica Bodner is the violist, Ken Hamao is the second violinist and Kee-Hyun Kim is the cellist. "We're named after the Parker House (now the Omni Parker House), which is the oldest continually running hotel in the U.S.," wrote Bodner to the Spectator. "It was a meeting point for transcendental writers as well as being a Boston landmark and institution." Founded in 2002 and based in Boston where they're currently Blodgett artists-in-residence at Harvard University's department of music, the Parkers are now a big name in the string quartet world. In 2011, the foursome's recording for Naxos of Gyorgy Ligeti's first and second string quartets won a Grammy in the Best Chamber Music Performance category. "Winning a Grammy was certainly not the first thing on our minds when we set out to record Ligeti's string quartets, but it was an honour to be recognized in this way," wrote Bodner. "It has sometimes helped as an icebreaker for people who may not know our group, especially among nonmusicians." On Sunday, Feb. 3 at 2 p.m., the Parkers will be performing under the aegis of Chamber Music Hamilton at the Art Gallery of Hamilton. Their bill includes Dmitri Shostakovich's "Two Pieces for String Quartet," Leos Janacek's "Quartet No. 1 Kreutzer Sonata," and Johannes Brahms' "Sextet in G," the latter with violist and CMH co-artistic director Michael Schulte and cellist David Heatherington. "For us, the thing that stands out about this program is how different composers can use the sense of time and space to convey a broad range of colours and emotions," wrote Bodner. "Working backwards, we have Brahms' G major sextet, which sprawls out in expansive forms that develop thoughtfully and meticulously. Janacek's 'Kreutzer Sonata' is almost the exact opposite. Dense, compact, and volatile, this music is constructed like a ball of rubber bands. Finally, we open our program with two pieces that couldn't be simpler or more direct in their sentiments. The first is a haunting waltz, and the second a comical polka." The Parkers first studied the Janacek over a decade ago. "Janacek's language has always felt natural for our group, and we've always felt quite connected to it," wrote Bodner. | https://www.therecord.com/whatson-story/9139998-what-s-in-a-string-quartet-s-name-/ |
Who is EastEnders' Lola Pearce and why is she returning with Ben Mitchell? | 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 EastEnders have confirmed fan favourite Lola Pearce is returning to the BBC soap with daughter Lexi. Actress Danielle Harold is reprising her role four years after her exit from the show, with the character written out at the time. Its since been announced that they wont be coming back alone, with Lexis father Ben Mitchell also heading back to Walford, with a different actor playing him. Lola made her EastEnders debut in 2011, as the secret granddaughter of Billy Mitchell . Billys son, who he and his ex gave up for adoption when he was a baby, had sadly passed away, and after tracking Lola down he took her in. Actress Danielle Harold plays Lola, and has done since the characters debut in 2011. Danielle will reprise the role when Lola returns to Walford later this year. Ben Mitchell is Lexis father, conceived after the pair slept together in a bid to "test his sexuality" after he thought he might be gay. Hes never really been a part of Lexis life, but that could be about to change as the trio head back to Albert Square. Ben will now be played by actor Max Bowden. Lola was dating Jay Brown at the time of her exit, but the couple faced trouble after the murder of Bens niece Lucy Beale. Ben was arrested for the murder, after he and Jay hid Lucys phone and purse which they had robbed from her on the night of her murder. Jay planned to flee, fearing he too would be arrested, and asked Lola and Lexi to move to Newcastle with him where their friend Dexter lived, and she accepted. Not wanting Lola to leave, Billy reported Jay to the police and he was arrested for robbery, but not wanting to stick around Lola left with Lexi alone. Her return storyline has not yet been confirmed, with it only known that she and Lexi will return at the same time as Ben. Lola dumped Jay over the phone shortly after her exit, and confirmed she had started a new romance with Dexter. Its not known what has happened between Lola and Dexter ahead of her return, or if there are plans for her to reunite with Jay. EastEnders airs Mondays and Fridays at 8pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30pm on BBC1. | https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/who-lola-pearce-eastenders-returning-13897809 |
What happened to the Northview Boys Basketball program that coach Ron Rice built? | The Northview High School boys basketball house that legendary coach Ron Rice built during 41 years at the school before retiring in 2013 is barely recognizable and about to bottom out. The Vikings are 0-22 and on the verge of suffering their first winless season in school history. To put over 40 years into building that thing up, its difficult to watch because its something you took a lot of pride in, said Rice, who recently welcomed his 12th grand child and is enjoying retirement in Laguna Nigel. To watch it deteriorate is tough, I have to be honest. Rice started at Northview as an assistant in 1969 and became the head coach in 1971 and remained there until 2013. He finished with 579 victories and during his last 10 years the Vikings won or shared the Valle Vista League title seven times, including the Vikings last co-league title in 2011-12, when they finished 21-9, which was the schools last winning season. When Rice was retiring, he figured his son Brian Rice, a social studies teacher at the school, would take over the program and continue the legacy. After all, Brian Rice had been his top assistant for more than a decade and it only seemed natural the son would follow his legendary dad. But shockingly, the school decided to hire walk-on coach Eric Johnson instead, who had been the junior varsity coach. It was a tough pill for Ron and Brian Rice to swallow at the time. For whatever reason, the first-year principal at the time, Dr. Josie Paredes, wanted to make her own first impression and decided to go in a different direction. At the time, even athletic director David Ochoa supported it. Ive been here 24 years and Im behind her (Paredes) decision, Ochoa said back then. I think shes a good person, and it wasnt an easy decision for her, but its her decision. Theres just a difference in philosophy. Ron Rice couldnt believe it. Mark Sims, the principal before (Paredes), said it was cut and dry Brian would be the coach when I left, Ron Rice said back in 2013. Those were his wishes. He told me to coach as long as I liked and when youre ready to make the switch, make the switch. It always seemed like the natural thing to do. Hes here, he teaches here and hes been doing this with me for a long time. Paredes is no longer the principal but her decision back then rattled the cages and the Vikings program has never recovered. It took a while for Ron Rice to get over it, and hes since mended fences with the school and is on its newly formed Hall of Fame committee. Brian Rice has moved on too. He still teaches at the school and coaches boys and girls tennis, and would probably never take the job even if they offered it now. What happened, happened, Ron Rice said. Im not going to be critical of it anymore, Im back involved with the school and I hope they can figure it out. Im on the Hall of Fame committee and excited about that. Theyve got a new administration at Northview so it was time to just move on. I have a lot of great memories there. I spent four decades at Northview and it was a big part of my life and I wish them nothing but the best and hope they can turn it (basketball program) around. But to this day, it was still a baffling decision, and who knows when the program will recover. Johnson spent four years at Northview and never won more than nine games in a season, finishing 34-70. Ochoa was critical of Johnsons four-year tenure. When he (Johnson) quit, he didnt talk to anybody, Ochoa said. He didnt tell the kids, didnt have a banquet, didnt have spring ball. And then we started losing basketball players to other schools, like Covina. Northview hired Chris Confair to take over last year, but he went 5-23 and is winless the season. So, since Rices retirement, Northview is a combined 39-115 in six seasons. Ochoa says Confair works his butt off, but the talent just isnt there, and changes are likely to come. Its not his (Confairs) fault, Ochoa said. When Johnson left, we completely lost any semblance of a program. By the time we hired (Confair) any kid who had considered playing basketball was enrolling or transferring to Covina or somewhere else. Northviews team has three freshman and four sophomores, but Ochoa admits, their problems are more than just being a young team. Ochoa said he will sit down with Confair after the season, but eventually, he believes they have to find an on campus coach. We will get it done, were going to turn this thing around, and were going to make a commitment to this program and get it rolling again, Ochoa said confidently. We tried to hire an on campus coach (in recent years), but it just didnt work out. But we know something has to change. We just dont have any basketball type kids in our program right now. Were basically playing a frosh-soph team that is young and playing their heart out and our coach is working hard and doing all he can, but this isnt working and we realize that. Ron Rice said an on campus coach would be a good start. You have to be at the school and around the kids, Rice said. We were never a school that recruited kids or got big transfers, but you have to convince kids that come to your school or who are coming to your school that you know what youre doing and that you can coach them. You have to get the best athletes at your school to play, even though that is getting tougher with specialization. But at the end of the day, its still coaching. I thought we coached our teams up as well as anyone, and a lot of that has to do with being there, being around the kids and building something with them. Rice, 73, said traveling and his 12 grand children keep him busy, but it was a scare he had four years ago is why he takes nothing for granted, or holds any hard feelings. I had some cancer four years ago with my saliva gland in my upper cheek, Rice said. I went through eight weeks of radiation and now they (doctors) check on me every four months or so. But for the last four years, Ive been cancer free. And if you think hes done coaching, not completely. Im helping my oldest son Steve coach one of my grand kids in an 11-year-old youth league, Rice said. Its so much fun, it takes you back to the beginning of it all. Thats what its all about now, my family and my grand kids. They keep you busy, thats for sure. | https://www.whittierdailynews.com/2019/01/23/what-happened-to-the-northview-boys-basketball-team-that-coach-ron-rice-built/ |
How is the Welsh Government preparing for a No Deal Brexit? | In something quite unprecedented, nearly all of yesterday afternoons plenary session in the Senedd was turned over to a single subject: No Deal Brexit and how individual Welsh Government departments were preparing for it. The Welsh Government have also launched a special Brexit preparedness website outlined above which they say will be updated as the situation changes. Parliament needs to explore every way of delivering an outcome to the Brexit process that simultaneously respects the referendum and protects us from damage to our economy and the fabric of our society.the debate in Parliament over the next week is the last opportunity to rally around that form of Brexit.based around continued participation in the single market and a customs union. Theres concern over medicines imports especially radioisotopes used in radiology and cancer treatment (mainly due to regulatory restrictions as the UK will be leaving Euratom) and the Minister said there were no assurances from the UK Government that they can prevent disruption. A No Deal will also lead to what the Minister described as a tighter health and social care labour market, making it hard to compete for staff (particularly at the lower-end in care) possibly leading to delayed discharges from hospital. Ipsos MORI has been commissioned to do a study of the social care labour market to identify who works where and how many are from the EU to help workforce planning. The UK Government are making arrangements to secure medicine and medical device supplies and the Welsh Government have some idea as to where shortages might be. Public Health Wales recently published an impact assessment the only one in the UK on how Brexit will affect health, which the Minister described as invaluable. The main concern surrounds Welsh ports, particularly ferry ports handling large volumes of road freight (Holyhead, Milford Haven, Fishguard etc.) container ports like Cardiff, Port Talbot and Newport are less likely to face disruption. Checks on goods going into Ireland are likely to cause disruption on the roads around ports. UK citizens will need an international driving permit/green card to legally drive within the EU. Direct flights between the UK and EU will stop after 12 months (March 2020) unless a long-term agreement on air access is reached. The UK Government have said they wont undertake any customs or border checks on EU imports on a temporary basis if theres a No Deal, but a long-term agreement is still needed. The Welsh Government continues to press for devolution of air passenger duty to improve the long-term prospects of Cardiff Airport. Any delays at Fishguard and Milford Haven are likely to be dealt with within the port, but at Holyhead, special traffic management plans will be put in place with holding areas located at the Roadking truckstop and Parc Cybi; in a worst-case scenario, lorries could be stacked on the A55 itself. 96% of Welsh meat exports and 97% of Welsh shellfish exports go to the EU. Under a No Deal, tariffs of anything between 15%-50% will be applied to food exports and imports, and a drop in the value of the pound could lead to an increase in food prices people pay in the shops. Therell also be additional customs, animal health and environmental checks which currently dont happen potentially ruining fresh food and live shellfish. A large number of EU workers also work in the Welsh and British food processing industry. About 1,200 pieces of legislation are being reviewed and amended in preparation for Brexit; the systems needed for chemicals, animal health and food exports are expected to be in place in the event of a No Deal. The Welsh Government are working with UK counterparts to ensure food and energy supplies face minimal disruption. Brexit has caused tensions relating to race, religion and nationality with a resulting increase in recorded hate crimes. Everything mentioned earlier could potentially lead to disruption and requires a co-ordinated government and local government response. Civil contingency preparations are a normal part of government business usually in relation to bad weather and major events and nobody should panic. The Welsh Government are working with the emergency services and local resilience forums to deal with any potential Brexit-related civil contingencies; a full risk assessment has been produced. Everyone knows what needs to happen and when. The Welsh Governments emergency coordination centre will also be brought into action if needed. Keep up to date with what is going on in the Senedd via SeneddHome.com | http://www.deeside.com/how-are-the-welsh-government-preparing-for-a-no-deal-brexit/ |
Is it the right time for the Portland Trail Blazers to make a trade? | The Portland Trail Blazers have been one of the best teams out west as we near the midway point of the 2019 NBA season, but with the February 7 trade deadline looming, the Blazers have to consider how their team is equipped to perform in the playoffs after being swept in embarrassing fashion by the New Orleans Pelicans in 2018. Portland has two of the best backcourt scorers in the league in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and center Jusuf Nurkic is finally starting to look like he is back to being the Bosnian Beast fans fell in love with when he first arrived in Portland. Forward Jake Layman has also seen his game develop to a point of being a regular contributor. The Blazers have sung the praises of roster continuity and how it has helped them find regular season success. But the fact remains that when this team hits the playoffs, it falls flat. In the last three seasons, the Blazers have made it out of the first round just once, in 2015-16, and that was in large part due to a rash of injuries the Los Angeles Clippers suffered during that series. Since then, the Blazers have been swept out of the first round twice in a row. So much for that roster continuity. Saddled with a slew of bloated contracts he doled out in 2016, President of Basketball Operations Neil Olshey has seen his hands tied when it comes to signing players in free agency, but the one avenue he does have to explore improving the roster is through trades. With the 2019 NBA trade deadline coming up fast, teams across the league will surely be willing to deal. Sign in and head to the comments section to let us know what you think the Portland needs to do as a franchise to take the next step and give Rip City some hope for playoff success. To get the ball rolling and help you find some ideas, here are just a few of the players rumored to be available as the deadline approaches: - Carmelo Anthony was traded from the Houston Rockets to the Chicago Bulls, but Anthony, who has sat out the majority of this season despite being healthy, will not play a game for Chicago. - The Memphis Grizzlies are reportedly fielding offers for franchise pillars Marc Gasol and Mike Conley, but the Grizzlies will want a lot in return. - The Washington Wizards were in a tailspin to begin the season, and along with their struggles came rumors that the franchise will look to blow up the team and rebuild. That could mean players like John Wall and Bradley Beal might be available for the right offer. Sharp-shooter Otto Porter has been mentioned as a good fit for a team like Portland who are still in need of more three-point shooting and defense on the wing. - Shams Charania of The Athletic reported that there is an early list of teams that will be sellers at the NBA trade deadline and that includes Atlanta, New York, Cleveland and Chicago in the East. Out West, Phoenix and Memphis could be looking to move some players. Post your thoughts in the comments and we may use them in our roundup of Blazers trade targets as the deadline draws closer. | https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2019/01/is-it-the-right-time-for-the-portland-trail-blazers-to-make-a-trade.html |
Will Lionel Messi play for Argentina at Copa America 2019? | Argentine football fans have an anxious wait ahead of them as their captain and record scorer mulls over his international future When it comes to international football with Argentina, Lionel Messi has been on a sabbatical. The Barcelona star has won everything there is to win at club level, but international glory continues to elude him. While he boasts an Olympic gold medal and won the Under-20 World Cup, he has yet to win a single senior honour with his country, despite featuring at four World Cups and four Copas America. Of those eight major tournaments he has played in, the Barca forward has been a beaten finalist on four occasions and recent failures have left the star questioning his future with the national team. With Copa America 2019 on the horizon this June, Goal takes a look at Messi's current international hiatus and whether or not he will return to the fold. There has been no official announcement to say that Messi has retired from international duty with Argentina, so he is, in theory, still available for selection. The Barca star has previously retired though, famously quitting after the disillusionment of Copa America Centenario in 2016, when Argentina lost the final against Chile. A repeat of the 2015 final, the Albiceleste suffered a penalty shootout defeat with Messi missing his spot-kick. It was his third consecutive loss in a major final with Argentina and his fourth overall. "I tried my hardest. It's been four finals, and I was not able to win," a despondent Messi told reporters at the time. "I tried everything possible. It hurts me more than anyone, but it is evident that this is not for me. I want more than anyone to win a title with the national team, but unfortunately, it did not happen." However, following widespread appeals from players, supporters and even politicians, he reversed his decision to retire in August that year, two months later. While he came back and dragged Argentina to the World Cup in Russia, his previous decision to retire after serial disappointment understandably has fans on edge. Messi's last appearance in an Albiceleste shirt came in the summer of 2018 at the World Cup in Russia. He featured in each of Argentina's matches at the tournament, but, as has become a recurring theme, his last game was a crushing disappointment: a quarter-final defeat to France, which took place on June 30. Les Bleus triumphed 4-3 in the game and, while Messi did not score himself, he supplied assists for Gabriel Mercado and Sergio Aguero. The loss was another devastating blow for the forward, who is, no doubt, all too aware that it could potentially be his last World Cup, given that he will be approaching 35 by the time of the 2022 edition in Qatar. Ahead of the tournament, he hinted that he could retire once again, but permanently this time. "I don't know," Messi told Sport. "It will depend how we do, how it ends." As one would expect, the question of whether or not Messi will play for Argentina again is a serious point of concern in the country. Any team that has been shorn of their best player is prone to suffer, let alone a player widely considered to be among the greatest of all time. Argentina have played six games since their elimination from the World Cup, including high profile friendlies against Brazil and Mexico, but Messi has not been involved in any of them. However, it must be said that the Barcelona captain was not the only notable absentee from those games, with boss Lionel Scaloni using experimental squads to identify which players are worthy of selection. Argentina's next game is a friendly against Venezuela, which is scheduled for March 21 and will, crucially, be played in Spain, something that conveniently makes things a little easier for Catalunya-based Messi. There is a prevailing belief among fans that their talisman will make a return before the Copa America in the Venezuela game. Indeed, the noises emanating from those within the Argentina camp and those associated with it have all pointed to the likelihood that Messi will not retire any time soon. Scaloni told reporters in November that he believed Messi would play for the team again and, in December, he expressed further confidence in that notion. "We are going to try for him to join us in 2019, we have pending talks and we are optimistic that it will be positive," said the Argentina coach. "For us it is something important. Any coach would like to coach him, myself more than any." It remains to be seen whether or not he will respond in the affirmative to talks with Scaloni, but his compatriots cannot be clearer about their hopes. Messi's Argentina team-mate Mercado admitted that it was simply "not the same" without the Barca star, telling Goal: We have to respect his decision. "He has his reasons for wanting to take time out and if he wants to consider a return at some point, that will be really important. "All Argentineans are waiting for him with open arms, so we have to wait and see what will happen." Diego Maradona has passionately defended Messi in the past, hitting out at those who laid all the blame for Argentina's inability to triumph in the international arena squarely at the 31-year-old's feet. However, Maradona subsequently expressed the view that Messi will feature again for his country, but warned - as he has done before - that they will struggle in his absence if he elects not to play any more. "I think so," Maradona told Marca when asked if he thought the star would return. "We will see, because if not then we are in trouble." Another Argentine icon, Juan Roman Riquelme, says he has "no doubt" that Messi will play for the team again. The former Boca Juniors star told Fox Sports Argentina: "Looking at it from the outside, I think he will come back. He loves playing for Argentina." Carlos Tevez, who won 76 caps for Argentina over the course of his career, believes that Messi is "the soul" of the national team and the country. "As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he tries to rest, that he keeps a cool head and that we need him," Tevez told ESPN after Argentina's World Cup elimination. "We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina's biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility." Article continues below However, while most people are eager for Messi to return, Juan Sebastian Veron is adamant that Argentina need to stop relying on the Rosario native so much, particularly as he moves into the autumn of his career. "It's time to build a group," the former Manchester United and Lazio midfielder told ESPN Argentina. "Obviously, if Leo is eager [to be part of the national team], they would need to involve him little by little. "I think we have to prepare the base and once and for all think about a team and not think about someone who can save us. | https://www.goal.com/en-sa/news/will-lionel-messi-play-argentina-copa-america-2019/yv7sd9ubysk11tiseyxuqd5tb |
Will Baidu Stock Bounce Back in 2019? | One of China's original dot-com rock stars is having a hard time getting back into a good groove. Baidu (NASDAQ: BIDU) shares plummeted 32% last year. Many Chinese growth stocks are showing signs of life in 2019, but Baidu stock is essentially still where it was when the year began. It's been a rough January for China's leading search engine provider. Things kicked off with Baidu CEO Robin Li warning about slowing growth. An analyst downgrade eventually followed. Even a bullish Wall Street pro put out a note detailing near-term negative catalysts, nipping any potential for Baidu to ride the wave of its fellow Chinese growth stocks higher. The stock hit a 35-month low earlier this month. Things appear to be bleak, but the one thing investors have learned in sizing up Baidu volatility over the years is that you can never count out the country's initial dot-com darling. Baidu research executives at Baidu office. More Image source: Baidu. Spring follows winter Baidu's founder-CEO sent a letter to employees three weeks ago, detailing past accomplishments and future challenges. Li notes that the economic slowdown is "as cold and real as winter" in China. He tries to put a positive spin on the setback -- arguing that it's giving Baidu time to cut costs, expand into higher-growth markets, and improve efficiency -- but the takeaway for investors is that growth will slow in the near term. Morgan Stanley would go on to downgrade the stock a few days later. The firm warns that a new investment cycle will weigh on margins as growth rates for its paid-search cash cow start to moderate. Morgan Stanley lowered its rating to the neutral equal weight, slashing its price target on the shares from $230 to $188. Citi analyst Alicia Yap chimed in late last week, sticking to her bullish rating on the stock but lowering her price target from $262 to $205. The new price goal still offers 28% of upside off of current levels, but she also has "Negative Catalyst Watch" on the stock through the next 30 days. She fears that the upcoming fourth-quarter report could come in soft, cuffed to weak guidance for the current quarter. Baidu won't be immune to a slowdown in China. Advertisers will be spending less to reach consumers that will be curbing expenditures if recent measures to accelerate growth in the world's most populous nation fall short. However, it doesn't seem fair that Baidu is trading near its worst levels since early 2016. There is still growth to be had at Baidu. Even if it falls short of its late-October goal calling for 20% to 26% in revenue growth adjusted for recent asset sales -- a real possibility given its cautious tone -- this is still an online pioneer that finds a way to eventually land on its feet. As rough as last year was, Baidu has beaten Wall Street profit targets by a double-digit-percentage margin in each of the past four quarters. Baidu is cheap. Wall Street expectations continue to inch lower, but Baidu is still trading at a mere 15 times this new year's projected profit. If Baidu is trading at a forward earnings multiple in the mid-teens while it makes big investments in future technologies, one can only imagine how cheap the shares will be in retrospect when it's firing on all cylinders again. Baidu will bounce back, as that is what the stock has historically done. We just may have to wait a few weeks before it truly bottoms out after a financial report that is now widely expected to disappoint. More From The Motley Fool Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Baidu. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://news.yahoo.com/baidu-stock-bounce-back-2019-194500596.html |
What are the Iowa caucuses? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. A caucus is a meeting of voters held to pick the states delegates to the partys national presidential convention. Currently, 13 states and two U.S. territories use some form of the caucus system. The Iowa caucuses, which are set to take place in February 2020, kick off the presidential primary season, and are therefore often the most notable. Caucuses will be held in each of Iowa's 1,681 precincts. Leading up to the caucuses, aspiring candidates typically spend months in the state, making dozens of visits if not more to win over voters with up-close-and-personal campaigning. In 1972, the Democratic Party held its first Iowa caucus as a way to make the election process more inclusive for voters. The first Republican Iowa caucus followed in 1976. Caucuses take place at any easily accessible public location, including schools, fire stations, city halls and churches. Some have occurred in places as unique as nature centers, bars and even a gun shop. Supporters make an argument for their candidate. After listening to each case, caucus attendees go to different parts of the room depending on which candidate they are supporting for example, Bernie Sanders voters go to one corner and Hillary Clinton supporters go to another. After the groups are formed, the caucus chair adds up how many supporters are in each candidate's group. To be viable, a candidate typically needs to earn the support of at least 15 percent of all the followers in the room (although some viability levels are higher in more rural precincts.) If a candidate is not viable, their supporters must "re-caucus" and fall in with another candidate. Once all the remaining candidates are deemed to be viable, the number of supporters of each candidate is tallied. Delegates and alternates are selected to attend the county convention, during which the delegates for the district convention are chosen, and then finally, the state convention. The number of delegates given to each viable candidate is proportional to the support that the candidate received, and the number of delegates each precinct receives depends on how many votes were cast in that precinct in the previous caucus. This is how Democratic caucuses have worked in the past, but new rules are being put in place that could change the process somewhat. Representatives for each presidential candidate state their cases. After this point, the GOP caucuses are distinct from the Democratic ones. Caucusgoers vote for their candidate on a paper ballot, or by a show of hands if the caucus is small enough. Republican caucuses do not have a 15 percent minimum threshold, unlike Democratic caucuses. The votes are tallied and recorded, and delegates are awarded based on the results. The main reason Iowa is vital to the national election process is because it is the first test of presidential hopefuls' strength and viability. Those who don't perform well in Iowa are unlikely to make it to the White House. "Everybody wants to be the one who gets all the attention first," said Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa and author of "Riding the Caucus Rollercoaster: The Ups and Downs in the Republican Race to Win the 2012 Iowa Caucuses." Only one person has lost the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary in the last 40 years and went on to become president Bill Clinton, in 1992. Yes. Critics tend to point toward the largely white demographics of the state, arguing that voters in Iowa are not representative of the rest of the country. "Basically, we're too rural, too white, too old," Hagle said. Notable Iowa caucus results 1976 One of the most renowned candidates in Iowa caucus history is Jimmy Carter. During the 1976 Democratic caucuses, Carter was a relatively unknown Georgia governor running for president. The night ended in a surprise with Carter receiving more votes than any other candidate. He used that energy to solidify an unlikely victory in New Hampshire shortly after that, ultimately paving his road to the White House. Carter's win created the perception that a win in Iowa is a big step toward the Oval Office. Steffen Schmidt, a professor of political science at Iowa State University, saw Carter as the key factor that elevated the Iowa caucuses' national importance. "It didn't really become important until an unknown governor by the name of Jimmy Carter from Georgia saw what was happening," he said. "Then, the Iowa caucuses began to really take off." 1988 and 1996 Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., is the only candidate other than an incumbent president to win the Iowa caucuses twice, in 1988 and 1996. Dole went on to win the GOP presidential nomination in 1996 but lost the general election to then-incumbent Clinton. 2008 The caucuses that ultimately led to the election of the first African-American president in U.S. history, Barack Obama, also saw a record-breaking turnout for the Democrats, with almost 240,000 Iowans showing up to vote. This included younger voters as well as independents, which led to crowd control issues in schools and firehouses across the state. Obama's victory also helped solidify the narrative that it pays to win in Iowa. 2012 Preliminary results showed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as the winner of the Iowa Republican caucuses as of Jan. 3, 2012. But more than two weeks later, the tally was changed to show former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum was actually the victor, edging Romney by 34 votes. The win didn't help Santorum secure the GOP nomination, but the hiccup showed that the important process had a history of problems with tabulating results. | https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-are-iowa-caucuses-n956401 |
Is the NFL's competition committee the problem? | Here are the current members of the NFLs Competition Committee: Rich McKay (chairman) president, Atlanta Falcons John Mara owner, New York Giants Stephen Jones owner, Dallas Cowboys Mark Murphy president, Green Bay Packers Ozzie Newsome general manager, Baltimore Ravens Mike Tomlin head coach, Pittsburgh Steelers John Elway general manager, Denver Broncos Sean Payton head coach, New Orleans Saints Its probably the most powerful committee when it comes to what fans see on the field. Sure, the finance committee wields power internally and the media committee brings in the most cash, but the competition committee makes decisions on rule changes and the game itself. Well be hearing a lot about them over the coming weeks. They are here to provide solutions . . . but the committee may be the actual problem. First, its entirely too reactionary. Things dont change unless something becomes a giant problem or theres a ton of media exposure. Its not as if the committee doesnt see trends happening in the game. They arent blind. They just have the mindset that is if it aint broke, dont fix it. Theres no reason to address a potential problem if it isnt a current problem. Once it becomes a problem, then they address it. Actually, someone was talking about that kind of problem and they were summarily ignored. Bill Belichick suggested that every play should be reviewable in some way shape or form. Those reviews dont even need to come from coaches. If the goal is to get every play called correctly, then there should be a central location reviewing every play to make sure every play is called correctly. That leads us to the next issue and one that people dont ever seem to bring up. It sure seems like if a team thats not involved with the competition committee brings something up, things dont change. However, if a team that has representation on the competition committee has an issue, well then its addressed very very quickly. Belichick suggests static cameras at the goal line or increased replay review and we get crickets. The Ravens fall victim to creative formations and non-receivers checking in as eligible while eligible receivers announce themselves ineligible and a change in the rules is made the next season. A quick glance finds Sean Payton on the list of names of the competition committee. Lets say Id bet its more likely than not that replay will be expanded. Things only change when a combination of not looking forward and being reactionary comes back to bite the committee and specific teams having influence want things changed. Look, a lot of committees and businesses are run that way. The NFL is no different than the typical corporation. The problem is they act like they arent the typical corporation. The competition committee is a problem because its limited to the teams listed above. Sure, they may take some input here and there, but its a little suspicious that changes happen when something bad happens to a team that has a competition committee member and changes dont happen when its vice versa. Force the committee to think outside the box. Whatever was the biggest issue last year doesnt address future issues. For example, we will get increased review under two minutes book it but how about thinking about the proliferation of short passing offenses and air raid style strategy. The focus wont be there because a huge issue hasnt happened yet. The simple answer is to have more input from other teams or continually rotate half the members on the competition committee so one team, coach, executive, or group doesnt have too much influence when it comes to the actual game. Or we can keep things the way they are and continue to have issues. | https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/01/23/nfl-competition-committee-sean-payton-rule-changes/ |
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What makes a horror fire danger day? | Updated Textbook fire conditions are forecast over the next few days as hot northerly winds bear down on south-eastern Australia and a cold front creeps across from the west. The danger has been rated as extreme today for the Mount Lofty Ranges and Lower South East of South Australia, with the worst of the threat expected to move into Victoria's Mallee and Northern Country forecast areas on Friday. Very high to severe fire danger has been forecast for Tasmania as the front moves through. The state is already battling several major bushfires and a total fire ban is in effect for the entire state until Monday. There is a classic set-up that signals disastrous fire danger in Australia, so when this pattern develops it's important to sit up and pay attention. Fire needs a spark, and then drought, high temperatures, low humidity, heavy fuel loads and the lie of the land all play their part. Black Saturday is a textbook example but it is not alone the same pattern unfolded on Ash Wednesday and again just a few weeks ago. "Our worst fire days, no matter where you are, is when you've got hot, dry winds blowing off the centre of the continent," said Dr Mika Peace, a research meteorologist and fire expert at the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM). "So what you're looking for is a really windy air mass which is going to blow the air from the centre of the continent towards the population bases." Adding a feature like a trough or front that changes the wind direction increases the danger. The most devastating fires in Australia's history Black Saturday (2009), Ash Wednesday (1983) and Black Friday (1939) occurred in hauntingly similar conditions. "For south-eastern Australia, we're really looking at frontal systems where you've got a really strong high pressure system and approaching front," Dr Peace said. Before the front comes through, strong winds bring hot, dry air from the north, but after the front the winds come from the south-west. "What happens is you've got an ignition point and the fire will burn from north to south in the northerly winds. "Whatever distance the fire has burned from north to south, when the wind change comes through, that becomes your new fire line and it opens up the whole of the eastern flank of the fire. "So you get really rapid fire spread out to the east." It was this rapid change to the east that burned through towns like Marysville on Black Saturday, the Pinery (2015) and Wangary (2005) fires in South Australia, and was involved with a near miss for Victorian fire crews early this month. This week's wind change is not expected to be as strong as the one on Black Saturday, but the potential for danger remains. Then there are firestorms Dr Peace said the other dangerous factor was the instability of the air mass. "An unstable atmosphere can lead to really deep plume development," she said. A deep mixing atmosphere means you get an energetic fire plume and can lead to pyrocumulonimbus developing that's when the fire develops its own thunderstorm. "Fire-generated thunderstorms or pyrocumulonimbus can ignite new fires downwind through lightning strikes," Dr Peace said. "You also get really gusty, turbulent winds which, if they blow down over the actual active fire front, can completely change the direction and the speed of fire spread on the surface. "This has a really big impact for any ground crews or anyone who's near the fire front because you get these really rapid changes in direction." An unstable atmosphere can also increase spot fires, when burning vegetation is lifted up and carried through the air to start more fires downwind. On Black Saturday, spot fires were recorded 35 kilometres ahead of the inferno. Eucalypts make Australia the most dangerous place in the world for spot fires; the trees have a high oil content so the vegetation can stay alight longer as it travels through the air. So the key message is fires can spread rapidly waiting until you see smoke before deciding if you should leave is not good enough; you will not always get an official warning. Countdown to disaster Claire Yeo, the BOM forecaster embedded with the Victorian state control centre in the lead up to Black Saturday, said officials knew conditions were going to be bad that day. "When you hear that anecdotal evidence coming from old-time land managers, making comparisons to Ash Wednesday, you stand up and listen," she said. "Particularly when you start to see a pattern like what we were seeing for Black Saturday, which was the classic set-up: hot north-to-north-west winds and late wind change." The difference was that it was looking worse. In 2009, parts of Victoria were coming off the lowest 12-year rainfall deciles on record. It was also a record hot week, with temperatures around 45 degrees for three days straight. There was a drought leading into Ash Wednesday, but not that bad. Ms Yeo said she could see as early as the preceding Monday that Saturday was going to be horrific. "Every single day leading up to Black Saturday I was able to say the same thing: the models are doing the same thing, it's still painting this dire picture." She said when the figures were put into the forest and grassland fire danger indices (which incorporate information on fuel load, temperature, relative humidity and wind), the result was off the scale. Black Saturday triggered the creation of a new category of fire danger: "code red" or "catastrophic". "Even though I could see that it was going to be a disastrous day, particularly as there was already fire in the landscape, I didn't comprehend that you could possibly have that many people perish," Ms Yeo said. She gave briefings to the fire chiefs and then premier John Brumby to explain the threat and how confident BOM was in the forecast. They in turn held media conferences to warn the public, which were uncommon at the time. "I had to sort of come to terms with it, that that many people could die even though I felt the warnings were well and truly out there. Was my communication not effective enough?' "But over time, and after a bit of counselling and reflecting on what I had done leading up to those days, I thought I couldn't have expressed how bad it was going to be any more than what I did, which was talking about the absolute extreme. "It's just that as humans, sometimes we find it hard to come to terms, to fit a warning with what the actual reality is." 'You know that people are dying' Alen Slijepcevic, now deputy chief officer with the Country Fire Authority, was working in the emergency coordination centre as Black Saturday unfolded. "I had never experienced anything like it before and I'm hoping I'll never experience it again ... but I have my doubts," he said. Mr Slijepcevic said he first thought of the day as something out of the ordinary when he received the forecast and discussed it with Ms Yeo. "Claire was the first forecaster that gave us the glimpse. She said, 'I have never seen this before. It will be really, really nasty'." Nasty it was. "On that day the wind change was incredibly strong. For the whole day we had a strong north-westerly blowing the fires into the south-east." They knew the change was coming and that the conditions would be bad, but that wasn't enough to stop the disaster from unfolding. "It was very stressful," Mr Slijepcevic recalled. "We had parts of the information but not the full picture; you know that something bad is happening, you don't know how bad, but you know that people are dying in their houses and burning in their cars. "We had lots of issues with the communications. We did not have good systems for the communities." Some fires are unfightable ... and it's getting worse Mr Slijepcevic said crews had been reasonably successful on Black Saturday in attacking some fires and putting them out, but once the flames were in the forest and took hold they were impossible to extinguish, even with aircraft. "I think people need to understand that there are limits to what fire services or land management agencies can do in those circumstances." The maximum intensity of a fire that aircraft can extinguish is 6,000 kilowatts, Mr Slijepcevic said. On Black Saturday he said the intensity reached 150,000 kilowatts. "[Using aircraft] is a complete waste of time at that phase of the operation." He said bushfires had become a social problem as much as a physical problem. "We know that with climate change and more people moving into flammable landscapes, we are creating more risk. "People will have to accept and learn to live with fires because that will be our norm into the future. People will have to be better prepared." Topics: weather, bushfire, fires, emergency-incidents, emergency-planning, disasters-and-accidents, human-interest, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000, hobart-7000, sydney-2000, brisbane-4000, darwin-0800, perth-6000 First posted | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-24/what-makes-a-horror-fire-danger-day/10685918 |
Is the release of former Jakarta governor Ahok a political liability or an asset for Joko Widodo? | Posted A former minority Chinese Christian governor of Jakarta is set to be released from prison today after being jailed for committing blasphemy against Islam. Key points: The former Jakarta governor will be released early under Indonesian leniency laws Indonesia's President has been criticised for not being "Muslim enough" in the past Analysts said the proposed early release of a radical cleric was to "counter" the potential impact of the governor's release Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, commonly known as Ahok, was jailed in 2017 for comments he made in 2016 about the Koran while he was the governor of Indonesia's capital city. The comments sparked a mass protest by tens of thousands of conservative Muslim hardliners in Jakarta, while his jailing was criticised for undermining the country's pluralist democracy. Mr Purnama is being released three-and-a-half months early under Indonesia's prisoner remission laws, where prisoners are granted leniency on public holidays and for good behaviour. He has publicly asked to not be greeted on release through a letter published on his social media accounts from prison, and his release time today is still not clear. Tim Lindsey, director of the Centre for Indonesian Law, Islam and Society at the University of Melbourne, said Mr Purnama's release was happening during a sensitive time in Indonesian politics just three months shy of the presidential elections. "Anything that happens at the moment that connects to religious politics or Jokowi [Joko Widodo] is going to have an impact," he told the ABC. "Jokowi's opponents will undoubtedly try to find something to use against Jokowi and there's no doubt that [an] attempt would be made to turn it into a major issue." Prison release backtrack on Abu Bakar Bashir Last week, Mr Widodo who has been criticised by his political opponents for not being "Muslim enough" announced the early release of radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, in the same week as Mr Purnama. Bashir has been described as the "mastermind" behind the 2002 Bali bombings and is currently serving 15 years' jail for other terrorism-related charges. Dr Lindsey said the move was a sign of the "anxiety in Jokowi's camp about the potential impact of Ahok's release". "[Ahok] is closely associated with Jokowi; if he releases Bashir, who is a poster-boy of hardliners, then any attempts to re-raise Ahok's blasphemy charge and slur Jokowi with it would be countered by the release of Bashir," he said. "Releasing Bashir after two-thirds of his sentence would counteract the possible damage to his campaign due to the release of Ahok." However, the backlash of the announcement domestically and overseas has seemingly led Mr Widodo to back away from the decision. Mr Widodo has previously been criticised by his opposition for his lack of Islamic credentials, resulting in his party choosing hardline Islamic cleric Ma'ruf Amin. Mr Amin, who was the former head of the peak Islamic body Indonesian Muslim Ulama Council, was also integral in the blasphemy trial of Ahok. Dr Lindsey said Mr Widodo and the party's decision to select Mr Amin had been quite off-putting for his moderate voters and had "damaged Jokowi in the eyes of many of his supporters". He said it was still unclear whether supporters of Ahok were still fans of Jokowi. A letter from prison and an uncertain political future Earlier this month, Mr Purnama released a handwritten letter on social media asking for his supporters to no longer refer to him as Ahok, reportedly the Chinese name his father gave him, but to refer to him as BTP the initials of his name. He wrote that he had grown into a different person during his time in prison, and also asked his supporters who are popularly known as "Ahokers" to not greet him during his release. "In the last two years, I have learnt control over myself," he wrote. "If I was re-elected, I'd probably be more arrogant, rude, and hurting more people," he said, apologising for his past words and conduct. Mr Purnama has been seen by his domestic supporters as a symbol of pluralism and tolerance, but Dr Lindsey said he had also become a reminder of how "Jokowi abandoned those he sees as an electoral liability" and how "weak" the President was in defending pluralism. "Whether he's going to reposition himself as the champion of pluralism remains to be seen. If he does, he might be the only one left in the Indonesian public sphere to do that," Dr Lindsey said. "To openly support pluralism and religious and ethnic tolerance in Indonesia at the moment, it's a dangerous thing to do. It's courageous to the point of being foolhardy." Dr Lindsey added that a move back into politics could pose a significant risk to Mr Purnama's personal safety as the convicted blasphemer could be ruthlessly targeted by conservative Muslim groups. "It will be difficult to say whether Ahok is an asset or liability for Jokowi," he said. "Probably it can be both, therefore the more rational option for Jokowi is to not use Ahok to gain political support." Fears Ahok could be used as a political tool Meanwhile, one Indonesian political expert urged politicians, particularly Mr Wibowo and Prabowo Subianto as presidential candidates, to not see the release of Ahok as a political opportunity. Philip Vermonte, the executive director of Centre For Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Indonesia, told the ABC it was best for both parties to stay away from making public comments during a time when the nation was fragmented. "It will be easier to create political turmoil if either Jokowi or Ahok do something that could be perceived by others as an act of provocation," Mr Vermonte said. "We saw that Jokowi has been neutral in Ahok's case and I hope he won't make Ahok a political proxy to mobilise masses to support him. "That would be better for not only Jokowi and Ahok, but for the whole country." Topics: law-crime-and-justice, community-and-society, religion-and-beliefs, politics-and-government, world-politics, government-and-politics, indonesia, asia | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-24/ahok-former-jakarta-christian-mayor-released-from-prison/10739666 |
How Many Wild Animals Die Of Old Age? | Illustration: Jim Cooke (GMG) Funbag Time for your weekly edition of the Deadspin Funbag. [Email the Funbag](mailto:[email protected]). Today were talking about the Warriors, coprophagy, Florida Man, business trips, and more. Sad! In the meantime, youre stuck with me. And send in your Funbag questions. I think its less than 5%. I cant imagine there are many Zebras making it to 35 on the Serengeti. Based on the number of raccoons I see smeared across the interstate, I dont think there is a raccoon over a year old anywhere on earth. Old age isnt a medical condition that people actually die from, which makes this an exercise in defining terms as much as anything else. When your 80-year-old grandfather dies from pneumonia, he didnt die from old age, but the old age made him more vulnerable to pneumonia. Advertisement Culturally, we consider that dying from a natural cause. It is even more difficult to come to a consensus about what constitutes dying of old age for animals, especially since were ranging across millions of species with wildly varying evolutionary niches and survival strategies. As it turns out, this and related questions have long been important subjects of debate by evolutionary biologists, and an influential 1998 paper calculated mortality curves in a number of species. Data extrapolated from this paper (look at the yellow and orange chart halfway down) suggests that in some species fewer than five percent die of old age, while in others it is closer to 70 percent. Some species survive by producing so many offspring that at least a couple survive until reproductive age, while others produce few offspring that have a much higher chance of living for a long time. I would guess that generally apex predators are more likely to die of old age. Over/under 2024. Advertisement It is going to be impossible. Most of the arena will be taken up by season-ticket holders, and it is quite small, 1,500 fewer seats than the Warriors current home. The new location also makes it exponentially easier for every tech schmuck on the corporate dime to go to a game while in town. But what really matters is the roster. Steph Curry is signed through 2022, and it is likely this offseason that some combination of Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green will join him with long-term extensions. They might not win the NBA Finals every year, but they will be good and highly entertaining for at least another few. Fans turn fast, however. Look at the Cavs arena this season. Itll become not impossible during the first season where it becomes clear the Warriors are a .500 team, so probably right around 2024. Advertisement Jon: While I wholeheartedly agree that fresh garlic >>> jarred, it sounded like neither David nor Megan use a garlic press. Mincing garlic isnt difficult, and it allows you to control the size of the garlic pieces. Garlic presses waste a bunch of garlic that you cant get off, you still have to peel the garlic and cut off the stem, and any time saved is sacrificed by how damn long they take to clean. Garlic presses suck. As the father of two young children I often wish I got to travel for work to get a break from them every now and then. I have friends who get to travel for work fairly frequently, and it sounds like a lot of good meals on their companys tab with a few worthless meetings scattered around. I know constant travel would get old pretty quickly, but 3-5 days a month sounds like a real sweet spot. I have traveled zero times for my jobs and it feels like Im missing out! This really depends upon personal circumstances. Advertisement But assuming travel doesnt make your home situation overly burdensome, and the answers to at least a few of the questions above are positive ones, traveling about once a month is deal. Enough that you can rack up a decent amount of frequent flyer miles for personal use and can feel like a sophisticated businessperson with your leather passport holder and TSA Precheck line, but not so much that you immediately answer yes when somebody asks if you travel for work. Advertisement I thought about doing actual research for this question and talking to a wedding planner, but then decided to abide by my personal mottoWWDD: What Would Drew Do?and so Im going to spitball it and maybe UNNECESSARILY CAPITALIZE some words. Just by the sheer number of weddings there has to be a few, but thats about it. January is one of the least popular wedding months, Sundays arent nearly as popular as Saturdays or even Fridays, and even the most sports-hating couple is smart enough to know how badly a Super Bowl wedding will distract their guests and take away from the BIG DAY. But what I really want to talk about here is the scourge of New Years Eve weddings. I havent actually had to attend one yet, thank god, but increasingly hear of family and friends doing so. It screws up holiday travel plans, and has to be phenomenally expensive to find a venue and staff. Stop it. It seems to me that it would be a decent-enough strategy once or twice a game just on the belief that the defense wouldnt expect the same exact play twice. This would, of course, require OCs to ignore some of their Innovative play-calling instincts and their cutesy plays but it still seems reasonable to me. The main reason not to call the same play twice in a row is because the situation has changed. Second and 10 is different than first and 10, third and 5 is different than second and 5. What the offense needs changes, the likelihood of it succeeding changes. Advertisement But it does happen. It may not look like it because the running back goes into a different hole, the defense blows up the play the second time, or the quarterback throws to a different receiver. But the Raiders once ran the same play 10 times in a row. Option or wishbone teams obviously run the same thing multiple plays in a row. I dont think this is an instance of offensive coordinators being afraid or anything, I think its just not a good strategy most of the time. Sorry. Advertisement Whenever anybody tries to telling you that Deadspins readers are smart, point them to good ol Andrew here. A VEGETARIAN doesnt eat meat, or products that result from the killing of animals. A VEGAN doesnt eat animal products. Neither VEGETARIANS nor VEGANS eat POOP because IT IS GODDAMN POOP AND THOSE ARE DIETARY CHOICES AND/OR LIFESTYLES, NOT BRAIN DISEASES. HALFTIME! As a student who was good in language arts it gets me every time. Advertisement Im sure once upon a time I knew the actual answer to this question, but I do know the general answer to every Deadspin style question: Because Leitch/AJ/Craggs decided it should be that way for whatever reason, and that is the way it has been ever since. Plus, capitalizing every word in a headline makes things easy and consistent. For players, I think sometime in the 1980s is right. While football players werent necessarily the fitness freaks they are now, terrible sports pundits were the same and I can hear them screaming about the INTEGRITY OF THE GAME if a player were puffing on the sideline. Part of me thinks a coach had to have snuck a smoke within the last few years. On the other hand, the smell of cigarette smoke would be so foreign and noticeable on the sidelines that it would be very hard to get away with. Im going to go with 1990s for a coach, with the caveat that I can almost assure you there is a coach vaping on an NFL sideline right this moment. At first I thought it would be a deep South state like Bama, but I now think New York is a dark horse contender. New York City is huge and full of crazy people, and there are also many truly backwater areas upstate where some dark stuff is bound to be going down. Also: Bills fans. Advertisement This is true, and something Florida Woman Diana Moskovitz herself taught me. She also taught me the useful heuristic that red states generally have much more open police and court records than blue states. Always listen to Diana. To answer the actual question, assuming we are controlling for population size here, the answer is obviously Arizona. Arizona is a wild place. Its got crazy politics, a quasiOld West spirit, Texas influence, weird border shit, high plains drifters, and the Phoenix suburban sprawl can drive anybody insane. Ill believe literally any story you tell me if you say it happened in Arizona. Kevin: Im 30. I have not been into sports since I was a kid in the 90s. I remember watching the greatest period for the NBA and arguably the greatest time to be a fan of the Mariners. I feel that as a 30 year old male, I need to be sports knowledgeable. I am not anymore. I live in Seattle, so we dont have a basketball team anymore and lolmariners. I feel like if I focus on basketball, Ill have a fighting chance Advertisement You can just be you and not know anything about sports, Kevin, if you really want to. But if you do want to get more into sports, I suggest going to a few live sporting events. The magic of 20,000 people, or 70,000 people, all collectively losing their minds almost forces you to care, even if you dont. In Seattle, your best bet is probably to attend any Seahawks game, or a Sounders game against the Timbers or one of the top teams in the league. If you want to watch some other sport, go to a bar for big games. Im sure there is a great basketball bar, or SEC football bar, somewhere in Seattle. Victor: I know 99 percent of Twitter is a hellscape, but I have a special distaste for Coach Twitter. Its filled with misattributed inspirational quotes about leadership, terrible sports takes, and a rural Wyoming-level of Trump support. Im a sports reporter, so I often have no choice but to see a retweet of a Vince Lombardi tribute account in my timeline. Advertisement Look, Twitter is obviously a blight on humanity, rots the brain of anyone who spends more than a few minutes on it, is run by a guy who cant even come up with acceptable responses to questions that really shouldnt be that difficult to answer etc. But just dont follow bad people on Twitter. Its not that hard. Unfollow. Unfollow. Unfollow. I am a sports business and media reporter, so you would assume I follow Darren Rovell and Richard Deitsch. Of course I dont! Besides, Deitsch blocks me. There are co-workers I really like and friends that I dont follow because theyre bad at Twitter. You dont owe anybody anything! Advertisement Find accounts that tweet the relevant information youre interested in without all of the bad stuff, or just bookmark websites or set up some RSS feeds like its 2008. It is very easy to dramatically improve your Twitter experience and yet for some reason people feel like theyre obligated to opt in to a hellscape. Drew story of the week! At the Gizmodo Media Group and its predecessors, there is always some catastrophe. During my two-and-a-half years alone there was the trial, the verdict, the unionization process, the 20 percent nicer Gawker, the auction, the sale and the indemnity fight, among others I blacked out during and thankfully dont remember. Advertisement After one of these (I think it was the sale) Drew, McKenna and I repaired to a bad DuPont Circle bar to commiserate. Drew is a BIG-TIME BOOK AUTHOR and writes for a mens fashion magazinehe was going to be okay. He couldve divorced himself from much of the misery inflicted upon his co-workers. But he didnt. He never did. Instead he bitched and moaned and agreed this was the apocalypse, while also telling us it would be okay in a way that isnt cheesy but actually made us (or at least, me) feel that it was indeed going to be okay. And it was. Drews a good friend. Email of the week! Steph is, in fact, better. He is the best player in the NBA, and will end his career as a top 5 player of all-time. Advertisement Come fight me. | https://adequateman.deadspin.com/how-many-wild-animals-die-of-old-age-1831927602 |
When is The OA season 2 released on Netflix? Who is in the cast? Whats going to happen? | After nearly three years, Netflixs The OA one of the strangest shows of 2016 is set to return to our screens in 2019. Advertisement The second season of the sci-fi series which is co-written by its lead actor, Brit Marling -was announced by Netflix way back in February 2017, but there has been very little info released since. This is in line with the first season, which received zero promotion before dropping out of the blue on the streaming service in December 2016. However, we do know that shooting which began in January 2018 is now complete, and that the show is currently in post-production. All going well, it should be on our devices by the end of the year. Find out everything we know about The OA season 2 below. Late last year, Marling took to Instagram to assure fans that the series was in the can, and on the way soon. She also gave an explanation for the long delay, which essentially boils down to her having to do two jobs on the series, and it being a lot of work. Because Im both the lead actor and a lead writer we cant leap-frog the production, she wrote. We have to write all eight chapters up front before we can begin shooting the first chapter, she wrote, before adding Some people thought of Part I of The OA as a long film. If you look at it from that perspective [co-creator] Zal [Batmanglij] and I write and create an 8-hour film every 2 years. No. But Netflix did release an eerie video when it announced the second part, which features no actual footage from the new series. Check it out below. We know that Marling, who leads the cast as Prairie, a formerly blind woman who went missing for seven years and mysteriously re-appeared, having regained her sight, will return. Plus, Jason Isaacs, who plays an experimental scientist with a dark secret, shared on Twitter that he had wrapped filming for season 2 so hes back, too. That a wrap for me on #TheOA2. I left my part in San Francisco. #JustYouWait pic.twitter.com/GRrXzw8TUi Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) May 1, 2018 Which of the rest of the cast will be returning is unclear, but were hoping Riz Ahmed will be back, and would wager that Patrick Gibson and Emory Cohen will feature. The first season of the audience confounded and intrigued viewers in equal measure with its meandering storyline. What you think its about is a woman [Brit Marling] who turns up after having been abducted for seven years, Jason Isaacs told RadioTimes.com back in 2016. She was blind when she left and now shes got her sight back. The bulk of the episodes were framed through Marlings character, Prairie, as she told the story of her seven-year disappearance to a group of outcast teens. However, at the halfway point its sprawling plotlines boiled down to a singular subject matter: Near Death Experiences a fascinating topic that delves into the boundaries of physics and philosophy. Though no plot info has been released for season 2, we can infer a couple of things. The season ended with Prairie apparently being transported to another dimension after she was hit by a stray bullet. As the teaser clip for season 2 features her voice repeating the word Homer over and over again, we reckon the new episodes will see her attempt to track down Homer Roberts (Emory Cohen). And hopefully well get some clues as to what the interpretive dance movements mean. Advertisement If Marling and her co-writer Zal Batmanglij have their way, therell be at least 5 seasons of the show, so get strapped in | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-23/the-oa-s2/ |
When is The Good Place season 4 on Netflix? Whos in the cast? Whats going to happen? | Holy mother forking shirtballs! Advertisement NBCs hit comedy about life, death, the afterlife and everything in-between will be returning to our screens for a fourth season, and its sure to provide more mind-bending twists and curveballs for viewers and its four principal human characters. Heres everything you need to know about The Good Place season four. NBC announced that it had renewed the series for a fourth season back in December 2018. No release date for the new season has been set yet, but its likely to be back on Netflix in late 2019, and consist once again of 13 episodes which will be released one by one. All the main cast are likely to return, including Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), celestial being Michael (Ted Danson), artificial intelligence Janet (DArcy Carden) Eleanors assigned soulmate Chidi (William Jackson Harper), socialite Tahani (Jameela Jamil) and Taiwanese monk Jianyu (Manny Jacinto), later revealed to be amateur criminal Jason Mendoza. *Warning: spoilers ahead for The Good Place series one three. If you havent caught up, you can do so here. * After Eleanor Shellstrop dies and wakes up in The Good Place (aka heaven), run by angel Michael, she realises that theres been a mistake and that she should really be in The Bad Place. Chidi and Tahani, other humans in her afterlife community, conspire to help her and Jason (who also believes hes in The Good Place by mistake) become better people and thereby earn their places. However, at the end of season one, Eleanor figures out that The Good Place is in fact The Bad Place, and Michael is a demon in charge of devising scenarios to torment the humans. Michael wipes their memories, but they keep on figuring Michaels secret and in the process, the demon begins to grow fond of his human charges. So much so, in fact, that, at the end of season two, Michael appeals to the Gen, judge of the afterlife (played by Maya Rudolph) , and hes allowed to return the humans to earth and undo their deaths, starting an alternate timeline in the process. After the humans all fail at living again, Michael discovers that its almost impossible for anyone to be a good person in fact, its been 521 years since any human gained enough life points to enter The Good Place. Something as simple as buying a tomato can result in negative points, because youre inadvertently supporting the use of pesticides and cheap labour. "Earth is a mess, y'all" is a huge forking mood. #TheGoodPlace pic.twitter.com/irw21GdRTd The Good Place (@nbcthegoodplace) January 19, 2019 Chidi theorises that he, Eleanor, Jason and Tahani were able to become better people in the afterlife because external factors were removed and Michael gains permission to reenact the experiment with four brand new people. The Good Place airs weekly on NBC in the United States, and is available to stream on Netflix in the UK. | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-23/the-good-place-s-4/ |
When is The Last Kingdom season 4 released on Netflix? Whats going to happen? | Shield walls at the ready! Netflixs historical drama The Last Kingdom, based on Bernard Cornwells The Saxon Stories novel series, has been renewed for a fourth season. Advertisement Heres everything you need to know about The Last Kingdom series four. The shows renewal was announced in December 2018 via The Last Kingdoms official Twitter page, although theres been no confirmed release date yet. Set in the 9th century AD, the series is based on Bernard Cornwells The Saxon Stories novel series, with each season following the events of two books. Our hero is Uhtred son of Uhtred, a Saxon boy whos brought up by Danes, after they capture him and decide to raise him as their own. However, Uhtred later betrayed and the Danes come to believe that he killed his adoptive father, the Danish warlord Ragnar the Elder. Uhtred is forced to travel to Wessex, the only one of the seven kingdoms (which make up what we now think of as England) that isnt in Danish control. Once arrived, he offers his assistance including knowledge of the Danes battle strategies to the Wessex king, Alfred. The Pagan Lord, published in 2013 and the next book to be adapted for the series, jumps ahead a decade which, if Netflix adheres to the timeline, will mean a fresh batch of young actors, including Uhtreds children by Gisela, who in the books are all grown-up. Meanwhile Alexander Dreymon as Uhtred of Bebbanburg is set to return (looking perhaps a little greyer) and it seems likely that most of the regular cast members will also return, including: Eliza Butterworth (Aelswith), Ian Hart (Beocca), Emily Cox (Brida) and Toby Regbo (Aethelred). Not yet, Im afraid watch this space. The first two seasons of The Last Kingdom aired on both the BBC and Netflix, but season three is available exclusively on Netflix after the BBC decided not to continue with the historical drama. Although the show originated started out on BBC2 (and BBC America, for US viewers), since series three Netflix has been the shows sole producer. | https://www.radiotimes.com/news/on-demand/2019-01-23/the-last-kingdom-s4/ |
What if we applied NRA logic to the 4th Amendment? | 2nd Amendment - The Right to Bear Arms. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. The NRA ignores that this amendment applies to "a well regulated militia", and only mentions the second half of the one sentence that makes up the amendment. At the time, the USA had no standing army, and had to depend on state militias for military forces. When the US funded a full time military, there was no longer a need to depend on state militias, making this amendment obsolete. - Advertisement - The NRA ignores the first half of the sentence, as it the amendment was "The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." Let's apply similar logic to the 4th Amendment. - Advertisement - 4th Amendment - Search and Seizure. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized. "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue" We've just thrown out probable cause and protected every criminal from search warrants. I think we CAN'T just ignore parts of any sentence we want. - Advertisement - | https://www.opednews.com/articles/What-if-we-applied-NRA-log-by-Lew-Weingarth-Militia_Nra-Enemies-List_State-190123-6.html |
Does Amazon Fire TV Stick have YouTube? | Best answer: There is no official application for YouTube, but there are multiple options to watch YouTube on the Amazon Fire TV stick, such as utilizing the Silk or Firefox web browsers. YouTube is the premier destination for watching all your favorite music videos, video game streams and even live shows. However, if you take a look among the applications for the Amazon Fire TV, YouTube is nowhere to be found. This is a result of Google removing their official application from the Fire TV family of devices in response to Amazon's unwillingness to carry Google devices and products in their online store or allow Amazon Prime Video to utilize casting via Chromecast - a small part of an ongoing conflict between Amazon and Google. You can still watch YouTube on your Fire TV Stick, however. Watching YouTube on the Amazon Fire TV Stick can be done via the Silk or Firefox for Fire TV browsers by entering www.youtube.com into the address bar using the on-screen keyboard or by using your voice remote. Firefox for Fire TV makes it even easier by offering a one-click solution once you boot up the application. Viewing YouTube through these web browsers will bring up the TV-optimized version of YouTube allowing easier navigation with your Fire TV remote control. You can even sign in and access your subscriptions as normal, although being able to do this through an application would be simpler. Amazon's YouTube "app" was updated recently to become a redirect to either the Silk Browser or FireFox for Fire TV, and it's quite simple: | https://www.androidcentral.com/does-amazon-fire-tv-stick-have-youtube?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+androidcentral+%28Android+Central%29 |
Is Schlumberger A Bargain Stock Around Its 10-Year Lows? | By Aristofanis Papadatos Despite its post-earnings rally, Schlumberger (SLB) has dramatically underperformed the market in the last five years. During this period, the stock has plunged 49% whereas the S&P has rallied 49%. Consequently, while the index is just 9% off its all-time high, Schlumberger is trading around the levels it was trading at the depths of the Great Recession. As the business performance of the company is in recovery mode, the daunting performance of the stock is surprising, at least on the surface. The big question is whether the stock has eventually become a bargain. Business overview Schlumberger is one of the 294 dividend-paying energy stocks. It is the worlds leading provider of oilfield technology and services. It provides technology and services for oil and gas exploration and production. It has activity in more than 85 countries. The company was severely affected by the downturn of the energy sector, which began with the collapse of the oil price in mid-2014. Due to that collapse, Schlumberger was affected by the reduced production activity of its customers and thus its earnings per share plunged 76%, from $4.70 in 2013 to $1.14 in 2016. However, the price of oil bottomed in early 2016 and has now doubled compared to that level. In addition, as the global demand for oil is in a steady uptrend, several production growth projects will be required in order for supply to continue to meet demand. Moreover, the U.S. oil production posted new all-time highs last year and is expected by EIA to climb to new record levels this year, above 12.0 M barrels per day. Overall, Schlumberger is in the early phases of a multi-year recovery. The company reported its fourth quarter and full-year results last week. In the quarter, its revenues and its adjusted earnings per share fell 4% and 22%, respectively, compared to the previous quarter. The negative performance resulted from the collapse of the oil price since early October, which took its toll on the production activity in North America and thus caused a 12% decrease in the revenue of this segment. On the bright side, international activity remained firm, with 1% sequential revenue growth despite falling oil prices. The great divergence between North America and international markets can be explained by the wide discount of WTI to Brent. It is also remarkable that most shale oil producers sell their oil at a significant discount to WTI so their discount to Brent is even wider. Looking forward, it is reasonable to expect the oil price to somewhat rise, to more sustainable levels from a long-term perspective. Nevertheless, even at the current oil prices, management expects single-digit revenue growth in the international markets thanks to the above advantage of Brent. On the other hand, if the oil price remains around its current levels, which are marginal for production decisions of many producers in North America, the performance of the company in the region will remain volatile. Source: Investor Presentation In the conference call, management stated that it would reduce the capital expenses from $2.2 B in 2018 to $1.5-$1.7 B this year. This drastic reduction will result in a great improvement in the free cash flows of the company, which are already remarkably strong (more on this below). As a result, the market became enthusiastic and rewarded the stock with an 8% rally on the day of its earnings release, the biggest one-day rally of the stock in more than 7 years. Dividend Analysis Schlumberger is offering an attractive 4.4% dividend yield. However, the company has paid the same dividend for four consecutive years. Even worse, in each of these four years, the dividend has exceeded the earnings by a wide margin. To provide a perspective, during the last four years, the company has distributed total dividends of $8.00 per share whereas it has earned only $5.89 per share in total. As a result, many investors are afraid that a dividend cut is just around the corner. On the other hand, it is critical to note that the company has drastically reduced its capital expenses in recent years and hence it has greatly enhanced its free cash flows. To be sure, Schlumberger grew its free cash flows by 58%, from $3.6 B in 2017 to $5.7 B in 2018. It thus achieved free cash flows of $4.1 per share last year, more than twice the annual dividend. Therefore, the dividend is currently well covered by the free cash flows of the company. In addition, as the free cash flows are likely to improve this year and the company is in the early phases of a multi-year recovery, the dividend seems safe for the foreseeable future. Growth prospects The earnings of Schlumberger bottomed in 2016, along with the oil price. In 2018, its earnings per share of $1.62 were 42% higher than the bottom earnings per share of $1.14 but are still about 1/3 of the record earnings per share of $4.70, which were recorded in 2013. As the energy sector is in the early stages of a multi-year recovery, Schlumberger is likely to continue to grow its earnings in the upcoming years. On the other hand, it is important to note that there have been great technological advances in oil production. These advances have enabled oil producers to extract more oil, for a longer period from a given number of operating wells. As a result, it is prudent not to expect Schlumberger to return to its record profitability anytime soon. To cut a long story short, the oilfield technology providers, such as Schlumberger and Halliburton (HAL), are victims of their own success, as they generate lower revenues from the same production volumes. We find it reasonable to expect Schlumberger to approximately double its earnings per share, from about $1.75 this year to $3.50 in 2024, for a 14.9% average annual growth rate. Valuation and expected returns While the business performance of Schlumberger has been in recovery mode in the last two years, the stock has shed 53% over this period. This is a harsh reminder that valuation is paramount for this highly cyclical stock. Therefore, investors should pay special attention to the valuation of the stock before pulling the trigger to purchase it. Schlumberger is currently trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 25.7. The stock has traded at much higher earnings multiples in the last four years, above 30.0, but investors should be careful. The extreme price-to-earnings ratios in recent years have resulted from the depressed earnings of the company, which have been caused by the prolonged downturn of the business. As the company will continue to recover in the upcoming years, its price-to-earnings ratio will continue to fall towards normal levels. Overall, it is reasonable to expect the stock to trade at a price-to-earnings ratio around 20.0 by 2024. If this proves correct, the stock will incur a 4.9% annualized drag in its returns over the next five years. Given all the above, Schlumberger is likely to offer an approximate 14.4% average annual return over the next five years thanks to 14.9% annual growth of its earnings per share and its 4.4% dividend, which will be partly offset by a 4.9% annualized contraction of its price-to-earnings ratio. Schlumberger is a highly cyclical stock, which is very vulnerable to recessions. It is also very sensitive to the underlying commodity prices, which are beyond its control. As a recession has not shown up for essentially a decade, this is an important risk factor to keep in mind, particularly amid rising interest rates. The above-mentioned attractive expected returns of the stock will hold true only in the absence of a recession. In the event of a recession, the actual returns will be lower, with the exact returns determined by the length and the severity of the recession. Final thoughts Schlumberger is in the early phases of a multi-year recovery while its stock is trading around its Great Recession levels. As a result, although the market has already priced a significant portion of future growth in the stock, the latter is likely to highly reward those who purchase it at its current price, in the absence of a recession. However, if a recession shows up in the upcoming years, it will greatly hurt the stock due to its high vulnerability to economic downturns. Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. | https://seekingalpha.com/article/4234998-schlumberger-bargain-stock-around-10-year-lows |
How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won? | Death, taxes, and the Patriots in the Super Bowl. New England won this year's AFC championship game in Kansas City, clinching its fourth trip to the Super Bowl in the last five years. Rex Burkhead's rushing touchdown on the first possession of overtime sealed the Patriots' road victory and their matchup against the Rams in Super Bowl 53. MORE: Super Bowl 53: Odds, picks Here is a look at how many times the Patriots have won the Super Bowl a feat they have accomplished more than any other team in the last 17 years as well as the all-time Super Bowl wins leaderboard. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Co. are no strangers to the Super Bowl. They have established a dynasty since the turn of the century, winning five Super Bowls since 2002, with most of them coming in dramatic fashion. The first three of those wins came in a four-year span from 2002-05. Kicker Adam Vinatieri made the game-winning field goal in the final seconds in each of the first two victories, which jumpstarted the legacies of Belichick and Brady. The Super Bowl 39 win over the Eagles was highlighted by game MVP Deion Branch's 11 receptions. MORE: 10 best Super Bowl-winning teams New England did not win its fourth Super Bowl until 2015, when it defeated Seattle on cornerback Malcolm Butler's interception with less than 30 seconds left in the game. The Patriots then completed a miraculous comeback from down 28-3 in the third quarter to win Super Bowl 51 over the Falcons. James White ran for the game-winning touchdown in overtime. Super Bowl 52 Feb. 4, 2018 Eagles 41, Patriots 33 Super Bowl 51 Feb. 5, 2017 Patriots 34, Falcons 28 Super Bowl 49 Feb. 1, 2015 Patriots 28, Seahawks 24 Super Bowl 46 Feb. 5, 2012 Giants 21, Patriots 17 Super Bowl 42 Feb. 3, 2008. The Patriots last played the Rams in Super Bowl 36, winning 20-17 on a Vinatieri game-winning field goal as time expired. The victory marked the beginning of New England's dynasty and, prior to this season, was the Rams most recent trip to the Super Bowl. The Steelers have played in eight Super Bowls and have won six, the most in NFL history. The Patriots, Cowboys and 49ers each have five Super Bowl wins. Steelers Super Bowl wins: | http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/how-many-super-bowls-have-the-patriots-won/1nx8ce6spqbwe1br1rfis1xs2k |
What's behind the growing dispute between Italy and France? | The relationship between allies France and Italy has gotten worse as EU elections approach. Italy and France have long been close allies and fellow founding European Union members. But relations have taken a turn for the worse since Italy's populist parties came to power in June. Much of the dispute has been about immigration. France has criticised Italy for not allowing rescue boats carrying refugees and migrants to dock along its Mediterranean ports. On Monday, it summoned Italy's ambassador after Italian Deputy Prime minister Luigi Di Maio accused France of creating poverty in Africa and forcing mass migration to Europe. Presenter: Richelle Carey Guests: Adama Gaye - Journalist, Author and West Africa Analyst Jacques Reland - Head of European Research at the Global Policy Institute Matteo Villa - Research Fellow with the Europe and Migration programmes at the Italian Institute for International Political Studies Source: Al Jazeera News | https://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2019/01/growing-dispute-italy-france-190123194425100.html |
Is 2019 The Year That Robot Delivery Takes Over The Retail World? | 2019 will be a watershed year for autonomous delivery, predicts Lex Bayer, the CEO of Starship Technologies, one of the world leaders in delivery robots. Its easy to see why Bayer makes the case for autonomous delivery so boldly. Delivery vans clog up our roads, pollute our air, and are not cost efficient. So last year saw even more retailers ask themselves why they werent trying the futuristic alternative. As the sight of a robot, drone or even a robot dog out for delivery becomes more familiar, heres why autonomous will make a viable alternative to our usual last-mile delivery options, but wont become widespread...yet. The appeal of autonomous delivery for retailers In the U.K., youll find some of Starships bots wheeling around Milton Keynes, fulfilling grocery and food orders for Tesco and the Co-op. In America, they recently announced a partnership with George Mason University that will allow food to be delivered by their robots to anywhere on campus. It is about trying to find a way to cut through all the traffic on the roads and find a more efficient way of delivering goods, said Simon Liss, managing director of the innovation agency for retail, Omnifi. Bayer argues that robots are beginning to meet those needs. As our shopping habits have developed to favor online orders, retailers have been faced with mounting delivery numbers and ever diminishing time frames within which they need to make sure the parcel arrives. McKinsey estimates that the number of packages needing to be delivered every year could rise to more than 25 billion in the U.S. over the next ten years. Increased demand is placing a significant strain on retailers as they struggle to find delivery methods that don't eat into their profits. Thats where robots could 'step' in, so to speak. Starships robots can dramatically reduce the end-to-end costs involved in the last mile, Bayer explained. Whats more, as consumers become more environmentally-conscious, they want shops to offer them delivery options which wont impact on their carbon footprint. Electrically-powered robots are an attractive alternative as they take vans and trucks off the road, thereby reducing congestion and the levels of harmful gases in the air. Why customers love the idea of a robot delivering their orders Consumer interest in robots is initially by the novelty of the technology, though that soon wears off. What gives autonomous delivery staying power is the convenience and reliability it can offer shoppers. Having a robot deliver your weekly food shop is a time-saver. Whether shoppers still go into store to shop or whether they get an online order, with robots they will be able to get items delivered to their front doors when and where they want them at low cost, Bayer explained. Starships robots have already completed more than 25,000 deliveries globally. And Bayer is confident that number will increase: We predict that 1 million autonomous deliveries will be completed before 1 million people ride in autonomous vehicles, he said. But there are still a few major hurdles to making robot delivery the go-to option. Scaling up to operate within a city appears to be the biggest challenge. I cannot see it happening in London, said the innovation agency head, Simon Liss. The U.K. has a chaotic road system and to have an army of small capacity robots trundling around our streets will cause all sorts of issues, both practical and legal. But autonomous vehicles and autonomous deliveries dont have to be positioned as enemies. They could be complementary. Once self-driving vehicles become a part of our everyday lives, Liss sees them taking on delivery responsibilities.Large self-driving vehicles could be dropping off packages along their journey, he said. Multi-purpose autonomous vehicles would be cost-effective, and their size would give them capacity to carry many more packages than the current robots can. Only once robot delivery companies have cracked how to make their technology scalable to cities and densely populated urban areas will their popularity soar as retailers begin to take their viability seriously. So although neither autonomous vehicles or robots appear ready to completely take over in 2019, the obvious benefits for retailers and consumers mean we can expect them to integrate further into shoppers' lives this year. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/annaschaverien/2019/01/23/robot-autonomous-delivery-starship-technologies/ |
How much does John Bonamego need to fix on Lions special teams? | The Lions fired a special-teams coach at midseason last year, rode the work of an interim and then brought back one they used to employ on Tuesday. How much they have to fix is up for debate. In the same week that the Lions hired recently fired Central Michigan coach John Bonamego back to the special-teams coordinator role he held in 2013-2014, some annual special-teams rankings came out from Rick Gosselin, an author and Hall-of-Fame voter. Each year, Gosselin ranks all 32 teams in 22 special-teams categories and assigns them points based on how they place: one point for 32nd, 32 points for first in any given category. All the points add up to a final team score. The Lions finished 12th in those rankings. They came out with 342 points, which amounts to 15 per category. That figure stands in contrast to the perception that had the Lions firing longtime coordinator Joe Marciano at midseason. Of course, it factors in the improvement of the unit under Devin Fitzsimmons after that, but Detroits special teams didnt appear like an overwhelming strength like they had in past years. The ranking also contrasts the one Detroit received from Football Outsiders. FO ranks all units on a formula called DVOA that measures performance against the league average. In those, Detroit finished 19th. It seems part of the discrepancy comes in field-goal defense. Detroit allowed the worst rate of converted field goals this season at 67.8 percent, but many of those were mere misses from reasonable territory, including extra points. The Lions did not block any kicks this season. They succeeded here largely without their own doing, yet that success counted as much as leading the league in punt returns would. Detroit was also one of two teams to not miss any extra points this season. Its a testament to Matt Praters reliability, but again, it doesnt impact a game as much as being the best at making field goals. Lions 2018 awards: Matt Praters steadiness amid chaos earns special teams MVP The Lions led the league in one category in these rankings: opponent starting field position. Part of that is a credit to Sam Martins ability to down punts inside the 20-yard line, which he did 32 times, good for sixth in the league. But it also speaks to Matt Patricias conservativeness in punting in opposing territory rather than try a long field goal or a fourth-down conversion that, if missed, would mess up the opponents' starting field position even though the outcome had little to do with special teams. Some of these strengths are legitimate. Prater was sound for yet another season, converting 88 percent of his field goals and 100 percent of his extra points. Martin is good at avoiding touchbacks, and Don Muhlbach helps the units avoid blocked kicks. Bonamego could have these strengths as well as Jamal Agnews blazing speed as a punt returner, something the rankings somewhat ignore since he spent half the year on injured reserve. But Detroit is closer to the No. 19 ranking than to No. 12 in the grand scheme of how the roster projects into next year. Prater will be 35, and he wasnt quite as reliable from deep this year and also missed a go-ahead field goal for the first time. Muhlbach will be 38, and he had a few shaky snaps for the first time. Its possible that Muhlbach and Martin could be gone for age and financial reasons, as Martin represents $2 million in potential cap savings. Top remaining cover man Charles Washington is an exclusive-rights free agent. Detroit has searched for a kick returner ever since Andre Roberts left after the 2016 season. The Lions have shown a willingness to pay up for special teams in recent years because thats what the Patriots often do. But general manager Bob Quinn has also let trusted gunners like Johnson Bademosi and Don Carey go in recent years, and his coverage teams paid the price last season. With one top-10 DVOA finish in his 12 years as a special-teams coordinator, Bonamego isnt likely to turn water into wine here. He does have experience working with Prater, Martin and Muhlbach. What Detroit has to decide is how long it wants to keep that trio together as opposed to the temptation to get younger. | https://www.mlive.com/lions/2019/01/how-much-does-john-bonamego-need-to-fix-on-lions-special-teams.html |
Has Abbott's Acquisitive Miles White Made His Last Big Deal? | Entering his third decade as chief executive of Abbott Laboratories and with his successor waiting in the wings, Miles White feels no immediate pressure to make another big deal for the diversified healthcare company. Abbott, White says, is doing just fine growing the businesses it has. We certainly don't see gaps right now that we have to fill with M&A, Abbotts chairman told analysts on a conference call Wednesday morning to discuss the companys 2018 earnings and outlook for this year. The 63-year-old White has transformed Abbott since he became CEO in 1999, spinning off its pharmaceutical division six years ago into the fast-growing drug maker Abbvie and building a new empire with established drugs, implantable medical devices, nutritional products and diagnostic tests. Abbott sales rose nearly 12% to $30.6 billion last year, the company said Wednesday. Though White hasnt announced any retirement plans, hes likely to hand off the company in better shape than he inherited 21 years ago. Last year, White named long-time Abbott executive Robert B. Ford, who is 45 years old, as the companys president and chief operating officer. Its the first official No. 2 executive and chief operating officer Abbott has had in more than a decade and Ford is expected to succeed White at some point. The elevation of Ford came after a series of sizable acquisitions. In 2017, Abbott closed on its $5.3 billion acquisition of medical test maker, Alere and last year paid down a whopping more than $8 billion debt accumulated from its $25 billion purchase of device maker St. Jude Medical, which closed in January 2017. The Alere and St. Jude deals contributed to the largest debt load Abbott has had in its 131-year history, approaching nearly $28 billion at the end of 2017. With our recent strategic shaping completed, our focus in 2018 was on running the company we've built, and the result was an excellent year by every measure, White said. All four of our major businesses performed well, contributing to overall organic sales growth of more than 7%, which is above the initial guidance range we set at the beginning of last year. So White indicated to Wall Street analysts he doesnt think its a good time for Abbott to be looking at mergers and acquisitions even though the company generated more than $6 billion in cash flow last year and returned $2 billion to shareholders. Though Abbott is no longer in the brand name pharmaceutical business, the company is churning out individual products that are achieving blockbuster status, a moniker Wall Street uses when a treatment surpasses $1 billion in sales. For example, Abbotts diabetes care business grew by 35% in 2018 thanks to its FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system . The product, which surpassed $1 billion in global sales last year, is considered unique in that it measures glucose continuously for two weeks. During the fourth quarter, we added 300,000 new users, White said of Freestyle Libre. "As of the end of 2018, there are now approximately 1.3 million active users worldwide, of which approximately 2/3 are type 1 diabetics and 1/3 are type 2. FreeStyle Libre is an example of Abbotts focus in 2019. You make much higher return on your organic growth, White said. The growth we're getting from all of our businesses and even St. Jude is coming out of pipeline, and it's coming out of our own organic development. So we're able to return a pretty good sales and profit growth rate across the business. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2019/01/23/has-abbotts-acquisitive-miles-white-made-his-last-big-deal/ |
Is Heather Dubrow Returning To The Real Housewives Of Orange County For Season 14? | Find out what she's saying now. Heather Dubrow is writing off a potential return to The Real Housewives of Orange County. During a recent sit-down with AOLs Gibson Johns, Heather looked back on her time on the long-running Bravo TV reality series and admitted that she isnt completely against the idea of returning to the show for Season 14, or another future season. Thats sort of the nature of the beast, she explained. When I look back on it, I only feel fondness. I remember the laughing, I remember the trips, I remember the good, and Im very grateful for the platform that its presented us. As for a possible return, Dubrows plastic surgeon husband, Dr. Terry Dubrow, wondered if she would be allowed back to the show after her sudden exit following the series 11th season years ago. Also, can you go back to a school youve graduated from? he asked. As fans of the Real Housewives franchise well know, cast members have been known to return to the show after quitting. For example, Bethenny Frankel returned to The Real Housewives of New York City after taking a three-season hiatus and NeNe Leakes returned to The Real Housewives of Atlanta after taking two seasons off. There have also been several cast members of The Real Housewives of Orange County return in cameo roles, including Jeana Keough and Gretchen Rossi. When Heather Dubrow was asked point-blank whether shed sign a deal with Bravo TV to return to The Real Housewives of Orange County in the future, she said, Never say never. I dont want to say that Im never go back and then be like, Well, Ive changed my mind,' she explained. According to AOLs report, Dubrows former co-stars, Vicki Gunvalson and Tamra Judge, have both publicly expressed their desire for her to return to the show and recently, Dubrow ran into Gunvalson while enjoying a night out at Mastros Steakhouse in Orange County, California. During their run-in, Dubrow and Gunvalosn reportedly joked about her potential Bravo TV return. The Real Housewives of Orange County cast is expected to reunite in the coming weeks to begin production on the shows upcoming 14th season. No word yet on when the new episodes will premiere but it can be assumed that they will start airing later this year. | https://www.inquisitr.com/5263218/is-heather-dubrow-returning-to-the-real-housewives-of-orange-county-for-season-14/ |
Did God pick Trump? | Investigative journalist Troy Anderson, co-author of new book 'Trumpocalypse,' says President may be last hope for America. The division between people in our country has undoubtedly become a big problem but there seem to be more serious issues at hand, including the many threats to Americas survival, such as nuclear weapons, climate change and terrorism. While some believe President Trump is a significant part of the problem, others have looked for answers in the prophetic words of the Bible, which outline an end-times scenario in the book of Revelation that mirrors a lot of whats going on today. To help the masses gain greater clarity on this subject, Bible expert Paul McGuire and investigative journalist Troy Anderson have written a book titled, "Trumpocalypse! It sets out to expose a plan by global elites to take over the world and run it as a socialist society in which the common man would endure unspeakable horrors. Trumpocalypse explores the prophetic significance of Trumps presidency and also exposes the globalist elites plan for the world and how that plan fits into Bible prophecy, said Anderson, a Pulitzer prize-nominated journalist. For the past few years, weve been subjected to this massive media campaign to create chaos, cause confusion and paint President Trump as bad and evil. There are very powerful forces throughout the world who want to discredit him and weaken him politically because they view him as a major roadblock to taking us into a globalist system. According to Anderson, Trumpocalypse takes a hard look at Bible prophecies and Bible codes that appear to involve Trump and questions whether God raised up the 45th President to guide America through an end-times scenario. He said many Christians with prophetic gifts believe this to be true and have rallied around Trump as their last hope for saving America and averting the horrors of the Apocalypse. The public is largely unaware of whats really going on and that we really are on the verge of a major, radical shift of our American way of life, said Anderson, former executive editor of Charisma magazine. Its not a wacky idea that this is happening and Paul and I reveal all of the evidence, as well as the proof for it, in Trumpocalypse. Despite all this talk of gloom and doom, Anderson said there is hope on the horizon. The ball is in our court, said Anderson. We need to turn back to God and repent of our sins. If we can save America, we can go on to spread the Gospel for decades to come. Trumpocalypse is available at Barnes & Noble, and online at Amazon and other online book retailers. Visit Anderson at www.troyanderson.us. | https://www.vvdailypress.com/news/20190123/did-god-pick-trump |
How much sleep do I need and what does a lack of it do to my health? | Get daily 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 For some, a decent night's sleep is hard to come by. And after a long hard day at work, looking after the kids or studying, sometimes all we want to do is sleep it off to be refreshed for the following day. It may sound simple but it's not always that easy as our thoughts take over - mentally writing to do lists, stressing about an impending life change or it could just be a song that will just not leave your head. But it's just not over-thinking as physical elements or illnesses can interrupt our sleep pattern too such as anaemia, sleep apnoea and diabetes. There are many things that can keep us awake at night. (Image: Shared Content Unit) It seems there's no 'one size fits all' answer as it can depend on age and health and vary from person to person. The National Institute of Health suggest that adults generally most healthy adults need between seven to nine hours sleep. The NHS advise that most of us need around eight hours of good quality sleep to function properly but again, for some it could be a little less. They say that, as a general rule, if you wake up still feeling tired and all you can think about is having a nap during the day (who doesn't?) then it is more than likely that you are not getting enough sleep. Physically, poor sleep on a regular basis puts you at risk of serious medical conditions, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes and can ultimately shorten your life expectancy. Not only does long-term lack of sleep effect our physical health, it can effect our mental health too and can contribute to a range of problems such as depression and anxiety. All of which can have a knock on effect in our daily lives. According to the NHS a few simple lifestyle adjustments may help and could be the key to a full nights sleep. Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now Stick to regular sleeping hours By going to bed and getting up at roughly the same time every day you are helping to create a routine and programming your body's clock to sleep better. Create a calm and relaxing sleeping environment Temperature, lighting and noise can all factor into a bad, or good, nights sleep so by taking control of these, you can create a peaceful sleeping environment. If you have had your mattress for years, it might be time to invest in a new one as mattresses have a life expectancy of up to nine or 10 years. Partake in regular exercise Regular exercise provides plenty of health benefits, including helping you to sleep. Moderate exercise such as swimming or walking can relieve tension that has built up throughout the day. Relaxation exercises will also help to relax your muscles. Review your caffeine intake As caffeine interferes with the falling asleep progress and prevents a deep sleep, cutting down on tea, coffee and energy drinks in the evening may be a good place to start. Put down the late night snacks If you are guilty of raiding the treat jar whilst watching late night TV or indulging in a glass of wine after a long day at work, this could be causing you to have a bad nights sleep. The NHS say that too much food or alcohol, particularly when consumed late at night, can disrupt your sleep pattern. Then put down the phone It is repeatedly advised that checking phones, tablets and watching the TV can all effect our sleep. This is because the backlit 'blue light' suppresses the production of melatonin which is the hormone that helps you sleep. Putting the gadgets away at least two hours before you go to bed can help reduce impact on your sleeping. Quit smoking As nicotine is a stimulant, it can take smokers longer to fall asleep and encourages them to wake up more frequently. Relax before going to bed Read a book, have a warm bath and listening to quiet music can all help you to relax your mind before trying to sleep. Write it down Whether it's a to-do list or just writing down your worries, putting pen to paper can help you to avoid doing this in your head when settling down to sleep. Get up The NHS advise that instead of worrying about not sleeping, get up and do what you find relaxing until you feel sleepy again. Visit your GP If insomnia is persistent and beginning to affect your daily life, then talking to your GP may help find a solution. | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/how-much-sleep-need-15722721 |
What happened to Roy's mum Sylvia? | Get daily 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 Coronation Street's Roy Cropper is in for heartbreak with the news that his mother Sylvia fell ill on the anniversary of his wife Hayley's death. Sylvia arrived in Weatherfield in 2011 and last appeared in Weatherfield in August 2013. The relationship between outspoken Sylvia and mild-mannered Roy was always fraught with cafe owner Roy leaving home at 16. He had very little contact with his mother until April 2011 when her second husband Roger died. Sylvia, who had been living in a care home, turned up at Roy's Rolls after the funeral and was hurt to find out Roy had married Hayley without telling her. Kindly Roy persuaded her to move into the flat above Roy's Rolls with the couple, much to Roy's annoyance, and Sylvia began helping out in the cafe. (Image: ITV/Coronation Street) Sylvia caused amusement with her blunt views and decided, until Roy put his foot down, that customers should pay extra for all condiments and milk and sugar, as well as being charged for using the toilet. In 2013 Sylvia went to stay with her sister Jean in Hastings. Sylvia was played by Stephanie Cole, 77, from Solihull who is also known for her roles in Open All Hours, A Bit Of A Do, Waiting For God and Doc Martin. (Image: ITV Pictures) In 2005 she received an OBE in the Queen's birthday honours for her services to drama, the elderly and mental health charities. Last year she appeared as herself in the Halloween special of the dark comedy Inside No 9, penned by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. Join our Coronation Street Fan Chat group on Facebook where youll also get updates, spoilers and more. | https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/what-happened-roys-mum-sylvia-15723869 |
Where is Earth's submoon? | Planets orbit stars and moons orbit planets, so it was natural to ask if smaller moons could orbit larger ones Pasadena, CA-- "Can moons have moons?" This simple question--asked by the four-year old son of Carnegie's Juna Kollmeier--started it all. Not long after this initial bedtime query, Kollmeier was coordinating a program at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics (KITP) on the Milky Way while her one-time college classmate Sean Raymond of Universit de Bordeaux was attending a parallel KITP program on the dynamics of Earth-like planets. After discussing this very simple question at a seminar, the two joined forces to solve it. Their findings are the basis of a paper published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. The duo kicked off an internet firestorm late last year when they posted a draft of their article examining the possibility of moons that orbit other moons on a preprint server for physics and astronomy manuscripts. The online conversation obsessed over the best term to describe such phenomena with options like moonmoons and mini-moons being thrown into the mix. But nomenclature was not the point of Kollmeier and Raymond's investigation (although they do have a preference for submoons). Rather, they set out to define the physical parameters for moons that would be capable of being stably orbited by other, smaller moons. "Planets orbit stars and moons orbit planets, so it was natural to ask if smaller moons could orbit larger ones," Raymond explained. Their calculations show that only large moons on wide orbits from their host planets could host submoons. Tidal forces from both the planet and moon act to destabilize the orbits of submoons orbiting smaller moons or moons that are closer to their host planet. They found that four moons in our own Solar System are theoretically capable of hosting their own satellite submoons. Jupiter's moon Callisto, Saturn's moons Titan and Iapetus, and Earth's own Moon all fit the bill of a satellite that could host its own satellite, although none have been found so far. However, they add that further calculations are needed to address possible sources of submoon instability, such as the non-uniform concentration of mass in our Moon's crust. "The lack of known submoons in our Solar System, even orbiting around moons that could theoretically support such objects, can offer us clues about how our own and neighboring planets formed, about which there are still many outstanding questions," Kollmeier explained. The moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter are thought to have been born from the disk of gas and dust that encircle gas giant planets in the later stages of their formation. Our own Moon, on the other hand, is thought to have originated in the aftermath of a giant impact between the young Earth and a Mars-sized body. The lack of stable submoons could help scientists better understand the different forces that shaped the satellites we do see. Kollmeier added: "and, of course, this could inform ongoing efforts to understand how planetary systems evolve elsewhere and how our own Solar System fits into the thousands of others discovered by planet-hunting missions." For example, the newly discovered possible exomoon orbiting the Jupiter-sized Kepler 1625b is the right mass and distance from its host to support a submoon, Kollmeier and Raymond found. Although, the inferred tilt of its orbit might make it difficult for such an object to remain stable. However, detecting a submoon around an exomoon would be very difficult. Given the excitement surrounding searches for potentially habitable exoplanets, Kollmeier and Raymond calculated that the best case scenario for life on large submoons is around massive stars. Although extremely common, small red dwarf stars are so faint and their habitable zones so close that tidal forces are very strong and submoons (and often even moons themselves) are unstable. Finally, the authors point out that an artificial submoon may be stable and thereby serve as a time capsule or outpost. On a stable orbit around the Moon--such as the one for NASA's proposed Lunar Gateway--a submoon would keep humanity's treasures safe for posterity long after Earth became unsuitable for life. Kollmeier and Raymond agree that there is much more work to be done (and fun to be had) to understand submoons (or the lack thereof) as a rocky record of the history of planet-moon systems. ### Sean Raymond maintains a science blog where more details and illustrations (including a poem he wrote about the article) can be found. This research was supported by a grant from the Agence Nationale pour la Recherche, the NASA Astrobiology Institute's Virtual Planetary Laboratory Lead Team, and the National Science Foundation. The Carnegie Institution for Science (carnegiescience.edu) is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science. | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/cifs-wie012319.php |
Did Kylie Jenner Just Confirm Her Marriage to Travis Scott? | Fans are buzzing about Kylie Jenners post-pregnancy picture on Instagram, in the black and white photo Jenner is seen squatting and showing off her post-baby body, but its the caption thats got everyone in a frenzy. extrao a mi esposo, Kylie captioned the photo which is Spanish for I miss my husband, this lead fans to think that Kylie and Travis Scott are married. Jenner has called Scott her hubby before on social media, however, no one is sure if she means it or if its just a pet name. Kanye tweeted about Scott being his brother-in-law, but he deleted the tweet soon after posting it. was originally published on hot1079philly.com Also On 101.1 The Wiz: | https://wiznation.com/2625774/did-kylie-jenner-just-confirm-her-marriage-to-travis-scott/ |
How big do Northern Irish tech companies want to grow? | 10 Northern Irish companies are taking MITs CEO transformation course to learn more about scaling. TechWatch editor Emily McDaid reports. Tech sector insiders know that Northern Ireland (NI) is reputed to be a great place to start a company. Its taken years of hard toil to get to that point and its something to be proud of. Furthermore, data published this year by the Enterprise Research Centre (ERC), and covered in-depth by the Financial Times, indicates that among UK start-ups that survive their first three years in business, NI-based companies are more likely to grow to a level of 1m turnover. It seems that NI companies have true grit when compared to other regions of the UK. But theres a next step for economic growth in NI that is, not just being a great place to survive the hardest first years, but being a great place to scale a company to an economic-boosting 100m-plus in enterprise value. Other ERC figures may point to the reason behind this challenge in scaling. Early-stage entrepreneur numbers have grown 75pc in NI in the past 15 years. Moreover, microbusinesses (fewer than nine employees) in NI are the most profitable in the UK, and are more likely to export. However, less than 20pc of founders of microbusinesses report that they have ambitions to scale to national or international size. The rest want their businesses to remain the same size. When you count the whopping 28,500 microbusinesses in NI, with 90pc of them trading profitably, it adds up to a huge economic windfall NI could be benefiting from. If only NI founders with the ambition to scale could be supported to combine their natural grit with bigger aspirations, turning their hunger for great things into reality. Enter Way to Scale, a new CEO transformation programme that was conceived at the end of 2018 by Catalyst, with support from Belfast City Council and Invest NI. CEOs head Stateside with our new Way to Scale programmevia @irishnewsbiz https://t.co/AME9PvP74h pic.twitter.com/FZLqvUc6h3 Catalyst Inc (@CatalystIncHQ) January 16, 2019 The programme is sending 10 NI tech entrepreneurs to a world-class workshop at MITs prestigious Sloan School in Boston this month. This kicks off a three-month-long programme for these 10 companies. Way to Scale will also involve business-plan workshops at Catalyst over February and culminate in a bespoke week residential at MassChallenge HQ in Boston. Director of Springboard and Way to Scales facilitator, John Knapton, says: Weve gotten pretty good in NI about doing start-ups, with established support from Catalyst and other organisations here, both private and public. The annual Knowledge Economy report says that were launching 400-plus innovation start-ups each year in NI, which is hugely better than 10 years ago. However, we need to scale more companies to the likes of Kainos, First Derivatives or Lagan Technologies, and were not there yet. Knapton explains that market research, conducted with exited CEOs and other stakeholders, identified three areas of priority. We need CEOs to transform their thinking, he says. We need the confidence to think big, underpinned by robust business modelling that scales. We also need challenge and mentorship from founders who have been there and done that and who know what models work. Thirdly, we need dynamic go-to-market and specifically sales strategies and that means supporting CEOs to establish a beachhead within their export geographies. Knapton has proven experience with growing NI tech companies, both from personal experience and through the Springboard programme, which hes led since 2014. He points out that Way to Scale isnt for lifestyle businesses, as important as they may be to the economy. This is for disruptive technologies, companies that are already doing 500k-plus in revenue or have significant investment to facilitate the expense incurred to export successfully. We can help them put the meat on the bones of their business growth strategy, he says. Its impossible not to wonder. Knapton has a unique viewpoint on it. Were focusing on companies that are naturally disruptive in their industries, that have compelling value propositions; theyre not reliant on the general flow of the markets. Although trading conditions may be more difficult, there should be less influence from Brexit because customers will need their products regardless. The 10 companies in the first annual cohort of Way to Scale are: By Emily McDaid, editor, TechWatch A version of this article originally appeared on TechWatch | https://www.siliconrepublic.com/companies/northern-ireland-tech-way-to-scale |
Will Google respond to GDPR fine with a cheque or an army of lawyers? | After being hit with a 50m GDPR fine, Google is studying its next steps and its response could set the tone for the future of data in Europe. Its just a tax on data, a learned neighbour of mine opined on the news that Google has been hit with a 50m fine by French data regulator CNIL (Commission Nationale de lInformatique et des Liberts), one of the first mega-fines to be applied under Europes tough new GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) rules. Behind the seemingly flippant comment is a niggling kernel of possibility: tech giants such as Google and Facebook, with their seemingly bottomless pits of cash, could just assume that such fines will become the order of business du jour and write them into their annual budgets. The real news will be what comes next DERMOT WILLIAMS Then again, companies such as these also know that a lot rides upon public sentiment and, as former Google executive chair Eric Schmidt told journalists in Kerry in 2009, if people stop trusting the company then that is it, lights out. Rather than write a cheque, Google may very well appeal the decision to save face. The heart of this particular case was allegations that Google failed to comply with GDPR in instances where Android users set up a new phone and followed the Android onboarding process. CNIL ruled that Google was guilty of breaking EU privacy laws by failing to obtain adequate consent from users when processing their data for the purpose of personalised advertising. Under GDPR rules, EU regulators can fine companies as much as 20m or 4pc of their turnover, whichever is highest. But that brings us on to the next elephant in the room, Facebook, which is currently engaged in a supreme court appeal over transatlantic shipments of data to the US. 2018 was a horrible year for Facebook in terms of breaches and scandals such as Cambridge Analytica. Infosec analyst Dermot Williams from Threatscape believes that the fines under GDPR will indeed be taken very seriously by the companies. I doubt regulators view this is [as] some sort of toll to be extracted from tech giants; their goal is to modify their behaviour, not tax their activities. SMEs and corporates may not handle anything like the volumes of data Google do, but they need to be aware that the rules apply to them just the same and that they should get their GDPR house in order if theyve not already done so. Williams said that it was always going to be a coin toss over which mega-firm would first feel the bite of GDPR, Google or Facebook. He reasons that there surely must already be ongoing investigations into Facebook in at least one EU jurisdiction. It is possible that Facebook not receiving a GDPR fine yet is merely an indication that any investigations are proving more complex, and their infringements more serious. If and when they do get their first GDPR fine, it could be substantial; they are unlikely to be clicking the like button. Williams believes we are only on the opening pages of a new chapter in the data protection narrative of Europe. Since GDPR came into effect last year, there has been a lot of speculation about how harshly regulators might handle the first enforcement cases. With a turnover in excess of $100bn, Google could have been fined billions of dollars were their infringement deemed sufficiently extreme, so, while a 50m fine will attract headlines, it is at the lower end of possible penalties given their size. What would have been a terminal blow to many is for Google a rounding error. Until more details emerge, we wont know if there has already been robust dialogue behind the scenes. The real news will be what comes next. | https://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/gdpr-google-facebook |
How should Democrats respond to Trumps offer? | The Jan. 20 editorial Make a deal argued that Democrats should welcome President Trumps offer because there is something serious on the other side of the equation: Real people. Somehow left out were the real people most directly affected by the shutdown: the hundreds of thousands of federal employees and contractors who are not receiving paychecks. I would have thought the very first lines in the editorial would have expressed dismay that the president never once in his speech acknowledged us. (I am a furloughed federal government employee.) As for the dreamers, I care for them, too. The editorial might weaken the position of Democrats who could be trying to help dreamers in upcoming negotiations. The editorial correctly laid out some of the many reasons the president is not to be trusted. However, when it comes to how to deal with the president in situations such as these, I trust the judgment of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over The Posts. David Pawel, McLean The Make a deal editorial was wrong in stating that to refuse even to talk until the government reopens does no favors to sidelined federal workers and contractors. That missed the point. The editorial agreed that negotiations and discussions are needed, but these should be done during the normal course of business. They should not be done during a shutdown the president is using as his main negotiating tactic. The Posts suggestion gives credence and approval to the presidents strategy as an acceptable form of negotiation with the opposition. Instead, such tactics are reprehensible, unproductive and divisive. These tactics should not be established as an acceptable precedent for how negotiations should be conducted on difficult issues. Lets get the two sides back to the negotiating table when the government is fully functioning. Thats how a truly functioning democracy with three equal branches is designed to work. When the government is up and running, legislators and the executive should attempt to make the best deal they can and go on from there. No one should shut down the government. Such action should be condemned for what it is. Julian Klazkin, Bethesda Language matters. President Trump, and President Trump alone, partially shut down the federal government on Dec. 21. He, and apparently he alone, given that the Senate refuses to do its legislative duties, can reopen it. There is no offer; there is only a demand for ransom. The editorial board of The Post advocated giving Mr. Trump the physical wall he was unable to get from the previous, Republican-controlled Congress, but the price of blackmail never goes down. Margaret McKelvey, Arlington | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how-should-democrats-respond-to-trumps-offer/2019/01/23/7c3e16f0-1dcc-11e9-a759-2b8541bbbe20_story.html |
How can moms fight feelings of failure in a Pinterest era? | Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin In todays social media-obsessed culture, the old adage comparison is the thief of joy" has never been truer especially, it seems, for moms. Scrolling through Instagram photos of Pinterest-worthy projects, HGTV homes, and perfectly dressed children can make even the most confident mother question her abilities. Studies show that social media use among most new mothers has become ubiquitous and unsurprisingly, mothers who are more frequent visitors to Facebook report higher levels of parenting stress. With everyone presenting the heavily-filtered Facebook version of themselves, mothers are bombarded with perfectionism at every turn. It doesnt take long for comparison to creep in, creating a messy environment of dissatisfaction and discontentment. Ruth Schwenk, who's an author, founder of The Better Mom blog, and mother of four children, told The Christian Post that it all begins with a proper understanding of identity. It comes down to where we find our worth, she said. My identity, first of all, isnt in motherhood, its in that Im a child of Christ. As a mom, I need to remember that my value doesnt come from what I do or dont do, but from the fact that Im a daughter of God and created in His image. Its important to understand that God made us the mom of our child for a reason, Schwenk stressed, adding: Im the perfect mom for my child, and youre the perfect mom for your child. God doesnt make mistakes when He gives us the children we have. Viewing other mothers as competition, she said, only isolates us from what could be a life-giving, mutually beneficial friendship. The things you do are great for you and your family, and I can learn from that, she said. This isnt a competition. There are things I'll do in my life that will look different than you, but that doesn't mean that there aren't some things from your life that would actually be really great to implement into my motherhood. But social media, Schwenk said, presents only a highlight reel and most mothers arent going to post photos of their childs tantrum or the messy realities of parenting. Those pictures I see of you online are not really the whole picture, she said. We know that, but we dont know that. Its a constant battle of saying, OK, this is part of their picture, and its not always perfect, because nobodys perfect. What if, instead of viewing each other as competition, we thought, Wow, this is an incredible community where we can learn from one another. ' Mothers are often presented with two extremes when it comes to parenting, she said: Either strive for perfectionism or glorify the self-deprecating mess of mom-ing. But God calls mothers to far more than that. Becoming a better mom doesn't begin with us; it begins with God," she said. "It starts with who God is inviting us to become. Motherhood gives us the opportunity to grow and become more like Christ. Understanding that God is sovereign over the life of every child also relieves pressure for mothers who struggle with feelings of inadequacy, she added. Its important to be intentional in raising our kids, because we're raising children that we hope and pray will be a light to the world, she said. But the bottom line is, no matter my best intentions, God loves them so much more than I do and, and I can do everything right and things can still go wrong. But at the end of the day, He will take care of them. Trudy Cathy White, author and daughter of Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, explained that ironically, in seeking perfection, mothers are less likely to actually parent effectively. Your kids are always watching you, and you need to be the best role model you can be for them, she said. Your children grow up to be just like you, so if you have things in your life you dont want in their lives, dont do it. We have to be on guard and model well for our children. White, a mother and grandmother herself, encourages mothers focused on perfectionism to seriously consider the message theyre sending to their children. We live in a society where kids are under a lot of pressure, and its so easy to point out the things they dont do well, she said. But the role that God has given us is to try to find the good in our children, recognize that, and give them accolades and encouragement. When we do that, we empower them to live in society with confidence and relieve the peer pressure theyll experience in school and the challenges they face. White emphasized that the ultimate role of a mother isnt to throw blog-worthy birthday parties or create Instagram-able moments, but to raise children grounded in the truth found only in Scripture. Truth is the key to setting our children up for success and pointing them back to God, she said. Truth is a piece of equipment that will allow them to climb mountains, and were called to model that for our children. And, at the end of the day, the greatest tool I have is my dependency on God to get through difficulty and my own failings as a mother. | https://www.christianpost.com/news/how-can-moms-fight-feelings-of-failure-in-a-pinterest-era.html |
Can Democrats prevent shutdowns by refusing to reward the tactic? | From Day One of the longest government shutdown in history, Democrats have stuck to their guns: First, open the government. Then negotiate over border security. Their unwavering message has been that the president must not be allowed to hold federal workers hostage to get what he wants. Shutdowns must not be rewarded as a political tool. On Thursday, Democrats will have an opportunity to put this reasoning to a test in the Senate, where lawmakers will vote for the first time on reopening the government since the partial shutdown began more than a month ago. Senators will vote on dueling measures: President Trumps plan, which would fund the government through September and includes $5.7 billion for a wall; and the Democrats plan, which would fund the government through Feb. 8, allowing time to negotiate border security. It has no wall money. Both measures seem destined to fail in the polarized Senate. But even if Democrats prevail in their demand, its far from clear that this stand would deter future shutdowns. Government closures have become weaponized, observers say, and thats not likely to change. Indeed, just one year ago, Democrats themselves forced a shutdown, though brief, over immigration. Recommended: Art of the deal: In politics, Trump finds negotiations a different ballgame The Democrats demand to open the government first is just part of the game, says Patrick Griffin, who was legislative director for President Bill Clinton during the previous record-holding shutdown of 21 days. It works until it doesnt work, he says. You use it when it serves your purpose. The message also has served to keep Democrats unified. Not all Democrats oppose more funding for physical barriers along the border even if they object to a concrete wall. Its a good argument because its about a fundamental framing, as opposed to a component that people may agree or disagree on, says Democratic pollster Celinda Lake. Plus, people overwhelmingly agree the shutdown is Trumps fault. In a speech on Saturday, Mr. Trump stepped back from demanding a $5.7 billion wall as a 2,000-mile concrete structure from sea to sea and instead called for barriers in select high priority locations, in exchange for three years of protected status for Dreamers and certain other immigrants. Democrats have rejected the offer, pointing out that it also would place new restrictions on asylum seekers who are minors. Despite being presented by the president as a compromise, the proposal was not made in consultation with Democrats. Still, a group of centrist House Democrats reportedly wants Speaker Nancy Pelosi to offer the president a vote on his border wall and other security measures by the end of February, while allowing amendments to protect Dreamers after the government is opened up. And some Democrats could support steel slats, a description that the president has been using. I think in some places it might be appropriate, yes, Rep. Jahana Hayes, a Democratic freshman from Connecticut told reporters last week, referring to slat fencing. I want the border to be secure. Each shutdown has its own character including, in this case, a dispute over whether the president will give his State of the Union address in the House on Jan. 29. The president insisted in a letter to Ms. Pelosi today that he would; she wrote back that the House will not consider it until the shutdown ends. Each shutdown also has its own political pain, and that will determine its next use as a political tool for leverage, says Mr. Griffin. He points to the three-week shutdown over the holidays in the winter of 1995-96, when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R) of Georgia went to the mat to balance the budget in seven years through dramatic cuts. Mr. Clinton offered a different plan: 10 years without those cuts. In the end, Republicans were forced to admit defeat, and Clinton won reelection. It would be more than 17 years before congressional Republicans would again trigger a shutdown, this time over the Affordable Care Act. Their approval rating plummeted after that 16-day standoff in October 2013, instigated by the tea party caucus (one of its former members, Mick Mulvaney, is now the presidents acting chief of staff). But interestingly, that drop in approval did not last, and a year later, Republicans still vowing to repeal Obamacare took over the Senate. | https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-prevent-shutdowns-refusing-reward-tactic-211629215.html |
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