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What is Planned Parenthood? And how exactly is it funded? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. Jan. 23, 2019, 9:39 PM GMT By Farnoush Amiri With 57 affiliates nationwide operating more than 600 health centers, Planned Parenthood has become the face of women's reproductive and abortion rights in the U.S. While only about half of Planned Parenthood affiliates perform abortions, the organization is the nation's leading abortion provider. Planned Parenthood's history The organization that became Planned Parenthood began in Brooklyn, New York, in 1916, when Margaret Sanger, founder of the birth control movement and lifelong reproductive rights advocate, opened her first clinic. Police raided and shut down the clinic shortly after it opened, but Sanger went on to open the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau in Manhattan seven years later, according to Planned Parenthood's website. She eventually merged the bureau with the American Birth Control League to create Planned Parenthood. From there, Planned Parenthood has steadily grown in reach and impact. In its annual report for 2016-17, the organization said it had provided health care services to nearly 2.4 million Americans. In 2018, Cecile Richards, who had led the organization since 2006, stepped down as president. Her departure came at a critical time for the abortion and contraception rights movement, amid efforts by some conservatives to cut both Planned Parenthood's federal funding and abortion access in general. Richards was succeeded by Dr. Leana Wen, a physician who has said supporting abortion rights is the organization's "core mission." The state of Planned Parenthood's funding has remained uncertain for years. Defunding the organization is a top priority for anti-abortion rights groups and was one of Donald Trump's campaign promises during the 2016 presidential election. Before leaving office, President Barack Obama finalized a regulation meant to protect Planned Parenthood's federal funding. Since becoming president, Trump has made numerous attempts to defund the organization, including moving forward with a proposal that would require facilities that provide abortions and related services to be physically separate from clinics that are funded with federal family-planning grants. That prompted an ongoing legal battle between the Trump administration and Planned Parenthood. Planned Parenthood receives funding from several sources. About 41 percent of its funding comes in the form of federal government reimbursements and grants through programs such as Medicaid and Title X, according the Department of Health and Human Services. Such federal funding can cover many of the health services Planned Parenthood provides, but it cannot cover abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger. The restriction is a result of the Hyde Amendment, which Congress passed in 1976 and prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services in the U.S. The majority of Planned Parenthood's federal funding comes from Medicaid, which provides health insurance for low-income Americans. Planned Parenthood patients receive services including birth control, cancer screenings and STD testing through Medicaid at low or no cost, depending on the patient's income and the state they live in. Planned Parenthood is then reimbursed by the federal government, according to its website. Planned Parenthood also receives funding through Title X, the nation's family planning program. It's named for its section in the federal Public Health Service Act and became law in 1970. Planned Parenthood affiliates serve an estimated 40 percent of Title X patients each year. That comes out to about 1.5 million patients who annually receive services like well-woman exams and HIV testing at Planned Parenthood clinics through the health care plan. The organization also receives funding through reimbursements from patients' private insurance companies and from patients who pay out-of-pocket for their health care services. Private donations and grants make up a small share of the nonprofit's funding. These donations help Planned Parenthood maintain its sliding-scale fee system, which allows it to charge for its services based on a patient's income. Attacks on Planned Parenthood Planned Parenthood facilities across the country have faced bomb threats, arson, vandalism and other attacks over the past few years. A 2016 National Clinic Violence Survey published by the Feminist Majority Foundation, a nonprofit organization, found that 34.2 percent of U.S. abortion providers reported "severe violence or threats of violence" in the first half of 2016 a spike from 19.4 percent reporting violence or threats in 2014. Undercover videos In 2015, an anti-abortion group called the Center for Medical Progress caused an uproar when it released a series of videos that it alleged showed that Planned Parenthood was selling fetal tissue. The director of the group, David Robert Daleiden, along with a fellow center employee, Sandra Susan Merritt, posed as employees of Biomax Procurement Services, a fictitious company they created by registering false documents, including fake driver's licenses. In the clips, they are seen trying to encourage Planned Parenthood representatives to admit to profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. The two pro-life activists described themselves as "citizen journalists," but federal investigators determined that the videos had been selectively edited. The activists later released a full version and a transcript of one video that showed a Planned Parenthood official denying claims that the organization makes a profit off the tissues. Richards also denied the allegations, saying that Planned Parenthood's tissue donation program "follows all laws and ethical guidelines." She added that patients who would like to donate tissue for scientific research may do so, with "no financial benefit" for either the patient or the organization. In 2016, a Houston grand jury indicted Daleiden and Merritt in the production and release of the videos. But prosecutors said that the grand jury had overstepped its reach, and the charges were later dropped. In 2017, California authorities charged the pair with 15 felony counts of invasion of privacy in making the secret recordings. Merritt and Daleiden have been arraigned and preliminary hearings in the case are set to begin on Feb. 19, according to a spokesperson for the state attorney general. Fatal shooting On Nov. 27, 2015, several months after the release of the Center for Medical Progress videos, a gunman armed with an AK-47-style weapon opened fire in a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, killing three people, including a police officer, and wounding nine. According to law enforcement officials, the accused shooter, Robert Dear, said "no more baby parts," in reference to Planned Parenthood, after he was taken in for questioning. Police said that Dear told investigators he had attacked the clinic because of his anti-abortion views. Dear has been deemed not mentally competent to stand trial. | https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/smart-facts/what-planned-parenthood-how-exactly-it-funded-n955921 |
Can we trust either party with the nation's future? | AS MR Whiteside points out in another one of his Labor-bashing letters (Daily, January 22), Mr Shorten probably can't be trusted but then again, neither can the entire Liberal party, regardless of who their leader is. The Liberals are so predictable, it's actually quite sad to see that some people still haven't woken up to them. An election rolls around, they claim they can achieve a surplus. When that isn't enough to fool people, they magically stop a boat that just conveniently appeared out of nowhere, and if that doesn't work they'll organise some raid on a union office which will find nothing....as usual. It's about time the Liberal party updated their playbook, most people aren't falling for their nonsense any more. MICHEAL RISELEY Buderim | https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/can-we-trust-either-party-with-the-nations-future/3629161/ |
Will Raleigh end its popular leaf-vacuuming service? | A popular Raleigh service could be coming to an end.For decades, City of Raleigh residents have been able to rake or blow their leaves to the curb where the city's vacuum trucks will come suck them up.But for the second consecutive year, the service is way behind schedule, leaving residents like Jay Joiner in Southwest Raleigh wondering when they will be collected.He did his leaf work in December. "We move our leaves to the street right away for fear of missing the truck. So there they sit. They've been there for weeks on end. They're killing the grass. In some cases, they're right out in the middle of the street and they're causing all kinds of problems," Joiner told ABC11.Leaves in the middle of the street are one of the main concerns of Raleigh City Councilor Stef Mendell. "This is a safety issue, and it's an environmental issue," Mendell said. "People put the leaves in the street. They're not supposed to put them in the street but they put them in the street. And then the roads get narrow. Cars can't get by easily. It's not safe for walkers, for bikers, people riding scooters. And it's really bad for the environment because it washes into the sewers. "This is the second year that leaf collection has been behind schedule.Last year the cold weather caused equipment malfunctions.This year, wet weather means it takes longer to suck up the leaves.Joiner said a recently revised leaf collection schedule posted on the city's website showed his neighborhood would be serviced last week.It wasn't.He called City Hall to complain. "The response I got was basically, 'Well if you're going to complain about this, we will just take away the service,'" he said.Mendell hasn't taken that approach with her constituents but she said she thinks ending the service should be considered along with other options and she's asked the city staff to look at the issue. Many cities do not pick up leaves anymore. It's sort of a luxury now," she said. "Joiner said he hopes the city will not eliminate the service because the 73-year old who is outfitted with a pacemaker said people like him need it. "There are a lot of people out here, especially elderly people, who depend on the leaf pickup to remove the leaves from their property. Hey, this is the City of the Oaks. "Mendell said if the city ends the service there are other options.Homeowners could blow or rake leaves into natural areas if their yard has them.Or they could take advantage of another city service, once-a-week yard-waste pickup.But that would require bagging the leaves.Joiner noted, however, that the city will only pick up 15 bags at one time.He estimated his pile will fill at least 30 bags. "That's a tremendous amount of work on an older person to try to bag up that much material," he said.Joiner and others who have lived in Raleigh for decades remember that the city once had twice-a-week garbage service and sanitation workers would carry it from your backyard.When the city ended that service, it upset a lot of people but there's little doubt it saved taxpayer dollars.The city continued to offer the backyard service to the elderly and disabled.Joiner said he hoped it may do something similar with leaf collection -- even if it means charging a small fee. "We could call the city and arrange for a specific pickup. Thereby those who do not want to have their leaves picked up don't have to pay for it and those who do could do so," he said. | https://abc11.com/home/will-raleigh-end-its-popular-leaf-vacuuming-service/5103162/ |
Is Joey Fatone the rabbit on The Masked Singer? | Please enable Javascript to watch this video A lot of people have been guessing that NSYNC boy band member Joey Fatone is behind the rabbit mask on FOX's 'The Masked Singer'. Chelsie called her friend, Joey, up to see if he would confirm or deny the rumors.... and he did! Joey says his Twitter page blew up with people wanting to know if he was the rabbit when the show debuted. What are you talking about. No! I'm not a rabbit. No, I've never been a rabbit. I've done some silly stuff in my life but dressing up as a rabbit wasn't one of them," he said. Joey did say he finds the show hilarious and would love to be a judge on it. Right now he's busy with a new game show he's hosting called "Common Knowledge". It's airing on the Game Show Network. | https://fox13now.com/2019/01/23/is-joey-fatone-the-rabbit-on-the-masked-singer/ |
Whos Who on The Masked Singer? | Where to Stream: The Masked Singer More Options When The Masked Singer first premiered it was all fun and games. But now, time has passed and weve grown wiser. Its no longer enough for The Masked Singer to merely entertain us with silly musical numbers in elaborate costumes. We NEED to know who is under those masks. And luckily, we have a guide that can help. Based on the South Korean reality juggernaut King of Mask Singer, Foxs take on the show is beautifully straightforward. Twelve masked celebrities sing-duel against each other while wearing costumes that completely hide their identity. In this seasons early episodes, the contestants were divided into groups of six with the first set of six competing against each other during odd numbered weeks and the second set of six competing on even numbered weeks. Yet no matter whos performing, the outcome is the same. Every week the loser of this singing competition is forced to take their deer or pineapple head off, revealing which B-level celebrity can rock the hell out of Queen. Its like watching the joys of Carpool Karaoke with the suspense of a bizarre murder mystery. And four weeks in, were all about that suspense. Heres your brief guide to the identities of all 12 of these performers. This was the first official revelation we witnessed on this crazy show. The My Prerogative singing Hippo was none other than Pittsburg Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown. The Deer lasted longer than the Hippo, but it wasnt long until he was galloping off the stage. In Week 3 it was reveled that The Masked Singers spookiest character was former quarterback and Steelers player Terry Bradshaw. From the first time we listened to this bird reminisce about being an old-school heartthrob and being friends with Michael Jackson, we had a feeling he was Donny Osmond. But a recent interview with Marie Osmond all but confirmed our suspicions. We see you and your feathers, Donny. Were getting to the truth behind this mythical creature. In Week 1 the Unicorn revealed she grew up in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the country, though she didnt have a particularly great childhood. But in Week 2 she got a bit more personal, revealing that she lost some of her sheen. That sheen comment has led many to think that the Unicorn may be Charlie Sheens ex-wife Denise Richards. However, the smart bet follows the money clue. We wouldnt be surprised if we saw a Tori Spelling reveal in the coming weeks. So far weve seen the Monster perform two times, and every time it becomes clearer that this celebrity is probably a rapper. During Week 1 the Monster said he was doing this to re-write my mixed tape to prove that I am more than just puff and fluff. And in Week 2 he admitted he was from the South and that he likes to keep my head in the game. That latter statement has caused some people to think that the Monster is Corbin Bleu from High School Musical fame. But the rapper T-Pain is also a popular guess. We know this king of the jungle descends from Hollywood royalty, is dedicated to using her voice to stand up for what she believes in, has four sisters, and is not a recording artist. Empires Rumer Willis. The Pineapple and his performance of I Will Survive didnt last long. In Episode 2 this tropical fruit was voted out and revealed to be Tommy Chong, one half of Cheech and Chong. We know very little about this bird other than the fact she loves to talk and recently suffered a tragic loss. But even going on those scant details, the internet feels confident with this celebritys real identity. Most people think that the Raven is former talk show host Ricki Lake, though Sherri Shepard is also an option. The Bee is almost certainly the great singer-songwriter and Empress of Soul Gladys Knight. According to his Week 2 interviews, this bunny is skilled at performing in a group, dancing in synchronization, and wearing a mask onstage. That can only point to one thing a boy band member. At least that what the judges and Twitter are thinking. Look out for former *NSYNC heartthrobs Joey Fatone or JC Chasez. This is where things start to get a bit more mysterious. All we know about the Poodle is that shes comfortable on stage, has played characters since she was a little girl, and that she has to fight to be heard. Most of the judges are thinking comedian on this one, which isnt a bad direction. Look out for Ali Wong or Margaret Cho, especially since Cho is a frequent supporter of LGBT rights and the Poodle was seen dancing in front of a rainbow. Our outer space visitor has arguably the most celebrity hype around them. According to her clues, shes grown up in the public eye, has many sisters, and is looking for a comeback. Those first two clues have led many fans on Twitter to believe that shes a Kardashian sister, but it feels safer to pull back on the fame cred for this one. Be on the lookout for a Braxton sister or La Toya Jackson. Where to watch The Masked Singer | https://decider.com/2019/01/23/who-is-on-the-masked-singer/ |
Whats the Difference Between Netflixs The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes and Amazing Interiors? | Where to Stream: The World's Most Extraordinary Homes More Options Netflix has a lot of content. Its literally my job to sort through all of it, and even I am at least momentarily confused when scrolling through recommendations. Multiple movies named Solo were added within a week of each other. Theres a BBC series that Netflix retitled Retribution because its original title, One of Us, is the name of an original Netflix docbut theres already a Spanish movie named Retribution on Netflix! There are three different types of Great British Baking Show, two different Nailed It!s, two Narcoses, NBCs Friends and Netflixs Friends from College, and the Indonesian horror film Sabrina and the Netflix original series Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. All that leads me to Amazing Interiors and The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes, two titles so surface-level interchangeable that they both pop up first when you search Netflix for one of them. Although the subject matters seems amazingly similar and the titles are extraordinarily confusing, these are actually two completely different shows. Since The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes has dropped a new batch of episodes on Netflix, I figured nows the time to finally differentiate these two shows. This is just as much for me as it is for you, reader! Heres how you can tell these shows apart, topic by topic. Background Info The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes is actually not a true Netflix Original. The show originally debuted in the UK on BBC Two back in January 2017. Netflix acquired the international distribution rights and added Season 1 in March 2018, thus making it a Netflix Original to us in the States. Amazing Interiors, however, is a Netflix original through and through. Netflix commissioned the show from British production company Barcroft Productions, making it the streaming services first foray into the home-based reality genre. Amazing Interiors debuted on Netflix in July 2018. Subject Matter The titles sound similar, sure, but that subtle difference is actually a major one. The houses on The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes are truly extraordinary inside and out. This is where you go to see houses that make you think, Well, obviously thats not a house, thats a crashed UFO embedded in mountain and covered with hundreds of years of overgrowth. There are minimalist homes made completely out of steel, houses shaped like a big ol doughnut, and homes that look like knocked over Jenga towers. Its truly wild. Amazing Interiors focuses on, duh, the interiors. Sure, some exteriors are wow moments, like that massive shipping container home. But most of these abodes look totally plain on the outside, belying the totally jaw-dropping and/or cuckoo things visible once you walk through the front door. Focus The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes is mainly concerned with the architectural feats accomplished that allow homes to be built in truly phenomenal locations and in absolutely bewildering shapes. The architects are credited and interviewed for every home, and the actual people that live in the home kinda come second. Since most of the homes on Amazing Interiors are run-of-the-mill suburban structures, the architecture is an afterthought. Instead, the show focuses on the people that live in the home (or in the cases of some of the wives, trapped) and have turned the interiors into shrines to baseball, cars, horror movies, the color pink, or flying steampunk contraptions. If these interiors werent so organized, loved, and generally immaculate, you could make a case for Amazing Interiors being a Hoarders offshoot that also showcases some luxe man caves. But thats not all of them! Like Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes, some of the interiors were created by artists and architects, but they also double as the resident. Behold one such artists indoor waterfall! Personalities The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes has two hosts: architect Piers Taylor and British actress and comedian Caroline Quentin. Taylor brings the facts to back up his gut reactions to these elaborate, borderline overwhelming living spaces. Quentin, on the other hands, stands in for the audience by cracking pleasant jokes, trying out every quirky amenity, and jumping into every single pool in every house (sometimes there are multiple). Amazing Interiors stands out from all of Netflixs original reality programming in that it has no host. All exposition is delivered via text on the screen, and then the show lets the homeowners tell their story. That makes the shows subjects the de facto hosts as they give tours of their converted boats, indoor skateparks, and sprawling art installations. But the real stars are without a doubt the wives who have to put up with a whole lot in the name of love. Length Each episode of The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes runs for a solid 45 minutes, taking you to four different extraordinary homes in one location; Season 2B drops Piers and Caroline in Spain, India, Norway, and Israel. Amazing Interiors is a zippier watch with episodes averaging around 25 minutes each. This show focuses on three different interiors an episode and the groupings are at random. A sample episode title: Secret Boudoir, Ultimate Man Cave, Apocalypse Bunker. Another important distinction: each episode of Amazing Interiors follows one interior as it gets glowed up from average to amazing. The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes has a mix of reverence and irreverence that, well, makes it feel very British. If you want to hang out with two delightful hosts with super different backgrounds as they wander through homes that look like they could come out of movies ranging from Zardoz to Star Trek, this ones for you. With its runtime, calm pace, and exquisite subject matter, this ones a much more patient and leisurely stream. Amazing Interiors is the show to go to if you want to see a mix of wackadoo ideas and man caves side by side with real architectural wonders (a waterfall indoors!) and questionable decorations (a house filled with dictator memorabilia!). The homes on this show run the gamut, and the time commitment is halved. It does for me: I will never be able to be on The Worlds Most Extraordinary Homes, but if I collect 500 more Marvel action figures, I have a real shot on Amazing Interiors. Stream The World's Most Extraordinary Homes on Netflix Stream Amazing Interiors on Netflix | https://decider.com/2019/01/23/netflix-worlds-most-extraordinary-homes-amazing-interiors-difference/ |
Did WCJ's Rookie Season Show Signs Of An Emerging Star? | The rookie season of Wendell Carter Jr. ended this week in disappointment with thumb surgery after 44 games. But it mostly carries with it hope and promise after arguably the best rookie season for a center in franchise history. It was fun, Carter told reporters Tuesday in the Advocate Center in his first comments since his season ending surgery. I had a lot of ups and downs throughout the season, which I was going to go through at some point in my career. It was fun being able to bond with my teammates, which I plan on doing for the rest of the season (by staying with the team). That was something I always worked for ever since I was a kid, to be able to get to the NBA, Carter said. Not just get here, but also be a star in this league. Those games show the potential I have in this league. Carters first season showed averages of 10.3 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, which rank eighth among rookies in points, second in rebounds and second in blocks. Its an excellent start for a 19-year-old with just one year of college as the No. 7 selection in the 2018 draft. And while center production is not a high bar in franchise annals, Carter looks like hes going to scale it easily on the way to being one of the top centers in franchise history. Though a bit on the small side for a center at 6-10, Carter is strong at a listed 255 pounds with excellent reactions. In franchise history, perhaps only Tom Boerwinkle and Erwin Mueller achieved as much as Carter in a rookie season. Boerwinkle averaged 9.8 points and 11.1 rebounds as a rookie, primarily as a passing, high post center who played four years at Tennessee. Though often unappreciated playing with the rugged Bulls of the early 1970s who played in two conference finals, Boerwinkle was a vital part of the best Bulls team until the Michael Jordan era. Second rounder Mueller in the team's inaugural season averaged 12.7 points, but was quickly traded after trying to defect to the ABA. The most decorated first round draft pick Bulls center was Joakim Noah, who averaged just 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds his rookie season. Other centers the Bulls drafted in the first round included Eddy Curry, Will Perdue, Dalibor Bagaric and Travis Knight. Elton Brand, Sidney Green, Orlando Woolridge, Charles Oakley, David Greenwood, Kornel David and Stacey King were considered forwards. Noah actually had a similar surgery as did Kirk Hinrich, and Carter said he was told both found their hands strengthened afterward. Though Carter isnt advising anyone to repeat his experience. He suffered the freak injury in an unusual way against the Lakers Jan. 15. He was turning to run back on defense and got tangled with Tyson Chandler. Carter put his hand down to brace for a fall, apparently then damaging a ligament. Post game x-rays were inconclusive and then an MRI in Los Angeles indicated it might not be serious. But a visit to the teams specialist back in Chicago showed the need for surgery and an eight-to-12 week recovery. Its kind of sore, but its nothing I cant get through, Carter said. To not be able to finish out the season as a rookie... thats something I wanted to do. Im just looking at the long-term now. I take off the cast in like 10 days and start rehabbing with a splint. It started off with them saying it didnt look so good but knowing I needed a second opinion. So I wasnt that devastated, Carter related. Then coming back here and seeing a hand specialist, they told me I needed surgery for sure. I was devastated. I didnt think (when it happened) it was that bad. It didnt hurt. I was planning on playing Saturday (back in Chicago). It wasnt the pain that made me get the surgery. It was more so the structure of the tendons. So many people have had this injury and (if you) dont get it taken care of bones are coming out of their socket very easily, Carter said. I wanted to eliminate all that. If I was to get in a cast and come back and (had a setback), then Id have to wait another eight weeks and (then) get the surgery. So I just went ahead and knocked it out to get it out of the way. Its certainly a disappointment for the Bulls and Carter, but Carter, who turns 20 in April, showed plenty in his half season to maintain team optimism about his future. Carter was rarely the focus of the offense or featured prominently, used more for screening, defense, basket protection and rebounding. He has a fluid shooting stroke, but barely ventured far outside to shoot threes as many big men do now in the NBA. He had trouble at times with some of the taller, offensive oriented centers, like Joel Embiid and Karl-Anthony Towns. But Carter had his best games against some of the leagues best big men. Carters best game probably was early in the season when the Bulls lost at the overtime buzzer on a Paul Millsap putback. Carter, playing against MVP candidate Nikola Jokic, had 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists, three blocks and three steals. Carter missed the rematch with Jokic last week after his injury. About a month later at the end of November, Carter had 28 points, seven rebounds and three blocks against the Pistons Andre Drummond. And in the start of the Western Conference trip in Portland, Carter scored 22 points against developing big man Jusuf Nurkic. Carter only averaged about eight field goal attempts per game and fewer than one three pointer per game, conservative offensive statistics that likely will change as he is involved more in the offense. The Bulls this season have concentrated offensively more around Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Bobby Portis and Kris Dunn. So despite the sudden end of his rookie season, Carter remains confident in the core the team is building. I feel like everybody here is bought in, Carter said. We just have to get a better feel for one another when were on the court. Especially with the draft coming up, depending on who we draft, well be able to mold this team into something very special. The Bulls have been starting Robin Lopez since Carters injury, but that could change by trading deadline. If Lopez is not with the team, Portis probably will play center and forward. Many teams, like Indiana with Myles Turner, use forwards to play center. Carmelo Anthony wont play there. The Bulls announced Tuesday they completed a trade of the draft rights of Tadija Dragievi to the Houston Rockets in exchange for forward Anthony, the draft rights to Jon Diebler and cash considerations. Dragievi, 6-9 and 247, was the 53rd overall pick by Utah in the 2008 NBA Draft. His rights were acquired by the Bulls in 2014 for Greg Smith. Dragievi has played professionally in several countries during his career, most recently in Spain this season. Diebler was the 51st overall pick by Portland in the 2011 NBA Draft following his senior season at Ohio State. His rights were acquired by Houston in 2012. Diebler is currently playing in the Turkish League. There has to be value in the form of a player or draft pick in a trade. The Bulls recently did a similar transaction with Houston involving Michael Carter-Williams. He was waived by the Bulls. It is regarded as more of a bookkeeping transaction for both teams regarding luxury tax liability and salary cap space. Anthony is not expected to play for the Bulls. He could be traded or perhaps eventually released. Its a long way from the summer of 2014 when Anthony opted out of his contract with the Knicks after averaging 27.4 points per game along with 8.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He was regarded among the top five players in the NBA. The Bulls pursued an intense recruitment of Anthony as a free agent. Hed eventually agree to resign with the Knicks, though he later said he regretted not taking the Bulls offer. Anthonys play declined precipitously with changes under new team president Phil Jackson and in the NBA. Anthony was an All-Star starter as recently as 2016 and All-Star in 2017. He demanded a trade and went to Oklahoma City in 2017-18. After a poor season, he was traded to Atlanta and bought out. He signed a minimum contract with Houston last summer, but was sent home after 10 games for internal issues. At 34, he is regarded as too slow, one dimensional, indifferent and disinclined to play again for a team with a losing record. Many are speculating if he plays in the NBA again, it will be with his friend LeBron James in Los Angeles. Though he is regarded as a sure so called first ballot hall of famer for an exceptional basketball career. For the Bulls, theyll move on and wait for Wendell. Theyre resolute in his return, recovery and resilience. | https://www.nba.com/bulls/features/did-wcjs-rookie-season-show-signs-emerging-star |
What's next for the Second Amendment? | Nine years ago, the Supreme Court struck down a Chicago law that amounted to a near-total ban on handgun ownership in the city. It was a landmark Second Amendment decision that opened the door to judicial scrutiny of a wide range of firearm regulations. Since then, however, the court has consistently avoided Second Amendment cases, leaving a great deal of uncertainty about what policies are allowed. There is also the latest trend red flag laws, which allow police to take guns away from anyone who, in the judgment of a court, poses a danger to himself or others. The long silence from the justices lets advocates push all sorts of regulations while letting gun rights groups claim they are unconstitutional. Now, however, the court may provide some useful guidance. It agreed to hear a challenge to a New York City law that forbids gun owners from transporting their firearms out of the city. A resident who wants to practice at a gun range in New Jersey or pack a pistol in the trunk of her car on a road trip is out of luck. An appeals court said this is a minor burden, because owners who want to patronize gun ranges outside the city can rent guns to shoot. And someone with a second home can buy a second gun to keep there. But gun owners need to practice with their own weapons to make sure they function properly. Some people may want to take their firearms with them when they travel out of the city, either for hunting or personal protection. The city argues that dangers arise when gun owners transport their weapons, which they may decide to use in traffic altercations or personal disputes. But anyone transporting a firearm in the city has to keep it locked, unloaded and inaccessible in transit, which is a protection against rash choices. If that requirement suffices for gun owners traveling from Brooklyn to Queens, it should suffice for gun owners traveling from Manhattan to Jersey City. The law is unusual enough that the court could uphold or overturn it without revealing much about the constitutionality of other gun laws. But the justices could also give clear signals about how much regulation they think the Second Amendment permits. Its about time. At the moment, gun control proposals are getting more traction with the public and lawmakers than they have in a couple of decades. It would help both sides of the debate to know whats fair game and what isnt. Steve Chapman, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/chapman. [email protected] Twitter @SteveChapman13 | https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman/ct-perspec-chapman-second-amendment-supreme-court-0125-20190123-story.html |
Will I need to defrost the car in the morning? The weather forecast for Thursday January 24? | With temperatures dropping to near-freezing again but it is not expected there will be snow on Thursday morning. Clouds will be gathering overnight before there is some rain in the morning, according to the Met Office. Morning rain will ease later in the east but it will stay drizzly in the west. Sunny spells in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire will fade as cloud builds later, their latest forecast suggests. Expect the mercury to be meandering between two and three degrees when you wake up, and steadily climbing up to seven degrees by mid-afternoon. But it will feel a few degrees cooler and those heading out for an early morning jog will think it is about freezing. Dont be blas about the road conditions though: Wednesday morning saw crashes across the region, and there were difficult driving conditions reported in the Stroud area. But it did also mean there were some beautiful wintry pictures from you. And with the gritters out tonight already helping to keep the roads clear of ice, we could expect some more from you. Welfare teams have also been heading onto the streets of Gloucester tonight to make sure that the citys homeless are warm and safe. The latest forecast from The Weather Channel suggests some more of the white stuff will be heading towards Gloucestershire across seven days. It is forecasting that snow could appear this Saturday, although its more likely to be sleet, with more snow next Wednesday, January 30, a week Friday (February 1) and over that weekend into the following week. Further afield adverse weather could be hitting the UK after causing havoc with this weekends FA Cup fourth round programme, Mirror Online reports. | https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/need-defrost-car-morning-weather-2463051 |
Did climate change bankrupt an electric company? | A table and chairs stand outside of one of at least 20 homes destroyed by a wildfire in Malibu, Calif., in November. Subscribe to the podcast on iTunes. A major California electric utility is filing for bankruptcy, and climate change may be the culprit. Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) could face up to $30 billion in liabilities from recent wildfires in California, the LA Times reports. Hotter conditions make for more wildfires, and that's exactly what is happening in the western U.S., as Climate Cast has previously reported. Now, some analysts see PG&E a Fortune 500 company as the first economic casualty of climate change. Research scholar Michael Wara, who focuses on climate and energy policy at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, joined Climate Cast to explain. Hear the whole segment on the audio player above. | https://www.mprnews.org/story/2019/01/23/did-climate-change-bankrupt-an-electric-company-?refid=0 |
Could the Buckeyes land a second transfer quarterback? | RS-Sophomore quarterback Nick Starkel is leaving Texas A&M after three seasons and will enter the now infamous Transfer Portal. One of the schools on his list of potential destinations is Ohio State according to a report on social media from Travis Brown of MyAggieNation.com. The quarterback position at Ohio State is a thin one with two scholarship signal-callers set to go in 2019 while Justin Fields awaits an NCAA decision on his status for the upcoming season. New head coach Ryan Day has stated that he would like to have four at all times and a new name has emerged in relation to Ohio State. Texas A&M QB Nick Starkel will hit the transfer portal any minute now & will not participate in spring practice, he said. Will complete 120 hours before July & should be on new campus July 1. Said he's looking at Duke, Ohio State, SMU & Arizona (former HC Kevin Sumlin). According to the report, Starkel will finish his coursework at A&M and would be considered a graduate transfer with two years of eligibility to go. He would not arrive at his new school until the start of the summer as he finishes up his classes in College Station (Texas) but would not be going through spring football drills as a player who has already announced his intentions to transfer. Joining Ohio State on the list of schools would be Duke, SMU and Arizona according to Brown. The Arizona Wildcats are coached by his former coach, Kevin Sumlin. Starkel has played in 11 games during his collegiate career and has close to a 61-percent completion percentage with career marks of 138-227 for 1,962 yards with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Starkel saw more action in 2017 where he played in seven games and only four games last year in 2018. Starkels last action took place in A&Ms game against Alabama where Starkel came in and was 7011 for 67 yards in a 45-23 loss to the Crimson Tide. 2017 was a year where Starkel had extended playing time and had a pair of 400-yard passing games including a 499-yard game against Wake Forest in the Belk Bowl as the A&M quarterback threw for four touchdowns in the Aggies 55-52 heartbreaking loss to the Demon Deacons. Ohio State might find it a challenge to land any graduate transfer, with one or two years left with recent transfer Justin Fields waiting in the wings. The good news for Ohio State with a player like Starkel is that he does not need to make a quick decision and can wait to see what happens with the former UGA player. Even if Fields is ruled immediately eligible, the Buckeyes really could use another player in the quarterback room with Matthew Baldwin coming off of a redshirt freshman season and Chris Chugunov only having 95 career passing attempts. Ohio State has been painted into a corner with its quarterback numbers after Tate Martell transferred out of the program to Miami (Fla.) just a few short weeks after saying he was not going anywhere regardless of the status of Justin Fields with the Buckeyes. That followed up the expected NFL departure of Dwayne Haskins and a previous-year transfer of Joe Burrow from the program. In one other connection between Starkel and the Buckeyes, he was recruited by new passing game coordinator Mike Yurcich while he was at Oklahoma State, so there is some familiarity there even though Starkel passed on the Cowboys for the Aggies when he made his pledge in the class of 2016. There are a lot of pieces in motion with this one and only time will tell how the quarterback room will shape up for the Buckeyes in 2019. A lot will be learned when the NCAA makes its decision, a decision that there is no real timeframe for but Fields attorney, Tom Mars, is optimistic that it is a pretty clear-cut case for immediate eligibility and not a case that should take long to render a decision, up or down. Keep it locked in here at BuckeyeGrove.com as we continue to follow all of these stories closely. | https://ohiostate.rivals.com/news/could-the-buckeyes-land-a-second-transfer-quarterback- |
Is The Government Shutdown Benefitting The U.S. Dollar? | On December 18th, 2018, the U.S. Dollar Index (UUP) formed a falling window which signalled to investors that the Greenback was all set for a speedy descent. This proved to be true as in the first few days of January 2019, the Greenback shed roughly 3.3% of its value. However, once the Greenback fell to the 94.635 mark, it commenced an ascent that resulted in it forming 8 bullish candles in 9 trading sessions. Thus, the question investors ought to ask themselves now is whether the currency will have a bullish continuation or a bearish reversal. I say this as the currency is trading at a key resistance level that can cause it to swing either way. Hence, to establish the likelihood of all scenarios, I shall look at the fundamental news affecting the currency, whilst also analysing the chart using technical analysis tools. Fundamental news The government shutdown: The ongoing U.S. government shutdown is turning out to be good news for the U.S. Dollar in the short run. I say this as the shutdown delays a number of economic reports from being released that would have otherwise had some sort of an impact on the Greenback. However, as highlighted by Pepperstone, the U.S. government shutdown could cause the growth level to fall by up to 0.5% as the governments 800,000 employees are not receiving their remunerations. This in turn means that they are not spending as they usually would. Therefore, investors may thank President Trump for the short-term rally in the Greenback. However, in the long run, the shutdown will negatively impact the value of the U.S. Dollar. Nevertheless, the extent of the damage to the economy will not be known until the government reopens for business. Chinas growth slowdown: The latest figures coming out of China have been soft which has affected investor sentiment in Asia. The reason I chose to highlight this is that a slowdown in Chinas growth will bode well for the U.S. Dollar as it signals to investors that China will want to end the trade war negotiations on a positive note. Chinas growth rate has hit its lowest level since 1990. In 2018, China's economy grew by 6.4% which is down from the prior value of 6.5%. Foreign positions: China is ranked as the largest holder of U.S. Treasuries despite it reducing its holdings substantially throughout the trade war fiasco. However, the bigger concern for American currency traders ought to be the $2 trillion worth of U.S. treasuries being held by Japan. Japan is currently unwinding its positions in U.S. treasuries as they are simply not profitable anymore. Investors will find it more profitable to stay away from the U.S. bond market up until interest rates are high enough to offset hedging costs. Thus, this is forcing the Bank of Japan to unwind its positions which will have a bearish impact on the value of the Greenback. Technical analysis Daily chart: The currencys daily chart indicates that the U.S. Dollar is at a critical crossroad. The index is trading at the 161.8% Fibonacci resistance level at 96.115. Moreover, the prior falling windows lower and upper resistance lines are right above the current price level which places a great deal of bearish pressure on the currency. Furthermore, the Greenback is presently trading inside its Ichimoku Cloud pattern which creates further uncertainty about the bullish continuation. The upside potential of the currency seems to be extremely limited. The U.S. Dollar is trading below its 50-day moving average and its falling windows resistance lines. Moreover, the U.S. Dollar has had six consecutive days of higher highs. This indicates to investors that a sideways formation or a bearish reversal will be occurring soon. I say this as stocks and currencies tend to have seven to nine higher highs after which the rally normally ends. On the price target front, if the Greenback were to have a bullish continuation, then I believe it would rise till the long-term resistance level at 97.469. However, I believe the probability of this occurring is rather low. On the other hand, if the Greenback were to have a bearish reversal, then I believe it would fall till the range between the 38.2% and 50% Fibonacci support levels. The 38.2% Fibonacci support level is at 95.681, whilst the 50% Fibonacci support level is at 95.552. Additionally, if the Greenback were to conclude its descent at this level, then investors would be in for a very profitable upwards move as it would form a J-Hook pattern in the coming weeks. The big picture Overall, the U.S. Dollar is presently trading at a critical crossroad where I believe the currency can have an upside or downside price move. However, the probability of a downward move is higher as the currency is trading below its falling windows resistance level. Nevertheless, whichever way you do decide to trade, do ensure that you utilize trailing stops, as this shall aid in capital preservation. Good luck trading. 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/4235055-government-shutdown-benefitting-u-s-dollar |
How many Super Bowls have the Rams won? | After facing a 13-0 first-quarter deficit in the NFC championship game against the Saints, the Los Angeles Rams rallied to win in overtime and advance to Super Bowl 53 against the Patriots. Here's a brief look at the franchise's Super Bowl history, as well as a look at which teams are atop the all-time Super Bowl wins leaderboard. Super Bowl 53 will mark the fourth time the Rams have appeared in the Super Bowl. They have won the Super Bowl once, when they beat the Titans for the title in 1999. Tennessee wide receiver Kevin Dyson was famously tackled at the 1-yard line while attempting to tie the game as time expired. This will be the first time the Rams have reached the Super Bowl while in Los Angeles their previous three showings came as the St. Louis Rams. Rams Super Bowls: Super Bowl 36 Feb. 3, 2002 Patriots 20, Rams 17 Super Bowl 34 Jan. 30, 2000 Rams 23, Titans 16 Super Bowl 14 Jan. 20, 1980 Steelers 31, Rams 19 In addition to their one Super Bowl victory, the Rams won two NFL championships (1945 and 1951) before the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. The teams last met in the Super Bowl after the 2001 season. Quarterback Tom Brady helped the Patriots beat the Rams, 20-17, in his first of many Super Bowl appearances. Then-Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri converted a game-winning, 48-yard field goal as time expired. 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-rams-won/1nh69t3ftenk21upjl80soa8eu |
Is Davos more than just a lot of hot air? | Far be it from me to go in to bat for Davos. There's plenty about it that is ridiculous and hypocritical. That said, if everyone thinks that Davos is a waste of time, it's probably worth looking at the counter arguments. Firstly, and cynically, far more happens behind the scenes than in front of the cameras. Many of those who attend Davos never go into the conference centre where the headline grabbing sessions take place. As the already weary-looking chairman of a FTSE 100 company that I bumped into said, the real benefit of Davos for him is that it is efficient: he gets to hold a whole load of meetings with a lot of the people he wants to see in a very short space of time. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video But, beyond that, it probably does business leaders good to be confronted with some uncomfortable truths. Amid the platitudes and the increasingly defensive corporate justifications - especially from the big tech companies - there are some real flashes of insight. On Tuesday, Raghuram Rajan, the former governor of the Bank of India, pointed out to the assembled titans of industry that they bang on about the undoubted benefits of mega-corporations - they help to lower prices and build better products for customers. But nothing is free. It is, he said, the duty of companies to work out who is paying for the lower prices and how. Companies need to be hearing this stuff. What is more, the liberal international order that is now under threat is younger than we often remember. The British historian Adam Tooze reminded delegates the golden period we nostalgically invoke, as we struggle to understand the modern world, is much shorter that we think and only got going when institutions like the World Economic Forum and the International Monetary Fund got into their stride in the Nineties. Loading He argued that the liberal international order that we associate with Bretton Woods "came into to existence incrementally, anxiously and driven as much by crisis as anything else". The grand designs for global trade, which were sketched out in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War did not really get off the ground until the late Fifties and, when they did, resulted in huge fiscal and monetary pressures on the US by the Sixties. This resulted in "the first iteration of cynical, populist Republican politics with a nationalist tinge" - president Richard Nixon. "Really [Donald] Trump has nothing on [Nixon] in terms of his insouciance about the international order," said Tooze. "When it was pointed out to Nixon that the Italians might suffer collateral damage from his policies, the Watergate tapes pick up the immortal line: 'I don't give a "bleep" about the lira.'" Nixon then set about dismantling the Bretton-Woods consensus in the space of just a couple of years in the early Seventies. Most of the advances in free trade and globalisation kicked off two decades later. And, when they did, it was "in places like this", the University of Columbia professor said. Those same institutions may be needed to help shore up the liberal international order. And those that criticise Davos need to ask themselves whether they are comfortable with the conclusion to their argument - that the whole thing is disbanded. Yes, Davos may produce more good intentions than concrete results but at least there is a co-ordinated attempt to address some of the world's problems. On Tuesday, the veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, who was being interviewed by the Duke of Cambridge on the main stage at Davos, said: "This event is one of the most optimistic things I've seen in a while." He said that the environmental crisis that the world is facing was caused by mankind's belief that it had to conquer the natural world and live in opposition to it. The truth, he said, is the opposite. "Events like this show that fundamental, beautiful fact is being realised. [The World Economic Forum] arguably has more power than any other gathering. They recognise that fundamental truth and can do something about it." Telegraph, London | https://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/is-davos-more-than-just-a-lot-of-hot-air-20190124-p50ta5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_business |
Could Mitch McConnell still be the 'guy who gets us out of shutdowns'? | Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. Jan. 23, 2019, 9:55 PM GMT By Rebecca Shabad WASHINGTON Mitch McConnell once called himself the guy who gets Congress out of government shutdowns. The Senate majority leader may still turn out to be that guy, but first he will have to emerge from the shadows where he has spent the last 33 days. McConnell, R-Ky., hasn't just failed to get his party out of a shutdown; he hasn't even appeared to try. He has instead stood on the sidelines watching the battle of wills of the two most important people in Washington: President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Up to now, at least, he's dismissed action on any appropriations legislation, long-shot or otherwise, as unnecessary "show votes," leaving the Senate in a state of suspended animation while the Democratic House passes funding bill after funding bill. But on Thursday, the Senate is finally expected to snap into action or at least, the appearance of action. McConnell has finally stepped forward and set votes on two competing measures: One is Trump's plan to reopen the government while providing $5.7 billion in border wall funding and temporary protections for people who were brought to the U.S illegally as children. The other is a Democratic proposal to reopen the government that excludes funding for the wall altogether. Neither piece of legislation is expected to clear the Senate's 60-vote hurdle. But both represent the most visible sign of movement on McConnell's part since the shutdown began. From the moment that Trump abruptly ditched what McConnell thought was a done deal last month to back a temporary funding bill, the majority leader's self-assigned role has been that of careful bystander. Jim Dyer, who helped negotiate ends to the shutdowns of the mid-1990s as the Republican staff director on the House Appropriations Committee, told NBC News that McConnell has a right to tell the White House that it won't undercut him again, and that it must make clear what Trump is willing to sign into law. I think thats probably his mindset at this point in time, said Dyer, now a senior adviser at the lobbying and law firm Baker Donelson. Democrats have spent the past month watching for signs of GOP unease with McConnell's new posture. I am the guy that gets us out of shutdowns. Its a failed policy, then-minority leader McConnell told CNN in 2014) has led the upper chamber during the longest stoppage in U.S. history. Democratic lawmakers may be waiting a while. Because viewed from a purely political perspective, McConnell's approach has been a resounding success at least, so far: only 5 percent of registered voters surveyed in a Politico/Morning Consult poll this month blamed congressional Republicans for the shutdown while 47 percent blame Trump and 33 percent blamed Democrats. McConnell shouldn't be expected to save [the administration] from every mess, nor be the face of it, said Rory Cooper, managing director at communications firm Purple Strategies, who served as communications director to House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., during the 16-day government shutdown in 2013. It's no secret that when the current shutdown took center stage, McConnell effectively walked off it. The memorable Oval Office meeting in which Trump said he would be "proud" to take the blame for a shutdown featured the incoming leader of one chamber of Congress Pelosi, D-Calif., soon-to-be House speaker but the minority leader of the other: Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. McConnell was absent. He has spoken on the Senate floor, but has been missing from White House press conferences and pool sprays, even as other GOP leaders lined up behind Trump. During the White House meeting two weeks ago in which Trump abruptly left after Pelosi told him that Democrats wouldnt give him his wall funding, McConnell didnt say a word at the meeting not a word, Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., told reporters. McConnell's lack of participation, Dyer said, may be explained by the fact that he was burned by Trump at the beginning of the crisis and now requires that Trump not only make the first move, but be clear about what he would sign. Nonetheless, McConnell has effectively done Trump's bidding, refusing until Thursday's votes to bring any funding bills up for consideration by the full Senate unless they met with the president's approval. He has gone from saying last year that a wall is probably not the best way to secure the border in some places to a recent statement that Trumps $5.7 billion wall-funding request is reasonable, and he argued in recent days that Democrats are not budging in negotiations simply because Trump is president. Last week alone, McConnell blocked two government spending bills Senate Democrats tried to bring to the floor, saying that the upper chamber wouldnt participate in something that doesnt lead to an outcome. Democrats have mocked the lack of agency that statement implies. The Senate wasn't voting on funding bills, Schumer recently said, because Leader McConnell is hiding behind President Trump, saying he wont bring to the floor a bill to reopen the government unless the president says OK. You do not need a permission slip from President Trump to do your job. Its time for the Senate to act, Durbin tweeted Wednesday. It's a position guaranteed to resonate in blue states which may help explain why several GOP senators up for re-election on potentially hostile 2020 terrain expressed similar sentiments recently, with Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Cory Gardner of Colorado and Susan Collins of Maine all calling for the government to reopen with or without the president's border-wall funding request. Schumer and other Senate Democrats have been predicting that more of their Republican colleagues will crack. Our view is that Republicans are soon going to be putting enough pressure on Trump to either go around him or force him to change, he told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow last week. But as the shutdown officially passed the one-month mark this week, there's been little sign of a looming GOP revolt. Instead, McConnell has kept most of his party in line behind him and the president, with an eye on other re-election fights and futures: those of Senate Republicans who represent states won by Trump and his own. A few rank-and-file members in the Senate have tried to come up with solutions that might meet with the leader's approval, if not the president's, beyond the proposals expected to fall short Thursday. In recent days, that's taken the form of a bipartisan draft letter circulating around the Senate that floats the idea of a bill opening the government for three weeks, to buy time for a bipartisan agreement. But GOP senators say this effort is likely to meet the same fate as the failed pushes that preceded it. You know when that's going to happen? Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., told reporters of the effort. When you look outside your window and see donkeys fly. Asked if theres anything more McConnell should do at the moment, Kennedy said there was: Pray. In fact, he may already be doing that right now. Others say he may have a few more options but that whether he deploys any of them all depends on whether the man who "gets us out of shutdowns" finally decides he wants to reclaim the title. The only person whos going to move it off the dime is McConnell," Dyer said. "And I think both sides, or one side, is going to have to go to him and say, Mitch help. | https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/could-mitch-mcconnell-still-be-guy-who-gets-us-out-n959996 |
Are Meghan Markle and Camilla Parker Bowles Sharing Purses? | As far as royals-by-marriage go, were willing to bet that Camilla Parker-Bowles and Meghan Markle are the two members of the British royal fam with the most in common. Not only do they both break the royal mold as divorcees, but, as it turns out, they have the same taste in charitable handbag brands Image zoom Chris Jackson/Getty Images Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, visited East London on Wednesday in a smart forest green suit and an adorable matching $395 DeMellier London purse. Image zoom Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images If said fetching accessory looks familiar to you, you may be remembering it from this time last year, when the Duchess of Sussex wore the same exact purse during a visit to Cardiff. (Also, congratulate yourself on that impeccable memory.) Well, maybe, but a more probable explanation is that the leather bag is affordable (by royal standards, at least) and each purchase funds a set of vaccines or treatments for a child in need. | https://www.instyle.com/news/meghan-markle-camilla-parker-bowles-purse |
Have these women found the cure for insomnia? | As sleep patterns go, it sounds ludicrous. Asleep by 11pm, then awake at 2.43am to do the ironing and online banking. Working at 3am, back to bed at 5.20pm. And yet these are entries taken from the sleep diaries of women who claim theyve never felt so rested. They get their six to eight hours sleep a night only it comes in two halves, with an interval of impressive achievement sandwiched in between. Anne-Marie Senior, 40, who lives in Huddersfield with husband Nigel, 42, a sales manager, and their children aged 12, ten and seven, admits her husband often rolls his eyes in the morning when he finds out how much shes done during the night. Its an asset to sleep like this, says the former lecturer, whos a stay-at-home mum. Its what my body naturally wants to do. And dealing with mundane stuff during the night means I do so much more with my children and husband during the day. Nigel, who sleeps soundly, often jokes its like the fairies have been when he wakes up. Sadie Nicholas explored the growing trend for biphasic sleep, Lianne Young, 44,(pictured) from Surrey revealed she takes intervals during her night's sleep to contact her clients abroad In fact, a growing school of thought suggests she and others have naturally gravitated towards a sleep pattern more in tune with the way our forebears rested, before electric lights made us believe a good nights sleep has to come in an eight-hour block. These women are embracing the trend for biphasic (meaning two phase) sleep, by resting in two shifts with a period of wakefulness in the middle. The theory evolved in the Nineties, after U.S. psychiatrist Thomas Wehr conducted an experiment in which a group of subjects were deprived of artificial light for a month, with no lightbulbs, TVs or computers. By week four, his guinea pigs had settled into a pattern. They slept for four hours, woke around midnight for two hours, then dropped off again for four. At the same time a historian named Roger Ekirch was busy collecting references to what seemed like a strange literary quirk: repeated mentions of our first and second sleep in historical works from Homer via Chaucer to Dickens. In 2001, he published a paper proposing humans were wont to sleep in two distinct chunks. Later he charted 500 references to biphasic sleep from fiction, diaries, medical tomes, legal records and anthropological accounts, claiming during their wakeful phase people read, smoked, prayed, had sex and paid social visits. Since then, the idea of adopting a twice-a-night sleep pattern has gradually acquired a certain fashionability. Ever more complex sleep rhythms have developed with Nigella Lawson remarking she often heads to bed at 7.30pm, then sleeps in two-hour chunks interspersed with periods of wakefulness and cups of tea. Devotees claim such a regime removes the pressure to sleep through the night, meaning they are no longer distressed by their middle-of-the-night insomnia. Rather than worrying about it, they use the night to get things done, before lying down for their second sleep when they are tired. Laura Blacklaws, 35, (pictured) from Hertfordshire began having an unusual sleeping pattern while planning her wedding Laura's sleep diary 8pm: After dinner I change into pyjamas and start the wind-down process by watching TV or reading. 10.45pm: I go to bed and sleep almost immediately. 2.33am: Wake up naturally. Make a cup of tea and tackle some jobs. I got married four weeks ago, so I started choosing photos for our wedding album. Im also writing thank you notes. 3.15am: I go through project plans for a client meeting snacking on crisps, a bad habit Ive got into. 4am: Still not tired so watch some TV. Doze a little but then wake and get some ironing done. 6am: My husband heads to work I go back to sleep. 9.17am: Wide awake. I never set an alarm and always wake between 9am and 10am feeling refreshed. Biphasic sleep was the most common pre-modern style of sleeping, says Professor Kevin Morgan, an expert in sleep and health at Loughborough University. But we have to put this into context because they also slept on mud floors, lived very short lives and were diseased most of the time. By and large, we have designed modern society to suit our circadian rhythm the internal clock that controls our sleep and wake cycles, which dictates that we sleep more at night and are awake during the day. However, we retain the capacity to sleep in shorter bouts if that suits us. Professor Morgan explains: The question of whether longer term biphasic sleep is good or bad for us presumes a one-size-fits-all answer. Peoples needs and circadian rhythms differ enormously. If you were to ask colleagues how much sleep they need to perform really well, youre going to get a huge variation in answers and theyre probably all correct. Still, if youre unhappy with your sleep, embracing biphasic sleep could help you relax, rest and even increase your productivity. For Lianne Young, 44, trying to sleep properly meant she would lie awake for hours, berating herself for not being able to doze off and worrying how shed cope with a busy day on so little sleep. But now she feels liberated from the eight-hour straitjacket. Anne-Marie Senior, 40, (pictured) from Huddersfield who is a stay-at-home mum uses an interval during her night's rest to complete mundane tasks Anne-Marie's sleep diary 9pm: Bath and relax with chamomile tea in my PJs. 11pm: I try to stick to the same bedtime and rarely struggle to sleep. 2.43am: Wide awake. I go downstairs to make the kids packed lunches and do half an hours ironing. 3.10am: Still alert, I look at family holidays online. 4am: Do online banking and load the washer to put on once everyone is awake its too noisy at night. 5.15am: Feeling sleepy I go back to bed. Its a similar time every day. 7.30am: Everybody up for work and school. I have an afternoon nap if I need it. She says: I sleep better now I have a more relaxed attitude, and cumulatively I clock up eight hours of sleep in every 24. It works perfectly. My odd hours allow me to speak to my son in New Zealand, and to work with my clients in Los Angeles. I go to bed around 11pm, wake at 3am, go back to bed at 5am for four hours, then take a couple of short naps. I sleep when Im tired and eat when Im hungry. Im fortunate I work for myself and can nap during the day. The relationships expert has been a biphasic sleeper since going into early menopause aged 37, which disrupted her sleep. But being awake at night also means she can function smoothly across various time zones for her international clients and her 24-year-old son. Ive never been a normal sleeper, but once the menopause started my sleep changed, says Lianne, who is single, lives in Surrey and also has a daughter aged 22. It used to drive me nuts. Id lie awake trying to get back to sleep but all it did was make sleep more elusive. I tried every remedy going from warm baths to melatonin tablets and sleep apps. I even went to a sleep clinic to have my sleep patterns monitored and bloods taken, but they concluded I was perfectly healthy. Anne-Marie (pictured) says her husband Nigel, jokes it's like the fairies have been when he wakes up and sees all the tasks that she's managed to complete I realised there was no point trying to fight what my body wanted to do. For the past four years Ive slept in shifts two at night and a two-hour afternoon siesta. Lianne is fortunate that sleeping this way fits in to her job and family life she has no children who have to be got up for school although she admits she doesnt know what shed do if she started a new relationship with a man who slept through the night. Thats a sleep dilemma that Laura Blacklaws, 35, and her husband of four weeks Hayden, 36, are negotiating. Once an eight hours girl like her partner, Laura found herself moving towards a twice a night pattern during the run up to her wedding. Endless nights Two thirds of UK adults suffer from disrupted sleep and nearly a quarter manage no more than five hours a night I started experiencing weird sleep patterns where some nights Id sleep normally, others Id wake up every couple of hours, and then the following night Id sleep for up to 12 hours and wake feeling dreadful, says Laura, who owns a PR company and lives in Hertfordshire. I put it down to the fact I was busy with work and planning my wedding. I didnt feel stressed but if I woke I couldnt get back to sleep. Rather than fighting against it Ive tried to make it work, and it worked so well that since the wedding Ive kept up my new sleep routine. I go to bed around 11pm and wake between 1.30am-3.30am to do some life admin such as planning a holiday. I dont go back to bed until 6am, when Hayden gets up for work, so that I avoid disturbing him twice. Then I go back to bed and sleep for three hours. Im lucky I run my own business. If I was still in an office in London it would be impossible to manage. Laura admits shes fortunate even a bulldozer tearing through our two-bed terrace wouldnt disturb her husband, which means she can potter downstairs during the early hours, ironing or working while sipping tea. Recently I ordered our costumes for a fancy dress party at 3am, she says. Still, there are side-effects to biphasic sleep that remain tricky to control. Lianne (pictured) claims she sleeps better now her attitude towards sleep is more relaxed Lianne's sleep diary 6pm: Feel sleepy so go to bed for an hour. 7.15pm: Refreshed, I head to the gym. 11pm: I get under the covers after half an hour winding down, listening to gentle music. Fall asleep straight away. 3am: It used to drive me nuts to be wide awake in the early hours. Now, instead of fighting it I go downstairs and call my son in Auckland, a client in Los Angeles, where its afternoon, and cook a batch of chilli. 5.20am: Head back to bed. I never set an alarm my body has settled into a routine. 9am: Get up, speak to some British clients and sort through paperwork. I often have an afternoon nap at 5pm to up my sleep quota. Laura admits she ends up eating more than she used to during the day as she feels hungry much earlier and theres the problem of dark circles under her eyes. I do worry my body isnt getting the rest it needs to repair, she adds. Ill have the odd week when my sleep patterns return to normal, but then its back to biphasic again. Professor Morgan says although not getting enough sleep has been linked to problems, from heart disease and obesity to certain cancers, so long as you rack up enough hours there is nothing unhealthy in biphasic sleep. In terms of sleeping in short bursts, the bodys biological rhythm is incredibly robust and can deal with this, he adds. Anne-Marie and Lianne are converted, but Laura isnt so sure. Given the choice, Id still prefer to sleep through the night although I would have so much more on my to-do list in the day. Trying the two sleeps trick left me a wreck By Hannah Betts A lifelong insomniac, I have deployed everything over the years to try to sleep better. But from acupuncture to antidepressants, hypnosis to giving up booze and caffeine, it was all to no avail. Suffice to say I am ready to try anything to get some rest even going to bed when six-year-olds have to. Perhaps knowing I can get up to stuff in the middle of the night will remove the FOMO (fear of missing out) that keeps me counting sheep, desperate to fit more fun into the day. That said, my insomnia feels more deep-rooted than this something chemical, fundamental to my personality. Still, Im willing to try biphasic sleeping, taking as my model, Nigellas routine which involves getting your first chunk of sleep in before midnight. Hannah Betts went to sleep at 8.20pm and set her alarm for midnight to give her verdict on Nigellas biphasic sleeping routine (file image) Alas, it turns out there is no greater means of missing out than hitting the sack at 8pm; not least as this means eating dinner at 5pm, then embarking upon a pyjama-clad wind-down. I am forced to cancel a party, and barely cross paths with my partner given we have both spent long days at work. I go to bed as he arrives home. Then I get up as he crawls between the sheets near midnight. Its like being shift-workers, he sighs. I wake at 10.10pm, immediately drifting off again. Still, my disgruntlement when my midnight alarm sounds is colossal. I drag myself downstairs, blundering into a table and bruising my thigh. A typical sleep cycle lasts 90 minutes. From experience mine are a tad longer. This means Ive scored two, and am thus in need of another three for a full nights five. Come on, youre a night owl. You wrote all your undergraduate essays in the small hours, I attempt to spur myself. Alas, this is a strategy that worked better in my teens than 30 years on. Hannah began her second sleep shift at 2am, she says a few nights of biphasic sleep left her feeling permanently brain-fogged (file image) Generations of writers have used this period of the night to think great thoughts. My father used to pass out for a few hours then write books from 3am. Alas, I find myself brain dead, fit only for internet shopping and badly-spelt tweets. Time flies in a slightly hallucinogenic fashion, until Im back shivering between the sheets at 2am, the dog so confused by all the to-ing and fro-ing she leaps onto my head once I finally conk out an hour later. I wake depressed with a savage headache, unable to string a sentence together, with a desire only for sugar. And over the next few nights, the situation worsens. I try writing, to find that thoughts that appeared profound at 1.45am are revealed to be nonsense come morning. I watch Netflix shows, but find the exercise strangely joyless. I read, but nothing goes in. By the end of the week, I am poorer, plumper and permanently brain-fogged. It may have worked for my forebears, but Id like my sleep solid rather than segmented. | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6624549/Have-women-cure-insomnia.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490 |
Does The Masked Singer Have a Voting App for Votes? | NBCs The Masked Singer has continued to dazzle fans with its mixture of colorful performances and intrigue as to who the performers are. That said, there has been some confusion about the voting process for the series, and whether or not fans are able to download an app to vote. There is no voting app for The Masked Singer. In fact, there is no at-home voting at all, and the judges do not have a say in who stays and who goes beyond voicing their opinions on the quality of each performance. The only thing that the judges impact is whether or not they can guess the identity of the eliminated celebrity before they remove their mask and reveal themselves. There Is No Voting App or At-Home Voting for The Masked Singer The group who ultimately decided whether each performer moves on to the next week or is forced to take off their mask is the live studio audience. The audience votes for their favorites at the end of each episode, and at the end, the performer with the least votes is eliminated. This has already happened to NFL player Antonio Brown and actor and comedian Tommy Chong. FOX reports that the shows premise is structured as follows: With each performance, the host, panelists, audience, viewers and even the other contestants are left guessing who is singing behind the mask. Ranging from Grammy Award winners to legendary athletes, and everything in between, the singers may attempt to throw the crowd off of their scent, while keen observers might pick up on tiny clues buried throughout the show. One singer will be eliminated each week, ultimately revealing his or her true identity. The Live Studio Audience Get to Decide Whether Contestants Are Eliminated The shows executive producer, Craig Plestis, said that the shows unique format has served as a breath of fresh air for viewers. I dont try to predict 100 percent what America is going to want to watch. I go into my head a little bit of what I like, and what I want to see, he told the Hollywood Reporter. I really gravitate toward non-derivative formats, and something thats fresh and different. I think when you look at the landscape, people want to see something different that they havent seen before. When youre first in that field doing something different, and if youre good, people watch it, Plestis added. I think if they do come, theyll have a great experience, and theyll have a fun time. They get to see some incredible TV, some incredible performances. They can play a guessing game like no other guessing game on TV, and then they can find out if they were right or wrong. For those to wish to participate in the series from their homes, the Masked Singer has a Twitter account where they encourage fans to theorize as to who each performer is and share their guesses with others. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/the-masked-singer-voting-app/ |
How Does Today's Digital Media Environment Influence The Way We Behave? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Douglas Rushkoff, author and host of Team Human, on Quora: First off, for those who dont know exactly what a media environment is, its the social, mental, and economic environment engendered by a particular medium or technology. The smart phone isnt just the device in your pocket, but the entire environment it creates around it - from people walking in the street without looking up, to surveillance, to never getting to be truly alone, and so on. The digital media environment seems to be characterized by two main features: everything is discrete, and everything is in memory. By discrete, I mean 1/0, yes/no. No matter how smooth or anti-aliased things may look, everything is still in one place or another. Here or there. Like a snap-to grid. You cant be in the middle. We can get greater resolution, for sure. But its either here or there. So we get lots of definitions and boundaries. Lets build a wall. By memory, I mean the way that all digital processing happens in memory. RAM. Processors are really just different forms of memory. And, likewise, the digital media environment is a place where everything is remembered, and with perfect fidelity (even if it doesnt come back to us or get disseminated accurately). Every email you wrote is there, somewhere. Someday, as accessible as a text file. Your old friends show up on Facebook - people who would have receded into the distance of the past - now as crisp and clear as if you hadnt left them behind twenty years ago. The digital media environment leads people to think back - really to false memories. Make America Great Again. Or lets restore Britain to its prior glory, by separating from Europe. The European Union is too messy for the digital age. As for people, psychologically, a lot of what happens to us is really just a subset of those two features. We are often disoriented because were trying to be here and there at one time. Or were trying to be on one side of an artificial distinction or another. Or were trying to maintain multiple instances of ourselves at the same time. But for the most part, the digital media environment makes us see differences over similarities - opposition - and long for some remembered past. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/23/how-does-todays-digital-media-environment-influence-the-way-we-behave/ |
How Are Government Workers Affected By The Shutdown? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Adam Roseman, Co-founder and CEO at Steady, on Quora: A custodian from NASA contacted my offices looking for help finding part-time work. After two decades on the job, hes found himself furloughed as part of the longest shutdown in U.S. history. He needs help. There are about 800,000 federal workers like him. Theyre receiving no paychecks, even though more than half have to keep working anyway. Thousands are applying for state unemployment benefits, which may provide partial pay for a limited time. Theyll then have to go through the bureaucratic hassle of paying back those benefits if they get back pay when the government resumes. But the big picture is this: Government workers have had the rug pulled out from under them. Its the latest sign that workers in todays economy are without stability. Even as disruption has led to all kinds of changes in traditional businesses in recent years, federal government work has maintained a reputation of being relatively stable. Workers have turned down higher paying jobs in the private sector in hopes of finding job security in the public sector. Now, many of these workers across the country are having second thoughts - and discovering its not so stable after all. As all these workers find themselves suddenly looking for sources of income, theyre facing the difficult realities of the modern economy - a reality that differs greatly from the rosy pictures often provided by news reports and so-called jobs numbers. Were in the gig economy, and businesses of all kinds have become increasingly reliant on hiring contractors and part-time workers. Theyre counted as employed in official government numbers, even if theyre not making enough money to pay their bills. In fact, 78% of U.S. workers live paycheck-to-paycheck. Nearly all the jobs created between 2005 and 2015 were made up of temporary work, a study by Harvard and Princeton professors. An estimated 94 percent of the net employment growth in the U.S. economy during that period occurred in alternative work arrangements, which include temporary help agency workers, on-call workers, contract workers, and independent contractors or freelancers, the study said. Millions of Americans are working part-time because they can't get full-time work. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that nearly 5 million people were working part-time in December for economic reasons, which include slack work or unfavorable business conditions, inability to find full-time work, or seasonal declines in demand. Now, furloughed government workers are entering the fray as well, looking for side hustles, from bartending to Uber driving. One veteran diplomat described in the Washington Post is doing her day job of analyzing a nation in economic upheaval for the State Department, unpaid, while also pet sitting and doing product reviews so she can make some money. As these federal employees enter the pool of gig workers in larger numbers, theyre creating a larger available workforce for companies that want cheap temporary labor. Its another stage in what weve seen all too much of for years now: economic changes that empower corporations and disempower individuals. Some of these federal employees, like the NASA janitor, began their government jobs decades ago, when things were different. For them, suddenly facing this new economy can come as a shock, whether theyre looking for gig work during the shutdown or seeking a job in the private sector. The longer a shutdown continues, the more likely people are to look for new jobs - particularly since President Trump said hes prepared to to keep the government closed for months or even years. These are steep challenges facing federal workers as they try to keep themselves and their families fed and housed, both now and in the future. Its why a White House economic adviser was wrong when he said some workers were better off in some sense as a result of the shutdown. His argument was that theyd get the holidays off, and then eventually get back pay. But the threats to their livelihoods mean workers told to stay home, and those forced to keep working without pay, are very simply not better off. No one should suggest otherwise. A government office recently faced criticism after suggesting furloughed workers seeking legal advice consult your personal attorney, as though they have the money to hire one. The same office also expressed regret after tweeting a letter from several years ago suggesting furloughed workers offer to do manual labor for their landlords. While this advice may have been well intended, this isnt what workers need from their employers. Its time for the government, and all employers, to empower workers with the security, stability, dignity, and respect they deserve. After all, NASA custodians helped put a man on the moon. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/23/how-are-government-workers-affected-by-the-shutdown/ |
Will The Office Leave Netflix For NBC's New Streaming Service? | In December, it was reported by The New York Times that Netflix paid around $100 million to keep Friends available to stream through 2019, after the entire internet started to freak out at the prospect of the show leaving the site. After 2019, the future is unclear. Warner Bros parent company AT&T is also starting its own streaming service, so that's where Friends could go starting in 2020. AT&T's streaming service will launch at the end of this year, featuring multiple tiers for WarnerMedia movies and TV shows. (Disney will also have its own streaming service, just in case you need yet another one!) NBC's streaming service, which is scheduled to launch in 2020, will be free for cable subscribers, supported by ads, but an ad-free version will also be available for a fee, somewhat similar to Hulu. Which series go to which platforms will be judged on a "case-by-case basis," according to THR, but it already sounds like TV fans might just end up subscribing to every gosh darn platform there is in order to keep all our shows close. | https://www.eonline.com/news/1007762/the-office-is-not-leaving-netflix-yet-but-might-in-a-couple-years |
Were they there simply to pick a fight? | Tuesday morning, various media outlets asked us not to judge too quickly, after inundating us for three days with the Staredown between a Catholic teen in a MAGA hat and Nathan Phillips, 64, a Native American activist. Earlier video revealed a confrontation between the teens and three Black Hebrew Israelites, a historic American religious movement of blacks who believe they are descendants of the Israelites. It was during this hate-filled exchange that Phillips inserted himself, drumming and chanting. There are legitimate questions surrounding the intentions of all three of these antagonists, and the answers will not bring any comfort to either political side. It is critical to understand the motivation to attend this Women's March. Covington Catholic School's specific purpose was to protest abortion rights at one of the largest annual womens' rights rallies. They could have attended the Right to Life rally the day before. They were there to pick fights and that is what they did. MAGA hats and shirts were predominate among that group. They attended as symbols for Trump, not Women's Rights and certainly not for Jesus. Those teenage boys hardly know their own bodies, let alone anything about pregnancy or politics. The expression on their faces is the truth. It depicts a future attitude of hate and bigotry throughout a whole generation. DEANA WEAVER, Carroll Township, York County | https://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2019/01/were-they-there-simply-to-pick-a-fight-pennlive-letters.html |
Should spy cameras be hidden in Coke cans to catch out fly tippers? | Get daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email Fly tippers could be caught by the use of cameras hidden inside Coca Cola cans. That's the opinion of a veteran councillor who says covert surveillance might be the answer to halting the scourge of fly tipping across Kirklees. The council already employs CCTV throughout the borough and has used footage to help secure a prosecution. However it does not use CCTV covertly. The notion of using covert cameras to target fly tippers was raised during a debate on Kirklees Council's use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA), which sets out how and when a local authority can engage in covert surveillance. The act regulates directed surveillance, the use of covert human intelligence and the obtaining of communications data. In Kirklees no RIPA authorisations have been granted during the last 12 months. Clr David Sheard (Lab, Heckmondwike) suggested that RIPA guidelines were too restrictive and that councils such as Kirklees should be free to install hidden cameras at fly tipping hotspots. "It's my belief that we should use all methods that we can to stamp out fly tipping. "At one stage we bought some Coca Cola cans that were totally self-reliant and had CCTV cameras in them that allowed us to film on sites by putting the can down and pointing at things. "So we have got methods that we can use but this policy means that we can't. "This is very restrictive on what it allows us to use it for. We ought to be reviewing that." 0+ VOTES SO FAR Yes No Clr Sheard has previously expressed his frustration at the growing toll of fly tipping in Kirklees, which annually costs the council around 200,000 to clear illegally dumped waste. Latest government figures revealed that there were 4,145 incidents of fly-tipping recorded in the borough in 2017-18. The council took some action - be it conducting an investigation, sending out warning letters at 33 a time, doling out fines or prosecuting someone - on 1,214 occasions. Assuming that one action relates to a single incident of rubbish dumping, the conclusion is that in at least 71 per cent of cases, fly tippers are getting away with it completely. At the same time, the council prosecuted just four people. Similarly, only 31 fixed penalty notices, which dont come with a criminal conviction, were issued, just four of which had been paid at the time the data was released. Overall, the council did manage to collect 150 in fines over the course of the year. The council works with partners such as West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Trading Standards to share its CCTV capability. Information can be provided to the police following a formal request. Trading Standards' requests are usually within the context of test purchase operations typically involving sales of age-restricted goods to minors. | https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/should-spy-cameras-hidden-coke-15723264 |
What's the story behind Reese's downward-gazing mug shot? | Reese Witherspoon mug shot By Kat Giantis Details continue to emerge from Reese Witherspoon's jaw-dropping arrest in Atlanta early Friday morning, when she was busted for disorderly conduct during husband Jim Toth's DUI incident. In addition to a grainy video that shows the Oscar winner looking calm as she's led out of a police vehicle in handcuffs, the moody, indie-movie feel and downcast gaze in her fuzzy mug shot have been explained. "She was wobbly," a police source within the Atlanta Department of Corrections tells People. "She didn't need help walking, but she wasn't at a point where we could get a really clear picture." Reese, who fessed up that she'd "clearly had one drink too many," apparently wasn't feeling her best when her least fun photo shoot ever took place. The insider says several images were snapped, and the one released was the best of the lot. "On another picture, she sort of bent down at the waist and we got the top of her head," relays the spy. "She wasn't being difficult or rude, but her motor skills weren't what they needed to be." You're about to find out who I am." Atlanta criminal defense attorney Peter Odom tells the magazine, "You can't look down in the photograph. The whole point of a mug shot is for identification purposes. To my knowledge, there is no exception to this rule." What's more, continues the lawyer, "When someone is in custody, there isn't a lot of personal space. They will grab your head and move it into the right position to get the right mug shot. But in this case, protocol was definitely not followed." Click on to find out and to see a blurry photo of Reese in handcuffs ... | https://www.wonderwall.com/celebrity/gossip-whats-the-story-behind-reeses-downward-gazing-mug-shot-24614.gallery |
What Will Happen to Bohemian Rhapsody Now? | Bohemian Rhapsody. Photo: Twentieth Century Fox On Wednesday morning, the Atlantic published the article that had been whispered about for months: a year-in-the-making expos of director Bryan Singer, in which multiple men accused the filmmaker of sexual assault and statutory rape. Theres much to discuss about the story the allegations themselves (Singer has issued a categorical denial); why the article wasnt published in Esquire as originally planned; why the long history of similar rumors that swirled around the director did not seem to harm his career. But the timing is also noteworthy, coming a day after Singers Bohemian Rhapsody pulled in five Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. With the season entering phase two this week, suddenly the 2019 Oscars have their own #MeToo moment. As I wrote last week, Singer has been the invisible man of Rhapsodys Oscar campaign. He was fired from the movie in late 2017, while the first wave of #MeToo stories was breaking, and his name frequently made its way onto lists of powerful men whod been dismissed for sexual misconduct. (Singer has been the subject of multiple lawsuits related to the sexual abuse of teenage boys; the suits have all been dropped, settled, or are still pending.) But the official story is that his firing had nothing to do with that: Fox has always maintained that Singer was let go from the film after frequently missing work, and clashing with star Rami Malek. His name was toxic enough that many involved in the movie tried hard to distance themselves from him, but there was enough uncertainty around the situation that those who wished to could claim plausible deniability. In September, Singer found a comeback vehicle, the comic-book adaptation Red Sonja. An insider at Millennium Films, the company behind Sonja, told THR at the time that they werent worried about the rumors, as none of the allegations seem to have merit. Thanks to DGA rules, Singer remains the credited director of Bohemian Rhapsody. As the movie broke box-office records and racked up trophies, its team decided that the best way to keep the music going was to give the impression that Bohemian Rhapsody had been directed by no one, avoiding all mention of him in their acceptance speeches and dodging questions at press availabilities. At the same time, sources inside the production leaked stories about Singers bad on-set behavior to the trades, and were careful to paint the cast and crew as victims of his mistreatment. It was a successful PR strategy. If you didnt know Bohemian Rhapsody was directed by a man accused of sexual assault, great. In the wake of the Atlantic story, that seems likely to change: Everyone involved needs to figure out an answer to the question of how much they knew about Singers history, and quick. Even before the news broke, Malek had been flustered by the L.A. Times, claiming he wasnt aware of the allegations before Singers firing, and adding that the dismissal was something that [fans] can look at from a perspective of understanding why they can appreciate the film. Whether you find his denials credible or not and it seems that many dont Maleks Best Actor hopes may hinge on his ability to find a more convincing way to address the Singer issue. With the Oscars a month away, hell get many chances. So, too, will the remaining members of Queen, who reportedly pushed hard for Singer to be hired in the first place. Meanwhile, Singer has been playing his own game. Likely sensing that his career hangs in the balance, hes refused to go away quietly, taking every opportunity to remind people that he, Bryan Singer, was the man who directed that massive hit that awards voters love. His Instagram account remains a Bohemian Rhapsody scrapbook, where he celebrates the movies wins and often posts videos of his fun memories from the set. He maintains his innocence, saying the lawsuits against him were filed by a disreputable cast of individuals willing to lie for money and attention, and dubbing the Atlantic story a homophobic smear piece conveniently timed to take advantage of [the movies] success. At the moment, how much the Singer news will affect Bohemian Rhapsodys chances is still unclear. Fans largely shrugged at negative stories about the writer and director of Green Book that emerged during nomination voting, writing them off as more ugly Oscar-season skullduggery. But the Atlantic article has a different tenor in its scope and depth, its much more akin to the first Harvey Weinstein or Louis C.K. stories. Outside of a few voices, though, the wave of Hollywood players denouncing Singer has yet to emerge. The industry has spent decades not looking too hard into the rumors surrounding the filmmaker, and it may take some time for them to get into the habit. | https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/bryan-singer-allegations-what-happens-to-bohemian-rhapsody.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nymag%2Fvulture+%28Vulture+-+nymag.com%27s+Entertainment+and+Culture+Blog%29 |
Why Are British Soft Boys Taking Over Netflix? | To all the British Soft Boys Ive streamed before. Photo: Netflix On Netflix right now, you can watch a TV series about an awkward, adolescent British boy who keeps trying to do the right thing, but ends up torturing himself internally when things go wrong. Hes slim, pale, preternaturally intelligent, but fumbles when talking to other people, especially girls. Hes supposed to be high-school-aged, but played by an older actor, though unlike his American cousins on the CW, he doesnt look like a walking ad for protein powder high-intensity interval training. Im talking about Asa Butterfield in Sex Education, by which I mean Fionn Whitehead in Bandersnatch, or really, Alex Lawther in The End of the F***ing World. Like the Lady of the Lake of Arthurian legend, Netflixs ever-mysterious, somewhat algorithmic decision-making process seems to have landed on a new kind of hero to lead its TV shows: the British Soft Boy. Its a character type that has existed before in many other forms, but has risen to prominence at the intersection of many trends, including the rise of the twink, and streamings Americanization of British TV. Hes often coded as queer, but in a way that associates queerness with approachability to both straight women and gay men; hes also usually white, in a way that connects whiteness to imagined British qualities like politeness and delicacy. The British Soft Boy will be sweet. The British Soft Boy will not hurt you. He is made to be streamed; you will enjoy spending several hours with him and his soft British life. When you watch Sex Education, which stars Asa Butterfield as the awkward child of Gillian Andersons sex therapist, the British Soft Boy comes into the clearest (soft) focus. Butterfields character Otis fumbles into giving shagging tips to everyone in his high school, even though he himself has trouble masturbating. He bonds with an outcast cool girl, Maeve (played by Emma Mackey), and develops a crush on her that hes convinced shell never reciprocate because, well, hes a dork and shes a dead ringer for Margot Robbie. Youre meant, of course, to still root for Otis, because even if he is a dork by TV standards, hes charming by the standards of actual reality. It helps that Asa Butterfield has the eyes of someone who looks as if he was replaced as a small child by faeries who use the fancy spelling of the word. Unlike many British shows that are produced by the BBC or ITV then brought to America, Sex Education originates with Netflix. It was loosely inspired by a Channel 4 documentary about these teenagers talking to a sex therapist about their teenage sex lives, according to creator Laurie Nunn, and it feels very much like a show based on the broader concept of British television: a purposeful blend of Skins or Lovesick with 80s-inflected John Hughes Americanisms like prom and letterman jackets. In this context, the British Soft Boy provides a palatable angle into the show, especially for audiences who arent British. Boring. How sweet! Other highlights of Netflixs British Soft Boy programming include The End of the F***ing World, where Alex Lawther plays a possible psychopath who ends up wearing cute Hawaiian shirts, and Black Mirrors interactive Bandersnatch, where you can make Fionn Whitehead (the guy from Dunkirk who was not Harry Styles) kill his father and also throw his tea on his computer. In a darker context, this kind of character acts as a conduit for the audiences sympathy. The British Soft Boy is often in peril, more complicated than he seems, and relies on you, the viewer, to understand him. Often, a key element of the British Soft Boy is the sense of gratification to your intelligence, as a viewer, for understanding him in the first place. Many of the contestants on The Great British Bake Off are British Soft Boys; the more awkwardly they construct pastries, the better. Hugh Skinner has played Soft Boys in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and W1A, and an exaggerated parody of one in Fleabag. Phoebe Waller-Bridge must enjoy poking fun at the type because she also included a Soft Boy in Kenny in Killing Eve and Fred in Crashing. Dev Patel was a British Soft Boy up until he grew out his mane of hair and crossed the line from soft to hot. Daniel Radcliffe taught a generation to crush on Harry Potter, who started soft, got grizzled, and fathered a very soft son, according to Cursed Child. Starring Johnny Flynn, Lovesick is about a British Soft Boy gone to seed. If you are wondering if someone is a British Soft Boy, consider whether they seem like an import from a storybook, a grown-up version of either Artemis Fowl or Edmund, who sold out his family for Turkish delight in the Narnia books. Ben Whishaw was the Ur-Soft Boy, from whose British softness all softness extends, though Whishaw offers a useful guide to anyone considering the trope of British Soft Boyishness, as hes both graduated to projects that are more sexy (A Very English Scandal), or so soft as to achieve a new peak of the form (Paddington 2). Whishaw has the awkwardness, approachability, and inherent sense of goodness. Whishaw is also white, and with many of his characters, and with many a Soft Boy in general, his paleness is associated with his essential fragility. Here, too, whiteness comes into contact with a Peter Pan syndrome: These characters are boys, not men even if they are in their 20s always unfit, in some way, for the adult world. But Whishaw has an interest in queer art and an intellectual energy that pushes the envelope of the type. Whishaw is openly gay, and though many of these types of characters are coded as queer, as many twinklike characters are, thats usually not explicit. The British Soft Boy is meant for everyone, and thus all his hard edges are sanded off; the British Soft Boy does not offend. A show on Netflix doesnt necessarily need to win you over with plot dynamism or aspirational characters, when it may just as well succeed with comfort. This, one imagines, is an incentive to write characters and cast actors that project comfort, warmth, coziness, and other words you might associate with descriptions of both antique furniture and Hobbits. In an environment that prizes those attributes, like streaming TV, the muted charm of the British Soft Boy is on the rise. He may not be enough to get you out of your house and to a theater, but when offered up at the top of your streaming queue as relaxation viewing, the British Soft Boy is far more appealing. Hes the facsimile of the idea of Britishness, too pleasant to be real, but also there for you, fumbling along, probably wearing a nice sweater and offering up some tea. | https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/british-soft-boys-netflix.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nymag%2Fvulture+%28Vulture+-+nymag.com%27s+Entertainment+and+Culture+Blog%29 |
Should the Seahawks pursue free agent DT Haloti Ngata? | The Seattle Seahawks have a handful of things on their offseason wish list, most notably some extra help on the defensive line. Re-signing edge rusher Frank Clark will be a huge priority, but shoring up their interior defensive line should be addressed as well. Seattle got a breakout season from Jarran Reed and an outstanding rookie year from undrafted Poona Ford, but otherwise they were very lackluster up front. They lost Tom Johnson very early in the season, Shamar Stephen was less than stellar and Nazair Jones shifted over to five-tech, giving them very little depth in the middle. Seattle could turn to the draft to find help up front, but with the team ready to compete sooner rather than later it makes more sense to find a veteran tackle who can step in and contribute right away. The free agent market has no shortage of those, and one who could be of interest to Seattle is longtime Ravens, Lions and Eagles tackle Haloti Ngata. Ngata just turned 35, but he still posted a solid season last year, his first in Philadelphia. He earned himself a 71.4 grade from Pro Football Focus, racking up 17 tackles and one forced fumble in 13 games (nine starts). Ngata would be a great compliment to Reed and would provide great veteran leadership for Ford, Rasheem Green and the rest of Seattles young defensive front. A cheap, incentive-laden one-year contract would give Seattle immediate help up front, while clearing the way for Ford and others to take over in 2020. Related Seattle Seahawks connected to Washington State tackle Andre Dillard | https://seahawkswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/23/should-the-seahawks-pursue-free-agent-dt-haloti-ngata/ |
What is the point of books about British general elections? | Ive recently read two books about the 2017 general election, Britain Votes 2017 and None Past the Post. Not only is the title of the latter far better than any Ive ever come up with, both contain chapters far better than any Ive ever done. Theyre not bad books. And yet Im not quite sure what Ive really learnt from either. Or rather, there are some good details, such as points about the performance of the SNP that have helped develop my own thoughts on Liberal Democrat strategy. But overall, the books already feel dated and also feel far too narrow in their scope. The problem and its a good problem is the bountiful nature of up-to-the-moment academic analysis and polling data available online. What both books have to say about the possible surge in youth turnout in 2017 is already left dated by the additional work and data since. What both books have to say on many other issues is only a narrow slice of what a web search engine can quickly take you to. The books were neither quick enough to come out to really capture the first sense of what had happened and why, nor slow enough to come out to be able to have the range and depth required to give longer-lasting insights. Its perhaps no coincidence that one of the most successful of the general election book series the Nuffield series has become increasingly content not to rush out. The slower publication and the longer word counts of the more recent Phil Cowley / Denis Kavanagh combinations for this series point to one solution be slower, be bigger, be better. Its not the only solution be faster, be smaller, be first is another whilst theres also a route surely for bringing in more diverse sources of expertise than the fairly standard a chapter on the winner, a chapter on the official opposition, a chapter on the media, a chapter on Scotland, a chapter on women formula that is so widely and persistently followed. I fear one or more of the other venerable election books series will eventually fall foul of simply continuing as is rather than going for this or a different solution. But hey, if were really lucky, 2019 will give such series not one but two opportunities to get that right. | https://www.markpack.org.uk/157363/what-is-the-point-of-books-about-british-general-elections/ |
What does winning the US-China trade war look like for Donald Trump and Xi Jinping? | This story is part of an ongoing series on US-China relations, jointly produced by the South China Morning Post and POLITICO. The United States and China have just five weeks to come up with a deal that both nations can hail as wins in their closely watched trade war, and theyre each asking the other for major concessions heading into the next round of talks in Washington next week. For Trump to declare victory by the goals he set for himself, he needs China to further open its market to American exports, especially the agricultural goods hit hard in the trade war. He also is pushing to stop China from forcing US companies to hand over valuable technology, but such moves would require drastic changes on the part of Beijing. For his part, Xi mainly needs Trump to eliminate or sharply reduce the tariffs the United States has imposed on US$250 billion worth of Chinese goods. Such moves would help restore badly shaken confidence in the US-China trade relationship at a time when China's economic fundamentals are deteriorating. The United States also wants the agreement to include provisions to ensure that China honours its commitments. Depending on how far China is willing to go, that could be a point of compromise that paves the way for the US to back off on some of its more difficult demands. Some say the most the two sides can achieve in the near term is a mini-deal that would keep current duties in place while negotiations continue. My baseline assumption is that very close to the deadline, we will come up with a deal that certainly will not be comprehensive, durable and long-lasting by any means but at least allows both sides some breathing room by de-escalating hostilities or at least a cessation of future hostilities, Eswar Prasad, former China director at the International Monetary Fund, said last week in a speech in Washington. Face-to-face trade talks between the worlds two largest economies will resume on January 30, when Chinese Vice Premier Liu He is scheduled to go to Washington for two days of meetings with a team of US officials led by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Whether the next set of talks will lead to a real deal is uncertain, in part because of Trumps erratic personality and penchant for making unpredictable commentary via Twitter. Taiwan-based firms feel squeezed between Beijing and Washington Stocks tumbled Tuesday after The Financial Times reported that the United States had rejected Chinas offer of new, in-person, lower-level talks to be held this week because of a lack of progress on some of the main US demands. But China watchers said such cancellations were normal, and face-to-face consultations were not necessary for Lius coming visit. White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow, in an interview with CNBC on Tuesday, denied any meeting was ever scheduled for this week. He added the two countries remain in constant communication ahead of the Liu-Lighthizer meeting next week. Kudlow also emphasised the United States still has big goals for the talks. I acknowledge the degree of difficulty, but it is a crucial point for the United States side, Kudlow said. We have got to deal with these vexing problems of [intellectual property] theft and the forced transfer of technology, the lack of American ownership of its own companies in China, cyber interference with various corporations, along with various tariff and non-tariff barriers. At the same time, both countries are staring down tough economic outlooks. How Trumps trade war playbook could work for North Korea Trump is in the grips of a month-long government shutdown triggered by his demand for border wall funding that has diminished his approval ratings and risks causing long-term damage to the US government and its economy. Xi is overseeing a drastic slowdown in Chinas economic growth, which adds pressure on him to find a quick end to the trade war. In the last quarter of 2018, China reported the slowest growth rate since its government began publishing quarterly figures in 1992. The two sides are trying to reach a deal before March 2, when Trump says he will order his government to increase duties on US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods to 25 per cent, a sharp rise from 10 per cent currently. A simple win could involve commitments from China to purchase specified amounts of US goods by certain target dates. On Chinas side, anything that lifts some or all of the tariffs on its exports to the US would be a victory. Some analysts have speculated that Trump faced with a jittery stock market and concerns that the government shutdown could help nudge the US economy into recession will settle for a light deal consisting mainly of Chinese purchases and vague promises. In response, two influential business groups, the US Chamber of Commerce and the American Chamber of Commerce in China, are urging Trump to stand by his pledge to press for meaningful reforms. Beijing had a plan to dominate tech. Then the US trade war happened While reducing the trade deficit and purchases of US exports may be one aspect of the negotiations, we urge the US government to prioritise outcomes that address structural challenges posed by Chinas economic policies and practices, the groups said in a report released this week. Trump is soon going to focus his attention on his 2020 re-election campaign, and he will be motivated to rapidly shrink the US trade deficit with China to fulfil a core promise he made during his 2016 campaign. That, however, is easier said than done. The US exported only US$130 billion worth of goods to China in 2017. Either the US has to exponentially grow its manufacturing capacity in a few short years, or China has to stop exporting as much to the US. Final figures for 2018 are expected to show the US deficit in goods trade with China set a record of more than US$400 billion. In addition, simple export gains are not likely to go over well after Trumps team laid out long-standing grievances that are rooted in how Beijing runs the nations economy. Among the biggest issues the US has raised is getting China to address allegations that it has aggressively supported investment by state-owned or state-directed companies in the United States to secure access to cutting-edge technology in sectors such as aviation, integrated circuits, information technology, biotechnology, industrial machinery, renewable energy and automobiles. In another big salvo, Trumps trade office has accused Beijing of conducting and supporting cyberattacks on US company computers in order to acquire valuable intellectual property and other sensitive commercial information. I still think the US raising tariffs on March 2nd is the mostly likely outcome Scott Kennedy, Centre for Strategic and International Studies The US stepped up its action against China on this front last year, when the Justice Department announced an initiative to identify priority Chinese trade theft cases, ensure that we have enough resources dedicated to them and make sure that we bring them to an appropriate conclusion quickly and effectively. Last year, after an investigation into Chinas practices, Trump initially imposed a 25 per cent duty on US$50 billion worth of Chinese exports, which the US trade office judged to be appropriate given the level of damage done to the US economy. However, when China retaliated by imposing duties on US$50 billion worth of US exports, Trump upped the ante by imposing a 10 per cent tariff on another US$200 billion worth of Chinese goods. China has retaliated in kind, imposing tariffs on about 85 per cent of all goods it imports from the US. A leaked document from a round of talks last May in Beijing showed the United States has a bigger agenda aimed at cutting the US trade deficit with China in half by 2020. To achieve that, the Trump administration asked China to set targets for Chinese firms to buy hundreds of billions of dollars more of American goods. While the deep-rooted issues could take years, perhaps even decades, for China to properly address, some trade experts theorise that there could be some partial wins to be had in the short time remaining before the March deadline. Apart from Beijings pledges to purchase more American products, a deal could also include commitments to more quickly remove equity caps or joint venture requirements in some sectors in China. The country could also easily strengthen enforcement of intellectual property rights and make a structured agreement to keep talking about more intractable issues such as technology transfer, said Arthur Kroeber, head of research with China-focused Gavekal Dragonomics. USTR Robert Lighthizer and the trade and security hardliners could probably live with a restricted deal so long as it offered enough space for the US to keep using investment restrictions, export controls and sanctions, and provided a window for more tariffs to be imposed if China fails to make what the US defines as progress, Kroeber said. He added that Lighthizer would want to keep the existing tariffs in place and use the threat of additional levies as his bargaining chip. Made in China 2025 is unique but only in its effectiveness But China would not want to accept such a deal unless the US gave up something most likely a reduction of current tariffs. China watchers also said the leadership in Beijing is very much concerned about keeping economic risks under control. China is interested in seeing the removal of tariffs on US$200 billion of Chinese products, and it is trying to get the original tariffs on US$50 billion removed as well, which would be a major win from the Chinese perspective, one source said briefed on the US-side of the negotiations said. Given the extent of the reforms the United States is demanding, a second source closely following the talks from the Chinese side played down the likelihood of a final deal by the deadline. The best outcome for China is to suspend tariffs and have time and room to address other issues, the source said. The problem is not whether we have to change or not, but how and when. Those systemic changes will require a real commitment from the top leadership, the source noted. Lu Xiang, a researcher on China-US relations with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, expected any deal would be centred on addressing trade imbalance. China buys more US soybeans during trade talks China will respond to US concerns, but it cant be like a bottomless pit to satisfy US demands, otherwise it would hurt Chinas economy, said Lu. Earlier this month, the countries held talks in Beijing at the vice ministerial level. That meeting, originally scheduled for two days, stretched into a third, in what some saw as a sign the two sides were making progress toward a final agreement. However, the sources close to the governments cautioned against an overly optimistic reading of the extension. Rather, the third day was added because China was moving slowly through the list of agenda issues and avoided difficult discussions on structural issues, such as market access and intellectual property, the source briefed on the US-side of the negotiations said. [China] has offered very few commitments on structural changes, but continued to focus on buying American goods to reduce the deficit, the source briefed on the negotiations said. The US told China this is not going to end with a positive negotiation outcome. Members of Congress, too, said they were informed that little progress had been made. Senate Finance Chairman Chuck Grassley conveyed to reporters that Lighthizer told him earlier this month no progress had been made on the structural overhaul the US is seeking. China will respond to US concerns, but it cant be like a bottomless pit to satisfy US demands, otherwise it would hurt Chinas economy Lu Xiang, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences In addition, the United States is expected to insist that any agreement contain robust monitoring and enforcement that could reinstate any tariffs that are lifted as part of the deal. While China might be willing to agree to an enforcement mechanism as part of the deal, they probably dont want the United States to be judge and jury of whether they have faithfully implemented the pact, said Scott Kennedy, a China expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. A more attractive alternative for Beijing would be for the agreement to be enforced through the World Trade Organisation. But the United States might not be willing to accept that because the WTO dispute settlement process is notoriously slow. Still, neither side has an incentive to wrap up the talks until shortly before the March deadline. For the United States, there is benefit in holding on to the threat of increased tariffs as long as possible to maximise leverage. For China, there is an advantage in waiting to see if Trumps price for reaching a deal goes down because of concern about his political future, Kennedy said. I think its nowhere near decided that the US is going to settle for less. I still think the US raising tariffs on March 2nd is the mostly likely outcome, Kennedy said. | https://www.scmp.com/news/china/money-wealth/article/2183400/what-does-winning-us-china-trade-war-look-donald-trump-and |
Why is John Morgan pushing for increase in Florida's minimum wage? | JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - After well-known Florida attorney John Morgan announced a ballot drive aimed at gradually raising Floridas minimum wage to $15 an hour, questions have been swirling about whether he would benefit from the proposal. Consider a worker currently making $10 an hour is in a car crash and sues for lost wages. A client suing for years or a lifetime of lost wages could make a lot more cash in a settlement. RELATED: John Morgan: Florida should raise minimum wage to $15 an hour In all types of lawsuits -- medical malpractice, car crashes and workplace injuries -- people sue for lost wages. Many times those people make minimum wage or close to it. So if they get a bump to $15 an hour, they can sue for a lot more. Attorney Rod Sullivan said, as a result, trial lawyers would make more money from each minimum wage earning client. "The first $1 million, the fee is generally 40 percent of that recovery," Sullivan explained. "So theyre going to make about 40 percent of that increase." Sullivan said a hypothetical 19-year-old making minimum wage, which is currently $8.46 an hour, would get more money if he made $15 an hour. Sullivan estimates he could get as much as $480,000 more in a settlement with the higher wage, and an attorney billing 40 percent gets $192,000 of that. Not all cases would pay that much, but there is money to be made. "I ran a calculation. There are programs available where you can calculate the value of future lost wages," Sullivan said. "So I made a few assumptions. First of all, the injured worker is 19. Second, they stay at minimum wage, plus inflation, for the rest of their life and that they work until the age of 70." Morgan, who said Tuesday he is moving ahead with a ballot drive aimed at gradually raising Floridas minimum wage to $15 an hour, calls himself a compassionate capitalist. He said the minimum wage proposal will actually cost his firm, Morgan & Morgan, money because it would be giving employees who now make less than $15 an hour a raise. "I am in the business of making money and I want to make a lot of money. Im not ashamed of that. I believe Im going to make more money by treating my people fairer, paying them more, treating them with respect, giving them more respect. And I believe my profits will skyrocket," Morgan said. "All the charities that we give money to as a family, I believe if this passes, that the good that my family and my firm can do will be the greatest of my whole life." News4Jax asked Morgan's office whether the proposal is a precursor to him running for a political office in coming years, but has not yet heard back. Copyright WJXT and News Service of Florida. All rights reserved. | https://www.news4jax.com/news/why-is-john-morgan-pushing-for-increase-in-floridas-minimum-wage |
Could More Congressional Support for The Wall lead to another Trump Disconnect? | Were now in day 33 of the partial federal government shutdown, and it appears the Senate is finally scheduled to bring two spending measures to the floor, which could end this long nightmare. The only problem is the Republican-backed bill is destined to hit a wall of its own. The bill, which again asks for $5.7 billion for Presidents Trumps border wall, somehow misses its most important function paying 800,000 federal workers left unpaid in what is the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The bill is also said to be another attempt to gut American asylum laws, especially for children from South America. With no support from Democrats, the bill is expected to be D.O.A. A Democratic-backed Senate bill, which will call for reopening of the government until Feb. 8, will pay federal workers but includes no funding for the wall and is not expected to fair any better. The Senate bills, the first to be brought to a vote by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), follow nine Democrat-sponsored bills in the House of Representatives that met their end when the McConnell-led Senate refused to consider them. Meanwhile, far from the spotlight of the very public battle between President Man-Baby and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), almost secret efforts to build the wall also fell short. House Republicans, all members of the House Freedom Fund (HFF), unfurled a sneaky little campaign in early January that is emblematic of the type of legislative hypocrisy that closed the government in the first place. Silently, the day after we welcomed in 2019, Republican members of the House of Representatives launched a campaign to support Trumps wall. Members of HFF, a Tea Party-sympathetic group, launched a trio of what appeared to be failed campaigns to bring support to Trumps border wall just as Republicans were losing their majority and newly elected Democrats were being sworn in to the 160th Congress. Led by Trump sycophants Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Oh); Mark Meadows (R- NC); Scott Perry (R-Pa) and Louie Gohmert (R-Tx), the HFF set out to build a public groundswell for the wall. On Jan. 2, the HFF launched its Border Wall Now campaign on its website, BorderWallNow.com, to spur support. The group aimed to collect 750,000 signatures along with the petitions and money. At press time, the number of signatures was around 560,000. Two days later, HFF ramped up its fiery words with a television ad taking aim at Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and their partisan games. The group also rolled out a toll-free number (800-350-6647) to poll how many people supported building the wall. Callers were urged to press #1 in support of the wall and later in the poll were told to press #2 if they did not support the wall. Everything seemed to go downhill from there. By Jan. 16, the 800-number crashed and was left without a greeting. It was back up and running the next morning, but by early evening the lusty greeting was replaced by a busy signal. That busy signal continued through the weekend only to be finally laid to rest on Jan. 22 when calls to the number were met with a recorded message of disconnection: The number you have reached is not in service. A visit to the HFF website offered no clues about the fate of the number or what data was collected between its Jan. 4 debut and its estimated time of death less than three weeks later. Lost on no one is the fact that the HFF had two glorious years to pass funding for Trumps wall but chose not to put forward any legislation. Only in late December after Democrats had taken control of the House did the president gladly shut down the government until funding was provided for his wall. Since Dec. 22, more than three-quarters of a million federal workers have gone without pay and not even a peep has been heard from Rep. Jordan and his cohorts. Equally as silent had been members of Congress, who today will have an opportunity to finally publicly speak and pay government workers. If both Senate bills fail as expected any effort to end this historic shutdown may cease, falling as silent as the HFF campaign hotline and as disconnected as the president. | https://exjournalistsunite.wordpress.com/2019/01/23/could-more-congressional-support-for-the-wall-lead-to-another-trump-disconnect/ |
Will Derek Jeter be unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame? | Mariano Rivera became the first player ever to be unanimously elected for the Baseball Hall of Fame. Many feel this precedent is good for Rivera's former teammate and 2020 Hall candidate, Derek Jeter. He was the best player on one of the most dominant teams of his era and if anyone were to be unanimously selected, it would be him. Others feel he was great, but not great enough to garner that kind of honor. PERSPECTIVES Jeter was supposed to be the first player to be unanimously voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame after Ken Griffey Jr. failed, but Rivera became the first inductee with that distinction. That's okay; he can get it in 2020 anyway. The Yankees legend defined the most storied franchise for an entire generation. He has five World Series Championships, 14 All-Star selections in 20 seasons, one World Series MVP and a career .310 batting average. The Captain deserves the honor of being the second unanimous Baseball Hall of Fame selection. Derek Jeter next to make the HALL OF FAME #Unanimous .... heard it here first!!! #Yankees #NYY @Yankees -- JOHNNY RED (@JRED164) January 22, 2019 Many thought a unanimous Hall of Fame selection was impossible, especially after Griffey was unable to pull it off. But Rivera proved to be the exception and for good reason. The Panamanian native is the greatest closer of all time. With a single pitch -- the cut fastball -- he finished with 652 career saves, an MLB record. He also holds the record for most games finished and ERA+. Those are extraordinary accomplishments Jeter just doesn't have relative to his position. Jeter isn't considered the greatest at his position and while he was a great player, he doesn't have mind-boggling numbers like his former teammate. He is worthy of a first-ballot selection for sure, but not a unanimous one. For those who think Jeter is gonna be unanimous, just stop. He's not. Use your brain. #Mo is the greatest closer of all time. Jeter is NOT the greatest SS of all time. #Yankees #HallOfFame #MarianoHallOfFame #MLBHOF -- Russell in New Haven (@Rdematts99) January 23, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/will_derek_jeter_be_unanimousl.html |
Is the publication of the bombings related to the elections? | Talia Dekel and Dor Kaidar host Tal Shalev, Neri Zilber and Lior Weintraub for a conversation on the latest developments in Israel. Also in this episode, our panelists bid farewell to the outgoing IDF Chief of Staff and evaluate the challenges facing his replacement. We also get scoops from Netanyahus trip to Chad, like the movie the Prime Minister saw on the plane (King Bibi) and what he thought of it (he fell asleep). We also discuss what Israel has to gain from renewing diplomatic ties with the Central African country. We discuss the possible ramifications of the Palestinians no longer accepting US aid money which mainly goes to security coordination with Israel starting next month. And dont think we forgot about the Israeli elections. As Benny Gantz begins his formal campaign, we discuss his new Benny-Bing series and question whether the public will buy into the hype surrounding him. | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/258062 |
Could Qualcomm Stock Really Get Cut in Half? | Mobile-chip giant Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) has had a rough couple of years, in no small part due to legal challenges all around the world. That includes a contentious suit filed by Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) two years ago, as well as legal complaints filed by regulators including the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, an antitrust trial that is currently playing out right now in California federal court. Shares have lagged the broader market by a significant margin over the past two years, but one activist investor thinks there's a lot more downside in store. QCOM Chart More QCOM data by YCharts. Making a short thesis Kerrisdale Capital, which is short Qualcomm shares, today released a research report arguing that Qualcomm is "teetering on the brink of disaster" and that its unique business model, which includes licensing its technology while simultaneously selling chips, is "living on borrowed time." Kerrisdale points to numerous authorities globally that have accused Qualcomm of monopolistic and anticompetitive behavior, including China, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Qualcomm sign at headquarters More Image source: Qualcomm. The FTC trial is unearthing some damning evidence as well, including an internal 2015 document that acknowledged that licensing its technology on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms to rivals like Intel could crush its business model. For example, here's an excerpt from the FTC's trial brief (via FOSS Patents): Qualcomm's internal documents recognize the impact that offering competitors FRAND licenses would have on Qualcomm's ability to secure elevated royalties from OEMs. In 2005, Qualcomm's Marvin Blecker explained that making a license available to a chip competitor would impair Qualcomm's ability to collect high royalties from OEM customers: 'we absolutely cannot give a chip supplier a full license to our IP with pass through rights to his customers as that would have the potential of severely impacting our subscriber licensing program.' [...] Qualcomm's views were unchanged in 2015, when it concluded that granting a FRAND license to Intel 'would destroy the whole current QTL [licensing] business. Apple has tried to license Qualcomm tech under FRAND terms to no avail. Companies that hold standards-essential patents (SEPs) are required to license that intellectual property on FRAND terms. "And they don't do that," Apple CEO Tim Cook recently said. | https://news.yahoo.com/could-qualcomm-stock-really-cut-224700250.html |
Do the Patriots fit in with the other sports dynasties? | New York Yankees manager Casey Stengel, center, and his team celebrate in the locker room at Yankee Stadium on October 2, 1949, after winning the American League pennant. From 1949 to 1958, the Yanks won nine American League pennants and seven World Series. (AP) Now that the New England Patriots are in another Super Bowl, you may hear people using a certain word to describe the team: dynasty. In sports, a dynasty is when a team wins championships so often that it becomes almost a regular thing. Lets take a look at some definite sports dynasties through the years. Pro basketball: Folks can talk about Michael Jordan and his six championships with the Chicago Bulls, but the greatest dynasty in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) is the Boston Celtics. Led by center Bill Russell and a host of Hall of Famers, the Celtics won 11 NBA championships over 13 seasons from 1957 to 1969. College basketball: From 1964 to 1975, the University of California at Los Angeles mens basketball team under legendary Coach John Wooden won 10 college championships. Wooden won with all sorts of teams. His first championship team was short and quick. It did not have a starter taller than 6 foot 5 inches. Later, he won with great big men such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (known then as Lew Alcindor) and Bill Walton. In womens hoops, the University of Connecticut, with such stars as Diana Taurasi, Maya Moore and Breanna Stewart, has won 11 NCAA championships. The Huskies have been to the Final Four in the past 11 consecutive years, winning six titles. And they are still at it. New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady celebrates after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game on Sunday. The team has won five Super Bowls and appeared in nine since 2000. (Jeff Roberson/AP) Baseball: As a Boston Red Sox fan, I hate to admit that the greatest dynasty in Major League Baseball is the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have won 27 World Series championships (the St. Louis Cardinals are next with 11). During an amazing streak of 10 seasons from 1949 to 1958, the Yanks won nine American League pennants and seven World Series. Thats enough to make any Red Sox fan cry. Hockey: The Montreal Canadiens were the Yankees of the National Hockey League (NHL). From 1956 to 1960, the Canadiens won five straight Stanley Cups. Five in a row! Think how happy Caps fans were with just one championship. Of course, it was easier for teams to dominate in the old days of sports. For example, the NHL had only six teams until the 1967-68 season when the league expanded to 12 teams. The NHL now has 31 teams. When the Celtics were ruling the NBA in the 1950s and 60s, the league had eight to 14 teams instead of the 30 it has today. Since quarterback Tom Brady and Coach Bill Belichick joined forces in 2000, they have made it to nine Super Bowls, winning five of them. They have a chance for a sixth championship in Super Bowl LIII (thats Roman numerals for 53) on February 3. Sounds like a dynasty to me. At the first NFL playoffs, the teams took the field in a hockey rink | https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/do-the-patriots-fit-in-with-the-other-sports-dynasties/2019/01/23/6055f0f0-180b-11e9-88fe-f9f77a3bcb6c_story.html |
Are chemical tankers ready to meet forthcoming IMO fuel regulations? | Space is often limited on a small chemical tanker, so fitting a scrubber is not always an option. And even where space is available, the high capex of $1.5-2.0 million per ship for retrofitting is proving to be a further obstacle. Current statistics reveal that only 21 chemical tankers in the current fleet have scrubbers installed, while an additional 76 vessels are pending installation as of 1 January 2019. In effect, at the start of 2019, almost 98% of the existing chemical fleet is facing the prospect of having to use high-cost cleaner fuels when the regulation comes into force in 2020. Table 1: Segment-wise status of scrubber retrofits in chemical tanker fleet Some 18 coated chemical tankers have been converted to use LNG on a dual-fuel basis and there are eight methanol-fuelled vessels (along with four on order) trading chemicals. However, for a large part of the remaining chemical fleet, it looks like more expensive fuel will be the order of the day. Table 2: Segment-wise breakup of chemical tankers converted to LNG dual-fuel engines There is no doubt that between now and the deadline, some further retrofitting of scrubbers will take place. Yet, at best, it can only be small scale, and we think most chemical tankers will be forced to burn cleaner, but higher cost fuels when the IMO regulation comes into force in 2020. This raises the question of whether owners will be able to pass on higher costs to charterers. Given the current dynamics of the sector as a whole, this must be in doubt, and we think profitability in chemical shipping will continue to be squeezed in 2020. Source: Drewry Shipping Consultants | https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/are-chemical-tankers-ready-to-meet-forthcoming-imo-fuel-regulations/ |
Should Satellite Companies Be in Charge of Selling Their 5G Spectrum? | The satellite industry is sitting on a treasure trove of prime, mid-band spectrum that could be used for 5G services. It's a debate that's creating some interesting bedfellows: T-Mobile US Inc. , Charter Communications Inc. , Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) and others on one side, versus AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), Intelsat Ltd. , SES S.A. (Paris: SESG), Eutelsat Communications S.A. and others on the other. And it's a topic that's so heated that the companies involved in the debate are making a range of filings with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the topic -- despite the fact that most FCC staff aren't even reading those filings due to the ongoing government shutdown. (See CBRS Players Begin to Fret Over Government Shutdown.) Nonetheless, it's a debate with potentially billions of dollars hanging in the balance. According to the most optimistic tally, what's at stake is fully 500MHz of spectrum in the 3.7GHz-4.2GHz band -- spectrum that most agree strikes the perfect balance between capacity and coverage for 5G. After all, the FCC's most recent major mid-band spectrum auction -- the AWS-3 auction of 65MHz of spectrum ranging from 1695MHz to 2180MHz -- raised a whopping $44 billion in total bids almost exactly four years ago. C-Band excitement The debate over the 3.7-4.2GHz band -- widely referred to as the C-Band -- kicked off in earnest last year, when the FCC opened a proceeding to see whether the satellite industry could relinquish some of its spectrum in that band for 5G. The action came as no surprise: The FCC has been pushed by the Trump administration to find any unused or underused spectrum it can because "it is imperative that America be first in fifth-generation (5G) wireless technologies." The move also has plenty of precedence: The FCC's 600MHz auction and 700MHz auctions both essentially took spectrum from the broadcast TV industry and auctioned it to the wireless industry. Now here's where things get interesting in the C-Band: Instead of simply sitting back and waiting for the government to swoop in and auction off its unneeded spectrum holdings, the satellite industry decided to see what it could get out of the deal. In October of last year, four of the sector's biggest C-Band spectrum owners -- Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat -- formed the C-Band Alliance (CBA) to "accelerate making mid-band spectrum available for 5G services." To be the "facilitator" of the sale of around 180MHz of C-Band spectrum under a "market-based mechanism." Their argument is relatively simple: We're currently using the spectrum, mainly for the backhaul of video services, which means that we would be the best ones to figure out how to get off of it and sell it to someone else. Oh, and we'll keep the proceeds and, in part, use them to purchase the new satellites we'll need to move off that 180MHz worth of spectrum. Verizon mostly agrees with the CBA. "There is no time to waste," the operator said, arguing that the CBA's proposal would free up the spectrum for sale quickly. "The C-Band Alliance has expressly committed to protect the quality and reliability of incumbent FSS operations and tentatively committed to a transition timeline. It should be amenable to a reasonable, Commission-adopted framework aimed at ensuring that the market-based mechanism will be executed in a manner consistent with Commission's policy directives," Verizon explained. AT&T also said the CBA should be the one to dole out C-Band spectrum, as long as it does so in part "according to well-established auction rules approved by the FCC." T-Mobile counters But T-Mobile is having none of it. "The purported benefits of the C-Band Alliance proposal are illusory," the operator stated in a meeting with FCC official in December, shortly before the government shut down. Instead, T-Mobile argued that the FCC should to take over the allocation of C-Band spectrum itself -- and that the agency should free up a total of 500MHz of spectrum in the band, more than double what the CBA has proposed. Specifically, T-Mobile is urging the FCC to conduct an "incentive auction," similar to the recent 600MHz auction, wherein wireless providers would bid on C-Band licenses during a forward auction and then satellite operators would accept or reject those bids in a reverse auction. T-Mobile's affinity for incentive auctions comes as little surprise -- the operator plunked down $8 billion in bids in 2017 during the FCC's 600MHz incentive auction of TV broadcasters' unwanted spectrum. (See T-Mobile, Dish & Comcast Big Winners in $19.8B 600MHz Auction.) T-Mobile also blasted the CBA's proposal to sell off the licenses, arguing that the process would be closed and that it also goes against Congressional legislation putting the FCC in charge of spectrum auctions. Others are siding with T-Mobile. "A privately-managed transition of this magnitude, run by self-interested stakeholders, would leave lingering questions about the fairness of the process," Charter pointed out. Google also expressed concern about a privately run auction. The CBA, it seems, is ready for the fight. Headed by Preston Padden -- a longtime media executive who worked on behalf of TV broadcasters during the FCC's 600MHz incentive auction -- the satellite industry's C-Band Alliance has been going all out to squash T-Mobile's C-Band argument. Specifically, the CBA in December sent a letter to more than 300 "potential participants in the U.S. 5G ecosystem," including small, regional and rural wireless carriers and local exchange carriers, detailing the CBA's plans for the auction and urging them to contact the Alliance "if you are interested in learning more about and/or participating in these market-based processes." More recently, the Alliance called in an auction expert -- Paul Milgrom of auction-theory firm Auctionomics -- to outline what he argued were a number of flaws in T-Mobile's proposal. Milgrom also hinted at what is likely at the heart of the CBA's opposition: money. "If T-Mobiles further proposal to encourage the satellite companies to give up the full 500 MHz in exchange for 80% of the auction revenues succeeds, that would eliminate the C-Band satellite businesses entirely," he wrote. And so the argument goes, back and forth, with each side trying to score points through economic arguments, support from other players, and whatever other leverage is available. However, at least for the foreseeable future, these efforts are falling on mostly deaf ears as the government shutdown effectively halts 5G spectrum planning at the FCC. Mike Dano, Editorial Director, 5G & Mobile Strategies, Light Reading | @mikeddano | https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/spectrum/should-satellite-companies-be-in-charge-of-selling-their-5g-spectrum/d/d-id/749012?_mc=RSS_LR_EDT |
When will my Nokia smartphone get Android 9.0 Pie update? | HMD Global the official licensee of Nokia brand of phones has rolled out Android Pie updates for a total of seven Nokia smartphones until now. This includes the Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6.1 Plus, Nokia 6.1, Nokia 5.1 Plus, Nokia 7.1, Nokia 8, and Nokia 8 Sirocco. Those who own other Nokia smartphones must be wondering if and when their smartphone will receive the Android Pie update. Well, HMD has shared the Android Pie update roadmap that reveals when and which Nokia smartphones will receive their Android Pie updates. Juho Sarvikas Chief Product Officer at HMD Global took to Twitter to share the Android Pie update roadmap for Nokia smartphones. Sarvikas confirmed that a total of eight Nokia smartphones will receive Android Pie updates, and, all these smartphones will receive their Android Pie update by early Q2 2019 which means April 2019. This is when Nokia smartphones will get Android 9.0 Pie update: Nokia 5 January 2019 Nokia 3.1 Plus January 2019 Nokia 2.1 Q1 2019 Nokia 3.1 Q1 2019 Nokia 5.1 Q1 2019 Nokia 6 Q1 2019 Nokia 1 Early Q2 2019 Nokia 3 Early Q2 2019 Sarvikas said that they intend to roll-out Android Pie updates for Nokia 5 and Nokia 3.1 Plus this week, with Nokia 6 receiving it shortly after as soon as they complete Dolby implementation. That said, the roadmap shared by HMD has the Nokia 2 missing, and its currently unclear whether this smartphone will get a pie of Android Pie or not. Furthermore, the time frame for the roll-out of Android Pie shared by HMD is also pretty vague as it doesnt reveal exactly when Nokia 2.1, Nokia 3.1, Nokia 5.1, Nokia 1, and Nokia 3 will get their Android Pie updates. However, it should still be reassuring to the owners of these smartphones as they finally know they will get to taste Android Pie on their smartphones. Having said that, Sarvikas also shared an infographic that explains the process of rolling out Android Pie updates for Nokia smartphones. You can click here to check it out. | https://www.mobigyaan.com/nokia-android-9-pie-update-roadmap |
Did drones really interfere with flights at Newark airport? | The FAA had initially said the drones were spotted near Teterboro Airport, about 17 miles north of Newark Liberty International Airport. A day later, agency officials said the drones were operating about nine miles from the Newark airport in airspace used by incoming flights. One day after reports of drone activity near Newark Liberty International Airport temporarily halted flights, there are questions about whether the unmanned objects spotted in the New Jersey sky were indeed drones. Officials with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that at 4:44 p.m. on Tuesday, they received two reports of possible drones operating near the Newark airport. One came from a Southwest pilot and the other from a United pilot who saw what each believed was a drone in the air as they prepared to land at Newark. However, an FAA spokesman said Wednesday, the agency has been unable to independently confirm the sightings. We continue to work with local law enforcement to find additional evidence, the spokesman said. The agency had initially said the drones were spotted near Teterboro Airport, a smaller facility about 17 miles north of Newark. On Wednesday, they said the drones were operating about nine miles from the Newark airport in airspace used by incoming flights. Industry experts, however, are pushing back against the reports. The objects could have been balloons, plastic bags or space junk, they said. Brendan Schulman, spokesman for DJI, the worlds largest drone-maker, said the pilots likely saw something in the air and that its unlikely it was a drone. One reason, Schulman said: The drones were reportedly flying at 3,500 feet. Under FAA rules, drones are not permitted to fly higher than 400 feet. And while its possible for them to fly higher with FAA permission, Schulman said its highly unlikely. He said previous reports of drones flying near Gatwick and Heathrow airports in London have made people more predisposed to assuming when they see something in the air, its a drone. Theres certainly cases of knuckleheads flying drones where they shouldnt be, but we have strong reservations on (the Newark) report, he said. There has been case after case after case of someone who saw a drone in the air that turned out to be a bat or a balloon or a plastic bag. Federal officials are wrestling with how to regulate drones as their numbers continue to grow. Government officials estimate that more than 1 million are already in use. | https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/did-drones-really-interfere-with-flights-at-newark-airport/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_nation-world |
Will Mitch McConnell host Trump's State of the Union in the Senate? | CLOSE President Donald Trump says he will do an "alternative" event since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has blocked him from giving his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress. (Jan. 23) AP Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell could provide President Donald Trump with a much-needed political assist by hosting the State of the Union address, which is the latest casualty of the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi officially postponed the nationally televised speech, which would have been held in the Democrat-controlled House chamber, in a letter to the president. McConnell was being urged to host the address in the smaller Senate chamber by other Republicans days before Pelosi's unprecedented decision. Fellow Kentuckian Sen. Rand Paul was one of the first people to make that suggestion. "Senator McConnell is in charge of the Senate," Paul tweeted last week. "If Mrs. Pelosi refuses to allow the president to deliver the State of the Union in the House, I propose we move it to the Senate and make it happen!" McConnell's office did not immediately respond to the Courier Journal's request for comment Wednesday. A spokesman described the Senate hosting the speech last week as "hypothetical." Read this: McConnell will allow Senate vote on two competing plans to end shutdown Senator McConnell is in charge of the Senate. If Mrs. Pelosi refuses to allow the president to deliver the State of the Union in the House, I propose we move it to the Senate and make it happen! Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 17, 2019 There is no constitutional requirement that the president give an in-person State of the Union address to Congress. For most of the 19th century, until Woodrow Wilson broke the tradition, most presidents sent their annual updates to lawmakers in writing. But in the modern era of television, presidents have used formal addresses in the House chamber to make bold declarations about their agenda before a national audience. The first problem for McConnell would be the logistics given his chamber is much smaller than the House. It is also unclear if the Senate's resolution to host the speech would require a simple majority or a filibuster-proof 60-vote threshold. Buy Photo President Donald Trump shared the stage with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell during a 2018 rally on the Eastern Kentucky University campus. McConnell keeping his head down during historic shutdown While planning to speak in the House chamber the administration has requested a formal walk-through before the ceremony Trump and his aides have been exploring alternative venues, including cities outside the capital. Republican officials in Michigan and North Carolina, for instance, have invited Trump to give his speech in their states. The White House itself was another option. "We always like to have a Plan B, but the president should be able to address the American people," White House press secret Sarah Sanders said. "Whether he does that from the halls of Congress or whether he does that in another location." More than two-dozen congressional Republicans wrote McConnell a letter last week asking him to consider moving the speech across the Capitol. U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky, endorsed the idea and suggested there could be enough seats if the lawmakers sit in the gallery. He used a picture of former Russian President Boris Yeltsin's 1992 speech before Congress to criticize his colleagues. "Democrats once invited the President of Russia to address Congress but now wont invite the President of the United States to the same podium," Massie said. "SAD!" Democrats once invited the President of Russia to address Congress but now wont invite the President of the United States to the same podium. SAD! pic.twitter.com/2jEFICA2eJ Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) January 19, 2019 More: Rep. Massie explains why he voted against back pay for federal workers U.S. Rep. John Yarmuth, D-Kentucky, said Wednesday he agrees with Pelosi's decision, and that the address shouldn't happen amid the shutdown, "no matter who is president." USA Today contributed to this story. Reporter Phillip M. Bailey can be reached at 502-582-4475 or [email protected]. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/philb. Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/23/mitch-mcconnell-urged-host-trump-state-union-address-2019-after-pelosi-postpones/2659656002/ | https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/23/mitch-mcconnell-urged-host-trump-state-union-address-2019-after-pelosi-postpones/2659656002/ |
Can Starbucks Stock Keep the Growth Spigot On? | Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) will be reporting its 2019 fiscal first quarter ending Dec. 31, 2018 after the markets close Thursday. This report is highly anticipated as it will answer the basic question of whether SBUX stock is a growth business or if its turning into a cash cow. The difference will weigh on the stocks valuation in terms of the market willing to bid up Starbucks price-book (P/B) and price-sale (P/S) ratios. Right now, considering the light nature of the companys assets, Starbucks P/B ratio is a whopping 74.3x. And on a P/S basis, SBUX is trading around a more reasonable 3.33x multiple. With a stingy 2.17% dividend yield despite raising its distribution by an average of 24.29% over the past five years and a payout ratio of roughly 39%, Starbucks stock holders must see more growth or more income to justify owning it. So far for this year, along with a generally recovering broad market, SBUX shares are up 1.7%, which lags the S&P 500 Indexs gain of 4.9%. Even more telling is how SBUX trails the S&P Consumer Discretionary Indexs gain of 7%. But that recent underperformance distracts from the trailing years outperformance of the stock. In 2018, Starbucks stock returned 11.75% versus the broader markets 7.39% decline. Meanwhile, the Discretionary Index finished the year basically flat. For SBUX to outperform in 2019, it needs to show investors that its on the right track. Pay Attention to China The fiscal first quarter is very important for Starbucks, as this quarter is dependent on holiday spending. Same-store sales are expected to come in with a gain of 2.80%, which is above where they were last year for the same quarter, at 2.00%. In the crucial U.S. market, that sales gain should be a positive 3.20%. But the key growth market to pay attention to is China, where same-store sales gains are expected to soften closer to 1%. This is arguably due to the rapid rollout of new stores, which for fiscal 2018 led to 585 new stores in 17 new cities around China. The additional stores are being said to cannibalize some neighboring stores much like what has happened in some markets in the U.S., where for a while, it seemed that there were almost too many stores in some local neighborhoods. The other bits to watch for will be cost controls as part of the streamlining efforts of the new-ish management, which is claiming to reduce general and administrative costs (G&A) and expenses. Right now, by my reading and calculating, operating income should see a modest pick-up just a bit more than for the same quarter last year. Margins, however, are getting a bit of a squeeze on the ramp-up in wages and related employee costs. In addition, the company has been deploying capital to ramp up delivery services throughout its networks of stores in the U.S., select European cities and via Alibaba (NYSE: BABA ) in China. There are some other items that Ill be looking at to see how they play out for the report including the coffee-product coop with Nestle (OTCMKTS: NSRGY ) for its packaged goods. Ill also be closely observing its digital data and payments programs for its regular customer base. In addition, were now getting more of look at the change in accounting rules under the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the change in revenue recognition under rule ASC606 for unredeemed gift card balances also known as breakage revenue. The rule allows some speed-up in revenue recognition which could be used to puff-up the quarterly numbers. Bottom Line on SBUX Stock A lot is expected of this company particularly for this quarter. A warm-ish set of numbers wont cut it. And if there are any signs of challenges, I could see a pullback in SBUX stock. Considering the softer Chinese economy, blaming slowing consumer growth isnt an acceptable excuse. I like the company, many of its products (excluding its food items) and the stock but I would prefer a better focus on costs and a larger dividend payout. So, Ill be looking at the report for a better handle on the direction of management for the company and how the stock should be valued. For now, Im still maintaining my recommendation to buy Starbucks below $69. Neil George is the editor of Profitable Investing and does not have any holdings in the securities mentioned above. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/can-starbucks-stock-keep-the-growth-spigot-on/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
Could eBay Stock Actually Double? | On a day when the broader indices sunk on global growth concerns, shares of e-retail marketplace eBay (NASDAQ: EBAY ) bucked the trend and bounced higher thanks to an open letter to management from activist investor Elliott Management. In the letter, Elliott Management disclosed a $1.4 billion stake in eBay, and suggested certain strategic initiatives that they believe could cause eBay stock to double within the next two years. EBay stock rose sharply on the news. Yes. Theres a pathway for eBay stock to double by the end of fiscal 2020 through core product innovation, differentiated advertising, re-prioritized spend, and share repurchases. That isnt my base case. But, it certainly is possible. Moreover, my base case still points to healthy upside in a two-year window and suggests shares are undervalued here. Overall, eBay stock looks good here. There is an outside chance the stock doubles within two years in an everything goes right scenario. But, even if everything doesnt go right, eBay stock still looks undervalued here considering the companys long-term staying power in a secular growth e-commerce industry. What the Letter Says Elliott Managements letter describes the funds Enhance eBay initiative, which is a five-step process focused on unlocking and maximizing shareholder value over the next two years. Those five steps are as follows: Step 1: A comprehensive portfolio review. Essentially, Elliott Management believes that eBay should shed its StubHub and Classifieds businesses in order to re-focus on the core Marketplace business. They also believe that, given peer multiples, the standalone value of both StubHub and the Classifieds business is greater than their value as part of eBay. Thus, eBay could sell those businesses for a net gain. Step 2: Revitalizing Marketplace. Elliott Management points out that eBay has been a slow grower in an otherwise red-hot, 20%-plus growth e-commerce industry. They peg this lack of growth on a lack of focus and innovation in the e-commerce market. By re-focusing on Marketplace and emphasizing e-commerce related innovation, Elliott believes eBay can supercharge growth in the Marketplace business. Step 3: Operational improvements and margin expansion. Elliott correctly points out that the company has been unsuccessfully spending an arm and a leg to drive growth over the past several quarters, with the net result being still-slow revenue growth, out-sized expense growth, margin compression, and flat profit growth. Elliott believes that, through re-prioritizing wasteful spend, eBay can dramatically expand margins while maintaining healthy revenue growth. Step 4: Appropriate capital allocation. Although eBay has share buybacks in the pipeline, Elliott believes the company should accelerate share repurchases. They also think the company should implement a dividend with a 1.5% yield, and pursue e-commerce related M&A opportunities. Step 5: Effective leadership and oversight. Broadly speaking, Elliott believes the changes they are proposing represent a dramatic shift in company culture, and that such shift requires a re-evaluation of the talent and personnel required to lead the new eBay. Through these five steps, Elliott believes eBay can do about $4.10 in EPS by fiscal 2021, which they believe lends itself to a fiscal 2020 price target of $55 to $63-plus based on a 13 forward multiple. To put that figure in perspective, its almost double the average analysts 12-month price target on EBAY stock and 21% more generous than the highest analyst target of $52. How eBay Stock Could Double While it is often easy to write off activist investor letters and calls for 100%-plus upside as pipeline dreams of disillusioned bulls, that isnt the case here. Elliots proposals make sense. EBay is a 5% revenue grower with broad exposure to a 20%-plus growth industry that implies room for revenue growth acceleration through product innovation and iteration. The company also way overspends on advertising and isnt getting decent return on those ad dollars. This implies room for margin expansion if the company re-prioritizes spend. They need to make their platform more relevant and millennial-friendly. Its no secret that eBay has a millennial problem. Millennial consumers prefer Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN ), Nike (NYSE: NKE ), American Eagle (NYSE: AEO ), and many other websites over eBay, which experiences a lower mindshare. It doesnt help that eBay has a minimal app presence. The company also needs to redesign its UI and improve the app experience to catch the eye of younger consumers. Also, eBay needs to start pushing dollars toward influencer marketing. It needs to leverage social media stars to promote eBay to younger audiences via Instagram, Snapchat and other social platforms. Through doing all these things, eBay should be able to maintain 5% revenue growth over the next several years. Margins should also slightly expand to ~32.5%. In combination with aggressive buybacks, that could easily drive fiscal 2023 EPS to $4.80. Based on a historically average 15 forward multiple, that equates to a fiscal 2022 price target of $72. Discounted back by 10% per year, that equates to a fiscal 2020 price target of $60, essentially double todays price. Bottom Line on EBAY Stock Elliott Management isnt full of hot air. EBay stock is undervalued, and there is a pathway for this stock to double over the next two years. Probably not. A more realistic outcome is $3.50 EPS by fiscal 2023. Using a 15x forward multiple and 10% discount rate, that equates to a fiscal 2018 price target of $36. Thats still above eBays current price tag. Thus, theres an outside chance eBay stock doubles over the next two years, and a very good chance shares rally 10% within the next few weeks. That combination makes eBay stock an attractive buy here. As of this writing, Luke Lango was long EBAY, AMZN and NKE. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/ebay-stock-double-two-years/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
Will Intel Stock Suffer Like Nvidia on Earnings? | The fourth quarter was a bad one for semiconductor stocks. While the market as a whole struggled as well, semiconductor stocks took an extra painful drumming led by Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA ) and Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD ). Intel (NASDAQ: INTC ) stock, however, was largely spared from the selling. The trade war with China has not improved sentiment on Wall Street and in particular, with semi stocks. Because Intel stock has weathered the storm so well though, investors are optimistic about its fourth-quarter earnings results coming up on Jan. 24 after the close. Intel Stock Earnings Analysts expect the company to earn $1.22 per share this quarter and $4.53 for the year. Those numbers are up notably over the last 90 days, from $1.09 and $4.16 per share, respectively. Presently, these estimates call for 13% year-over-year (YoY) growth for Q4 and over 30% growth for the year. On the revenue front, analysts expect sales of $19.01 billion for the quarter and $71.2 billion for the full year. If achieved, it will represent YoY growth of 11.5% and 13.4%, respectively. I wouldnt expect it. I still like those companies for the long-term, but lets not forget that they were big crypto plays and once that revenue stream was shut off, they were left with a glut of inventory. Intels not in the same boat and as a result, I wouldnt expect the same hangover. Its also expected that Intel will raise its dividend. Last year, management bumped its quarterly payout by roughly 10% to 30 cents per share. Intel stock currently yields 2.5%. Evaluating Intel In Q2 there were some concerns about Intel, but those worries were wiped away when it reported third-quarter results. Earnings of $1.40 per share came in 25 cents per share ahead of expectations, while revenue of $19.16 billion came in more than $1 billion above estimates. Guidance also came in ahead of expectations. Ordinarily not. So one would think that another beat could be in store, which would be necessary to spring Intel stock higher from here. Either way though, optimism from last quarter is surely making investors feel good about the coming quarter. That said, I would feel better about Intel if we had more certainty with its CEO. When the company finds a permanent replacement for former CEO Brian Krzanich, then investors will likely feel more comfortable owning the stock. Trading INTC Stock Click to Enlarge Shares of INTC stock have been trading relatively well and have certainly held up better than peers like Nvidia and AMD. In fact, unlike most stocks, Intel didnt put in a low near Christmas Eve. Instead it put in a higher low, a bullish development. As Intel stock slowly but surely grinds higher, it keeps bumping into the 200-day as resistance, right near this $49 to $50 level. A positive reaction likely thrusts Intel stock over this level. A close over $50 is bullish and will bring in buyers looking to push INTC higher. A negative reaction could thrust INTC stock below the 21-day and 50-day moving averages. If Intel pulls back but holds these moving averages, I would consider it a possible long setup. If these levels fail, wait for a test of uptrend support (purple line) near $44 to $45. Bret Kenwell is the manager and author of Future Blue Chips and is on Twitter @BretKenwell. As of this writing, Bret Kenwell is long NVDA. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/will-intel-stock-suffer-like-nvidia-on-earnings/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
How Important Is North/South Trade? | 23 Jan 2019 | 10.13 am Cross-border trade on the island of Ireland reached 7 billion in 2017, an all-time high, and has been growing at an average of 4% annually over the past two decades. Thats according to the latest report from InterTradeIreland, which has now been in existence for two decades of developing cross-border trade and business. It has assisted more than 39,000 businesses, helped create 14,800 jobs, and has generated more than 1.2 billion in business development value through its programmes and initiatives since 1999. The report, Export Participation and Performance of Firms on the Island of Ireland, found that for half of southern Irish exporters, Northern Ireland is the destination for more than 50% of their exports, while for 26% Northern Ireland is their only export market. 71% of exporters reported that cross-border trading was the catalyst for exporting further afield. Strategy director Aidan Gough said: Our research shows that the cross-border market also plays a valuable role in a broader export development strategy, with exporting firms proven to be more innovative, more productive and more resilient than their non-exporting counterparts. With only 1.6 % of (southern) Irish goods exports going north, and 15% of goods produced in Northern Ireland being exported beyond its border, there are still plenty of opportunities for the further growth that exporting delivers. ITI research shows that Irish companies trading goods into the UK are operating at 45% higher productivity than those trading only in Ireland, and also have higher employment rates and turnover. Gough added: Brexit will affect firms on both sides of the border but action now can help businesses prepare for the imminent challenges and opportunities that will arise. It is my hope that we can help SMEs take the first step in preparing for their future through the supports and expertise of our Brexit Advisory Service and that we can equip companies to deal with whatever changes happen, post Brexit. | https://bizplus.ie/how-important-is-north-south-trade/ |
Can LA Tech stay hot at home vs. 'prolific' Marshall squad? | CLOSE Louisiana Tech men's basketball coach Eric Konkol breaks down how his team was able to slow down UAB. Cory Diaz, [email protected] RUSTON Facing the hottest team in the league right now, it couldnt be more perfect that Louisiana Tech welcomes that team to the Thomas Assembly Center. Bulldogs (13-7, 3-4) have played their best basketball this season at home, at an undefeated 10-0 clip, while their woes on the road, including four straight conference losses, have kept them from ascending near the top of the Conference USA standings, currently relegated to ninth. Thursday night, the reigning conference champs Marshall (12-7, 5-1) come calling, winners of its first five league contests before losing its first C-USA game at Western Kentucky, 68-59, Saturday. Louisiana Tech's Anthony Durjui scored 19 points in a win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday. (Photo: File Photo) The Thundering Herd, who knocked off four-seed Wichita State as a 13-seed in the NCAA tournament last season, boast a quick-tempo, prolific offensive squad that averages 80.2 points per game fueled by two top 10 scorers in C-USA in the backcourt. Senior guard Jon Elmore puts up 20.1 points and fellow senior guard C.J. Burks scores 17.1 points. Theyre very challenging, Louisiana Tech mens basketball coach Eric Konkol told media members Tuesday. When you feel like youre taking something away, but that opens something else for them. Theyre a very prolific scoring basketball team. They play at a high pace, they shoot a lot of 3s from every spot on the floor. We got to do our best to keep them off rhythm, cant give them the same dose of everything because they get into a great rhythm of scoring the basketball. Despite the struggles away from home, defense has been Techs saving grace since conference play has started and afforded them chances to win those close games on the road. Its margin of defeat is 8 points, with the largest loss coming Saturday at Charlotte, 55-40. The Bulldogs have held opponents to a league-best 60.7 points per game since entering league play. In the two home C-USA games, Louisiana Tech held a then surging UAB team to 53 points and Middle Tennessee to 56 to a pair of victories. When you look at our league play, the home teams are winning the majority of the games, playing well at home. I think theres something to be said about not only the comfort of home, but the travel, the wear-and-tear of being on the road, Konkol said. At the same time, were very close with coming away with some of those games. Weve got to find one more stop, one more basket. Scoring leaders junior point guard DaQuan Bracey (13.4) and sophomore forward Anthony Duruji (12.4) have also been Techs most consistent defenders. Redshirt sophomore JaColby Pemberton has stepped up on both ends of the floor this season, especially considering the absence of senior Derric Jean and sophomore Evaxian Christon, whove missed a combined 24 games so far, and the versatile player will be counted on to help slow down Marshalls offense. If theyre free: Marshall has led Conference USA free throw percentage since league play started, converting 77 percent. Smart defense will be key for Tech Thursday night. It cant afford to send the Herd to the line as Tech manages to sink 67 percent of its free throws. Mistakes will cost you: The Thundering Herd comes into the matchup with Louisiana Tech sporting a 5.2 turnover margin, forcing 18 while only committing 12.8 per game, good enough for second in the conference. The Bulldogs rank fourth in C-USA with a 1.6 turnover margin, averaging less giveaways (11.9) than Marshall, but only causes 13.5 turnovers on the defensive end. Follow Cory Diaz on Twitter @CoryDiaz_TNS and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CoryDiazTNS/ Louisiana Tech (13-7, 3-4) vs. Marshall (12-7, 5-1) Tipoff: 8 p.m. Location: Thomas Assembly Center Watch: CBS Sports Network Listen: KXKZ 107.5 FM (Ruston) | https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2019/01/23/louisiana-tech-hosts-conference-usas-hottest-team-marshall/2661275002/ |
Is Nike Stock Attractive After Analysts Upgrade? | On Tuesday, athletic apparel maker Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE ) got a vote of confidence from Cowen,as the firm upgraded the retailer to Outperform from Market Perform and raised its 12-month price target on Nike stock to $90 per share. That represents 12% upside from NKE stock price on Wednesday morning, giving investors a reason to consider buying NKE. Based on the forecast of Cowens John Kernan, Nikes long-term growth outlook appears to be promising. However, its worth examining the external risks that Nike is facing and weighing those against the companys valuation. Kernan said he expects Nikes margins to continue to improve and eventually drive its earnings per share above $5 by fiscal 2023. That would represent a more than 50% improvement from last years earnings figure. That increase is achievable, Kernan said, because of Nikes creative prowess. Hes not wrong about NKEs ability to deliver what consumers want. The footwear makers new product offerings have been home runs, and that success is expected to continue throughout 2019. \Of the ten most-anticipated shoes of 2019 nine are made by Nike according to Sneaker News. Better product launches mean fewer discounts, which translates to higher margins. On top of that, Kernan praised Nikes focus on delivering more innovative products faster and growing its direct connections with consumers, saying the firm is likely to profit from those initiatives in the coming quarters. Nike has been making big investments in its direct-to-consumer channels, and those channels are already starting to show promise. Back in 2017 the company set growth targets for itself, some of which it has already surpassed. NKE initially hoped its e-commerce segment would expand to 30% of its overall business, but management says that target is too conservative and is now shooting for 50% or higher. Nike also sought to generate 50% of its growth from new products. The apparel makers new products have been far more successful than anticipated, though, generating around 80% of the companys growth. Returning Cash to Owners of Nike Stock Cowens Kernan said that Nike could return some $24 billion to its shareholders over the next five years. He predicted that the company would have strong, annual free cash flow of $4.5 billion between 2019 and 2023. According to the analyst, NKE will likely use those finds to reward shareholders through repurchases and dividends. Nike probably isnt the first name you think of when it comes to dividend stocks, as Nike stock only offers a yield of 1%. However, its worth noting that NKE has consistently raised its dividend payments annually for the past 17 years, normally with a double-digit percentage hike. Last year, Nike raised its dividend payment by 10%, and theres no reason not to expect the same, or better, in 2019. The Risks Facing Nike Stock The bottom line is that you really cant fault Nikes underlying business. The company is the best-in-breed when it comes to athletic footwear and apparel, but the current macro-climate is uncertain and that should give investors pause when theyre considering an apparel maker like NKE. Right now, Nike stock is riding high on the popularity of sneakers, but its anyones guess how long that will last. A slowdown in the demand for athletic footwear would spell disaster for Nike. Not only does the firm have to worry about shifting fashion tastes, but Nikes success is also closely tied to economic conditions. An economic slowdown would hit NKE stock price hard, and with the current uncertainty threatening to spook consumers, thats a point worth considering. Then theres growth in China, which is a big part of Nikes overall strategy. Sales in China make up roughly a third of the firms overall revenue growth. The nations growing middle class represents a huge opportunity for NKE in the long-run, but in the nearer term things could get a little shaky. The Chinese economy appears to be on rocky ground at the moment, and worries about a drawn-out trade war between the U.S. and China shouldnt be ignored. The Valuation of NKE Stock However, perhaps the biggest reason to hold off on buying Nike stock is the companys valuation. Nike stock trades at 30 times NKEs projected 2019 earnings. Thats nearly double the average multiple of the companies in the S&P 500. That makes NKE expensive, considering that the stock is at the mercy of external factors. Right now, the market is rife with other, more attractive stocks that are trading at far lower multiples. Overall, I agree with Cowen that Nikes business looks solid right now and that the company has a lot of long-term growth potential. However, the valuation of Nike stock is simply too high for me to buy the shares in the current market. As of this writing, Laura Hoy did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities. | https://investorplace.com/2019/01/is-nike-stock-attractive-after-analysts-upgrade/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+InvestorPlace+%28InvestorPlace%29 |
Why Werent These Artists Asked To Be A Part Of B2Ks Millennium Tour? | Just before the new year hit, B2K broke the internet with news about their forthcoming Millennium Tour featuring Lil Fizz, Boog, Raz B, Omarion, and a bunch of other male solo acts and groups that rocked the 00s. Millennials are so excited, weve all been getting our gear ready to ensure that we also look the part: My outfit for the B2K millennium tour! pic.twitter.com/o0cFHjrWhf Meezy da (@lilladybug90) December 21, 2018 While everyones hype hype, Black Twitter does feel like there were a few artists who shouldve been added to the lineup. Soulja Boy spoke out on the issue in a clip that was posted on The Shade Room today, saying they aint have enough money to add him to the roster. They gotta cut that check, he said. Sounds like he might not have been asked to join the tour in the first place, which really sucks because he still looks like the 00s and everything: Hit the flip for some other artists that we think would kill sh*t. We added some ladies to the lineup, cause we get it, its all guys but cmon now fellas. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9Next page Also On Global Grind: | https://globalgrind.cassiuslife.com/4282186/we-wish-these-artists-were-asked-to-be-apart-of-the-millennium-tour/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bossiprss+%28Bossip.com%29 |
How Was This Weeks Total Bellas Viewership? | Sundays episode of WWE Total Bellas drew 460,000 viewers and ranked #30 on the Cable Top 150. This is down from the season 4 premiere, which drew 505,000 viewers and ranked #35. Real Housewives of Atlanta topped the night in viewership and the 18-49 demographic with 1.814 million viewers. Below is our Total Bellas Season 4 Viewership Tracker: Episode 1: 505,000 viewers Episode 2: 460,000 viewers Episode 3: Season 3 Total: 6.342 million viewers Season 3 Average: 634,200 viewers per episode (10 episodes) Season 2 Total: 4.702 million viewers Season 2 Average: 587,750 viewers per episode (8 episodes) Season 1 Total: 3.842 million viewers Season 1 Average: 640,000 viewers per episode (6 episodes) | http://www.24wrestling.com/weeks-total-bellas-viewership/ |
Who is the accused Sebring shooter? | A 21-year-old Sebring man has been identified by police as the shooter who opened fire inside a bank Wednesday in Highlands County. Zephen Xaver pulled the trigger, according to law enforcement. He surrendered after a SWAT team entered the SunTrust Bank off U.S. Highway 27 near Tubbs Road in Sebring. At least five people have been confirmed dead. Their names have not yet been released. Related: At least 5 people killed in shooting at SunTrust bank in Sebring Police say Xaver called 911 on himself around 12:36 p.m. Investigators have not yet commented on any possible motive. 10Investigates found Xaver is from Indiana but moved to Sebring. Our team has been unable to find any prior criminal history connected to his name. The Florida Department of Corrections said he was hired by the Avon Park Correctional Institution as a trainee on Nov. 2 and resigned Jan. 9. He had no disciplinary issues during that time. An ex-girlfriend said she was devastated to learn about Xaver's alleged crimes. She posted a message on her Facebook page saying she was not yet ready to talk about it. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. What others are reading right now: Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now. Email [email protected], visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed. | https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/local/highlandscounty/who-is-the-accused-sebring-shooter/67-3b6bc893-983f-4531-bfff-8bb9dc2b4cd5 |
How Aaron Rodgers bought into the Milwaukee Bucks ... and what's his future in franchise ownership? | GREEN BAY Sometimes, in order to make something complicated happen, you have to simplify the process. A chance for Aaron Rodgers to buy into the Milwaukee Bucks had come and gone once before due to too many cooks in the kitchen, so when an opportunity arose again in 2017 Rodgers cut out the middlemen and spoke directly with Bucks co-owner Wes Edens. That conversation secured the Green Bay Packers quarterback a 1 percent stake in a team that is not only an Eastern Conference title contender but valued at more than $1 billion. I just wanted to be involved, first of all because I love basketball and second because Ive been here for so long I wanted, besides my Packer connection, just another natural connection to the state that I love and that Ive grown up in, Rodgers told the Journal Sentinel and PackersNews.com. So when the opportunity was there I wanted it to happen right away. It didnt happen for a few years and a few different representations and then it turned out it just took a call to (Bucks president) Peter (Feigin) and then a call with Wes and then we made it happen. Rodgers has now been a minority investor in the Bucks for more than a year, but before the Packers' season concluded he sat down for his first extended interview about how the deal came about, what it means and how it could impact his life well after his playing days. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Bucks co-owner Wes Edens take in a 2018 NBA playoff game. Rodgers became a 1 percent investor in the team before last season. (Photo: Associated Press) The deal When Wes Edens and Marc Lasry initially purchased the Bucks in 2014 from Herb Kohl, they quickly focused on adding local investors. Rodgers was immediately linked, and not just for publicity reasons. A year before the Bucks came on the market, the sale of the Sacramento Kings had piqued Rodgers interest in ownership. But obstacles presented by others representing him clouded the process of getting in on the ground floor with the Bucks in 2014. Rodgers and Edens declined to get into the specifics of what stalled the initial negotiation, but it was enough to pause Rodgers' ambition for several years. "I was like, I want to be involved in basketball," Rodgers said. "I dont need anything from them. I can put my own money in. I just want to be involved. Thats basically what it came to a few years later. It took until 2017, when a minority investor in the Bucks decided to sell their stake. The Bucks majority owners elected to buy back the share and Edens knew whom to call. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sits with Milwaukee Bucks owner Mark Lasry during a Bucks playoff victory over the Toronto Raptors in 2017. Rodgers has a 1 percent ownership stake in the franchise. (Photo: Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) He called me back and I was in a car just ready to get on a plane. It was early in the season, Edens told the Journal Sentinel. I said, 'Look, heres the situation: Its a 1 percent interest. Its at the original price. As a result, its a great deal for you, but youve been interested since Day 1, so I feel like thats a reasonable thing.' I feel like thats a good thing for him, but I felt good about that. Rodgers had to pass the standard vetting process for all potential owners by the NBA and Rodgers did have to meet in person with NBA commissioner Adam Silver but he met all the criteria and assumed his share of ownership just before the start of the 2017-'18 NBA season. RELATED: Rodgers becomes the first active NFL player to become a NBA owner RELATED: Aaron Rodgers' ownership stake in the Bucks almost a year in the making Rodgers politely declined to say how much he invested, but Edens and Lasry bought the Bucks for about $550 million in 2014. A 1 percent share of that price would equal a $5.5 million investment. The money part didnt really matter to me because from a pure business standpoint the NBA is doing great, Rodgers said. Ratings are doing great. The new TV deal and the looming TV deal are fantastic. Theres a lot of star power in the NBA, which is driving revenue and interest. You still got the LeBrons of the world, the Russell Westbrooks, the Warriors with Steph (Curry) and 'KD' (Kevin Durant) and now with Giannis (Antetokounmpo) in Milwaukee, there is a lot of superstar talent and people who are really marketing themselves and are good for the league. I think Adam Silver has done a fantastic job of allowing those guys to be themselves. I think fans appreciate that and respect that. The league is growing. So from a pure business standpoint, I think its a great investment. I always did. But to me, the bigger draw was the tie to the region and just the strong love for basketball. While any share in an NBA franchise has inherent capital value, Rodgers repeated often that his decision to get involved with the Bucks was a show of dedication to his adopted home state, which was just as important to Bucks ownership as his financial commitment. What was really important to me was that he really had an authentic interest in being involved in Wisconsin long term, Edens said. And so the first time we really sat down and talked about it, that became crystal clear to me that it was a really authentic interest on his part, to be a part of Wisconsin long after he hangs up playing for the Packers. The ratification of Rodgers bid from the NBA took about six weeks to complete. It has a lot to do with how you perceive the character and the nature of the person who is being put up as an owner, prospectively, Edens said of the leagues vetting process. The NBA does a rigorous background check. Its not so much its an easy thing or a hard thing, its Is this person of the kind of character and representative of the partnership that we want? And of course, the answer with Aaron is a resounding yes. A pioneer With the Bucks' and Packers' seasons already underway in October 2017, and then with Rodgers suffering a broken collarbone in Minnesota shortly thereafter, Rodgers elected to wait until the Bucks were in the playoffs, on April 21, 2018, before he disclosed his new relationship with the team. And while that was news in and of itself, the transaction meant much more than a simple press release. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers gives teammate David Bakhtiari a hug after the Bucks defeat the Toronto Raptors in Game 3 of the first round in the 2017 playoffs. (Photo: Rick Wood, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) I said, 'Look, Aaron, just so you know this is kind of a big deal,' Edens recalled. 'As far as I know, you may be the only active professional athlete in a major sport in America that owns an undiluted interest in another major sport. Its kind of a big deal.' Hes like, 'I get it, I just dont want it to be about me.' So that was the time for it and it was really the right call. To that end, Rodgers is a pioneer when it comes to football players branching off into the ownership level. In the NBA, Magic Johnson held a minority ownership stake of the Los Angeles Lakers from 1994-2010 before becoming a part of ownership groups for baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer. Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan bought a stake in the Washington Wizards in early 1999 and then in 2010 purchased the controlling interest of the Charlotte Bobcats for $275 million. Lakers forward LeBron James has made no secret he would like to own an NBA franchise. Part of James business portfolio is a 2 percent stake in the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League. Valued at $6.5 million in 2011 when he received that stake, ESPN reported that share is now worth more than $30 million. Former NBA point guard Steve Nash has ownership stakes in soccer clubs in Canada and Spain, and former baseball players Mike Piazza and Nomar Garciaparra also have ownership stakes in soccer clubs. Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky had a share in a Canadian Football League team for three years in the early 1990s. Well, very few get the opportunity or ... take the time to grow their business acumen to understand deals off the field, Rodgers said. And for me, I made sure I surrounded myself with intelligent business folks and then went out and sought advice from older folks. I think thats the thing that Ive always been trying to do, is to learn every year in my life. When it comes to business and not being a business major or an entrepreneurial genius, I went out and found smart people in various businesses and just said, 'Hey, Id love to have lunch with you,' or 'Hey, can I meet with you?' And just picking their brain about stuff and keeping in touch with those people and growing your business network and your business acumen to where you can have these other businesses and understand what youre doing. For me, that was a draw. Rodgers spoke about the Bucks during an interview shortly before the Packers' season ended. He had led the Packers to a come-from-behind, overtime victory over the New York Jets days before. His focus then, and for the foreseeable future, remains on that locker room and the Packers. I think franchises are an interesting business because a lot of it comes down to chemistry and team dynamics and players and talent, which Ive been around for 14 years on a professional level and think I understand pretty well, he said. But it is an interesting business and one that sounds fun to do. "But I dont know. I havent thought a whole lot past: I love being a super minority owner of the Bucks. I love this region and I love this squad. I have other interests. I grew up playing soccer, the MLS is blowing up. But I really havent thought a whole lot past the small, small, small percentage that I have and how fortunate I feel to be a part of the organization and the kind of guys we have in place leading and also on the court. But Im competitive. So when Im done playing, theres going to have to be something to fuel the competitive juices, and being involved in sports would be great as long as its not commenting or maybe a GM. "The ownership part seems a little more my speed and what I want to do when I retire from sports. Rodgers, who often sported a Bucks hat on road trips last season, wouldnt say how often hell be around Fiserv Forum this offseason, but the Packers can begin workouts under new head coach Matt LaFleur on April 1. The NBA playoffs will begin April 13. First of all, they dont need me. Theyre a fantastic team, Rodgers said. Weve got a new building, great ownership, great leadership. Bud (Mike Budenholzer) has done a fantastic job coaching the squad. They dont need me. They have enough promotion already. "I like where theyre at because I think a lot people are talking about Toronto with Kawhi (Leonard) and Philly, Boston, but I think we match up well against any of those teams. Were really long on defense and with what Buds doing on offense we can space the floor and have five guys, really four guys who can shoot around Giannis. So, they dont need me. But Im looking forward to being able to get down to some games and catch them on the road when theyre out west. I look forward to them making a deep run in the playoffs. | https://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/01/23/how-aaron-rodgers-bought-into-bucks-and-his-future-ownership-plans/2653067002/ |
How Did RHONJ Melissa Gorgas Dad Anthony John Marco Die? | Melissa Gorga, from The Real Housewives of New Jersey, lost her father when she was 17 years old after he was in a car accident. Gorga has talked in the past about her parents rocky marriage, and in tonights new episode, she will continue exploring their history. When Melissa Gorga was writing her book, Love Italian Style, Radar Online reports that in a 2013 episode of the show, Gorga opened up about her fathers sudden passing. She said I was at a friends house and I got a phone call from my mother. And she was screaming and she told me that daddy hit a tree while he was driving on a rainy night and he died. He gave her a sentimental handwritten note on her birthday, just days before he died, and she said I feel like the way he wrote it is, he almost knew he was going to hit that tree. She also opened up about how difficult it was as a young woman to come home and see her mom grieving and to wish for a normal family. After that episode, she opened up further in a blog post about her decision to write about him and of her parents marriage in her book, which she says she did because their marriage is a part of the story of her marriage to husband Joe Gorga; the first chapter of her book is about her dad, entitled The First Man in My Life. In her book and on the show, Gorga has talked about how her dad cheated on her mom, and she added in the blog post that he didnt come home every night. The description for tonights new episode of The Real Housewives of New Jersey, entitled Mudslinging in Mexico, reads Teresas fitness competition is finally here; Melissa makes a surprising discovery about her parents marriage; as the ladies take off for Cabo, Mexico, tensions between Margaret and Danielle threaten to ruin the entire trip. In a preview clip from the episode, which teases that Melissa Gorga Has a Big Secret to Share With Her Mother, Melissa is waiting at dinner for her sisters and mother to arrive so they can talk, but the women show up drunk. Melissa comments in a private interview I get what they were going for. It was like lets loosen Mommy up a little bit. But now Im like getting stressed out. In spite of the challenges and secrets her parents relationship faced, Gorga maintains love and a father-daughter closeness to Anthony John Marco, who she has said on the show was such a great father in so many ways. To honor of what would have been her late fathers 70th birthday on July 26, 2016, Gorga shared throwback photos of Marco on Instagram, writing in the caption Today my father would have been 70 years old. Theres so much I wish he could have been here for. Theres so much I want to tell him. I have so many questions for him. I wish he could meet my children. I know Ill see him again someday. Happy Birthday Daddy. I love you Miss you so much. Tune in to The Real Housewives of New Jersey on Bravo, Wednesday nights at 9/8c. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/melissa-gorga-father-anthony-john-marco-death/ |
How Did Mark Zuckerberg Kill the Goat? | Image: AP/Lucasfilm Ltd/AP We have a lot of questions about Facebooks CEO, some of which weve posed on this very website. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Dorsey was asked about his most memorable encounter with Zuckerberg. He then recounted a strange anecdote about the worlds fifth richest man killing a goat with a laser gun. From Rolling Stone: [Dorsey:] Well, there was a year when he was only eating what he was killing. He made goat for me for dinner. He killed the goat. [Dorsey:] No. He killed it before. I guess he kills it. He kills it with a laser gun and then the knife. Then they send it to the butcher. Advertisement When pressed, Dorsey seemed less certain, saying, I dont know. A stun gun. They stun it, and then he knifed it. Then they send it to a butcher. As you may recall, Zuckerberg did indeed pursue a personal challenge in 2011 where he only ate the meat of animals he personally killed. Ive learned a lot about sustainable farming and raising of animals, he told Fortune at the time. Dorseys comment raises a few interesting possibilities: 1. Dorsey simply misspoke with his initial description, and Zuckerberg indeed used some kind electric shock device to stun the goat before bleeding it. Electric stunners are sometimes used to render smaller animals unconscious before slaughter, and often have a wand-type design. Personal electroshock weapons, such as Tasers, would likely be inadequate and inhumane for this purpose. Advertisement 2. Dorsey was mistaken twice, and what he described as a stun gun was, in fact, a captive bolt pistol Zuckerberg used to kill the goat. These devices stun animals by shooting a retractible rod into their skulls and entered popular culture as the weapon of choice of Anton Chigurh, the antagonist of Cormac McCarthys No Country for Old Men and the film adaptation of the same name. 3. Dorsey accidentally told the truth the first time, and Mark Zuckerberg really does have some kind of secret Terminator gun he used to zap that poor goat to the big garbage dump in the sky. Realizing his error, Dorsey then made up the whole stun gun thing. We have out own suspicions, but only the heads of the worlds most exhausting social networks may know for sure. Advertisement We have reached out to both Facebook and Jack Dorsey for comment and will update this story if and when they reply. If you know anything about Mark Zuckerbergs laser gun or have your own theories about the nature of the device, please email us at [email protected]. | https://gizmodo.com/how-did-mark-zuckerberg-kill-the-goat-1831996690 |
What the Hell Is Happening Over at Gawker 2.0? | Gawker. Photo: Gawker It would be a perfect Gawker story if it werent, uh, technically about Gawker: millionaire purchases a beloved website that used to mock him mercilessly after it was driven into bankruptcy by a vengeful billionaire, only to put it under the stewardship of someone with both a history of terrible tweets and the lack of foresight required to do a quick search-and-delete, leading to what seems to be total institutional chaos. Such is the fate of New Gawker. In the wake of the websites unceremonious death in August 2016, it was sold to Bryan Goldberg, an entrepreneur The New Yorker once described as a giant six-year-old and which Gawker itself once called a clueless scamp. Then, on Wednesday, just one week after (new) Gawker.coms first four employees were announced, the Daily Beast reports that the sites only two reporters have already stepped down due to another staffer making offensive and wholly inappropriate comments in the workplace. It is an extreme understatement to say that Gawker 2.0 is having a rough start; this rough start has also been going on for quite some time. Today, we look back on what the site has undergone in the past few years. August 16, 2016: Univision buys Gawker Media assets for $135 million. After vengeful tech billionaire Peter Thiel funds the infamous Hulk Hogan lawsuit that bankrupts Gawker Media (RIP), Univision Communications buys some of the brands websites, including Deadspin, Jezebel, Gizmodo, Lifehacker, Jalopnik, and Kotaku. However, part of the agreement permits Univision to exclude Gawker.com from its acquisition, if it so desires. (It does.) On August 18, Gawker reporter J.K. Trotter announces the upsetting news: Gawker.com is ending its operations. August 22, 2016: RIP. On a depressing Monday afternoon, Gawker founder Nick Denton publishes, How Things Work, the last blog post that Gawker will ever publish. That day, after a nearly-14-year-long run, Gawker shuts down. It is the end of an era, he writes. (With the exception of six articles that Univision executives voted to delete from the site, Gawker.coms archive remains online.) October 2, 2017: Rumors circulate that Gawker.com might come back. In early October, The Wall Street Journal reports that the bankruptcy estate is quietly shopping around Gawker.com to potential buyers news that is disturbing to old Gawker writers and fans, given the new owner will have the power to delete articles from the site. Therefore, its not that surprising when Peter Thiel, the very man who bankrupted Gawker, shows early interest in the corpse of the website. Thankfully, he drops his bid in late April 2018, but no one celebrates yet. July 12, 2018: Zombie Gawker. In a bankruptcy court auction, Bryan Goldberg, the founder of sports site Bleacher Report and womens interest site Bustle, drops $1.35 million on Gawker.com, a website that relentlessly mocked him. Bryan Goldberg is not a smart man, reads Gawkers coverage about his decision to found a website for women. He mocks himself far better than his critics ever could. January 16, 2019: Gawkers first hires. On a relatively slow news day, CNNs Oliver Darcy breaks the news of zombie Gawkers first four hires on Twitter: someone named Carson Griffith as editorial director, Ben Barna as senior editor, and Maya Kosoff and Anna Breslaw as staff writers. In the spirit of Gawker, Splinter (which is under Gizmodo Media) publishes a searing investigation into the fake websites new employees, with an especially close look at Griffiths old tweets, which are blatantly racist and classist. This nail salon is so hot i might pass out, reads one of her tweets from June 2010. I hope the asian are as good at throwing water on my face as they are at doing nails. Some news... The first hires for the new Gawker have been announced: -- @CarsonGriffith will be editorial director -- @sufferings will be senior editor -- @mekosoff and @annabreslaw will be staff writers Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) January 16, 2019 January 23, 2019: And then the two staff writers quit. Just one week after Darcys tweet, the Daily Beast reports that Kosoff and Breslaw have quit over surprise! concerns about Griffith, and frustrations that Goldberg wouldnt listen to these concerns. Per the report, the two reporters had met human resources at Goldbergs Bustle Digital Group (BDG) to express their concerns about Griffith, who had made offensive comments in the workplace about everything from a businessmans penis size to gender to people of color. In one specific instance that Kosoff recounted to HR, the writer told Griffith via Slack that she was meeting with a potential new staffer who is a person of color and nonbinary (uses they/them pronouns). In response, Griffith asked, lol is [name redacted] a girl? In another alleged instance, Griffith bemoaned that people of color only like to write serious stories pertaining to race. So, Kosoff and Breslaw decided theyd rather not work for Griffith and BDG. Were disappointed it ended this way, but we cant continue to work under someone who is antithetical to our sensibility and journalistic ethics, or for an employer [CEO Bryan Goldberg] who refuses to listen to the women who work for him when its inconvenient, they said in a joint statement. Cant wait to see what tomorrow brings. Stay in touch. Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily Email By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. | https://www.thecut.com/2019/01/gawker-2-0-drama-timeline.html?utm_source=nym&utm_medium=f1&utm_campaign=feed-part |
Why has Donald Trump recognised Venezuela's Opposition Leader as interim president? | Posted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has given US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country after Donald Trump recognised the country's Opposition Leader, Juan Guaido, as interim president. Mr Trump made the announcement as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched on the streets in Venezuela, calling for Mr Maduro to step down. Here's what you need to know. Juan Guaido whose surname is pronounced GWAYD-oh is the leader of Venezuela's Opposition-led National Assembly. He declared himself interim president at an anti-Government rally last night, before thousands of chanting demonstrators who want Mr Maduro to resign. Mr Maduro started his second term as Venezuela's President on January 10 following a widely boycotted election last year, which many foreign governments have described as a sham. "I swear to assume all the powers of the presidency to secure an end to the usurpation," Mr Guaido said. Venezuela's constitution says if the presidency is determined to be vacant, new elections should be called in 30 days and the head of congress should assume the presidency in the meantime. But Mr Maduro has so far refused to step down and has accused the Opposition of seeking to stage a coup. Mr Trump has sided with Mr Guaido because the US administration sees Mr Maduro's Government as an "illegitimate regime". Here's what he said in his official statement: "Today, I am officially recognising the president of the Venezuelan National Assembly, Juan Guaido, as the interim President of Venezuela. "In its role as the only legitimate branch of government duly elected by the Venezuelan people, the National Assembly invoked the country's constitution to declare Nicolas Maduro illegitimate, and the office of the president therefore vacant. "The people of Venezuela have courageously spoken out against Maduro and his regime and demanded freedom and the rule of law. "I will continue to use the full weight of the United States economic and diplomatic power to press for the restoration of Venezuelan democracy. "We encourage other Western Hemisphere governments to recognise National Assembly president Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, and we will work constructively with them in support of his efforts to restore constitutional legitimacy. "We continue to hold the illegitimate Maduro regime directly responsible for any threats it may pose to the safety of the Venezuelan people. "As interim president Guaido noted yesterday: 'Violence is the usurper's weapon; we only have one clear action: to remain united and firm for a democratic and free Venezuela.'" Not really. The United States has had concerns about Mr Maduro's Government for some time, and when Venezuela's Congress formally declared Maduro a "usurper" last week, US Vice-President Mike Pence said he called Mr Guaido to express his support. "The Vice-President firmly emphasised that the long-standing goal of the United States and all freedom-loving nations is to restore democracy to Venezuela through free and fair elections, and end the unprecedented humanitarian and economic crises in the once-rich cradle of Bolivar," a White House official said. The Trump administration has also been weighing whether to levy a new round of economic sanctions against Venezuela to pressure Mr Maduro to resign. Yes. Several other countries have also declared that they will recognise Mr Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. They include Canada and a slew of right-leaning Latin American governments, including Venezuela's neighbours Brazil and Colombia. But politicians in Russia, which has a close relationship with Venezuela, were critical of the move. "I think that in this developing situation the United States is trying to carry out an operation to organise the next colour revolution in Venezuela," said Andrei Klimov, Russia's deputy chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the Upper House of Parliament. 'Colour revolution' is a Russian term for the popular uprisings that unseated leaders in Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan. ABC/wires Topics: government-and-politics, world-politics, venezuela | https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-24/trump-says-venezuelas-opposition-leader-is-interim-president/10745048 |
Who is the accused Sebring bank shooter? | A 21-year-old Sebring man has been identified by police as the shooter who opened fire inside a bank Wednesday in Highlands County. Zephen Xaver pulled the trigger, according to law enforcement. He surrendered after a SWAT team entered the SunTrust Bank off U.S. Highway 27 near Tubbs Road in Sebring. At least five people have been confirmed dead. Their names have not yet been released. Related: At least 5 people killed in shooting at SunTrust bank in Sebring Police say Xaver called 911 on himself around 12:36 p.m. Investigators have not yet commented on any possible motive. 10Investigates found Xaver is from Indiana but moved to Sebring. Our team has been unable to find any prior criminal history connected to his name. The Florida Department of Corrections said he was hired by the Avon Park Correctional Institution as a trainee on Nov. 2 and resigned Jan. 9. He had no disciplinary issues during that time. An ex-girlfriend said she was devastated to learn about Xaver's alleged crimes. She posted a message on her Facebook page saying she was not yet ready to talk about it. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. What others are reading right now: Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now. Email [email protected], visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed. | https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/regional/florida/who-is-the-accused-sebring-bank-shooter/77-3b6bc893-983f-4531-bfff-8bb9dc2b4cd5 |
Who gets to decide when we go to war? | British troops in Afghanistan. The Society of Conservative Lawyers says that parliament should not have the right to vote on military action SCOTT NELSON/GETTY IMAGES Brexit is proving a new battleground between parliament and the executive. Dozens of MPs are backing a plan to empower parliament to veto a no-deal exit from the European Union and postpone Brexit. However, that is not the only potential conflict between parliament and ministers: the deployment of the armed forces is another. A pamphlet to be published next week by a senior group of Conservative MPs gives a resounding no. The ability to deploy armed forces is one of the governments most important powers; its legal authority to do so lies with the royal prerogative, with ministers who exercise their authority on behalf of the Crown. This, say the authors, is as it should | https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/who-gets-to-decide-when-we-go-to-war-js7gwnrcg |
Is 2019 the year of unpredictability? | Last year we survived the GDPR straight-jacket and the ICOs rather OTT recommendations to evolve systems whereby we could fundraise respectfully in ways that our donors both expected and appreciated. This was tough for us all and involved a distinct loss of revenue for some organisations, but we still managed to grow the sectors voluntary income considerably and that is a tribute to fundraisers determination and ability to adapt and innovate. https://www.cafonline.org/about-us/publications/2018-publications/uk-giving-report-2018 This year on the brink of Brexit, or perhaps not, we face at least a year of economic uncertainty whatever happens, and uncertainty is the enemy of decisions to expand, invest in fundraising or even give generously. But, before we look forward, lets look back and see how the predictions for last year went. I foresaw four positive trends: Fundraising expanding into overseas markets. This was obviously not available to every organisation, but here at IFC HQ I have seen an increasing amount of our business coming from a rather wide variety of organisations which sought to raise funds in other countries. This varied from the large international NGOs that wanted to raise funds in wealthy Asian countries, to those who were working in Latin America and realise that these countries had developed a wealthy middle and upper class that were far more generous than previously realised and that corporates in those countries often wanted to make their mark or to simply help the communities where their sales and profits originated. Interestingly, many much smaller UK organisations were also able to tap into donors based overseas or from ex-pats, some setting up Friends of 501 C (tax effective) organisations in the US. BTW our director in the US can help with the set up and development of these US support groups. https://groupifc.com/blog/portfolio-item/laurence-pagnoni/ A growth of innovative major donor approaches. In our experience at the International Fundraising Consultancy www.groupifc.com an effective major donor strategy is still languishing on many organisations wish list, and the kind of game changing innovation I was hoping for just hasnt materialised let me know if I am wrong here. I would love to hear from you if you have engineered a breakthrough. As I said then the good old-fashioned approach routes still seem the best bet and have been working well for us, especially in our capital appeals. On the contrary billionaire philanthropists have come in for a rather well thought through kicking. The brilliant Anand Giridharadas an ex-McKinsey analyst and NYT columnist asked the following pertinent question: Are generous billionaires a crucial stopgap when government isnt working right or are they a reason why government isnt working right? He then answered it in a book Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing the World. See: http://time.com/5398801/jeff-bezos-philanthropy/ The crux of the matter is that if organisations like Amazons and the other FAANGS paid their taxes government would have the money to do their job of look after vulnerable people properly and to invest in overseas development that helps people and lessens conflict. Indeed, it is often because these employers pay rubbish wages that people cannot live on that they cannot provide for their families so causing myriad social problems. Contactless donations will grow. Yes, they did and yes, they will continue to grow in 2019; but strictly speaking the trend, especially amongst the young, is now to pay through the phone using one of a variety of apps. The good news is that charities are increasingly right up there with the digital trends and allow people to give however they like. By the way, all those charities that accepted Bitcoins early on, and didnt bother to cash them in right away, were sitting on fortunes and may still be! And those INGOs that use blockchains to ship funds overseas are saving transaction costs and securing their financial deliveries. Charities becoming social enterprises. This was a Continental trend I felt could slip though the Chunnel and arrive on our shores but, though this is often the preferred way for millennials to engage in delivering socially good outcomes, it doesnt feel like much of a trend here. First, I must say with Mays Brexit deal scheduled for a vote on tomorrow, as I write, it would be rash of anyone to predict what will happen there. Lets be rash and say, Brexit wont happen as the only trend is towards another vote and the numbers for remain are rather higher now than leave. Phew, with that out of the way and the 250m that the EU gives to UK charities saved, lets return to fundraising. Proving that what you do actually works effectively will be a key note of charities that raise increasing amounts of money. This is really the continuation of a long running trend with donors, especially major donors and grant-makers demanding that charities prove they are worth funding. I have heard charities still claiming that they work they do cannot be monitored and evaluated, which is an increasingly unsustainable position. By contrast charities that monitor and evaluate thoroughly, increasingly use it as an effective selling point to back up their emotional stories of individuals with some intellectually striking facts. So, tighten your procedures because they will be under examination and if you are not evaluating what you do rigorously shame on you Hitting the media fast and with relevance will be the key to building support. Chester Zoo is a shining example of using the media effectively. When their cages caught fire, they had photos in the media whilst the fire raged, set up an appeal in an instant and made sure the news kept featuring the Zoo by thanking the fire fighters publicly etc. In the end they raised 120,000 of which 100,000 (twice their target) came in 24 hours. See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-46589973 Part do the way to do this is for charities to add campaigning to their mix of activities. This is hard call for some who have never done it and are frightened of appearing to be political; but if you are to be relevant then your cause needs to be seen as important, and you need to be featured. If what you do is really important you can do this, but my advice is to have #1 above in place first! The Thames Garden Bridge fiasco means amateur capital appeals have had a warning take the advice of those who have run capital appeals before. Essentially, they made the elementary mistake of releasing the news to the press before they had raised 80-90% of the amount they needed and were very confident of the outcome. Once you tell the press what you are doing and how much you need, they will come back with questions far took early and hound you for not raising the money, then cast doubts on the project which is easy to do by finding a few people who will object to the appeal or maybe to planning permission for the project. It is easy to give an exclusive to one paper to guarantee some coverage (which may have happened here with the Evening Standard) but then the other papers are liable to run a counter argument. Professionally one needs a feasibility study to show that the funds are out there and exactly where they lie. Then a multi-year strategy with the silent phase running until you are almost there, then a public launch and final drive in the public phase to complete the appeal. Many charities we work with do not plan on a large public appeal unless they have national reach and know the appeal will be a favourite with the public. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/14/london-garden-bridge-project-scrapped-sadiq-khan The Garden Bridge was, in my humble, a wonderful idea that was monstered and which could have met a reasonable target, especially as naming the bridge could probably have commanded far more money than it did. Yes, it had some faults, for example the lack of a cycle route, but I hope at some time in the future a similar idea will come back and be successful. Ambitious projects with significant impact back by a sense of urgency will succeed in 2019. Lets hope the ill-fated Garden Bridge doesnt drag the idea of other imaginative projects down in its wake. Remember the NSPCC brilliant appeals hugely ambitious with real targets on a significant scale and led by imaginative fundraising programmes. http://sofii.org/news/the-nspcc-full-stop-campaign-retrospective-is-here With London choc full of billionaires and the hard years of public opprobrium behind us lets strike out with some awesome appeals. It is these appeals beloved by the public that make them appreciate the work of charities. This is probably less a prediction than a call to arms for fundraisers. You can do it get on to that reluctant director or cowardly board and let your organisation grow with ambitious fundraising targets and resources to really help your beneficiaries. Roll on 2019 and lets go John Baguley Chair International Fundraising Consultancy (IFC) www.groupifc.com | https://fundraising.co.uk/2019/01/23/2019-year-unpredictability/ |
Should we rename low-risk cancers? | Experts debate the issue in The BMJ today. The clinical definition of cancer describes a disease that, if untreated, will grow relentlessly and spread to other organs, killing the host, explains Laura Esserman at the Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center in San Francisco, California. Yet what we routinely refer to as cancer today is a disease ranging from ultra low (less than a 5% chance of progression over two decades) to extremely high (more than a 75% chance of progression over one to two years). Modern screening programmes have led to increased detection and treatment of ultra low risk cancers, including many thyroid, prostate, and breast cancers, she writes. For example, as many as 35% of all screen detected breast cancers may fall into the ultra low risk category. Yet women with low risk lesions (known as ductal carcinoma in situ or DCIS) "are being rushed to the operating room, precipitating a lifetime of anxiety," says Esserman. Investigation and invasive intervention themselves carry risk. Rather than surgery, she believes we should offer active surveillance, but says "it is difficult to encourage patients to wait and watch once they have been told they have cancer." Overtreating people who are not at risk of death "does not improve the lives of those at highest risk," she writes. "The refinement of the nomenclature for cancer is one of the most important steps we can take to improve the outcomes and quality of life of patients with cancer." But Dr Murali Varma at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff warns that creating new entities risks confusion, so public education about the nature of cancer must be the priority. In practice, it is impossible to determine the natural course of any low risk tumour, he says, "because excision for definitive diagnosis alters its natural course, precluding knowledge of how the tumour would have behaved if left untreated." This uncertainty could also lead to underestimation of the frequency of overdiagnosis as some "cured cancers" would not have progressed even if untreated, he adds. Varma believes that, rather than focusing on semantics, the key is to educate everyone from the healthy public to health professionals about the meaning of a diagnosis of cancer. New terminology often leads to confusion, so an alternative approach would be to recalibrate thresholds for the diagnosis of cancer, so that some very low risk cancers are categorised as benign, he suggests. "If the public were educated that benign signifies very low risk rather than no risk at all, then anxiety inducing labels could be avoided," he concludes. In a linked patient commentary, Birte Twisselmann, an editor at The BMJ, describes the "considerable worry" of having two suspicious lesions dealt with in less than a year. Despite their low risk, she says the "confusing terminology for cancers and precancerous lesions made me anxious." Even the discharge letter "was another trigger for anxiety," she adds. The phrasing is not a label like cancer, but "it felt as if it had a hidden meaning not intended for the patient to understand." ### | https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-01/b-swr012119.php |
How many Iranians have been killed in airstrikes in Syria? | JANUARY 24, 2019After the recent round of airstrikes by Israel against Iranian targets in Syria , the London-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said that 12 Iranians were among those killed. This was after at least four sites maintained by the Iranian IRGC Quds Force members were struck. Nevertheless this is one of the few times that more than a handful of Iranians have been reported killed in airstrikes in Syria, despite what former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot characterized recently as more than 1,000 airstrikes in Syria.Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict in March 2011 , Israel has admitted carrying out airstrikes. Over the years, the number of admitted airstrikes has grown. In many incidents, Syrian media have blamed Israel for airstrikes. Only in a smattering of those attacks have Iranians been reported killed.In the early days of the Syrian conflict, these incidents were very rare. In mid-February 2013, an IRGC commander named Hussam Hush Nawis, who also went by the nom du guerre Hassan Shateri, was killed in Jamraya 5 km. from Damascus. A Syrian rebel group blamed Israel for the attack, but Irans Mehr news pointed the finger at Israeli agents, not an airstrike. On January 18, 2015, IRGC Gen. Mohammed Ali Allahdadi was killed in an airstrike near the Golan Heights along with five other Iranians and a half-dozen Hezbollah fighters.SOHR has become one of the main sources for identifying Iranians killed in Syria but its fatality statistics are often unclear. For instance, one report indicated nine Iranians were killed in July 2018 airstrikes, one of which targeted a warehouse near Aleppo. A separate report said nine Syrian soldiers were killed there, while a third report indicated three others were killed, according to SOHR.The others might have been Iranian. In late May, another report claimed nine Iranians were killed near Homs, but Irans media denied that they had lost any personnel. During a May airstrike near Kiswah, another eight Iranians were reported killed. SOHR said 15 had been killed in total.In an April 9 attack on drone hangars at the Tiyas Military Airbase near Homs, also known as the T-4 Airbase, seven IRGC members were reported killed, including an officer named Mehdi Dehghan. Initially, Fars News reported only three Iranian were killed. Several were named to begin with, before details were retracted in Iranian sources. This information appeared to be confirmed in Iranian media before some of the details were deleted. An official was quoted in The New York Times saying that this was the first time live Iranian targets were struck. 11 more Iranians may have been killed in a late April attack near Hama.In December, an airstrike near Damascus was said to have killed 12 Iranians. SOHR also reported airstrikes in September and November 2017 that may have killed Iranians. The reports were not always clear on who the casualties were, even when IRGC sites were targeted., if the estimates provided by various sources are credible.In the fog of war, reports of casualties are often either biased or contradictory. For instance, while Syrian rebel sources may inflate the number of Iranian casualties, Iranian media seeks to play down the numbers. Denial also dovetails with the Syrian regime narrative, which often claims that regime air defenses intercepted incoming missiles. Soldiers dont die in attacks which supposedly were foiled, according to logic of the Syrian regime and its Iranian ally.Unlike some of the martyrs Iran seeks to honor in the war against ISIS or other conflicts in Iraq and Syria, those killed in the airstrikes are seen as a humiliation. If Iran admitted that it lost scores of men in Syria and didnt retaliate, it would appear weak. The fog of war benefits Iran in this way. It also benefits the Syrian regime, which doesnt have to admit that its air defense is unable to defend Iranian assets in Syria.The question of why so few Iranians have been reported killed speaks to the precise nature of the airstrikes that have been revealed. For instance, in the January 20-21 airstrikes against four IRGC targets and several Syrian air defense targets, very few personnel were harmed. Yet the exact targets of most of the hundreds of airstrikes that officials have mentioned in interviews are largely unknown. When they have been revealed, such as the warehouse in Latakia struck in September, they consist of sites such as warehouses that dont include personnel. This has also reduced casualties.Gadi Eisenkot told The Times in mid-January that Israel has struck thousands of targets. With only a few dozen reported killed in those strikes, it appears the airstrikes have among the lowest number of casualties per airstrike of any war in recent history. | https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/how-many-iranians-have-been-killed-in-airstrikes-in-syria.598431/ |
Can Mental Health Clinic at Walmart Fill a Void? | Jan. 22, 2019 -- Some Walmart customers can now add mental health therapy to their shopping list. In a store in Carrollton, TX, about 20 miles north of Dallas, the retail giant has rented space to Boston-based health care provider Beacon Health Options, whose clinic provides talk therapy to those seeking help for depression, anxiety, relationship troubles, and more. This first-of-its-kind venture has two primary aims, says Beacon president and chief executive officer Russell Petrella, PhD, a clinical psychologist. Part of the whole goal of this is to destigmatize behavioral health care and put it in places where people feel comfortable and another big issue is access to such care when and where they need it. The clinic, called Beacon Care Services, opened in November. It shares a waiting room with an existing Walmart Care Clinic, which provides primary care services, such as physicals, lab tests, treatment for illness and injuries, and ongoing care. But, a Walmart representative says, Walmarts only role is as the landlord -- were simply leasing space to Beacon. Petrella says the number of people who have either made appointments or walked into the clinic has slowly but steadily risen. Right now, a single therapist handles all comers during a 40-hour week. Demand will determine whether Beacon brings in more staff and boosts the clinics hours. For people who cant make it to the clinic, Beacon offers telehealth counseling via Skype. The clinic is offering an introductory 45-minute session for $25, but beginning Feb. 1, it will cost $110 for an individual and $125 for a family. The Carrollton clinic is applying with insurers to become an in-network provider, a company spokesperson says. Prices can be lowered for people who can show they have a financial need. | https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/news/20190123/can-mental-health-clinic-at-walmart-fill-a-void?src=RSS_PUBLIC |
Will Healthy Seniors Benefit From Daily Aspirin? | TUESDAY, Jan. 22, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- Daily low-dose aspirin is recommended for heart attack survivors or people at increased risk, but up to now experts have discouraged the practice for aging individuals in good health. Now, a new evidence review suggests that some healthy seniors and middle-aged adults might gain a bit of benefit from taking daily aspirin. Low-dose aspirin decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke risk even in those without any heart health problems, British researchers report. However, the protective effect is "quite small," and carries with it an increased risk of serious bleeding, said lead researcher Dr. Sean Zheng. "For a combination of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular death, 265 people need to be treated for five years to prevent one event," said Zheng, an academic clinical fellow with King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London. "However, for every 210 patients treated with aspirin, one would suffer a major bleed episode," he said. Anyone thinking about taking aspirin to protect their heart health should talk it over with their doctor, said Donna Arnett. She is past president of the American Heart Association and dean of the University of Kentucky College of Public Health. "Because of this benefit-to-harm aspect of aspirin, there is no straightforward answer about who should be taking it," Arnett said. "For aspirin use, it is very important for each patient to discuss with his/her health care provider about whether aspirin would benefit him/her," she said. Aspirin thins the blood, and has long been recognized as a means of preventing blood clots that could cause a heart attack or stroke. But by thinning blood, aspirin also increases your risk of bleeding. This could contribute to bleeding ulcers in the gastrointestinal system or even hemorrhagic strokes in the brain. As a result, experts have limited daily low-dose aspirin use (usually 81 milligrams) to people who've already had a heart attack or stroke, or those at increased risk of such an event. To see whether daily aspirin might benefit a broader range of people, Zheng and his colleagues gathered data from 13 clinical trials involving more than 164,000 people. Half were younger than 62, and half older. | https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20190122/will-healthy-seniors-benefit-from-daily-aspirin?src=RSS_PUBLIC |
Can Artificial Intelligence Read X-Rays? | WEDNESDAY, Jan. 23, 2019 (HealthDay News) -- An artificial intelligence (AI) system can analyze chest X-rays and spot patients who should receive immediate care, researchers report. The system could also reduce backlogs in hospitals someday. Chest X-rays account for 40 percent of all diagnostic imaging worldwide, and there can be large backlogs, according to the researchers. "Currently, there are no systematic and automated ways to triage chest X-rays and bring those with critical and urgent findings to the top of the reporting pile," explained study co-author Giovanni Montana. He is formerly of King's College London and is now at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England. Montana and his colleagues used more than 470,300 adult chest X-rays to develop an AI system that could identify unusual results. The system's performance in prioritizing X-rays was assessed in a simulation using a separate set of 15,887 chest X-rays. All identifying information was removed from the X-rays to protect patient privacy. The system was highly accurate in distinguished abnormal from normal chest X-rays, researchers said. Simulations showed that with the AI system, critical findings received an expert radiologist opinion within an average of 2.7 days, compared with an average of 11.2 days in actual practice. The study results were published Jan. 22 in the journal Radiology. "The initial results reported here are exciting as they demonstrate that an AI system can be successfully trained using a very large database of routinely acquired radiologic data," Montana said in a journal news release. "With further clinical validation, this technology is expected to reduce a radiologist's workload by a significant amount by detecting all the normal exams, so more time can be spent on those requiring more attention," he added. The researchers said the next step is to test a much larger number of X-rays and to conduct a multi-center study to assess the AI system's performance. | https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/news/20190123/can-artificial-intelligence-read-x-rays?src=RSS_PUBLIC |
Can Sheryl Sandbergs Apology Tour Restore Facebooks Image (and Stock Price)? | For the past few months, Ive had a weekly ritual. I wake up in the morning, make myself a coffee, sit at my computer, and Google Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandbergs names to see whats new with the two most contentious business figures in modern history. For months now, the headlines have not been pretty. Countless outlets have called for Zuckerberg to resign or Sandberg to be fired. Some news analysts have wondered whether Sandberg might leave Facebook of her own accord. One recent letter to the editor in the Mercury News declared matter-of-factly, Facebooks first step is for Sheryl Sandberg to resign. Ouch. Surveying the media carnage has been like watching a prize fight where one opponent is up against the ropes, getting beaten to a pulp. But this week, all that changed. The latest headlines all speak for themselves. We Have Acknowledged Our Mistakes: Sheryl Sandberg Says Facebook Is Not the Same Company It Was a Year Ago as She Hits Back Against Criticism, wrote the Daily Mail. Sandberg Admits to Facebook Stumbles, Says We Need to Do Better After Rough Year, CNBC offered. Sheryl Sandberg Says Facebook Is Now Blocking 1 Million Fake Accounts Every Day, Venture Beat relayed to readers. These latest news stories suggest that Facebook is finally going on the offensive, to push back against the public sentiment about the company and its leaders, and the barrage of negative stories that have dominated media coverage for the past two years. And what better way to get back to the business of being Facebook than with a promotional tour featuring Sandberg herself. Speaking at conferences in Germany, meeting with world leaders at Davos, fighting the good fight to show that she, and the company she helps lead, are not as bad as the media makes them out to be. Its still to be determined if Sandbergs mea culpa will work. Either way, the transition has been fascinating to watch. Before the 2016 election, Facebook would have shrugged its shoulders at the media onslaught, pat reporters on the head, and returned to the business of being Facebooka multi-billion-dollar profit machine with a growing user base. This was because, for years, there were no consequences for Facebooks deleterious actions. No matter how much the company pillaged your privacy or ignored the rules, nothing changed for Facebook, except that its stock price kept going up. After a bumpy public offering in May 2012, Facebooks stock rose steadily from a low near $18 to an all-time high of about $218 in July 2018, giving the company a market capitalization of more than $600 billion. User growth shot up faster than any other social-media company in history, adding more than a billion new users, most of whom used the service on a daily basis. Revenue was pouring in, too. Facebooks annualized revenue per user increased from $16 a person in the first quarter of 2015 to a whopping $34 a person just three years later. Facebook, to borrow a quote from a certain president, could have gone out on Fifth Avenue and shot someone, and people would still sign up for the service and investors would continue to buy its stock. For most of that time, Sandberg was celebrated in the press as a deity among the business elite. Her rsum is indeed astounding: Sandberg has served on the board of the Walt Disney Company, Women for Women International, Starbucks, and countless others. Her book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, literally created a cultural movement. She has appeared on Fortune magazines Most Powerful Women in Business list nearly a dozen times; the Time 100 list; and the Jerusalem Posts Worlds 50 Most Influential Jews list. The list (sorry, pun intended) could go on. When the mood turned, and the scandals began piling upCambridge Analytica, fake Russian accounts, security breaches, a New York Times investigation that alleged Facebook hid evidence of election interference on its platformSandbergs reputation fell along with Facebooks stock. Today, the company is worth about $200 billion less than it was in July, and Sandberg is desperate to resuscitate their fortunes. Reading the most recent responses by Facebook and Sandberg, you have to wonder if a fresh apology is going to resonate with users or the media, or if this is just another Silicon Valley public-relations exercise. My theory is: no apology tour will matter until there is meaningful change in leadership at Facebook, which is still run by most of the same executives that were in place when the Cambridge Analytica scandal began. Sandberg is still C.O.O., Zuckerberg is still chairman and C.E.O., Chris Cox is still C.P.O., Mike Schroepfer is still C.T.O., Dave Wehner is still C.F.O., and people like Andrew Boz Bosworthwho sent the now-infamous memo that suggested user growth was more important than human livesstill works for Facebook. The companys board, too, is still the same. The only senior person who has left the company is the former vice president of global communications, Elliot Schragepossibly the most thoughtful and nuanced of all the senior managers there, and one of the few who appeared to grapple honestly with Facebooks failures. Im not saying that Sandberg should be fired. Im not saying Cox, Schroepfer, or Zuckerberg need to resign, either. But I am saying that something has to change at the company at the top. Simply wheeling out a new P.R. campaign that says were a different company isnt sufficient. The first time theres another scandaland there will be one, if not a dozen, as we head into the next presidential electionthat corporate messaging is going to melt away like the snow in summer. I understand why Sandberg is trying to lower the temperature in the media, especially the rhetoric about her role. Some news coverage has been harsh, some justified, most somewhere in the middle. But the very reason people pounced on Sandberg the first chance they got was the very reason the company finds itself in its present situation. For more than a decade, people have demanded that Zuckerberg stop being so shady with their personal information, that he change aspects of the site that felt intrusive, that Facebook try to do better. Each time, it fell on deaf ears, was ignored, or laughed at. Then, when it became clear that Sandberg was just like Zuckerberg, the cannons turned toward her. If Sandberg really wants to change how shes perceived in the press today, she shouldnt be trying to tell people outside the company that its time for change, but rather pushing for it inside Facebook. Sign up for our daily Hive newsletter and never miss a story. | https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/01/can-sheryl-sandbergs-apology-tour-restore-facebooks-image-and-stock-price |
Did Brandon Beane hint at a draft day trade? | Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane is having a swell time at the 2019 Senior Bowl this week. Better than last year at least and all because of Josh Allen. Beane said on Tuesday that he feels a bit less stressed heading into the 2019 NFL Draft because last April he and the teams scouting department did the heavy lifting. They landed Josh Allen. Because of that, Beane said things are a little bit easier-going for him. Im smiling, Beane joked about not needing to address the quarterback position at the upcoming draft. Literally, the Bills are locked in at QB. Allen is their starter, but even in years past, the Bills didnt have a full QB room really ever under Beane and head coach Sean McDermott. No more fooling around, though. Buffalo will have Derek Anderson and Matt Barkley as Allens backups. Still, the Bills have plenty of needs and could land a high-profile player with the ninth-overall pick at Aprils draft. But Beane could also get a haul for that same pick. On Tuesday, Beane compared last years draft and this years draft in an interesting way. Last year, he felt like he needed to be in the top-10 to draft Josh Allen. They got there via trades and nabbed him at No. 7. This year, no QB will be touched by Buffalo in the top-10. But that doesnt mean other teams wont want one. Because of his lack of a desire to select at QB at No. 9 said Beane doesnt need to be in the top-10 this year. Its weird, this year were in the top-10 and we dont need to be. Its funny how it all works out. Its nice to be able to focus a little more of our energy on all the positions, Beane said. It could. Some outlets have even forecasted it already, such as The Draft Wire. In addition, Beanes proven he loves his draft picks. So far hes accumulated 10 total picks for the 2019 draft, including two in fourth, fifth, and seventh rounds. He did address how much more he values the draft over free agency on Tuesday as well, despite having more than $80 million in salary cap space heading into the 2019 offseason. I like the draft the best, Beane said when comparing the two periods of the offseason. You know, you control it. Youre not fighting for anyone. Free agency, you can think you have a guy and hes half in the boat, and then somebody else trumps you, Beane added. Theres a lot of moving pieces with free agents so thats the harder one. I like when free agency is done and you can just focus on the draft. So if Beane is leaving the door open on a trade or potentially telling teams hes open for business, what could Buffalo get for the No. According to the Jimmy Johnson draft pick value chart, the Bills hold a 1,350 point value on the No. 9 pick. If a team such as the Washington Redskins wanted to trade up for a quarterback in this scenario, theyd have to likely give up their first-round pick at No. 15 (1,050 value) and second-round pick at pick No. 46 (440). However, when the Bills moved from the No. 12 pick to the No. 7 pick at last years draft, they paid double the price on the Jimmy Johnson scale. | https://billswire.usatoday.com/2019/01/23/buffalo-bills-brandon-beane-hint-at-nfl-2019-draft-trade-josh-allen/ |
Could north Iowa benefit from a warming center? | Below is the closed-captioning text associated with this video. Since this uses automated speech to text spelling and grammar may not be accurate. sara./// it's an issue that can be found in every community homelessness. and our area is no exception including in mason city. with dangerously cold temperatures on the way we wanted to know what resources are available in north iowa for those in need. kimt news 3's alex jirgens spent the day talking with those who know all to well how difficult it can be to find a place to stay once winter hits. he joins us live at the northern lights men's shelter. alex?xxx amy and katie the shelter here and the women's shelter have both experienced an increase in people coming in to find refuge from the cold. but because of capacity limits right now there is a growing need for an additional warming shelter.xxx mike armijo has recently found a permanent place to live but for about 3 years he moved around to different shelters including the men's shelter. "i see that there's a struggle. it's a big a struggle just to keep warm." he knows what it's like to deal with the elements not just in the winter but also year round. "in salem, in oregon, it rains a lot, and it's cold rain, and they do have their winter time. but people survive, and people make it, and there are people that don't make it. they freeze." robi meyer has found permanent housing as well but also moved around to different shelters in iowa. "you don't know it so much until the winter time. and that's when you start to notice it." while they're not allowed to have extra people to bunk with them due to housing agreements armijo and meyer would be willing to lend a helping hand. "whatever it takes to keep people off the street, anything we can do to help, let's try to do the best we i spoke with jeannie kingery the executive director of the northern lights alliance for the homeless. they are talking about opening a permanent warming shelter but location staffing and financing are challenges to the plan. however she is encouraging those who need a place to keep warm to come to the shelter as they have sleeping bags on hand if beds are occupied. live in mason city alex jirgens kimt news 3./// thank you alex. the salvation army of mason city tried to open a warming shelter in the past but low occupancy led it to be | https://www.kimt.com/content/video/504774892.html?ref=892 |
How Do Anker's $80 AirPod Competitors Stack Up to the Real Thing? | Photo: Shep McAllister Less than a year after releasing their Kickstarter-backed Zolo Liberty true wireless headphones to the public, Ankers bringing the same tech to a slimmed down set of earbuds that look a lot like Apples AirPods, at a much lower price. Photo: Shep McAllister Retailing for $80 (or less if theres a deal), Ankers SoundCore Liberty Air headphones cost half as much as Apples AirPods, and its not hard to spot where they cut corners to hit that price point. Compared to AirPods, the Liberty Airs sound fine, but a tad muddier, especially on the low end, and exhibit a subtle hiss that you might notice when your musics paused. The charging case is a bit larger than Apples too, yet holds slightly less charge (20 hours vs. 24), and feels like its made from a fairly cheap plastic compared to the solid and well-built AirPod case. And dont get me started on that grody old microUSB charging port. $159 Apple AirPods 1464 bought by readers GMG may get a commission Buy now But I think thats all pretty forgivable given the lower price point. In my mind, there are two differences that really matter: the W1 chip (and lack thereof on the Liberty headphones), and sealing ear tips. Pairing Anyone thats ever owned a pair of AirPods or a recent pair of Beats knows that Apple is the only company thats really nailed the Bluetooth pairing and management process, and thats because they own the whole stack, from the W1 Bluetooth chip on the headphones, all the way up to the devices that you pair them to. AirPods pair effortlessly to Apple devices, toggle between your iPhone, iPad, and Mac with one click, make it easy to check your battery level, and can do cool tricks like pausing automatically when you remove one earbud. Photo: Shep McAllister Youre not going to find any of that on the Liberty Airs, or really on any Bluetooth headphones that arent made by Apple. They handle pairing as gracefully as they can, automatically connecting to your last-used device immediately after removing the right earbud from the case, without needing to push a button. But if you want to switch to a different device, youll have to completely turn off Bluetooth on your primary device first, or hold down on the right earbuds touchpad for about 10 seconds. Yada yada yada, first world problems, but after owning AirPods, it feels archaic. Advertisement Ive also noticed a few minor quality of life issues that underscore Apples lead on the pairing front. For example, while you can use either the left or the right AirPod independently (say, for making a call), you can only use the right Liberty Air earbud in this manner since the left bud connects to the right, rather than to your phone directly. There was also one instance where I found my music playing through the Liberty Airs when they were both inside the charging case. Normally, putting the Liberty Airs back in the case automatically paused my music, but the experience just wasnt as consistent as what Ive come to expect from Apple. Of course, if you use Android devices, this is all moot. Pairing sucks for you no matter what. No gods, no kings, only forgotten button combinations and Bluetooth menus. The Liberty Airs will be just fine for you. And to their credit, they do feature a rock-solid Bluetooth 5.0 connection no matter what kind of phone youre using. I could easily walk around my entire apartment with my phone plugged in in the bedroom, and I never experienced any skips, stutters, or disconnects. Noise Isolation Graphic: Amazon If Apples AirPods have a fatal flaw, its that they dont seal off your ear canal to block out noise. Thats fine if youre going for a run and want to be aware when cars are coming by, but if youre trying to focus in a noisy office, or listen to music on a plane, AirPods arent the right tool for the job. Too bad, Apple only makes one size, try growing better ears next time. Advertisement The Liberty Airs, like most sensible Bluetooth earbuds, include four sets of interchangeable rubber ear tips in the box. Once you find the one that fits you best, the buds will stay solidly anchored in your ears while blocking out nearby sounds. Seriously, I shook my head around like I was at a Black Sabbath concert, and I couldnt get them to fall out. People keep clamoring for Apple to make noise-canceling AirPods, but honestly, low-tech noise isolation is way simpler, and probably works better too. Advertisement Well, I am an iPhone, iPad, and Mac user whose ears happen to be perfect fits for AirPods, so its really no competition for me. I do wish they sealed off my ears, but Ive taken to packing a pair of noise-canceling over-ears when I fly, which is the only time AirPods really fall flat for me. If that doesnt describe you thoughif you use non-Apple gadgets, say, or dont like how AirPods fitthen sure, get the Liberty Airs! They isolate noise, they sound good enough for non-audiophiles, and theyre nearly as small as Apples headphones, at a fraction of the price. In the sub-$100 true wireless earbud market, theyre as sleek and high-performing an option as youll find. | https://theinventory.com/how-do-ankers-80-airpod-competitors-stack-up-to-the-re-1831992306 |
How hot is too hot to work? | AUSTRALIAN construction workers are being told it's too hot to work as temperatures skyrocket in the southern states, but authorities says there is no heat law in place that tells employers when it's time to send staff home. South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania are being hit with extreme temperatures, which has prompted some worksites to close down until a cool change comes. Today, Adelaide is expected to hit a blistering 45C, close to the city's 80-year record high of 46.1C. In Port Augusta 49C is predicted and 47C at Port Pirie and Roxby Downs. "Nowhere is going to escape," Bureau of Meteorology forecaster Jonathan Fischer said, referring to South Australia. The hot weather has led to a surge of complaints to Safe Work, as employees query their rights when they're told they've got to work in the heat. Safe Work SA told News Corp there is no legislative temperature in place, but employers do have a duty of care to minimise the heat risk for employees. "We've been getting more heat-related queries and a few complaints against employers," a Safe Work SA spokeswoman said. She said Safe Work inspectors would be out during the heatwave, making sure employers were keeping the uncomfortable conditions in mind. Calvary Hospital tradies Mark Rogers and Dallas Martin after knocking off work due to the heat, in Adelaide on Wednesday. Picture: AAP While there's no law saying workers can up and leave when it gets too hot for them, recent heat warnings have prompted the state's Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to remind tradies of its hot weather policy. The CFMEU SA branch's heat policy instructs employees to stop work and go home when the mercury hits 37C. Safe Work advises employers to look at rearranging workdays and times so employees can carry out their duties in cooler conditions as well as offering increased rest breaks, plenty of water and ventilation. In Victoria, where the state is said to be enduring "oppressive" nights thanks to the sweeping heat, the CFMEU branch says 35C is go home time. "OHS reps should not wait until the temperature reaches 35C to act," a brief from CFMEU Victoria reads. The construction union says 35C-37C+ is too hot to work, but theres no law in place. Picture: iStock Citing the current Enterprise Bargaining Agreement it reads: "At temperatures below 35C workers are to be relocated out of direct sunlight where the work environment creates a serious risk to their health and safety." Despite no law that spares workers from a hot day, Safe Work Australia says working in the heat can be harmful to employees. "The human body needs to maintain a body temperature of approximately 37C. If the body has to work too hard to keep cool or starts to overheat a worker begins to suffer from heat-related illness," Safe Work guidelines read. Heat-related conditions include fainting, heat rash, cramps, exhaustion and heat stroke. Workers are also at risk of dehydration, burns and accidents due to reduced concentration. "Workers who are not acclimatised, or are returning to work after an absence of a week or more, are at a higher risk of experiencing a heat-related illness," Safe Work's guide to heat management reads. It states that employers must do everything that is reasonably practicable to eliminate the risks employees face while working in the heat. "We encourage workers to give us a call and in worst case they can file a complaint against their employer," the Safe Work SA spokeswoman said. Unfortunately the question of whether to stay at work or go comes as Melbourne residents have been told to prepare for a 43C day on Friday. Melbourne residents have been told to prepare for 43C on Friday. Picture: Getty Tonight the mercury is also expected to sit at 29C there, making for a pretty uncomfortable sleep meaning some workers will be already feeling fatigued when the temperature rises tomorrow. And further south, Tasmanians are dealing with dozens of fires and fear the heat and wind headed their way in the coming days will be problematic. With conditions expected to worsen on Friday, authorities have warned residents to be vigilant and prepared for higher threats to property and life. A total fire ban is in place for all of Tasmania, starting Thursday until Monday. According to Doctors for the Environment, heatwaves have a serious effect on our health. "Heatwaves have caused more deaths in Australia over the past 100 years than any other natural event," the group warns, saying that outdoor workers such as farmers, construction and emergency services are especially vulnerable to heat, as well as children, the elderly and pregnant women. Keep cool and carry on: children, pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk of heat-related illnesses. Picture: AAP In February 2009, the heatwave that preceded the Black Saturday fires saw an eight-fold increase in heat-related presentations to Victorian hospital emergency departments. That same period also saw instances of cardiac arrest almost triple (2.8 increase). SA Health warns in temperatures hotter than 35C the human body is less capable of staying cool enough to stay healthy, so in extreme heat people are more likely to develop a heat-related illness and become unwell much faster. For more information about your rights at work during heatwaves contact your nearest Safe Work office. Thursday January 24 Adelaide 45 Melbourne 36 Brisbane 34 Perth 22 Hobart 27 Sydney 26 Canberra 32 Darwin 32 | https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/workers-told-its-too-hot-to-work-but-no-law-says-i/3630080/ |
Will the Samsung Galaxy S10 come cyrptocurrency-ready? | If you need a smartphone that will also work as a mobile cyrptocurrency wallet, Samsung may have a handset for you. Photos tweeted by leaker Ice universe on Wednesday purport to show the Samsung Galaxy S10 with support for cyrptocurrencies and sporting a Blockchain KeyStore. Text on the handset's screen calls the KeyStore a "secure and convenient place for your cryptocurrency." Blockchain is an encryption technology best known for underpinning bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. But investor ardor over bitcoin has waned in the past year, with the cryptocurrency trading for about $3,555 on Wednesday after being worth more than $17,000 in December 2017. Samsung is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S10 at an Upacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 20. Cryptocurrency support aside, the 10th edition of its flagship Galaxy S series is also expected to come in three configurations and feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, six cameras (four on the back and two more on the front), and a "Bright Night" mode for low-light photos. And, of course, we've also heard a lot about a foldable "Galaxy X" for months. Samsung didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. | https://www.cnet.com/news/will-the-samsung-galaxy-s10-come-cyrptocurrency-ready/ |
Are Stars Like Kate Hudson Signaling the End of Gender Reveals? | A fun internet game to play is "Guess Why it's Trending." Sometimes it's scary (you'll never not fear the worst when "Betty White" begins to spike on Twitter), but for the most part, it's a highly amusing way to waste your time. No one could have seen that one coming. And on Tuesday, we were presented with yet another stumper when "blue lasagna" began to sweep social media. No, there was not a mold outbreak at the local Sbarro, but the real reason was equally unsettling: A public relations pitch was making the rounds about "gender reveal lasagnas." Because apparently nothing says "we're having a boy and we're excited" quite like ricotta filling stained blue. Sure, as far as gender reveal parties go, this one is pretty tame. (When the bar is set at "not starting forest fires," that's not saying much.) The Wikipedia page for gender reveal (2019 is wild) suggests social media is squarely to blame for a surge in such parties. The concept really took off on YouTube in 2008, much to the glee of party-supply stores and Etsy, and continues to dominate Instagram feeds to this day. But it's not all fun and confetti, especially as the concept of gender becomes a part of a broader cultural conversation ("gender reveal" is criticized as a misnomer because what is really being revealed is the sex, or anatomy, of the baby). "As this trend has grown in popularity, it has sparked a divisive discourse and reasserted normative ideals of gender," writes Carly Gieseler, author of the study "Gender-reveal parties: performing community identity in pink and blue," in the abstract. "It allows adults to recuperate what they have learned from their own gendered constructions, reinscribing expectations and assumptions onto the unwritten body of the unborn and propelling these ideals into the digital, social, public world," she added. At the same time, on the opposite end of the spectrum, the concept of genderless parenting has begun to take off. Rather than ascribing the unborn with boy/girl stereotypes in a glorified manner, some parents have adopted a completely gender neutral lexicon. Enter "theybys," which are exactly what they sound like. But there is some middleground, and Kate Hudson has found herself at the forefront of it. In an interview with AOL, the WW ambassador revealed that she was taking a "genderless" approach to raising her daughter, Rani Rose, who was born in October. "We still dont know what shes going to identify as," she added. Though Hudson announced her pregnancy with daughter Rani by releasing dozens of pink balloons into the air last summer in Los Angeles, she has since changed her stance on predetermining her child's expression of her gender identity. "I can't do that to her," she said of some girly clothing. "It's so over-the-top." That said, she does still use the "she" pronoun (as opposed to a gender-neutral "they") when referring to her baby. Meghan Markle is rumored to be taking a simlar approach. Multiple outlets have noted that she and Harry have opted for a gender-neutral nursery decorated in shades of white and gray, rather than a traditional blue or pink. And Meghan also told fans that she and her husband are waiting to find out the sex of their child, too which is good news for the grounds crew that may have otherwise been stuck picking blue or pink confetti out of the grass at Frogmore until the child's fourth birthday. RELATED: Kate Hudson, WW Ambassador, Doesnt Believe in Diets As for her actual parenting style, the Duchess has remained mum. However, it's not a stretch to imagine that Meghan, who is progressive in her views, would choose to opt out of the restrictive gender dichotomy when it comes to raising Baby Sussex. None of this is to say that the idea of genderless parenting is a particularly groundbreaking. In fact, Hudson and Markle are far from the first celebrity moms to eschew the gender binary in favor of a more fluid parenting approach. Meghan Markle gets credited for a lot, but this idea precedes her just ask Pink. Which brings us back to pink or blue lasagna. | https://www.instyle.com/news/kate-hudson-gender-neutral-baby-parenting |
Could women solve the global pilot shortage? | Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption 'The perception was women didn't fly aircraft' Claire Banks is about to fulfil her childhood dream of flying planes for a living. After almost a decade as a physiotherapist, her aviation career is now ready to take off. The 36-year-old from Lancashire in the north of England has just been offered a job as a pilot by UK carrier EasyJet, joining a small but growing number of women around the world flying commercial aircraft. Once seen as a very male job, Claire says that attitudes have thankfully changed over the past two decades. "On leaving school it [becoming a pilot] wasn't really an option for me, there was very little information, and the perception was that women didn't fly aircraft," she says. "But the industry is now working hard to change that perception, and they're making the career accessible to absolutely everybody." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Easyjet wants 20% of all its new pilots to be women by the end of next year With the global aviation industry warning of a shortfall of pilots as demand for air travel rises strongly, recruiting more women could go a long way to solving the problem. Worldwide air passenger numbers are expected to increase by 6% in 2019, to a record 4.59 billion, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Looking further ahead it predicts that levels could reach 8.2 billion by 2037, led by demand in China, India and Indonesia. Boeing, the world's largest plane-maker, says that if passenger numbers do rise to that amount, an extra 635,000 commercial pilots will be needed over the next 18 years. At the moment just 5% of airline pilots are women, according to the International Society of Women Airline Pilots (ISWAP). That number will need to increase to meet the industry's expected growth, says Robin Glover-Faure, president of L3 Commercial Training Solutions, one of the world's biggest trainers of pilots. L3 trains pilots for more than 40 airlines, including British Airways and Qatar. Mr Glover-Faure says that to meet the requirement for new pilots "we're going to have to appeal to a more diverse group of people that have got the talent but come from backgrounds where maybe they haven't considered being a pilot before". Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Air France is one of few airlines that pays for the training of new pilots The company is also putting money into finding more female pilots through a scholarship scheme. It is now helping 10 women a year fund the training, which normally costs in the region of 100,000, and can take up to 24 months. Most airlines now require would-be pilots to pay to do such courses, but often with the guarantee of a job once they have completed it. Recruits such as Claire Banks use savings, or borrow money from parents. Other people take out loans. Some carriers, such as Air France, however, cover the cost of training new pilots. Mr Glover-Faure says that in the long term, finding more female pilots means breaking down "some of the perception barriers" by going to schools and recruitment fairs to explain that being a pilot is an option for a "very diverse group of people". Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Only 5% of commercial aircraft passengers around the world are female EasyJet, which is one of Europe's biggest airlines, is also actively trying to recruit more women as pilots. David Morgan, its director of flight operations, is in charge of pilot recruitment. He says there is currently "an acute shortage of females coming into the industry". To do its bit to rectify this, EasyJet is now aiming for 20% of its new pilots to be female by next year. Currently only 5.4%, or 215 of its total 4,000 pilots, are women. Another carrier that is working hard to get more female pilots is Virgin Australia. It has set itself one of the toughest targets for new recruits - aiming to have a 50:50 gender balance for its cadet pilots. Lucinda Gemmell, head of human resources at Virgin Australia, says that out of its latest intake of 16 pilot cadets, nine are women. The airline says it is proud to have improved on two women out of 10 in its previous class, and Ms Gemmell adds that Virgin Australia wants "to ensure that our workforce is representative of the communities in which we live, work and fly". At the last count only 5.7% of its pilots are women. Speaking in a personal capacity, ISWAP's Kathy McCullough says that more has to be done across the industry to help female pilots balance their careers with motherhood. She adds that change is needed to lower the number of women who give up flying so that they can take care of their children. EasyJet's David Morgan says that his airline offers flexible working patterns. "Many of our female pilots are on part-time contracts, or on a flexible working pattern where they can accommodate both their professional life and also their home life," he says. Global Trade More from the BBC's series taking an international perspective on trade: Kathy McCullough adds that a more serious industry-wide problem is that some female pilots have reported sexual harassment. For widespread change to happen she thinks the aviation industry needs its own #MeToo moment, and that "more women need to speak out about the harassment that they've received". However, she adds that the problem they face is that "it's perceived as whingeing". It wasn't until the mid-1970s that major American airlines began recruiting female pilots, and Mrs McCullough says the "dismal numbers" of female pilots 40 years later is the proof that issues have not been adequately addressed. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption More than half of Virgin Australia's latest trainee pilots are women While the wider societal #MeToo movement started in the US, its airlines lag behind many around the world when it comes to numbers of female pilots. At the biggest three US carriers by passenger numbers, 4.2% of American Airlines' pilots are female, compared with 4.7% at Delta and 3.6% at Southwest, according to ISWAP. By comparison, at least 10% of pilots are female at eight major Indian airlines. Other carriers that reach double figures are Qantas Link in Australia (11.6%), Iceland Air (10.9%) and South African Express (12.1%). IATA is now working on what it calls a "major study" that aims to identify the best ways to recruit, retain and promote women in aviation. New EasyJet pilot Claire Banks says: "The fact that there is a pilot shortage provides a really good opportunity to get that information out there, and really drive the initiative that females can be commercial pilots." | https://www.bbc.com/news/business-46876007 |
Is there a 'circular' solution to the world's food problems? | [ROME] The pesticide exposure, antibiotic resistance, air and water pollution and other factors caused by industrial food production could kill 5 million people a year by 2050, a new report said. That is four times the number of deaths caused by traffic accidents globally. Preventing that from happening requires producing food locally, using eco-friendly methods, eliminating waste and designing and marketing healthier products, said a foundation set up by record-breaking British sailor Ellen MacArthur. Redesigning the food industry into a so-called "circular economy" model would reduce health costs, save land and water and create new business opportunities, said the report, launched Thursday at the World Economic Forum. sentifi.com Market voices on: Cities could be important catalysts in this change as 80 per cent of all food is expected to consumed in cities by 2050, it said. Under the current linear system, food enters cities where it is processed or consumed and only a small portion of the resulting organic waste, in the form of discarded food, byproducts or sewage, gets used again. In a circular economy, raw materials and byproducts are reused and very little is wasted. Cities would need to source food produced locally in ways that regenerate the ecosystem, distribute the surplus to those who cannot afford it, and turn byproducts into new products from fertiliser to feed to materials for bioenergy. The benefits "could be worth US$2.7 trillion a year to the global economy", according to the report. In contrast, the "extractive, wasteful, and polluting nature" of current food production costs society US$5.7 trillion a year globally, through costs to human and environmental health, the report said. "What you eat matters, but how it has been produced matters as well. You could very well be eating healthy, but still be exposed to the negative impacts because of the way food is produced," said Clementine Schouteden, the report's lead author. "We are at an absolutely critical point," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation from Davos. Scientists are increasingly calling for systemic changes to the way food is being produced and consumed, saying industrial farming has led to a food system that contributes to climate change, cripples the environment and causes a malnutrition crisis. Agriculture, forestry and other land uses are responsible for a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Meanwhile, one third of all food produced, worth nearly US$1 trillion, is wasted globally every year, FAO figures show, even as 821 million people go hungry and one in eight adults are obese. Last week, scientists unveiled for the first time what they say is an ideal diet for the health of the planet and its people, recommending a doubling of consumption of nuts, fruits, vegetables and legumes, and a halving of meat and sugar intake. REUTERS | https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/consumer/is-there-a-circular-solution-to-the-worlds-food-problems |
Why are people not getting vaccinated? | Vaccines for diseases that used to sicken and even kill millions of people throughout the worldlike measles, polio, whooping cough and morehave been available for decades. Thanks to robust vaccination programs in the United States, the spread of many of these diseases had stopped. However, in recent years, outbreaks (three or more linked cases) of some of these diseases have caused concern. Researchers have linked fewer people getting vaccinations to an increase in preventable diseases. Take measles, for instancemeasles is a disease that spreads easily and quickly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the continuous transmission of measles was eliminated in the United States by 2000. But, in recent years, many measles outbreaks have been reported. The CDC reports that the majority of people who have gotten measles in recent years were not vaccinated. When large numbers of people are vaccinated, diseases have a much harder time moving from person to person. If a person does get a disease but is in contact with people who have been vaccinated, the disease will not spread quickly to other people. This protection is called community or herd immunity. But when larger numbers of people are not getting vaccinated, herd immunity breaks down and people are no longer protected when diseases arise. Also, according to Richard K. Zimmerman, MD, MPH, professor of family medicine, and associate professor of behavioral and community health sciences, University of Pittsburgh, flu vaccine rates dropped 40 percent last year, and 79,000 people in the United States died from the flu (the typical number is 23,000). Many researchers have found that vaccination myths are one of the reasons people are not getting immunized against preventable diseases. One of the most common vaccination myths is that vaccines can cause illnesses or diseases. About one in five people will get a sore arm at the injection site, but people cant get an illness from an inactivated vaccine, said Dr. Zimmerman. Almost all vaccines are inactivated [meaning, they are made with dead viruses, bacteria or toxins]. People say they get the flu after getting a flu shot, but they more likely caught an illness from someone else in the waiting room. In recent years, one of the biggest myths about childhood vaccines was that they can cause autism in children. Researchers have studied whether vaccines cause autism. Despite how common that myth is, no research study has found a link between vaccinations and a likelihood of developing autism. A disparity exists in vaccination rates among different racial, ethnic and age groups. Dr. Zimmerman points out that children overall have higher vaccination rates than adults. The CDC reports that White adults have higher vaccination rates than African American, Latinx and Asian adults. Barriers to vaccination include not having appropriate health insurance coverage and a lack of knowledge about which vaccinations to get at what age. [See elsewhere on the page for links to vaccination schedules by age group.] Part of Dr. Zimmermans research involves how to get more people vaccinated. Along with recommendations for health care providers, Dr. Zimmerman cited three different factors in helping people get vaccinatedhabit, attitude and social influence. People tend to get vaccinated more when they develop a habit of doing so. If people have the attitude that vaccines help them and everyone stay healthy, they are more likely to get vaccinated. Finally, when people encounter the social influence of someone like a health care provider who encourages vaccines, people are more likely to get vaccinated. Dr. Zimmerman also notes that incentiveslike insurance companies offering credits or lowered copayshelp people get vaccinated. Even if people think they are safe from preventable diseases, Dr. Zimmerman recommends that they think about getting vaccinated to help keep their loved ones safe. A health care provider can help people know what vaccinations they need and when to get them. ************************* For more information about vaccines, their safety and why getting them is important, Dr. Zimmerman recommends the following websites: 1. CDCcdc.gov/vaccines/index.html 2. Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Centerchop.edu/centers-programs/vaccine-education-center 3. immunize.org 4. pkids.org To view the CDCs recommended vaccination schedule for children, go to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/parents/downloads/parent-ver-sch-0-6yrs.pdf. For teens, go to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/preteen-teen.html. For adults, go to https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/easy-to-read/adult.html. Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier Also On New Pittsburgh Courier: | https://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2019/01/23/why-are-people-not-getting-vaccinated/ |
Who Is Deal or No Deal Contestant George Stathoulis? | On tonights new episode of Deal or No Deal, hosted by Howie Mandel, George Stathoulis is the lucky contestant hoping to win one million dollars. The description for the episode, titled My Big Fat Greek Game Show, reads Restaurateur George Stathoulis and his big Greek family take over the show in a loud, colorful and suspense-filled game. In CNBCs promo video for Stathouliss episode, they feature him and his family bringing Greek culture and chaos to the Deal or No Deal stage and studio. The video shows them smashing plates, dancing, waving Greek flags, and even spitting on the cases for good luck. The show promises that the family will play this game like no one has before. George Stathoulis is a husband and family man, who helps run the family restaurant in southern California. On LinkedIn, there is a George Stathoulis from the greater Los Angeles area who works at Friscos Carhop Diner & Catering. When Mandel invites George up to the stage, he emerges from the wings with his wife and the rest of his family and runs up on stage before kissing Mandel on each cheek. He gave Howie an evil eye charm pin to wear, to protect from bad energy. He also brought one for the banker. After Mandel asks Stathoulis to tell him about himself, he says I am from southern California. I work for my familys restaurant and catering business. Pointing to his wife (who joined him on stage), he adds I just recently got married to the love of my life. She is my everything, and we broke up and I just couldnt be with anybody else. And I chased after her and finally I won her heart the same way Im going to win a million dollars. Also joining George and his wife on stage were Georges parents. If he were to win the million dollars, George said My wife and I want to have seven kids which he joked they needed to help the family at their restaurant. Then, indicating to his own big family, he said Its so important to us cause having a big family, theres nothing better. He got emotional when he told Mandel that his big family is an amazing experience, and their close-knit and fun-filled bond remains a major part of the episode. His mother is one of 7 children, making the number even more significant to him. To conclude, he told Mandel If we get this big money today, we can start a family tonight! It is no surprise that Stathoulis chose case number 7 as the one he believes is holding one million dollars. In another preview clip of the episode, Stathoulis does not immediately open up his first six cases. Before choosing them, he tells Howie that in the Greek culture, for good luck, we gotta spit on the case. He and Mandel take turns spitting on case number 7, and then he chooses case 19 to open first because it was his grandfathers favorite number. Tune in to Deal or No Deal on CNBC, Wednesday nights at 9/8c. | https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/01/deal-or-no-deal-contestant-george-stathoulis/ |
Will the Samsung Galaxy S10 come cryptocurrency-ready? | If you need a smartphone that will also work as a mobile cryptocurrency wallet, Samsung may have a handset for you. Photos tweeted by leaker Ice universe on Wednesday purport to show the Samsung Galaxy S10 with support for cryptocurrencies and sporting a Blockchain KeyStore. Text on the handset's screen calls the KeyStore a "secure and convenient place for your cryptocurrency." Blockchain is an encryption technology best known for underpinning bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. But investor ardor over bitcoin has waned in the past year, with the cryptocurrency trading for about $3,555 on Wednesday after being worth more than $17,000 in December 2017. Samsung is widely expected to unveil the Galaxy S10 at an Upacked event in San Francisco on Feb. 20. Cryptocurrency support aside, the 10th edition of its flagship Galaxy S series is also expected to come in three configurations and feature an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, six cameras (four on the back and two more on the front), and a "Bright Night" mode for low-light photos. And, of course, we've also heard a lot about a foldable "Galaxy X" for months. Samsung didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. | https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/will-the-samsung-galaxy-s10-come-cryptocurrency-ready/ |
Will China take out the axe to fix the slowing property market? | Expect China to step in to goose the all-important but slowing housing market this year but not by too much, and mostly at the local level. Some cities are already taking small steps, like lifting price caps and removing re-sale restrictions. More actions like that are more likely than big policy moves at the national level, China property experts say. Policymakers are looking for the right mix to keep home prices in a desirable range. Prices had skyrocketed until about the middle of last year, when, largely due to cooling measures at the national and local level, they began to rise less quickly in big cities like Beijing, or even fall in medium-sized cities like Hangzhou, Xiamen and Tianjin. Beijing wants to keep home prices in check, neither setting off another round of skyrocketing or a scary plunge. At this point, analysts say, Beijing thinks it can achieve its goals through small steps at the city level. You should not expect any big announcement to lift the axe hanging over the sector, but you can observe some small steps locally, said Lung Siu-fung, an analyst at China Merchants Securities International. What authorities do is absolutely critical. China property: how the worlds biggest housing market emerged Housing and its related sectors accounts for about one-third of Chinas GDP. And home ownership makes up about 70 per cent of the average Chinese persons wealth. Meanwhile, local governments own the land, and they heavily rely on sales to developers to fund everything from schools to roads. As the market has cooled in recent months, investors, developers and those with jobs tied to the sector have grown increasingly afraid it is losing its mojo as a major economic driver and, if so, could cause a serious national economic downturn. Recently, the government has freed up money for lending by reducing the amount of cash banks must hold in reserve. While not specifically directly at developers, it is expected to help them, many of which are heavily in debt. The (bank cash-reserves) cut may indirectly help the housing sector, but does not seem intended for that. The policy message is still to keep the real estate under control, with differentiated local policies, said Robert Ciemniak, CEO of Real Estate Foresight. Going forward, experts say, local governments will take the lead, in an acknowledgement that a one-size fits all policy wont work in very diverse property markets. A fifth of Chinas urban housing supply lies empty, equivalent to 50 million homes We will see some relaxation in some cities, but the market is heading downward. Loans to developers will still be kept at a high-cost level because the market is short of money, said Li Jun, executive director of Hong Kong-listed mainland developer Greentown China Holdings, stressing that he was expressing his personal viewpoint, not that of his company. So far cities have done such things as: * Lifted rules prohibiting homeowners from selling their properties for two years after purchase, as Heze, a small city in East Chinas Shandong province, did in mid-December. * Lifted restrictions on the sale of commercial flats which come with shorter land leases and other disadvantages but are cheaper and made it easier for residents to buy homes in other cities in their province, as Guangzhou authorities did. * Lifted price caps on new private flats, as Beijing did with two residential plots, which encourages developers to build because of larger profits. Other cities and provinces are sending signals they are ready to take steps as well, including Hangzhou and Ningbo, though have not been specific yet. More cities are expected to take similar action. And some analysts expect banks to negotiate lower-rate loans with individual developers, who were paying as much as 9 per cent for loans last year, making it expensive to buy land, pay down debt or build new projects. Under the calm surface, local government officials actually are more worried about the market than developers because they have big stakes in it, said Li Zhanjun, chief analyst with the China Real Estate Research Association. But the local officials are only bold enough to do a small twist here and there, and do so without saying it out loud, to avoid political hassle from higher authorities. | https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/2183344/will-china-take-out-axe-fix-slowing-property-market |
Why do people such as Lindsey Graham come to Congress? | Columnist Back in the day, small rural airports had textile windsocks, simple and empty things that indicated which way the wind was blowing. The ubiquitous Sen. Lindsey O. Graham has become a political windsock, and as such, he more than the sturdy, substantial elephant is emblematic of his party today. When in 1994, Graham, a South Carolina Republican, first ran for Congress, he promised to be one less vote for an agenda that makes you want to throw up. A quarter-century later, Graham himself is a gastrointestinal challenge. In the past three years, he had a road-to-Damascus conversion. In 2015, he said Donald Trump was a jackass. In February 2016, he said: Im not going to try to get into the mind of Donald Trump, because I dont think theres a whole lot of space there. I think hes a kook, I think hes crazy, I think hes unfit for office. And: Im a Republican and hes not. Hes not a conservative Republican. Hes an opportunist. Today, Graham, paladin of conservatism and scourge of opportunism, says building the border wall is an existential matter for the GOP: If we undercut the president, thats the end of his presidency and the end of our party. Well. Six years after its founding, the Republican Party produced the president who saved the nation. The party presided over the flow of population west of the Mississippi, into space hitherto designated on maps as the Great American Desert. (The Homestead Act of 1862 was enacted by a Republican-controlled Congress.) The Morrill Act of 1862 (Vermont Rep. Justin Morrill was a Republican) launched the land-grant college system that began the democratization of higher education and advanced the science-intensive agriculture that facilitated the urbanization that accelerated the nations rise to global preeminence. The party abetted and channeled the animal spirits that developed the industrial sinews with which 20th-century America defeated fascism and then communism. Now, however, Graham, whose mind might not have a whole lot of space for pertinent history, thinks this partys identity and survival depend on servile obedience to this presidents myopia. During the government shutdown, Grahams tergiversations sorry, this is the precise word have amazed. On a recent day, in 90 minutes he went from I dont know whether the president has the power to declare an emergency and divert into wall-building funds appropriated by Congress for other purposes, to Time for President . . . to use emergency powers to build Wall. The next day, he scrambled up the escalation ladder by using capitalization: Declare a national emergency NOW. Build a wall NOW. Two days later, he scampered down a few rungs, calling for his hero to accept a short-term funding measure to open the government while wall negotiations continue. Stay tuned for more acrobatics. But stay focused on this: Anyone in Graham-speak, ANYONE who at any time favors declaring an emergency, or who does not denounce the mere suggestion thereof, thereby abandons constitutional government. Yes, such a declaration would be technically legal. Congress has put on every presidents desk this (to adopt Justice Robert Jacksons language in his dissent from the Supreme Courts 1944 Korematsu decision affirming the constitutionality of interning of U.S. citizens and noncitizens of Japanese descent) loaded weapon, ready for the hand of any authority that can bring forward a plausible claim of an urgent need. Or an implausible one. However, an anti-constitutional principle would be affirmed. The principle: Any president can declare an emergency and repurpose funds whenever any of his policy preferences that he deems unusually important are actively denied or just ignored by the legislative branch. Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to the media after meeting with President Trump on Dec. 30. Seven times, Graham has taken the oath of congressional office, solemnly swearing to support and defend the Constitution and to bear true faith and allegiance to it, without any mental reservation. Graham, who is just 1 percent of one-half of one of the three branches of one of the nations many governments, is, however, significant as a symptom. When the Trump presidency is just a fragrant memory, the political landscape will still be cluttered with some of this presidents simple and empty epigones, the make-believe legislators who did not loudly and articulately recoil from the mere suggestion of using a declared emergency to set aside the separation of powers. Read more from George F. Wills archive or follow him on Facebook. | https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-do-people-such-as-lindsey-graham-come-to-congress/2019/01/23/9830a174-1e68-11e9-8e21-59a09ff1e2a1_story.html |
Has Riverdale Lost Its Mind Or Have We Lost Ours? | The show has never been not a little bit insane in the best kind of way, but this season takes the cake. It takes the cake so far that you can't see the cake anymore. The cake is gone. A bear has eaten the cake, after it attacked Archie Andrews (KJ Apa) in some Canadian woods. At some point, this season was about a Dungeons and Dragons-esque game called Gryphons and Gargoyles that was driving teens to commit suicide and causing others to have still-mysterious seizures. Eventually, we learned that the parents had all played G&G back in the day, but had stopped and vowed to never speak of it again after their principal ended up dead. The first half of the season ended with the assumption that Hiram Lodge (Mark Consuelos) was controlling the game as a way of getting Riverdale under his thumb. He got Mayor Hermione (Marisol Nichols) to shut down the school and got the governor to declare a quarantine on the town, and that's where the show left off in 2018. | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1007879/has-riverdale-lost-its-mind-or-have-we-lost-ours?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories |
Are millennials more financially responsible than we thought? | Millennials tend to get a bad rap when it comes to being financially responsible. (Avocado toast, anyone?) The reality, however, is that they're doing a pretty decent job of keeping their spending in check. The average millennial spends $2,164.99 a month, or $25,979.88 a year, according to data from Ally Financial. But when we compare millennial spending to that of the average American, the numbers don't paint such an unfavorable picture for younger adults. Consider this: The average millennial spends $325.44 a month on food. The average American, meanwhile, spends $600.25. Furthermore, millennials spend an average of $426.73 on housing, whereas the average American spends $1,573. Of course, part of the reason why millennials might spend less than Americans across all age groups is that they earn less. Still, let's not gloss over the fact that while 60% of all U.S. adults have less than $1,000 in savings, 45% of millennials are actively saving for emergencies like medical bills, car problems, or home repairs. And that's not the only thing they're saving for. A good 41% are setting money aside for retirement despite the fact that it's decades away. And another 41% are socking away cash in the hopes of putting a down payment on a home. Clearly, millennials are doing a decent job of not overspending and saving some of their income. And Americans across all age groups should really aim to follow suit. Getting your financial house in order If you're currently maxing out the bulk of your paycheck and have little to no money set aside for emergencies, retirement, or other goals, it's time to realign your priorities. First, create a budget. It'll help you see where your money is going so you can identify ways to cut back on spending if necessary. And make no mistake about it: If you're unable to consistently save at least 15% of your paycheck, it means you're spending too much. Next, take steps to automate your savings so that your newly freed-up cash goes where it needs to go. If you don't have money in a traditional savings account to cover unplanned bills, your first goal should be to amass enough cash to cover at least three months' worth of living expenses, and ideally, more like six months' worth. To that end, set up a direct transfer so that part of your earnings are sent into savings until you've reached your goals. Once that's in place, you can focus on other key objectives, like retirement. If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, signing up for it is a great way to ensure that your money gets put away for the future. Otherwise, find an IRA with an automatic savings feature, and arrange to have part of each paycheck land there month after month. Of course, millennials aren't off the hook in this regard. While an estimated 82% are saving in some capacity, that means 18% are maxing out their paychecks rather than managing to put money away. Still, the fact that most younger workers are building up a safety net, nest egg, or home down payment is impressive in its own right. They say that with age comes wisdom, and if that's right, millennials are clearly ahead of their time. If you're among the majority of millennials who are saving money and spending in a relatively modest fashion, keep up the good work. And if not, pledge to do better -- whether you're part of the millennial generation or not. This article originally appeared in the Motley Fool The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/are-millennials-more-financially-responsible-we-thought-1666937 |
Is Chinas Economy Slowing Down? | There's the rich, the poor, and the tax payers...also known as the middle class. Robert Kiyosaki The Tax you pay is The Bill for Staying Stupid Stefan Molyneux Taxation is legalized Theft UNKNOWN "The Objective of the Bank is not the control of a conflict , it's the control of the debt that a conflict produces . The real value of a conflict , the true value is in the debt that it creates . You control the debt , you control everything . this is THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE BANKING INDUSTRY , to make us all , whether we be nations or individuals , SLAVES TO DEBT " An UNKNOWN Banker Patriotism is the last refuge... to which the scoundrel clings .... Steal a little and they throw you in jail ..steal a lot and they make you king .... Bob Dylan "Corporations are stealing billions in tax breaks, while the confused, screwed citizenry turn on each other. International corporations have no national allegiance, they care only for profit." Robert Reich Steve Quayle Your Greatest Teacher is Your Last Mistake DAVID ICKE The one who Controls the Education System , Controls Perception UNKNOWN | https://financearmageddon.blogspot.com/2019/01/is-chinas-economy-slowing-down.html |
Can Aussies find what were looking for? | Matthew Renshaw (centre) trains with his teammates at the Gabba. (Photo: Darren England/AAP) Matthew Renshaw (centre) trains with his teammates at the Gabba. (Photo: Darren England/AAP) DON'T worry about the silverware. Australian cricket is searching for something even more important in its series starting against Sri Lanka - its lost mojo. Our nation's customary cricketing swagger has been replaced by a furrowed brow. Confidence has been replaced by caution and confusion. The famed Australian aura is no longer a weapon. The once withering focus has been replaced by a fog. It stretches from the batting crease to team selections where players have gone in and out of the team with painful regularity. The two-Test series against Sri Lanka, which starts with the day-night pink-ball Test at the Gabba from Thursday, is the beginning of the road back following a demoralising series loss to India. In a huge disappointment for fans seeking a new batting hero, Australia decided to leave out 20-year-old rising star Will Pucovski from the starting side. His selection in the initial squad was received as a major breakthrough but the selection panel could not quite muster the courage to play him. Australia will still field two new Test players, Sydney batsman Kurtis Patterson and Perth fast bowler Jhye Richardson, while Queensland's Joe Burns has won a recall. All are inspiring stories. Jhye Richardson gets his chance against the Sri Lankans. Richardson was told as a youngster he was too small to be a fast bowler but it lit a fire within him that has driven him to great heights. His pace and fire could easily rattle the brittle Sri Lankan top order under lights. This is an era of stunning turnover. At the start of this century Australia went the best part of two years without a Test debutant. There was not a solitary new Test player in the year 2000 and Simon Katich became the first new Australian Test cap of the 21st century in August 2001. Yet since the great bowling attack featuring Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath was disbanded in January 2007, there have been 57 new caps. Australia has never felt comfortable in its own skin since the grand Warne-McGrath era ended with a thumping whitewash of England. Benchmarks were set by superheroes that mere mortals could not live up to. Mediocrity has never sat well with Australian cricket fans. The search goes on for new stars and new leaders. Kurtis Patterson also gets a start. The promotion of Travis Head and fast bowler Pat Cummins to be joint vice-captains shows that Australia is looking for a new direction. This should be a fascinating Test. Australia won all four pink-ball Tests it has played. Sri Lanka have won two from two. "The battle of the day-night kings,'' quipped one press box voice yesterday but there has been nothing regal about Australia's form since the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year. Pink-ball cricket is set to play a key role in Brisbane's Test match future - the venue is at its best under lights (when they work) given the sapping nature of Brisbane's daytime heat and humidity. Desperation is building within the Australia ranks. An Ashes tour looms large this year but captain Tim Paine said this series was still the priority. "We want to win it, not looking further than that,'' Paine said. Meanwhile, much like the Australian team, the Gabba is on trial as it tries to lift its ranking in the pecking order of national venues from a lowly No.5. Both teams have suggested they will launch bouncer wars at their rivals, with their plans a nod to the timeless quality of the Gabba pitch Australia has not lost at the Gabba for 30 years. It is confident that a switch to the pink ball won't mean a sudden dose of red faces. | https://www.northernstar.com.au/news/australian-cricket-team-looking-to-find-mojo-in-da/3629745/ |
Are these fertility treatments scientific breakthroughs or pricey shams? | When Mariela finally got pregnant in August 2017 after trying for three years, she knew exactly what she was going to name her little boy. Aramis, from The Three Musketeers, the Long Islander tells The Post. Because it was going to be just the three of us me, my husband and him. Unfortunately, Mariela (who declined to share her last name for privacy reasons) miscarried. It was a devastating loss after a harrowing journey toward pregnancy, which included diagnoses of endometriosis and hypothyroidism, at least three rounds of in vitro fertilization, two surgeries and two different fertility clinics. In three years, she and her husband spent about $50,000 on fertility treatments. With the clock ticking, Mariela, 41, is now turning to ovarian rejuvenation a new medical procedure sought by women making last-ditch attempts to conceive. Ovarian rejuvenation an umbrella term for a handful of similar procedures is an unregulated, experimental fertility treatment to spark the release of eggs. Proponents claim that with these procedures, infertile women even those who have entered menopause already may be able to get pregnant. In two of the more popular methods, the ovaries are either pricked to send blood rushing to the area or injected with platelet-rich plasma made from the patients own blood, a process thought to decrease inflammation. Some doctors use both procedures, while others use just one. Ovarian rejuvenation is an unregulated, experimental fertility treatment to spark the release of eggs. The theory goes that these treatments will excite the ovarian follicles, in which eggs mature, spurring eggs to be released and, hopefully, fertilized. [It] wakes up these dormant eggs with the hope that they grow as follicles and mature and collect in the system and be fertilized, says Dr. Zaher Merhi, a reproductive endocrinologist who has been performing ovarian rejuvenation for a year at New Hope Fertility Center in Midtown. The center currently charges $1,750 for the one-time procedure, with IVF starting at an additional $7,000 a cycle. He thinks the best candidates for the procedure are women under 40 who are in early menopause, which is about 1 percent of the population. Of the women who Merhis treated in that category, he says the procedure has worked about 20 percent of the time. But many doctors arent sure it works, period. Until theres better controlled data and safety data, I have a hard time charging money and potentially putting women at risk for something that does not have much evidence behind it, says Dr. Eric Forman, medical and lab director at Columbia University Fertility Center in Midtown. There could be a serious bleeding complication; theres infection risk; theres anesthesia. Forman would rather see women pursue motherhood in more tried-and-true methods: embryo or egg donation, which he describes as effective and safe; or adoption. More often than not, women who try ovarian rejuvenation do not get pregnant. That was the case for Jill, who declined to share her last name for privacy reasons. She knew going in that her chances were slim. The 29-year-old from the suburbs of Chicago and her husband have been trying to get pregnant for the past decade. For her, taking part in an ovarian rejuvenation clinical trial was a final effort before officially deciding to use a donor egg. I have a hard time charging money and potentially putting women at risk for something that does not have much evidence behind it. It was something different, she tells The Post. It was kind of like my husband and I had decided [that ovarian rejuvenation would be the] last hurrah. [After doing it,] we have tried everything that was cutting edge. Others are clinging to the small chance of hope that this new treatment gives them. One woman, a 40-year-old patient of Merhi, who wished to remain anonymous, uprooted her entire life from North Carolina to move to New Jersey to be closer to his care. Im a poor responder to IVF medications, she tells The Post, of her excitement to try a new medical opportunity. But it hasnt been without pain, I couldnt walk for three days [after], she says. All this trouble will be worth it in the end, she says. We believe in God more than science, she says. I hope that God blesses us with a baby so its worth the journey. Mariela, the hopeful mom-to-be from Long Island, is now wading into a new and even more experimental form of ovarian rejuvenation. After her physical therapist recommended treating joint issues with stem cell injections, Mariela had an idea: having stem cells injected into her ovaries. Its not completely unheard of, Merhi, her doctor, says, because of the regenerative qualities in stem cells. If you put [stem cells] in the ovary, were hoping they become ovarian cells that keep producing [eggs], he says of the theory. Mariela connected her physical therapist with Merhi at New Hope. In June, in an experimental process, stem cells were taken from her stomach tissue and then injected into her ovaries, making Mariela one of the first ever stem-cell ovarian rejuvenation patients. She paid the same $1,750 for this type of ovarian rejuvenation. Her hormone levels improved significantly. Merhi then retrieved eggs, which were used to create four embryos, two of which were implanted. Although the unique procedure did not result in a pregnancy, Mariela isnt giving up yet. I did not know I was this strong and I did not know I was this stubbornly positive, she says. I feel like I deserve that miracle of having something growing inside of me. | https://nypost.com/2019/01/23/are-these-fertility-treatments-scientific-breakthroughs-or-pricey-shams/ |
How far have Scunthorpe United come since Fleetwood Town horror show? | Get Daily updates directly to your inbox Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Could not subscribe, try again later Invalid Email A LOT has happened since August 22. Iron fans will have wanted to erase the evening of that date from their minds as that was the day that they suffered one of their worst home defeats in recent memory when they went down 5-0 to Fleetwood Town. Scunthorpe were 4-0 down within half an hour as they capitulated against a side that they would have expected to, at the very least, compete with. That game also proved to be the last in charge for Nick Daws as he was dismissed only two days later and replaced with Stuart McCall. There is no doubt that McCall has improved the Irons fortunes and they have come a long way since that game against the Cod Army. But it has been anything but plain sailing for the Iron, with plenty of rocky patches in the five months since McCalls arrival. He was unbeaten in his first six games in charge, of which three were wins, including that crazy game against Charlton, which the Iron won 5-3. Even at that time, we knew the Iron were going to be in for a rollercoaster ride. Many people were sympathetic to McCalls plight as he had inherited a squad that was light on numbers and quality, after losing four of their best players to Championship clubs. When McCall came in, there was no chance to add to the squad and he had to make do with the players that he had at his disposal. One thing he could not solve was the Irons defensive problems and from the Charlton game they went on a sequence where they conceded three or more goals in five out of seven games. McCall, in his post match interviews, could not hide his disappointment at his sides shortcomings but was refreshingly honest. There were murmurings of discontent on the terraces as to whether he was even the right man for the job. Many were willing to give him until January to see what players could be brought to Scunthorpe during the transfer window. A turning point seemed to have been reached when the Iron beat Bristol Rovers in November when Jak Alnwick saved a penalty before Matthew Lund came up with a winner. (Image: Paul Paxford/PRiME Media Images) But it proved to be a false dawn as Scunthorpe then went on their worst run of the season losing seven straight games. The defensive individual errors became more and more frequent which led to McCall saying in one of his post-match interviews that it was an insult to schoolboys to call it schoolboy defending. He admitted for the first time publicly after the Bradford game that he couldnt wait for January to come around. It showed that even McCall was becoming exasperated with his sides shortcomings. But since then things have turned. There was an improved performance against Luton, despite the Iron losing 2-0, before they took a scrappy 1-0 win at home to Wycombe, which this time proved to be the turning point. That was backed up by a 2-0 win away to Peterborough on New Years Day, followed by a raft of new signings which brought much needed positivity to the club. (Image: David Haber/scunthorpelive) The club kept true to their word on the promise of new signings and the chairman and the board must be congratulated for backing McCall with the funds to bring the players in. That positivity has continued with the wins over Coventry and Walsall and the draw against Sunderland, which sees the Iron currently on a five-game unbeaten run ahead of this weeks trip to Fleetwood, who sit eighth. There is no doubting that Saturdays trip to Higbury will be completely different to that fateful night at Glanford Park but Scunthorpe are by no means out of the woods yet. League One is incredibly tight at the moment and a couple of defeats and Iron will be right back down near the bottom four. But they have the confidence in the squad, with many playing at the top of their game. A victory over the Cod Army could banish that fateful night in August to the history books. The fact the Iron are only five points behind their opponents, considering how easily they were dismantled back in August, shows how far they have come. | https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-far-scunthorpe-united-come-2462269 |
What does east-west classification of Uttar Pradesh by Congress mean? | The Congress has appointed two separate general secretaries for Uttar Pradesh: Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia will be in charge of East and West Uttar Pradesh respectively. According to senior Congress leaders, East Uttar Pradesh accounts for 42 Lok Sabha seats from the sub-regions of Avadh and Purvanchal. West Uttar Pradesh includes Bundelkhand, Ruhelkhand and western parts of the state and accounts for the remaining 38 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. A comparison of the 2009 and 2014 Lok Sabha elections shows that the Congress has performed better in East Uttar Pradesh. Amethi and Rae Bareli, the only two seats won by the Congress in the 2014 elections are in the east as per this classification. Even in 2009, when the Congress won 21 seats in the state, 15 came from the east. The party won 4 and 3 seats in east and west regions in the 2017 assembly elections. To be sure, East Uttar Pradesh also includes Gorakhpur and Varanasi, the strongholds of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, respectively. The Congresss edge in the east also shows in terms of vote share. It had a vote share of 10% in East Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, compared to just 4.9% in the west. There is also a difference in the performance of other parties in eastern and western Uttar Pradesh. While the Samjawadi Party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are stronger in the west, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) performed better in the east in both the 2014 and 2017 elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party swept all parts of the state in the 2014 election when it won 71 of the 80 seats with a vote share of 42.6% and the 2017 assembly elections when it won 312 of 403 seats with a vote share of 40%. The analysis has used statistics from the Trivedi Centre for Political Data at Ashoka University. First Published: Jan 24, 2019 07:08 IST | https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/what-does-east-west-classification-of-uttar-pradesh-by-congress-mean/story-r3j65PpzzBKtyuqjGiNcyI.html |
Did Nick Wright Throw Shade At Bill Belichick In Praising Sean McVay? | Nick Wright had some things to say Wednesday, and shockingly, they werent exactly pro-New England Patriots. The FS1 talking head has been doing his fair share of conducting aboard the Patriots hater train and that was not about to stop with New England gearing up for Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams on Feb. 3. One of the most intriguing matchups heading into the big game is between Bill Belichick and Sean McVay. McVay has been all the rage around the NFL for his upbeat style and, of course, his age. McVay, who turns 33 on Thursday, will be the youngest head coach to coach in the Super Bowl. Belichick, 66, could become the oldest coach to ever win a Super Bowl. On FS1s First Things First, Wright, alongside analyst Chris Carter, talked about McVays exceptional rise to success, calling the Rams coach a generational coaching talent, while throwing shade at Belichick for his early-career struggles with the Cleveland Browns. His ability, at this age, to handle everything a head coach has to handle, while schematically giving his team so many advantages, while scheming guys open that is not a duplicable skill set, Wright said. There arent five Sean McVays, much less 10. There might only be one. And so, (Carters) point that Bill Belichick couldnt do this at 30 years old. He couldnt do this at 42 years old, Wright added. When he was the head coach of the Browns, I dont know that he was equipped to be a successful head coach the way he certainly was when he took over the Pats, and certainly not the way Sean McVay was when he was 30 years old and got the job. I do think Sean McVay is a generational coaching talent, its why he got the job so young and its why hes been so successful. Belichick went 36-44 with the Browns, but coincidentally, led the franchise to their last playoff win in 1994 when he was 42. While its true that McVay has impressed in his first two years on the sideline, its still probably going to be a while before we can throw him in the same ranks as someone with five Super Bowl rings, 261 regular season wins and 30 more wins in the playoffs as a head coach. Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images | https://nesn.com/2019/01/did-nick-wright-throw-shade-at-bill-belichick-in-praising-sean-mcvay/ |
Why Didnt Denzel Washington Get an Oscar for American Gangster? | Denzel Washington is widely regarded as one of Hollywoods finest leading men. He belongs in that rare echelon of A-Listers who can take just about any role and turn it into something special AND something that audiences will want to see. Hes also in that rare echelon of actors who have won two Academy Awards for acting. The first came in Best Supporting actor for the 1989 Civil War film Glory. The second came 13 years later, a Best Actor trophy for Training Day, making him only the second black man at that time to win that award. (Since then, Jamie Foxx and Forest Whitaker have also won.) And while Glory was a popular film in its time (a Best Picture nominee about an all-black regiment in the Civil War, albeit one directed by white Edward Zwick and starring white Matthew Broderick), and Training Day was sticky enough in pop culture to spawn a catch phrase, its still more than a little bewildering that these are the two movies Denzel won his Oscars for. In 20 more years, wont it be bizarre when we have to clarify that, no, Denzel Washington did not win his two Oscars for Malcolm X. Nor did he win for The Hurricane in 1999. Nor for Fences in 2016. Nope. Glory. Okay. American Gangster is one of those movies where, had it come in the days before Denzel had won his second, hed have been a huge contender. Director Ridley Scotts epic crime drama attracted awards attention for legendary actress Ruby Dee, but seeing as Denzel had recently won his second Oscar, there wasnt much of a campaign for him. Which is too bad, because watching Washington compete against Daniel Day Lewis who won that year for There Will Be Blood might have been the most epic Best Actor showdown of my lifetime. Especially if both were seeking their second trophy. American Gangster is i terrifically underrated film, with Ridley Scott combining a mob movie with a historical drama, a sleek NYC-based tale about a black gangster (Washington) trying to evade the bad guys (Josh Brolin) and the cops (Russell Crowe). And if it were Martin Scorsese directing Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio in the same role, the Oscars might have come calling. But Oscar had already come calling for The Departed the year before, perhaps answering the question of why the Academy wasnt in the mood for a gangster crime saga two years in a row. So instead of Oscar glory, American Gangster remains an intriguing what-if footnote in Oscar history. Its also streaming right now on Netflix, so you can judge for yourself. Stream American Gangster on Netflix | https://decider.com/2019/01/23/why-didnt-denzel-washington-get-an-oscar-for-american-gangster/ |
What Is Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis? | A 28-year-old man from Bangladesh named Abul Bajandar has recently made headlines again after first gaining attention in 2016 for a rare skin condition that transforms skin to look like thick tree branches. Unfortunately, Bajandar is back in the hospital to treat his worsening (and spreading) condition after already having 25 surgeries since 2016. Image zoom Abul Bajandar suffers from the rare skin condition epidermodysplasia verruciformis, which causes branch-like lesions to grow on his body. NurPhoto/Getty Images While hes been dubbed tree man, his skin condition is actually known and studiedits called epidermodysplasia verruciformis, and the branches forming are actually made up of warts. Here is everything you need to know about the skin condition epidermodysplasia verruciformis. Epidermodysplasia verruciformis (or EV), at its most simplistic level, is an inability of the body's immune system to mount a normal response to human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes warts, says board-certified dermatologist Whitney High, MD, director of dermatopathology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. Before you freak out, epidermodysplasia verruciformis is not contagiousits genetic. It is important to understand you cannot catch this disease from the tree man or from anyone else, Dr. High says. Warts and HPV are contagious, but EV involves the body's response to the virus, and in the case of EV, that is an inherited problem. Its also extremely rare, but there are at least a couple similar cases here in the United States and abroad, says Dr. High. According to the Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, its still unknown exactly how many people have EV; more than 200 cases have been reported so far. While the bark-like lesions themselves arent painful, they may cause pain as their heavy weight pulls on the skin, Dr. High says. EV also increases a persons risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer, he adds. Theres no cure for epidermodysplasia verruciformis, but treatments are available. In Bajandars case, Dr. High says, it sounds like the goal is to surgically remove as much of the visible disease as possible. In other cases, particularly in the U.S., doctors may try to stimulate the immune system response to the HPV virus, he says. This is done using medications like interferons, which are versions of proteins made naturally by the body. I have done this myself in some patients, he adds. Hopefully Bajandar's story not only gets him the help he needs for his condition but brings more awareness to his rare disease. Please understand this tragic case is a rarity, which is not common or infectious, Dr. High says. [Dermatologists] want to do everything we can to help this man. To get our top stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for the Healthy Living newsletter | https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/epidermodysplasia-verruciformis |
Is The Media Coverage Of The Mueller Investigation A Problem? | Welcome to FiveThirtyEights weekly politics chat. The transcript below has been lightly edited. sarahf (Sarah Frostenson, politics editor): Last Thursday, BuzzFeed published a story alleging that President Trump directed Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal attorney, to lie on the presidents behalf to Congress about the Trump Tower project in Moscow. Special counsel Robert Muellers office later issued a rare statement in response, saying that BuzzFeeds description of specific statements to the special counsels office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohens congressional testimony are not accurate. That sparked a debate around the reporting behind the story. meghan (Meghan Ashford-Grooms, senior editor): Media outlets have interpreted the special counsels statement differently. The original story by BuzzFeed was sourced to two federal law enforcement officials, and The Washington Post has written an article, also based on anonymous sourcing, reporting that the special counsels statement was meant to be a denial of the central theses of the BuzzFeed story. BuzzFeed continues to say that the statement is nonspecific about what the special counsels office claims is inaccurate, and the outlet stands by its reporting. Its pretty messy! natesilver (Nate Silver, editor in chief): Its also messy because the special counsels office may have been under pressure from the White House to reject the reporting. Which is not to say the special counsels office wouldnt have issued the statement if investigators didnt believe it. Clearly, if theres an element in the story that doesnt match the narrative theyre trying to tell, and there are lots of reasons why they might not want that out there in the ether. I do think, though, that its not entirely clear what happened so, yeah, maybe we should talk about generalities more than specifics. meghan: That makes sense, Nate. The BuzzFeed reporters may have gotten it right! We dont know at this point, but this hullabaloo has raised a lot of issues for journalism that have been around for a while. The main issue for me is the scoop war that seems to be playing out among reporters trying to figure out what Mueller knows and what hes concluding from his investigation into whether Trumps campaign coordinated with Russian officials attempting to influence the 2016 election. natesilver: To Sarahs question about sourcing, Im someone whos pretty skeptical of the medias reliance on anonymous sources. I dont think you could report this particular story without anonymous sources. But I do feel like the bar isnt high enough. When a story relies on anonymous sources, the publication bar needs to be especially high. perry (Perry Bacon Jr., senior writer): I dont mind scoop wars. I think its worth being precise about what we think is off here. My biggest concern about the Russia stories is the rush to break news that will come out on its own anyway. Think about all of the coverage speculating about when the special counsel investigation will end or trying to guess when Rod Rosenstein will resign. The end of the investigation will be public. That resignation will be public. Those are not things that we need reporters to unearth. meghan: There are so many of those. sarahf: Yeah, and it seems like by trying to get the inside scoop before news breaks, reporters end up making a bigger mess of it. natesilver: There have been quite a few screw-ups on Russia-related stories. Maybe four or five that I can think of, offhand. Most of those were stories that painted Trump in an unfavorable light, but there was also the infamous New York Times FBI Sees No Clear Link To Russia story, which was a massive error in the other direction. meghan: One of the biggest issues I have with anonymously sourced stories, especially when one is challenged: The public, experts and other reporters cant evaluate how strong the reporting is if they dont know where it came from. Perry and Nate, Im curious about why there might be more screw-ups on this topic. natesilver: Its partly because the special counsels office has been so circumspect in what they do reveal to the public, yeah. But I also think its because there are probably pro- and anti-Trump factions within the Justice Department. That was sort of the Timess explanation for the no clear link story: The Trump folks in the FBI were selling this framing to us, and maybe we were too uncritical in buying it, although there was a grain of truth to it. meghan: Thats really interesting, Nate, and suggests that knowing who is talking would be super valuable for readers. But, of course, finding a balance is tough. Most of those stories wouldnt be published if anonymity werent granted. But I would then ask whether all of those stories are necessary. It could be that BuzzFeed did get it right, but the problem is that we dont know and we wont know for a while. perry: I think there are a few explanations for the mistakes in Russia stories specifically: 1) There are a lot of people competing on this story, so getting a scoop is hard and requires you to be aggressive, perhaps too aggressive. 2) The special counsels office is basically unwilling to confirm or deny most stories. 3) There are many different kinds of sources who are trying to play the media to their advantage here the attorneys of the various players, the various factions at the Justice Department, congressional Democrats, the White House, etc. Or, at the very least, should be treated more skeptically because theyre motivated to portray their involvement in a certain light. perry: Like, its clear to me that Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani is an unnamed source for many of these stories. And while he might have some information, hes also obviously an interested party. meghan: I did not realize that, Perry! And thats one of the things that I dont think most readers would understand either. natesilver: BuzzFeeds Ben Smith is a pretty interesting editor. Hes both a traditionalist in some ways (coming from the NYC tabloid world) and a bit radical in others, including on issues around transparency. For example, BuzzFeed was the publication that actually released the Steele dossier. So one thing thats disappointed me a little is that they havent been more transparent about their reporting process now that its been called into question. (I should say here that Im friends with Jonah Peretti, who is the CEO of BuzzFeed. I also know and like Ben.) perry: I assume the universe of potential sources here is quite small. So being transparent is probably hard without getting people fired. To me, the story is that BuzzFeed claimed that Cohen was directed by Trump to lie to Congress and that theres various evidence for this that will come to light. Thats the whole claim. The rest of it isnt particularly new or interesting. meghan: I learned a lot more about the BuzzFeed story from watching Smith and reporter Anthony Cormier talk about it on CNN over the weekend. One thing that really struck me about the sourcing was that Smith and Cormier seemed genuinely not to know anything more about the allegation that they reported other than that Trump directed Cohen to lie. Meaning: When CNN host Brian Stelter pushed them to clarify what directed meant, they said they didnt know exactly what Trump might have said to Cohen about his testimony. This surprised me. meghan: For BuzzFeed, yes although Smith and Cormier sidestepped questions about whether they had other sourcing for the story. But thats a tough question to answer without knowing drumroll who the sources are! perry: The issue with this Cohen story is that no one could confirm BuzzFeeds reporting, but it was still picked up throughout the media and given major billing. The amplification of a story like this is hugely important Im guessing more people heard about it on CNN or MSNBC or through other news outlets than those who read about it on the BuzzFeed website. meghan: I totally agree, Perry. This is one aspect of the scoop war that feels different to me this time around: Stories pop up everywhere so quickly. And we should be more careful about that kind of amplification because when news outlets talk about stories they havent confirmed themselves, wrong stories are spread much further and faster than they otherwise would. sarahf: So maybe thats the problem here. Getting a scoop doesnt really work all that well when covering the Mueller investigation. natesilver: Yeah, I do think trying to single BuzzFeed out, or making it some kind of proxy war in the battle of traditional journalism vs. the internet (as this column by The New York Timess Jim Rutenberg tries to do, for example), is dumb. Lots of traditional news outlets, including The New York Times, have fucked Russia stories up. perry: It depends a lot on the scoop. The investigation will end on X day is not that useful. Mueller will announce when the investigation is over. But here is a very useful Russia story based on unnamed sources. (Its a piece that says, according to current and former administration officials, Trump has concealed details of his one-on-one conversations with Putin. That seems very important, both in terms of the Russia investigation, but also in terms of broader issues of U.S. foreign policy. And Trump was not likely to announce himself that he was concealing info from those meetings.) natesilver: With that said, I do wonder as a reader, or even more so as a journalist whos covering the political reaction to the story, how youre supposed to assess the credibility of an anonymously sourced story. Ill put it like this: Id certainly give more weight to something published in The New York Times or The Washington Post than something in any other publication that isnt one of those two. perry: One of the main ways I try to assess whether to trust anonymous sourcing is to look at the outlet, the reporter and whether the event happened in the past or is happening in the future (the future is hard to predict). I also look to see if other outlets would be able to corroborate the story. And the BuzzFeed story had some of the things that make me inclined to trust a story it was reporting on something that, if it happened, happened in the past, and something that other outlets may at some point be able to corroborate, plus BuzzFeed has broken big news before. meghan: Having a low bar for anonymously sourced stories can create problems for the media, but Im not sure its specific to the Mueller investigation. I think Im more conservative on this question than other people: I take with a grain of salt most stories that are based on only anonymous reporting. natesilver: Yeah, that seems basically right, Meghan. Also, one of the reporters on the BuzzFeed story, Jason Leopold, has had a history of stories that didnt pan out. People were bringing up Leopolds history on Twitter and I saw a lot of journalists defending him Oh, that was a long time ago, hes been on very solid ground lately. But precisely because the bar should be so high for anonymously sourced stories, maybe even a single instance of having majorly screwed up a story, even if it was 10 years ago, ought to pretty heavily weigh against someone. meghan: This journalistic track record question is the most tricky thing in all of the responses to the BuzzFeed article. As Perry said earlier, reporters are not perfect. And editing systems are never completely foolproof. But the internet means that mistakes never go away, so reporters whove had problems in the past should expect to see those reputation issues dragged up again and again if they continue to get in tough spots, especially if they work on important stories, like those about the special counsels investigation. natesilver: As Rutenberg mentioned in his column (even though it actually contradicts his thesis! ), even Woodward and Bernstein had a couple of medium-sized screw-ups. Im a generally reliable reporter on politics with some access to Harriss team thanks to my previous work. natesilver: But Perry I guess Id say the problem is sort of the reliance on anonymity, multiplied by the magnitude of the story. Kamala Harris declaring shell run for president isnt nothing, but its also not the president allegedly committing an impeachable offense. perry: Yeah, that is what I was getting at, I dont really care if unnamed sources are used for stories that are kind of routine, where the stakes are low. The Harris-declaring thing is maybe a weird exception because it was sort of an open secret. meghan: I definitely dont think editors should be so quick to greenlight anonymous sourcing in garden-variety types of articles. perry: I think what Im getting at is that some common sourcing practices on everyday politics stories are just bad. meghan: Totally. natesilver: The other thing about the Mueller investigation is that the time frame is so long. If Harris hadnt declared for president on Monday well, people would have known right away that the stories that predicted she would were wrong and could react accordingly. With the Mueller-Russia stuff, were going to have to wait months or years to know whos right, if we ever do. meghan: I also think reporters and editors are frustrated by the notion that whatever Mueller finds out wont necessarily be made public. So the search for what he knows feels very IMPORTANT. natesilver: In the long run whatever Mueller finds, Trump and Giuliani are probably going to try to kick up a cloud of dust around it. And that could include emphasizing false claims made about the investigation, or claims that didnt live up to their billing, or stuff the media got wrong. natesilver: For sure, yeah. perry: So, as a journalist, the damage may be not that the fake news crowd gets more ammunition. Its that regular people who are not necessarily predisposed to be anti-media see journalists mess up and distrust us as a result. Also, these screw-ups breed broader confusion. Im a professional journalist covering the political fallout from the Russia investigation, and I am still confused about some elements of the story. Thats in part because many of the Russia stories that rely heavily on unnamed sources are also written opaquely and seem aimed more at showing that reporters have access to big sources rather than clarifying what is going on for the readers. meghan: The media credibility impact is very important, but I also think the damage that can be caused by lazy sourcing practices is simply that wrong information can get out into the public, possibly on a topic that really matters, either because reporters get used by their sources or because the sources are wrong. natesilver: Another thing thats been a little disappointing is that in all the pushback Ive seen against the BuzzFeed story, very little of it has been focused around anonymous sourcing. Everyone is so dependent on it that they dont want to call it out, I guess. meghan: Yep. perry: CNN, for example, cant criticize unnamed sources in the Russia investigation because theyve usually talked to them, too. meghan: One of things thats tough, because so many stories are written breathlessly and based on anonymous sourcing, is figuring out whats important and what isnt. perry: Thats my biggest concern the Russia story is very confusing to many readers, I think. meghan: And its worse when outlets are reporting the same story differently! perry: It is a complicated story, but I also think you have outlets more interested in scoops than clarity. natesilver: But I think we need to evaluate the claim that the Russia stories are an example of left-wing bias or at least anti-Trump bias. meghan: The answer is yes, Nate. My sense is that many journalists covering this story consider themselves part of a race to be the next Woodward and Bernstein i.e., to take down the president. perry: I dont know. We would see some of the same excesses if a Democratic president were involved in a big scandal. Imagine if the Monica Lewinsky scandal happened today: I think there would be a rash of mistakes as people tried to scoop each other, as we are seeing on this story now. natesilver: And at least one of the big screw-ups (again, the NYT no clear link story) was pretty helpful to Trump. meghan: Chad is typing! cwick (Chadwick Matlin, deputy editor): Ive been lurking and am now butting in to say that this affair shows me its more of a bias toward getting a scoop than a bias toward a liberal viewpoint. No matter how good the editing structure, journalists are by their nature aggressive even when they know they need to be cautious. The role anonymous sources play in this kind of coverage is but one example of this scoop bias. sarahf: Yes, and its these high-profile missteps that further this idea that the Mueller-Russia stories are part of a left-wing bias. natesilver: Ill put it like this: Im not sure that left-wing bias is a factor, but Im certainly not sure that its not not a factor. (Note the double negative there.) sarahf: A healthy dose of skepticism is definitely missing from the conversation. perry: I do think people assume the worst about Trump. But I do not think they would do the same for, say, President Jeb Bush, so this is not just about partisanship. natesilver: Maybe thats a good way to put it. Reporters are willing to believe the worst about Trump. So maybe it doesnt take as much info from sources for reporters to say, Lets run with it, because the story matches their priors. Although, yeah, maybe their priors should be willing to believe stuff about Trump that they would not believe about Jeb Bush or Obama. perry: Like the idea of Trump asking Cohen to lie is not crazy, at all. Cohen has already suggested Trump wanted him to violate campaign finance laws. natesilver: Its not crazy at all. Although theres a lot of middle ground between directed (BuzzFeeds term) versus encouraged versus hinted at, etc. sarahf: But thats the rub. Without more evidence of what Trump did when, it doesnt really help the reader understand any better what happened. Which is the problem with stories like this. perry: I mean, the credibility of the investigation is not really in the hands of journalists. natesilver: Yeah. Although Trump will try to muddy the waters, depending on what the investigation says. perry: But I think the credibility of the journalism overall does depend on how we cover big stories. And yes, the rush to get scoops is a potential danger to journalism, especially if it results in big misses. meghan: I just feel bad for readers trying to figure out what is going on. natesilver: But the whole reason the special counsel put out that statement was presumably so that their credibility would not be damaged. Keep in mind that they have their own narrative about Cohen, which (from his plea agreement) is that he lied to Congress about Trump Tower Moscow because of his overall loyalty to Trump and not necessarily because he was directed to do so. So that could have led to claims that the Mueller report was underwhelming or had overpromised, etc., even though it hadnt been the Mueller investigation making the claim in the first place. This is sort of a dumb analogy, but its a little bit like, when someone else puts out an election forecast that we think is really wrong, well sometimes push back hard against it and be quite vocal and obnoxious about it, just because we dont want anyone to confuse it for our forecast. meghan: Insert joke about us being obnoxious here | https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/is-the-media-coverage-of-the-mueller-investigation-a-problem/ |
What Is the Indigenous Peoples Movement? | Photo: Indigenous Peoples March (Facebook) This week, social media has been set ablaze with a series of videos and images capturing a group of high school teenagers mocking a Native American man marching for indigenous rights in Washington D.C. If youre wondering what the indigenous movement is all about, heres what you need to know. Generally speaking, an indigenous peoples movement refers to any native population (beyond just Native American communities) seeking legal, political, and cultural recognition in a given country where that group feels underrepresented. Advertisement Its also the name of a grassroots initiative, recently created by indigenous populations around the world, seeking greater representation from their respective nations. This initiative is supported by larger organizations like the Sierra Club (a group devoted to environmental causes). On January 18, supporters of the Indigenous Peoples Movement planned to march together in Washington D.C, hoping to bring attention to issues of police brutality, corporate greed and government power (among others) affecting some indigenous nations, according to the groups statement. Advertisement Recently, Native American communities have been severely impacted by decisions made by the current presidential administration. These decisions include the construction of the Dakota Pipeline, polluting water sources for the Standing Rock Sioux community in North Dakota, and the ongoing government shutdown, affecting Native Americans who are federal workers and rely on its funding. Currently, two Native American tribes are also suing the Trump administration over the approved construction of another pipeline, Keystone XL, that would cut through ancestral and sacred lands for the Fort Belknap Indian Community of Montana and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. Advertisement The Indigenous Peoples March was planned for the same day as the March for Life rallya pro-life organization. Within the context of the videos capturing the confrontation, its not obvious how this relates to the wall, but building a border would impact at least one Native American nation whose land would be cut in half. Advertisement Since 2006, the Tohono Oodham Nation, a nation that stretches from Arizona to Mexico, has been permitted to cross the border at three separate points. A wall would effectively stop their ability to pass back and forth. It would be as if I walked into your home and felt like your home was not safe, but I want to build a wall right smack in the middle of your home and let me divide your family, Verlon Jose, a vice chairman of the Tohono Oodham Nation told NPR. If youd like to help, you can donate directly to the Indigenous Peoples Movement on their webpage. Advertisement A scholarship fund has also been set up via GoFundMe on behalf of Nathan Phillips, the Native American man at the center of discussion. All proceeds will go to the American Indian College Fund, a charity that supports scholarships for Native Americans seeking higher education. | https://lifehacker.com/what-is-the-indigenous-peoples-movement-1831965372 |
Did Queen Anne Really Have Affairs with Women? | The Favourite was just nominated for 10 Oscars (it's called a sweep, ever heard of it?) which makes sense because it's everyone's...wait for it...favorite movie of awards season. Ha ha ha ha so sorry. Assuming you've seen The Favourite, you're likely curious about how much of the story is true. All good questions! Not so much. The Favourite tells us that Anne used these furry friends as replacements for her babies, and while it's true that Anne really did tragically lose all seventeen of her children, those pet bunnies can be chalked up to creative license. Anne and the Duchess *Probably* Didn't Date Queen Anne met Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough (aka Rachel Weisz in The Favourite) in 1671, and they became super close around the time of Anne's marriage to Prince George of Denmark. No one knows for sure, but probably not. To quote biographer Anne Somerset's recent interview with Jezebel: To a certain extent, you can say that Anne was in love with Sarah. She makes these passionate declarations, but at the same time, her letters are also full of affectionate references to her husband and indeed very much assumed Sarahs husband has the first place in her affections, and they also refer constantly to their efforts to get pregnant. So if it was a lesbian relationship, I cant help feeling that thats a little strange. But Sarah can really reduce Anne to panic if she says, oh, Im not going to see you for a few days. Anne gets very, oh no, please, please come and see me, and she gets very upset when Sarah doesnt return her letters promptly as she does. Theres definitely an element of obsession on Annes part. Either way, it's true that Sarah was one of Anne's "ladies of the bedchamber" and their friendship was certainly complex. Not only did they call each other by pet names, but Anne put her entire legacy on the line when she refused to reject Sarah after her husband was dismissed from his offices over political drama. Literally, Anne was so distraught when Sarah was ousted from the royal household that she moved out in protest! When Anne eventually became Queen in 1707, she reinstated the Marlboroughs, and made Sarah Mistress of the Robes and Keeper of the Privy Pursegiving her a whole lot of power in the process. But as The Favourite depicts, things changed with the arrival of Abigail Hill (aka Emma Stone). Giphy Sarah *Tried* to Out Anne as a Lesbian The Favourite doesn't get into this, but Sarah was so pissed when Abigail honed in on her territory that she rolled into court with a propaganda poem implying Anne and Abigail were lesbians. And, per Somerset's biography Queen Anne: The Politics of Passion, she called Anne's "great passion for such a woman strange and unaccountable." Again, some biographers think so, but others say that Sarah was just trying to exert power with the claim. Somerset told Jezebel: You could perhaps make a case to say that Anne was so outraged because she had a guilty conscience in a sense and was terrified of Sarah making public this relationship. But my own view, which is perhaps nave, is that [Anne] was just appalled that Sarah could accuse her of such a thing. That Sarah does accuse Anne of lesbianism, some people might say, well, Sarah knew her all her life and surely she would know, but I dont actually see the force of that argument. The Favourite doesn't exactly wrap up the drama between Sarah, Anne, and Abigail, but history does! The Queen's friendship with Sarah was pretty much over after Prince George's death, mostly because Sarah wouldn't stop bugging Anne about her friendship with Abigail. Eventually, Anne wrote to Sarah's husband, asking that (per Somerset) she "leave off teasing & tormenting me & behave herself with the decency she ought both to her friend and Queen." The pair saw each other for the very last time on April 6, 1710four years before Anne's death. Meanwhile, Abigail chilled out and eventually retired from court. Buuuut wait, there's more! Sarah decided to write her memoirs, which she basically used as an excuse to trash Anne. They've all been digitized online if you feel like browsing through one million or so pages. WHAT ABOUT JOE ALWYN?!?!?!?! Calm down, our buddy Joe also played a real person in The Favourite: Samuel Masham, who was a page to the Queen's husband. And yes, his marriage to Abigail was kept a secret from Sarah, and yes, she was pissedespecially because Anne forked over a bunch of money from the privy purse without telling her. That remains a mystery. | https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/a26006999/the-favourite-movie-true-story-historical-accuracy/ |
What Does the House Oversight Committee Do? | Photo: Scott Eisen (Getty Images) Last night, New York congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Massachusetts representative Ayanna Pressley made headlines after winning highly coveted seats on the House Oversight committee. Heres the low-down on the importance of the House Oversight committee and why its more necessary than ever. The House Committee on Oversight and Reform is an investigative body within the House of Representatives. They have the ability to investigate any matter within their jurisdiction, which includes everything from operations to reorganization of the executive branch of the government. In other words, the committee wields a lot of power, though this comes with a caveat. Advertisement The minority party on the committee lacks the ability to subpoena individuals for investigation without the majority partys approval. Accordingly, Democrats have had a tricky few years investigating anyone, with Republicans as the majority party since the start of Trumps administration. Elijah Cummings, current chair of the committee, issued roughly 64 subpoena requests in the last two years. All were rejected. There are a number of subcommittees that fall within the overall committee too, with each overseeing a particular branch, like the environment, healthcare, or national security. Its very likely they will. In February, Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will testify in front of the committee, where hes expected to share information about Trump. (In an interview with ABC News in December, Cohen had already discussed Trumps illegal payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal during the campaign). Advertisement As recent as Wednesday, the committee has also begun its probe into the security clearance process at the White House, questioning Jared Kushners unprecedented security access to classified information. Trumps tax returns are likely on the committees agenda, too. Its a great thingif you want change. With Democrats as the new majority party in the house and committee and a number of outspoken Trump critics involved, the committee can investigate without roadblocks in their way. Advertisement If you want to stay up to date on committee hearings, you can read press releases and hearings on the committees website. | https://lifehacker.com/what-does-the-house-oversight-committee-do-1831992759 |
What's the Best Job in America for 2019? | You might want to check this out. You might want to look into becoming a data scientist. Job and recruiting site Glassdoor just released its annual list of the 50 best jobs in America for 2019, and, for the fourth consecutive year, data scientist took the top spot. With a median base salary of $108,000, a job satisfaction rating of 4.3 out of 5, and 6,510 active job openings in the US as of Jan. 2, data scientist is the No. 1 job in America for 2019, according to Glassdoor. Tech jobs dominate the list, accounting for 19 of the top 50. Other tech titles to make the list include: project manager (No. 5), develops engineer (No. 6), data engineer (No. 8), software engineer (No. 10), security engineer (No. 17), product designer (No. 21), Java developer (No. 22), electrical engineer (No. 24), solutions architect (No. 27), data analyst (No. 31), applications engineer (No. 33), QA manager (No. 34), systems engineer (No. 39), software engineering manager (No. 43), software developer (No. 44), UX designer (No. 46), software development manager (No. 49), and systems administrator (No. 50). With 49,000 job openings, software engineer is the most "in-demand job," according to Glassdoor. And with a medium base salary of $153,000, software engineering manager is the highest paying. "There's no question that emerging technologies designed to grow and scale business, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation are having an impact on the types of jobs employers are hiring for across the country," Glassdoor Economic Research Analyst Amanda Stansell said in a statement. "As a result, we're seeing a spike in demand for highly-skilled workers in 2019." Glassdoor considers three main factors when ranking jobs: earning potential based on median annual base salary, job satisfaction, and the number of job openings. "The jobs that made this list stand out across all three categories," Glassdoor wrote. To check out the full list, head here. Meanwhile, Glassdoor last month ranked the best places to work in 2019 among companies with at least 1,000 employees, and 29 tech companies made the list, more than any other industry. Ranked No. 1 last year, Facebook is now the seventh best place to work. Zoom Video Communications graced the list for the first time in second place. | https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/326831 |
What has happened to Ohanaezes vision of 2006? | If it takes the visionless drivers to crash the vehicle, it indubitably takes men with vision to navigate todays Nigerian unstable and rough socio-political terrain. The vision is personified in men and women who crafted the recent road map for the ultimate survival of the Igbo in todays Nigeria. The vision inherent in the The Ohanaeze Road Map articulated by the Ohanaeze Transition and Caretaker Committee on April 29, 2006 could not be overemphasized. The excerpts: Once again the nation faces a difficult moment of transition in its political development. The Federal Constitution is under revision in the National Assembly. In the wake deep differences of opinion and conflicts of personal ambition have broken out between members of the National Executive Council, between the different peoples and geo-political zones of the nation, between the different political parties and between different caucuses within a party. Battle lines are being drawn openly and in some States, there have been public confrontations and breakdown of law and order. Old friendships and the known political landscape of the last seven years are giving way to opportunistic formations. The way forward is far from clear. It is the prayer of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that the Federal Republic will come out of these difficulties in peace and unity and with the reassertion of modern democratic values. For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze Ndigbo issues the following road map for the guidance of our leaders and the general public. Nigerian Unity: Ohanaeze reaffirms the commitment of Ndigbo to a strong, vibrant and united Nigerian nation built upon the principles of true federalism which recognizes the identities and aspirations of the different peoples of Nigeria. The Nigerian Constitution: The founding fathers of the nation based the Constitution of the Federal Republic on their belief in the political and cultural diversity of our different peoples. This idea was the corner stone on which the covenant of unity and brotherhood in the nation was secured. Although years of military rule and state creation have eroded the idea, the spirit of zonal identity is still alive in every region. This is the meaning of Sharia politics in the North, the resource control agitation in the Niger Delta and the OPC movement in the South West. Much of the turbulence of the last 45 years have been caused by the attempt to set aside the presiding idea on which the Republic was founded. Ohanaeze, therefore calls upon all State Governors, legislators and politicians of South Eastern origin to use their influence to re-structure the Federal Republic of Nigeria along six zonal lines with the appropriate devolution of powers and resources. The Presidency: Ohanaeze Ndigbo recognizes the enormous power of the Nigerian Presidency with its right to make federal appointments, award petroleum and defense contracts, disburse or withhold federal allocations, and determine economic policies. It is for this reason that at this phase in our development no zone should be excluded from the privilege of holding this exalted office. To promote national integration and all round empowerment, strict rotation must apply not only to the office of the president but to governorships and similar executive offices. Ohanaeze Ndigbo, therefore, demands that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2007 must come from the South East/South South. Ohanaeze calls upon all political parties to ensure in the spirit of equity and fair-play, they give the presidency to the two zones which have not held the office previously. The Third Term Debate: Ndigbo are opposed to the extension of the tenure of executive office holders beyond the time allowed in the 1999 Federal Constitution. In a recent debate in the British House of Lords, several speakers pointed out that the extension could be the beginning of a life presidency. Eight years are enough for a visionary leader to make his contributions to the nation. The history of nation is a relay race in which every one runs the agreed course and hands the baton over to his next man. There is no end, no completion to be achieved. Ultimately, the institutions matter far more than any individual and all round capacity building is the main source of strength. Electoral Reform: Conducting free and fair election is one of the most difficult problems of Nigerian politics. Yet until elections are free and fair, governments cannot be answerable to the people. The Independent National Electoral Commission is part of the Independent Institutions that should be funded separately. To give these institutions and in particular, the electoral commission true independence, their appointments, funding and supervision must be freed from the presidential control or that of any political party in power. Ohanaeze therefore calls upon all law makers to provide for machinery that allows for accomplishment of these objectives. In addition, the method of casting votes, whether voting is electronic or otherwise, must be capable of verification. Creating a New State in the South East: The important principle in this matter is the agreement that the South East should achieve parity with other geo-political zones in the Federal Republic. Ohanaeze believes that it does not matter greatly where the new state is located provided the choice of the location of the state is based on an expert technical report. Igbo Unity: Ohanaeze calls upon Ndigbo wherever they may be in the Federal Republic of Nigeria to come together for self-help and mutual support through their town unions, churches, professional bodies, traders associations and cultural organizations. Ohanaeze is the federation throughout the nation of all these groups. It is not an alternative government or a political party. Its objectives are supportive of the aims of government and it is not hostile to national integration. Ohanaeze is simply Igbo people doing what they have always done for their own welfare, organizing themselves to help the needy, mobilizing to make sure that what needs to be done in the community gets done. The western world is only beginning now to realize that a mobilized civil society is fundamental to good governance, that governments become lazy and dictatorial if the people do not keep steady watch. Gradually in the last few years, it has been recognized that community self-help and a steady pressure on the machinery of government help to keep the democratic spirit alive. In Igbo communities, however, this understanding is traditional. Every town development union, every traders association, every club, and every church is a part of Ohanaeze. Through these societies, every Igbo man or woman is a member of Ohanaeze. The churches town development officials, traditional rulers, and the leaders of different associations and churches have work to do to ensure that this all-embracing conception of Igbo unity is realized in practice. Ohanaeze Leadership: The Ohanaeze Constitution does not give the leadership of Ndigbo to one person. Articles 6 and 10 (v) provide for collegiate leadership in which all members of Ime-Obi which includes present and past governors, legislators, ministers, traditional rulers, industrialists, judges, bishops, business men and professionals, share the leadership. The idea is to create a typical Igbo democracy in which there is discussion and consensus on all important matters. Ohanaeze invites all designated members of Ime-Obi and the entire Igbo elite to wake up. | https://www.sunnewsonline.com/what-has-happened-to-ohanaezes-vision-of-2006/ |
Was Chris Hemworth angling for a Brooms Head escape? | Chris Hemsworth as snapped at Brooms Head in March last year. Rumours about him looking to buy property there abound. Chris Hemsworth as snapped at Brooms Head in March last year. Rumours about him looking to buy property there abound. The local rumour mill started when Hemsworth was spotted in the beachside hamlet back in March and like all good celebrity gossip it has been smouldering away ever since. While there's nothing concrete according to a Lower River agent "a classic rumour if it did turn out he pined for a classic Aussie weekender to escape his mega-mansion occasionlly, Brooms would definitely be the place to do it. Property at Brooms Head is hot at the moment as interest in upcoming auctions there will attest but if Hemsworth and his family were to be occasional residents, the impact could reach the levels they are experiencing at Byron Bay. Just having Hemsworth on your patch has its own effect on driving up the property market according to realestate.com chief economist Nerida Conisbee. "While there are a number of factors that contribute to driving up a property market, there's no denying the impact the Thor actor and his family has on the region, Ms Conisbee told news.com.au. Chris Hemsworth in Marvel's Thor: The Dark World. His star factor is impacting property prices on the North Coast. Supplied "It does seem that area (Byron Bay) is attracting not just national attention but also international attention as well because there's a lot of celebrity interest, particularly from the Hemsworths," she said. Byron Bay has played host a number of celebrities on holidays recently including Matt Damon and Natalie Portman so if the Hemsworths decide to including a piece of the Clarence in their property pie who knows how high prices might rise or who might turn up at local bowlo for a drink . The median property price in Byron Bay has reached $1.75 million, higher than most of Sydney, while demand has extended north and south of the town and inward through the hinterland. Nearby Brunswick Heads now has a median price of $1.45 million. Hemsworth purchased the original property on 4.2ha at Broken Head for $7 million in 2014. The 35-year-old actor and his wife Elsa Pataky, 42, are spending nearly $9 million to build the new structure that looks more like a Westfield shopping centre than beachside home according to the naysayers. It is expected to be worth $20m when complete. | https://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/was-chris-hemworth-angling-for-a-brooms-head-escap/3630199/ |
Will Sacramento Or St. Louis Become Major League Soccer's Next Franchise? | On Tuesday, Sacramento received wonderful news when billionaire financier, Ron Burkle, agreed to buy controlling interest in Sacramento Republic FC. Before answering these questions, let's review the key criteria for admittance into MLS: Deep pocketed ownership, preferably with local/regional ties. A soccer-specific stadium, preferably located in/near the urban core. A local/regional history of strong soccer roots. Geographically positioned where regional rivalries could naturally ensue. Prior to October 1st, 2018, neither city was able to satisfy all of these criteria...primarily because they were each devoid of an ownership group that possessed the wealth and stability generally favored by MLS leadership. However, things have evolved in recent months: In October 2018, the Taylor family - which owns St. Louis-based Enterprise and has long maintained business and philanthropic ties to the St. Louis region - stepped forward with their willingness to take the financial lead behind a renewed St. Louis bid, buffered by a privately-financed downtown stadium and a majority female ownership group (an MLS first). While Burkle's interest in Sacramento soccer became public in June 2018, things became official with yesterday's announcement. A TALE OF THE TAPE So let's evaluate each market based on the criteria identified above: Deep pocketed ownership, preferably with local/regional ties St. Louis...The Taylor family certainly fits this criteria (estimated worth of $5.8 billion as of July 2016), and are deeply rooted within the St. Louis region. Sacramento...Mr. Burkle fits this criteria as well (estimated worth of $2 billion as of Feb 2018), and has ties to California. 2. A soccer-specific stadium, preferably located in/near the urban core St. Louis...While the stadium site has been identified and will be privately financed, construction of the facility is contingent upon St. Louis receiving an MLS franchise. If a team was awarded in the first half of 2019, time estimates for a completed stadium have suggested that the facility could be ready for the start of the 2022 MLS season. Sacramento...In July 2017, construction began for their soccer-specific stadium, set in the historic Railyards District. The projections are that the facility could be ready for the start of the 2020 MLS season. 3. A local/regional history of strong soccer roots St. Louis...One would be hard-pressed to find a community with stronger historical ties to the sport of soccer than St. Louis. Numerous people I've spoken with over two decades of living within the St. Louis community have helped educate me on the deep roots the region has with soccer...from CYC leagues dating back 100 years, to the 1950 World Cup team who was largely comprised of St. Louis natives (and upset England in that tournament), to the years of collegiate soccer dominance at Saint Louis University in the 1960s and 1970s. Their USL team only averaged 4,271 fans per game in 2018, but this is deceptive since the capacity of their current facility is smaller than several other markets. Sacramento...While not quite on par with St. Louis in this category, I learned much about Sacramento's ties to soccer in speaking with a source intimately familiar with the Sacramento soccer scene. I learned about decades of amateur leagues in Sacramento spanning numerous cultures (Portuguese, Italian, Korean). I learned there are nearly 100,000 youth soccer players in the Sacramento area, which is massive number when you consider thats almost double the youth participation levels in the state of Oregonwhich obviously has had huge MLS success with the Seattle and Portland franchises. And their USL team finished 2nd in attendance in 2018 with 11,311 fans per game. 4. Geographically positioned where regional rivalries could naturally ensue. St. Louis...Existing teams in Sporting Kansas City and the Chicago Fire, along with new expansion team Nashville, are all within a 3.5-4.5 hour drive. Furthermore, the Columbus Crew (founding team in MLS) and FC Cincinnati (an expansion team starting in 2019) are 5-6 hours drive. Sacramento...While the San Jose Earthquakes are the only reasonable drive, this will make for a fourth team in California (LA Galaxy, LAFC). Other considerations: The St. Louis bid would mean a majority female ownership group, a first for MLS. This factor could be a tie-breaker, especially in the #metoo era. It is my sense that there are more political connections between the St. Louis soccer contingent and the power brokers of soccer in America (e.g. MLS executives, as well as influencers from U.S. Soccer and the national soccer media) than there is for Sacramento. That said, Major League Soccer has previously all-but-guaranteed Sacramento would get a franchise once their ownership matter was resolved...especially since their downtown soccer facility will be ready much sooner than would be true of the St. Louis facility. PREDICTIONS First, I believe both Sacramento and St. Louis would be great additions to Major League Soccer. My June 2018 Forbes post makes a case for Sacramento, and my October 2018 Forbes post makes a case for St. Louis. And, as long as their current bids do not deviate from present plans, then I believe both cities will be invited to join Major League Soccer by the end of 2019. Possibly by the 2019 MLS All-Star Game. That said, here are my franchise allotment predictions for the near-term: MLS will ultimately expand to 30 teams, and in my view, should stop there for at least a decade to allow the new markets to evolve. As such, both St. Louis and Sacramento are ultimately destined for MLS inclusion...with Sacramento likely able to begin sooner since their facility will be ready sooner. If MLS believes both markets have checked all the necessary boxes and criteria (which I believe both cities have at this point), then there is no reason for them not to announce both cities as MLS expansion sites when MLS makes their next formal expansion announcement. The fact this would yield an odd number of teams (29 teams if both were added together) would only be a short-term phenomenon, and would likely expedite the selection of the 30th and final franchise...likely by the beginning of the 2020 season (with Phoenix, Detroit, and San Diego among the viable alternatives). However, if MLS is only prepared to announce one city at a time, and plan to do so in the coming months, they will: A) Opt for Sacramento first IF MLS (i) places greater weight on their stadium being done first, (ii) feels a sense of obligation because of how close Sacramento has been for some time before the last domino (i.e. securing Burkle) fell, and (iii) believes Sacramento has been closer to the finish line for a longer stretch than St. Louis...whose bid was all but lost after the failed public vote in April 2017 (before the Taylors breathed new life into the bid in October 2018); B) Opt for St. Louis first IF MLS (i) places greater value upon the deep ties the Taylors and Jim Kavanaugh have to St. Louis, (ii) places value on the fact that the St. Louis bid would be the first majority-owned female ownership group in MLS, (iii) recognizes St. Louis' deep historical soccer roots, and (iv) has stronger political ties with the St. Louis soccer community than Sacramento's. | https://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe/2019/01/23/will-sacramento-or-st-louis-become-major-league-soccers-next-franchise/ |
Is it OK to feel all warm and fuzzy at a Metallica concert? | Heavy ... yet friendly. Intense ... but somehow cheerful. Thats how Metallica sounded Tuesday night in Birmingham, during an 8:45 p.m. concert at the Legacy Arena at the BJCC. The thrash metal pioneers performed their first show here in nearly 27 years, and it was a celebratory affair, despite any angst or anger that might be conveyed in the lyrics. Metallica was on stage for more than two hours, playing 18 songs old and new for a pumped-up crowd of more than 17,000 people. Their tunes, especially the vintage ones, are beloved anthems for fans, and titles such as Seek & Destroy, Creeping Death, Sad But True and Welcome Home (Sanitarium) dont prevent audience members from singing along in jubilation. Thats probably as it should be at this point in the bands career -- an upper rather than a downer -- and Metallica remains a powerful foursome with sharp skills and the ability to enthrall even casual listeners. Tuesdays show grabbed your attention and rarely let go, combining a hard, pulsing vibe with some high-tech special effects. Forget fireworks; these guys had drones. Hard rock bands are known for flashy pyrotechnics, and Metallicas concert boasted an ample dose of fire and brimstone. The most memorable effect, however, came about three-quarters into the main set, during a rendition of Moth Into Flame. Lighted drones emerged from beneath the stage and swooped around like fireflies, creating a mesmerizing scenario. If this is part of a kinder, gentler Metallica in concert, were all for it. Striking, too, were about 50 video cubes that descended from the lighting rig above the stage. Choreographed to match the setlist, the cubes were constantly on the move, projecting images that ranged from old band photos to freaky graphics to eye-catching fan art. Metallica is performing in the round on this tour, and the illuminated cubes -- clustered and re-clustered at different levels -- were an extremely cool substitute for traditional video screens. Of course, visuals werent the main attraction on Tuesday, even if they added to the overall impact. Singer-guitarist James Hetfield, drummer Lars Ulrich, lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo were the real stars of the show, producing music suitable for head-banging. No complaints there: Hetfield dug a heavy groove; Hammett ripped off solos; Ulrich pounded the kit with glee; Trujillo provided a throbbing bedrock. Metallica made listeners wait until the final encore for Enter Sandman, but the path to the iconic hit was paved with heavy pleasures such as For Whom the Bell Tolls, One, Master of Puppets, Battery, The Unforgiven, The Four Horsemen and Nothing Else Matters. As might be expected, Metallica placed an emphasis on tunes from its latest album, 2016s Hardwired to Self-Destruct. Five tracks from that release were on the agenda, including the concert starters Hardwired and Atlas, Rise! Less predictable was a vignette from Sweet Home Alabama, performed during an interlude the band calls Kirk/Rob Doodle. (Its evidently a moment set aside for covers.) The crowd loved it, erupting into the roll, Tide, roll version in a sing-along. Throughout the concert, Hetfield who wore a black leather vest adorned with the words Papa Het did his best to make everyone feel at home. Birmingham, its beautiful to see you again! the frontman proclaimed. And Metallicas family of Birmingham, Alabama, is alive! At another point, Hetfield encouraged audience members to forget their divisions and engage in a spirit of unity, explaining that age, gender, race and other aspects didnt matter. Metallica fans were Metallica fans. We connect through music; were brothers and sisters that way, Hetfield said. Thats what it felt like to spend an evening with Metallica in Birmingham. | https://www.al.com/life/2019/01/is-it-ok-to-feel-all-warm-and-fuzzy-at-a-metallica-concert.html |
What is a Yowie? | A Queensland truckie claims he saw a hulking, hairy 3-metre tall Yowie. Let's be clear, there is no proof that Yowies exist. There is no hard evidence, no specimens, no bones, but plenty of reported sightings. But similar sightings have been reported all over the world, where these creatures are also called Sasquatch, Yeti or Bigfoot. In Australia, it's the Yowie. But their existence hasn't been conclusively proven or verified by science and most stories rest on folklore or eyewitness reports. The Yowie has roots in Aboriginal oral history and according to folklore, is a creature of the Outback. The Kuku Yalanji Tribe of far north Queensland claims to have coexisted with the Yowie for centuries. They have a long and detailed history of attacks by the Yowie in their legends. The Yowie is the Australian equivalent of the US Sasquatch of Native American tribal lore. Yowie hunter Dean Harrison claims there have been thousands of sightings of the Yowie - or "hairy man" - The first 'official' Yowie report was made in Sydney in 1790. The Blue Mountains in NSW is a hub for reported Yowie sightings, followed by the Sunshine and Gold coasts in Queensland. Reported sightings have also increased recently in Western Australia around the Mandurah area. They're apparently adept at blending into the bush and prefer the eastern seaboard along the Great Dividing Range. They can range large distances, but Mr Harrison says the Yowie does have a 'home' territory and operates in family units. Mr Harrison believes Yowie family groups operate as a community to take care of their dead. | https://www.news.com.au/national/breaking-news/what-is-a-yowie/news-story/bf8d9c75b309082a4be06dc39805dfd0?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newscomaunationalbreakingnewsndm+%28News.com.au+%7C+National+%7C+Breaking+News%29 |
Did Spokane see the last big snowfall of the season? | SPOKANE, Wash. It was easily Spokane's largest snowfall of the season. A fresh 4.5 inches falling at the airport during the overnight hours, and the first day with at least 1 inch of snow since Dec. 28. But as we head into February, we're entering the final stretch of winter weather for the area. And statistically, this could very well be the last time we see a snow this big in the 2018-19 season. Only four out of the last 18 years did Spokane record a snowfall of more than five inches in the month of Feb., however, it did happen the past two Feb.'s. The two largest single-day snow falls for the entire season were 7.3" on Feb. 14, 2018 and 6.9" on Feb. 3, 2017. "February is still winter. Yeah, it's the last month of our meteorological winter. We typically get average of about a little over 7 inches of snow during the month of February. I don't see why Feb. would be any different from what we've seen during January and December. And that is, February will probably have warmer than average temperatures," says KREM 2 Chief Meteorologist Tom Sherry. El Nino is playing its part in term of reducing how much snow Spokane has seen this season. After Tuesday night's snowfall, we're now a shade under 20" this season, only 64% of what we normally see to date (The average is 31.3"). But we're right on average precipitation wise - rain plus melted snow - since October 1st. Spokane has picked up 7.86" precipitation and the average between Oct 1 and Jan. 22 is 7.12" At this pace, Spokane is on track for about 5" of snow in February, but whether that falls all at once, or spread out over the month is yet to be determined. - KREM 2 Meteorologist Thomas Patrick | https://www.krem.com/article/weather/did-spokane-see-the-last-big-snowfall-of-the-season/293-8a659d63-1e93-427c-b199-bd333305359c |
Will Gage Gubrud be granted a sixth year of eligibility? | Friday will mark one year to the day that Peyton Pelluer found out that he was granted a sixth year of eligibility, which seems like a pretty irrelevant fact. Pelluer had a great season for the Cougs and now is trying to make the pros. But heres why it matters: It means that we will know very soon if Eastern Washingtons Gage Gubrud will get his sixth year of eligibility. Here's what the rule says in terms of players getting a sixth year of eligibility due to injury: The player must not participate in more than 30% of games in a season, or three games in a season, whichever is greater, to obtain a sixth year. The rule doesn't say one third of regular season games, it says one third of games in a total season. Gage participated in five games, but because Eastern played in the national championship and thus played in 15 games, Gage technically qualifies under this rule. The NCAA tries to side with the athletes and grant a sixth year of eligibility whenever possible. We've seen numerous athletes locally over the years get a sixth year of eligibility, with Peyton as a recent example. It obviously paid off for him as he was named the Alamo Bowl MVP and is now trying to fight for a spot in the NFL. Without that sixth year, Peyton's NFL's stock would've been significantly lower than it is now, and Gage could definitely have a similar experience. Here's the rub: This is an incredibly unique case for the NCAA. I reached out to a friend who covers North Dakota State. If there's any team that has dealt with a player trying to get a sixth year after playing in five games, it's the Bison. They routinely play in the national championship aka they routinely play 15 games a year. That person said they cannot remember ever dealing with a situation like this one. Maybe this has been dealt with in the past, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it is very rare. Obviously, without Eastern making the national championship, Gage doesn't qualify under the 1/3 of games played rule. If Eastern loses their next six games after Gubrud goes down, then the team only plays 11 games and Gage getting a sixth year doesn't happen. It should be really interesting to see what the NCAA rules here. | https://www.krem.com/article/sports/ncaa/ncaaf/will-gage-gubrud-be-granted-a-sixth-year-of-eligibility/293-722fde7d-6b30-436f-bf10-438512a9adf8 |
Are Driverless Cars Going to Help Us or Hurt Us? | A new report from a Bay Area group warns that autonomous vehicles may cause more harm than good. Scott Budman reports. A new report from a Bay Area group warns that autonomous vehicles may cause more harm than good. The report worries that driverless cars could lead to more inequality, fewer jobs and a decline in public transportation. Driverless cars are an exciting part of our high-tech future and come with the promise to be more comfortable and make life much more convenient. "From my perspective, that sounds like a new fancy toy for the wealthy," said Hana Creger with the Greenlining Institute. The institute admits autonomous vehicles are impressive, but worries they may one day take the place of public transportation and lead to even more traffic congestion. The institute also said driverless cars could potentially take jobs from anyone who drives for a living. The study comes out on the same day Yanfeng, with offices in China and the Bay Area, showed off a prototype of a driverless car interior. Another recent study showed that ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft caused a 12 percent decline in local public transportation. | https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/Are-Driverless-Cars-Going-to-Help-Us-or-Hurt-Us-504776461.html |
When will council inspectors come knocking to check pets? | THE Gladstone Regional Council will start a domestic animal inspection program from February 1 to July 30. Mayor Matt Burnett said house visitations were required to determine if pets kept at a property were registered. "All council officers and workers, who need to enter a property, are required to display identification and advise the property owner of the reason for the visit/ inspection," Cr Burnett said. He also said registration of pets was the responsibility of pet owners, who must also notify council of any changes to details. "This program will also assist in the collection of statistical data to provide an accurate record of the number of animals in the area and will be used as a method of identifying lost pets so they can be reunited with their owners," Cr Burnett said. | https://www.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/when-will-council-inspectors-start-checking-pets-i/3629377/ |
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