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Will Trump repeat terrorist claims debunked (even by Fox News) when he visits the border? | Opinion: You know their desperate when administration propaganda is being exposed by its primary propaganda outlet. President Donald Trump (Photo: Win McNamee, Getty Images) You know President Donald Trump is getting desperate when even Fox News is pointing out the lies the administration is telling about terrorists on the border. All in an effort to build support for Trumps wall. Trump has been making a false claim about thousands of potential terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. Other administration officials, like Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen tried to pass off the same lie. Sarah Sanders give it a try, but... Then, on Fox News this past Sunday it was the turn of Trumps press secretary Sarah Sanders. Only this time instead of simply being able to spread the untrue White House propaganda Sanders bumped into journalist Chris Wallace. He pointed out, first, that while over 3,000 what we call special interest aliens were stopped at the border, special interest aliens are just people who have come from countries that have ever produced a terrorist, theyre not terrorists themselves. And, Wallace added, the state department says, quote, there were no credible evidence of any terrorist coming across the border from Mexico. Fox's Chris Wallace is ready for her That information comes from a state department report. A number of other news operations have used it to debunk the White House claptrap. But that hasnt stopped Trump and his associates from spreading the untruths. Sanders said, We know that roughly nearly 4,000 known or suspected terrorists come into our country illegally, and we know that our most vulnerable point of entry is southern border. Wallace again was ready to point out the baloney. I know the statistic, he said, I didnt know if you were going to use it, but I studied up on this. Airports. Not always Sanders said. It's the government's own report Airports. The state department says there hasnt been any terrorists found coming across the southern border, Wallace said. Thats true. The report reads in part: At years end there was no credible evidence indicating that international terrorist groups have established bases in Mexico, worked with Mexican drug cartels, or sent operatives via Mexico into the United States. It goes on. Rebuilding a wall of lies Sanders persisted, but Wallace to his credit wasnt having it. But theyre not coming across the southern border, Sarah, theyre coming and theyre being stopped at airports, he said. A wall built on lies can be toppled by the truth. That isnt the problem. The problem is it easily can be rebuilt. MORE BY MONTINI: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | President Trump has been making a false claim about terrorists trying to enter through the southern border. Fox News' Chris Wallace pointed out that the state department says there was no credible evidence of any terrorist coming across the border from Mexico. A wall built on lies can be toppled by the truth, says EJ Montini. | bart | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2019/01/07/trump-border-wall-chris-wallace-fox-news/2505327002/ | 0.303986 |
Can CBS Go Without Nielsen? | On New Years Day 2019, Nielsens contract with CBS expired. Both sides had been in negotiations, but were unable to come to an agreement. It has been estimated the previous contract between the two parties had a value exceeding $100 million. Besides the broadcast network, the CBS contract includes their 28 owned and operated stations, primarily in major TV markets. CBS claims that Nielsens audience measurement is inadequate in todays multi-platform environment and that Nielsens asking price is too high. Without a contract, CBS will not have access to any current or past audience data. CBS will, for now at least, rely on audience data from Comscore and other sources for ratings. Comscore uses return path data from several satellite companies and cable operators including AT&T/DirecTV, Dish, Cox and Charter. Comscore represents the biggest challenge to Nielsens dominance since Arbitron (now owned by Nielsen) left local TV measurement in 1993. Virtually all prominent ad agencies and television network/station are Comscore clients. Several station groups now use Comscore as the currency of negotiations with advertisers. In January 2019, Gray Television, in the wake of its acquisition of Raycom for $3.6 billion, announced they were expanding the use of Comscore in 80 of the 91 TV markets in which they own and operate stations. In December 2018, Comscore announced they had expanded its local TV market agreement with Scripps, which owns 33 stations in 24 markets. Previously, two station groups -- Nexstar and the Bonten Media Group -- had replaced Nielsen with Comscore. A majority of these station groups own stations in smaller markets that had relied on weekly TV diaries for ratings. As audiences fragmented in a multichannel and on-demand environment, both advertisers and stations expressed frustration at the inadequacy of paper diaries. As a result, Nielsen has, at long last, replaced TV diaries with people meters, return path data, modeling and now measures out-of-home viewing in the larger markets. Nielsen also recently renewed its agreement with Hearst Television, which owns and operates stations in 28 TV markets. Comscore joins a long list of rivals that have tried to replace Nielsen as the primary TV ratings source. All of the previous efforts have failed. Heres a brief history: AGB introduced the people meter to the U.S. in 1986. Nielsen quickly introduced its own people meter and AGB soon shut down its U.S. operations. In 1987, R.D. Percy developed heat sensors that passively measured TV audiences, which failed to gain traction in the marketplace. Four years later, Arbitron introduced ScanAmerica, which combined people meters for TV ratings with a wand that measured UPC codes for product purchases. The single-source service was available in several local TV markets. Less than one year later, ScanAmerica, with a limited number of clients, shut down. The next potential Nielsen competitor came from the broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in the form of SMART (System for Measuring and Reporting Television). The broadcasters argued that Nielsens measurement was favoring cable television. The ratings initiative failed five years later for lack of seed money. The last major threat was ErinMedia, which issued a lawsuit against Nielsen in 2006. ErinMedia announced the usage of viewing data from digital set top cable boxes to measure audiences. When Nielsen made a similar announcement, ErinMedia lost funding. Among the claims in the lawsuit was Nielsens use of long-term, staggered contracts to ensure no competitor can get a foothold in the TV ratings business, thus stifling competition. The lawsuit was settled in 2008. Whether CBS can continue to go without Nielsen ratings depends on advertisers. CBS relied on Nielsen to develop audience estimates to negotiate billions of ad dollars with their ad agency clients. Carrie Drinkwater, the Executive Director of Integrated Investments at MullenLowe MediaHub, says, short-term, CBS not having Nielsen data is not an issue. We have Nielsen ratings, we have upfront guarantees and we can notify the network of any audience shortfalls, Drinkwater notes. CBS has benefitted from Nielsen ratings; it has been the top-rated network for years. The CBS audience is older, which Nielsen has had no trouble measuring, compared to younger age groups which have given them problems. In the upcoming weeks, CBS will be airing three of its highest rated telecasts, the AFC Championship Game, Super Bowl LIII and the Grammys. Drinkwater feels CBS and Nielsen will come to some agreement before the Super Bowl. CBS is following Fox and Sinclair Broadcasting as using the competition from Comscore as bargaining chip when negotiating with Nielsen. In June 2014, the Fox station group, after making a long-term deal with Rentrak (since acquired by Comscore), was prepared to drop Nielsen. The two parties struck an agreement at the eleventh hour. After announcing it was considering moving to Comscore as its primary ratings provider, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, in February 2018, renewed its agreement with Nielsen. The impasse with CBS marks the first time a broadcast network intends on using Comscore as its primary ratings currency. Competition in audience measurement provides the industry with more innovation at a lower cost. Both Nielsen and Comscore are working on improving their cross-platform audience measurement capabilities, something advertisers and networks have been demanding. Comscore could be the biggest threat to Nielsens audience measurement capabilities in decades. As audience measurement companies expand to other platforms providing accurate viewing data is essential. George Ivie, the Executive Director and CEO of the Media Rating Council states, in todays new TV-based measurement approaches such as audience ascription to return path data, data integration and modeling. The process of audience measurement should be transparent and undergo audits that have protected the marketplace for years. | Nielsen's contract with CBS expired on New Year's Day 2019. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2019/01/07/can-cbs-go-without-nielsen/ | 0.286482 |
Can CBS Go Without Nielsen? | On New Years Day 2019, Nielsens contract with CBS expired. Both sides had been in negotiations, but were unable to come to an agreement. It has been estimated the previous contract between the two parties had a value exceeding $100 million. Besides the broadcast network, the CBS contract includes their 28 owned and operated stations, primarily in major TV markets. CBS claims that Nielsens audience measurement is inadequate in todays multi-platform environment and that Nielsens asking price is too high. Without a contract, CBS will not have access to any current or past audience data. CBS will, for now at least, rely on audience data from Comscore and other sources for ratings. Comscore uses return path data from several satellite companies and cable operators including AT&T/DirecTV, Dish, Cox and Charter. Comscore represents the biggest challenge to Nielsens dominance since Arbitron (now owned by Nielsen) left local TV measurement in 1993. Virtually all prominent ad agencies and television network/station are Comscore clients. Several station groups now use Comscore as the currency of negotiations with advertisers. In January 2019, Gray Television, in the wake of its acquisition of Raycom for $3.6 billion, announced they were expanding the use of Comscore in 80 of the 91 TV markets in which they own and operate stations. In December 2018, Comscore announced they had expanded its local TV market agreement with Scripps, which owns 33 stations in 24 markets. Previously, two station groups -- Nexstar and the Bonten Media Group -- had replaced Nielsen with Comscore. A majority of these station groups own stations in smaller markets that had relied on weekly TV diaries for ratings. As audiences fragmented in a multichannel and on-demand environment, both advertisers and stations expressed frustration at the inadequacy of paper diaries. As a result, Nielsen has, at long last, replaced TV diaries with people meters, return path data, modeling and now measures out-of-home viewing in the larger markets. Nielsen also recently renewed its agreement with Hearst Television, which owns and operates stations in 28 TV markets. Comscore joins a long list of rivals that have tried to replace Nielsen as the primary TV ratings source. All of the previous efforts have failed. Heres a brief history: AGB introduced the people meter to the U.S. in 1986. Nielsen quickly introduced its own people meter and AGB soon shut down its U.S. operations. In 1987, R.D. Percy developed heat sensors that passively measured TV audiences, which failed to gain traction in the marketplace. Four years later, Arbitron introduced ScanAmerica, which combined people meters for TV ratings with a wand that measured UPC codes for product purchases. The single-source service was available in several local TV markets. Less than one year later, ScanAmerica, with a limited number of clients, shut down. The next potential Nielsen competitor came from the broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in the form of SMART (System for Measuring and Reporting Television). The broadcasters argued that Nielsens measurement was favoring cable television. The ratings initiative failed five years later for lack of seed money. The last major threat was ErinMedia, which issued a lawsuit against Nielsen in 2006. ErinMedia announced the usage of viewing data from digital set top cable boxes to measure audiences. When Nielsen made a similar announcement, ErinMedia lost funding. Among the claims in the lawsuit was Nielsens use of long-term, staggered contracts to ensure no competitor can get a foothold in the TV ratings business, thus stifling competition. The lawsuit was settled in 2008. Whether CBS can continue to go without Nielsen ratings depends on advertisers. CBS relied on Nielsen to develop audience estimates to negotiate billions of ad dollars with their ad agency clients. Carrie Drinkwater, the Executive Director of Integrated Investments at MullenLowe MediaHub, says, short-term, CBS not having Nielsen data is not an issue. We have Nielsen ratings, we have upfront guarantees and we can notify the network of any audience shortfalls, Drinkwater notes. CBS has benefitted from Nielsen ratings; it has been the top-rated network for years. The CBS audience is older, which Nielsen has had no trouble measuring, compared to younger age groups which have given them problems. In the upcoming weeks, CBS will be airing three of its highest rated telecasts, the AFC Championship Game, Super Bowl LIII and the Grammys. Drinkwater feels CBS and Nielsen will come to some agreement before the Super Bowl. CBS is following Fox and Sinclair Broadcasting as using the competition from Comscore as bargaining chip when negotiating with Nielsen. In June 2014, the Fox station group, after making a long-term deal with Rentrak (since acquired by Comscore), was prepared to drop Nielsen. The two parties struck an agreement at the eleventh hour. After announcing it was considering moving to Comscore as its primary ratings provider, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, in February 2018, renewed its agreement with Nielsen. The impasse with CBS marks the first time a broadcast network intends on using Comscore as its primary ratings currency. Competition in audience measurement provides the industry with more innovation at a lower cost. Both Nielsen and Comscore are working on improving their cross-platform audience measurement capabilities, something advertisers and networks have been demanding. Comscore could be the biggest threat to Nielsens audience measurement capabilities in decades. As audience measurement companies expand to other platforms providing accurate viewing data is essential. George Ivie, the Executive Director and CEO of the Media Rating Council states, in todays new TV-based measurement approaches such as audience ascription to return path data, data integration and modeling. The process of audience measurement should be transparent and undergo audits that have protected the marketplace for years. | Nielsen's contract with CBS expired on New Year's Day 2019. Comscore represents the biggest challenge to Nielsens dominance since Arbitron left local TV measurement in 1993. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2019/01/07/can-cbs-go-without-nielsen/ | 0.389162 |
Can CBS Go Without Nielsen? | On New Years Day 2019, Nielsens contract with CBS expired. Both sides had been in negotiations, but were unable to come to an agreement. It has been estimated the previous contract between the two parties had a value exceeding $100 million. Besides the broadcast network, the CBS contract includes their 28 owned and operated stations, primarily in major TV markets. CBS claims that Nielsens audience measurement is inadequate in todays multi-platform environment and that Nielsens asking price is too high. Without a contract, CBS will not have access to any current or past audience data. CBS will, for now at least, rely on audience data from Comscore and other sources for ratings. Comscore uses return path data from several satellite companies and cable operators including AT&T/DirecTV, Dish, Cox and Charter. Comscore represents the biggest challenge to Nielsens dominance since Arbitron (now owned by Nielsen) left local TV measurement in 1993. Virtually all prominent ad agencies and television network/station are Comscore clients. Several station groups now use Comscore as the currency of negotiations with advertisers. In January 2019, Gray Television, in the wake of its acquisition of Raycom for $3.6 billion, announced they were expanding the use of Comscore in 80 of the 91 TV markets in which they own and operate stations. In December 2018, Comscore announced they had expanded its local TV market agreement with Scripps, which owns 33 stations in 24 markets. Previously, two station groups -- Nexstar and the Bonten Media Group -- had replaced Nielsen with Comscore. A majority of these station groups own stations in smaller markets that had relied on weekly TV diaries for ratings. As audiences fragmented in a multichannel and on-demand environment, both advertisers and stations expressed frustration at the inadequacy of paper diaries. As a result, Nielsen has, at long last, replaced TV diaries with people meters, return path data, modeling and now measures out-of-home viewing in the larger markets. Nielsen also recently renewed its agreement with Hearst Television, which owns and operates stations in 28 TV markets. Comscore joins a long list of rivals that have tried to replace Nielsen as the primary TV ratings source. All of the previous efforts have failed. Heres a brief history: AGB introduced the people meter to the U.S. in 1986. Nielsen quickly introduced its own people meter and AGB soon shut down its U.S. operations. In 1987, R.D. Percy developed heat sensors that passively measured TV audiences, which failed to gain traction in the marketplace. Four years later, Arbitron introduced ScanAmerica, which combined people meters for TV ratings with a wand that measured UPC codes for product purchases. The single-source service was available in several local TV markets. Less than one year later, ScanAmerica, with a limited number of clients, shut down. The next potential Nielsen competitor came from the broadcast networks ABC, CBS and NBC in partnership with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) in the form of SMART (System for Measuring and Reporting Television). The broadcasters argued that Nielsens measurement was favoring cable television. The ratings initiative failed five years later for lack of seed money. The last major threat was ErinMedia, which issued a lawsuit against Nielsen in 2006. ErinMedia announced the usage of viewing data from digital set top cable boxes to measure audiences. When Nielsen made a similar announcement, ErinMedia lost funding. Among the claims in the lawsuit was Nielsens use of long-term, staggered contracts to ensure no competitor can get a foothold in the TV ratings business, thus stifling competition. The lawsuit was settled in 2008. Whether CBS can continue to go without Nielsen ratings depends on advertisers. CBS relied on Nielsen to develop audience estimates to negotiate billions of ad dollars with their ad agency clients. Carrie Drinkwater, the Executive Director of Integrated Investments at MullenLowe MediaHub, says, short-term, CBS not having Nielsen data is not an issue. We have Nielsen ratings, we have upfront guarantees and we can notify the network of any audience shortfalls, Drinkwater notes. CBS has benefitted from Nielsen ratings; it has been the top-rated network for years. The CBS audience is older, which Nielsen has had no trouble measuring, compared to younger age groups which have given them problems. In the upcoming weeks, CBS will be airing three of its highest rated telecasts, the AFC Championship Game, Super Bowl LIII and the Grammys. Drinkwater feels CBS and Nielsen will come to some agreement before the Super Bowl. CBS is following Fox and Sinclair Broadcasting as using the competition from Comscore as bargaining chip when negotiating with Nielsen. In June 2014, the Fox station group, after making a long-term deal with Rentrak (since acquired by Comscore), was prepared to drop Nielsen. The two parties struck an agreement at the eleventh hour. After announcing it was considering moving to Comscore as its primary ratings provider, the Sinclair Broadcast Group, in February 2018, renewed its agreement with Nielsen. The impasse with CBS marks the first time a broadcast network intends on using Comscore as its primary ratings currency. Competition in audience measurement provides the industry with more innovation at a lower cost. Both Nielsen and Comscore are working on improving their cross-platform audience measurement capabilities, something advertisers and networks have been demanding. Comscore could be the biggest threat to Nielsens audience measurement capabilities in decades. As audience measurement companies expand to other platforms providing accurate viewing data is essential. George Ivie, the Executive Director and CEO of the Media Rating Council states, in todays new TV-based measurement approaches such as audience ascription to return path data, data integration and modeling. The process of audience measurement should be transparent and undergo audits that have protected the marketplace for years. | Nielsen's contract with CBS expired on New Year's Day 2019. Without a contract, CBS will not have access to any current or past audience data. Comscore represents the biggest challenge to Nielsens dominance since Arbitron left local TV measurement in 1993. Several station groups now use Comscore as the currency of negotiations with advertisers. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradadgate/2019/01/07/can-cbs-go-without-nielsen/ | 0.456928 |
Would Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 70% tax proposal work in UK? | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the newly elected Democrat congresswoman, has floated the idea of US income tax rates as high as 70%. Although only an idea for now, her intervention raises questions over whether such a policy might work in another country with sharp economic divisions: the UK. Potentially applying to earnings above $10m a year, she argued that the wealthiest Americans needed to pay their fair share in taxes to help fund a Green New Deal for the US to combat climate change, while also tackling inequality. Britain was used to higher top rates of income tax as recently as the late 1970s, when the highest rate was set at 83% under the Labour government of Jim Callaghan, before the rise of neoliberal economic policy under Margaret Thatcher. The prevailing logic in UK government since has tended to be that lower headline rates of tax help to encourage individual enterprise; empowering wealth creators and jobs, and to attract the brightest and best to Britain, boosting economic growth. Thatcher oversaw reductions in the top tax rate to 60% and then to 40% by 1988, where it has remained until Gordon Brown introduced a 50% additional rate on earnings above 150,000 after the 2008 financial crisis. George Osborne, however, cut that additional rate to 45% in 2012, arguing that Brown had not managed to bring in any additional revenue because wealthy taxpayers altered their arrangements to avoid the tax. Debates have raged over the optimum levels for individual taxation in the UK ever since income tax was first introduced in 1799 in preparation for the Napoleonic wars. Governments in the 21st century have tended to worry that higher tax rates might cause the richest in society to change their behaviour to avoid taxes, losing them potential revenue, or to flee the country altogether. During the 1970s, the US economist Arthur Laffer argued that higher tax rates would only generate higher revenue up to a certain level, before revenue declined, a theory known as the Laffer curve. The idea was that the more money the government took, the less incentive there was to work. If the government took 100% of your income, there was no point in working. Higher income tax rates could result in wealthy individuals shifting their earnings into company shares, which attract a lower rate of taxation as capital gains, or into offshore vehicles. Globalisation has increased in recent decades, meaning that the super-rich can more easily relocate their tax affairs. Higher tax rates may also stand to reduce household spending, as the state takes money that individuals would otherwise spend, damaging the economy. On the flipside, however, the state may have more money to spend to boost the size of the economy, for example through more investment in education or infrastructure. Economists say for this reason, among others, the evidence is mixed that lower rates can boost revenue from taxes, or the size of the economy. Scandinavian economies such as Sweden have higher rates than the UK, without falling behind in the global economic league tables. Stuart Adam, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said: All the scare stories that everyone will leave the country are clearly nonsense. But saying there will be no response is clearly nonsense also. The question is where we are in between and its difficult to know. Rising levels of inequality since the 2008 financial crisis, as well as the ballooning government budget deficit, have, however, raised renewed questions over whether higher income tax rates could be used to redistribute wealth. There is a sixfold difference between the income of the top 20% of households and those of the bottom 20%. Meanwhile, wealth inequality is much worse, with 44% of the UKs wealth owned by only 10% of the population, five times the total wealth held by the poorest half. Today the UK has a basic rate income tax of 20% for earnings above 11,500; a higher rate of 40% on earnings more than 45,001, and the additional rate of 45% for income more than 150,000. As much as the actual rate of taxation, these thresholds matter. First, they mean that not all of a persons earnings are taxed at the same level: someone earning 200,000 a year, for example, would only hand over 45% to the government on 50,000. The rest would attract lower rates of taxation. There are about 31 million people in Britain paying individual income tax. About 26.3 million pay the basic rate, while 4.3 million pay the higher rate and only 393,000 pay the additional rate about 1% of all taxpayers. However, despite being in the minority, the top 50% paid 90.6% of total income tax (about 178bn) collected in 2015-16. The top 1% of taxpayers paid 28.8% of the total. Given the low numbers of high tax-payers involved, Ocasio-Cortezs suggestion of a 70% rate for those earning more than $10m (about 6.3m) would mean very few people outside of FTSE 100 chief executives and hedge fund bosses would pay such a rate. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk For this reason, many economists say that higher tax bands are more useful as signals of political virtue, rather than as revenue raisers. Wealth taxes levied on items such as property and inheritance money might instead be a better idea, according to Carys Roberts, a senior economist at the IPPR thinktank. Total household wealth has rapidly risen to almost 13tn, with the top 10% owning half of it, and is taxed at comparatively low rates. We need to have conversation on tax, about recapturing some of the huge gains that are being made at the top of society. The only point where I differ is in how best to do that, she said. | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has floated the idea of US income tax rates as high as 70%. Her intervention raises questions over whether such a policy might work in another country with sharp economic divisions: the UK. | bart | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/07/would-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-70-per-cent-tax-proposal-work-in-uk | 0.367823 |
Would Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's 70% tax proposal work in UK? | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the newly elected Democrat congresswoman, has floated the idea of US income tax rates as high as 70%. Although only an idea for now, her intervention raises questions over whether such a policy might work in another country with sharp economic divisions: the UK. Potentially applying to earnings above $10m a year, she argued that the wealthiest Americans needed to pay their fair share in taxes to help fund a Green New Deal for the US to combat climate change, while also tackling inequality. Britain was used to higher top rates of income tax as recently as the late 1970s, when the highest rate was set at 83% under the Labour government of Jim Callaghan, before the rise of neoliberal economic policy under Margaret Thatcher. The prevailing logic in UK government since has tended to be that lower headline rates of tax help to encourage individual enterprise; empowering wealth creators and jobs, and to attract the brightest and best to Britain, boosting economic growth. Thatcher oversaw reductions in the top tax rate to 60% and then to 40% by 1988, where it has remained until Gordon Brown introduced a 50% additional rate on earnings above 150,000 after the 2008 financial crisis. George Osborne, however, cut that additional rate to 45% in 2012, arguing that Brown had not managed to bring in any additional revenue because wealthy taxpayers altered their arrangements to avoid the tax. Debates have raged over the optimum levels for individual taxation in the UK ever since income tax was first introduced in 1799 in preparation for the Napoleonic wars. Governments in the 21st century have tended to worry that higher tax rates might cause the richest in society to change their behaviour to avoid taxes, losing them potential revenue, or to flee the country altogether. During the 1970s, the US economist Arthur Laffer argued that higher tax rates would only generate higher revenue up to a certain level, before revenue declined, a theory known as the Laffer curve. The idea was that the more money the government took, the less incentive there was to work. If the government took 100% of your income, there was no point in working. Higher income tax rates could result in wealthy individuals shifting their earnings into company shares, which attract a lower rate of taxation as capital gains, or into offshore vehicles. Globalisation has increased in recent decades, meaning that the super-rich can more easily relocate their tax affairs. Higher tax rates may also stand to reduce household spending, as the state takes money that individuals would otherwise spend, damaging the economy. On the flipside, however, the state may have more money to spend to boost the size of the economy, for example through more investment in education or infrastructure. Economists say for this reason, among others, the evidence is mixed that lower rates can boost revenue from taxes, or the size of the economy. Scandinavian economies such as Sweden have higher rates than the UK, without falling behind in the global economic league tables. Stuart Adam, a senior research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said: All the scare stories that everyone will leave the country are clearly nonsense. But saying there will be no response is clearly nonsense also. The question is where we are in between and its difficult to know. Rising levels of inequality since the 2008 financial crisis, as well as the ballooning government budget deficit, have, however, raised renewed questions over whether higher income tax rates could be used to redistribute wealth. There is a sixfold difference between the income of the top 20% of households and those of the bottom 20%. Meanwhile, wealth inequality is much worse, with 44% of the UKs wealth owned by only 10% of the population, five times the total wealth held by the poorest half. Today the UK has a basic rate income tax of 20% for earnings above 11,500; a higher rate of 40% on earnings more than 45,001, and the additional rate of 45% for income more than 150,000. As much as the actual rate of taxation, these thresholds matter. First, they mean that not all of a persons earnings are taxed at the same level: someone earning 200,000 a year, for example, would only hand over 45% to the government on 50,000. The rest would attract lower rates of taxation. There are about 31 million people in Britain paying individual income tax. About 26.3 million pay the basic rate, while 4.3 million pay the higher rate and only 393,000 pay the additional rate about 1% of all taxpayers. However, despite being in the minority, the top 50% paid 90.6% of total income tax (about 178bn) collected in 2015-16. The top 1% of taxpayers paid 28.8% of the total. Given the low numbers of high tax-payers involved, Ocasio-Cortezs suggestion of a 70% rate for those earning more than $10m (about 6.3m) would mean very few people outside of FTSE 100 chief executives and hedge fund bosses would pay such a rate. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk For this reason, many economists say that higher tax bands are more useful as signals of political virtue, rather than as revenue raisers. Wealth taxes levied on items such as property and inheritance money might instead be a better idea, according to Carys Roberts, a senior economist at the IPPR thinktank. Total household wealth has rapidly risen to almost 13tn, with the top 10% owning half of it, and is taxed at comparatively low rates. We need to have conversation on tax, about recapturing some of the huge gains that are being made at the top of society. The only point where I differ is in how best to do that, she said. | Newly elected congresswoman has floated the idea of US income tax rates as high as 70%. Raises questions over whether such a policy might work in another country with sharp economic divisions: the UK. Britain was used to higher top rates of income tax as recently as the late 1970s, when the highest rate was set at 83%. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/jan/07/would-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-70-per-cent-tax-proposal-work-in-uk | 0.176495 |
What's next for four teams eliminated in NFL playoffs' wild-card round? | CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes gives us one key for every wild card winner if they want to advance even further in the playoffs. USA TODAY Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops back to pass before the game Los Angeles Chargers in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports) Four more teams met their end in the NFLs wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend. Now, the Ravens, Texans, Seahawks and Bears all head for the offseason. All four reached the postseason this year after failing to do so last season, and each franchise has a chance to build on their now completed campaigns. But they must learn from the mistakes that cost them a chance to advance to the divisional round. Here are some of the most important lessons each defeat provided these four squads this weekend. Ravens John Harbaugh did the right, albeit unpopular, thing in sticking with Lamar Jackson despite the offense's struggles for three quarters in a 23-17 loss to the Chargers. The Ravens' line played so poorly (surrendering seven sacks and paving the way for only 90 rushing yards) that although Joe Flacco may be a more adept passer than Jackson at this point, he wouldn't have had any more time to operate. The rookie had earned the right to remain in the game after sparking the Ravens midseason turnaround and getting this team into the playoffs. He must learn to protect the ball better after fumbling three times, but one of the biggest lessons is for Baltimores coaches. The Chargers were intent on neutralizing Jackson and the run after losing to Baltimore two weeks earlier. Gus Bradley got more speed on the field by replacing his linebackers with defensive backs, and the tactic worked. Meanwhile, Baltimores coaches didnt appear to come into that game with a different plan from the first meeting, and it took far too long for them to adapt. Not until the fourth quarter did they utilize a jumbo package to take advantage of Los Angeles' smaller lineup and also offer more pass protection. And the Ravens didnt start attacking downfield until well into the second half. After just 17 passing yards in the first half, Jackson notched 177 yards and two touchdown passes in the final two quarters. In his seven regular-season games as a starter, Jackson obviously displayed great running ability, but he made enough impressive throws to indicate that he was capable of more under offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Now in Year 2, its on his coaches to further develop him and better equip him to succeed while Ravens brass upgrades the rest of the offense. Bears A fantastic defense and a year of significant growth from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky paved the way for an NFC North title and playoff appearance in Matt Nagys first season. But it all came to a crushing end with a blocked field goal by Cody Parkey. The immediate reaction from many is that the Bears need to upgrade at kicker. Parkey struggled this season, making just 76.7 percent of his field goals (ranking 28th in the NFL). But the Bears shouldnt have let it come down to that. Their offense must capitalize more consistently. Two takeaways resulted in just three points, and only one of Chicago's three red-zone three trips yielded a touchdown. Texans Deshaun Watson shined in his return from the torn ACL that cut his rookie season short. But the Texans success came to a screeching halt in a lopsided defeat to the AFC South rival Colts. Its clear that Houston needs to do more to support Watson. He was sacked three times (and a league-high 62 times this season). Houstons need for offensive line upgrades was evident as Indianapolis harassed Watson throughout the game and sacked him three times. Additional offensive weapons and a bolstering of the secondary also are needed. The Texans cant make the mistake of counting on Watsons superb abilities to mask their deficiencies. Seahawks Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer might not admit it publicly, and the coach described any criticism of his offensive coordinator as garbage, but both men should have remorse about the lack of flexibility they displayed in Seattles 24-22 loss to Dallas. Its fine that the Seahawks' identity is centered on their ability to run the football. But a team has to be able to adjust. The Cowboys defense limited Seattle to just 73 rushing yards and one touchdown on 24 attempts. The Seahawks consistently faced third-and-long situations, managing just a 2-for-13 conversion rate and just 11 total first downs. It took too long for the coaches to figure out that they needed to attack the Cowboys through the air. Had they done so sooner, that would have forced Dallas to back off some and then paved the way for more success on the ground. Wilson certainly is capable of capitalizing on downfield strikes, so his coaches erred in this area. In addition to expanding the playbook this offseason, the Seahawks should make it a priority to give Wilson some more weapons. Follow Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones. | Four more teams met their end in the NFLs wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend. The Ravens, Texans, Seahawks and Bears all head for the offseason. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/mike-jones/2019/01/07/nfl-playoffs-ravens-bears-texans-seahawks/2506615002/ | 0.121013 |
What's next for four teams eliminated in NFL playoffs' wild-card round? | CLOSE SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Lorenzo Reyes gives us one key for every wild card winner if they want to advance even further in the playoffs. USA TODAY Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) drops back to pass before the game Los Angeles Chargers in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. (Photo: Tommy Gilligan, USA TODAY Sports) Four more teams met their end in the NFLs wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend. Now, the Ravens, Texans, Seahawks and Bears all head for the offseason. All four reached the postseason this year after failing to do so last season, and each franchise has a chance to build on their now completed campaigns. But they must learn from the mistakes that cost them a chance to advance to the divisional round. Here are some of the most important lessons each defeat provided these four squads this weekend. Ravens John Harbaugh did the right, albeit unpopular, thing in sticking with Lamar Jackson despite the offense's struggles for three quarters in a 23-17 loss to the Chargers. The Ravens' line played so poorly (surrendering seven sacks and paving the way for only 90 rushing yards) that although Joe Flacco may be a more adept passer than Jackson at this point, he wouldn't have had any more time to operate. The rookie had earned the right to remain in the game after sparking the Ravens midseason turnaround and getting this team into the playoffs. He must learn to protect the ball better after fumbling three times, but one of the biggest lessons is for Baltimores coaches. The Chargers were intent on neutralizing Jackson and the run after losing to Baltimore two weeks earlier. Gus Bradley got more speed on the field by replacing his linebackers with defensive backs, and the tactic worked. Meanwhile, Baltimores coaches didnt appear to come into that game with a different plan from the first meeting, and it took far too long for them to adapt. Not until the fourth quarter did they utilize a jumbo package to take advantage of Los Angeles' smaller lineup and also offer more pass protection. And the Ravens didnt start attacking downfield until well into the second half. After just 17 passing yards in the first half, Jackson notched 177 yards and two touchdown passes in the final two quarters. In his seven regular-season games as a starter, Jackson obviously displayed great running ability, but he made enough impressive throws to indicate that he was capable of more under offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg. Now in Year 2, its on his coaches to further develop him and better equip him to succeed while Ravens brass upgrades the rest of the offense. Bears A fantastic defense and a year of significant growth from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky paved the way for an NFC North title and playoff appearance in Matt Nagys first season. But it all came to a crushing end with a blocked field goal by Cody Parkey. The immediate reaction from many is that the Bears need to upgrade at kicker. Parkey struggled this season, making just 76.7 percent of his field goals (ranking 28th in the NFL). But the Bears shouldnt have let it come down to that. Their offense must capitalize more consistently. Two takeaways resulted in just three points, and only one of Chicago's three red-zone three trips yielded a touchdown. Texans Deshaun Watson shined in his return from the torn ACL that cut his rookie season short. But the Texans success came to a screeching halt in a lopsided defeat to the AFC South rival Colts. Its clear that Houston needs to do more to support Watson. He was sacked three times (and a league-high 62 times this season). Houstons need for offensive line upgrades was evident as Indianapolis harassed Watson throughout the game and sacked him three times. Additional offensive weapons and a bolstering of the secondary also are needed. The Texans cant make the mistake of counting on Watsons superb abilities to mask their deficiencies. Seahawks Pete Carroll and Brian Schottenheimer might not admit it publicly, and the coach described any criticism of his offensive coordinator as garbage, but both men should have remorse about the lack of flexibility they displayed in Seattles 24-22 loss to Dallas. Its fine that the Seahawks' identity is centered on their ability to run the football. But a team has to be able to adjust. The Cowboys defense limited Seattle to just 73 rushing yards and one touchdown on 24 attempts. The Seahawks consistently faced third-and-long situations, managing just a 2-for-13 conversion rate and just 11 total first downs. It took too long for the coaches to figure out that they needed to attack the Cowboys through the air. Had they done so sooner, that would have forced Dallas to back off some and then paved the way for more success on the ground. Wilson certainly is capable of capitalizing on downfield strikes, so his coaches erred in this area. In addition to expanding the playbook this offseason, the Seahawks should make it a priority to give Wilson some more weapons. Follow Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones. | Four more teams met their end in the NFLs wild-card round of the playoffs this weekend. The Ravens, Texans, Seahawks and Bears all head for the offseason. All four reached the postseason this year after failing to do so last season. Here are some of the most important lessons each defeat provided these four squads this weekend. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/mike-jones/2019/01/07/nfl-playoffs-ravens-bears-texans-seahawks/2506615002/ | 0.214322 |
Did 'Modern Family' star Sarah Hyland have a nip slip ahead of the 2019 Golden Globes? | Sarah Hyland was one of the many celebrities to attend the 2019 Golden Globes Sunday evening. Rocking a low-cut long-sleeved dress paired with strappy silver heels, the "Modern Family" star made her way through the Beverly Hilton hitting up several after parties including HBO's soiree, as well as the InStyle and Warner Bros. event with her boyfriend Wells Adams. However, as first pointed out by Us Weekly, it seems as if Hyland might have shared a little more than she intended to in the hours leading up to the parties. In one of her Instagram Story photos, the star who is seen happily posing next to Adams appears from the camera's angle to have suffered a nip slip. One social media user also tweeted about Hyland's low-cut look while she was giving an interview on the HBO red carpet. "Ummm... unfortunate angle! It looks like the star from the Access microphone is a censor covering a nip slip! @Sarah_Hyland #ROTFL," the person wrote. Despite her accidental wardrobe malfunction, the 28-year-old actress appeared to have a blast at Hollywood's prom, sharing photos throughout the night on her social media. | Sarah Hyland appeared to have a nip slip at the 2019 Golden Globes. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/did-modern-family-star-sarah-hyland-have-a-nip-slip-ahead-of-the-2019-golden-globes | 0.199738 |
Did 'Modern Family' star Sarah Hyland have a nip slip ahead of the 2019 Golden Globes? | Sarah Hyland was one of the many celebrities to attend the 2019 Golden Globes Sunday evening. Rocking a low-cut long-sleeved dress paired with strappy silver heels, the "Modern Family" star made her way through the Beverly Hilton hitting up several after parties including HBO's soiree, as well as the InStyle and Warner Bros. event with her boyfriend Wells Adams. However, as first pointed out by Us Weekly, it seems as if Hyland might have shared a little more than she intended to in the hours leading up to the parties. In one of her Instagram Story photos, the star who is seen happily posing next to Adams appears from the camera's angle to have suffered a nip slip. One social media user also tweeted about Hyland's low-cut look while she was giving an interview on the HBO red carpet. "Ummm... unfortunate angle! It looks like the star from the Access microphone is a censor covering a nip slip! @Sarah_Hyland #ROTFL," the person wrote. Despite her accidental wardrobe malfunction, the 28-year-old actress appeared to have a blast at Hollywood's prom, sharing photos throughout the night on her social media. | Sarah Hyland shared a photo from the Golden Globes that appeared to show a nip slip. The "Modern Family" star was wearing a low-cut dress. She shared photos throughout the night. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/did-modern-family-star-sarah-hyland-have-a-nip-slip-ahead-of-the-2019-golden-globes | 0.215626 |
Did 'Modern Family' star Sarah Hyland have a nip slip ahead of the 2019 Golden Globes? | Sarah Hyland was one of the many celebrities to attend the 2019 Golden Globes Sunday evening. Rocking a low-cut long-sleeved dress paired with strappy silver heels, the "Modern Family" star made her way through the Beverly Hilton hitting up several after parties including HBO's soiree, as well as the InStyle and Warner Bros. event with her boyfriend Wells Adams. However, as first pointed out by Us Weekly, it seems as if Hyland might have shared a little more than she intended to in the hours leading up to the parties. In one of her Instagram Story photos, the star who is seen happily posing next to Adams appears from the camera's angle to have suffered a nip slip. One social media user also tweeted about Hyland's low-cut look while she was giving an interview on the HBO red carpet. "Ummm... unfortunate angle! It looks like the star from the Access microphone is a censor covering a nip slip! @Sarah_Hyland #ROTFL," the person wrote. Despite her accidental wardrobe malfunction, the 28-year-old actress appeared to have a blast at Hollywood's prom, sharing photos throughout the night on her social media. | Sarah Hyland wore a low-cut dress to the 2019 Golden Globes. In one of her Instagram Story photos, she appears to have suffered a nip slip. The 28-year-old actress attended several after parties with her boyfriend Wells Adams. She also attended HBO's soiree and InStyle and Warner Bros. events. | bart | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/did-modern-family-star-sarah-hyland-have-a-nip-slip-ahead-of-the-2019-golden-globes | 0.338454 |
Are Hedge Fund Dollar Store Dreams A Mirage? | At least a half dozen and counting when it comes to Family Dollar, which was taken over in mid-2015 after the scion of company founder Leon Levine warded off a who's who in activist hedge funds and a found a savior in acquirer Dollar Tree. However, due to years of continued challenges in Family Dollar's stores, it is white knight Dollar Tree that has seen its stock stagnate and attract powerful activists who are now calling for a demerger. Here's the rub: The obsession hedge funds seem to have for struggling dollar stores may be little more than a mirage. If Dollar Tree does decide to rid itself of Family Dollar--likely at a lower value than the near $9 billion in cash and stock it paidthe maneuver may prove just how counterproductive the meddling was. After all, Dollar Tree's struggles in digesting Family Dollar may have created a good entry point for hedge fund investors like Carl Icahn and Jeffrey Smith of Starboard Value. On Monday, Starboard Value disclosed a 1.7% stake in Dollar Tree and an 11-page letter calling for a shakeup of the company's board, a sale of Family Dollar, and the implementation of a multi-price strategy at its stores, putting wares above $1 apiece. Family Dollar's issues are apparent and there is some meritalbeit with considerable riskto Starboard's Dollar Tree pricing recommendations, however, it is the hedge fund's competitors in the private equity industry who may uncover the most opportunity. Family Dollar's Wall Street saga began in earnest in the early days of the current economic recovery. At that time, private equity giant KKR & Co. was exiting its surprisingly successful 2007 takeover and revamp of Dollar General and others on Wall Street were looking to replicate the windfall by targeting Family Dollar, the weakest among America's big publicly traded dollar store giants. In 2007, KKR led a $7.3 leveraged buyout of Dollar General. While other large LBO deals languished or went belly up during the ensuing recession, its dollar store gambit thrived as consumers reacted to the crisis by trading down to dollar stores. When KKR re-listed Dollar General on public markets in 2009, it recorded a multi-billion dollar profit and eventually a fivefold return, according to reports. To replicate this dollar store success, in mid-2010 activist fund Trian Partners assembled a large stake in Family Dollar and within a year offered as much as $7.6 billion to take the company private. Though the deal never happened, Family Dollar added Trian's Ed Garden to its board of directors in 2011. A year later, Pershing Square's Bill Ackman built a large position and began speculating on whether Dollar General would look to buy the business. Billionaire John Paulson, famous for his 'big short' of the U.S. housing market, was also a large investor post-crisis and a proponent of a company sale, according to a Bloomberg report. In mid-2014, the pressure mounted when billionaire Carl Icahn built a near 10% position in the company and called for its immediate sale, preferably to Dollar General. Instead, Family Dollar and its CEO Howard Levine decided to sell to Dollar Tree in a hurried process that allowed the company to retain its brand. Dollar General, then run by Rick Dreiling, the executor of its amazing turnaround under KKR, then entered the fray with an unsolicited offer in mid-2014. By the fall, a new activist, Elliott Management, joined in with a large stake and sharp critique of the whole sale process. It meant a half dozen of Wall Street's most recognizable investors had all gnawed over the same bone. Dollar General's hostile offer didn't get far because the Federal Trade Commission called for thousands of store divestitures in the proposed merger, rendering it uneconomic. When Dollar Tree instead sealed the deal with Family Dollar, Dreiling had this to say about the outcome: Todays vote is a loss not only for Family Dollar shareholders, but also for consumers across the country who will not have the opportunity to benefit from the cost savings and efficiencies that we believe would have been created by a merger between Dollar General and Family Dollar." Dollar Stores On The Rise As The Erosion Of The Middle Class Continues Getty Images It seems Dreiling, who retired from Dollar General in 2015 and is now chairman of Lowe's, was right on the money. So too were Icahn and Elliott who foresaw that Dollar Tree was a sub-par buyer. The merger has been a failure. Starboard points out that before the acquisition, Family Dollar same store sales were growing modestly and now they're contracting. Meanwhile, operating margins have compressed nearly a percentage point, despite years' of effort aimed at increasing efficiency. Dollar Tree's shares have suffered as a result of the growth and profit shortfall, lagging Dollar General by 20% since the Family Dollar deal closed in July 2015, per Starboard's calculations. "Dollar Tree significantly overpaid for Family Dollar, and this business is proving to be a meaningful distraction," says the activist fund in its letter and adding, "While we understand that the Company is confident in the accelerated renovation plan, rather than allowing the distraction of Family Dollar to continue to fester, draw significant resources, and adversely impact the Company, we believe Dollar Tree should explore all strategic alternatives for Family Dollar, including a sale of the business." Even if Dollar Tree sells Family Dollar, Starboard would also like the company to consider abandoning its peg to the dollar. While this proposal sounds like a sea change, dollar store competitors like Dollarama in Canada, 99-Cent Only, and Dollar General have long abandoned the pricing gimmick. Starboard isn't alone in its criticisms. Carl Icahn, the prime agent of Family Dollar's sale, has amassed a large position in Dollar Tree. Perhaps, others familiar to the saga will re-enter the situation now that the critics are re-energized. Though far from catering to the 1%, dollar stores are in some respects a fitting target of hedge funds. They're in the cyclical business of retail and they generally benefit from rising consumer spending. But as the low price retailer in most parts of the country, especially rural Amazon-proof markets, they have a built in hedge if economic circumstances change. Take the header on the release of Dollar Tree's 2008 financial results, published in February 2009 as markets were plunging and the unemployment rate surged above 10%: Dollar Tree, Inc. Reports Record Earnings per Share Fourth Quarter 2008 Earnings per Share Increase 10.6%, To $1.15 Fiscal Year 2008 Earnings per Share Increase 21.1%, To $2.53. If the U.S. is again poised to enter hard times, history indicates Icahn and Starboard's Jeffrey Smith may have a good trade on their hands. However, there are reasons to be skeptical. Same store sales aren't just stagnating for ailing Family Dollar, they are also decelerating at Dollar Tree and Dollar General and recently caused both to cut their full-year guidance. In Canada, dollar store superstar Dollarama has fallen by nearly half since September, and was recently critiqued by short seller Spruce Point. Compounding these decelerating sales figures are surging freight costs due to trucking shortages and e-commerce market share gains. These worrisome fundamentals, combined with a potentially turning economy, make for a risky backdrop to implement dramatic pricing changes, as Starboard proposes. If Dollar Tree does rid itself of Family Dollar, it seems unlikely to do so via a spinoff. After all, Family Dollar same store sales are already falling and a separation may be even more destabilizing. Worse yet, Dollar Tree is still saddled with the debt it took out to buy Family Dollar. After suspending stock buybacks to help finance the 2015 deal, Dollar Tree's only just returned to investment grade status, owning BBB- and Baa3 ratings from S&P global and Moody's, respectively. Dollar Tree is in an increasingly tough place, unlikely to sell Family Dollar to its largest competitor, Dollar General. Nevertheless, investors are starting to call time on the integration despite heavy investment in upgrading Family Dollar's IT systems, logistics and supply chain. This, in addition to the fact that the Family Dollar brand has remained intact, all points to upside for a potential PE buyer. It's all a tried and true recipe for a large dollar private equity carve out, in the vein of KKR's successful Dollar General takeover. "Given the [Family Dollar] banner's scale in a highly attractive channel and its strong free cash flow, we believe private equity, much like it did in 2015, would have genuine interest," said Jefferies analyst Christopher Mandeville in a Monday note. Of course, a private equity acquisition of Family Dollar will be a bit of a disappointment for all of the big name activist funds who have toyed with the company for nearly a decade. Dollar Tree would likely use proceeds to pay down debt and perhaps begin buying back stock using its existing $1 billion authorization, a somewhat unexciting outcome. While Dollar Tree plans to resist Starboard's call to replace its board, the company seems to have a more open mind to the proposals the activist fund laid out in its letter. "We look forward to the opportunity to engage with Starboard regarding any suggestions they may have, and we will continue to stay close to our shareholders on matters of importance to them and keep taking actions to drive shareholder value," the company said. It has hired JPMorgan as a financial advisor. Perhaps none. But it may take just one private equity giant. | Activists are calling for a demerger of Dollar Tree, the company that bought Family Dollar in a $9 billion deal. The move may prove to be counterproductive if Dollar Tree decides to sell the company. Hedge fund investors' obsession with dollar stores may be little more than a mirage. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2019/01/07/are-hedge-fund-dollar-store-dreams-a-mirage/ | 0.289948 |
Who are the key SC players in the K-12 education debate? | Overhauling South Carolinas K-12 education system is expected to be the General Assemblys top priority when legislators return to Columbia Tuesday for the start of a two-year-long session. Here is a look at some of the key players in the education debate: 1. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington Few in the debate will carry as much weight as Lucas, who is working on comprehensive reform proposal that will address K-12 spending and policy, said chief of staff Michael Anzelmo. Details have not been publicly released. But Lucas has met with Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and House Ways and Means Committee chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, who now leads the states powerful budget-writing committee. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. 2. Gov. Henry McMaster, R-Columbia Having the governor in your corner to push reform will prove important in the General Assembly. McMaster is expected to make education a focus of his State of the State address and executive budget, both later his month, spokesman Brian Symmes said. 3. The states more than 53,000 K-12 teachers: Teachers say they will make sure S.C. lawmakers hear them this session. After watching teachers walk off the job in other red states last year, S.C. teachers say they want lawmakers to take them seriously increasing their pay and removing classroom burdens. That effort has been helped by the creation of a new group, SCforEd, which has built a large social media following. 4. S.C. schools Superintendent Molly Spearman, R-Saluda: Spearman has asked lawmakers to spend close to $155 million to pay for a 5 percent raise for teachers, bringing them to the Southeastern average. Spearman, a former state representative, has sway with Gov. McMaster, who asked her to play a role in his campaign last year. 5. State Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, and state Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry The respective chairs of the House and Senate education panels will be charged with passing any education reform proposal. Allisons committee will review Lucas plan. But Hembree will be tasked with building consensus among senators. | House Speaker Jay Lucas is working on comprehensive reform proposal. Gov. Henry McMaster is expected to make education a focus of his State of the State address and executive budget. | bart | 1 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/south-carolina/article224021465.html | 0.197789 |
Who are the key SC players in the K-12 education debate? | Overhauling South Carolinas K-12 education system is expected to be the General Assemblys top priority when legislators return to Columbia Tuesday for the start of a two-year-long session. Here is a look at some of the key players in the education debate: 1. House Speaker Jay Lucas, R-Darlington Few in the debate will carry as much weight as Lucas, who is working on comprehensive reform proposal that will address K-12 spending and policy, said chief of staff Michael Anzelmo. Details have not been publicly released. But Lucas has met with Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and House Ways and Means Committee chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, who now leads the states powerful budget-writing committee. Digital Access for only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. 2. Gov. Henry McMaster, R-Columbia Having the governor in your corner to push reform will prove important in the General Assembly. McMaster is expected to make education a focus of his State of the State address and executive budget, both later his month, spokesman Brian Symmes said. 3. The states more than 53,000 K-12 teachers: Teachers say they will make sure S.C. lawmakers hear them this session. After watching teachers walk off the job in other red states last year, S.C. teachers say they want lawmakers to take them seriously increasing their pay and removing classroom burdens. That effort has been helped by the creation of a new group, SCforEd, which has built a large social media following. 4. S.C. schools Superintendent Molly Spearman, R-Saluda: Spearman has asked lawmakers to spend close to $155 million to pay for a 5 percent raise for teachers, bringing them to the Southeastern average. Spearman, a former state representative, has sway with Gov. McMaster, who asked her to play a role in his campaign last year. 5. State Rep. Rita Allison, R-Spartanburg, and state Sen. Greg Hembree, R-Horry The respective chairs of the House and Senate education panels will be charged with passing any education reform proposal. Allisons committee will review Lucas plan. But Hembree will be tasked with building consensus among senators. | S.C. lawmakers return to Columbia Tuesday for the start of a two-year-long session. Here is a look at some of the key players in the education debate: House Speaker Jay Lucas, Gov. Henry McMaster, Superintendent Molly Spearman, State Rep. Rita Allison and state Sen. Greg Hembree. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/state/south-carolina/article224021465.html | 0.710537 |
Did Freddie Kitchens convince the Browns hes their next head coach in his interview Monday? | CLEVELAND, Ohio A funny thing happened to Freddie Kitchens on his way to proving to the world that he could call plays in the NFL and knock it out of the park. He overshot it a little bit and became a legitimate head coach candidate for the Browns. Kitchens, 44, interviewed with the Browns Monday for their head coach vacancy. The seventh candidate interviewed, hell have a chance to convince the Browns he deserves to be their ninth full-time head coach in the expansion era. Critics argue that Kitchens, who started out the season here as running backs coach/associate head coach, isnt ready to be a head coach, but he begged to differ last month in one of his weekly press conferences. I mean, who the hells ready to be a head coach,'' he said. Kitchens is right, of course. Plenty of NFL coaches have been successful in their first seasons despite little evidence they would be. When the Rams hired Sean McVay in 2017 the youngest head coach in the NFL at the age of 30 he hadnt even called played in his two seasons as Redskins coordinator under Jay Gruden from 2014-16. It didnt stop McVay from going 11-5, winning an NFC West title and being voted AP NFL Coach of the Year. When the Bears took a leap of faith on Matt Nagy this season, he had only called plays for six games as coordinator under Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Again, it didnt stop him from going 12-4 this season, and if not for a blocked field goal in Sundays 16-15 loss to the Eagles, hed be facing the Saints in the NFC Divisional round this weekend. After taking over midway through the season when Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were fired, Kitchens established himself as an effective, innovative, aggressive play caller who could get the most out of Baker Mayfield and keep him upright. He embraced offensive concepts old and new, including the wishbone and the spread. In the first eight games of the season with Haley calling the plays, Mayfield went 1-4 with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He completed 58.3 percent of his attempts for 1,471 yards and was sacked 20 times. The Browns averaged 21 points in those games and scored 18 points or less on four occasions despite a boatload of takeaways In the last eight games under Kitchens, he went 5-3, with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards and was sacked only five times. The Browns averaged 24 points in those games, and scored 18 points or less on only two occasions. The Browns, however, faced some of the worst-ranked defenses in that span, including those that were 28th, 31st, 32nd and 32nd. They also failed to beat a winning team in those games. But the Browns were so intent on keeping Kitchens in some capacity that theyve blocked other NFL teams from interviewing him for their offensive coordinator positions. In addition, he received rave reviews from national football experts and analysts, including NBC Sports Peter King. Kitchens sounds exactly like the kind of coach teams in a coaching search should investigate, King wrote in his Football Morning in America Column. Everyones looking for the next (Sean) Payton, the next Sean McVay. Could it be the barrel-chested Alabamian who, despite never having been a coordinator before, has turned the Cleveland offense into must-see TV in his seven weeks on the job? Kitchens, who bonded with Mayfield and developed a mutual trust with him, stressed last month that he definitely, no doubt wants to be a head coach and would love it to be here. I like it here and I like it here a lot, and everybody around here knows that I like it here, said Kitchens. I love the town of Cleveland. Cleveland and I get along well. I didnt have a starting point in this league. I didnt have a dad as coach in the league. I grew up the son of a tire maker at Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant in Gadsden, Alabama. Benjamin E. Mays said those who start behind in the game of life must run faster to catch up, and I feel like Ive been running fast my whole life. And thats the way its going to continue, so whether its here or what, Im just here to do a job right now, this week and this year. McCarthy is on hold for now, per report Dorsey was been impressed with Kitchens eight-game on-the-job interview. Hes moved the ball, Dorsey said. Hes gotten the ball out of the quarterbacks hands quicker. Hes put some flair and different route combinations together that help out the quarterback. Overall, hes kind of moved the bar on the offensive side of the ball. He also praised his play calling ability, something Kitchens had never done before except in the Browns' fourth preseason game against the Lions. Ive always said play calling is an art, not a true science, said Dorsey. You have to feel the moment. I think Freddie has a good feel for that type of thing. What wed like to do is learn a little bit more about Freddie. That is why we are going to sit there and talk to him. Kitchens resume is also impressive. He played quarterback for three seasons at Alabama under Gene Stallings, and understands the position. Hes also worked for some of the brightest minds in football, serving as a grad assistant under Nick Saban at LSU in 2000, and coaching tight ends for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells in 2006. He spent 11 years in Arizona working under Ken Whisenhunt and Bruce Arians, spending four seasons coaching quarterback Carson Palmer. Under Kitchens tutelage, Palmer set multiple single-season team records, including passing yards (4,671), touchdown passes (35), and passer rating (104.6). Arians thinks so much of Kitchens that he recently told NFL Network that hed keep him on as offensive coordinator if he got the Browns job. Instead, Arians is a frontrunner for the Bucs job. Why the Saints' Dan Campbell should be a leading contender for the Browns head coach vacancy If Kitchens doesnt get the Browns head coach job, theyll strongly recommend him to the new head coach as coordinator, especially if its a defensive coach. The first six candidates interviewed were interim coach Gregg Williams, former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell, former Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell, Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Kitchens might also pair well with Campbell, whos also a Parcells disciple, and would likely hire someone to call the plays. The Browns' in-house search committee, according to ESPNs Adam Schefter, includes owner Jimmy Haslam, Executive Vice President JW Johnson, Dorsey, assistant GM Eliot Wolf, Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Berry. A source said that list, which excludes Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith, is incomplete. | Freddie Kitchens interviewed with the Browns Monday for their head coach vacancy. Critics argue that Kitchens isnt ready to be a head coach, but he begged to differ last month. | bart | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/01/did-freddie-kitchens-prove-to-the-browns-hes-their-next-head-coach.html | 0.141483 |
Did Freddie Kitchens convince the Browns hes their next head coach in his interview Monday? | CLEVELAND, Ohio A funny thing happened to Freddie Kitchens on his way to proving to the world that he could call plays in the NFL and knock it out of the park. He overshot it a little bit and became a legitimate head coach candidate for the Browns. Kitchens, 44, interviewed with the Browns Monday for their head coach vacancy. The seventh candidate interviewed, hell have a chance to convince the Browns he deserves to be their ninth full-time head coach in the expansion era. Critics argue that Kitchens, who started out the season here as running backs coach/associate head coach, isnt ready to be a head coach, but he begged to differ last month in one of his weekly press conferences. I mean, who the hells ready to be a head coach,'' he said. Kitchens is right, of course. Plenty of NFL coaches have been successful in their first seasons despite little evidence they would be. When the Rams hired Sean McVay in 2017 the youngest head coach in the NFL at the age of 30 he hadnt even called played in his two seasons as Redskins coordinator under Jay Gruden from 2014-16. It didnt stop McVay from going 11-5, winning an NFC West title and being voted AP NFL Coach of the Year. When the Bears took a leap of faith on Matt Nagy this season, he had only called plays for six games as coordinator under Chiefs coach Andy Reid. Again, it didnt stop him from going 12-4 this season, and if not for a blocked field goal in Sundays 16-15 loss to the Eagles, hed be facing the Saints in the NFC Divisional round this weekend. After taking over midway through the season when Hue Jackson and Todd Haley were fired, Kitchens established himself as an effective, innovative, aggressive play caller who could get the most out of Baker Mayfield and keep him upright. He embraced offensive concepts old and new, including the wishbone and the spread. In the first eight games of the season with Haley calling the plays, Mayfield went 1-4 with eight touchdowns and six interceptions. He completed 58.3 percent of his attempts for 1,471 yards and was sacked 20 times. The Browns averaged 21 points in those games and scored 18 points or less on four occasions despite a boatload of takeaways In the last eight games under Kitchens, he went 5-3, with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He completed 68.4 percent of his passes for 2,254 yards and was sacked only five times. The Browns averaged 24 points in those games, and scored 18 points or less on only two occasions. The Browns, however, faced some of the worst-ranked defenses in that span, including those that were 28th, 31st, 32nd and 32nd. They also failed to beat a winning team in those games. But the Browns were so intent on keeping Kitchens in some capacity that theyve blocked other NFL teams from interviewing him for their offensive coordinator positions. In addition, he received rave reviews from national football experts and analysts, including NBC Sports Peter King. Kitchens sounds exactly like the kind of coach teams in a coaching search should investigate, King wrote in his Football Morning in America Column. Everyones looking for the next (Sean) Payton, the next Sean McVay. Could it be the barrel-chested Alabamian who, despite never having been a coordinator before, has turned the Cleveland offense into must-see TV in his seven weeks on the job? Kitchens, who bonded with Mayfield and developed a mutual trust with him, stressed last month that he definitely, no doubt wants to be a head coach and would love it to be here. I like it here and I like it here a lot, and everybody around here knows that I like it here, said Kitchens. I love the town of Cleveland. Cleveland and I get along well. I didnt have a starting point in this league. I didnt have a dad as coach in the league. I grew up the son of a tire maker at Goodyear Tire and Rubber plant in Gadsden, Alabama. Benjamin E. Mays said those who start behind in the game of life must run faster to catch up, and I feel like Ive been running fast my whole life. And thats the way its going to continue, so whether its here or what, Im just here to do a job right now, this week and this year. McCarthy is on hold for now, per report Dorsey was been impressed with Kitchens eight-game on-the-job interview. Hes moved the ball, Dorsey said. Hes gotten the ball out of the quarterbacks hands quicker. Hes put some flair and different route combinations together that help out the quarterback. Overall, hes kind of moved the bar on the offensive side of the ball. He also praised his play calling ability, something Kitchens had never done before except in the Browns' fourth preseason game against the Lions. Ive always said play calling is an art, not a true science, said Dorsey. You have to feel the moment. I think Freddie has a good feel for that type of thing. What wed like to do is learn a little bit more about Freddie. That is why we are going to sit there and talk to him. Kitchens resume is also impressive. He played quarterback for three seasons at Alabama under Gene Stallings, and understands the position. Hes also worked for some of the brightest minds in football, serving as a grad assistant under Nick Saban at LSU in 2000, and coaching tight ends for the Cowboys under Bill Parcells in 2006. He spent 11 years in Arizona working under Ken Whisenhunt and Bruce Arians, spending four seasons coaching quarterback Carson Palmer. Under Kitchens tutelage, Palmer set multiple single-season team records, including passing yards (4,671), touchdown passes (35), and passer rating (104.6). Arians thinks so much of Kitchens that he recently told NFL Network that hed keep him on as offensive coordinator if he got the Browns job. Instead, Arians is a frontrunner for the Bucs job. Why the Saints' Dan Campbell should be a leading contender for the Browns head coach vacancy If Kitchens doesnt get the Browns head coach job, theyll strongly recommend him to the new head coach as coordinator, especially if its a defensive coach. The first six candidates interviewed were interim coach Gregg Williams, former Colts and Lions coach Jim Caldwell, former Vikings interim offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, Saints assistant head coach/tight ends coach Dan Campbell, Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores, and Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus. Kitchens might also pair well with Campbell, whos also a Parcells disciple, and would likely hire someone to call the plays. The Browns' in-house search committee, according to ESPNs Adam Schefter, includes owner Jimmy Haslam, Executive Vice President JW Johnson, Dorsey, assistant GM Eliot Wolf, Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta, Vice President of Player Personnel Andrew Berry. A source said that list, which excludes Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith, is incomplete. | Freddie Kitchens interviewed with the Browns Monday for their head coach vacancy. Critics argue that Kitchens isnt ready to be a head coach, but he begged to differ last month in one of his weekly press conferences. Kitchens established himself as an effective, innovative, aggressive play caller who could get the most out of Baker Mayfield. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/browns/2019/01/did-freddie-kitchens-prove-to-the-browns-hes-their-next-head-coach.html | 0.280343 |
Will the government shutdown affect schools? | Some parents are concerned that Congress' inability to pass a budget will affect K-12 students. But federal funding for Title I programs, special education, school meals and other elementary and secondary education programs is unaffected because the funds have already been distributed to school districts. Some Head Start programs could run out of money if the shutdown continues through Feb. 1. That would require Congress to allow the longest shutdown in history. The shutdown would reach its 42nd day if it extended to the first day of February. The previous record for a government shutdown occurred in December 1996 and January 1997, when the federal government closed for business for 21 days. But no Head Start programs in Oregon will be affected even if the shutdown were to extend into February, said Marc Siegel, communication director for the Oregon Department of Education. Oregon Head Start programs are fully funded through the end of September, he said. Oregon schools are funded mainly by state income taxes and by local property taxes. Statewide, federal funding only accounts for about 8 percent of Oregon school districts' budgets. | Federal funding for Title I programs, special education, school meals and other elementary and secondary education programs is unaffected because the funds have already been distributed to school districts. The shutdown would reach its 42nd day if it extended to the first day of February. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/01/will-the-government-shutdown-affect-schools.html | 0.284738 |
Will the government shutdown affect schools? | Some parents are concerned that Congress' inability to pass a budget will affect K-12 students. But federal funding for Title I programs, special education, school meals and other elementary and secondary education programs is unaffected because the funds have already been distributed to school districts. Some Head Start programs could run out of money if the shutdown continues through Feb. 1. That would require Congress to allow the longest shutdown in history. The shutdown would reach its 42nd day if it extended to the first day of February. The previous record for a government shutdown occurred in December 1996 and January 1997, when the federal government closed for business for 21 days. But no Head Start programs in Oregon will be affected even if the shutdown were to extend into February, said Marc Siegel, communication director for the Oregon Department of Education. Oregon Head Start programs are fully funded through the end of September, he said. Oregon schools are funded mainly by state income taxes and by local property taxes. Statewide, federal funding only accounts for about 8 percent of Oregon school districts' budgets. | Some parents are concerned that Congress' inability to pass a budget will affect K-12 students. But federal funding for Title I programs, special education, school meals is unaffected. Some Head Start programs could run out of money if the shutdown continues through Feb. 1. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/01/will-the-government-shutdown-affect-schools.html | 0.133429 |
Can Trump use 'emergency powers' to build border wall? | A section of the steel wall on the US - Mexico border near San Diego, California (AFP Photo/Guillermo Arias) Washington (AFP) - Facing stiff resistance from Congress, President Donald Trump has said he might use his emergency powers to construct hundreds of miles of wall on the southern border to prevent migrants from crossing into the United States illegally from Mexico. Trump could indeed declare a national emergency, citing what the administration calls a "crisis" at the border, after nearly 103,000 people were detained in October and November after entering the country illegally. But trying to build a wall in this way would face significant legal barriers. - Trump does have emergency powers - The National Emergencies Act allows the president to declare a national emergency, providing a specific reason for it. That then allows the mobilization of hundreds of dormant emergency powers under other laws. Those can permit the White House to declare martial law, suspend civil liberties, expand the military, seize property, and restrict trade, communications and financial transactions. But the powers are not unlimited, and can be blocked by Congress and the courts. During the Korean War in 1952, President Harry Truman sought to take over US steel factories to keep them producing in the face of a planned national strike by industry workers. Steel companies took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favor, saying the president's emergency powers did not allow him to seize privately-owned plants to avert a strike. - All presidents use the National Emergencies Act - Every recent president has used the NEA, and more than two dozen states of emergency are currently active, renewed annually. President George W. Bush invoked it after the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks to be able to expand and ready the military beyond what was budgeted, and to undertake secret surveillance and employ interrogation methods on detainees widely denounced as torture. President Barack Obama tapped the NEA to declare an emergency in 2009 over the swine flu threat, giving authorities and hospitals extra powers to act quickly against the outbreak. Most often, the NEA has been used in actions against other countries. One NEA emergency in place since 1979 has restricted trade with Iran. Another, dating to 2006, blocks property of people who were deemed to be undermining democracy in Belarus. - Powers, funds limited - If Trump declares a national emergency, he could deploy more manpower to the border. But to build a wall, he would still have to find billions of dollars to fund it. One emergency law permits the president to order "military construction projects" using funds already available in the military budget. There are strong restrictions on the US military and its funding being deployed for domestic, non-defense purposes, though emergency laws sometimes permit it. Moreover, building the wall will require taking control of privately owned land that abuts much of the border, which could force years-long legal battles with landowners. - Challenge from Congress - The NEA gives Congress the right to immediately challenge a presidential emergency declaration. Given that Congress has already declined to fund the wall, a challenge would likely quickly pass the Democratic House. Then the Republican-controlled Senate would have to decide whether they agree with the president's invocation of emergency powers to build a wall they haven't given him money for. "That's a non-starter," senior Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said Sunday. "If Harry Truman couldn't nationalize the steel industry during wartime, this president doesn't have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border." | Trump could indeed declare a national emergency, citing what the administration calls a "crisis" at the border. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/trump-emergency-powers-build-border-wall-174058612.html | 0.272237 |
Can Trump use 'emergency powers' to build border wall? | A section of the steel wall on the US - Mexico border near San Diego, California (AFP Photo/Guillermo Arias) Washington (AFP) - Facing stiff resistance from Congress, President Donald Trump has said he might use his emergency powers to construct hundreds of miles of wall on the southern border to prevent migrants from crossing into the United States illegally from Mexico. Trump could indeed declare a national emergency, citing what the administration calls a "crisis" at the border, after nearly 103,000 people were detained in October and November after entering the country illegally. But trying to build a wall in this way would face significant legal barriers. - Trump does have emergency powers - The National Emergencies Act allows the president to declare a national emergency, providing a specific reason for it. That then allows the mobilization of hundreds of dormant emergency powers under other laws. Those can permit the White House to declare martial law, suspend civil liberties, expand the military, seize property, and restrict trade, communications and financial transactions. But the powers are not unlimited, and can be blocked by Congress and the courts. During the Korean War in 1952, President Harry Truman sought to take over US steel factories to keep them producing in the face of a planned national strike by industry workers. Steel companies took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favor, saying the president's emergency powers did not allow him to seize privately-owned plants to avert a strike. - All presidents use the National Emergencies Act - Every recent president has used the NEA, and more than two dozen states of emergency are currently active, renewed annually. President George W. Bush invoked it after the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks to be able to expand and ready the military beyond what was budgeted, and to undertake secret surveillance and employ interrogation methods on detainees widely denounced as torture. President Barack Obama tapped the NEA to declare an emergency in 2009 over the swine flu threat, giving authorities and hospitals extra powers to act quickly against the outbreak. Most often, the NEA has been used in actions against other countries. One NEA emergency in place since 1979 has restricted trade with Iran. Another, dating to 2006, blocks property of people who were deemed to be undermining democracy in Belarus. - Powers, funds limited - If Trump declares a national emergency, he could deploy more manpower to the border. But to build a wall, he would still have to find billions of dollars to fund it. One emergency law permits the president to order "military construction projects" using funds already available in the military budget. There are strong restrictions on the US military and its funding being deployed for domestic, non-defense purposes, though emergency laws sometimes permit it. Moreover, building the wall will require taking control of privately owned land that abuts much of the border, which could force years-long legal battles with landowners. - Challenge from Congress - The NEA gives Congress the right to immediately challenge a presidential emergency declaration. Given that Congress has already declined to fund the wall, a challenge would likely quickly pass the Democratic House. Then the Republican-controlled Senate would have to decide whether they agree with the president's invocation of emergency powers to build a wall they haven't given him money for. "That's a non-starter," senior Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said Sunday. "If Harry Truman couldn't nationalize the steel industry during wartime, this president doesn't have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border." | President Donald Trump has said he might use emergency powers to build a wall on the border. The National Emergencies Act allows the president to declare a national emergency. But the powers are not unlimited, and can be blocked by Congress and the courts. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/trump-emergency-powers-build-border-wall-174058612.html | 0.420727 |
Can Trump use 'emergency powers' to build border wall? | A section of the steel wall on the US - Mexico border near San Diego, California (AFP Photo/Guillermo Arias) Washington (AFP) - Facing stiff resistance from Congress, President Donald Trump has said he might use his emergency powers to construct hundreds of miles of wall on the southern border to prevent migrants from crossing into the United States illegally from Mexico. Trump could indeed declare a national emergency, citing what the administration calls a "crisis" at the border, after nearly 103,000 people were detained in October and November after entering the country illegally. But trying to build a wall in this way would face significant legal barriers. - Trump does have emergency powers - The National Emergencies Act allows the president to declare a national emergency, providing a specific reason for it. That then allows the mobilization of hundreds of dormant emergency powers under other laws. Those can permit the White House to declare martial law, suspend civil liberties, expand the military, seize property, and restrict trade, communications and financial transactions. But the powers are not unlimited, and can be blocked by Congress and the courts. During the Korean War in 1952, President Harry Truman sought to take over US steel factories to keep them producing in the face of a planned national strike by industry workers. Steel companies took the case to the Supreme Court, which ruled in their favor, saying the president's emergency powers did not allow him to seize privately-owned plants to avert a strike. - All presidents use the National Emergencies Act - Every recent president has used the NEA, and more than two dozen states of emergency are currently active, renewed annually. President George W. Bush invoked it after the September 11, 2001 Al-Qaeda attacks to be able to expand and ready the military beyond what was budgeted, and to undertake secret surveillance and employ interrogation methods on detainees widely denounced as torture. President Barack Obama tapped the NEA to declare an emergency in 2009 over the swine flu threat, giving authorities and hospitals extra powers to act quickly against the outbreak. Most often, the NEA has been used in actions against other countries. One NEA emergency in place since 1979 has restricted trade with Iran. Another, dating to 2006, blocks property of people who were deemed to be undermining democracy in Belarus. - Powers, funds limited - If Trump declares a national emergency, he could deploy more manpower to the border. But to build a wall, he would still have to find billions of dollars to fund it. One emergency law permits the president to order "military construction projects" using funds already available in the military budget. There are strong restrictions on the US military and its funding being deployed for domestic, non-defense purposes, though emergency laws sometimes permit it. Moreover, building the wall will require taking control of privately owned land that abuts much of the border, which could force years-long legal battles with landowners. - Challenge from Congress - The NEA gives Congress the right to immediately challenge a presidential emergency declaration. Given that Congress has already declined to fund the wall, a challenge would likely quickly pass the Democratic House. Then the Republican-controlled Senate would have to decide whether they agree with the president's invocation of emergency powers to build a wall they haven't given him money for. "That's a non-starter," senior Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff said Sunday. "If Harry Truman couldn't nationalize the steel industry during wartime, this president doesn't have the power to declare an emergency and build a multibillion-dollar wall on the border." | President Donald Trump has said he might use emergency powers to build a border wall. The National Emergencies Act allows the president to declare a national emergency. But the powers are not unlimited, and can be blocked by Congress and the courts. To build a wall, he would still have to find billions of dollars to fund it. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/trump-emergency-powers-build-border-wall-174058612.html | 0.490946 |
Does Cuonzo Martin think MU can score enough in SEC play? | On Thursdays teleconference for Southeastern Conference basketball coaches, Mizzous Cuonzo Martin said he was struggling to find flaws in Tennessee. Then he watched the No. 3 Volunteers dismantle Georgia by 46 points on Saturday in a 96-50 victory. When he spoke again Monday, Martin struggled to say if he had any more success scouting Tennessee. I thought they played well, Martin said, smiling. Digital Access For Only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Missouri opens SEC play on Tuesday at home against the leagues toughest team and the Tigers will need all hands on deck if they want to upset Tennessee. MU is riding a six-game winning streak, but has some glaring issues going up against the Vols, who have a lot more scoring and experience than Mizzou. The Tigers are currently last in the SEC in scoring, averaging 69.1 points per game despite leading the conference in three-point shooting. Tennessee is ranked first, with 86.3 points per game. Martins team has been able to go 9-3 without star player Jontay Porter, largely because of Missouris scoring defense, which is No. 33 nationally at 63.2 points per game and second in the SEC. Porter tore his right ACL and MCL before the season. Martin doesnt think the Tigers low scoring will be an issue in conference play, because he thinks most teams scoring numbers will drop by five to 10 points in the SEC. He added that Missouris scoring will likely go up as his freshmen continue to develop and MU can gain more possessions by cutting down on turnovers. Hed like to see Mizzou take more shots inside the three-point arc. Missouri beat Tennessee 59-55 in Columbia last season, which Martin attributed to good defense, but will be hard-pressed to win with a repeat performance. Sharpshooters Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett both graduated and the Vols held Georgia to just one three-pointer on Saturday. Both teams did a good job defensively, Martin said of last years game. First half, we were 0-for-7 from three. There has to be more than just threes. You have to be able to make plays around the rim. Defensively, Martin said Tuesday will be a strong indicator for where MU is given the Vols leading scorers in Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. Williams is an All-American candidate and averages 19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Martin called Williams one of the five best players in college basketball right now. Missouri will likely use senior Kevin Puryear, a Blue Springs South graduate, on Williams and he is up for the challenge. The 6-foot-7 forward had 12 points and 10 rebounds in last years game and wants to see where he stands against one of the the conferences best players. Were playing a pretty complete team, Puryear said. Tennessee will be just the fourth top-three team to visit Mizzou Arena since 2009 and the first since No. 1 Kentucky in 2015. Missouris nonconference schedule has put the Tigers in good shape to flirt with a postseason tournament appearance but a win on Tuesday would really put MU in discussion for the NCAA Tournament. Martin isnt worried about all that. Im not consumed with their ranking, he said. Whats most important is protecting your home court. | Cuonzo Martin's Mizzou Tigers take on the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday. The Tigers are last in the SEC in scoring, averaging 69.1 points per game. Missouri beat Tennessee 59-55 in Columbia last season. | bart | 1 | https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article224040405.html | 0.485619 |
Does Cuonzo Martin think MU can score enough in SEC play? | On Thursdays teleconference for Southeastern Conference basketball coaches, Mizzous Cuonzo Martin said he was struggling to find flaws in Tennessee. Then he watched the No. 3 Volunteers dismantle Georgia by 46 points on Saturday in a 96-50 victory. When he spoke again Monday, Martin struggled to say if he had any more success scouting Tennessee. I thought they played well, Martin said, smiling. Digital Access For Only $0.99 For the most comprehensive local coverage, subscribe today. Missouri opens SEC play on Tuesday at home against the leagues toughest team and the Tigers will need all hands on deck if they want to upset Tennessee. MU is riding a six-game winning streak, but has some glaring issues going up against the Vols, who have a lot more scoring and experience than Mizzou. The Tigers are currently last in the SEC in scoring, averaging 69.1 points per game despite leading the conference in three-point shooting. Tennessee is ranked first, with 86.3 points per game. Martins team has been able to go 9-3 without star player Jontay Porter, largely because of Missouris scoring defense, which is No. 33 nationally at 63.2 points per game and second in the SEC. Porter tore his right ACL and MCL before the season. Martin doesnt think the Tigers low scoring will be an issue in conference play, because he thinks most teams scoring numbers will drop by five to 10 points in the SEC. He added that Missouris scoring will likely go up as his freshmen continue to develop and MU can gain more possessions by cutting down on turnovers. Hed like to see Mizzou take more shots inside the three-point arc. Missouri beat Tennessee 59-55 in Columbia last season, which Martin attributed to good defense, but will be hard-pressed to win with a repeat performance. Sharpshooters Kassius Robertson and Jordan Barnett both graduated and the Vols held Georgia to just one three-pointer on Saturday. Both teams did a good job defensively, Martin said of last years game. First half, we were 0-for-7 from three. There has to be more than just threes. You have to be able to make plays around the rim. Defensively, Martin said Tuesday will be a strong indicator for where MU is given the Vols leading scorers in Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. Williams is an All-American candidate and averages 19.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. Martin called Williams one of the five best players in college basketball right now. Missouri will likely use senior Kevin Puryear, a Blue Springs South graduate, on Williams and he is up for the challenge. The 6-foot-7 forward had 12 points and 10 rebounds in last years game and wants to see where he stands against one of the the conferences best players. Were playing a pretty complete team, Puryear said. Tennessee will be just the fourth top-three team to visit Mizzou Arena since 2009 and the first since No. 1 Kentucky in 2015. Missouris nonconference schedule has put the Tigers in good shape to flirt with a postseason tournament appearance but a win on Tuesday would really put MU in discussion for the NCAA Tournament. Martin isnt worried about all that. Im not consumed with their ranking, he said. Whats most important is protecting your home court. | Cuonzo Martin's Mizzou Tigers take on the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday. The Tigers are last in the SEC in scoring, averaging 69.1 points per game. Missouri beat Tennessee 59-55 in Columbia last season, but will be hard-pressed to win with a repeat performance. | bart | 2 | https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article224040405.html | 0.562371 |
What's up with the Yankees? And how could it affect White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado? | originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com The most pressing question in the White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado isn't whether he was at Sunday's Bears game. He wasn't. It's what the heck the New York Yankees are doing. Because there's a legitimate case to be made that they're moving on from Machado with some of the other moves they've made of late. And if that is the case, it will dramatically change everything, as it's been reported plenty of times that he supposedly prefers to land in The Bronx and play for the team he grew up rooting for. Scroll to continue with content Ad But there are so many things going on with the Yankees that a union between them and Machado seems, let's just say more complicated than it does with the White Sox - who have reportedly already made an offer, one characterized last week by USA Today's Bob Nightengale as "serious" and "closer to $200 million than $300 million" - or the "spend stupid" Philadelphia Phillies. Story continues Let's start with the Troy Tulowitzki signing, which didn't and still doesn't seem like something that would greatly impact a pursuit of Machado. Tulowitzki is a five-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, sure, but he's also 34 years old and coming off a lost season in which surgery on both heels kept him out completely. He's played in 66 games since the start of the 2017 season. The Toronto Blue Jays paid the nearly $40 million left on his old contract to get rid of him, yet there's plenty of speculation the Yankees might have signed him (to a league-minimum deal, remember) with thoughts of him starting. That thinking would likely bring an end to their pursuit of Machado, as he would be the likely candidate to start at shortstop, at the very least until Didi Gregorius (slated to become a free agent after next season) returns several months in after recovering from Tommy John surgery. But Tulowitzki seems more like a zero-risk move that could also act as a type of insurance policy should the Yankees miss out on Machado. Simply put, Troy Tulowitzki wants a ring and knows that Manny Machado greatly enhances the #Yankees' chances. https://t.co/gf8iKSAoK6 Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 As is often the case when discussing free agents, money could end up the biggest issue. And whether the Yankees merely want to remain relatively flexible as their fleet of young stars inches toward big raises or are using Machado's supposed preference as a bargaining tool, they reportedly aren't willing to offer the kind of long-term, record-breaking contract it was assumed Machado would command when the offseason started. The Yankees don't need Machado, the winners of 100 games last season and the potential preseason World Series favorites without him. And so they don't need to win him over with a massive contract offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in a similar spot in the Bryce Harper derby, unwilling to make a gargantuan contract offer and in a fine position without his services, the winners of the last two NL pennants. But the Yankees are the Yankees, of course, and they've never let dollars get in the way of improving their team. So look what they've done in recent days, bringing back Zach Britton on an expensive free-agent contract that keeps him in their bullpen for the next three seasons at $39 million. Britton's got a great track record, sure, and the Yankees are facing the possible defection of Dellin Betances to free agency following the 2019 season, but that's an awful lot of cash. They could have saved if they gave David Robertson the same deal he got from the Phillies, but maybe they just wanted Britton. And they might not be done splurging on relievers, either, as Adam Ottavino reportedly has their interest, too. After his 2.43-ERA, 112-strikeout season in 2018, he's expected to cash in on a multi-year contract. That means even more dollars spent on the relief corps - and more of that offseason budget not spent on Machado. There have been multiple offseason rumors about them potentially trying to trade Miguel Andujar, the guy with just 154 major league games under his belt who almost won AL Rookie of the Year honors last season. Keeping that 23-year-old in the lineup for years to come - and at a much cheaper price than Machado - would seem like a no-brainer, but Machado, as White Sox fans know, is a heck of a player. There's been suggestion, too, that the Yankees could try to move Andujar to first base, where their current starter is Luke Voit. Machado's supposed preference for the Yankees and their hole at shortstop made them the most sensible option when it came to Machado's landing place. But they are doing things the other suitors in this derby aren't doing, which at this point in the process effectively means they're going on with their offseason rather than sitting patiently while Machado deliberates. The White Sox have added in small ways, as expected, considering where they are in their rebuild. There might no be no stereotypical Plan B in the form of a significant consolation-prize signing should they miss out. The Phillies have added a couple big names in Robertson and Andrew McCutchen, but remember they have "stupid" money they've vowed to spend and they view themselves as far closer to contention, whether or not that's actually a reality in the increasingly competitive NL East. In the end, the size of the contract offer could wind up the difference maker (big shock, right?) and the White Sox have already made an offer, per Nightengale, one that could, if we're connecting some various dots, be in the ballpark of seven years and $210 million. Certainly the possibility for those numbers to be larger exists. If the Yankees don't want to go that high, or come anywhere near that high, then that's a sizable gap that could cause Machado to abandon his preference. The Phillies, of course, are in a similar position to the White Sox when it comes to offering a big contract, and according to Nightengale's latest update - which also focuses on the unknowns surrounding the Yankees - they remain the two most aggressive pursuers. The #Yankees are either playing it coy, trying to gauge the Andujar trade market, or simply have no intention of offering Manny Machado a $200 million-plus contract. The Chicago #WhiteSox and Philadelphia #Phillies remain the most aggressive teams for the prized infielder. Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 In other words, stay tuned. But if the Yankees aren't quite as "in" on this whole thing than it initially seemed, perhaps "stay tuned" changes to "buckle up." Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device. | The New York Yankees are moving on from Manny Machado. The Chicago White Sox have reportedly made an offer to Machado. | pegasus | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-yankees-could-affect-white-163906136.html?src=rss | 0.291105 |
What's up with the Yankees? And how could it affect White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado? | originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com The most pressing question in the White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado isn't whether he was at Sunday's Bears game. He wasn't. It's what the heck the New York Yankees are doing. Because there's a legitimate case to be made that they're moving on from Machado with some of the other moves they've made of late. And if that is the case, it will dramatically change everything, as it's been reported plenty of times that he supposedly prefers to land in The Bronx and play for the team he grew up rooting for. Scroll to continue with content Ad But there are so many things going on with the Yankees that a union between them and Machado seems, let's just say more complicated than it does with the White Sox - who have reportedly already made an offer, one characterized last week by USA Today's Bob Nightengale as "serious" and "closer to $200 million than $300 million" - or the "spend stupid" Philadelphia Phillies. Story continues Let's start with the Troy Tulowitzki signing, which didn't and still doesn't seem like something that would greatly impact a pursuit of Machado. Tulowitzki is a five-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, sure, but he's also 34 years old and coming off a lost season in which surgery on both heels kept him out completely. He's played in 66 games since the start of the 2017 season. The Toronto Blue Jays paid the nearly $40 million left on his old contract to get rid of him, yet there's plenty of speculation the Yankees might have signed him (to a league-minimum deal, remember) with thoughts of him starting. That thinking would likely bring an end to their pursuit of Machado, as he would be the likely candidate to start at shortstop, at the very least until Didi Gregorius (slated to become a free agent after next season) returns several months in after recovering from Tommy John surgery. But Tulowitzki seems more like a zero-risk move that could also act as a type of insurance policy should the Yankees miss out on Machado. Simply put, Troy Tulowitzki wants a ring and knows that Manny Machado greatly enhances the #Yankees' chances. https://t.co/gf8iKSAoK6 Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 As is often the case when discussing free agents, money could end up the biggest issue. And whether the Yankees merely want to remain relatively flexible as their fleet of young stars inches toward big raises or are using Machado's supposed preference as a bargaining tool, they reportedly aren't willing to offer the kind of long-term, record-breaking contract it was assumed Machado would command when the offseason started. The Yankees don't need Machado, the winners of 100 games last season and the potential preseason World Series favorites without him. And so they don't need to win him over with a massive contract offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in a similar spot in the Bryce Harper derby, unwilling to make a gargantuan contract offer and in a fine position without his services, the winners of the last two NL pennants. But the Yankees are the Yankees, of course, and they've never let dollars get in the way of improving their team. So look what they've done in recent days, bringing back Zach Britton on an expensive free-agent contract that keeps him in their bullpen for the next three seasons at $39 million. Britton's got a great track record, sure, and the Yankees are facing the possible defection of Dellin Betances to free agency following the 2019 season, but that's an awful lot of cash. They could have saved if they gave David Robertson the same deal he got from the Phillies, but maybe they just wanted Britton. And they might not be done splurging on relievers, either, as Adam Ottavino reportedly has their interest, too. After his 2.43-ERA, 112-strikeout season in 2018, he's expected to cash in on a multi-year contract. That means even more dollars spent on the relief corps - and more of that offseason budget not spent on Machado. There have been multiple offseason rumors about them potentially trying to trade Miguel Andujar, the guy with just 154 major league games under his belt who almost won AL Rookie of the Year honors last season. Keeping that 23-year-old in the lineup for years to come - and at a much cheaper price than Machado - would seem like a no-brainer, but Machado, as White Sox fans know, is a heck of a player. There's been suggestion, too, that the Yankees could try to move Andujar to first base, where their current starter is Luke Voit. Machado's supposed preference for the Yankees and their hole at shortstop made them the most sensible option when it came to Machado's landing place. But they are doing things the other suitors in this derby aren't doing, which at this point in the process effectively means they're going on with their offseason rather than sitting patiently while Machado deliberates. The White Sox have added in small ways, as expected, considering where they are in their rebuild. There might no be no stereotypical Plan B in the form of a significant consolation-prize signing should they miss out. The Phillies have added a couple big names in Robertson and Andrew McCutchen, but remember they have "stupid" money they've vowed to spend and they view themselves as far closer to contention, whether or not that's actually a reality in the increasingly competitive NL East. In the end, the size of the contract offer could wind up the difference maker (big shock, right?) and the White Sox have already made an offer, per Nightengale, one that could, if we're connecting some various dots, be in the ballpark of seven years and $210 million. Certainly the possibility for those numbers to be larger exists. If the Yankees don't want to go that high, or come anywhere near that high, then that's a sizable gap that could cause Machado to abandon his preference. The Phillies, of course, are in a similar position to the White Sox when it comes to offering a big contract, and according to Nightengale's latest update - which also focuses on the unknowns surrounding the Yankees - they remain the two most aggressive pursuers. The #Yankees are either playing it coy, trying to gauge the Andujar trade market, or simply have no intention of offering Manny Machado a $200 million-plus contract. The Chicago #WhiteSox and Philadelphia #Phillies remain the most aggressive teams for the prized infielder. Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 In other words, stay tuned. But if the Yankees aren't quite as "in" on this whole thing than it initially seemed, perhaps "stay tuned" changes to "buckle up." Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device. | The New York Yankees are moving on from Manny Machado. The White Sox have reportedly made an offer to Machado. The Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-yankees-could-affect-white-163906136.html?src=rss | 0.367895 |
What's up with the Yankees? And how could it affect White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado? | originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com The most pressing question in the White Sox pursuit of Manny Machado isn't whether he was at Sunday's Bears game. He wasn't. It's what the heck the New York Yankees are doing. Because there's a legitimate case to be made that they're moving on from Machado with some of the other moves they've made of late. And if that is the case, it will dramatically change everything, as it's been reported plenty of times that he supposedly prefers to land in The Bronx and play for the team he grew up rooting for. Scroll to continue with content Ad But there are so many things going on with the Yankees that a union between them and Machado seems, let's just say more complicated than it does with the White Sox - who have reportedly already made an offer, one characterized last week by USA Today's Bob Nightengale as "serious" and "closer to $200 million than $300 million" - or the "spend stupid" Philadelphia Phillies. Story continues Let's start with the Troy Tulowitzki signing, which didn't and still doesn't seem like something that would greatly impact a pursuit of Machado. Tulowitzki is a five-time All Star and two-time Gold Glove winner, sure, but he's also 34 years old and coming off a lost season in which surgery on both heels kept him out completely. He's played in 66 games since the start of the 2017 season. The Toronto Blue Jays paid the nearly $40 million left on his old contract to get rid of him, yet there's plenty of speculation the Yankees might have signed him (to a league-minimum deal, remember) with thoughts of him starting. That thinking would likely bring an end to their pursuit of Machado, as he would be the likely candidate to start at shortstop, at the very least until Didi Gregorius (slated to become a free agent after next season) returns several months in after recovering from Tommy John surgery. But Tulowitzki seems more like a zero-risk move that could also act as a type of insurance policy should the Yankees miss out on Machado. Simply put, Troy Tulowitzki wants a ring and knows that Manny Machado greatly enhances the #Yankees' chances. https://t.co/gf8iKSAoK6 Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 As is often the case when discussing free agents, money could end up the biggest issue. And whether the Yankees merely want to remain relatively flexible as their fleet of young stars inches toward big raises or are using Machado's supposed preference as a bargaining tool, they reportedly aren't willing to offer the kind of long-term, record-breaking contract it was assumed Machado would command when the offseason started. The Yankees don't need Machado, the winners of 100 games last season and the potential preseason World Series favorites without him. And so they don't need to win him over with a massive contract offer. The Los Angeles Dodgers are reportedly in a similar spot in the Bryce Harper derby, unwilling to make a gargantuan contract offer and in a fine position without his services, the winners of the last two NL pennants. But the Yankees are the Yankees, of course, and they've never let dollars get in the way of improving their team. So look what they've done in recent days, bringing back Zach Britton on an expensive free-agent contract that keeps him in their bullpen for the next three seasons at $39 million. Britton's got a great track record, sure, and the Yankees are facing the possible defection of Dellin Betances to free agency following the 2019 season, but that's an awful lot of cash. They could have saved if they gave David Robertson the same deal he got from the Phillies, but maybe they just wanted Britton. And they might not be done splurging on relievers, either, as Adam Ottavino reportedly has their interest, too. After his 2.43-ERA, 112-strikeout season in 2018, he's expected to cash in on a multi-year contract. That means even more dollars spent on the relief corps - and more of that offseason budget not spent on Machado. There have been multiple offseason rumors about them potentially trying to trade Miguel Andujar, the guy with just 154 major league games under his belt who almost won AL Rookie of the Year honors last season. Keeping that 23-year-old in the lineup for years to come - and at a much cheaper price than Machado - would seem like a no-brainer, but Machado, as White Sox fans know, is a heck of a player. There's been suggestion, too, that the Yankees could try to move Andujar to first base, where their current starter is Luke Voit. Machado's supposed preference for the Yankees and their hole at shortstop made them the most sensible option when it came to Machado's landing place. But they are doing things the other suitors in this derby aren't doing, which at this point in the process effectively means they're going on with their offseason rather than sitting patiently while Machado deliberates. The White Sox have added in small ways, as expected, considering where they are in their rebuild. There might no be no stereotypical Plan B in the form of a significant consolation-prize signing should they miss out. The Phillies have added a couple big names in Robertson and Andrew McCutchen, but remember they have "stupid" money they've vowed to spend and they view themselves as far closer to contention, whether or not that's actually a reality in the increasingly competitive NL East. In the end, the size of the contract offer could wind up the difference maker (big shock, right?) and the White Sox have already made an offer, per Nightengale, one that could, if we're connecting some various dots, be in the ballpark of seven years and $210 million. Certainly the possibility for those numbers to be larger exists. If the Yankees don't want to go that high, or come anywhere near that high, then that's a sizable gap that could cause Machado to abandon his preference. The Phillies, of course, are in a similar position to the White Sox when it comes to offering a big contract, and according to Nightengale's latest update - which also focuses on the unknowns surrounding the Yankees - they remain the two most aggressive pursuers. The #Yankees are either playing it coy, trying to gauge the Andujar trade market, or simply have no intention of offering Manny Machado a $200 million-plus contract. The Chicago #WhiteSox and Philadelphia #Phillies remain the most aggressive teams for the prized infielder. Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 7, 2019 In other words, stay tuned. But if the Yankees aren't quite as "in" on this whole thing than it initially seemed, perhaps "stay tuned" changes to "buckle up." Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the White Sox easily on your device. | The New York Yankees are moving on from Manny Machado. The Chicago White Sox have reportedly made an offer to Machado. The Yankees signed Troy Tulowitzki, who is coming off a lost season. The Yankees don't need Machado, the winners of 100 games last season and the potential preseason World Series favorites without him. | pegasus | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/whats-yankees-could-affect-white-163906136.html?src=rss | 0.588761 |
Will Coca-Cola Raise Its Dividend in 2019? | It's hard to find a dividend stock that can match the history that beverage giant Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has had. For decades, the stock has generated impressive double-digit percentage returns for its shareholders, and Coca-Cola has managed to do well even during tough times for the rest of the economy. Dividend investors have also seen big rewards from holding Coca-Cola stock, with more than a half-century of consistent, reliable dividend growth. As the company once again makes some major moves toward a more capital-efficient strategic vision, shareholders want to know if they can expect continued dividend growth from Coca-Cola. With that in mind, we'll look more closely at the company to see whether it's likely to keep moving its dividend higher in 2019. Dividend stats on Coca-Cola Current quarterly dividend per share $0.39 Current yield 3.3% Number of consecutive years with dividend increases 56 Payout ratio 236% Last increase March 2018 Source: Yahoo! Finance. Last increase refers to ex-dividend date. Coca-Cola's dividend looks fizzier than ever Investors have enjoyed steady and impressive growth not just in Coca-Cola's share price but also in its dividend payout. The beverage giant has made a habit of making modest single-digit percentage increases that nevertheless add up to significant dividend growth over time. For instance, in 2008, Coca-Cola paid slightly less on a per-share basis in dividends than it did in late 2018 -- but since then, the stock has gone through a 2-for-1 stock split. That means effective payouts have more than doubled. Dividend investors have seen growth slow down to some extent, though. The 2018 increase of $0.02 per share set the new payout at $0.39 per share, and that 5.4% increase was quite a bit less than the 8% to 9% increases that it often made early in the 2010s. KO Dividend Chart More KO Dividend data by YCharts. As we've seen in past years, though, Coca-Cola's dividend raises questions of sustainability right now. A payout ratio above 200% usually indicates problems that could threaten a dividend cut in the future, but much of the reason why the beverage company has seen earnings drop has to do with the corporate restructuring moves it's made lately. In particular, the effort to refranchise Coca-Cola's bottling operations stands to make its capital asset structure look much simpler in the future -- but it comes with short-term pain in the form of extraordinary charges that keep earnings down and make payout ratios look artificially high. Coca-Cola looks for better business ahead From a fundamental standpoint, Coca-Cola is working hard to look better financially. Revenue has taken a hit because of its bottler refranchising, but margin improvement has been significant, and that stands to continue into 2019. | Coca-Cola raised its dividend by 5.4% in 2018. The company has increased its dividend 56 times in the last 50 years. But the company's current payout ratio of 236% raises questions about its sustainability. It's also unclear whether the company will raise its dividend in 2019. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/coca-cola-raise-dividend-2019-010600553.html | 0.215479 |
What Is 400G Technology, and Should Investors Care? | Data centers and the cloud-based computing they power have been one of the most successful investing themes in recent years. According to internet infrastructure supplier Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), that trend could continue. There are currently 4.8 billion internet users around the globe and nearly 29 billion connected devices, and over 80% of internet traffic is video. With more people, devices, and video crowding cyberspace every day, Cisco says the amount of internet data traffic could triple by 2022. And that's where 400G comes in -- the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. This will be the year 400G starts getting deployed, so it's time for investors to stock up ahead of the movement. The term 400G refers to the maximum speed of data transfer, or bandwidth; the "G" stands for Gbps, or gigabits per second. That makes 400G a fourfold jump in maximum data-transfer speed from the current maximum standard 100G. Besides being faster, 400G also has more lanes, allowing for more throughput (the amount of data that can be processed at one time). Put simply, think of data centers as a freeway interchange that receives and sends information to different destinations, and 400G is an upgrade to the interchange that provides more lanes and a faster speed limit. The 100G standards were just adopted just a few years ago, and many data centers are still undergoing upgrades. The reason for 400G has to do with the continued boom in traffic, especially as it relates to video and other high-capacity data transfers. The 400G data centers will help accommodate things like ultra-high-definition (4K) video streaming, new video-game and virtual-reality content, artificial intelligence, and mobile 5G networks, to name just a few examples. A yellow ethernet cable connected into the back of an internet modem. More Image source: Getty Images. How to capitalize on it Besides investing in cloud computing companies themselves, one of the best ways to bet on 400G and the continued development of data centers is investing in the companies that help build and manage them. Cisco is the leader in this space. According to tech researcher IDC, the company had 54.4% of the global market share of ethernet switches (a key component of data centers). Cisco's market share for enterprise routers and services was 42.7% in the third quarter. The company is coming off a healthy run over the last year. Sales were up 4.5% over the last trailing 12-month stretch, including an 8.3% increase during the company's fiscal 2019 first quarter. Revenues are expected to increase 5% to 7% during the next quarter, and there's potential for that to accelerate as Cisco expects to start shipping its new 400G family of equipment later in the year. Cisco's forward P/E sits at a mere 14.1, a value compared with the S&P 500's forward P/E of 15.3. But an even better play on 400G could be Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), which according to IDC had only a 6.6% market share of ethernet switches in the third quarter of 2018. But that share is rising as year-over-year revenue grew 27.6%. Total sales were up 23% over the last 12 months, including a 28.7% increase in the third quarter of 2018. Though Arista is a smaller company than Cisco -- both in size and by percentage of market dominance -- it is a more focused endeavor on data center build-out and cloud computing. It, too, will begin shipping 400G platforms early in 2019. | 400G is the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. | bart | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/400g-technology-investors-care-010400398.html | 0.463472 |
What Is 400G Technology, and Should Investors Care? | Data centers and the cloud-based computing they power have been one of the most successful investing themes in recent years. According to internet infrastructure supplier Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), that trend could continue. There are currently 4.8 billion internet users around the globe and nearly 29 billion connected devices, and over 80% of internet traffic is video. With more people, devices, and video crowding cyberspace every day, Cisco says the amount of internet data traffic could triple by 2022. And that's where 400G comes in -- the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. This will be the year 400G starts getting deployed, so it's time for investors to stock up ahead of the movement. The term 400G refers to the maximum speed of data transfer, or bandwidth; the "G" stands for Gbps, or gigabits per second. That makes 400G a fourfold jump in maximum data-transfer speed from the current maximum standard 100G. Besides being faster, 400G also has more lanes, allowing for more throughput (the amount of data that can be processed at one time). Put simply, think of data centers as a freeway interchange that receives and sends information to different destinations, and 400G is an upgrade to the interchange that provides more lanes and a faster speed limit. The 100G standards were just adopted just a few years ago, and many data centers are still undergoing upgrades. The reason for 400G has to do with the continued boom in traffic, especially as it relates to video and other high-capacity data transfers. The 400G data centers will help accommodate things like ultra-high-definition (4K) video streaming, new video-game and virtual-reality content, artificial intelligence, and mobile 5G networks, to name just a few examples. A yellow ethernet cable connected into the back of an internet modem. More Image source: Getty Images. How to capitalize on it Besides investing in cloud computing companies themselves, one of the best ways to bet on 400G and the continued development of data centers is investing in the companies that help build and manage them. Cisco is the leader in this space. According to tech researcher IDC, the company had 54.4% of the global market share of ethernet switches (a key component of data centers). Cisco's market share for enterprise routers and services was 42.7% in the third quarter. The company is coming off a healthy run over the last year. Sales were up 4.5% over the last trailing 12-month stretch, including an 8.3% increase during the company's fiscal 2019 first quarter. Revenues are expected to increase 5% to 7% during the next quarter, and there's potential for that to accelerate as Cisco expects to start shipping its new 400G family of equipment later in the year. Cisco's forward P/E sits at a mere 14.1, a value compared with the S&P 500's forward P/E of 15.3. But an even better play on 400G could be Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), which according to IDC had only a 6.6% market share of ethernet switches in the third quarter of 2018. But that share is rising as year-over-year revenue grew 27.6%. Total sales were up 23% over the last 12 months, including a 28.7% increase in the third quarter of 2018. Though Arista is a smaller company than Cisco -- both in size and by percentage of market dominance -- it is a more focused endeavor on data center build-out and cloud computing. It, too, will begin shipping 400G platforms early in 2019. | Cisco says the amount of internet data traffic could triple by 2022. 400G is the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/400g-technology-investors-care-010400398.html | 0.290043 |
What Is 400G Technology, and Should Investors Care? | Data centers and the cloud-based computing they power have been one of the most successful investing themes in recent years. According to internet infrastructure supplier Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO), that trend could continue. There are currently 4.8 billion internet users around the globe and nearly 29 billion connected devices, and over 80% of internet traffic is video. With more people, devices, and video crowding cyberspace every day, Cisco says the amount of internet data traffic could triple by 2022. And that's where 400G comes in -- the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. This will be the year 400G starts getting deployed, so it's time for investors to stock up ahead of the movement. The term 400G refers to the maximum speed of data transfer, or bandwidth; the "G" stands for Gbps, or gigabits per second. That makes 400G a fourfold jump in maximum data-transfer speed from the current maximum standard 100G. Besides being faster, 400G also has more lanes, allowing for more throughput (the amount of data that can be processed at one time). Put simply, think of data centers as a freeway interchange that receives and sends information to different destinations, and 400G is an upgrade to the interchange that provides more lanes and a faster speed limit. The 100G standards were just adopted just a few years ago, and many data centers are still undergoing upgrades. The reason for 400G has to do with the continued boom in traffic, especially as it relates to video and other high-capacity data transfers. The 400G data centers will help accommodate things like ultra-high-definition (4K) video streaming, new video-game and virtual-reality content, artificial intelligence, and mobile 5G networks, to name just a few examples. A yellow ethernet cable connected into the back of an internet modem. More Image source: Getty Images. How to capitalize on it Besides investing in cloud computing companies themselves, one of the best ways to bet on 400G and the continued development of data centers is investing in the companies that help build and manage them. Cisco is the leader in this space. According to tech researcher IDC, the company had 54.4% of the global market share of ethernet switches (a key component of data centers). Cisco's market share for enterprise routers and services was 42.7% in the third quarter. The company is coming off a healthy run over the last year. Sales were up 4.5% over the last trailing 12-month stretch, including an 8.3% increase during the company's fiscal 2019 first quarter. Revenues are expected to increase 5% to 7% during the next quarter, and there's potential for that to accelerate as Cisco expects to start shipping its new 400G family of equipment later in the year. Cisco's forward P/E sits at a mere 14.1, a value compared with the S&P 500's forward P/E of 15.3. But an even better play on 400G could be Arista Networks (NYSE: ANET), which according to IDC had only a 6.6% market share of ethernet switches in the third quarter of 2018. But that share is rising as year-over-year revenue grew 27.6%. Total sales were up 23% over the last 12 months, including a 28.7% increase in the third quarter of 2018. Though Arista is a smaller company than Cisco -- both in size and by percentage of market dominance -- it is a more focused endeavor on data center build-out and cloud computing. It, too, will begin shipping 400G platforms early in 2019. | Cisco says the amount of internet data traffic could triple by 2022. 400G is the next generation of tech powering data centers and all the new demands being placed on them. This will be the year 400G starts getting deployed, so it's time for investors to stock up ahead of the movement. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/400g-technology-investors-care-010400398.html | 0.456557 |
Could Netflix's Domestic Member Growth Beat Estimates? | Shares of streaming-TV company Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) are rising sharply on Monday, following more optimistic analyst commentary on the stock. The company could post better-than-expected domestic subscriber growth in its important holiday quarter, wrote Piper Jaffray analyst on Monday (by way of Barron's). With Netflix set to report its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17, investors will be watching closely to see how many new members the company added during the quarter. The company has seen member growth pick up recently, but some investors worry the streaming-TV giant could face headwinds in member growth domestically, given the company's significant penetration in the United States. A red couch facing a TV in a home theater More Image source: Getty Images. Netflix's domestic subscribers will increase about 11.5% year over year in Q4, forecasts Piper Jaffray analysts Michael Olson. That would be above the consensus analyst estimate and management's guidance for the quarter, both of which currently call for about 10% year-over-year growth in the key metric. Olson forecasts international subscribers will be in line with the consensus analyst estimate. Jaffray's forecast is based on Web-search trend data. The firm's search index has boasted a 0.92 to 0.93 correlation to Netflix's subscribers in previous quarters, according to Jaffray. Jaffray also noted that he believes a trend of shifting consumer spending from traditional TV to connected TV will be a multi-year boon for Netflix. With these catalysts in mind, Olson reiterated his $430 12-month price target for the stock. Even after the stock's 4.7% gain at the time of this writing at 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday, this implies 38% upside for the stock. Subscriber growth trends Netflix has seen significant momentum in its subscribers recently. Paid members for the combined period of Q2 and Q3 of last year were 11.5 million. In the same period in 2017, Netflix added 9.7 million paid subscribers. Domestically, however, Netflix's growth in 2018 was slightly below growth in 2017 for these periods. Combined domestic net subscriber additions for Q2 and Q3 of 2017 were 1.97 million, compared with 1.87 for the same period in 2018. Netflix is optimistic about its fourth quarter. Management guided for 7.6 million new paid subscribers, up from 6.62 million paid subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2017. Netflix expects 1.5 million of these new subscribers to come from the U.S., with about 6.1 million coming from international markets. That compares with a mix of 1.47 million U.S. subscribers and 5.16 million international subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2017. Investors will know exactly what Netflix's subscriber additions for the fourth quarter were when the company reports its fourth-quarter results later this month. More From The Motley Fool Daniel Sparks owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | Piper Jaffray says Netflix could post better-than-expected domestic subscriber growth. Netflix is set to report its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17. The company has seen member growth pick up recently. | pegasus | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/could-netflix-apos-domestic-member-234600956.html | 0.198795 |
Could Netflix's Domestic Member Growth Beat Estimates? | Shares of streaming-TV company Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) are rising sharply on Monday, following more optimistic analyst commentary on the stock. The company could post better-than-expected domestic subscriber growth in its important holiday quarter, wrote Piper Jaffray analyst on Monday (by way of Barron's). With Netflix set to report its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17, investors will be watching closely to see how many new members the company added during the quarter. The company has seen member growth pick up recently, but some investors worry the streaming-TV giant could face headwinds in member growth domestically, given the company's significant penetration in the United States. A red couch facing a TV in a home theater More Image source: Getty Images. Netflix's domestic subscribers will increase about 11.5% year over year in Q4, forecasts Piper Jaffray analysts Michael Olson. That would be above the consensus analyst estimate and management's guidance for the quarter, both of which currently call for about 10% year-over-year growth in the key metric. Olson forecasts international subscribers will be in line with the consensus analyst estimate. Jaffray's forecast is based on Web-search trend data. The firm's search index has boasted a 0.92 to 0.93 correlation to Netflix's subscribers in previous quarters, according to Jaffray. Jaffray also noted that he believes a trend of shifting consumer spending from traditional TV to connected TV will be a multi-year boon for Netflix. With these catalysts in mind, Olson reiterated his $430 12-month price target for the stock. Even after the stock's 4.7% gain at the time of this writing at 2:30 p.m. ET on Monday, this implies 38% upside for the stock. Subscriber growth trends Netflix has seen significant momentum in its subscribers recently. Paid members for the combined period of Q2 and Q3 of last year were 11.5 million. In the same period in 2017, Netflix added 9.7 million paid subscribers. Domestically, however, Netflix's growth in 2018 was slightly below growth in 2017 for these periods. Combined domestic net subscriber additions for Q2 and Q3 of 2017 were 1.97 million, compared with 1.87 for the same period in 2018. Netflix is optimistic about its fourth quarter. Management guided for 7.6 million new paid subscribers, up from 6.62 million paid subscriber additions in the fourth quarter of 2017. Netflix expects 1.5 million of these new subscribers to come from the U.S., with about 6.1 million coming from international markets. That compares with a mix of 1.47 million U.S. subscribers and 5.16 million international subscribers in the fourth quarter of 2017. Investors will know exactly what Netflix's subscriber additions for the fourth quarter were when the company reports its fourth-quarter results later this month. More From The Motley Fool Daniel Sparks owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | Netflix could post better-than-expected domestic subscriber growth in its important holiday quarter. Netflix is set to report its fourth-quarter results on Jan. 17. The company has seen member growth pick up recently, but some investors worry the streaming-TV giant could face headwinds in member growth domestically. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/could-netflix-apos-domestic-member-234600956.html | 0.217645 |
When can Tua Tagovailoa enter the NFL draft? | Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's sensational sophomore campaign has caught the eye of those outside the world of college football, with NFL fans asking when their team will have a chance to draft the standout quarterback. But professional teams will have to exercise a bit of patience before landing Tagovailoa. Monday night's matchup with Clemson will mark the end of Tagovailoa's sophomore season with the Crimson Tide. College players become eligible for the NFL draft after their junior years, or sophomore seasons in the case of a redshirt. So Alabama fans will have at least one more season with Tagovailoa, as he becomes eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. With 2019 potentially being Tagovailoa's last year in Tuscaloosa, he could walk across the stage and shake NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's hand at the NFL draft in 2020. If he continues to dominate the college ranks, Tagovailoa will almost certainly be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft and perhaps a top-five selection. | Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/01/07/tua-tagovailoa-nfl-draft-when-eligible-year | 0.522958 |
When can Tua Tagovailoa enter the NFL draft? | Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's sensational sophomore campaign has caught the eye of those outside the world of college football, with NFL fans asking when their team will have a chance to draft the standout quarterback. But professional teams will have to exercise a bit of patience before landing Tagovailoa. Monday night's matchup with Clemson will mark the end of Tagovailoa's sophomore season with the Crimson Tide. College players become eligible for the NFL draft after their junior years, or sophomore seasons in the case of a redshirt. So Alabama fans will have at least one more season with Tagovailoa, as he becomes eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. With 2019 potentially being Tagovailoa's last year in Tuscaloosa, he could walk across the stage and shake NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's hand at the NFL draft in 2020. If he continues to dominate the college ranks, Tagovailoa will almost certainly be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft and perhaps a top-five selection. | Tua Tagovailoa will be eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. The Alabama quarterback is expected to be a top-five pick in the 2020 draft. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/01/07/tua-tagovailoa-nfl-draft-when-eligible-year | 0.634827 |
When can Tua Tagovailoa enter the NFL draft? | Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's sensational sophomore campaign has caught the eye of those outside the world of college football, with NFL fans asking when their team will have a chance to draft the standout quarterback. But professional teams will have to exercise a bit of patience before landing Tagovailoa. Monday night's matchup with Clemson will mark the end of Tagovailoa's sophomore season with the Crimson Tide. College players become eligible for the NFL draft after their junior years, or sophomore seasons in the case of a redshirt. So Alabama fans will have at least one more season with Tagovailoa, as he becomes eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. With 2019 potentially being Tagovailoa's last year in Tuscaloosa, he could walk across the stage and shake NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's hand at the NFL draft in 2020. If he continues to dominate the college ranks, Tagovailoa will almost certainly be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft and perhaps a top-five selection. | Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be eligible for the NFL draft after the 2019 season. College players become eligible after their junior years, or sophomore seasons in the case of a redshirt. If he continues to dominate the college ranks, he will almost certainly be a first-round pick in the 2020 draft. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/college-football/2019/01/07/tua-tagovailoa-nfl-draft-when-eligible-year | 0.690349 |
Do Emergency Powers Allow Trump To Order A Border Wall? | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order the construction of a wall at the U.S.- Mexico border. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Let's examine the power of a phrase. The phrase is national emergency. President Trump has talked about one. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The fact is that the total number of people believed to cross each year is far down from historic highs. That is true despite an increase recently, but here's how the president described the border situation over the weekend. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And we have an absolute crisis and of criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It's a national emergency. Here to help answer that question is NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Scott, good morning. SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve. HORSLEY: The president does have some power under the National Emergencies Act to shift money from, say, one account, the Defense Department, to another. This is designed to give him flexibility to deal with an urgent situation. It's not designed to cut Congress out of the budgeting process. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: He is allowed to do that, but he is expected to inform Congress. And if he were to try to use his emergency powers in this situation, it would almost certainly invite a legal challenge. INSKEEP: Oh, OK. So there is some question there as to whether he has that kind of authority, but he can at least start the process. HORSLEY: Lots of questions would come up. Which is a surge of asylum-seekers in family groups coming from Central America, most of whom turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. INSKEEP: Oh, then this is an interesting point that you're making here, Scott. There are multiple problems, multiple complications at the border. And this wall doesn't necessarily address the one that has made news recently, you're saying. HORSLEY: That's right. INSKEEP: So this is all a backdrop, in a sense, to a discussion over these negotiations to reopen the government. The president has said he will not sign routine spending bills that would open parts of the government that have been closed for a number of weeks now unless he gets some kind of funding for this border wall. There were talks over the weekend. HORSLEY: No, not really. And in fact, the president said on Sunday before those talks even began that he didn't really expect them to. This was more political theater than actual negotiation. One thing we did see, though, was the White House put into writing its budget ask. That's something the Democrats had been seeking. They want $5.7 billion for Trump's wall, which the president now says can be made from steel - not concrete. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: That would be enough to build 234 miles of barrier. That works out to about $24 million a mile. In addition, the administration is asking for hundreds of millions of additional dollars to build more detention beds, to hire more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, to install new drug detection technology at the ports of entry and to deal with what it says is a humanitarian crisis at the border. INSKEEP: You know, it's really interesting, Scott Horsley. It sounds like some of the items on that list are things that a lot of Democrats would sign onto, like more immigration judges just to give one example. It's the wall - the symbolism of the wall that is the sticking point here. HORSLEY: The symbolism and the $5.7 billion. HORSLEY: You know, it is mounting day by day. There's some talk now that tax refund checks could be delayed if this stretches on much longer. We are starting to hear anecdotal reports of sickouts by TSA agents. And that's causing longer lines at airports. This Friday is supposed to be payday for the federal workers. So if it's not solved by then, that would be the first time those 800,000 federal employees would actually miss a paycheck. INSKEEP: Wow. People who are working, as well as furloughed, not being paid. HORSLEY: Right. INSKEEP: Scott, thanks for the update. HORSLEY: You're welcome. INSKEEP: That's NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Copyright 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency to build a border wall. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.npr.org/2019/01/07/682844649/do-emergency-powers-allow-trump-to-order-a-border-wall?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=morningedition | 0.286014 |
Do Emergency Powers Allow Trump To Order A Border Wall? | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order the construction of a wall at the U.S.- Mexico border. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Let's examine the power of a phrase. The phrase is national emergency. President Trump has talked about one. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The fact is that the total number of people believed to cross each year is far down from historic highs. That is true despite an increase recently, but here's how the president described the border situation over the weekend. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And we have an absolute crisis and of criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It's a national emergency. Here to help answer that question is NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Scott, good morning. SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve. HORSLEY: The president does have some power under the National Emergencies Act to shift money from, say, one account, the Defense Department, to another. This is designed to give him flexibility to deal with an urgent situation. It's not designed to cut Congress out of the budgeting process. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: He is allowed to do that, but he is expected to inform Congress. And if he were to try to use his emergency powers in this situation, it would almost certainly invite a legal challenge. INSKEEP: Oh, OK. So there is some question there as to whether he has that kind of authority, but he can at least start the process. HORSLEY: Lots of questions would come up. Which is a surge of asylum-seekers in family groups coming from Central America, most of whom turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. INSKEEP: Oh, then this is an interesting point that you're making here, Scott. There are multiple problems, multiple complications at the border. And this wall doesn't necessarily address the one that has made news recently, you're saying. HORSLEY: That's right. INSKEEP: So this is all a backdrop, in a sense, to a discussion over these negotiations to reopen the government. The president has said he will not sign routine spending bills that would open parts of the government that have been closed for a number of weeks now unless he gets some kind of funding for this border wall. There were talks over the weekend. HORSLEY: No, not really. And in fact, the president said on Sunday before those talks even began that he didn't really expect them to. This was more political theater than actual negotiation. One thing we did see, though, was the White House put into writing its budget ask. That's something the Democrats had been seeking. They want $5.7 billion for Trump's wall, which the president now says can be made from steel - not concrete. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: That would be enough to build 234 miles of barrier. That works out to about $24 million a mile. In addition, the administration is asking for hundreds of millions of additional dollars to build more detention beds, to hire more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, to install new drug detection technology at the ports of entry and to deal with what it says is a humanitarian crisis at the border. INSKEEP: You know, it's really interesting, Scott Horsley. It sounds like some of the items on that list are things that a lot of Democrats would sign onto, like more immigration judges just to give one example. It's the wall - the symbolism of the wall that is the sticking point here. HORSLEY: The symbolism and the $5.7 billion. HORSLEY: You know, it is mounting day by day. There's some talk now that tax refund checks could be delayed if this stretches on much longer. We are starting to hear anecdotal reports of sickouts by TSA agents. And that's causing longer lines at airports. This Friday is supposed to be payday for the federal workers. So if it's not solved by then, that would be the first time those 800,000 federal employees would actually miss a paycheck. INSKEEP: Wow. People who are working, as well as furloughed, not being paid. HORSLEY: Right. INSKEEP: Scott, thanks for the update. HORSLEY: You're welcome. INSKEEP: That's NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Copyright 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The total number of people believed to cross each year is far down from historic highs. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.npr.org/2019/01/07/682844649/do-emergency-powers-allow-trump-to-order-a-border-wall?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=morningedition | 0.310439 |
Do Emergency Powers Allow Trump To Order A Border Wall? | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order the construction of a wall at the U.S.- Mexico border. STEVE INSKEEP, HOST: Let's examine the power of a phrase. The phrase is national emergency. President Trump has talked about one. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. The fact is that the total number of people believed to cross each year is far down from historic highs. That is true despite an increase recently, but here's how the president described the border situation over the weekend. (SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: And we have an absolute crisis and of criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It's a national emergency. Here to help answer that question is NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Scott, good morning. SCOTT HORSLEY, BYLINE: Good morning, Steve. HORSLEY: The president does have some power under the National Emergencies Act to shift money from, say, one account, the Defense Department, to another. This is designed to give him flexibility to deal with an urgent situation. It's not designed to cut Congress out of the budgeting process. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: He is allowed to do that, but he is expected to inform Congress. And if he were to try to use his emergency powers in this situation, it would almost certainly invite a legal challenge. INSKEEP: Oh, OK. So there is some question there as to whether he has that kind of authority, but he can at least start the process. HORSLEY: Lots of questions would come up. Which is a surge of asylum-seekers in family groups coming from Central America, most of whom turn themselves in to Border Patrol agents. INSKEEP: Oh, then this is an interesting point that you're making here, Scott. There are multiple problems, multiple complications at the border. And this wall doesn't necessarily address the one that has made news recently, you're saying. HORSLEY: That's right. INSKEEP: So this is all a backdrop, in a sense, to a discussion over these negotiations to reopen the government. The president has said he will not sign routine spending bills that would open parts of the government that have been closed for a number of weeks now unless he gets some kind of funding for this border wall. There were talks over the weekend. HORSLEY: No, not really. And in fact, the president said on Sunday before those talks even began that he didn't really expect them to. This was more political theater than actual negotiation. One thing we did see, though, was the White House put into writing its budget ask. That's something the Democrats had been seeking. They want $5.7 billion for Trump's wall, which the president now says can be made from steel - not concrete. INSKEEP: OK. HORSLEY: That would be enough to build 234 miles of barrier. That works out to about $24 million a mile. In addition, the administration is asking for hundreds of millions of additional dollars to build more detention beds, to hire more Border Patrol agents and immigration judges, to install new drug detection technology at the ports of entry and to deal with what it says is a humanitarian crisis at the border. INSKEEP: You know, it's really interesting, Scott Horsley. It sounds like some of the items on that list are things that a lot of Democrats would sign onto, like more immigration judges just to give one example. It's the wall - the symbolism of the wall that is the sticking point here. HORSLEY: The symbolism and the $5.7 billion. HORSLEY: You know, it is mounting day by day. There's some talk now that tax refund checks could be delayed if this stretches on much longer. We are starting to hear anecdotal reports of sickouts by TSA agents. And that's causing longer lines at airports. This Friday is supposed to be payday for the federal workers. So if it's not solved by then, that would be the first time those 800,000 federal employees would actually miss a paycheck. INSKEEP: Wow. People who are working, as well as furloughed, not being paid. HORSLEY: Right. INSKEEP: Scott, thanks for the update. HORSLEY: You're welcome. INSKEEP: That's NPR White House correspondent Scott Horsley. Copyright 2019 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. | President Trump has talked about declaring a national emergency. He says he might invoke emergency powers to order the construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. If he were to try to use his emergency powers in this situation, it would almost certainly invite a legal challenge. | bart | 2 | https://www.npr.org/2019/01/07/682844649/do-emergency-powers-allow-trump-to-order-a-border-wall?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=morningedition | 0.339295 |
What does 2019 hold for Kim Jong-un and North Korea? | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on after last years historic meeting with the US president, Donald Trump. As Kim attempts to negotiate a fresh summit, the Guardians Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far and Emma Graham-Harrison describes a rare trip to Pyongyang and the humanitarian conditions for ordinary North Koreans. Plus: Catherine Shoard, at the start of the annual film awards season, argues prizes are not necessarily a mark of quality Donald Trump has revealed that negotiations are underway to secure a location for a new summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, after the historic meeting between the two men in Singapore last year. It came after Kim warned in a New Years speech that Pyongyang may change its approach to nuclear talks if Washington persisted with sanctions. The Guardians leader writer Tania Branigan has been reporting on North Korea for many years but says that very little is known about Kim Jong-un as he faces what could be a critical year in his leadership. One false move or a misunderstanding in the nuclear talks could prove disastrous. The Guardian and Observers Emma Graham-Harrison visited Pyongyang on an organised press trip in 2018 and describes a city in which wary citizens were watched everywhere they went in scenes reminiscent of George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four. Also today: the Guardians film editor Catherine Shoard argues that as we enter Hollywoods award season, a lack of artistic quality will be no barrier to winning the big prizes. | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on. The Guardian's Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2019/jan/08/what-does-2019-hold-for-kim-jong-un-and-north-korea-podcast | 0.116627 |
What does 2019 hold for Kim Jong-un and North Korea? | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on after last years historic meeting with the US president, Donald Trump. As Kim attempts to negotiate a fresh summit, the Guardians Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far and Emma Graham-Harrison describes a rare trip to Pyongyang and the humanitarian conditions for ordinary North Koreans. Plus: Catherine Shoard, at the start of the annual film awards season, argues prizes are not necessarily a mark of quality Donald Trump has revealed that negotiations are underway to secure a location for a new summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, after the historic meeting between the two men in Singapore last year. It came after Kim warned in a New Years speech that Pyongyang may change its approach to nuclear talks if Washington persisted with sanctions. The Guardians leader writer Tania Branigan has been reporting on North Korea for many years but says that very little is known about Kim Jong-un as he faces what could be a critical year in his leadership. One false move or a misunderstanding in the nuclear talks could prove disastrous. The Guardian and Observers Emma Graham-Harrison visited Pyongyang on an organised press trip in 2018 and describes a city in which wary citizens were watched everywhere they went in scenes reminiscent of George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four. Also today: the Guardians film editor Catherine Shoard argues that as we enter Hollywoods award season, a lack of artistic quality will be no barrier to winning the big prizes. | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on. The Guardian's Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far. Emma Graham-Harrison describes a rare trip to Pyongyang. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2019/jan/08/what-does-2019-hold-for-kim-jong-un-and-north-korea-podcast | 0.112476 |
What does 2019 hold for Kim Jong-un and North Korea? | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on after last years historic meeting with the US president, Donald Trump. As Kim attempts to negotiate a fresh summit, the Guardians Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far and Emma Graham-Harrison describes a rare trip to Pyongyang and the humanitarian conditions for ordinary North Koreans. Plus: Catherine Shoard, at the start of the annual film awards season, argues prizes are not necessarily a mark of quality Donald Trump has revealed that negotiations are underway to secure a location for a new summit with the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, after the historic meeting between the two men in Singapore last year. It came after Kim warned in a New Years speech that Pyongyang may change its approach to nuclear talks if Washington persisted with sanctions. The Guardians leader writer Tania Branigan has been reporting on North Korea for many years but says that very little is known about Kim Jong-un as he faces what could be a critical year in his leadership. One false move or a misunderstanding in the nuclear talks could prove disastrous. The Guardian and Observers Emma Graham-Harrison visited Pyongyang on an organised press trip in 2018 and describes a city in which wary citizens were watched everywhere they went in scenes reminiscent of George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four. Also today: the Guardians film editor Catherine Shoard argues that as we enter Hollywoods award season, a lack of artistic quality will be no barrier to winning the big prizes. | Kim Jong-un goes into 2019 with diplomatic momentum to build on after last years historic meeting with the US president, Donald Trump. As Kim attempts to negotiate a fresh summit, the Guardian's Tania Branigan looks at his leadership so far. Emma Graham-Harrison describes a rare trip to Pyongyang and the humanitarian conditions for ordinary North Koreans. | bart | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/audio/2019/jan/08/what-does-2019-hold-for-kim-jong-un-and-north-korea-podcast | 0.222246 |
Will Florida's new Republican governor keep his vow of bipartisanship? | So far, Ron DeSantis has nominated prominent Democrats to lead and pledged his support to the environment and clean water Two months after narrowly winning a contentious election in which he nailed his colors firmly to the mast of Trumpism, Ron DeSantis will be sworn in as Floridas 46th governor on Tuesday with voters in the nations third most populous state still unsure exactly what they will be getting. Many of the Republicans picks for his new administration during the seven weeks transition since his progressive Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum conceded have, predictably, followed his predecessor Rick Scotts brand of hardline conservatism. For example, Mary Mayhew, his choice to lead Floridas healthcare agency, served the White House in blocking expansion of the Medicaid program that provides health insurance for the poor. And DeSantiss key advisor and former state House speaker, Richard Corcoran, is a right-wing ideologue who will become the next commissioner of education. But other considerably more moderate appointments have left DeSantis supporters scratching their heads. Two prominent Democrats, Jared Moskowitz and Jim Zingale, have been nominated to lead, respectively, Floridas departments of emergency management and revenue. And in a clear break from the industry-friendly policies of an outgoing governor who was infamously branded Red Tide Rick, DeSantis has pledged to raise the environment and clean water as priority issues in arguably the nations most ecologically fragile state. Read more It is, in DeSantiss own words, the fulfilling of a campaign pledge to embrace bipartisanship and unite a divided electorate, who handed him a recount victory by fewer than 33,000 votes, from more than 8.2m cast. We were elected to serve all Floridians and that is a charge we will keep, DeSantis said in a written address to the state published at the weekend (he did not respond to requests from the Guardian and other media outlets for a pre-inauguration interview). I know there are political divides in our state, but the election is over and it is time for our state to come together. That means prioritising environmental issues we will put Everglades restoration into high gear and make it the reality that Floridians have been promised for three decades. To some analysts, however, the self-styled pitbull Trump defender whose most infamous campaign ad featured him reading the Trump book The Art of the Deal as a bedside story to his infant son has been forced to follow a more moderate path. One that increasingly veers from that of the US president, who praised him as a great Congressman [who] will be a great Governor. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ron DeSantis campaign ad. Photograph: YouTube The assumption from the beginning was that it would be all Trump all the time, but its not turning out that way, said Susan MacManus, emeritus professor of political science at the University of South Florida and a long-time expert on Florida politics. The narrowness of his victory and the changing demographics of the state made it very clear among savvy Republicans that they have to broaden their base. Hes already demonstrated hes doing some of that by his two Democratic appointments, and even a discussion of willingness not to clamp down so much on medicinal marijuana. Whether DeSantis will prove to be a champion of Floridas environment, which is under severe threat from climate change and water pollution, could even influence Trumps chances of re-election in 2020, MacManus believes. Hes going to have to be, she said. These younger generations are the environmental generations. A lot of small businesses in south-west Florida have been hurt by the red tide and are Republican leaning and theyre not going to take some kind of well, well get to that later approach any more. These people are really upset about pollution of the rivers and the Everglades. [DeSantis] cannot afford to lose those people and Im sure hes made it very clear to Trump that hes not going to carry Florida if he doesnt have those Republicans on board. Florida welcomes back its 1.5m 'returning citizens' after ex-felons regain voting rights Read more One of the first issues DeSantis, 40, a five-year US congressman and former lieutenant commander in the US Navy, must tackle is appointing three new members to the Florida Supreme Court, decisions that will shape the political direction of the states ultimate judicial body for a generation. Whomever he picks, the panel will automatically become less diverse with the retirement of Peggy Quince, an African-American who has served since 1982. Only two women, and no African Americans, are among the group of 11 Scott-favoured nominees from which DeSantis must choose. But is it the Florida voters passage of Amendment 4, a voter-approved measure that restores voting rights to up to 1.5 million mostly black felons, other than murderers and sexual offenders, who have served their sentences, that is already proving a racial hot potato to the incoming governor. In December, DeSantis said it would be months before Floridas Republican-dominated legislature would approve implementing language to allow the measure to be passed into law, a claim that earned an immediate scorching rebuke from Melba Pearson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. DeSantis wants to stand in the way of Amendment 4 by asking the legislature to pass an implementing bill, where in fact Amendment 4 is self-executing, she said. The only responsibility DeSantis has right now is to direct state agencies without delay to register voters consistent with state law. | Ron DeSantis will be sworn in as Florida's 46th governor on Tuesday. The Republican has pledged to embrace bipartisanship and unite a divided electorate. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/07/florida-governor-ron-desantis-republican | 0.198403 |
Will Florida's new Republican governor keep his vow of bipartisanship? | So far, Ron DeSantis has nominated prominent Democrats to lead and pledged his support to the environment and clean water Two months after narrowly winning a contentious election in which he nailed his colors firmly to the mast of Trumpism, Ron DeSantis will be sworn in as Floridas 46th governor on Tuesday with voters in the nations third most populous state still unsure exactly what they will be getting. Many of the Republicans picks for his new administration during the seven weeks transition since his progressive Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum conceded have, predictably, followed his predecessor Rick Scotts brand of hardline conservatism. For example, Mary Mayhew, his choice to lead Floridas healthcare agency, served the White House in blocking expansion of the Medicaid program that provides health insurance for the poor. And DeSantiss key advisor and former state House speaker, Richard Corcoran, is a right-wing ideologue who will become the next commissioner of education. But other considerably more moderate appointments have left DeSantis supporters scratching their heads. Two prominent Democrats, Jared Moskowitz and Jim Zingale, have been nominated to lead, respectively, Floridas departments of emergency management and revenue. And in a clear break from the industry-friendly policies of an outgoing governor who was infamously branded Red Tide Rick, DeSantis has pledged to raise the environment and clean water as priority issues in arguably the nations most ecologically fragile state. Read more It is, in DeSantiss own words, the fulfilling of a campaign pledge to embrace bipartisanship and unite a divided electorate, who handed him a recount victory by fewer than 33,000 votes, from more than 8.2m cast. We were elected to serve all Floridians and that is a charge we will keep, DeSantis said in a written address to the state published at the weekend (he did not respond to requests from the Guardian and other media outlets for a pre-inauguration interview). I know there are political divides in our state, but the election is over and it is time for our state to come together. That means prioritising environmental issues we will put Everglades restoration into high gear and make it the reality that Floridians have been promised for three decades. To some analysts, however, the self-styled pitbull Trump defender whose most infamous campaign ad featured him reading the Trump book The Art of the Deal as a bedside story to his infant son has been forced to follow a more moderate path. One that increasingly veers from that of the US president, who praised him as a great Congressman [who] will be a great Governor. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Ron DeSantis campaign ad. Photograph: YouTube The assumption from the beginning was that it would be all Trump all the time, but its not turning out that way, said Susan MacManus, emeritus professor of political science at the University of South Florida and a long-time expert on Florida politics. The narrowness of his victory and the changing demographics of the state made it very clear among savvy Republicans that they have to broaden their base. Hes already demonstrated hes doing some of that by his two Democratic appointments, and even a discussion of willingness not to clamp down so much on medicinal marijuana. Whether DeSantis will prove to be a champion of Floridas environment, which is under severe threat from climate change and water pollution, could even influence Trumps chances of re-election in 2020, MacManus believes. Hes going to have to be, she said. These younger generations are the environmental generations. A lot of small businesses in south-west Florida have been hurt by the red tide and are Republican leaning and theyre not going to take some kind of well, well get to that later approach any more. These people are really upset about pollution of the rivers and the Everglades. [DeSantis] cannot afford to lose those people and Im sure hes made it very clear to Trump that hes not going to carry Florida if he doesnt have those Republicans on board. Florida welcomes back its 1.5m 'returning citizens' after ex-felons regain voting rights Read more One of the first issues DeSantis, 40, a five-year US congressman and former lieutenant commander in the US Navy, must tackle is appointing three new members to the Florida Supreme Court, decisions that will shape the political direction of the states ultimate judicial body for a generation. Whomever he picks, the panel will automatically become less diverse with the retirement of Peggy Quince, an African-American who has served since 1982. Only two women, and no African Americans, are among the group of 11 Scott-favoured nominees from which DeSantis must choose. But is it the Florida voters passage of Amendment 4, a voter-approved measure that restores voting rights to up to 1.5 million mostly black felons, other than murderers and sexual offenders, who have served their sentences, that is already proving a racial hot potato to the incoming governor. In December, DeSantis said it would be months before Floridas Republican-dominated legislature would approve implementing language to allow the measure to be passed into law, a claim that earned an immediate scorching rebuke from Melba Pearson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida. DeSantis wants to stand in the way of Amendment 4 by asking the legislature to pass an implementing bill, where in fact Amendment 4 is self-executing, she said. The only responsibility DeSantis has right now is to direct state agencies without delay to register voters consistent with state law. | Ron DeSantis will be sworn in as Florida's 46th governor on Tuesday. The Republican has pledged to embrace bipartisanship and unite a divided electorate. He has nominated prominent Democrats to lead and pledged to raise the environment and clean water as priority issues in arguably the nation's most ecologically fragile state. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jan/07/florida-governor-ron-desantis-republican | 0.356667 |
Does CBD Work for Pain Relief? | Kyle Wright was used to living in pain. The 31-year-old who lives in New York City regularly felt the repercussions of decades-old injuries from playing sports and bartending, and contended with the back and shoulder aches triggered by mild scoliosis. Then, at a street fair in Denver, where he used to live, someone offered him a sample of CBD lotion, a product said to contain cannabidiol, one of the many chemicals found in the cannabis plant. (While medicinal and recreational marijuana contain CBD, the component itself doesn't deliver the "high" that's attributed to a different chemical, THC.) Wright gave it a shot. "I was really amazed at how effective the lotion was," says Wright, who now runs a relationship coaching business with his wife. "About 15 minutes later, it felt like the tension had evaporated through my skin." Wright soon began buying CBD lotion and using it on his wrists, shoulders, back and neck -- all areas that craved attention after long days tied to the computer. He continues to use a salve or lotion about twice a week and almost never uses Advil or ibuprofen, his former default remedies. "My joints felt looser, my muscles felt relaxed and the pain is significantly lessened," Wright says. [See: On a Scale From 1 to 10: Most Painful Medical Conditions.] Wright is far from the only one praising the power of CBD to treat pain and other ailments in what's promoted as a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. The Brightfield Group, a cannabis market research company, even projects the industry will reach $22 billion by 2020, thanks to people like Danielle Jenkins, a 29-year-old who works in nonprofit management in Telluride, Colorado, who says a topical CBD product was "the only thing" that helped certain leg muscles in the thigh after a hockey injury. Daisy Testa, a 31-year-old academic counselor in Chicago, also swears by CBD to relieve both stress and its associated neck pain. Mitchell Roth, a film producer in San Francisco, goes as far as to credit CBD for breaking his wife's addiction to opioids, which she originally used to manage pain related to endometriosis. She's now off both substances. Some physicians are on board, too. Dr. Charlton Woodly, a podiatric surgeon in Texas who has no financial stake in CBD products, integrates CBD into patients' recovery from surgery, breaks and sprains. "I use it in my practice because, unlike pain medications, such as Tylenol, CBD does not cause kidney or liver issues while providing the same pain relief," he says. And Dr. Philip Blair, a family physician who serves as medical director of the CBD brand Elixinol, says he's used CBD with over 2,000 patients after the research and his experience convinced him the substance, in fact, wasn't too good to be true. Within minutes of giving a patient CBD, he says, "I see relaxation of their facial muscles, they become more expressive and spontaneous, their eyes get bigger and their shoulders relax. I hear a deep sigh of relief." [See: 11 Ways to Cope With Back Pain.] But some researchers and clinicians caution against prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon, which is gaining members and momentum since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, legislation that fully legalizes hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant. But even that enthusiasm is misguided, says Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard physician and CEO of InhaleMD, a Boston-area practice specializing in cannabis therapeutics. The bill, he says, will help farmers and the economy since it will spur the development of new products like textiles. But, he adds, "that has nothing to do with medicine." Here's what else he and other health experts say consumers need to know: 1. CBD isn't entirely legal. CBD companies, some health care professionals and some news reports make blanket claims that CBD is totally legal in every state. Tishler says that's far from the truth. In reality, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers all cannabinoids, including CBD, a schedule 1 drug, which means it's as illegal as heroin from the federal government's perspective. The only form of CBD that's legal in its eyes is the prescription medicine Epidiolex, which the FDA approved in 2018 to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy -- and nothing else. (CBD may be legal, though, if acquired through a state medical cannabis program.) And even though hemp, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is legal so long as the THC content is negligible, people who want to make CBD by farming hemp need to have a license to do so through the federal government or, in some cases, their state, Tishler explains. Unfortunately, there's no good way to know if your manufacturer has acquired this, he says. | CBD is a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. Some people swear by CBD for pain relief. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-cbd-pain-relief-150419108.html | 0.179507 |
Does CBD Work for Pain Relief? | Kyle Wright was used to living in pain. The 31-year-old who lives in New York City regularly felt the repercussions of decades-old injuries from playing sports and bartending, and contended with the back and shoulder aches triggered by mild scoliosis. Then, at a street fair in Denver, where he used to live, someone offered him a sample of CBD lotion, a product said to contain cannabidiol, one of the many chemicals found in the cannabis plant. (While medicinal and recreational marijuana contain CBD, the component itself doesn't deliver the "high" that's attributed to a different chemical, THC.) Wright gave it a shot. "I was really amazed at how effective the lotion was," says Wright, who now runs a relationship coaching business with his wife. "About 15 minutes later, it felt like the tension had evaporated through my skin." Wright soon began buying CBD lotion and using it on his wrists, shoulders, back and neck -- all areas that craved attention after long days tied to the computer. He continues to use a salve or lotion about twice a week and almost never uses Advil or ibuprofen, his former default remedies. "My joints felt looser, my muscles felt relaxed and the pain is significantly lessened," Wright says. [See: On a Scale From 1 to 10: Most Painful Medical Conditions.] Wright is far from the only one praising the power of CBD to treat pain and other ailments in what's promoted as a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. The Brightfield Group, a cannabis market research company, even projects the industry will reach $22 billion by 2020, thanks to people like Danielle Jenkins, a 29-year-old who works in nonprofit management in Telluride, Colorado, who says a topical CBD product was "the only thing" that helped certain leg muscles in the thigh after a hockey injury. Daisy Testa, a 31-year-old academic counselor in Chicago, also swears by CBD to relieve both stress and its associated neck pain. Mitchell Roth, a film producer in San Francisco, goes as far as to credit CBD for breaking his wife's addiction to opioids, which she originally used to manage pain related to endometriosis. She's now off both substances. Some physicians are on board, too. Dr. Charlton Woodly, a podiatric surgeon in Texas who has no financial stake in CBD products, integrates CBD into patients' recovery from surgery, breaks and sprains. "I use it in my practice because, unlike pain medications, such as Tylenol, CBD does not cause kidney or liver issues while providing the same pain relief," he says. And Dr. Philip Blair, a family physician who serves as medical director of the CBD brand Elixinol, says he's used CBD with over 2,000 patients after the research and his experience convinced him the substance, in fact, wasn't too good to be true. Within minutes of giving a patient CBD, he says, "I see relaxation of their facial muscles, they become more expressive and spontaneous, their eyes get bigger and their shoulders relax. I hear a deep sigh of relief." [See: 11 Ways to Cope With Back Pain.] But some researchers and clinicians caution against prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon, which is gaining members and momentum since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, legislation that fully legalizes hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant. But even that enthusiasm is misguided, says Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard physician and CEO of InhaleMD, a Boston-area practice specializing in cannabis therapeutics. The bill, he says, will help farmers and the economy since it will spur the development of new products like textiles. But, he adds, "that has nothing to do with medicine." Here's what else he and other health experts say consumers need to know: 1. CBD isn't entirely legal. CBD companies, some health care professionals and some news reports make blanket claims that CBD is totally legal in every state. Tishler says that's far from the truth. In reality, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers all cannabinoids, including CBD, a schedule 1 drug, which means it's as illegal as heroin from the federal government's perspective. The only form of CBD that's legal in its eyes is the prescription medicine Epidiolex, which the FDA approved in 2018 to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy -- and nothing else. (CBD may be legal, though, if acquired through a state medical cannabis program.) And even though hemp, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is legal so long as the THC content is negligible, people who want to make CBD by farming hemp need to have a license to do so through the federal government or, in some cases, their state, Tishler explains. Unfortunately, there's no good way to know if your manufacturer has acquired this, he says. | CBD is a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. Some people swear by CBD to relieve pain and other ailments. But some researchers and clinicians caution against prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-cbd-pain-relief-150419108.html | 0.162791 |
Does CBD Work for Pain Relief? | Kyle Wright was used to living in pain. The 31-year-old who lives in New York City regularly felt the repercussions of decades-old injuries from playing sports and bartending, and contended with the back and shoulder aches triggered by mild scoliosis. Then, at a street fair in Denver, where he used to live, someone offered him a sample of CBD lotion, a product said to contain cannabidiol, one of the many chemicals found in the cannabis plant. (While medicinal and recreational marijuana contain CBD, the component itself doesn't deliver the "high" that's attributed to a different chemical, THC.) Wright gave it a shot. "I was really amazed at how effective the lotion was," says Wright, who now runs a relationship coaching business with his wife. "About 15 minutes later, it felt like the tension had evaporated through my skin." Wright soon began buying CBD lotion and using it on his wrists, shoulders, back and neck -- all areas that craved attention after long days tied to the computer. He continues to use a salve or lotion about twice a week and almost never uses Advil or ibuprofen, his former default remedies. "My joints felt looser, my muscles felt relaxed and the pain is significantly lessened," Wright says. [See: On a Scale From 1 to 10: Most Painful Medical Conditions.] Wright is far from the only one praising the power of CBD to treat pain and other ailments in what's promoted as a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. The Brightfield Group, a cannabis market research company, even projects the industry will reach $22 billion by 2020, thanks to people like Danielle Jenkins, a 29-year-old who works in nonprofit management in Telluride, Colorado, who says a topical CBD product was "the only thing" that helped certain leg muscles in the thigh after a hockey injury. Daisy Testa, a 31-year-old academic counselor in Chicago, also swears by CBD to relieve both stress and its associated neck pain. Mitchell Roth, a film producer in San Francisco, goes as far as to credit CBD for breaking his wife's addiction to opioids, which she originally used to manage pain related to endometriosis. She's now off both substances. Some physicians are on board, too. Dr. Charlton Woodly, a podiatric surgeon in Texas who has no financial stake in CBD products, integrates CBD into patients' recovery from surgery, breaks and sprains. "I use it in my practice because, unlike pain medications, such as Tylenol, CBD does not cause kidney or liver issues while providing the same pain relief," he says. And Dr. Philip Blair, a family physician who serves as medical director of the CBD brand Elixinol, says he's used CBD with over 2,000 patients after the research and his experience convinced him the substance, in fact, wasn't too good to be true. Within minutes of giving a patient CBD, he says, "I see relaxation of their facial muscles, they become more expressive and spontaneous, their eyes get bigger and their shoulders relax. I hear a deep sigh of relief." [See: 11 Ways to Cope With Back Pain.] But some researchers and clinicians caution against prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon, which is gaining members and momentum since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, legislation that fully legalizes hemp, a variety of the cannabis plant. But even that enthusiasm is misguided, says Dr. Jordan Tishler, a Harvard physician and CEO of InhaleMD, a Boston-area practice specializing in cannabis therapeutics. The bill, he says, will help farmers and the economy since it will spur the development of new products like textiles. But, he adds, "that has nothing to do with medicine." Here's what else he and other health experts say consumers need to know: 1. CBD isn't entirely legal. CBD companies, some health care professionals and some news reports make blanket claims that CBD is totally legal in every state. Tishler says that's far from the truth. In reality, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers all cannabinoids, including CBD, a schedule 1 drug, which means it's as illegal as heroin from the federal government's perspective. The only form of CBD that's legal in its eyes is the prescription medicine Epidiolex, which the FDA approved in 2018 to treat seizures associated with two rare forms of epilepsy -- and nothing else. (CBD may be legal, though, if acquired through a state medical cannabis program.) And even though hemp, which is regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is legal so long as the THC content is negligible, people who want to make CBD by farming hemp need to have a license to do so through the federal government or, in some cases, their state, Tishler explains. Unfortunately, there's no good way to know if your manufacturer has acquired this, he says. | CBD is a non-addictive, side effect-free and non-psychoactive way. Some people swear by CBD to relieve pain and other ailments. But some researchers and clinicians caution against prematurely jumping on the CBD bandwagon, which is gaining momentum since the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-cbd-pain-relief-150419108.html | 0.197132 |
How did ESPN do with its Alabama-Clemson game coverage? | CLEVELAND, Ohio Clemson became the first Division I school to finish a season 15-0 in the modern era of football. And they did it on a national stage, with ESPN and its lineup of networks. Here's a look at how ESPN did with the broadcast Monday night. In-game ESPN aired the game, with Chris Fowler (play by play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi (on-field reporters). The game was in Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers. How they got there In the four-team playoff, Alabama beat Oklahoma 45-34 and Clemson topped Notre Dame 30-3. Alabama was a 5- to 5.5-point favorite going into the game, with an over-under set around 57. Those who bet the over were winners in the third quarter: The games scoring First quarter: 14-13, Clemson Halftime: 31-16, Clemson Third quarter: 44-16, Clemson Final: 44-16, Clemson. You know its a big game when multiple channels within the network are dedicated to the broadcast. ESPN ran the game on several of its networks, with Field Pass billed as "free-flowing commentary," with Adam Amin-Tim Tebow on one sideline and Steve Levy-Chip Kelly on the other; Command Center split screen with simultaneous camera angles and in-game stats; and Monday Night Film Room with analysts breaking down the game in real time. Storyline It's the first time since the college football playoff structures began that two undefeated teams met in the title game. Alabama was in its fourth consecutive national championship. As Fowler said during the pregame setup, Alabama was seeking its sixth title in 10 years while Clemson was going for its second in three years. From the booth Fowler and Herbstreit have worked together for years and are as solid as an announcing team can be. As Fowler said early on, "Two scores in three minutes, an electric start from Santa Clara," and that set the tone. Fowler is more about energy no matter who is scoring. He doesn't rely on catch phrases. Herbstreit is quick to pick up on why and when coverage is blown, who is out of position. Clemson's Trayvon Mullen intercepts a pass during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Jeff Chiu Timing 8 p.m. is better than 9 p.m. for kickoff. Let's go for 7 p.m. next year. The fourth quarter started at 11:12 p.m. The game ended at 11:44 p.m. Shots and observations Cameras caught Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa patting his chest and telling his teammates "On me, on me," after Clemson defensive back A.J. Terrell ran an interception back for the first points of the game. The pylon cam is always a good thing, great for goal-line stands and scoring plays. It was only used a few times Monday, though. "They (Alabama) have missed more point-after attempts and field goals than any team in college football." - Herbstreit. Taylor was quick to note Tagovailoa was complaining on the sidelines about a right hand problem. He entered the game bandaged, for a while. The Blimpcast caught a great overhead shot of the Clemson band performing, which you could see aired on the alternative channels of the megacast during halftime. Graphics showed Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was 16 of 26 for 324 yards late in the third quarter. (He finished with 347 yards passing.) When Tagovailoa was stuffed on fourth down in the fourth quarter, Herbstreit noted Alabama's four trips to the red zone netted only one touchdown. Clemson started to make me eat my words. Theyve been really impressive in 2Q. Saban being out coached right now . #CFPChampionship Dario Melendez (@Dario_Melendez) January 8, 2019 Sharp calls "If Clemson can win tonight, each (senior) class would finish their careers with 55 wins and two national championships." - Fowler. Fowler predicted the Alabama fake field-goal attempt, as did Clemson's defense. Then, on replay, he said: "That play never had a shot." Random thoughts Would have liked to have seen a closeup and heard the story about what was scrawled and why on Lawrence's left wristband. Would have preferred to see a longer promotional ad for ESPN's fine doc show "30 for 30" rather than the much hyped Imagine Dragons at halftime. And to think: We've got the Super Bowl coming in less than a month, with more halftime hoopla. The "Captain Marvel" promo in the third quarter was 90 seconds long. I'd rather watch the fumble review we didnt get to see. Surprised it took getting to the fourth quarter before we heard that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had been a walk-on receiver at Alabama. Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa throws during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Ben Margot Quotes of the game "If you havent watched a lot of college football this year and you tuned into the National Championship, that should tell you where the sport is in 2019 that (Alabama coach) Nick Saban is going for it on fourth down and about six inches from his own 35-yard line. That's like (New England Patriots coach) Bill Belichick going for it from his 35-yard line." - Herbstreit. (Alabama earned the first down with an up-the-middle quarterback run.) "Ain't nothing less important than the score at halftime." Swinney in his halftime interview with Rinaldi. His team led 31-16. "Nick Saban's defense is being eviscerated." - Fowler, mincing no words in the third quarter. From the booth "We said there were going to be some fireworks. I didnt expect this. We're not even five minutes into the game." - Herbstreit after Travis Etienne ran 17 yards to give Clemson the lead. "When Tua has space he will completely pick you apart." - Herbstreit in the first quarter. "They're rattled right now." - Fowler after Alabama drew a personal foul for an out-of-bounds hit with Clemson driving right before halftime. "You can't just abort the running game and start throwing it all over the place." - Herbstreit with Alabama driving in the third quarter. Twitter shot of the game Clich meter "He will be playing on Sundays for a long, long time." - Herbstreit on Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. The playing-on-Sundays clich was patented by Brent Musburger. Consider this "Both coaches have said Were going to be better next year. " - Fowler with Alabama up 16-14 in the second quarter. | Clemson beat Alabama 44-16 to win the college football national championship. ESPN aired the game on several of its networks. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/01/how-did-espn-do-with-its-alabama-clemson-game-coverage.html | 0.379315 |
How did ESPN do with its Alabama-Clemson game coverage? | CLEVELAND, Ohio Clemson became the first Division I school to finish a season 15-0 in the modern era of football. And they did it on a national stage, with ESPN and its lineup of networks. Here's a look at how ESPN did with the broadcast Monday night. In-game ESPN aired the game, with Chris Fowler (play by play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Maria Taylor and Tom Rinaldi (on-field reporters). The game was in Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, home of the San Francisco 49ers. How they got there In the four-team playoff, Alabama beat Oklahoma 45-34 and Clemson topped Notre Dame 30-3. Alabama was a 5- to 5.5-point favorite going into the game, with an over-under set around 57. Those who bet the over were winners in the third quarter: The games scoring First quarter: 14-13, Clemson Halftime: 31-16, Clemson Third quarter: 44-16, Clemson Final: 44-16, Clemson. You know its a big game when multiple channels within the network are dedicated to the broadcast. ESPN ran the game on several of its networks, with Field Pass billed as "free-flowing commentary," with Adam Amin-Tim Tebow on one sideline and Steve Levy-Chip Kelly on the other; Command Center split screen with simultaneous camera angles and in-game stats; and Monday Night Film Room with analysts breaking down the game in real time. Storyline It's the first time since the college football playoff structures began that two undefeated teams met in the title game. Alabama was in its fourth consecutive national championship. As Fowler said during the pregame setup, Alabama was seeking its sixth title in 10 years while Clemson was going for its second in three years. From the booth Fowler and Herbstreit have worked together for years and are as solid as an announcing team can be. As Fowler said early on, "Two scores in three minutes, an electric start from Santa Clara," and that set the tone. Fowler is more about energy no matter who is scoring. He doesn't rely on catch phrases. Herbstreit is quick to pick up on why and when coverage is blown, who is out of position. Clemson's Trayvon Mullen intercepts a pass during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Alabama, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) Jeff Chiu Timing 8 p.m. is better than 9 p.m. for kickoff. Let's go for 7 p.m. next year. The fourth quarter started at 11:12 p.m. The game ended at 11:44 p.m. Shots and observations Cameras caught Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa patting his chest and telling his teammates "On me, on me," after Clemson defensive back A.J. Terrell ran an interception back for the first points of the game. The pylon cam is always a good thing, great for goal-line stands and scoring plays. It was only used a few times Monday, though. "They (Alabama) have missed more point-after attempts and field goals than any team in college football." - Herbstreit. Taylor was quick to note Tagovailoa was complaining on the sidelines about a right hand problem. He entered the game bandaged, for a while. The Blimpcast caught a great overhead shot of the Clemson band performing, which you could see aired on the alternative channels of the megacast during halftime. Graphics showed Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence was 16 of 26 for 324 yards late in the third quarter. (He finished with 347 yards passing.) When Tagovailoa was stuffed on fourth down in the fourth quarter, Herbstreit noted Alabama's four trips to the red zone netted only one touchdown. Clemson started to make me eat my words. Theyve been really impressive in 2Q. Saban being out coached right now . #CFPChampionship Dario Melendez (@Dario_Melendez) January 8, 2019 Sharp calls "If Clemson can win tonight, each (senior) class would finish their careers with 55 wins and two national championships." - Fowler. Fowler predicted the Alabama fake field-goal attempt, as did Clemson's defense. Then, on replay, he said: "That play never had a shot." Random thoughts Would have liked to have seen a closeup and heard the story about what was scrawled and why on Lawrence's left wristband. Would have preferred to see a longer promotional ad for ESPN's fine doc show "30 for 30" rather than the much hyped Imagine Dragons at halftime. And to think: We've got the Super Bowl coming in less than a month, with more halftime hoopla. The "Captain Marvel" promo in the third quarter was 90 seconds long. I'd rather watch the fumble review we didnt get to see. Surprised it took getting to the fourth quarter before we heard that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney had been a walk-on receiver at Alabama. Alabama's Tua Tagovailoa throws during the first half the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Ben Margot Quotes of the game "If you havent watched a lot of college football this year and you tuned into the National Championship, that should tell you where the sport is in 2019 that (Alabama coach) Nick Saban is going for it on fourth down and about six inches from his own 35-yard line. That's like (New England Patriots coach) Bill Belichick going for it from his 35-yard line." - Herbstreit. (Alabama earned the first down with an up-the-middle quarterback run.) "Ain't nothing less important than the score at halftime." Swinney in his halftime interview with Rinaldi. His team led 31-16. "Nick Saban's defense is being eviscerated." - Fowler, mincing no words in the third quarter. From the booth "We said there were going to be some fireworks. I didnt expect this. We're not even five minutes into the game." - Herbstreit after Travis Etienne ran 17 yards to give Clemson the lead. "When Tua has space he will completely pick you apart." - Herbstreit in the first quarter. "They're rattled right now." - Fowler after Alabama drew a personal foul for an out-of-bounds hit with Clemson driving right before halftime. "You can't just abort the running game and start throwing it all over the place." - Herbstreit with Alabama driving in the third quarter. Twitter shot of the game Clich meter "He will be playing on Sundays for a long, long time." - Herbstreit on Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. The playing-on-Sundays clich was patented by Brent Musburger. Consider this "Both coaches have said Were going to be better next year. " - Fowler with Alabama up 16-14 in the second quarter. | Clemson beat Alabama 44-16 to win the college football national championship. ESPN aired the game on several of its networks, with Field Pass billed as "free-flowing commentary" The Blimpcast caught a great overhead shot of the Clemson band performing, which you could see aired on the alternative channels. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2019/01/how-did-espn-do-with-its-alabama-clemson-game-coverage.html | 0.470005 |
What's behind our appetite for self-destruction? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Mark Canada, Indiana University and Christina Downey, Indiana University (THE CONVERSATION) Each new year, people vow to put an end to self-destructive habits like smoking, overeating or overspending. Think of the criminal who leaves a trail of evidence, perhaps with the hope of getting caught, or the politician who wins an election, only to start sexting someone likely to expose him. Edgar Allan Poe, one of Americas greatest and most self-destructive writers, had some thoughts on the subject. He even had a name for the phenomenon: perverseness. Psychologists would later take the baton from Poe and attempt to decipher this enigma of the human psyche. Irresistible depravity In one of his lesser-known works, The Imp of the Perverse, Poe argues that knowing something is wrong can be the one unconquerable force that makes us do it. It seems that the source of this psychological insight was Poes own life experience. Orphaned before he was three years old, he had few advantages. But despite his considerable literary talents, he consistently managed to make his lot even worse. He frequently alienated editors and other writers, even accusing poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow of plagiarism in what has come to be known as the Longfellow war. During important moments, he seemed to implode: On a trip to Washington, D.C. to secure support for a proposed magazine and perhaps a government job, he apparently drank too much and made a fool of himself. After nearly two decades of scraping out a living as an editor and earning little income from his poetry and fiction, Poe finally achieved a breakthrough with The Raven, which became an international sensation after its publication in 1845. But when given the opportunity to give a reading in Boston and capitalize on this newfound fame, Poe didnt read a new poem, as requested. Instead, he reprised a poem from his youth: the long-winded, esoteric and dreadfully boring Al Aaraaf, renamed The Messenger Star. As one newspaper reported, it was not appreciated by the audience, evidenced by their uneasiness and continual exits in numbers at a time. Poes literary career stalled for the remaining four years of his short life. Freuds death drive While perverseness wrecked Poes life and career, it nonetheless inspired his literature. A half-century after Poes death, Sigmund Freud wrote of a universal and innate death drive in humans, which he called Thanatos and first introduced in his landmark 1919 essay Beyond the Pleasure Principle. Many believe Thanatos refers to unconscious psychological urges toward self-destruction, manifested in the kinds of inexplicable behavior shown by Poe and in extreme cases in suicidal thinking. In the early 1930s, physicist Albert Einstein wrote to Freud to ask his thoughts on how further war might be prevented. In his response, Freud wrote that Thanatos is at work in every living creature and is striving to bring it to ruin and to reduce life to its original condition of inanimate matter and referred to it as a death instinct. To Freud, Thanatos was an innate biological process with significant mental and emotional consequences a response to, and a way to relieve, unconscious psychological pressure. Toward a modern understanding In the 1950s, the psychology field underwent the cognitive revolution, in which researchers started exploring, in experimental settings, how the mind operates, from decision-making to conceptualization to deductive reasoning. Self-defeating behavior came to be considered less a cathartic response to unconscious drives and more the unintended result of deliberate calculus. In 1988, psychologists Roy Baumeister and Steven Scher identified three main types of self-defeating behavior: primary self-destruction, or behavior designed to harm the self; counterproductive behavior, which has good intentions but ends up being accidentally ineffective and self-destructive; and trade-off behavior, which is known to carry risk to the self but is judged to carry potential benefits that outweigh those risks. Think of drunk driving. If you knowingly consume too much alcohol and get behind the wheel with the intent to get arrested, thats primary self-destruction. If you drive drunk because you believe youre less intoxicated than your friend, and to your surprise get arrested, thats counterproductive. And if you know youre too drunk to drive, but you drive anyway because the alternatives seem too burdensome, thats a trade-off. Baumeister and Schers review concluded that primary self-destruction has actually rarely been demonstrated in scientific studies. Rather, the self-defeating behavior observed in such research is better categorized, in most cases, as trade-off behavior or counterproductive behavior. Freuds death drive would actually correspond most closely to counterproductive behavior: The urge toward destruction isnt consciously experienced. Finally, as psychologist Todd Heatherton has shown, the modern neuroscientific literature on self-destructive behavior most frequently focuses on the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with planning, problem solving, self-regulation and judgment. When this part of the brain is underdeveloped or damaged, it can result in behavior that appears irrational and self-defeating. There are more subtle differences in the development of this part of the brain: Some people simply find it easier than others to engage consistently in positive goal-directed behavior. Poe certainly didnt understand self-destructive behavior the way we do today. But he seems to have recognized something perverse in his own nature. Before his untimely death in 1849, he reportedly chose an enemy, the editor Rufus Griswold, as his literary executor. True to form, Griswold wrote a damning obituary and Memoir, in which he alludes to madness, blackmail and more, helping to formulate an image of Poe that has tainted his reputation to this day. Then again, maybe thats exactly what Poe driven by his own personal imp wanted. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/whats-behind-our-appetite-for-self-destruction-108575. | Mark Canada, Christina Downey: What's behind our appetite for self-destruction? Poe had a name for the phenomenon: perverseness. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/What-s-behind-our-appetite-for-self-destruction-13516663.php | 0.174097 |
What's behind our appetite for self-destruction? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Mark Canada, Indiana University and Christina Downey, Indiana University (THE CONVERSATION) Each new year, people vow to put an end to self-destructive habits like smoking, overeating or overspending. Think of the criminal who leaves a trail of evidence, perhaps with the hope of getting caught, or the politician who wins an election, only to start sexting someone likely to expose him. Edgar Allan Poe, one of Americas greatest and most self-destructive writers, had some thoughts on the subject. He even had a name for the phenomenon: perverseness. Psychologists would later take the baton from Poe and attempt to decipher this enigma of the human psyche. Irresistible depravity In one of his lesser-known works, The Imp of the Perverse, Poe argues that knowing something is wrong can be the one unconquerable force that makes us do it. It seems that the source of this psychological insight was Poes own life experience. Orphaned before he was three years old, he had few advantages. But despite his considerable literary talents, he consistently managed to make his lot even worse. He frequently alienated editors and other writers, even accusing poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow of plagiarism in what has come to be known as the Longfellow war. During important moments, he seemed to implode: On a trip to Washington, D.C. to secure support for a proposed magazine and perhaps a government job, he apparently drank too much and made a fool of himself. After nearly two decades of scraping out a living as an editor and earning little income from his poetry and fiction, Poe finally achieved a breakthrough with The Raven, which became an international sensation after its publication in 1845. But when given the opportunity to give a reading in Boston and capitalize on this newfound fame, Poe didnt read a new poem, as requested. Instead, he reprised a poem from his youth: the long-winded, esoteric and dreadfully boring Al Aaraaf, renamed The Messenger Star. As one newspaper reported, it was not appreciated by the audience, evidenced by their uneasiness and continual exits in numbers at a time. Poes literary career stalled for the remaining four years of his short life. Freuds death drive While perverseness wrecked Poes life and career, it nonetheless inspired his literature. A half-century after Poes death, Sigmund Freud wrote of a universal and innate death drive in humans, which he called Thanatos and first introduced in his landmark 1919 essay Beyond the Pleasure Principle. Many believe Thanatos refers to unconscious psychological urges toward self-destruction, manifested in the kinds of inexplicable behavior shown by Poe and in extreme cases in suicidal thinking. In the early 1930s, physicist Albert Einstein wrote to Freud to ask his thoughts on how further war might be prevented. In his response, Freud wrote that Thanatos is at work in every living creature and is striving to bring it to ruin and to reduce life to its original condition of inanimate matter and referred to it as a death instinct. To Freud, Thanatos was an innate biological process with significant mental and emotional consequences a response to, and a way to relieve, unconscious psychological pressure. Toward a modern understanding In the 1950s, the psychology field underwent the cognitive revolution, in which researchers started exploring, in experimental settings, how the mind operates, from decision-making to conceptualization to deductive reasoning. Self-defeating behavior came to be considered less a cathartic response to unconscious drives and more the unintended result of deliberate calculus. In 1988, psychologists Roy Baumeister and Steven Scher identified three main types of self-defeating behavior: primary self-destruction, or behavior designed to harm the self; counterproductive behavior, which has good intentions but ends up being accidentally ineffective and self-destructive; and trade-off behavior, which is known to carry risk to the self but is judged to carry potential benefits that outweigh those risks. Think of drunk driving. If you knowingly consume too much alcohol and get behind the wheel with the intent to get arrested, thats primary self-destruction. If you drive drunk because you believe youre less intoxicated than your friend, and to your surprise get arrested, thats counterproductive. And if you know youre too drunk to drive, but you drive anyway because the alternatives seem too burdensome, thats a trade-off. Baumeister and Schers review concluded that primary self-destruction has actually rarely been demonstrated in scientific studies. Rather, the self-defeating behavior observed in such research is better categorized, in most cases, as trade-off behavior or counterproductive behavior. Freuds death drive would actually correspond most closely to counterproductive behavior: The urge toward destruction isnt consciously experienced. Finally, as psychologist Todd Heatherton has shown, the modern neuroscientific literature on self-destructive behavior most frequently focuses on the functioning of the prefrontal cortex, which is associated with planning, problem solving, self-regulation and judgment. When this part of the brain is underdeveloped or damaged, it can result in behavior that appears irrational and self-defeating. There are more subtle differences in the development of this part of the brain: Some people simply find it easier than others to engage consistently in positive goal-directed behavior. Poe certainly didnt understand self-destructive behavior the way we do today. But he seems to have recognized something perverse in his own nature. Before his untimely death in 1849, he reportedly chose an enemy, the editor Rufus Griswold, as his literary executor. True to form, Griswold wrote a damning obituary and Memoir, in which he alludes to madness, blackmail and more, helping to formulate an image of Poe that has tainted his reputation to this day. Then again, maybe thats exactly what Poe driven by his own personal imp wanted. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/whats-behind-our-appetite-for-self-destruction-108575. | Mark Canada, Christina Downey: What's behind our appetite for self-destruction? They say Edgar Allan Poe had a name for the phenomenon: perverseness. Poe's life and career were damaged by his self-destructive behavior, they say. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/What-s-behind-our-appetite-for-self-destruction-13516663.php | 0.246891 |
Can Modular Homes Rebuild Paradise Post-Camp Fire? | It wasnt the merriest of Christmases for the residents of Paradise, California whose homes burned down in the Camp Fire last November. Close to 14,000 residences were destroyed, including 13,696 single family homes and 287 multi-family buildings, according to Cal Fire, the states department of forestry and fire protection. In a state already plagued by a severe housing shortage, high housing costs and homelessness, this latest disaster adds to a problematic trifecta. For those seeking to rebuild, possibly in a nearby community that didnt lose so many of its businesses and social services, a shortage of construction labor adds to the challenges they face in getting into new homes. Marianne Cusato knows what theyre going through. Though shes been designing houses for more than 20 years and teaching in the University of Notre Dames School of Architecture, shes probably best known for the award-winning Katrina Cottages she created after that hurricane hammered the Gulf Coast in 2005. It takes years to rebuild, and that could mean living in a travel trailer through another season, she observes. Whether that season includes hurricanes or wildfires, We design permanent buildings that could be used in the short term as emergency housing, and in the long run as an accessory dwelling unit, or even the first piece of a larger home. Given that California recently liberalized its laws on ADUs, Camp Fire Cottages could potentially solve both short- and long-term housing issues for Paradise residents by going up quickly and providing additional housing in the future. When the FEMA trailers are finished being used for emergency housing, they can only be sent to a landfill, Cusato points out. When the cottages are finished being used as emergency housing, they have a long life and increase in value over time. We called the concept Temp to Perm. Its a permanent structure used for a temporary purpose. Cusato worked with Sonoma County after the wine country fires in 2017 and notes that modular homes can be built to Californias rigorous earthquake, wildland-urban interface and environmental codes. Building safe and dignified cottages is an investment in the future of a community, she comments. These compact, modular homes are built off-site, trucked in and hooked up to foundations and utilities. The key to timing is getting permits. Once we have permission to build, units can start arriving on site in as soon as 30 days; depending on the construction techniques, it can take anywhere from two to twelve weeks to finish the units on site, Cusato says. Homeowners can potentially use their insurance money to get rebuilt faster with modular construction even without a larger community program. Sheri Koones, author of Prefabulous Small Houses and five previous books on modular homes, says, Prefab houses can certainly be built faster than on-site housing. Prefab construction is not restricted by weather conditions and relying on independent contractors. Most factories employ a full-time staff of workers who can complete a modular home regardless of issues at the installation site. Depending on the factory, houses can be produced in a week or less, Koones reports. That isnt the whole process, of course, as the home still needs to be transported to the site, and tradespeople are needed on site to connect it to its foundation and utilities. Each state has its own restrictions on taking modulars along highways and that can hold up the time schedule, the author cautions. The schedule will depend on coordination of those jobs, plus the time it takes to get permits in the particular location. Other factors will be how busy the manufacturer is and how much of the house will be completed in the factory. In some cases, modular houses are delivered practically complete and that will generally save a good deal of time in the overall completion. As Cusato pointed out, modular homes are quite capable of meeting state and local codes. In fact, Koones cites FEMA studies that showed modular homes faring better in Hurricane Andrew than their site-built counterparts. In addition to being faster, prefab homes can be more affordable, too, Koones says. There are certainly budget modular builders who fit the tacky clich. But, as the Katrina and wine country cottages showed, you can build to local aesthetics and have a lasting property enhancement. California Modulars, which specializes in prefab ADUs, serves the Northern California region impacted by the Camp Fire. While offering fire survivors fee reductions, complimentary site visits and feasibility assessments will help those households, company president Roy Krautstrunk points to one of the biggest benefits of prefab construction: With our homes, you dont have to start from scratch and go through a lengthy design process with countless decisions to make. Anyone who has been through a new construction or large remodel project knows what thats like. Not having to make those decisions while rebuilding your life after a devastating fire can be especially helpful. There are many additional reasons to build prefab, Koones shares. In addition to the time and money factor, there is the professionalism of factory workers who do this every day, and their work is checked and rechecked along the process. There is also far less disruption to the surrounding neighborhood, and materials are not compromised along the way. (Nor are they likely to be stolen, as happens sometimes on traditional construction sites.) Potentially. As a society we are unprepared to meet the increasing demand for emergency housing after a disaster and we need to get better, Cusato declares. The silver lining is that the disaster, while tragic, can also be the catalyst to streamline the approvals process and bring much needed funding into an area. | Can Modular Homes Rebuild Paradise Post-Camp Fire? Marianne Cusato: Camp Fire Cottages could potentially solve both short- and long-term housing issues for Paradise residents by going up quickly and providing additional housing in the future. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2019/01/08/can-modular-homes-rebuild-paradise-post-camp-fire/ | 0.211334 |
Is 'Biochipping' A Good Idea? | Down a narrow side street in the Swedish city of Gothenburg sits the Barbarella piercing parlor, a regular haunt for locals who decorate their bodies with piercings and tattoos, and which claims to offer the areas finest collection of ear discs and nose rings. But on a frigid evening in November, the shop is the setting for a very different kind of body enhancement: biochips. As darkness falls on the port town of nearly 600,000 people, Jowan sterlund wanders in, wearing a baseball cap and T-shirt, to meet two new clients for his small startup, Biohax International. From his backpack, he pulls plastic-wrapped syringes, each containing a tiny, dark microchip that is barely visible from the outside. Inside the unassuming package is sterlunds prized product, a window into what today is a fringe tech obsession but which, he believes, will one day be a giant industry. You are creating an entirely new type of behavior and entirely new types of data that will be massively more valuable than what we have now, sterlund says. It is kind of a moonshot. But in the long run, this is what is going to happen. Perched on a stool in one of the piercing rooms, sterlund jams the needle into Claes Radojewski and pulls it out again, leaving a one-kilobyte microchip inside him, in the fleshy part between his left thumb and index finger. In a matter of seconds, Radojewski has become a trailblazing biohacker, much to his own surprise. I have never even been inside a tattoo parlor, says the program manager for MobilityXLab, an innovation center in Gothenburg for the auto industry, run in partnership with Ericsson, Volvo, and others. My girlfriend asked if it was some kind of crisis because I was turning 30 soon. In fact, Radojewski says he has wanted a biochip since he learned of the technology a few years ago: In Sweden, we like to use new tech in our daily lives. Biohax microchips are injected at a piercing parlor (left)making chip-enabled locker rental (right) a seamless task. Photographs by Janus Engel for Fortune Magazine sterlund, the needle-wielding entrepreneur, is convinced that there are millions more around the world who will soon want chips implanted into their bodies. As proof, he points to his Facebook messaging app, which is jammed with unbidden requests every day from people as far away as Australia and Mexico. He also receives emails, he says, from curious investors on every continent except Antarctica. The enthusiasm of the curious notwithstanding, sterlunds progress has been slow. He began the company in 2013, committing to it full-time only in 2016, and its revenues remain minimal. At the moment, he says, I get by. Yeah. Oh, yeah, he says. In fact, sterlund, 38, could be at the groundswell of a big wave, in which more and more of the functions we perform on our external devices will shift to implants that we insert into ourselves. In November, a report by MarketsandMarkets Research in India estimated that the global biochip market would be worth about $17.75 billion by 2020. And earlier in 2018, no less a futurist than Elon Musk announced he was backing a California company called Neuralink, which would implant electrodes in the brain to monitor thoughts. sterlunds Biohax is already making progress on a small scale. It has chipped more than 4,000 people in Sweden as well as others across Europe. Though many biochip projects are focused on health uses like heart-rate or blood-sugar monitoring, sterlund is so far marketing his chips to people with no medical ailments. Applications range from making purchases to opening locks to passing through security barriersanything, really, that were already doing with chips on plastic cards. Tech will move into the body, he says. I am sure of that. Claes Radojewski got chipped, fulfilling longtime dreams of being on the cutting edge of technology. In Sweden we like to use new tech in our daily lives, says Radojewski. Photograph by Janus Engel for Fortune Magazine First, sterlund and other chippers will have to overcome understandable doubters, from privacy advocates to medical ethicists. Though the chips are inert and, therefore, theoretically harmless, for many people the very idea of having a permanent connectable device inside them evokes notions of losing control over the one sphere where they can still truly be themselves: their bodies. Invariably, even minor reports of companies using biochips ignite outrage. When BioTeq Ltd., a biochip company in England, said in November that it had implanted about 150 microchips into people around Britain, the British business organization BCI said, It makes for distinctly uncomfortable reading. The countrys Trades Union Congress warned that biochips would give bosses even more power and control over their workers. Recent problems suggest the need for careful oversight: A report by the International Consortium for Investigative Journalists revealed that medical patients in numerous countries had been injured by poorly tested implants (not all of them biochips) because of a lack of regulations for new devices. And yet individuals enchanted by the technology are driving its early adoption. Among those who arrive at Barbarella wanting a Biohax chip is Annie Kjellson, 29, a structural engineer, who wheels her 18-month-old son through the door in his stroller and sits down to receive her injection. I have been thinking about this for years, she says. Despite the uncomfortable sci-fi oddity it represents, there is an inevitability around biochipping, if for no other reason than the sheer convenience it promises. The wallet in my purse slung over my shoulder is jammed with pieces of plastic, declaring me a gym member, a journalist, and a customer of two banks and a credit card company, all of whose passwords I occasionally forget. There are also cards giving details of my health insurance, which airlines I fly on, where I shop for groceries, and where I get my hair cut. Then there is my bunch of keysprimitive tools that have opened doors, chests, and lockers for thousands of years, and to which we somehow remain closely attached. The morning after I return from Sweden, I lock myself out of my apartment while racing to go play tennis. That requires a complicated handoff, by way of a taxi from five miles away, where another set of keys sits idling in my husbands pocket. For biohackers, these antiquated habits are senseless. I used to lose my keys all the time. Now I unlock the door to my house with my hand, says Aric Dromi, an Israeli-Swedish futurologist who has a Biohax chip implanted in his hand, and who sits on the advisory board of Hack for Sweden, the Swedish governments organization aiming to embed big data into all the countrys public services. I saw that effort in action when I hopped aboard a Gothenburg-bound train with sterlund from the seaside city of Helsingborg, where Biohax is based. As the conductor came down the aisle, sterlund held out his hand, in which his ticket was embedded on his biochip. She swiped it without a thought: Swedens entire national rail network is now biochip-capable. So too are many of the 172 gyms run by Nordic Wellness in Sweden, where gym members and staff can open the secure turnstiles and lockers with their hands and view their exercise profiles on monitors. Of course, electronic cards do the same thing in gyms around the world, but the biochip enables members to exercise without carrying anything on them. Annie Kjellson using her new chip for the first time. Photograph by Janus Engel for Fortune Magazine Over espressos in Gothenburg, Dromi tells me he is convinced that millions of people will eventually have microchips in their bodiesperhaps in the near futuresimply because it makes sense, at the very least in order to store their passwords and make keys redundant. Plus, he says, it is more secure than the items we currently lug around in our wallets and purses. I protest, telling him that an electronic fob unlocks my apartment building in Paris. Lets see it, he says. When I fish it out of my purse, he swipes it across the near-field-communication (NFC) reader embedded in his smartphone and then holds up the screen to show the string of data that unlocks both sets of doors to my building, 950 miles away. I can clone this in five minutes, he says. Biochips are far more secure in some ways. To break into Dromis nearby house, for example, you would need to physically drag him there, demand to know where on his body his biochip is implanted, and move his hand across the NFC reader mounted on the doorpost. NFC readers, effectively the enabling devices for biochips, are proliferating. Last June, the Car Connectivity Consortium, which includes the worlds major automakers as well as tech companies like Apple and Samsung, agreed to a standard digital key system, allowing drivers to open their car doors and start the engine from an app on their smartphones. The agreement does not mention customers being able to insert the data for their car keys on a chip inside their bodies. But it would require almost no extra effort to do so, and every biohacker I meet in Sweden tells me that losing keys was one of the main motivations for being chipped. The chip is encased in medical glass, and it has a tiny antenna and integrated circuit that transmit data when close to an electronic reader. So far, Biohax chips have only one kilobyte of memory, but that will increase as the possibilities of what chips can do expand. In fact, once you start viewing the world through the eyes of biohackers, more and more aspects of current life begin to seem absurd: the doctors receptionist, for example, who digs out your personal medical record from a filing cabinet; the bus driver who sells you a paper ticket when you board; or the times you scrounge for change for a restaurant tip. All those things, and thousands more, could be managed with a biochip the size of a grain of rice. Biohackers call these endless, biochip-less actions frictionmoments that divert our attention and hog space in our brains that could be better used for, say, writing poetry or playing with the kids. The possibility of biochippingand not just in science fiction books and filmshas been around for years. As far back as 2004, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved an implantable chip for Applied Digital Solutions in Delray Beach, Fla., which aimed to have people store their medical records on a chip in their upper arm. The device could be lifesaving: If you were rushed unconscious to a hospital with no identification, doctors would instantly be able to scan your blood type, medical history, and organ-donor status. Yet three years after the FDA approval, the company said in a securities filing that it had failed to find a market for its chips, and that it may never achieve market acceptance or more than nominal or modest sales. The company explained the failure by saying that physicians were skittish about discussing the device with their patients, who remained suspicious about invasion of privacy. Biohackers say the criticism is uninformed. They point out that because biochips are inert and passive they pose fewer privacy risks than smartphones, which continually transmit our whereabouts. Such logic hasnt stopped a drumbeat of scary stories about biochips ushering in an Orwellian system of control. Fictional portrayals of biohacking have also promoted a dystopian view of the future. Every implant in any sci-fi movie is a tracker or an explosive device, sterlund says. Look at The Matrix or Blade Runner or Johnny Mnemonic. The implant is always connected to something really creepy or bad. There are probably few better places than Sweden to try to break those stereotypes. Engineers in Sweden, whose population is slightly bigger than New York Citys, have invented the worlds first Internet calling app, Skype; the largest music-streaming platform, Spotify; and one of the first mobile phone companies, Ericsson. Sweden is also almost cashless, with less than 1% of purchases paid for with banknotes and coins. It is a cultural thing, sterlund says. We have a faster adoption rate in Sweden, and there is probably a higher level of trust in our government than [in] many other countries. We arent scared that we will be taken advantage of. In some respects, biochipping is already well accepted. Swedes and others have long inserted biochips into their pets to find them when they get lost. And heart pacemakers, another type of biochip implant, have been in wide use for decades. Yet many people remain unconvinced about being chipped for digital convenience. From a business perspective, it looks like technology for technologys sake, says Richard Oglesby, president of AZ Payments Group, a global consulting firm in Mesa, Ariz., that specializes in payments. Implanting chips is invasive, unnecessary, and not particularly useful. There are wearable solutions that can easily and conveniently accomplish the same things. Then again, it may be that biochipping hasnt yet caught on at scale because some of its adherents have sprung from the counter-culture universe of piercing parlors and tattoo artists, not from corporate engineering labs. Biohaxs sterlund, for example, founded his first company, Cutting Edge, in 2004, as a body-piercing business that specialized in some far-out practices, like hot-steel skin branding and septum piercing. In fact, almost every biohacker I met in Sweden was heavily tattooed, including sterlund, who lifted his shirt one night to show me a large inkwork of a woman stretched clear across his belly. (You should see the rest of it, he chuckled.) For many bodyhackers, it is an easy extension from tattoos and piercing to implants. People find themselves extremely fascinated that you can alter body functions, he tells me, as we zip up Swedens west coast on a high-speed train. I am allowing my body to speak to machines. And it is a lot better being digital in a digital world than analog in a digital world. 1: Summit Entertainment/Courtesy Everett Collection; 2: Warner Bros./Courtesy Everett Collection; 3: TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection; 4: Channel 4/Netflix; 5: Warner bros./Photofest; 6: Universal Pictures If biochipping is ever to take off, of course, it will need to become a real business. sterlund is doing what he can, starting with attempting to raise capital for Biohax. He says a Swedish investor, who remains unnamed, made a six-figure investment in Biohax in December. And sterlund claims that he has lined up about 100 doctors and nurses to work with Biohax to implant chips, once he has formally commercialized the business beyond its current tattoo-parlor stage. In late November, Biohax signed a partnership deal with Verisec, an information technology security company in Stockholm, to provide an electronic-identity platform for sterlunds biochips. That would allow Biohax chips to be used for regular electronic payments, not just for those within closed environments like a staff cafeteria, and to store documents like drivers licenses and passports. sterlund calls the deal the beginning of the big time. In the U.S., the use of implants to measure glucose, heart murmurs, and other conditions has risen steeply in the past few years, all devices that until recently were available only as external monitors. It is a short leap to having that on a chip thats inside you, says Raj Denhoy, a medical technology analyst for Jefferies Financial Group in New York City, who believes the growth trajectory for biochips will be steep. The use of clinical data to drive better treatment outcomes is something that is going to get much, much bigger, he says. To the extent that biosensors allow medical interventions to be better, that is undeniable. Little by little, biochips are going mainstream. Three Square Market, a tech company in River Falls, Wis., claims to have chipped 673 people in the U.S., including 85 of its employees, who are using the device for personal data retention and some for door access also, according to CEO Todd Westby, who first tested the technology on Biohax chips. At this point, we are still developing and learning its capabilities, he says. Last summer, reps from Japanese companies working on the Tokyo Olympics committee visited sterlund to see how they might use biochips for the smooth running of the Games. You are creating an entirely new type of behavior and entirely new types of data that will be massively more valuable than what we have now, sterlund says. It is kind of a moonshot. But in the long run, this is what is going to happen. Photograph by Janus Engel for Fortune Magazine Across Sweden, too, sterlund has become a featured attraction at corporate events, where he shows up with a stock of syringes, ready to inject anyone who wants to be chipped. Last March, he demonstrated Biohax chips to PricewaterhouseCoopers executives in Malm, on Swedens border with Denmark. Mns Liljenlov, PwCs regional marketing chief, immediately signed up and now unlocks his office and locker and buys lunch at work with a wave of his hand. He says he is planning to renovate his house this year and install chip readers instead of keyholes. When I reach him in late November at a gathering for clients in Helsingborg, he tells me his Biohax chip has proved a valuable conversation topic with clients. People keep asking me for my business card, he says. I tell them I dont have business cards, but they can swipe my LinkedIn profile, which is in my biochip. The profile pops up on someones smartphone when he brushes his hand against the screen. Youre joking! he says. Then they all want to feel my hand. (They can feel all they like, but they wont detect the chip buried beneath his flesh.) Other established companies also are calling. In October 2017, Tui Group, the worlds biggest travel company, invited sterlund to Stockholm, where it has its regional headquarters, for a demonstration of his wares. sterlund was overwhelmed with requests and returned twice to fulfill all the orders; now about 100 out of 500 staffers are chipped. I think I was the very first to get chipped in the office, says Alex Huber, managing director of Tui Nordic, which oversees Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Now chipped staff can wave their hands to enter their offices in Stockholm, buy lunch, and print documents on office printers. Huber says he is baffled by the resistance to biochips. This is a mental barrier we have to get over, he says. Our phones do a lot more. For sterlund, the challenge now is to try to seize some of the market share for biochips before being trampled underfoot by bigger companies, which could begin mass-producing their own. Though he knows of efforts to launch biochips in Britain and Germany, he believes that Biohax is way out in front. Biohax chips are made by NXP Semiconductors in Hamburg and assembled in Shenzhen, China. But sterlund aims to manufacture in Sweden starting this year. No one can know that. Yes. One single decision could turn Biohax into a major player, Dromi saysfor example, if the Swedish military or Ikea begins to use them. From day one, it would be a really big thing. For now, Biohax is testing its systems and installing better security and privacy provisions on the platform. We could roll out in 26 countries next week and sell and sell and sell, but it would not be a very responsible thing to do, sterlund says. We want to have an insanely robust platform and safeguard everyones integrity and privacy. The most important thing is that this does not turn into the Wild West. I suggest to sterlund that an even worse outcome would be an authoritarian government, or company, compelling people to be chipped in order to control them. Oh, no, he says. Please, I hope that will not happen. Better to leave that possibility to sci-fi movies. A version of this article appears in the January 2019 issue of Fortune with the headline Biohchipping: Sci-Fi No More | Biohax is a Swedish startup that injects tiny microchips into people. The company's founder believes the technology will one day be a giant industry. "Biochipping" is a fringe tech obsession but could be a big wave, experts say. | ctrlsum | 2 | http://fortune.com/longform/biochipping-biohax-microchip/ | 0.133552 |
Should Kenny Omega go to the WWE? | Wrestling star Kenny Omega announced he's leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and the WWE is one of his preferred destinations. Many want Omega to head to the WWE, where his talents will be appreciated on a more global scale. Others think Omega would be restricted by the company, which has not done a great job promoting new talent. PERSPECTIVES If Kenny Omega wants to become a global wrestler, there is no better place than the WWE. No matter what the company's reputation is, its popularity is unquestioned. Omega has a chance to mix it up with the best in the business if he partners with Vince McMahon. Imagine Omega in the ring with the likes of AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura or Daniel Bryant. If Omega wants to be the best, he needs to go to the WWE. Freedom is a commodity in pro wrestling and Omega has plenty of it. However, if he heads to the WWE, he may find himself limited in what he can and can't do. The WWE is unforgiving when it comes to its storylines. It's their way or the highway. Even Omega is scared he would be rendered useless if he signed with the company. If he values his freedom, he should stay away from the WWE. Kenny Omega on Whether He Will Go to WWE: 'I Don't Want to Be a Robot' 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. | Wrestling star Kenny Omega announced he's leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Many want Omega to head to the WWE, where his talents will be appreciated. Others think Omega would be restricted by the company, which has not done a great job. | bart | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2019/01/should_kenny_omega_go_to_the_w.html | 0.181434 |
Should Kenny Omega go to the WWE? | Wrestling star Kenny Omega announced he's leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling and the WWE is one of his preferred destinations. Many want Omega to head to the WWE, where his talents will be appreciated on a more global scale. Others think Omega would be restricted by the company, which has not done a great job promoting new talent. PERSPECTIVES If Kenny Omega wants to become a global wrestler, there is no better place than the WWE. No matter what the company's reputation is, its popularity is unquestioned. Omega has a chance to mix it up with the best in the business if he partners with Vince McMahon. Imagine Omega in the ring with the likes of AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura or Daniel Bryant. If Omega wants to be the best, he needs to go to the WWE. Freedom is a commodity in pro wrestling and Omega has plenty of it. However, if he heads to the WWE, he may find himself limited in what he can and can't do. The WWE is unforgiving when it comes to its storylines. It's their way or the highway. Even Omega is scared he would be rendered useless if he signed with the company. If he values his freedom, he should stay away from the WWE. Kenny Omega on Whether He Will Go to WWE: 'I Don't Want to Be a Robot' 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. | Wrestling star Kenny Omega announced he's leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling. Many want Omega to head to the WWE, where his talents will be appreciated on a more global scale. Others think Omega would be restricted by the company, which has not done a great job promoting new talent. | bart | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/sports/index.ssf/2019/01/should_kenny_omega_go_to_the_w.html | 0.209883 |
Are Privacy Concerns Halting Smart Cities Indefinitely? | It looks like the design of todays smart cities may not be smart enough. In October, Ann Cavoukian, the Director of Privacy for Alphabets Sidewalk Labs smart neighborhood project in Toronto, resigned after learning that not all data collected from residents would be de-identified at the source. In her resignation letter, Cavoukian likened the project to a smart city of surveillance, highlighting privacy concerns for smart cities as her reason for leaving. The following are a few things to consider in weighing the options. Privacy Concerns for Smart Cities: No Way to Avoid Them Here is the thing: every project that involves data collection holds potential concerns over data privacy. We all know that cyber threats are increasingand becoming increasingly sophisticated. We can assume that these dangers will only increase as the amount of data gathered via the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow. Until now, research shows many consumers have been willing to give up personal data so long as it benefits us in some way. (Exclusive shopping deals, anyone?) The issue becomes one of education and transparency. All of these questions will need to be answered clearly to assuage privacy concerns for smart cities. Also, theres a deeper philosophical element to smart cities too. A government entity will have access to tons of information about its citizens. I dont have an answer for that because I think its a very fine line and one each person needs to figure out. Just something we all need to be aware of. The Cart is Before the Horse Just as the General Data Protection Regulation was recently passed in Europe, there will need to be some policies developed in the United States that govern privacy concerns for smart cities and their development. Until now, technology has been advancing incredibly quickly, and its been difficult for legislation to keep up. In my opinion, we need to stop and take a breath to get on the same page regarding smart city data laws. We wont see smart cities develop on a mass scalein a strategic, non-fragmented wayuntil were able to resolve some key issues. I think data protection needs to happen at a federal level too. There are state laws for data protection that some forward-thinking states, like California, have on the books, but it needs to be consistent across the country. Citizens, regardless of location, need to be protected. Personalized Data Has Value As much as we would like to de-identify all data at the source, as consumers we also know there are benefits to making our personal data available. As noted above, we all appreciate personalized shopping experiences. We like when our GPS sends us directions to the place were most likely to visit at that time of daywithout us even asking. We love that Netflix always seems to know which new series well like before weve even heard of it. The same is true when it comes to personalized data in smart cities. Again, these answers aren't universal, but rather personal. I do think most will enjoy the benefits of a smarter city. However, I also think we need to continue to discuss the implications of these conveniences in order to move forward in the best way possible. Well Need to Work Together Right now, our countryand the worldare divided over the use of AI and the IoT to monitor/support/surveil residents of smart cities. The public in general is becoming more aware of privacy concerns for smart cities and how algorithms (or biased algorithms) could impact their life experiences. To create lasting smart cities, we all need to work together to determine a workable standard to keep residents safe. We need to determine whose responsibility it is to keep data safe. And we need to ensure complete transparency as a checks and balance system. In my view, no. We as a countryand even the world overare far too interested in doing things faster, smarter, and more easily that I do believe we will continue to offer our data up to companies working to improve our lives through connectivity. We may complain about itfor instance, the anticipated influx of text ads, marketing phone calls, and sponsored Facebook postsbut I dont think well see a significant slow down in the efforts for smart city development. However, as they are deployed, it sure will be interesting to see the reaction to a smart city's first major breach. | Privacy concerns for smart cities may not be smart enough. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2019/01/08/are-privacy-concerns-halting-smart-cities-indefinitely/ | 0.170088 |
Are Privacy Concerns Halting Smart Cities Indefinitely? | It looks like the design of todays smart cities may not be smart enough. In October, Ann Cavoukian, the Director of Privacy for Alphabets Sidewalk Labs smart neighborhood project in Toronto, resigned after learning that not all data collected from residents would be de-identified at the source. In her resignation letter, Cavoukian likened the project to a smart city of surveillance, highlighting privacy concerns for smart cities as her reason for leaving. The following are a few things to consider in weighing the options. Privacy Concerns for Smart Cities: No Way to Avoid Them Here is the thing: every project that involves data collection holds potential concerns over data privacy. We all know that cyber threats are increasingand becoming increasingly sophisticated. We can assume that these dangers will only increase as the amount of data gathered via the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow. Until now, research shows many consumers have been willing to give up personal data so long as it benefits us in some way. (Exclusive shopping deals, anyone?) The issue becomes one of education and transparency. All of these questions will need to be answered clearly to assuage privacy concerns for smart cities. Also, theres a deeper philosophical element to smart cities too. A government entity will have access to tons of information about its citizens. I dont have an answer for that because I think its a very fine line and one each person needs to figure out. Just something we all need to be aware of. The Cart is Before the Horse Just as the General Data Protection Regulation was recently passed in Europe, there will need to be some policies developed in the United States that govern privacy concerns for smart cities and their development. Until now, technology has been advancing incredibly quickly, and its been difficult for legislation to keep up. In my opinion, we need to stop and take a breath to get on the same page regarding smart city data laws. We wont see smart cities develop on a mass scalein a strategic, non-fragmented wayuntil were able to resolve some key issues. I think data protection needs to happen at a federal level too. There are state laws for data protection that some forward-thinking states, like California, have on the books, but it needs to be consistent across the country. Citizens, regardless of location, need to be protected. Personalized Data Has Value As much as we would like to de-identify all data at the source, as consumers we also know there are benefits to making our personal data available. As noted above, we all appreciate personalized shopping experiences. We like when our GPS sends us directions to the place were most likely to visit at that time of daywithout us even asking. We love that Netflix always seems to know which new series well like before weve even heard of it. The same is true when it comes to personalized data in smart cities. Again, these answers aren't universal, but rather personal. I do think most will enjoy the benefits of a smarter city. However, I also think we need to continue to discuss the implications of these conveniences in order to move forward in the best way possible. Well Need to Work Together Right now, our countryand the worldare divided over the use of AI and the IoT to monitor/support/surveil residents of smart cities. The public in general is becoming more aware of privacy concerns for smart cities and how algorithms (or biased algorithms) could impact their life experiences. To create lasting smart cities, we all need to work together to determine a workable standard to keep residents safe. We need to determine whose responsibility it is to keep data safe. And we need to ensure complete transparency as a checks and balance system. In my view, no. We as a countryand even the world overare far too interested in doing things faster, smarter, and more easily that I do believe we will continue to offer our data up to companies working to improve our lives through connectivity. We may complain about itfor instance, the anticipated influx of text ads, marketing phone calls, and sponsored Facebook postsbut I dont think well see a significant slow down in the efforts for smart city development. However, as they are deployed, it sure will be interesting to see the reaction to a smart city's first major breach. | Privacy concerns for smart cities may not be smart enough, according to a recent resignation letter from a Sidewalk Labs privacy director. Privacy concerns will only increase as the amount of data gathered via the Internet of Things grows. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2019/01/08/are-privacy-concerns-halting-smart-cities-indefinitely/ | 0.215789 |
Are Privacy Concerns Halting Smart Cities Indefinitely? | It looks like the design of todays smart cities may not be smart enough. In October, Ann Cavoukian, the Director of Privacy for Alphabets Sidewalk Labs smart neighborhood project in Toronto, resigned after learning that not all data collected from residents would be de-identified at the source. In her resignation letter, Cavoukian likened the project to a smart city of surveillance, highlighting privacy concerns for smart cities as her reason for leaving. The following are a few things to consider in weighing the options. Privacy Concerns for Smart Cities: No Way to Avoid Them Here is the thing: every project that involves data collection holds potential concerns over data privacy. We all know that cyber threats are increasingand becoming increasingly sophisticated. We can assume that these dangers will only increase as the amount of data gathered via the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow. Until now, research shows many consumers have been willing to give up personal data so long as it benefits us in some way. (Exclusive shopping deals, anyone?) The issue becomes one of education and transparency. All of these questions will need to be answered clearly to assuage privacy concerns for smart cities. Also, theres a deeper philosophical element to smart cities too. A government entity will have access to tons of information about its citizens. I dont have an answer for that because I think its a very fine line and one each person needs to figure out. Just something we all need to be aware of. The Cart is Before the Horse Just as the General Data Protection Regulation was recently passed in Europe, there will need to be some policies developed in the United States that govern privacy concerns for smart cities and their development. Until now, technology has been advancing incredibly quickly, and its been difficult for legislation to keep up. In my opinion, we need to stop and take a breath to get on the same page regarding smart city data laws. We wont see smart cities develop on a mass scalein a strategic, non-fragmented wayuntil were able to resolve some key issues. I think data protection needs to happen at a federal level too. There are state laws for data protection that some forward-thinking states, like California, have on the books, but it needs to be consistent across the country. Citizens, regardless of location, need to be protected. Personalized Data Has Value As much as we would like to de-identify all data at the source, as consumers we also know there are benefits to making our personal data available. As noted above, we all appreciate personalized shopping experiences. We like when our GPS sends us directions to the place were most likely to visit at that time of daywithout us even asking. We love that Netflix always seems to know which new series well like before weve even heard of it. The same is true when it comes to personalized data in smart cities. Again, these answers aren't universal, but rather personal. I do think most will enjoy the benefits of a smarter city. However, I also think we need to continue to discuss the implications of these conveniences in order to move forward in the best way possible. Well Need to Work Together Right now, our countryand the worldare divided over the use of AI and the IoT to monitor/support/surveil residents of smart cities. The public in general is becoming more aware of privacy concerns for smart cities and how algorithms (or biased algorithms) could impact their life experiences. To create lasting smart cities, we all need to work together to determine a workable standard to keep residents safe. We need to determine whose responsibility it is to keep data safe. And we need to ensure complete transparency as a checks and balance system. In my view, no. We as a countryand even the world overare far too interested in doing things faster, smarter, and more easily that I do believe we will continue to offer our data up to companies working to improve our lives through connectivity. We may complain about itfor instance, the anticipated influx of text ads, marketing phone calls, and sponsored Facebook postsbut I dont think well see a significant slow down in the efforts for smart city development. However, as they are deployed, it sure will be interesting to see the reaction to a smart city's first major breach. | Privacy concerns for smart cities may not be smart enough, according to a recent resignation letter from a Sidewalk Labs privacy director. Privacy concerns will only increase as the amount of data gathered via the Internet of Things (IoT) continues to grow. The public in general is becoming more aware of privacy concerns. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2019/01/08/are-privacy-concerns-halting-smart-cities-indefinitely/ | 0.262912 |
Are Apartments Still A Good Investment In 2019? | Yes, apartments are still a good investment, but for more fundamental reasons than during the past eight years. What I mean by this is apartments have always been a good investment. Unlike other commercial real estate investments, apartments are tied much more to residential trends and demographics. Starting in 2010 and continuing through early 2018, the fallout from the crash and recession created an imbalance in homeownership that gave rise to an increase in apartment rental rates. The rent increase directly correlates to an increase in the value of apartment buildings. But apartments are still a good investment for traditional reasons versus heavy appreciation, even with changing circumstances such as rising interest rates, rising property taxes and a potential recession. If investors focus on property fundamentals, hone their investment strategy and conservatively underwrite for todays market, apartments are still a high-performing investment in 2019. A normalization of value appreciation in apartments is usually related to a projection of flatness in net operating income (NOI). Historically, flatness of NOI is anticipated when two primary drivers occur: rent softness (meaning rents are not growing well) and anticipated interest rate increases. The current market seems to have both of these factors. Current rent softness comes from years of rent growth and a large supply of new construction units being delivered and a large supply of new construction units being delivered. Interest rates in Q4 2018 are higher than Q4 2017, and more increases are forecasted for 2019. Locally in Chicago, the third factor for NOI flatness is property tax increases, as city, county and state government continually raise taxes to increase revenue. Focus On Fundamentals For apartment investing, thats the bad news. The good news is that if you focus on the fundamentals and invest for the long term, apartments are still the most compelling product type in commercial real estate. The key reason for this is simple, if trite: People always need a place to live. For investing in apartment buildings, remember three fundamental factors of location, value-add and underwriting. Location is the primary factor for any real estate investment, but what makes a location good varies by product type (residential, industrial, office, apartment, retail, etc.). For apartments, good location usually means easy access to centers for employment and transportation (e.g., public or highway access). Hone Investment Strategy Value-add means ways to increase the value of your property. Increasing the NOI of the property despite the market in general projecting flatness for NOI is one of the best ways. The obvious is making physical improvements that result in higher rent (i.e., new kitchen cabinets). The less obvious maybe how to decrease expenses or create better operational efficiencies. Other ways to add value may have to do with overall returns over the lifespan of the investment. A trend right now for achieving this is investing in Opportunity Zones. These investments reduce or eliminate your capital gains, thus significantly increasing your overall returns. Conservatively Underwrite Underwriting means carefully analyzing all of the income and expense related to an investment, including a conservative proforma of the changes expected, looking at financing options and determining what your return on investment will be at the purchase price being contemplated. Set a threshold you have to achieve and hold yourself to it. If your target is 10%, underwrite honestly and conservatively and do not invest if you cannot get the numbers to cross that minimum threshold. Apartments remain a solid commercial real estate investment class if not still the golden child. Getting back to the fundamentals described above should result in a long-term appreciating asset and a meaningful return on investment. | Apartments are still a good investment for traditional reasons versus heavy appreciation. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/01/08/are-apartments-still-a-good-investment-in-2019/ | 0.242637 |
Are Apartments Still A Good Investment In 2019? | Yes, apartments are still a good investment, but for more fundamental reasons than during the past eight years. What I mean by this is apartments have always been a good investment. Unlike other commercial real estate investments, apartments are tied much more to residential trends and demographics. Starting in 2010 and continuing through early 2018, the fallout from the crash and recession created an imbalance in homeownership that gave rise to an increase in apartment rental rates. The rent increase directly correlates to an increase in the value of apartment buildings. But apartments are still a good investment for traditional reasons versus heavy appreciation, even with changing circumstances such as rising interest rates, rising property taxes and a potential recession. If investors focus on property fundamentals, hone their investment strategy and conservatively underwrite for todays market, apartments are still a high-performing investment in 2019. A normalization of value appreciation in apartments is usually related to a projection of flatness in net operating income (NOI). Historically, flatness of NOI is anticipated when two primary drivers occur: rent softness (meaning rents are not growing well) and anticipated interest rate increases. The current market seems to have both of these factors. Current rent softness comes from years of rent growth and a large supply of new construction units being delivered and a large supply of new construction units being delivered. Interest rates in Q4 2018 are higher than Q4 2017, and more increases are forecasted for 2019. Locally in Chicago, the third factor for NOI flatness is property tax increases, as city, county and state government continually raise taxes to increase revenue. Focus On Fundamentals For apartment investing, thats the bad news. The good news is that if you focus on the fundamentals and invest for the long term, apartments are still the most compelling product type in commercial real estate. The key reason for this is simple, if trite: People always need a place to live. For investing in apartment buildings, remember three fundamental factors of location, value-add and underwriting. Location is the primary factor for any real estate investment, but what makes a location good varies by product type (residential, industrial, office, apartment, retail, etc.). For apartments, good location usually means easy access to centers for employment and transportation (e.g., public or highway access). Hone Investment Strategy Value-add means ways to increase the value of your property. Increasing the NOI of the property despite the market in general projecting flatness for NOI is one of the best ways. The obvious is making physical improvements that result in higher rent (i.e., new kitchen cabinets). The less obvious maybe how to decrease expenses or create better operational efficiencies. Other ways to add value may have to do with overall returns over the lifespan of the investment. A trend right now for achieving this is investing in Opportunity Zones. These investments reduce or eliminate your capital gains, thus significantly increasing your overall returns. Conservatively Underwrite Underwriting means carefully analyzing all of the income and expense related to an investment, including a conservative proforma of the changes expected, looking at financing options and determining what your return on investment will be at the purchase price being contemplated. Set a threshold you have to achieve and hold yourself to it. If your target is 10%, underwrite honestly and conservatively and do not invest if you cannot get the numbers to cross that minimum threshold. Apartments remain a solid commercial real estate investment class if not still the golden child. Getting back to the fundamentals described above should result in a long-term appreciating asset and a meaningful return on investment. | Apartments are still a good investment, but for more fundamental reasons than during the past eight years. Focus on property fundamentals, hone your investment strategy and conservatively underwrite for today's market. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/01/08/are-apartments-still-a-good-investment-in-2019/ | 0.266473 |
Are Apartments Still A Good Investment In 2019? | Yes, apartments are still a good investment, but for more fundamental reasons than during the past eight years. What I mean by this is apartments have always been a good investment. Unlike other commercial real estate investments, apartments are tied much more to residential trends and demographics. Starting in 2010 and continuing through early 2018, the fallout from the crash and recession created an imbalance in homeownership that gave rise to an increase in apartment rental rates. The rent increase directly correlates to an increase in the value of apartment buildings. But apartments are still a good investment for traditional reasons versus heavy appreciation, even with changing circumstances such as rising interest rates, rising property taxes and a potential recession. If investors focus on property fundamentals, hone their investment strategy and conservatively underwrite for todays market, apartments are still a high-performing investment in 2019. A normalization of value appreciation in apartments is usually related to a projection of flatness in net operating income (NOI). Historically, flatness of NOI is anticipated when two primary drivers occur: rent softness (meaning rents are not growing well) and anticipated interest rate increases. The current market seems to have both of these factors. Current rent softness comes from years of rent growth and a large supply of new construction units being delivered and a large supply of new construction units being delivered. Interest rates in Q4 2018 are higher than Q4 2017, and more increases are forecasted for 2019. Locally in Chicago, the third factor for NOI flatness is property tax increases, as city, county and state government continually raise taxes to increase revenue. Focus On Fundamentals For apartment investing, thats the bad news. The good news is that if you focus on the fundamentals and invest for the long term, apartments are still the most compelling product type in commercial real estate. The key reason for this is simple, if trite: People always need a place to live. For investing in apartment buildings, remember three fundamental factors of location, value-add and underwriting. Location is the primary factor for any real estate investment, but what makes a location good varies by product type (residential, industrial, office, apartment, retail, etc.). For apartments, good location usually means easy access to centers for employment and transportation (e.g., public or highway access). Hone Investment Strategy Value-add means ways to increase the value of your property. Increasing the NOI of the property despite the market in general projecting flatness for NOI is one of the best ways. The obvious is making physical improvements that result in higher rent (i.e., new kitchen cabinets). The less obvious maybe how to decrease expenses or create better operational efficiencies. Other ways to add value may have to do with overall returns over the lifespan of the investment. A trend right now for achieving this is investing in Opportunity Zones. These investments reduce or eliminate your capital gains, thus significantly increasing your overall returns. Conservatively Underwrite Underwriting means carefully analyzing all of the income and expense related to an investment, including a conservative proforma of the changes expected, looking at financing options and determining what your return on investment will be at the purchase price being contemplated. Set a threshold you have to achieve and hold yourself to it. If your target is 10%, underwrite honestly and conservatively and do not invest if you cannot get the numbers to cross that minimum threshold. Apartments remain a solid commercial real estate investment class if not still the golden child. Getting back to the fundamentals described above should result in a long-term appreciating asset and a meaningful return on investment. | Apartments are still a good investment, but for more fundamental reasons than during the past eight years. Focus on property fundamentals, hone your investment strategy and conservatively underwrite for todays market, apartments arestill a high-performing investment in 2019, says Michael Zuckerman. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesrealestatecouncil/2019/01/08/are-apartments-still-a-good-investment-in-2019/ | 0.642568 |
What will happen if Trump uses national emergency powers to fund border wall? | WASHINGTON As the budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats grinds into the third week of a partial government shutdown, the White House has floated the idea that Trump might invoke emergency powers to build his proposed wall on the Mexican border without lawmakers approval. That route could resolve the immediate crisis by giving Trump a face-saving way to sign spending bills that do not include funding for his wall. But it would be an extraordinarily aggressive move at a minimum, a violation of constitutional norms that would most likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. Here is a primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to proceed with the project without explicit congressional permission. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers by essentially creating exceptions to rules that normally constrain him. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. Although presidents have sometimes claimed that the Constitution gives them inherent powers to act beyond ordinary legal limits in an exigency, those claims tend to fare poorly when challenged in court. But presidents are on firmer legal ground when they invoke statutes in which Congress delegated authorities to the executive branch that can be generated in emergencies. In a recent study, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law identified 123 provisions of law granting presidents a range of such powers. The National Emergencies Act, enacted during the post-Watergate reform era, regulates how presidents may invoke such powers. It requires them to formally declare a national emergency and tell Congress which statutes are being activated. Maybe. The Trump administration could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a border wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations from Congress, according to Elizabeth Goitein, who oversaw the Brennan Centers study and is a co-director of its Liberty and National Security Program. One of the laws permits the secretary of the Army to halt Army civil works projects during a presidentially declared emergency and instead direct troops and other resources to help construct authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense. Another law permits the secretary of defense, in an emergency, to begin military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces, using funds that Congress had appropriated for military construction purposes that have not yet been earmarked for specific projects. In light of those statutes and similar ones that give presidents flexibility to redirect funds in a crisis, the Trump administration could point to serious arguments to back up Trump if he invokes emergency powers to build a wall, said William C. Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who helped write a 1994 book about tensions between the executive and legislative branches over security and spending, National Security Law and the Power of the Purse. The fundamental principle is that no president or official may spend funds that were not appropriated for that purpose, he said. No. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. While Goitein agreed that there is a nonfrivolous legal case to be made that emergency-powers laws might empower Trump to spend military funds on a wall, she also pointed to counterarguments any lawsuit would have to contend with. For example, she noted, under one of the laws Trump might try to invoke, the military may redirect funds to build only projects that Congress has separately authorized. Lawmakers have not approved a military wall spanning the border. Still, the administration might argue that Congress has effectively preapproved a wall-like barrier under other laws, including one that authorizes the military to construct border fences blocking drug-smuggling corridors, and another, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, that empowers the Department of Homeland Security to build physical infrastructure enhancements along the border. The government could skip the requirement to identify pre-existing authorization for a wall if it invoked a different emergency-powers law for the funds, but that route would raise other problems, Goitein said. Among them, the government would need to show that a wall meets the legal definition of military construction even though it is not clearly tied to a military facility or installation, and that the southern border situation represents the kind of emergency that requires the use of the armed forces. Probably not. If Trump declares that the situation along the southern border suddenly constitutes an emergency that justifies building a wall without explicit congressional sanction, he will run up against a reality: that the facts on the ground have not drastically shifted. The number of people crossing the border unlawfully is far down from its peak of nearly two decades ago. The recent caravans from Central America primarily consist of migrants who are not trying to sneak across the border, but instead are presenting themselves to border officials and requesting asylum. And while Trump and his aides keep claiming that terrorists are sneaking in across the border, including assertions that they are doing so by the thousands, as a matter of empirical reality, there has been no such instance in the modern era. Still, as a matter of legal procedure, facts may be irrelevant. Before a court could decide that Trump had cynically declared an emergency under false pretenses, the court would first have to decide that the law permits judges to substitute their own thinking for the presidents in such a matter. The Justice Department would surely argue that courts should instead defer to the presidents determination. If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble, Goitein said. I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. In part by accident. When passing many emergency-powers laws, Congress attached a procedure that would let lawmakers override any particular invocation of that authority. The National Emergencies Act, for example, permitted Congress to rescind an emergency if both the House and the Senate voted for a resolution rejecting the presidents determination that one existed. But in 1983, the Supreme Court struck down such legislative vetoes. The justices ruled that for a congressional act to have legal effect, it must be presented to the president for signature or veto. Because it takes two-thirds of both chambers to override a veto, the ruling significantly eroded the check and balance against abuse that lawmakers had intended to be part of their delegation of standby emergency powers to presidents. | The president has the authority to declare a national emergency. If he uses emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://nationalpost.com/news/world/what-will-happen-if-trump-uses-national-emergency-powers-to-fund-border-wall | 0.536099 |
What will happen if Trump uses national emergency powers to fund border wall? | WASHINGTON As the budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats grinds into the third week of a partial government shutdown, the White House has floated the idea that Trump might invoke emergency powers to build his proposed wall on the Mexican border without lawmakers approval. That route could resolve the immediate crisis by giving Trump a face-saving way to sign spending bills that do not include funding for his wall. But it would be an extraordinarily aggressive move at a minimum, a violation of constitutional norms that would most likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. Here is a primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to proceed with the project without explicit congressional permission. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers by essentially creating exceptions to rules that normally constrain him. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. Although presidents have sometimes claimed that the Constitution gives them inherent powers to act beyond ordinary legal limits in an exigency, those claims tend to fare poorly when challenged in court. But presidents are on firmer legal ground when they invoke statutes in which Congress delegated authorities to the executive branch that can be generated in emergencies. In a recent study, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law identified 123 provisions of law granting presidents a range of such powers. The National Emergencies Act, enacted during the post-Watergate reform era, regulates how presidents may invoke such powers. It requires them to formally declare a national emergency and tell Congress which statutes are being activated. Maybe. The Trump administration could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a border wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations from Congress, according to Elizabeth Goitein, who oversaw the Brennan Centers study and is a co-director of its Liberty and National Security Program. One of the laws permits the secretary of the Army to halt Army civil works projects during a presidentially declared emergency and instead direct troops and other resources to help construct authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense. Another law permits the secretary of defense, in an emergency, to begin military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces, using funds that Congress had appropriated for military construction purposes that have not yet been earmarked for specific projects. In light of those statutes and similar ones that give presidents flexibility to redirect funds in a crisis, the Trump administration could point to serious arguments to back up Trump if he invokes emergency powers to build a wall, said William C. Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who helped write a 1994 book about tensions between the executive and legislative branches over security and spending, National Security Law and the Power of the Purse. The fundamental principle is that no president or official may spend funds that were not appropriated for that purpose, he said. No. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. While Goitein agreed that there is a nonfrivolous legal case to be made that emergency-powers laws might empower Trump to spend military funds on a wall, she also pointed to counterarguments any lawsuit would have to contend with. For example, she noted, under one of the laws Trump might try to invoke, the military may redirect funds to build only projects that Congress has separately authorized. Lawmakers have not approved a military wall spanning the border. Still, the administration might argue that Congress has effectively preapproved a wall-like barrier under other laws, including one that authorizes the military to construct border fences blocking drug-smuggling corridors, and another, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, that empowers the Department of Homeland Security to build physical infrastructure enhancements along the border. The government could skip the requirement to identify pre-existing authorization for a wall if it invoked a different emergency-powers law for the funds, but that route would raise other problems, Goitein said. Among them, the government would need to show that a wall meets the legal definition of military construction even though it is not clearly tied to a military facility or installation, and that the southern border situation represents the kind of emergency that requires the use of the armed forces. Probably not. If Trump declares that the situation along the southern border suddenly constitutes an emergency that justifies building a wall without explicit congressional sanction, he will run up against a reality: that the facts on the ground have not drastically shifted. The number of people crossing the border unlawfully is far down from its peak of nearly two decades ago. The recent caravans from Central America primarily consist of migrants who are not trying to sneak across the border, but instead are presenting themselves to border officials and requesting asylum. And while Trump and his aides keep claiming that terrorists are sneaking in across the border, including assertions that they are doing so by the thousands, as a matter of empirical reality, there has been no such instance in the modern era. Still, as a matter of legal procedure, facts may be irrelevant. Before a court could decide that Trump had cynically declared an emergency under false pretenses, the court would first have to decide that the law permits judges to substitute their own thinking for the presidents in such a matter. The Justice Department would surely argue that courts should instead defer to the presidents determination. If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble, Goitein said. I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. In part by accident. When passing many emergency-powers laws, Congress attached a procedure that would let lawmakers override any particular invocation of that authority. The National Emergencies Act, for example, permitted Congress to rescind an emergency if both the House and the Senate voted for a resolution rejecting the presidents determination that one existed. But in 1983, the Supreme Court struck down such legislative vetoes. The justices ruled that for a congressional act to have legal effect, it must be presented to the president for signature or veto. Because it takes two-thirds of both chambers to override a veto, the ruling significantly eroded the check and balance against abuse that lawmakers had intended to be part of their delegation of standby emergency powers to presidents. | The president has the authority to declare a national emergency. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. The White House could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/news/world/what-will-happen-if-trump-uses-national-emergency-powers-to-fund-border-wall | 0.582789 |
Is Measurability More Important Than Effectiveness For Marketers? | We all want to claim the latter, but the reality is that we answer to someone, and if we cant show the value of our work with data, its hard to prove our professional value. The result is that marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. Programmatic media is an example of this. Its the most measurable media spend given the data is in real time. Marketers can gauge exactly how many times their ads are clicked, the cost of each click and the resulting return on investment (ROI). The issue with programmatic is that an alarming portion of it is fraud, and the industry is aware of this. In 2017, an Advertising Week panel (subscription required) was asked how much fraud is in the numbers, and the estimates were frightening. The CEO of Nielsen Catalina Solutions reportedly estimated that over 50% of direct programmatic is fraudulent, while other experts reportedly agreed that the best-case scenario is one-third. While many savvy marketers would agree that measuring clicks is not the most effective way to gauge ROI given this level of fraud, clicks are still the predominant key performance indicator (KPI). Since programmatic media can generate a large number of clicks, it is a major focus area for most marketers. Im not saying brands shouldnt invest in programmatic. There is a lot of progress in mitigating fraud, and even when accounting for fraud, it can be highly effective if used correctly and in balance with other marketing efforts. What I am saying is that measurability allows programmatic media to have this level of fraud without losing its funding to other channels. Based on my experience working with an experiential marketing agency, its clear that many marketers believe that the value of a physical interaction is greater than a digital interaction. There is also data showing the importance of experiences for younger generations. Even so, it is still much easier to measure a digital interaction than a physical interaction. Brands may claim they are increasing their spend on branded experiences, but this is likely due to their understanding that younger consumers prefer experiences over material things. Its also likely in response to competitors increasing their experiential budgets, and we all know the impact of the fear of missing out, or FOMO. What is still largely missing is the quantitative evidence that a consumer who engages with an experience is more valuable than one who interacts solely online. Its not an easy problem to solve, but one the industry must address to avoid the pendulum swinging away from experiences and back toward clickbait. Comparing physical and digital interactions will never be apples to apples, but the closer we can get the KPIs, the better off the industry will be. Extend the physical experience with digital components. If you can deliver the same KPIs (impression, clicks) as a digital program, then the physical experience is icing on the cake. As an activity, take the total spend of your physical experience including the digital extension. Ask your brand what they could deliver for that spend in programmatic clicks. Given the level of fraud we know exists, take a conservative 70% to arrive at a true impression count. With digital extensions and content production from your physical event, you should be able to deliver that level of engagement (if your experience is buzzworthy), and the decision for the brand becomes easy. Any time I pitch an experiential activation to a brand I ask, If I can deliver the same results as if you spent this money on programmatic, then would you would agree its a homerun investment? I dont know of any brand that would say otherwise. Prove the value of the event attendee to the brand. Most experiential companies focus their event recaps on the number of attendees that went through the experience. The issue with this approach is that you will never reach as wide an audience as with digital media. Now, if you instead prove the value of each event attendee is exponentially greater than digital-only consumers, you have a strong case. Here are two ways to prove value: engagement and purchasing. Engagement: By comparing engagement rates of consumers who participated in a branded experience versus came from other channels like paid audiences, you can demonstrate the value of experiences. Metrics including email marketing open rates, social post engagements and coupon redemption all demonstrate how valuable an individual is to a brand. To measure these effectively, you must monitor the audience well after the experience ends, which means its no longer only about what happened during the experience. Purchasing: This is much harder to measure and is ultimately the holy grail. The way most marketers track purchasing is through credit card data. When they serve a banner ad to a consumer, that consumer has a unique IP address. Information is tied to that IP address, and data companies make it possible to connect the IP to a credit card. They can identify if consumers who saw an ad eventually made a purchase. The same approach must be brought to experiential. Brands and agencies should be segmenting audiences that came through experiential channels to understand if that group is more likely to purchase than other groups, therefore making them a more valuable audience. The reality is that measurability is a major component of a marketers decision making process. There are ways to compare the value of consumers who come from physical experiences versus digital clicks, and the industry must advance those methods to increase transparency. If all marketing tactics have high transparency of measurement, marketers wont have to make the choice between measurability and effectiveness. | Marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2019/01/08/is-measurability-more-important-than-effectiveness-for-marketers/ | 0.194001 |
Is Measurability More Important Than Effectiveness For Marketers? | We all want to claim the latter, but the reality is that we answer to someone, and if we cant show the value of our work with data, its hard to prove our professional value. The result is that marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. Programmatic media is an example of this. Its the most measurable media spend given the data is in real time. Marketers can gauge exactly how many times their ads are clicked, the cost of each click and the resulting return on investment (ROI). The issue with programmatic is that an alarming portion of it is fraud, and the industry is aware of this. In 2017, an Advertising Week panel (subscription required) was asked how much fraud is in the numbers, and the estimates were frightening. The CEO of Nielsen Catalina Solutions reportedly estimated that over 50% of direct programmatic is fraudulent, while other experts reportedly agreed that the best-case scenario is one-third. While many savvy marketers would agree that measuring clicks is not the most effective way to gauge ROI given this level of fraud, clicks are still the predominant key performance indicator (KPI). Since programmatic media can generate a large number of clicks, it is a major focus area for most marketers. Im not saying brands shouldnt invest in programmatic. There is a lot of progress in mitigating fraud, and even when accounting for fraud, it can be highly effective if used correctly and in balance with other marketing efforts. What I am saying is that measurability allows programmatic media to have this level of fraud without losing its funding to other channels. Based on my experience working with an experiential marketing agency, its clear that many marketers believe that the value of a physical interaction is greater than a digital interaction. There is also data showing the importance of experiences for younger generations. Even so, it is still much easier to measure a digital interaction than a physical interaction. Brands may claim they are increasing their spend on branded experiences, but this is likely due to their understanding that younger consumers prefer experiences over material things. Its also likely in response to competitors increasing their experiential budgets, and we all know the impact of the fear of missing out, or FOMO. What is still largely missing is the quantitative evidence that a consumer who engages with an experience is more valuable than one who interacts solely online. Its not an easy problem to solve, but one the industry must address to avoid the pendulum swinging away from experiences and back toward clickbait. Comparing physical and digital interactions will never be apples to apples, but the closer we can get the KPIs, the better off the industry will be. Extend the physical experience with digital components. If you can deliver the same KPIs (impression, clicks) as a digital program, then the physical experience is icing on the cake. As an activity, take the total spend of your physical experience including the digital extension. Ask your brand what they could deliver for that spend in programmatic clicks. Given the level of fraud we know exists, take a conservative 70% to arrive at a true impression count. With digital extensions and content production from your physical event, you should be able to deliver that level of engagement (if your experience is buzzworthy), and the decision for the brand becomes easy. Any time I pitch an experiential activation to a brand I ask, If I can deliver the same results as if you spent this money on programmatic, then would you would agree its a homerun investment? I dont know of any brand that would say otherwise. Prove the value of the event attendee to the brand. Most experiential companies focus their event recaps on the number of attendees that went through the experience. The issue with this approach is that you will never reach as wide an audience as with digital media. Now, if you instead prove the value of each event attendee is exponentially greater than digital-only consumers, you have a strong case. Here are two ways to prove value: engagement and purchasing. Engagement: By comparing engagement rates of consumers who participated in a branded experience versus came from other channels like paid audiences, you can demonstrate the value of experiences. Metrics including email marketing open rates, social post engagements and coupon redemption all demonstrate how valuable an individual is to a brand. To measure these effectively, you must monitor the audience well after the experience ends, which means its no longer only about what happened during the experience. Purchasing: This is much harder to measure and is ultimately the holy grail. The way most marketers track purchasing is through credit card data. When they serve a banner ad to a consumer, that consumer has a unique IP address. Information is tied to that IP address, and data companies make it possible to connect the IP to a credit card. They can identify if consumers who saw an ad eventually made a purchase. The same approach must be brought to experiential. Brands and agencies should be segmenting audiences that came through experiential channels to understand if that group is more likely to purchase than other groups, therefore making them a more valuable audience. The reality is that measurability is a major component of a marketers decision making process. There are ways to compare the value of consumers who come from physical experiences versus digital clicks, and the industry must advance those methods to increase transparency. If all marketing tactics have high transparency of measurement, marketers wont have to make the choice between measurability and effectiveness. | Marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. Programmatic media is an example of this. Its the most measurable media spend given the data is in real time. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2019/01/08/is-measurability-more-important-than-effectiveness-for-marketers/ | 0.190429 |
Is Measurability More Important Than Effectiveness For Marketers? | We all want to claim the latter, but the reality is that we answer to someone, and if we cant show the value of our work with data, its hard to prove our professional value. The result is that marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. Programmatic media is an example of this. Its the most measurable media spend given the data is in real time. Marketers can gauge exactly how many times their ads are clicked, the cost of each click and the resulting return on investment (ROI). The issue with programmatic is that an alarming portion of it is fraud, and the industry is aware of this. In 2017, an Advertising Week panel (subscription required) was asked how much fraud is in the numbers, and the estimates were frightening. The CEO of Nielsen Catalina Solutions reportedly estimated that over 50% of direct programmatic is fraudulent, while other experts reportedly agreed that the best-case scenario is one-third. While many savvy marketers would agree that measuring clicks is not the most effective way to gauge ROI given this level of fraud, clicks are still the predominant key performance indicator (KPI). Since programmatic media can generate a large number of clicks, it is a major focus area for most marketers. Im not saying brands shouldnt invest in programmatic. There is a lot of progress in mitigating fraud, and even when accounting for fraud, it can be highly effective if used correctly and in balance with other marketing efforts. What I am saying is that measurability allows programmatic media to have this level of fraud without losing its funding to other channels. Based on my experience working with an experiential marketing agency, its clear that many marketers believe that the value of a physical interaction is greater than a digital interaction. There is also data showing the importance of experiences for younger generations. Even so, it is still much easier to measure a digital interaction than a physical interaction. Brands may claim they are increasing their spend on branded experiences, but this is likely due to their understanding that younger consumers prefer experiences over material things. Its also likely in response to competitors increasing their experiential budgets, and we all know the impact of the fear of missing out, or FOMO. What is still largely missing is the quantitative evidence that a consumer who engages with an experience is more valuable than one who interacts solely online. Its not an easy problem to solve, but one the industry must address to avoid the pendulum swinging away from experiences and back toward clickbait. Comparing physical and digital interactions will never be apples to apples, but the closer we can get the KPIs, the better off the industry will be. Extend the physical experience with digital components. If you can deliver the same KPIs (impression, clicks) as a digital program, then the physical experience is icing on the cake. As an activity, take the total spend of your physical experience including the digital extension. Ask your brand what they could deliver for that spend in programmatic clicks. Given the level of fraud we know exists, take a conservative 70% to arrive at a true impression count. With digital extensions and content production from your physical event, you should be able to deliver that level of engagement (if your experience is buzzworthy), and the decision for the brand becomes easy. Any time I pitch an experiential activation to a brand I ask, If I can deliver the same results as if you spent this money on programmatic, then would you would agree its a homerun investment? I dont know of any brand that would say otherwise. Prove the value of the event attendee to the brand. Most experiential companies focus their event recaps on the number of attendees that went through the experience. The issue with this approach is that you will never reach as wide an audience as with digital media. Now, if you instead prove the value of each event attendee is exponentially greater than digital-only consumers, you have a strong case. Here are two ways to prove value: engagement and purchasing. Engagement: By comparing engagement rates of consumers who participated in a branded experience versus came from other channels like paid audiences, you can demonstrate the value of experiences. Metrics including email marketing open rates, social post engagements and coupon redemption all demonstrate how valuable an individual is to a brand. To measure these effectively, you must monitor the audience well after the experience ends, which means its no longer only about what happened during the experience. Purchasing: This is much harder to measure and is ultimately the holy grail. The way most marketers track purchasing is through credit card data. When they serve a banner ad to a consumer, that consumer has a unique IP address. Information is tied to that IP address, and data companies make it possible to connect the IP to a credit card. They can identify if consumers who saw an ad eventually made a purchase. The same approach must be brought to experiential. Brands and agencies should be segmenting audiences that came through experiential channels to understand if that group is more likely to purchase than other groups, therefore making them a more valuable audience. The reality is that measurability is a major component of a marketers decision making process. There are ways to compare the value of consumers who come from physical experiences versus digital clicks, and the industry must advance those methods to increase transparency. If all marketing tactics have high transparency of measurement, marketers wont have to make the choice between measurability and effectiveness. | Marketers often choose to execute experiences that are measurable, even at the expense of impact. Programmatic media is an example of this. Its the most measurable media spend given the data is in real time. The issue with programmatic is that an alarming portion of it is fraud. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescommunicationscouncil/2019/01/08/is-measurability-more-important-than-effectiveness-for-marketers/ | 0.175057 |
Is Donald Trump About to Declare a National Emergency at the Border? | Last Friday, as the government shutdown headed for a third week, reports emerged that Donald Trump was thinking about declaring a national emergency at the southern border, with the goal of circumventing the deadlock in Congress and diverting some Pentagon funds to the construction of a wall, or steel barrier. During a press conference at the White House, Trump confirmed that he had considered invoking emergency powers and added, I can do it if I want. When a reporter asked if that was a threat to Democrats, who are refusing his demands for $5.6 billion in funding for the wall, Trump replied, Id never threaten anybody, but I am allowed to do that, yes. On Sunday, at Camp David, Trump returned to the theme, saying, I may declare a national emergency dependent on whats going to happen over the next few days. When he got back to the White House, he added, We have a national emergency, just read the papers. We have a crisis at the border, of drugs, of human beings being trafficked all over the world, theyre coming through . . . criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It is a national emergency. Trumps description of what is happening on the border is largely fictitious, of course. (In a television interview on Sunday, the White House spokesperson, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, claimed that four thousand people who are on a terrorism watch list had been stopped at the southern border. On Monday, NBC reported that, in the first half of fiscal 2018, the actual number of people stopped for this reason was six.) But Trump isnt dealing with reality. In a tweet on Monday afternoon, he said that he would deliver a televised address from the Oval Office on Tuesday, the first of his Presidency, on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. In a press briefing at the White House, Vice-President Mike Pence and Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of Homeland Security, repeatedly used the same phrase. Pence told reporters that Trump hadnt yet decided whether to declare an emergency, but he also said that the Office of the White House Counsel was looking into the possible options available to the President. On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that Trump increasingly views a national emergency declaration as a viable, if risky, way for him to build a portion of his long-promised barrier, according to senior administration officials." It seems increasingly likely, therefore, that Trump is going to use Tuesday nights Oval Office address either to invoke an emergency, which would immediately plunge him into another legal and constitutional battle, or to formalize his threat to act if the Democrats dont give in to his demands very quickly. Either way, he appears set to escalate the fight over the border wall in dramatic fashion, and Democrats are already getting prepared. We would certainly oppose any attempt by the President to make himself a king and a tyrant by saying that he can appropriate money without Congress, Jerry Nadler, the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said on Monday during a visit to a Customs and Border Protection Agency detention center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. That is perhaps the most dangerous thing he is talking about since he became President. On the other side of the political divide, the prospect of Trump making such a move drew mixed reactions. John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, sounded a note of caution. Im confident he could declare a national emergency, Cornyn said on CNN. But what that may mean in terms of adding new elements to thiscourt hearings and litigation that may carry this on for weeks and months and yearsto me, injecting a new element in this just makes it more complicated. But some of Trumps supporters openly welcomed the prospect of him seizing emergency powers. What I like is that the President is not backing down, Fox News Sean Hannity said on his daily radio show. Hes looking for any alternative source of money, so we can get the job done. In a way, these latest developments arent entirely surprising. Ever since parts of the government began to shut down, three days before Christmas, people in Washington and elsewhere have been wondering how Trump would go about extricating himself from the political hole he has dug for himself. During his now famous Oval Office meeting with the Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, on December 11th, he said, Ill tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. Once the shutdown began, it was always going to be a struggle for him to shift the blame to the Democrats. For the past couple of weeks, Schumer has been barely able to conceal a smile, and his language has gotten steadily tougher. On Monday, he again dismissed the possibility of giving in to Trumps financial demands, saying such a cave would create a disaster and encourage his worst instincts, which are bad enough now. Initially, the shutdown served Trumps purposes, because it sent a signal to his most ardent anti-immigrant supporters, whose backing he will desperately need during the months ahead. But government closures usually get more unpopular the longer they go on, and if this one extends beyond this weekend it will be the longest shutdown in the past fifty years. Despite Trumps public insistence that even many of the federal employees who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay are supporting him, he is surely aware where things are heading. In a private meeting with aides at Camp David on Sunday, Mr. Trump said he wanted them to come up with a resolution without him appearing to have capitulated to Democrats, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The story added that White House officials disputed that account and said the president didnt make such a statement." Whether he did or he didnt say such a thing, Trump clearly needs an exit strategy, and he may believe he has found one. On Twitter, Eric Columbus, a Washington lawyer with experience in the Obama Administration and with the Senate Judiciary Committee, pointed out that if Trump declares a national emergency, he might be able to obtain some money for his wall even as the matter is litigated, which would enable him to re-open the government while saving faceand if he later loses in court hell have a new scapegoat. As a description of Trumps strategizing, this sounded plausible. Well find out on Tuesday night if he goes through with it. | Donald Trump has said that he may declare a national emergency at the border. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-donald-trump-about-to-declare-a-national-emergency-at-the-border | 0.296428 |
Is Donald Trump About to Declare a National Emergency at the Border? | Last Friday, as the government shutdown headed for a third week, reports emerged that Donald Trump was thinking about declaring a national emergency at the southern border, with the goal of circumventing the deadlock in Congress and diverting some Pentagon funds to the construction of a wall, or steel barrier. During a press conference at the White House, Trump confirmed that he had considered invoking emergency powers and added, I can do it if I want. When a reporter asked if that was a threat to Democrats, who are refusing his demands for $5.6 billion in funding for the wall, Trump replied, Id never threaten anybody, but I am allowed to do that, yes. On Sunday, at Camp David, Trump returned to the theme, saying, I may declare a national emergency dependent on whats going to happen over the next few days. When he got back to the White House, he added, We have a national emergency, just read the papers. We have a crisis at the border, of drugs, of human beings being trafficked all over the world, theyre coming through . . . criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It is a national emergency. Trumps description of what is happening on the border is largely fictitious, of course. (In a television interview on Sunday, the White House spokesperson, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, claimed that four thousand people who are on a terrorism watch list had been stopped at the southern border. On Monday, NBC reported that, in the first half of fiscal 2018, the actual number of people stopped for this reason was six.) But Trump isnt dealing with reality. In a tweet on Monday afternoon, he said that he would deliver a televised address from the Oval Office on Tuesday, the first of his Presidency, on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. In a press briefing at the White House, Vice-President Mike Pence and Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of Homeland Security, repeatedly used the same phrase. Pence told reporters that Trump hadnt yet decided whether to declare an emergency, but he also said that the Office of the White House Counsel was looking into the possible options available to the President. On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that Trump increasingly views a national emergency declaration as a viable, if risky, way for him to build a portion of his long-promised barrier, according to senior administration officials." It seems increasingly likely, therefore, that Trump is going to use Tuesday nights Oval Office address either to invoke an emergency, which would immediately plunge him into another legal and constitutional battle, or to formalize his threat to act if the Democrats dont give in to his demands very quickly. Either way, he appears set to escalate the fight over the border wall in dramatic fashion, and Democrats are already getting prepared. We would certainly oppose any attempt by the President to make himself a king and a tyrant by saying that he can appropriate money without Congress, Jerry Nadler, the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said on Monday during a visit to a Customs and Border Protection Agency detention center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. That is perhaps the most dangerous thing he is talking about since he became President. On the other side of the political divide, the prospect of Trump making such a move drew mixed reactions. John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, sounded a note of caution. Im confident he could declare a national emergency, Cornyn said on CNN. But what that may mean in terms of adding new elements to thiscourt hearings and litigation that may carry this on for weeks and months and yearsto me, injecting a new element in this just makes it more complicated. But some of Trumps supporters openly welcomed the prospect of him seizing emergency powers. What I like is that the President is not backing down, Fox News Sean Hannity said on his daily radio show. Hes looking for any alternative source of money, so we can get the job done. In a way, these latest developments arent entirely surprising. Ever since parts of the government began to shut down, three days before Christmas, people in Washington and elsewhere have been wondering how Trump would go about extricating himself from the political hole he has dug for himself. During his now famous Oval Office meeting with the Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, on December 11th, he said, Ill tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. Once the shutdown began, it was always going to be a struggle for him to shift the blame to the Democrats. For the past couple of weeks, Schumer has been barely able to conceal a smile, and his language has gotten steadily tougher. On Monday, he again dismissed the possibility of giving in to Trumps financial demands, saying such a cave would create a disaster and encourage his worst instincts, which are bad enough now. Initially, the shutdown served Trumps purposes, because it sent a signal to his most ardent anti-immigrant supporters, whose backing he will desperately need during the months ahead. But government closures usually get more unpopular the longer they go on, and if this one extends beyond this weekend it will be the longest shutdown in the past fifty years. Despite Trumps public insistence that even many of the federal employees who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay are supporting him, he is surely aware where things are heading. In a private meeting with aides at Camp David on Sunday, Mr. Trump said he wanted them to come up with a resolution without him appearing to have capitulated to Democrats, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The story added that White House officials disputed that account and said the president didnt make such a statement." Whether he did or he didnt say such a thing, Trump clearly needs an exit strategy, and he may believe he has found one. On Twitter, Eric Columbus, a Washington lawyer with experience in the Obama Administration and with the Senate Judiciary Committee, pointed out that if Trump declares a national emergency, he might be able to obtain some money for his wall even as the matter is litigated, which would enable him to re-open the government while saving faceand if he later loses in court hell have a new scapegoat. As a description of Trumps strategizing, this sounded plausible. Well find out on Tuesday night if he goes through with it. | Donald Trump is considering declaring a national emergency at the southern border. The move would allow him to divert some Pentagon funds to the construction of a steel barrier. On Monday, he said he would deliver a televised address on the border on Tuesday. | bart | 1 | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-donald-trump-about-to-declare-a-national-emergency-at-the-border | 0.502537 |
Is Donald Trump About to Declare a National Emergency at the Border? | Last Friday, as the government shutdown headed for a third week, reports emerged that Donald Trump was thinking about declaring a national emergency at the southern border, with the goal of circumventing the deadlock in Congress and diverting some Pentagon funds to the construction of a wall, or steel barrier. During a press conference at the White House, Trump confirmed that he had considered invoking emergency powers and added, I can do it if I want. When a reporter asked if that was a threat to Democrats, who are refusing his demands for $5.6 billion in funding for the wall, Trump replied, Id never threaten anybody, but I am allowed to do that, yes. On Sunday, at Camp David, Trump returned to the theme, saying, I may declare a national emergency dependent on whats going to happen over the next few days. When he got back to the White House, he added, We have a national emergency, just read the papers. We have a crisis at the border, of drugs, of human beings being trafficked all over the world, theyre coming through . . . criminals and gang members coming through. It is national security. It is a national emergency. Trumps description of what is happening on the border is largely fictitious, of course. (In a television interview on Sunday, the White House spokesperson, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, claimed that four thousand people who are on a terrorism watch list had been stopped at the southern border. On Monday, NBC reported that, in the first half of fiscal 2018, the actual number of people stopped for this reason was six.) But Trump isnt dealing with reality. In a tweet on Monday afternoon, he said that he would deliver a televised address from the Oval Office on Tuesday, the first of his Presidency, on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. In a press briefing at the White House, Vice-President Mike Pence and Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of Homeland Security, repeatedly used the same phrase. Pence told reporters that Trump hadnt yet decided whether to declare an emergency, but he also said that the Office of the White House Counsel was looking into the possible options available to the President. On Monday evening, the Washington Post reported that Trump increasingly views a national emergency declaration as a viable, if risky, way for him to build a portion of his long-promised barrier, according to senior administration officials." It seems increasingly likely, therefore, that Trump is going to use Tuesday nights Oval Office address either to invoke an emergency, which would immediately plunge him into another legal and constitutional battle, or to formalize his threat to act if the Democrats dont give in to his demands very quickly. Either way, he appears set to escalate the fight over the border wall in dramatic fashion, and Democrats are already getting prepared. We would certainly oppose any attempt by the President to make himself a king and a tyrant by saying that he can appropriate money without Congress, Jerry Nadler, the new chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said on Monday during a visit to a Customs and Border Protection Agency detention center in Alamogordo, New Mexico. That is perhaps the most dangerous thing he is talking about since he became President. On the other side of the political divide, the prospect of Trump making such a move drew mixed reactions. John Cornyn, a Republican senator from Texas, sounded a note of caution. Im confident he could declare a national emergency, Cornyn said on CNN. But what that may mean in terms of adding new elements to thiscourt hearings and litigation that may carry this on for weeks and months and yearsto me, injecting a new element in this just makes it more complicated. But some of Trumps supporters openly welcomed the prospect of him seizing emergency powers. What I like is that the President is not backing down, Fox News Sean Hannity said on his daily radio show. Hes looking for any alternative source of money, so we can get the job done. In a way, these latest developments arent entirely surprising. Ever since parts of the government began to shut down, three days before Christmas, people in Washington and elsewhere have been wondering how Trump would go about extricating himself from the political hole he has dug for himself. During his now famous Oval Office meeting with the Democratic leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, on December 11th, he said, Ill tell you what, I am proud to shut down the government for border security, Chuck. Once the shutdown began, it was always going to be a struggle for him to shift the blame to the Democrats. For the past couple of weeks, Schumer has been barely able to conceal a smile, and his language has gotten steadily tougher. On Monday, he again dismissed the possibility of giving in to Trumps financial demands, saying such a cave would create a disaster and encourage his worst instincts, which are bad enough now. Initially, the shutdown served Trumps purposes, because it sent a signal to his most ardent anti-immigrant supporters, whose backing he will desperately need during the months ahead. But government closures usually get more unpopular the longer they go on, and if this one extends beyond this weekend it will be the longest shutdown in the past fifty years. Despite Trumps public insistence that even many of the federal employees who have been furloughed or forced to work without pay are supporting him, he is surely aware where things are heading. In a private meeting with aides at Camp David on Sunday, Mr. Trump said he wanted them to come up with a resolution without him appearing to have capitulated to Democrats, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday. The story added that White House officials disputed that account and said the president didnt make such a statement." Whether he did or he didnt say such a thing, Trump clearly needs an exit strategy, and he may believe he has found one. On Twitter, Eric Columbus, a Washington lawyer with experience in the Obama Administration and with the Senate Judiciary Committee, pointed out that if Trump declares a national emergency, he might be able to obtain some money for his wall even as the matter is litigated, which would enable him to re-open the government while saving faceand if he later loses in court hell have a new scapegoat. As a description of Trumps strategizing, this sounded plausible. Well find out on Tuesday night if he goes through with it. | Donald Trump is considering declaring a national emergency at the southern border. The move would allow him to divert some Pentagon funds to the construction of a steel barrier. On Monday, he said he would deliver a televised address from the Oval Office on Tuesday, the first of his Presidency. Democrats are already getting prepared. | bart | 2 | https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/is-donald-trump-about-to-declare-a-national-emergency-at-the-border | 0.520815 |
How does Saints' home playoff record with Payton and Brees compare with rest of the league? | Before last season, Mark Ingram could only tell most teammates what it was like to have a home playoff game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He was one of five New Orleans Saints to have experienced one. This season, they all know. Thats like we got 13 people on the field, said running back Alvin Kamara, whose rookie 2017 season included a wild-card win against the Panthers inside the Dome. The Dome is that much of an advantage with the noise and the energy and the atmosphere that comes from just playing at home. I think we got a little bit of confidence when we play at home. The Saints came into the 2018 season wanting to replicate that feeling as much as possible. Doing so meant earning the No. 1 conference seed and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. They earned it by winning 13 of the first 15 games before resting Drew Brees and other key players in the Week 17 finale. To be home is what every team desires when it reaches the postseason. Of the 10 teams to play in the last five Super Bowls, nine of them entered the playoffs with the No. 1 conference seed. Clearly, being home for the post season matters. Its significant, Saints coach Sean Payton said. For the Saints, it has been an ingredient for postseason success. With Payton as coach and Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games. The franchise streak extends to six games when including the 2000 victory against the St. Louis Rams. On the road since 2006, the Saints are 1-5 in the postseason. Thats the poorest record of any team to have played at least four road postseason games during that span. Being at home also was part of what helped the Saints to the only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. That season marked the only other time the Saints held a No. 1 conference seed. That year, the Saints won a divisional game against the Cardinals and then beat the Vikings in overtime to win the NFC championship. The other two home playoff wins with Payton and Brees came in 2006 and 2011. After those wins, the Saints lost on the road, just as they did in stunning fashion last season against the Vikings in the divisional round. Knowing that youre going to have a chance to defend your own field in your environment, its been a big plus for us, Payton said. If you went all the way back even to 2006, our record at home has been significant. Since 2006, only three teams have more home playoff wins than the Saints, with the Patriots at 14-3, the Seahawks at 8-0 and the Colts at 6-2. In the NFC, only the Seahawks and Packers have hosted more playoff games than the Saints. The Packers are 4-3 in those games. During that span, home teams in the divisional round are 31-17 and the No. 1 seeds in that round are 15-9. In the NFC, the top seeds are 7-5 in the divisional round, with the Cowboys accounting for two of those loses and the Falcons, Packers and Giants accounting for one each. The Saints certainly want to avoid being added to that list. In all playoff games since 2006, the home teams have won nearly two-thirds of the time. After Thanksgiving, the Saints played a string of three consecutive road games with underwhelming offensive showings. Once back in the Dome against the Steelers, those offensive marks improved with 329 passing yards in a 31-28 victory. One big difference for the Saints at home and away this season is in the passing game. The Saints at home gain more than two yards per pass attempt at home and have twice as many passing touchdowns (22) as on the road (11). Next, the Saints will face an Eagles team they defeated 48-7 in Week 11. Although those Eagles have since turned around their season by winning six of the last seven games, including last weeks 16-15 victory against the Bears, the Saints should feel an edge being at home. I thought we got pretty loud (against the Steelers) and I know well be louder in the postseason, Payton said. Its what you work for at the beginning of the season. | The Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games with Sean Payton and Drew Brees. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/how-does-saints-playoff-record-with-payton-and-brees-compare-with-rest-of-the-league.html | 0.663735 |
How does Saints' home playoff record with Payton and Brees compare with rest of the league? | Before last season, Mark Ingram could only tell most teammates what it was like to have a home playoff game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He was one of five New Orleans Saints to have experienced one. This season, they all know. Thats like we got 13 people on the field, said running back Alvin Kamara, whose rookie 2017 season included a wild-card win against the Panthers inside the Dome. The Dome is that much of an advantage with the noise and the energy and the atmosphere that comes from just playing at home. I think we got a little bit of confidence when we play at home. The Saints came into the 2018 season wanting to replicate that feeling as much as possible. Doing so meant earning the No. 1 conference seed and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. They earned it by winning 13 of the first 15 games before resting Drew Brees and other key players in the Week 17 finale. To be home is what every team desires when it reaches the postseason. Of the 10 teams to play in the last five Super Bowls, nine of them entered the playoffs with the No. 1 conference seed. Clearly, being home for the post season matters. Its significant, Saints coach Sean Payton said. For the Saints, it has been an ingredient for postseason success. With Payton as coach and Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games. The franchise streak extends to six games when including the 2000 victory against the St. Louis Rams. On the road since 2006, the Saints are 1-5 in the postseason. Thats the poorest record of any team to have played at least four road postseason games during that span. Being at home also was part of what helped the Saints to the only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. That season marked the only other time the Saints held a No. 1 conference seed. That year, the Saints won a divisional game against the Cardinals and then beat the Vikings in overtime to win the NFC championship. The other two home playoff wins with Payton and Brees came in 2006 and 2011. After those wins, the Saints lost on the road, just as they did in stunning fashion last season against the Vikings in the divisional round. Knowing that youre going to have a chance to defend your own field in your environment, its been a big plus for us, Payton said. If you went all the way back even to 2006, our record at home has been significant. Since 2006, only three teams have more home playoff wins than the Saints, with the Patriots at 14-3, the Seahawks at 8-0 and the Colts at 6-2. In the NFC, only the Seahawks and Packers have hosted more playoff games than the Saints. The Packers are 4-3 in those games. During that span, home teams in the divisional round are 31-17 and the No. 1 seeds in that round are 15-9. In the NFC, the top seeds are 7-5 in the divisional round, with the Cowboys accounting for two of those loses and the Falcons, Packers and Giants accounting for one each. The Saints certainly want to avoid being added to that list. In all playoff games since 2006, the home teams have won nearly two-thirds of the time. After Thanksgiving, the Saints played a string of three consecutive road games with underwhelming offensive showings. Once back in the Dome against the Steelers, those offensive marks improved with 329 passing yards in a 31-28 victory. One big difference for the Saints at home and away this season is in the passing game. The Saints at home gain more than two yards per pass attempt at home and have twice as many passing touchdowns (22) as on the road (11). Next, the Saints will face an Eagles team they defeated 48-7 in Week 11. Although those Eagles have since turned around their season by winning six of the last seven games, including last weeks 16-15 victory against the Bears, the Saints should feel an edge being at home. I thought we got pretty loud (against the Steelers) and I know well be louder in the postseason, Payton said. Its what you work for at the beginning of the season. | The New Orleans Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games with Sean Payton and Drew Brees. The Saints are 1-5 on the road since 2006, the poorest record of any team to have played at least four road postseason games. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/how-does-saints-playoff-record-with-payton-and-brees-compare-with-rest-of-the-league.html | 0.741201 |
How does Saints' home playoff record with Payton and Brees compare with rest of the league? | Before last season, Mark Ingram could only tell most teammates what it was like to have a home playoff game in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. He was one of five New Orleans Saints to have experienced one. This season, they all know. Thats like we got 13 people on the field, said running back Alvin Kamara, whose rookie 2017 season included a wild-card win against the Panthers inside the Dome. The Dome is that much of an advantage with the noise and the energy and the atmosphere that comes from just playing at home. I think we got a little bit of confidence when we play at home. The Saints came into the 2018 season wanting to replicate that feeling as much as possible. Doing so meant earning the No. 1 conference seed and home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs. They earned it by winning 13 of the first 15 games before resting Drew Brees and other key players in the Week 17 finale. To be home is what every team desires when it reaches the postseason. Of the 10 teams to play in the last five Super Bowls, nine of them entered the playoffs with the No. 1 conference seed. Clearly, being home for the post season matters. Its significant, Saints coach Sean Payton said. For the Saints, it has been an ingredient for postseason success. With Payton as coach and Drew Brees at quarterback, the Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games. The franchise streak extends to six games when including the 2000 victory against the St. Louis Rams. On the road since 2006, the Saints are 1-5 in the postseason. Thats the poorest record of any team to have played at least four road postseason games during that span. Being at home also was part of what helped the Saints to the only Super Bowl appearance in franchise history. That season marked the only other time the Saints held a No. 1 conference seed. That year, the Saints won a divisional game against the Cardinals and then beat the Vikings in overtime to win the NFC championship. The other two home playoff wins with Payton and Brees came in 2006 and 2011. After those wins, the Saints lost on the road, just as they did in stunning fashion last season against the Vikings in the divisional round. Knowing that youre going to have a chance to defend your own field in your environment, its been a big plus for us, Payton said. If you went all the way back even to 2006, our record at home has been significant. Since 2006, only three teams have more home playoff wins than the Saints, with the Patriots at 14-3, the Seahawks at 8-0 and the Colts at 6-2. In the NFC, only the Seahawks and Packers have hosted more playoff games than the Saints. The Packers are 4-3 in those games. During that span, home teams in the divisional round are 31-17 and the No. 1 seeds in that round are 15-9. In the NFC, the top seeds are 7-5 in the divisional round, with the Cowboys accounting for two of those loses and the Falcons, Packers and Giants accounting for one each. The Saints certainly want to avoid being added to that list. In all playoff games since 2006, the home teams have won nearly two-thirds of the time. After Thanksgiving, the Saints played a string of three consecutive road games with underwhelming offensive showings. Once back in the Dome against the Steelers, those offensive marks improved with 329 passing yards in a 31-28 victory. One big difference for the Saints at home and away this season is in the passing game. The Saints at home gain more than two yards per pass attempt at home and have twice as many passing touchdowns (22) as on the road (11). Next, the Saints will face an Eagles team they defeated 48-7 in Week 11. Although those Eagles have since turned around their season by winning six of the last seven games, including last weeks 16-15 victory against the Bears, the Saints should feel an edge being at home. I thought we got pretty loud (against the Steelers) and I know well be louder in the postseason, Payton said. Its what you work for at the beginning of the season. | The New Orleans Saints are 5-0 in home playoff games with Sean Payton and Drew Brees. The Saints are 1-5 on the road since 2006, the poorest record of any team to have played at least four road postseason games during that span. The Patriots, Seahawks and Packers have hosted more playoff games than the Saints. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/01/how-does-saints-playoff-record-with-payton-and-brees-compare-with-rest-of-the-league.html | 0.789669 |
Will Magellan Midstream Partners Bounce Back in 2019? | Like many stocks, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) slumped in 2018. Overall, the midstream MLP's unit price declined 19.6% last year, though the company's high-yielding dividend did help cushion that blow a little bit by trimming the total return to a negative 14.9%. Driving that decline was a sell-off in the stock and oil markets amid fears of a slowing global economy. While last year was a tough one due to market volatility, 2019 could be a much better one for investors. Here's why Magellan Midstream Partners could bounce back sharply this year. A dollar bill folded into an arrow that goes down and back up higher More Image source: Getty Images. If it weren't for the steep decline in its unit price, last year would have been considered an excellent one for Magellan Midstream Partners. That's because while volatility in the stock and oil markets weighed on Magellan's valuation, it didn't have any impact on the company's financial results. Quite the contrary -- the company was on pace to generate $1.12 billion in distributable cash flow (DCF), up 9.7% from 2018 and ahead of its initial guidance of $1.05 billion. What makes that outperformance even more impressive is that Magellan achieved it while selling a stake in the BridgeTex Pipeline, which gave it funds to reinvest into its growing backlog of growth projects. That money will come in handy because Magellan added several new projects to its pipeline last year. One of those is a $500 million project to increase the capacity of its Texas refined petroleum products pipeline system from 100,000 barrels per day (BPD) up to 175,000 BPD, which should be in service and generating cash flow by mid-2020. In addition to that, the company is partnering with several energy companies to build a new long-haul oil pipeline out of the Permian Basin that should also start up by the middle of next year. With those projects, Magellan had about $2.5 billion of expansions under way at the end of last year. Meanwhile, the company's rising cash flow and visible growth from expansion projects enabled it to increase its high-yielding distribution to investors by 8% last year. That increase, when combined with Magellan's lower unit price following last year's sell-off, pushed its current yield up to an attractive 6.5%. What to expect from Magellan in 2019 Magellan Midstream Partners anticipates that it will continue growing because it's on track to complete several expansion projects this year, which, along with those finished in 2018, should provide a further boost to cash flow in 2019. One of the biggest is a joint venture with Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) to construct a new marine terminal in Pasadena, Texas, which should start operations this month. Valero and Magellan are investing about $820 million into the two-phase project, with the second phase scheduled to be in service by next January. In addition to that, Valero and Magellan are spending $425 million to build a new refined products pipeline in Texas, which should start up by mid-year. Finally, the company has a smaller $60 million storage and export dock expansion in Texas that should start up in late 2019. Because long-term, fee-based contracts underpin these expansions -- and more than 85% of the company's earnings overall -- they'll provide Magellan Midstream with a steady stream of cash flow when they come online over time. That leads the company to believe it can increase its distribution by another 5% to 8% this year even as it maintains a conservative coverage ratio of about 1.2 times cash flow. Meanwhile, it estimates that it has enough fuel in the tank to also increase its payout by that same rate in 2020. Adding further support to that view is that Magellan has one of the strongest balance sheets among MLPs, which gives it the financial flexibility to fund expansions even if market conditions continue deteriorating. | Last year was a tough one for Magellan Midstream Partners. But the company could bounce back sharply this year. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/magellan-midstream-partners-bounce-back-154800857.html | 0.291023 |
Will Magellan Midstream Partners Bounce Back in 2019? | Like many stocks, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) slumped in 2018. Overall, the midstream MLP's unit price declined 19.6% last year, though the company's high-yielding dividend did help cushion that blow a little bit by trimming the total return to a negative 14.9%. Driving that decline was a sell-off in the stock and oil markets amid fears of a slowing global economy. While last year was a tough one due to market volatility, 2019 could be a much better one for investors. Here's why Magellan Midstream Partners could bounce back sharply this year. A dollar bill folded into an arrow that goes down and back up higher More Image source: Getty Images. If it weren't for the steep decline in its unit price, last year would have been considered an excellent one for Magellan Midstream Partners. That's because while volatility in the stock and oil markets weighed on Magellan's valuation, it didn't have any impact on the company's financial results. Quite the contrary -- the company was on pace to generate $1.12 billion in distributable cash flow (DCF), up 9.7% from 2018 and ahead of its initial guidance of $1.05 billion. What makes that outperformance even more impressive is that Magellan achieved it while selling a stake in the BridgeTex Pipeline, which gave it funds to reinvest into its growing backlog of growth projects. That money will come in handy because Magellan added several new projects to its pipeline last year. One of those is a $500 million project to increase the capacity of its Texas refined petroleum products pipeline system from 100,000 barrels per day (BPD) up to 175,000 BPD, which should be in service and generating cash flow by mid-2020. In addition to that, the company is partnering with several energy companies to build a new long-haul oil pipeline out of the Permian Basin that should also start up by the middle of next year. With those projects, Magellan had about $2.5 billion of expansions under way at the end of last year. Meanwhile, the company's rising cash flow and visible growth from expansion projects enabled it to increase its high-yielding distribution to investors by 8% last year. That increase, when combined with Magellan's lower unit price following last year's sell-off, pushed its current yield up to an attractive 6.5%. What to expect from Magellan in 2019 Magellan Midstream Partners anticipates that it will continue growing because it's on track to complete several expansion projects this year, which, along with those finished in 2018, should provide a further boost to cash flow in 2019. One of the biggest is a joint venture with Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) to construct a new marine terminal in Pasadena, Texas, which should start operations this month. Valero and Magellan are investing about $820 million into the two-phase project, with the second phase scheduled to be in service by next January. In addition to that, Valero and Magellan are spending $425 million to build a new refined products pipeline in Texas, which should start up by mid-year. Finally, the company has a smaller $60 million storage and export dock expansion in Texas that should start up in late 2019. Because long-term, fee-based contracts underpin these expansions -- and more than 85% of the company's earnings overall -- they'll provide Magellan Midstream with a steady stream of cash flow when they come online over time. That leads the company to believe it can increase its distribution by another 5% to 8% this year even as it maintains a conservative coverage ratio of about 1.2 times cash flow. Meanwhile, it estimates that it has enough fuel in the tank to also increase its payout by that same rate in 2020. Adding further support to that view is that Magellan has one of the strongest balance sheets among MLPs, which gives it the financial flexibility to fund expansions even if market conditions continue deteriorating. | Last year was a tough one for Magellan Midstream Partners. But the company could bounce back sharply this year. It's on track to complete several expansion projects this year. | pegasus | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/magellan-midstream-partners-bounce-back-154800857.html | 0.314761 |
Will Magellan Midstream Partners Bounce Back in 2019? | Like many stocks, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) slumped in 2018. Overall, the midstream MLP's unit price declined 19.6% last year, though the company's high-yielding dividend did help cushion that blow a little bit by trimming the total return to a negative 14.9%. Driving that decline was a sell-off in the stock and oil markets amid fears of a slowing global economy. While last year was a tough one due to market volatility, 2019 could be a much better one for investors. Here's why Magellan Midstream Partners could bounce back sharply this year. A dollar bill folded into an arrow that goes down and back up higher More Image source: Getty Images. If it weren't for the steep decline in its unit price, last year would have been considered an excellent one for Magellan Midstream Partners. That's because while volatility in the stock and oil markets weighed on Magellan's valuation, it didn't have any impact on the company's financial results. Quite the contrary -- the company was on pace to generate $1.12 billion in distributable cash flow (DCF), up 9.7% from 2018 and ahead of its initial guidance of $1.05 billion. What makes that outperformance even more impressive is that Magellan achieved it while selling a stake in the BridgeTex Pipeline, which gave it funds to reinvest into its growing backlog of growth projects. That money will come in handy because Magellan added several new projects to its pipeline last year. One of those is a $500 million project to increase the capacity of its Texas refined petroleum products pipeline system from 100,000 barrels per day (BPD) up to 175,000 BPD, which should be in service and generating cash flow by mid-2020. In addition to that, the company is partnering with several energy companies to build a new long-haul oil pipeline out of the Permian Basin that should also start up by the middle of next year. With those projects, Magellan had about $2.5 billion of expansions under way at the end of last year. Meanwhile, the company's rising cash flow and visible growth from expansion projects enabled it to increase its high-yielding distribution to investors by 8% last year. That increase, when combined with Magellan's lower unit price following last year's sell-off, pushed its current yield up to an attractive 6.5%. What to expect from Magellan in 2019 Magellan Midstream Partners anticipates that it will continue growing because it's on track to complete several expansion projects this year, which, along with those finished in 2018, should provide a further boost to cash flow in 2019. One of the biggest is a joint venture with Valero Energy (NYSE: VLO) to construct a new marine terminal in Pasadena, Texas, which should start operations this month. Valero and Magellan are investing about $820 million into the two-phase project, with the second phase scheduled to be in service by next January. In addition to that, Valero and Magellan are spending $425 million to build a new refined products pipeline in Texas, which should start up by mid-year. Finally, the company has a smaller $60 million storage and export dock expansion in Texas that should start up in late 2019. Because long-term, fee-based contracts underpin these expansions -- and more than 85% of the company's earnings overall -- they'll provide Magellan Midstream with a steady stream of cash flow when they come online over time. That leads the company to believe it can increase its distribution by another 5% to 8% this year even as it maintains a conservative coverage ratio of about 1.2 times cash flow. Meanwhile, it estimates that it has enough fuel in the tank to also increase its payout by that same rate in 2020. Adding further support to that view is that Magellan has one of the strongest balance sheets among MLPs, which gives it the financial flexibility to fund expansions even if market conditions continue deteriorating. | Last year was a tough one for Magellan Midstream Partners. But the company could bounce back sharply this year. It's on track to complete several expansion projects this year. Along with those finished in 2018, it should provide a further boost to cash flow in 2019. | pegasus | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/magellan-midstream-partners-bounce-back-154800857.html | 0.568871 |
What Makes Yoo Ah In A Star To Take Note Of? | When Yoo Ah In appeared on the New York Times Best Actors of 2018 list, some of the papers readers may have wondered who he was or why the South Korean actor was listed alongside familiar celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Glenn Close. His inclusion on that list is due to his performance in the film Burning, which is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards and likely to introduce the actor to an even wider American audience. That performance managed not only to impress New York Times film critics, but landed Yoo in eighth place in Esquire Magazines 13 Great Movie Performances of 2018 and has already contributed to his film earning best foreign language honors at the LA Film Critics and Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Burning is based on a Haruki Murakami short story, Barn Burning, and directed by award-winning screenwriter and director Lee Chang Dong. Yoo plays Jong Soo, a poor loner who wants to be a writer rather than work his fathers farm. He is seduced by Hae Mi, a girl who claims to know him, played by Jeon Hong Seo. She eventually introduces him to Ben, a mysterious young man, whose wealth gives him the kind of power Jong Soo can never hope to achieve. Jong Soo is fascinated by Ben, played by Steven Yeun, but then ultimately, without concrete evidence, concludes hes a killer. There is some arson in Burning but what really burns white hot is Jong Soos frustration and jealousy, hidden deftly beneath a seemingly passive exterior. Yoo lets viewers see Jong Soo as awkward, adrift, powerless, with only whispered hints of the resentment and fury that eventually emboldens him. The actor is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. Only 27, he recently received his third nomination for Koreas annual Blue Dragon Film Awards, thanks to his appearance in Burning. He won Best Actor in 2015 for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado in the historical tragedy Sado, also known as The Throne. Hes also the first actor to have two movies, Veteran and The Throne, make the Blue Dragon Film Awards' final nominations in one year. The cop caper Veteran, one of the highest grossing films in Korean cinema history, gave Yoo his first chance to play a hardcore villain. His character, Jo Tae Oh, is an entitled heir rampaging through life with no compunctions. Unlike Jong Soo, his position allows his rage to explode without consequences. Cartoonishly cruel, Jo is hardly a person to emulate, and yet Yoo played him with so much charisma that the character attracted his own fans. Yoo is also known for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado (1735 to 1762) in The Throne, based on the true story of a crown prince that history has judged insane and dangerous, but who may have been maligned by a palace conspiracy. Ultimately the princes own father ordered him sealed in a box until he died. Yoo won praise for capturing the terror of a kind-hearted prince driven to the edge of insanity. Fifteen years have passed since the actor first appeared in a television drama, Sharp 1. In the interim hes had roles in more than a dozen films but also a dozen multi-episode television dramas, most recently the nostalgic Chicago Typewriter. He earned praise for his role in the 2014 melodrama Secret Love Affair. His character was a poor piano prodigy in love with his married teacher and the world of music she symbolized. From awkward loner to cartoon villain, to prince and prodigy, Yoos roles have been unusually diverse for so young an actor. While Burning waits for its chance at the 91st Academy Awards, Yoo can already be seen playing a very different role in a new film, Sovereign Default, also known as Default. In the financial thriller, which also stars Kim Hye Soo, he plays a financier during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, just before South Korea agreed to a rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. Betting on the crisis, while his country hovers on the brink of bankruptcy, Yoos financier character is a driven and complicated predator. The film premiered on Nov. 28 and within 24 hours hit first place in Koreas advance booking sites. In Default, Yoos character talks about moments that change your life forever. Taking the role in Burning, which introduced him to a wider American audience, may prove to be one of those moments. | Yoo Ah In is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2019/01/08/what-makes-yoo-ah-in-a-star-to-take-note-of/ | 0.187499 |
What Makes Yoo Ah In A Star To Take Note Of? | When Yoo Ah In appeared on the New York Times Best Actors of 2018 list, some of the papers readers may have wondered who he was or why the South Korean actor was listed alongside familiar celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Glenn Close. His inclusion on that list is due to his performance in the film Burning, which is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards and likely to introduce the actor to an even wider American audience. That performance managed not only to impress New York Times film critics, but landed Yoo in eighth place in Esquire Magazines 13 Great Movie Performances of 2018 and has already contributed to his film earning best foreign language honors at the LA Film Critics and Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Burning is based on a Haruki Murakami short story, Barn Burning, and directed by award-winning screenwriter and director Lee Chang Dong. Yoo plays Jong Soo, a poor loner who wants to be a writer rather than work his fathers farm. He is seduced by Hae Mi, a girl who claims to know him, played by Jeon Hong Seo. She eventually introduces him to Ben, a mysterious young man, whose wealth gives him the kind of power Jong Soo can never hope to achieve. Jong Soo is fascinated by Ben, played by Steven Yeun, but then ultimately, without concrete evidence, concludes hes a killer. There is some arson in Burning but what really burns white hot is Jong Soos frustration and jealousy, hidden deftly beneath a seemingly passive exterior. Yoo lets viewers see Jong Soo as awkward, adrift, powerless, with only whispered hints of the resentment and fury that eventually emboldens him. The actor is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. Only 27, he recently received his third nomination for Koreas annual Blue Dragon Film Awards, thanks to his appearance in Burning. He won Best Actor in 2015 for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado in the historical tragedy Sado, also known as The Throne. Hes also the first actor to have two movies, Veteran and The Throne, make the Blue Dragon Film Awards' final nominations in one year. The cop caper Veteran, one of the highest grossing films in Korean cinema history, gave Yoo his first chance to play a hardcore villain. His character, Jo Tae Oh, is an entitled heir rampaging through life with no compunctions. Unlike Jong Soo, his position allows his rage to explode without consequences. Cartoonishly cruel, Jo is hardly a person to emulate, and yet Yoo played him with so much charisma that the character attracted his own fans. Yoo is also known for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado (1735 to 1762) in The Throne, based on the true story of a crown prince that history has judged insane and dangerous, but who may have been maligned by a palace conspiracy. Ultimately the princes own father ordered him sealed in a box until he died. Yoo won praise for capturing the terror of a kind-hearted prince driven to the edge of insanity. Fifteen years have passed since the actor first appeared in a television drama, Sharp 1. In the interim hes had roles in more than a dozen films but also a dozen multi-episode television dramas, most recently the nostalgic Chicago Typewriter. He earned praise for his role in the 2014 melodrama Secret Love Affair. His character was a poor piano prodigy in love with his married teacher and the world of music she symbolized. From awkward loner to cartoon villain, to prince and prodigy, Yoos roles have been unusually diverse for so young an actor. While Burning waits for its chance at the 91st Academy Awards, Yoo can already be seen playing a very different role in a new film, Sovereign Default, also known as Default. In the financial thriller, which also stars Kim Hye Soo, he plays a financier during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, just before South Korea agreed to a rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. Betting on the crisis, while his country hovers on the brink of bankruptcy, Yoos financier character is a driven and complicated predator. The film premiered on Nov. 28 and within 24 hours hit first place in Koreas advance booking sites. In Default, Yoos character talks about moments that change your life forever. Taking the role in Burning, which introduced him to a wider American audience, may prove to be one of those moments. | Yoo Ah In was named one of the New York Times Best Actors of 2018. His performance in the film "Burning" is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film. Yoo is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2019/01/08/what-makes-yoo-ah-in-a-star-to-take-note-of/ | 0.257593 |
What Makes Yoo Ah In A Star To Take Note Of? | When Yoo Ah In appeared on the New York Times Best Actors of 2018 list, some of the papers readers may have wondered who he was or why the South Korean actor was listed alongside familiar celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke and Glenn Close. His inclusion on that list is due to his performance in the film Burning, which is nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 91st Academy Awards and likely to introduce the actor to an even wider American audience. That performance managed not only to impress New York Times film critics, but landed Yoo in eighth place in Esquire Magazines 13 Great Movie Performances of 2018 and has already contributed to his film earning best foreign language honors at the LA Film Critics and Toronto Film Critics Association Awards. Burning is based on a Haruki Murakami short story, Barn Burning, and directed by award-winning screenwriter and director Lee Chang Dong. Yoo plays Jong Soo, a poor loner who wants to be a writer rather than work his fathers farm. He is seduced by Hae Mi, a girl who claims to know him, played by Jeon Hong Seo. She eventually introduces him to Ben, a mysterious young man, whose wealth gives him the kind of power Jong Soo can never hope to achieve. Jong Soo is fascinated by Ben, played by Steven Yeun, but then ultimately, without concrete evidence, concludes hes a killer. There is some arson in Burning but what really burns white hot is Jong Soos frustration and jealousy, hidden deftly beneath a seemingly passive exterior. Yoo lets viewers see Jong Soo as awkward, adrift, powerless, with only whispered hints of the resentment and fury that eventually emboldens him. The actor is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. Only 27, he recently received his third nomination for Koreas annual Blue Dragon Film Awards, thanks to his appearance in Burning. He won Best Actor in 2015 for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado in the historical tragedy Sado, also known as The Throne. Hes also the first actor to have two movies, Veteran and The Throne, make the Blue Dragon Film Awards' final nominations in one year. The cop caper Veteran, one of the highest grossing films in Korean cinema history, gave Yoo his first chance to play a hardcore villain. His character, Jo Tae Oh, is an entitled heir rampaging through life with no compunctions. Unlike Jong Soo, his position allows his rage to explode without consequences. Cartoonishly cruel, Jo is hardly a person to emulate, and yet Yoo played him with so much charisma that the character attracted his own fans. Yoo is also known for playing the doomed Crown Prince Sado (1735 to 1762) in The Throne, based on the true story of a crown prince that history has judged insane and dangerous, but who may have been maligned by a palace conspiracy. Ultimately the princes own father ordered him sealed in a box until he died. Yoo won praise for capturing the terror of a kind-hearted prince driven to the edge of insanity. Fifteen years have passed since the actor first appeared in a television drama, Sharp 1. In the interim hes had roles in more than a dozen films but also a dozen multi-episode television dramas, most recently the nostalgic Chicago Typewriter. He earned praise for his role in the 2014 melodrama Secret Love Affair. His character was a poor piano prodigy in love with his married teacher and the world of music she symbolized. From awkward loner to cartoon villain, to prince and prodigy, Yoos roles have been unusually diverse for so young an actor. While Burning waits for its chance at the 91st Academy Awards, Yoo can already be seen playing a very different role in a new film, Sovereign Default, also known as Default. In the financial thriller, which also stars Kim Hye Soo, he plays a financier during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, just before South Korea agreed to a rescue package from the International Monetary Fund. Betting on the crisis, while his country hovers on the brink of bankruptcy, Yoos financier character is a driven and complicated predator. The film premiered on Nov. 28 and within 24 hours hit first place in Koreas advance booking sites. In Default, Yoos character talks about moments that change your life forever. Taking the role in Burning, which introduced him to a wider American audience, may prove to be one of those moments. | Yoo Ah In is well known in Korea for his film and drama work. Only 27, he recently received his third nomination for Koreas annual Blue Dragon Film Awards. Yoo is also the first actor to have two movies, "Veteran" and "The Throne," make the Blue Dragon Film Awards' final nominations in one year. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2019/01/08/what-makes-yoo-ah-in-a-star-to-take-note-of/ | 0.272519 |
What are Trump's national emergency powers, and can he use them to build a wall? | As the budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats grinds into the third week of a partial government shutdown, the White House has floated the idea that Trump might invoke emergency powers to build his proposed wall on the Mexican border without lawmakers approval. That route could resolve the immediate crisis by giving Trump a face-saving way to sign spending bills that do not include funding for his wall. But it would be an extraordinarily aggressive move at a minimum, a violation of constitutional norms that would most likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. Here is a primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to proceed with the project without explicit congressional permission. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers by essentially creating exceptions to rules that normally constrain him. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. Although presidents have sometimes claimed that the Constitution gives them inherent powers to act beyond ordinary legal limits in an exigency, those claims tend to fare poorly when challenged in court. But presidents are on firmer legal ground when they invoke statutes in which Congress delegated authorities to the executive branch that can be generated in emergencies. In a recent study, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law identified 123 provisions of law granting presidents a range of such powers. The National Emergencies Act, enacted during the post-Watergate reform era, regulates how presidents may invoke such powers. It requires them to formally declare a national emergency and tell Congress which statutes are being activated. Maybe. The Trump administration could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a border wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations from Congress, according to Elizabeth Goitein, who oversaw the Brennan Centers study and is a co-director of its Liberty and National Security Program. One of the laws permits the secretary of the Army to halt Army civil works projects during a presidentially declared emergency and instead direct troops and other resources to help construct authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense. Another law permits the secretary of defense, in an emergency, to begin military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces, using funds that Congress had appropriated for military construction purposes that have not yet been earmarked for specific projects. In light of those statutes and similar ones that give presidents flexibility to redirect funds in a crisis, the Trump administration could point to serious arguments to back up Trump if he invokes emergency powers to build a wall, said William C. Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who helped write a 1994 book about tensions between the executive and legislative branches over security and spending, National Security Law and the Power of the Purse. The fundamental principle is that no president or official may spend funds that were not appropriated for that purpose, he said. No. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. While Goitein agreed that there is a nonfrivolous legal case to be made that emergency-powers laws might empower Trump to spend military funds on a wall, she also pointed to counterarguments any lawsuit would have to contend with. For example, she noted, under one of the laws Trump might try to invoke, the military may redirect funds to build only projects that Congress has separately authorized. Lawmakers have not approved a military wall spanning the border. Still, the administration might argue that Congress has effectively preapproved a wall-like barrier under other laws, including one that authorizes the military to construct border fences blocking drug-smuggling corridors, and another, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, that empowers the Department of Homeland Security to build physical infrastructure enhancements along the border. The government could skip the requirement to identify pre-existing authorization for a wall if it invoked a different emergency-powers law for the funds, but that route would raise other problems, Goitein said. Among them, the government would need to show that a wall meets the legal definition of military construction even though it is not clearly tied to a military facility or installation, and that the southern border situation represents the kind of emergency that requires the use of the armed forces. Probably not. If Trump declares that the situation along the southern border suddenly constitutes an emergency that justifies building a wall without explicit congressional sanction, he will run up against a reality: that the facts on the ground have not drastically shifted. The number of people crossing the border unlawfully is far down from its peak of nearly two decades ago. The recent caravans from Central America primarily consist of migrants who are not trying to sneak across the border, but instead are presenting themselves to border officials and requesting asylum. And while Trump and his aides keep claiming that terrorists are sneaking in across the border, including assertions that they are doing so by the thousands, as a matter of empirical reality, there has been no such instance in the modern era. Still, as a matter of legal procedure, facts may be irrelevant. Before a court could decide that Trump had cynically declared an emergency under false pretenses, the court would first have to decide that the law permits judges to substitute their own thinking for the presidents in such a matter. The Justice Department would surely argue that courts should instead defer to the presidents determination. If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble, Goitein said. I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. In part by accident. When passing many emergency-powers laws, Congress attached a procedure that would let lawmakers override any particular invocation of that authority. The National Emergencies Act, for example, permitted Congress to rescind an emergency if both the House and the Senate voted for a resolution rejecting the presidents determination that one existed. But in 1983, the Supreme Court struck down such legislative vetoes. The justices ruled that for a congressional act to have legal effect, it must be presented to the president for signature or veto. Because it takes two-thirds of both chambers to override a veto, the ruling significantly eroded the check and balance against abuse that lawmakers had intended to be part of their delegation of standby emergency powers to presidents. | The president has the authority to declare a national emergency. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. | pegasus | 0 | http://www.startribune.com/what-are-trump-s-national-emergency-powers-and-can-he-use-them-to-build-a-wall/504050172/ | 0.127471 |
What are Trump's national emergency powers, and can he use them to build a wall? | As the budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats grinds into the third week of a partial government shutdown, the White House has floated the idea that Trump might invoke emergency powers to build his proposed wall on the Mexican border without lawmakers approval. That route could resolve the immediate crisis by giving Trump a face-saving way to sign spending bills that do not include funding for his wall. But it would be an extraordinarily aggressive move at a minimum, a violation of constitutional norms that would most likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. Here is a primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to proceed with the project without explicit congressional permission. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers by essentially creating exceptions to rules that normally constrain him. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. Although presidents have sometimes claimed that the Constitution gives them inherent powers to act beyond ordinary legal limits in an exigency, those claims tend to fare poorly when challenged in court. But presidents are on firmer legal ground when they invoke statutes in which Congress delegated authorities to the executive branch that can be generated in emergencies. In a recent study, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law identified 123 provisions of law granting presidents a range of such powers. The National Emergencies Act, enacted during the post-Watergate reform era, regulates how presidents may invoke such powers. It requires them to formally declare a national emergency and tell Congress which statutes are being activated. Maybe. The Trump administration could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a border wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations from Congress, according to Elizabeth Goitein, who oversaw the Brennan Centers study and is a co-director of its Liberty and National Security Program. One of the laws permits the secretary of the Army to halt Army civil works projects during a presidentially declared emergency and instead direct troops and other resources to help construct authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense. Another law permits the secretary of defense, in an emergency, to begin military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces, using funds that Congress had appropriated for military construction purposes that have not yet been earmarked for specific projects. In light of those statutes and similar ones that give presidents flexibility to redirect funds in a crisis, the Trump administration could point to serious arguments to back up Trump if he invokes emergency powers to build a wall, said William C. Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who helped write a 1994 book about tensions between the executive and legislative branches over security and spending, National Security Law and the Power of the Purse. The fundamental principle is that no president or official may spend funds that were not appropriated for that purpose, he said. No. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. While Goitein agreed that there is a nonfrivolous legal case to be made that emergency-powers laws might empower Trump to spend military funds on a wall, she also pointed to counterarguments any lawsuit would have to contend with. For example, she noted, under one of the laws Trump might try to invoke, the military may redirect funds to build only projects that Congress has separately authorized. Lawmakers have not approved a military wall spanning the border. Still, the administration might argue that Congress has effectively preapproved a wall-like barrier under other laws, including one that authorizes the military to construct border fences blocking drug-smuggling corridors, and another, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, that empowers the Department of Homeland Security to build physical infrastructure enhancements along the border. The government could skip the requirement to identify pre-existing authorization for a wall if it invoked a different emergency-powers law for the funds, but that route would raise other problems, Goitein said. Among them, the government would need to show that a wall meets the legal definition of military construction even though it is not clearly tied to a military facility or installation, and that the southern border situation represents the kind of emergency that requires the use of the armed forces. Probably not. If Trump declares that the situation along the southern border suddenly constitutes an emergency that justifies building a wall without explicit congressional sanction, he will run up against a reality: that the facts on the ground have not drastically shifted. The number of people crossing the border unlawfully is far down from its peak of nearly two decades ago. The recent caravans from Central America primarily consist of migrants who are not trying to sneak across the border, but instead are presenting themselves to border officials and requesting asylum. And while Trump and his aides keep claiming that terrorists are sneaking in across the border, including assertions that they are doing so by the thousands, as a matter of empirical reality, there has been no such instance in the modern era. Still, as a matter of legal procedure, facts may be irrelevant. Before a court could decide that Trump had cynically declared an emergency under false pretenses, the court would first have to decide that the law permits judges to substitute their own thinking for the presidents in such a matter. The Justice Department would surely argue that courts should instead defer to the presidents determination. If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble, Goitein said. I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. In part by accident. When passing many emergency-powers laws, Congress attached a procedure that would let lawmakers override any particular invocation of that authority. The National Emergencies Act, for example, permitted Congress to rescind an emergency if both the House and the Senate voted for a resolution rejecting the presidents determination that one existed. But in 1983, the Supreme Court struck down such legislative vetoes. The justices ruled that for a congressional act to have legal effect, it must be presented to the president for signature or veto. Because it takes two-thirds of both chambers to override a veto, the ruling significantly eroded the check and balance against abuse that lawmakers had intended to be part of their delegation of standby emergency powers to presidents. | A primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to build a border wall. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers. | ctrlsum | 1 | http://www.startribune.com/what-are-trump-s-national-emergency-powers-and-can-he-use-them-to-build-a-wall/504050172/ | 0.251058 |
What are Trump's national emergency powers, and can he use them to build a wall? | As the budget standoff between President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats grinds into the third week of a partial government shutdown, the White House has floated the idea that Trump might invoke emergency powers to build his proposed wall on the Mexican border without lawmakers approval. That route could resolve the immediate crisis by giving Trump a face-saving way to sign spending bills that do not include funding for his wall. But it would be an extraordinarily aggressive move at a minimum, a violation of constitutional norms that would most likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. Here is a primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to proceed with the project without explicit congressional permission. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers by essentially creating exceptions to rules that normally constrain him. The idea is to enable the government to respond quickly to a crisis. Although presidents have sometimes claimed that the Constitution gives them inherent powers to act beyond ordinary legal limits in an exigency, those claims tend to fare poorly when challenged in court. But presidents are on firmer legal ground when they invoke statutes in which Congress delegated authorities to the executive branch that can be generated in emergencies. In a recent study, the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law identified 123 provisions of law granting presidents a range of such powers. The National Emergencies Act, enacted during the post-Watergate reform era, regulates how presidents may invoke such powers. It requires them to formally declare a national emergency and tell Congress which statutes are being activated. Maybe. The Trump administration could point to two laws and say they allow officials to proceed with building a border wall without first obtaining explicit authorization and appropriations from Congress, according to Elizabeth Goitein, who oversaw the Brennan Centers study and is a co-director of its Liberty and National Security Program. One of the laws permits the secretary of the Army to halt Army civil works projects during a presidentially declared emergency and instead direct troops and other resources to help construct authorized civil works, military construction and civil defense projects that are essential to the national defense. Another law permits the secretary of defense, in an emergency, to begin military construction projects not otherwise authorized by law that are necessary to support such use of the armed forces, using funds that Congress had appropriated for military construction purposes that have not yet been earmarked for specific projects. In light of those statutes and similar ones that give presidents flexibility to redirect funds in a crisis, the Trump administration could point to serious arguments to back up Trump if he invokes emergency powers to build a wall, said William C. Banks, a Syracuse University law professor who helped write a 1994 book about tensions between the executive and legislative branches over security and spending, National Security Law and the Power of the Purse. The fundamental principle is that no president or official may spend funds that were not appropriated for that purpose, he said. No. If he invokes emergency powers to build a border wall, Trump is almost certain to invite a court battle. While Goitein agreed that there is a nonfrivolous legal case to be made that emergency-powers laws might empower Trump to spend military funds on a wall, she also pointed to counterarguments any lawsuit would have to contend with. For example, she noted, under one of the laws Trump might try to invoke, the military may redirect funds to build only projects that Congress has separately authorized. Lawmakers have not approved a military wall spanning the border. Still, the administration might argue that Congress has effectively preapproved a wall-like barrier under other laws, including one that authorizes the military to construct border fences blocking drug-smuggling corridors, and another, the Secure Fence Act of 2006, that empowers the Department of Homeland Security to build physical infrastructure enhancements along the border. The government could skip the requirement to identify pre-existing authorization for a wall if it invoked a different emergency-powers law for the funds, but that route would raise other problems, Goitein said. Among them, the government would need to show that a wall meets the legal definition of military construction even though it is not clearly tied to a military facility or installation, and that the southern border situation represents the kind of emergency that requires the use of the armed forces. Probably not. If Trump declares that the situation along the southern border suddenly constitutes an emergency that justifies building a wall without explicit congressional sanction, he will run up against a reality: that the facts on the ground have not drastically shifted. The number of people crossing the border unlawfully is far down from its peak of nearly two decades ago. The recent caravans from Central America primarily consist of migrants who are not trying to sneak across the border, but instead are presenting themselves to border officials and requesting asylum. And while Trump and his aides keep claiming that terrorists are sneaking in across the border, including assertions that they are doing so by the thousands, as a matter of empirical reality, there has been no such instance in the modern era. Still, as a matter of legal procedure, facts may be irrelevant. Before a court could decide that Trump had cynically declared an emergency under false pretenses, the court would first have to decide that the law permits judges to substitute their own thinking for the presidents in such a matter. The Justice Department would surely argue that courts should instead defer to the presidents determination. If any court would actually let itself review whether this is a national emergency, he would be in big trouble, Goitein said. I think it would be an abuse of power to declare an emergency where none exists. In part by accident. When passing many emergency-powers laws, Congress attached a procedure that would let lawmakers override any particular invocation of that authority. The National Emergencies Act, for example, permitted Congress to rescind an emergency if both the House and the Senate voted for a resolution rejecting the presidents determination that one existed. But in 1983, the Supreme Court struck down such legislative vetoes. The justices ruled that for a congressional act to have legal effect, it must be presented to the president for signature or veto. Because it takes two-thirds of both chambers to override a veto, the ruling significantly eroded the check and balance against abuse that lawmakers had intended to be part of their delegation of standby emergency powers to presidents. | A primer on whether Trump can use emergency powers to build a border wall. The president has the authority to declare a national emergency, which activates enhancements to his executive powers. The move would be an extraordinarily aggressive move and likely thrust the walls fate into the courts. | ctrlsum | 2 | http://www.startribune.com/what-are-trump-s-national-emergency-powers-and-can-he-use-them-to-build-a-wall/504050172/ | 0.367676 |
Did ABC pick the wrong guy to be 'The Bachelor'? | "The Bachelor" is back on ABC, and fans are excited for the series to return but are confused about bachelor Colton Underwood. He was featured on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette" and also appeared on the spin-off "Bachelor in Paradise." After Kufrin's season came to an end, the Bachelor Nation deliberated on Twitter about who should snag "The Bachelor" spot, and it wasn't Underwood. PERSPECTIVES Check out the trailer here. #BachelorNation will still tune in for the series, but they are disappointed about Colton Underwood. Yes. Absolutely. -- Katie Schaffstall (@kschaffstall13) January 6, 2019 Low key not that excited for the new season of the Bachelor. Like they coulda picked someone way better than Colton -- Tal (@Tali_Hull) January 7, 2019 Underwood is getting a lot of hate, but at the same time, he is getting a lot of love! can't wait to watch an entire season of the bachelor with @colton!!!!!![?] [?] -- tallo (@CourtneyTallo) January 7, 2019 the bachelor returns tonight!!! colton the VIRGIN!!! relatable content!!! cant wait to tune in!!!!! -- Jules (@family__jules) January 7, 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. | "The Bachelor" is back on ABC. Fans are disappointed Colton Underwood wasn't picked. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/did_abc_pick_the_wrong_guy_to_1.html | 0.10927 |
Did ABC pick the wrong guy to be 'The Bachelor'? | "The Bachelor" is back on ABC, and fans are excited for the series to return but are confused about bachelor Colton Underwood. He was featured on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette" and also appeared on the spin-off "Bachelor in Paradise." After Kufrin's season came to an end, the Bachelor Nation deliberated on Twitter about who should snag "The Bachelor" spot, and it wasn't Underwood. PERSPECTIVES Check out the trailer here. #BachelorNation will still tune in for the series, but they are disappointed about Colton Underwood. Yes. Absolutely. -- Katie Schaffstall (@kschaffstall13) January 6, 2019 Low key not that excited for the new season of the Bachelor. Like they coulda picked someone way better than Colton -- Tal (@Tali_Hull) January 7, 2019 Underwood is getting a lot of hate, but at the same time, he is getting a lot of love! can't wait to watch an entire season of the bachelor with @colton!!!!!![?] [?] -- tallo (@CourtneyTallo) January 7, 2019 the bachelor returns tonight!!! colton the VIRGIN!!! relatable content!!! cant wait to tune in!!!!! -- Jules (@family__jules) January 7, 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. | "The Bachelor" is back on ABC. Fans are disappointed Colton Underwood didn't snag the spot. He was featured on Becca Kufrin's season of "The Bachelorette" The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/01/did_abc_pick_the_wrong_guy_to_1.html | 0.129975 |
Is having five children really a middle-class status symbol? | The birth of singer Sophie Ellis-Bextors fifth child has prompted media attention on a trend for larger families among famous parents. At this rate, the world may be populated exclusively by the offspring of celebrities Name: The five kids club. Age: Varied. Appearance: Mixed-ability indoor football side. No, its a club. It doesnt have a central location as such. I see. OK, its not an actual club its more of a snide Daily Mail designation. For celebrities who have five children. If the headline Ellis-Bextor joins the 5 kids club makes it a thing, then yes, its a thing. Thats right: the pop star has just given birth to her fifth boy, Mickey, prompting the paper to proclaim that a large brood seems to be the latest middle-class status symbol. I could just about afford coconut oil. If you have to be able to afford it, you cant ask. About 150,000 a child according to some estimates, although there will obviously be economies of scale. Paul McCartney was a member before the club had a name. Jamie and Jools Oliver will only be members for a few months more, as they are expecting their sixth child. However, Gordon and Tana Ramsay will keep the numbers up: they have announced they have a fifth child on the way. With six children apiece, theyre both disqualified. Its a very personal choice; most parents just stop when they realise they have got one too many. Obviously, it would be tricky if everybody decided to have five children, but the overall birthrate in the UK is much lower. I know, its 2.4 children. Its lower than that these days: women who turned 45 in 2016 had, on average, 1.9 children. At this rate, well soon be an island populated exclusively by the offspring of celebrities. Some days, it can feel like that already. Do say: I would never belong to a club that would allow my children to be members. Dont say: I dont have any kids myself, but I used to be in S Club Juniors. Can I still use the pool? | Sophie Ellis-Bextor's fifth child has prompted media attention on larger families among famous parents. But is having five children really a middle-class status symbol? It's not an actual club - it's more of a snide Daily Mail designation. But if you have to be able to afford it, you can't ask. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/shortcuts/2019/jan/08/five-kids-club-status-symbol-celebrity-sophie-ellis-bextor | 0.283171 |
Whats going on with Deltas Comfort Plus? | Carrier reverses course on extra-legroom seats Delta's new Airbus A350s will eventually be refitted with Comfort+ seating. Delta's new Airbus A350s will eventually be refitted with Comfort+ seating. 1 / 17 Back to Gallery TravelSkills on SFGate is brought to you by Visa . Delta's more-legroom Comfort Plus (Comfort+) seat is getting a new lease on life in Delta's international fleet, which is causing some confusion among customers. When Delta rolled out its first Airbus A350-900 in late 2017, the long-haul wide-body was positioned as the introduction of the airline's new international in-flight product, including a Delta One cabin with passenger suites, a new premium economy option called Premium Select, and regular economy seating but no more extra-legroom Comfort+ seats in the front of the economy cabin. Now that plan has changed, with Comfort+ coming back to Delta's international fleet. The airline has been working on a refit of its 777 fleet to match the new international product of the A350s, but it said this week that the overhauled 777s will now offer "all four branded seat products," including Comfort+. (Comfort+ seats are regular economy seats with more legroom; Premium Select seats are true premium economy- a larger, wider seat and section.) When it first announced the 777 refit last year, Delta said the aircraft would come out of it with Delta One suites and the new Premium Select cabin, and would retain nine-across seating in the main cabin but made no mention of Comfort+. This week, however, the carrier said "Delta Comfort+ will be added to the four 777s already modified, and the remaining 14 777s will embark on their four-seat product transformation in 2019." A Delta official confirmed to SFGate that the airline is indeed changing course from its earlier decision to drop Comfort+ from its widebodies. "While Delta Premium Select continues to be very popular, we recognize that offering Delta Comfort+ in addition to Delta Premium Select will meet a greater number of customer needs," she said. The spokesperson added: "Our goal is for every widebody in Delta's fleet to be fitted with all four seat products by 2021 including the A350s." Delta said the first modified 777s with all four seating options will be available for sale this week for flights beginning March 1 from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Tokyo Haneda, Atlanta to Tokyo Narita, Minneapolis-St. Paul to Paris, and Atlanta to Paris. That will be followed by reconfigured 777s flying between MSP and Seoul as of April 1, and Los Angeles-Sydney starting April 5. Photo: Tim Jue Delta A350 regular economy class- bulkhead and exit row seats are... While Delta's Comfort+ seats offer extra legroom, they are a step down from the Premium Select product, which provides more personal space (seating is eight-across vs. nine in economy) and upgraded in-flight amenities and service. Delta may have decided that Comfort+ needed a place in its long-haul fleet if it wants to remain competitive with rivals American and United. Both of those airlines have also introduced a premium economy section in their widebody fleets, but they are retaining the extra-legroom option in the economy cabins American's Main Cabin Extra and United's Economy Plus. Don't Miss: United's purple Premium Plus seat now on sale For example, United's brand-new 787-10 Dreamliners, which entered service for the first time this week on the LAX-Newark route, have 44 fully-reclining Polaris seats in the front cabin along with 21 seven-across Premium Plus premium economy seats, 54 Economy Plus extra-legroom seats and 199 regular economy seats. (United will start flying 787-10s between San Francisco and Newark next month, and on select transatlantic routes out of Newark this spring.) American's premium economy cabin is now available in A330-200s, some 777-200s, 777-300ERs and 787-9s, according to Seatguru.com, but they also still offer Main Cabin Extra seating in economy. Meanwhile, there seems to be a bit of initial confusion about booking Delta's four-class 777s for travel starting in March. One reader told us: "They released information that the four classes can now be booked, but in the new grouping (not sure which class), you can't book through typical channels (on line specifically). There is a way to do it for now, but until they change it, you have to book one class, then upgrade by calling or something." The Delta official confirmed that for now, Comfort+ seats on the overhauled 777s "must currently be purchased via the seat map on delta.com or as a post-purchase upgrade." She said the airline "is now investing in the work needed to display Delta Comfort+ and Delta Premium Select on the same aircraft, which is expected to be visible later this year alongside next-gen delta.com upgrades." Tell us what you think about it in the comments. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. | Carrier reverses course on extra-legroom seats Delta's new Airbus A350s will eventually be refitted with Comfort+ seating. While Delta's Comfort+ seats offer extra legroom, they are a step down from the Premium Select product. | bart | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/Delta-Comfort-plus-13515402.php | 0.290705 |
Will new allergy treatments quiet the fears of sworn peanut avoiders like me? | This is a Kaiser Health News story. Whenever I see a report touting possible new peanut allergy treatments, I devour it. I cant help it. Its an occupational hazard for any health journalist whose reporting specialty and medical history intertwine. I write about the business of health care, focusing on how consumers interact with the system what we pay, what we get and why American care costs so much. But in this particular instance, I have another kind of authority: 26 years of life-threatening allergies to nuts and peanuts. Aimmune is just one company eyeing the prize. Childhood peanut allergy diagnoses increased more than 20 percent in the United States from 2010 to 2017. The global market for relief is worth as much as $2 billion. The French drugmaker DBV Technologies is also working to commercialize a peanut allergy patch. Other companies, including industry giant Sanofi, are following their lead. If any one of them succeeds, it could change my life. My friends call nuts Shefali poison. My allergies first surfaced when, as a 15-month-old, I picked Thai noodles off an aunts plate and developed hives on my face, and then a few months later when I tasted my moms kaju barfi an Indian dessert with cashews and ended up in the hospital. Nobody in my family had ever heard of peanut allergies. Ive carried epinephrine since I was 7 years old. My friends are trained to inject it in my leg, the standard procedure for an emergency allergen exposure. though I luckily havent had to take a shot of it since I was 4. (Another child in my Montessori class had a peanut butter sandwich for lunch.) My mom also recalls another incident when she had to pick me up early from day care because the class was making peanut butter bird feeders. And I spent too many years of pre-adolescence eating lunch at the designated peanut-free table. Now, I can only dream of flying to visit my parents for Christmas without worrying about whether my seatmates snacks might induce anaphylaxis. And yes, kissing someone who has just eaten peanut butter would put my life in danger. I approached the question as I would any other assignment. I read the research, called immunologists, and spoke with economists and drug pricing experts about whether these treatments offer meaningful benefit. One of the first things I heard: We are still in the infancy of these treatments, said Dr. Corinne Keet, a pediatric allergist at Johns Hopkins University. Courtesy the Luthra Family Medically, theres a lot we dont know about the risks, how much these drugs could help and how long any effects would last. None of these treatments have been shown to prevent fatal reaction, Keet emphasized. The idea behind them is to desensitize people. Aimmunes peanut pill is modeled on the oral therapies some specialists use to wean allergic kids back on to nuts. This approach has gained popularity in recent years, especially for children with multiple allergies, or when its a substance particularly hard to avoid. A colleagues young daughter, who was born with multiple allergies, used that very treatment, as did a younger cousin of mine who, for the first several years of her life, was allergic to not joking almost everything but fruits and vegetables. In my case, this therapy came into vogue after I was too old to have a good chance of it weakening my sensitivities. How it works: Kids ingest tiny, escalating doses of peanut protein. They then stay on peanut protein Aimmune recommends the pill, though other doctors I spoke to suggested a little bit of peanut as a maintenance drug. But its unclear how much the new therapies would improve upon that ad hoc oral immunotherapy allergists are already offering. Instead of drugs, they use store-bought peanut protein, usually de-fatted peanut flour available online for as little as $1 a pound. This method isnt approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and often isnt covered by insurance though doctors visits can be billed as food challenges or other visits that are typically covered. In contrast, Aimmunes product is expected to cost between $5,000 and $10,000 for the first six months of use, and $300 to $400 per month after. Analysts predict DBVs will cost more than $6,000 for a years supply, though the company says it has not yet determined a price. DBV, Aimmunes chief rival, has come up with a wearable skin patch that would transmit tiny, desensitizing protein doses. It declined to estimate a price, but it does not view oral immunotherapy as a competitor, said Joseph Becker, a company spokesman. Theres excitement, theres caution and a lot of unanswered questions, warned Dr. Erwin Gelfand, a pediatrics and immunology professor at the University of Colorado. According to Aimmunes results, published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine, two-thirds of allergic children could ingest 600 milligrams of peanut without harm after going through treatment. To be clear, even with Aimmunes help, someone like me still couldnt safely eat PB&J. But it would desensitize me enough that I could taste a friends wine even if he recently ate pad thai. Still, the treatment comes with caveats. While 496 children started the trial, only 372 completed it. Of the 20 percent who backed out, half did so because of adverse events. About 14 percent of kids getting treatment still had to take epinephrine, and one experienced anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that can involve rashes, vomiting, a tightening throat and difficulty breathing. (For an allergic kid, even the possibility is maybe one of the most terrifying things you can imagine.) Children who completed the regimen still had to take small doses of peanut protein daily, either the Aimmune drug or a controlled peanut serving. Statistically significant benefits were clear only in patients through age 17, though Dr. Daniel Adelman, the companys chief medical officer, said Aimmune plans to do a follow-up trial for adults. And the results dont indicate who is likely to benefit, or how long improvements would last. Thats impossible to know, Adelman said, though he suggested accidental peanut exposure is scary enough and pure avoidance ineffective enough that the treatment is still worth it. But all this means that anyone who has gone through Aimmunes regimen would still want to carry epinephrine, and try to avoid peanuts. Not everybody responds well, Gelfand said. When you factor in those details, the results are not all that impressive, he argued. Dr. Tina Sindher, a pediatric allergist at Stanford University, pointed out that the Aimmune pill is a repackaged, clinically tested version of that homegrown oral therapy many allergists have already been using. DBVs peanut patch, Viaskin, to a lesser extent, is the same more convenient, perhaps, and more regulated, but still a variation on the existing medical approach. This concept has been around for a long time, she said. Whats new is the addition of labor, standardization and federal oversight which companies then say demonstrates increased value. It highlights a pattern Ive noticed from my reporting: Drugmakers develop medication that refines a low-tech remedy, run a clinical trial to secure FDA approval, and then sell it at a higher price. For pharma, its a logical way to profit. But it puts patients in a bind. The hard outcome is we have these new products and theyre just about as good or slightly better than what we have, said Nicholson Price, an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Law School, who studies drug pricing. The closest authority I know: my mother, who raised me with peanut allergies when they were more or less unheard of, and is now doing it all over again for my 10-year-old brother. (My other brother, my twin, was allergy-free until about a year ago.) Its not worth it, my mom told me. Getting any of us to maintain a peanut dose without knowing how long that reduced sensitivity would last could induce what she called a false sense of security. This thinking isnt out of line, Sindher suggested. The way these studies are touted, she said, often gloss over the fact that theres a lot we dont know. So for now, Ill have to maintain my distance from the newsroom stash of Reeses Pieces. My epinephrine and I arent parting ways anytime soon. KHNs coverage of childrens health care issues is supported in part by the Heising-Simons Foundation. Kaiser Health News is a nonprofit news service covering health issues. It is an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. | New treatments are being developed to treat childhood peanut allergies. The market for relief is worth as much as $2 billion, according to Kaiser Health News. The treatments have not been shown to prevent fatal reaction, an expert says. Aimmune's "peanut pill" is modeled on oral therapies some specialists use to wean allergic kids back on to nuts. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://abcnews.go.com/Health/allergy-treatments-quiet-fears-sworn-peanut-avoiders/story?id=60233324 | 0.129497 |
What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Gig Economy? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Peter Swaniker, Founder and CEO at Ximble, on Quora: The explosion of the gig economy continues unabated. Last year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 55 million people in the U.S. are gig workers, which is more than 35% of the U.S. workforce. That number is projected to jump to 43% by 2020. If youve never heard the term, gig work is basically just a buzzy way of describing an independent contract or part-time job, like driving for Uber or freelance copywriting. Millennials, the generation credited with disrupting everything from housing to marriage, are gravitating towards gig work for the promise of greater work-life balance. Boomers and other generations on the brink of retirement are drawn to gig work because it brings in a little extra income without a major time commitment. And recent technologies like Skype, Slack, and DropBox have made the gig life a reality, giving you maximum freedom, an ideal work-life balance, and the chance to pursue your passions. If youre thinking of joining the gig economy, its never been easier. But freelance work also comes with challenges, like unsteady workloads and pay schedules, lack of benefits, and a ton of self-discipline. Heres what you need to know before you make the jump: Youre your own boss, so discipline is key. One of the great things about the gig economy is that you dont have a boss breathing down your neck. As a freelancer, you no longer have to cater to a company culture or work schedule that might cause physical or emotional stress. Instead, you get to choose the type of work you do and who you work with. Plus, you get to make your own decisions about when to wake up, when to work, when to exercise, when to run errands, and how much work you take on. Youre able to make choices that suit your personality and unique needs. But this degree of freedom requires a corresponding amount of discipline, and that doesnt come easily to everybody. With no boss to make sure youre on task, its all on you. If you wake up late and miss a client call, no one else can help smooth things over. It's your responsibility to apologize, call to reschedule or lose the client altogether. Not everybody is suited to be his or her own timekeeper. Some people need structure and the pressure of an authority figure to stay motivated. But if youre a self-starter who chafes at being told what to do, the gig life could be a perfect fit. The gig economy is great for creatives. The other day, I asked my Uber driver if driving was his full-time job or a side gig. He said hes a freelance graphic designer and works on projects for clients roughly three hours a day. The rest of his working hours, he drives Uber to keep himself occupied. When youre a young creative just starting out, and your resume is more or less a blank slate, gig work can help you get a foot in the door. The gig economy allows creatives to pay the bills while also giving them time to pursue their passions. Visual artists like my Uber driver can supplement freelance design work by driving for rideshare services. Aspiring novelists can freelance as copywriters to make their rent payments. Plus, you can do these jobs from almost anywhere. You could be in the North Pole as long as you have internet access. You can find work wherever you feel inspired. Just make sure your artists late nights dont keep you from turning projects around on time. You have to continuously up-level your skills and industry knowledge. The workforce is becoming more advanced and educated by the day. Theres a high volume of overqualified candidates entering the job market every single year, so landing a job in a competitive field is tough. The idea that you can get a degree and expect to land your dream job right out of college is a thing of the past. You have to keep learning and keep up with industry trends to maintain a competitive edge. This is true even for people in traditional office settings, but its critical if youre your own boss. When you go solo, you basically have to sell yourself. And to do that, you have to stay relevant. This means constantly educating yourselfsuch as by taking online classes or buying the newest trade books relevant to your industry. There is no boss and no established rules to force you to stay up-to-date. The onus is on you. And if you want to keep landing gigs, you have to keep up. The marketplace wont wait for you. You have to get crafty when it comes to traditional work benefits. Traditional jobs often provide employees with a lot of protectionslike health benefits and a 401k. But if youre a freelancer, you need to figure out your own retirement plan and buy your own healthcare, both of which can be time-consuming and expensive. Going freelance also means you no longer have paid sick days or vacation time. Every day you dont work is a day you wont get paid. And if you want to take a vacation, you have to save up and make arrangements, or otherwise work while you travel. What Im saying is, gig work isnt some magical solution to the tedious office life of the past. It comes with hurdles. If you have health concerns or kids to feed, freelance might not be ideal for you. But you arent without options. "Multiple Employer" plans, in which a single 401(k) plan is sponsored by multiple employers, is a retirement plan option for gig workers. These plans could be sponsored by states or a group of gig economy companies. Oregon is working on developing a state-sponsored retirement plan that will apply to freelance workers. Both Uber and Lyft offer retirement options to their drivers. So despite the drawbacks, there are ways to swing itespecially as legislators and companies alike start taking the gig economy more seriously. It may take longer to build a depth of experience. Gone are the days where you had a job that lasted a whole lifetime. Fifty years ago, youd land your first (and often last) job at a stable company, clock in and out for several decades, and then retire. You usually didnt have to worry about when your next paycheck would be coming. If you were especially good at what you did, youd move through the ranks until you climbed to the level of managermaybe even higher. And theres something to be said for having years of experience in a particular industry and developing expertise in that space. But young people today go into the workforce knowing that their career will likely be in flux. They have to be prepared to keep learning and anticipating trends so they dont find themselves unexpectedly out of work. A lot of gig workers start their careers by hopping on a project because the employer is desperate and in need of help now. An aspiring chef may fill in when a restaurants head chef is out sick. But its difficult to develop the skills to become a head chef without stability and mentorship. In any field, climbing the ranks requires a lot of years of practice and growth. And on the employers end, its tough to recruit people for higher management positions when the pool of talent is full of gig workers who havent been given an opportunity to hone their skills. Businesses have to evolve to learn how to account for an influx of temporary workers. This means employers must invest in that mentorship and trainingsuch as by having established protocol for gig workers to help them move up the ladder. When companies learn how to thrive with gig workers, everyone wins. The pace of change in the global workforce is accelerating. To succeed, we have to adapt just as quickly. 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: | The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that 55 million people in the U.S. are gig workers. The gig economy is great for creatives, but comes with challenges, like unsteady workloads and pay schedules, lack of benefits, and a ton of self-discipline. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/01/08/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-the-gig-economy/ | 0.382536 |
Can The Meet Group Beat the Market Again in 2019? | One of last year's big winners was The Meet Group (NASDAQ: MEET). The social discovery and dating app developer saw its stock soar 64% in 2018, and it's kicking things off right in the new year by boosting its earlier projections. Preliminary financial results for the quarter that ended last week find revenue clocking in at $52.3 million, a year-over-year increase of 30% -- and well ahead of the $47.8 million to $48.8 million that it was targeting two months ago. The Meet Group is also naturally boosting its full-year guidance, something that it has now done four times over the past nine months for its 2018 performance. New products and features are gaining traction, and the stock was already on a recent roll ahead of Tuesday morning's rosier touch-up. The stock is moving higher for the ninth trading day in a row, up roughly 36% in that span of two weeks as of early Tuesday afternoon. MeetMe corporate office entrance. More Image source: The Meet Group. Winning the war with Battles Two key elements that are fueling The Meet Group's ascending popularity are Battles and streaming video. The Meet Group didn't introduce live-streaming until late 2016, but it's already moving the needle. Video revenue is on an annual run rate of $71 million based on last month's performance, a pretty big deal for an app developer with just $123.8 million in revenue in 2017 and now eyeing $178.5 million for all of 2018. Video revenue grew sequentially across all of its apps during the fourth quarter, and ad revenue also experienced a hearty 19% sequential boost. There could be some seasonal juice lifting the fourth quarter -- The Meet Group ran a promo emphasizing its virtual gifting feature over the holidays -- but it's hard to argue with the momentum here. Battles is the next evolutionary step for the live-streaming platform. A pair of live-streaming users and their respective audiences pair up to compete in anything from dancing to telling jokes. Viewers vote on the winner via virtual gifts. It may seem hokey and a transparent cash grab on The Meet Group's part, but the growing audiences are digging it. An average of 30,000 Battles a day are taking place across its social platforms. The Meet Group remains off of most investing radars despite its monster gain in 2018 and its head start on beating the market again in 2019. The Meet Group was the 2011 combination of myYearbook and Quepasa, and it continues to add small social hotbeds. It acquired global social discovery app Skout in 2016, following a year later with the purchase of German dating-app developer Lovoo. Assembling a collection of niche social discovery and dating sites and then introducing features including video and more recently Battles across the sites is brilliant. The Meet Group is leveraging its resources, and it's paying off with a story that keeps getting better with every passing quarter. It's already beating the market a few days into 2019, and the outlook remains encouraging for The Meet Group to keep the momentum going. More From The Motley Fool Rick Munarriz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | The Meet Group (NASDAQ: MEET) saw its stock soar 64% in 2018. The social discovery and dating app developer is also boosting its full-year guidance. The company is winning the battle with live-streaming video and Battles, a virtual gifting feature. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/meet-group-beat-market-again-192500034.html | 0.117414 |
What is fight over Trump's border wall about? | US President Donald Trump has forced a government shutdown and plans a national address to defend his insistence that Congress fund a massive wall for the US-Mexico border to block illegal immigrants (AFP Photo/Jim WATSON) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump has partially shut down the US government and is threatening to declare a national emergency as he pressures Congress for money to build a wall on the US-Mexican border to stem a surge in illegal immigrants. Trump, who is to make a national address Tuesday night on the "crisis," says the country is being flooded with drugs and violent gangs. Trump's opponents say he is exaggerating the issue and that a massive wall is inefficient and not worth closing the government for. - Illegal immigration from impoverished Central America -- mainly Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala -- has surged even as that from neighboring Mexico has slowed. Many migrants arrive as families or unaccompanied children, hoping to gain a foothold in the country. When caught, most are processed by the authorities and then released pending a court date. US authorities say they are mostly never seen again as they meld into US society. In the 2016 election, Trump promised voters to stop illegal immigration by building a wall along the 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) US-Mexico frontier. After a slowdown in 2017, migrant numbers surged last year, reaching their highest levels since 2014 in October and November, with 2,000 a day being caught sneaking into the country. Most of them request asylum based on the poverty and pervasive violence they face in their home countries. Their numbers have overwhelmed the ability of the Customs and Border Protection to house and process them, and many are just released. Meanwhile, some 15,000 unaccompanied children are held in resettlement camps while officials seek homes to place them in. - Trump has said repeatedly that without a wall, drug smugglers and violent gangs like MS-13 easily cross into the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says a wall would help prevent potential terrorists from entering the country. She says the Border Patrol has intercepted some 3,000 suspicious migrants on the southern border. "I am sure all Americans would agree that one terrorist reaching our borders is one too many," she said Monday. But narcotics experts say most drugs are shipped through official ports and the wall won't make much difference. And Nielsen would not say if any proven terrorists had been arrested at the southern border or had crossed it to successfully enter the country. - Trump wants to make good on his promise to build a wall. Several hundred million dollars has already been spent to replace old fences and walls in some heavily-travelled areas, like the westernmost part of the border between Tijuana and San Diego. In addition, surveillance by patrols, cameras and drones has increased. Together they have helped reduce illegal crossings in the area. In a letter to Congress on Sunday, the White House demanded $5.7 billion for 234 miles (377 km) of new wall and fence, more than double the $2.5 billion Congressional leaders have offered in compromise. "A physical barrier - wall - creates an enduring capability that helps field personnel stop, slow down, and/or contain illegal entries," said the letter. The White House also asked for hundreds of millions of dollars for more immigration judges, border and interior enforcement agents, shelter for detained migrants, and drug enforcement. - Both Democrats and Republicans have regarded Trump's wall project as excessive, expensive and inefficient in dealing with the problem. They dismiss claims that a border without a wall is a major security threat. "On terrorism and other threats, I've received more briefings from FBI, CIA, and DHS than I could count," said Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday. "How many times have any of them said we need a wall across the southern border?" Democrats also say that any broader discussion on the illegal immigration problem should take place only after the government is reopened. They want a comprehensive deal that would include a plan to create a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, including the so-called DACA/Dreamer program for people who arrived in the country as children. | President Donald Trump wants to build a wall on the US-Mexico border to block illegal immigrants. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/fight-over-trumps-border-wall-192051550.html | 0.188244 |
What is fight over Trump's border wall about? | US President Donald Trump has forced a government shutdown and plans a national address to defend his insistence that Congress fund a massive wall for the US-Mexico border to block illegal immigrants (AFP Photo/Jim WATSON) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump has partially shut down the US government and is threatening to declare a national emergency as he pressures Congress for money to build a wall on the US-Mexican border to stem a surge in illegal immigrants. Trump, who is to make a national address Tuesday night on the "crisis," says the country is being flooded with drugs and violent gangs. Trump's opponents say he is exaggerating the issue and that a massive wall is inefficient and not worth closing the government for. - Illegal immigration from impoverished Central America -- mainly Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala -- has surged even as that from neighboring Mexico has slowed. Many migrants arrive as families or unaccompanied children, hoping to gain a foothold in the country. When caught, most are processed by the authorities and then released pending a court date. US authorities say they are mostly never seen again as they meld into US society. In the 2016 election, Trump promised voters to stop illegal immigration by building a wall along the 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) US-Mexico frontier. After a slowdown in 2017, migrant numbers surged last year, reaching their highest levels since 2014 in October and November, with 2,000 a day being caught sneaking into the country. Most of them request asylum based on the poverty and pervasive violence they face in their home countries. Their numbers have overwhelmed the ability of the Customs and Border Protection to house and process them, and many are just released. Meanwhile, some 15,000 unaccompanied children are held in resettlement camps while officials seek homes to place them in. - Trump has said repeatedly that without a wall, drug smugglers and violent gangs like MS-13 easily cross into the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says a wall would help prevent potential terrorists from entering the country. She says the Border Patrol has intercepted some 3,000 suspicious migrants on the southern border. "I am sure all Americans would agree that one terrorist reaching our borders is one too many," she said Monday. But narcotics experts say most drugs are shipped through official ports and the wall won't make much difference. And Nielsen would not say if any proven terrorists had been arrested at the southern border or had crossed it to successfully enter the country. - Trump wants to make good on his promise to build a wall. Several hundred million dollars has already been spent to replace old fences and walls in some heavily-travelled areas, like the westernmost part of the border between Tijuana and San Diego. In addition, surveillance by patrols, cameras and drones has increased. Together they have helped reduce illegal crossings in the area. In a letter to Congress on Sunday, the White House demanded $5.7 billion for 234 miles (377 km) of new wall and fence, more than double the $2.5 billion Congressional leaders have offered in compromise. "A physical barrier - wall - creates an enduring capability that helps field personnel stop, slow down, and/or contain illegal entries," said the letter. The White House also asked for hundreds of millions of dollars for more immigration judges, border and interior enforcement agents, shelter for detained migrants, and drug enforcement. - Both Democrats and Republicans have regarded Trump's wall project as excessive, expensive and inefficient in dealing with the problem. They dismiss claims that a border without a wall is a major security threat. "On terrorism and other threats, I've received more briefings from FBI, CIA, and DHS than I could count," said Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday. "How many times have any of them said we need a wall across the southern border?" Democrats also say that any broader discussion on the illegal immigration problem should take place only after the government is reopened. They want a comprehensive deal that would include a plan to create a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, including the so-called DACA/Dreamer program for people who arrived in the country as children. | US President Donald Trump has forced a government shutdown and plans a national address to defend his insistence that Congress fund a massive wall for the US-Mexico border. Trump says the country is being flooded with drugs and violent gangs. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/fight-over-trumps-border-wall-192051550.html | 0.108202 |
What is fight over Trump's border wall about? | US President Donald Trump has forced a government shutdown and plans a national address to defend his insistence that Congress fund a massive wall for the US-Mexico border to block illegal immigrants (AFP Photo/Jim WATSON) Washington (AFP) - President Donald Trump has partially shut down the US government and is threatening to declare a national emergency as he pressures Congress for money to build a wall on the US-Mexican border to stem a surge in illegal immigrants. Trump, who is to make a national address Tuesday night on the "crisis," says the country is being flooded with drugs and violent gangs. Trump's opponents say he is exaggerating the issue and that a massive wall is inefficient and not worth closing the government for. - Illegal immigration from impoverished Central America -- mainly Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala -- has surged even as that from neighboring Mexico has slowed. Many migrants arrive as families or unaccompanied children, hoping to gain a foothold in the country. When caught, most are processed by the authorities and then released pending a court date. US authorities say they are mostly never seen again as they meld into US society. In the 2016 election, Trump promised voters to stop illegal immigration by building a wall along the 2,000 mile (3,200 kilometer) US-Mexico frontier. After a slowdown in 2017, migrant numbers surged last year, reaching their highest levels since 2014 in October and November, with 2,000 a day being caught sneaking into the country. Most of them request asylum based on the poverty and pervasive violence they face in their home countries. Their numbers have overwhelmed the ability of the Customs and Border Protection to house and process them, and many are just released. Meanwhile, some 15,000 unaccompanied children are held in resettlement camps while officials seek homes to place them in. - Trump has said repeatedly that without a wall, drug smugglers and violent gangs like MS-13 easily cross into the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says a wall would help prevent potential terrorists from entering the country. She says the Border Patrol has intercepted some 3,000 suspicious migrants on the southern border. "I am sure all Americans would agree that one terrorist reaching our borders is one too many," she said Monday. But narcotics experts say most drugs are shipped through official ports and the wall won't make much difference. And Nielsen would not say if any proven terrorists had been arrested at the southern border or had crossed it to successfully enter the country. - Trump wants to make good on his promise to build a wall. Several hundred million dollars has already been spent to replace old fences and walls in some heavily-travelled areas, like the westernmost part of the border between Tijuana and San Diego. In addition, surveillance by patrols, cameras and drones has increased. Together they have helped reduce illegal crossings in the area. In a letter to Congress on Sunday, the White House demanded $5.7 billion for 234 miles (377 km) of new wall and fence, more than double the $2.5 billion Congressional leaders have offered in compromise. "A physical barrier - wall - creates an enduring capability that helps field personnel stop, slow down, and/or contain illegal entries," said the letter. The White House also asked for hundreds of millions of dollars for more immigration judges, border and interior enforcement agents, shelter for detained migrants, and drug enforcement. - Both Democrats and Republicans have regarded Trump's wall project as excessive, expensive and inefficient in dealing with the problem. They dismiss claims that a border without a wall is a major security threat. "On terrorism and other threats, I've received more briefings from FBI, CIA, and DHS than I could count," said Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday. "How many times have any of them said we need a wall across the southern border?" Democrats also say that any broader discussion on the illegal immigration problem should take place only after the government is reopened. They want a comprehensive deal that would include a plan to create a path to citizenship for many of the 11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, including the so-called DACA/Dreamer program for people who arrived in the country as children. | President Donald Trump is demanding $5.7 billion to build a wall on the US-Mexican border. Critics say a wall is inefficient and not worth closing the government for. Trump says a wall would help prevent potential terrorists from entering the country, but narcotics experts say most drugs are shipped through official ports. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/fight-over-trumps-border-wall-192051550.html | 0.322036 |
Could gene editing give us spicy tomatoes? | Tomatoes could be developed to produce the chemicals that give chillies their heat. Scientists say tomatoes contain all the genes needed to produce capsaicinoids, the fiery compound in chillies, but don't have the machinery to turn them on. That could be changed using the latest gene-editing techniques. The researchers say their objective isn't to start a hot, new culinary fad - although that's not completely off the table - but to have an easier means of mass producing large quantities of capsaicinoids for commercial purposes. The molecules have nutritional and antibiotic properties and are used in painkillers and pepper spray. The chilli pepper, from an evolutionary perspective, is the tomato's long-lost spitfire cousin. They split off from a common ancestor 19 million years ago but still share some of the same DNA. While the tomato plant went on to have a fleshy, nutrient-rich fruit yielding bountiful harvests, the more agriculturally difficult chilli plant went defensive, developing capsaicinoids, the molecules that give peppers their spiciness, to ward off predators. Advertisement Spice up your life - the tomato could be adapted to produce the fiery compound that gives chillies their heat. Photo / File With the latest gene-editing techniques, it could be possible, although challenging, to make a tomato produce capsaicinoids as well, researchers argue in an opinion article published this week in the journal Trends in Plant Science. "Engineering the capsaicinoid genetic pathway to the tomato would make it easier and cheaper to produce this compound, which has very interesting applications," said senior author Agustin Zsgn, a plant biologist at the Federal University of Viosa in Brazil whose group is working toward this goal. "We have the tools powerful enough to engineer the genome of any species; the challenge is to know which gene to engineer and where." The spicy taste that capsaicinoids add isn't a taste, but a reaction to pain. They activate nerve cells in the tongue that deal with heat-induced pain, which the brain interprets as a burning sensation. Evidence suggests the evolution of capsaicinoids helped chili peppers deter small mammals from eating their fruit. Birds, which are much better seed dispersers, show no pain response to the molecules. There are at least 23 different types of capsaicinoids, which originate from the pith of the chilli pepper. The spiciness of a pepper is determined by the genes that regulate capsaicinoid production, and less pungent peppers have mutations affecting this process. Previous gene sequencing work has shown that tomatoes have the genes necessary for capsaicinoids but don't have the machinery to turn them on. "In theory you could use these genes to produce capsaicinoids in the tomato," said Zsgn. "Since we don't have solid data about the expression patterns of the capsaicinoid pathway in the tomato fruit, we have to try alternative approaches. One is to activate candidate genes one at a time and see what happens, which compounds are produced. We are trying this and a few other things." The sequencing of the chilli pepper genome and the discovery that the tomato has the genes necessary for pungency paves the way for engineering a spicy tomato. The researchers write that not only will this endeavour help better understand the evolution of this unique botanical trait and allow for the development of tomato capsaicinoid biofactories, but perhaps allow for the development of some new varieties of produce in the grocery aisle. | Scientists say tomatoes contain all the genes needed to produce capsaicinoids, the fiery compound in chillies. That could be changed using the latest gene-editing techniques. The molecules have nutritional and antibiotic properties and are used in painkillers and pepper spray. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/the-country/news/article.cfm?c_id=16&objectid=12187525 | 0.202171 |
Can Pilgrim's Pride's Growth Strategies Revive the Stock? | Pilgrim's Pride Corporation PPC continues to lose investors faith, thanks to headwinds surrounding rising cost of sales as well as challenges in the commodity chicken market. This renowned company, engaged in the manufacturing and selling of fresh, frozen and value-added chicken products, saw its shares decline around 8.5% in the past three months compared with the industrys fall of 6.3%. Nevertheless, the companys business is progressing well in Europe, which is boosting revenues. Further, the companys strategic initiatives to expand customer base and augment supply chain efficiency are impressive. That said, lets take a closer look at the factors impacting the companys performance and discuss the probabilities of a turnaround. Strong European Business Pilgrim's Prides European business is expanding on the back of gains from acquired operations as well as focus on diversification into new markets. Notably, revenues from this category improved 2.4%, 12.5% and 18.6% year on year in the trailing three quarters. The region is also gaining from a strong business model, robust customer relationships as well as better synergy capture. Moreover, efforts such as capacity optimization and expansion are likely to continue boosting revenues from the region in the forthcoming periods. Other Growth Oriented Efforts Pilgrim's Prides customer centric approach has enabled it to come up with unique offerings that provide competitive advantages. In fact, the companys focus on key customers is a pathway for refining portfolio and creating competitive advantages over peers. Progressing on such lines, the company is expanding in the fresh food offerings space. In fact, the launch of fresh chicken products under the premium Pilgrim's brand is receiving favorable consumer response. Further, the company is on track to expand gluten-free products. Further, the company is on track with innovations in the alternative protein space, such as plant-based protein, which is slowly gaining popularity in the U.K. Apart from this, the company is steadily augmenting marketing support of brands as they expand and enter new regions. Additionally, the company resorts to frequent supply chain improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. In this respect, the company is progressing with the development of automation technology for processing plants. Introduction of such advanced technology is expected to increase efficiency and offset labor availability issues. Along with this, the companys dedicated efforts, including zero base budgeting and positive impacts from acquisitions are expected to create synergies of $50 million in the next two years. During the third quarter of 2018, Pilgrims Pride witnessed challenging pricing environment for commodity chicken in the United States. Moreover, management is concerned regarding the reduced demand of commodity chicken, considering the higher availability of other meat-based protein. To top this, expanding cost of sales is a significant hurdle for the company. Rising costs, if unchecked, can continue to hurt profits in the upcoming quarters. In fact, during the third quarter of 2018, cost of sales rose 9.2% year over year. Prior to this, in the second quarter, cost of sales increased 12.5%. We note that rising costs of operations have also eclipsed the performance of companies like Campbell Soup CPB, General Mills GIS and TreeHouse Foods THS. Despite such headwinds, we cannot ignore the companys efforts to augment portfolio strength and enhance operational efficiency. In fact, we expect that its endeavors to enhance savings will help combat rising costs. Moreover, the companys strong European business is likely to keep boosting revenues. We expect that such upsides will revive this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) companys performance in the forthcoming periods. | Pilgrim's Pride Corporation PPC continues to lose investors faith, thanks to headwinds surrounding rising cost of sales as well as challenges in the commodity chicken market. However, the companys business is progressing well in Europe, which is boosting revenues, and its strategic initiatives to expand customer base are impressive. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/pilgrims-prides-growth-strategies-revive-204708273.html | 0.122123 |
Is Bonnaroo's 2019 lineup its most popular in years? | CLOSE Bonnaroo will be in Manchester, TN on Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16 Michael Schwab, Nashville Tennessean Phish will headline the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival for the third time in 2019. (Photo: Amy Harris / Invision / AP) As usual, Bonnaroo has secured some very big acts for 2019, including Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B. The 80,000 music fans who'd be willing to shell out $319 for a weekend pass. And, for the most part, it's sounding like Bonnaroo has locked them in, too. Sure, you won't have to look hard on social media to find users proclaiming the festival's death, but on Tuesday, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be much more positive than what greeted last year's fest headlined by Eminem, The Killers and Muse. There are more than a few comments calling it Bonnaroo's strongest lineup in years, or at least a return to fun, eclectic form. A few things jump to mind. Pumping up the jam With the return of Phish, Bonnaroo couldn't make a louder throwback to its roots as a "jam band" haven. In the first decade of Bonnaroo, you could count on at least one act from that world grabbing a headline slot. The 2010s were a different story. Aside from Dead & Company's 2016 appearance, Bonnaroo hasn't had a "jam band" headliner in seven years. This will be Phish's third time headlining Bonnaroo, after appearances in 2009 and 2012. Frontman Trey Anastasio also topped the bill of the first Bonnaroo, which was modeled after Phish's own epic outdoor events. Taking it day by day Since the very first year, Bonnaroo has always unveiled its lineup as one giant, sprawling list, with the headliners up top and the rest of the 100-plus acts in order of supposed importance. That changes for the first time in 2019. For now, the Bonnaroo lineup can be seen only as a day-by-day breakdown. On one hand, the fest is simply falling into line with the format used by Coachella, Lollapalooza and many other mega-fests. But it really helps sell the weekend as a whole, showcasing the cool and eclectic stuff being offered by second- and third-tier acts each day. Playing by their own rules The presence of Phish a band we can't fathom getting top billing at Coachella or Lollapalooza at this point is your first hint that this year's Bonnaroo lineup isn't paint-by-numbers. But the real proof is in the undercard, with a number of exciting and/or outside-the-demographic inclusions. There's a curatorial touch to bringing in, say, Andy Samberg's musical comedy trio The Lonely Island for its second large-scale concert ever. The festival also is bringing back old favorites, whether it's legendary singer-songwriter John Prine or mashup master Girl Talk. The fest still has never had a female headliner, but three of its four nights will be commanded by the likes of Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris. And the fest is continuing its weird and wonderful partnership with the Grand Ole Opry, which will rub shoulders with indie rock, EDM and hip-hop on opening day. Simply put, Bonnaroo is still refusing to cater to a single crowd and in the process, cultivates an audience that's up for anything. If you go The 2019 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival takes place June 13-16 at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, exclusively at www.bonnaroo.com/tickets. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | Bonnaroo has secured some very big acts for 2019, including Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B. | bart | 0 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | 0.210629 |
Is Bonnaroo's 2019 lineup its most popular in years? | CLOSE Bonnaroo will be in Manchester, TN on Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16 Michael Schwab, Nashville Tennessean Phish will headline the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival for the third time in 2019. (Photo: Amy Harris / Invision / AP) As usual, Bonnaroo has secured some very big acts for 2019, including Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B. The 80,000 music fans who'd be willing to shell out $319 for a weekend pass. And, for the most part, it's sounding like Bonnaroo has locked them in, too. Sure, you won't have to look hard on social media to find users proclaiming the festival's death, but on Tuesday, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be much more positive than what greeted last year's fest headlined by Eminem, The Killers and Muse. There are more than a few comments calling it Bonnaroo's strongest lineup in years, or at least a return to fun, eclectic form. A few things jump to mind. Pumping up the jam With the return of Phish, Bonnaroo couldn't make a louder throwback to its roots as a "jam band" haven. In the first decade of Bonnaroo, you could count on at least one act from that world grabbing a headline slot. The 2010s were a different story. Aside from Dead & Company's 2016 appearance, Bonnaroo hasn't had a "jam band" headliner in seven years. This will be Phish's third time headlining Bonnaroo, after appearances in 2009 and 2012. Frontman Trey Anastasio also topped the bill of the first Bonnaroo, which was modeled after Phish's own epic outdoor events. Taking it day by day Since the very first year, Bonnaroo has always unveiled its lineup as one giant, sprawling list, with the headliners up top and the rest of the 100-plus acts in order of supposed importance. That changes for the first time in 2019. For now, the Bonnaroo lineup can be seen only as a day-by-day breakdown. On one hand, the fest is simply falling into line with the format used by Coachella, Lollapalooza and many other mega-fests. But it really helps sell the weekend as a whole, showcasing the cool and eclectic stuff being offered by second- and third-tier acts each day. Playing by their own rules The presence of Phish a band we can't fathom getting top billing at Coachella or Lollapalooza at this point is your first hint that this year's Bonnaroo lineup isn't paint-by-numbers. But the real proof is in the undercard, with a number of exciting and/or outside-the-demographic inclusions. There's a curatorial touch to bringing in, say, Andy Samberg's musical comedy trio The Lonely Island for its second large-scale concert ever. The festival also is bringing back old favorites, whether it's legendary singer-songwriter John Prine or mashup master Girl Talk. The fest still has never had a female headliner, but three of its four nights will be commanded by the likes of Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris. And the fest is continuing its weird and wonderful partnership with the Grand Ole Opry, which will rub shoulders with indie rock, EDM and hip-hop on opening day. Simply put, Bonnaroo is still refusing to cater to a single crowd and in the process, cultivates an audience that's up for anything. If you go The 2019 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival takes place June 13-16 at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, exclusively at www.bonnaroo.com/tickets. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B head Bonnaroo's 2019 line-up. Some say it's the strongest lineup in years, or at least a return to fun, eclectic form. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | 0.295135 |
Is Bonnaroo's 2019 lineup its most popular in years? | CLOSE Bonnaroo will be in Manchester, TN on Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16 Michael Schwab, Nashville Tennessean Phish will headline the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival for the third time in 2019. (Photo: Amy Harris / Invision / AP) As usual, Bonnaroo has secured some very big acts for 2019, including Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B. The 80,000 music fans who'd be willing to shell out $319 for a weekend pass. And, for the most part, it's sounding like Bonnaroo has locked them in, too. Sure, you won't have to look hard on social media to find users proclaiming the festival's death, but on Tuesday, the prevailing sentiment seemed to be much more positive than what greeted last year's fest headlined by Eminem, The Killers and Muse. There are more than a few comments calling it Bonnaroo's strongest lineup in years, or at least a return to fun, eclectic form. A few things jump to mind. Pumping up the jam With the return of Phish, Bonnaroo couldn't make a louder throwback to its roots as a "jam band" haven. In the first decade of Bonnaroo, you could count on at least one act from that world grabbing a headline slot. The 2010s were a different story. Aside from Dead & Company's 2016 appearance, Bonnaroo hasn't had a "jam band" headliner in seven years. This will be Phish's third time headlining Bonnaroo, after appearances in 2009 and 2012. Frontman Trey Anastasio also topped the bill of the first Bonnaroo, which was modeled after Phish's own epic outdoor events. Taking it day by day Since the very first year, Bonnaroo has always unveiled its lineup as one giant, sprawling list, with the headliners up top and the rest of the 100-plus acts in order of supposed importance. That changes for the first time in 2019. For now, the Bonnaroo lineup can be seen only as a day-by-day breakdown. On one hand, the fest is simply falling into line with the format used by Coachella, Lollapalooza and many other mega-fests. But it really helps sell the weekend as a whole, showcasing the cool and eclectic stuff being offered by second- and third-tier acts each day. Playing by their own rules The presence of Phish a band we can't fathom getting top billing at Coachella or Lollapalooza at this point is your first hint that this year's Bonnaroo lineup isn't paint-by-numbers. But the real proof is in the undercard, with a number of exciting and/or outside-the-demographic inclusions. There's a curatorial touch to bringing in, say, Andy Samberg's musical comedy trio The Lonely Island for its second large-scale concert ever. The festival also is bringing back old favorites, whether it's legendary singer-songwriter John Prine or mashup master Girl Talk. The fest still has never had a female headliner, but three of its four nights will be commanded by the likes of Cardi B, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile and Maren Morris. And the fest is continuing its weird and wonderful partnership with the Grand Ole Opry, which will rub shoulders with indie rock, EDM and hip-hop on opening day. Simply put, Bonnaroo is still refusing to cater to a single crowd and in the process, cultivates an audience that's up for anything. If you go The 2019 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival takes place June 13-16 at Great Stage Park in Manchester, Tennessee. Tickets go on sale at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, exclusively at www.bonnaroo.com/tickets. Read or Share this story: https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | Phish, Childish Gambino, Post Malone and Cardi B head Bonnaroo's 2019 line-up. Some say it's the strongest lineup in years, or at least a return to fun, eclectic form. The fest still has never had a female headliner, but three of its four nights will be commanded by the likes of Cardi. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/01/08/bonnaroo-2019-lineup-phish-post-malone-cardi-b/2513402002/ | 0.429705 |
Is New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison up to the task in Baltimore? | On Tuesday morning, a cousin in Baltimore tweeted the link to a Baltimore Sun report that Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh had chosen New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison as that citys new police commissioner. It wasnt just the news of Harrisons departure that grabbed my attention; it was also my relatives additional commentary: Can a mayor be impeached? When I asked her to explain her comment, she said Harrison will be the 5th police commissioner in 4 years. All this as police corruption remains at an all-time high. (Pugh) keeps selecting candidates for this role without properly vetting them or taking community feedback into consideration (despite sloppily soliciting it). And this N.O. candidate didnt even apply for the position. Indeed, after Pugh fired police Commissioner Kevin Davis in January 2018, she has struggled to fill the position. Harrison, according to The Sun, was Pughs third choice to replace Davis. Her first pick was confirmed by the Baltimore City Council, served a few months and then resigned after federal prosecutors hit him with three counts of failing to file federal taxes. The interim commissioner initially expressed interest in becoming permanent, but then said he didnt want to be considered. In November, after what The Sun calls a secretive search, Pugh said shed picked Fort Worths police chief for commissioner. The Sun discovered that Fitzgerald overstated and misrepresented some accomplishments on his resume, but when Fitzgerald withdrew his name from consideration Monday, he cited a medical emergency that left his 13-year-old needing two brain surgeries. After all that, Pugh announced that shed picked Harrison a month after Harrison said in a statement that he had asked not to be considered for the position because of my commitment to achieving our goals at NOPD. Even before I knew that Baltimores mayor has made a mess of her search for a commissioner, I wondered why Harrison, a 27-year veteran of the police force in his hometown, would choose to uproot himself, move to a new city and lead a police force that has historically has been every bit as bad if not worse as NOPD. New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison leaving to head Baltimore police If Harrison loved Baltimore or had roots there, his move would make more sense. If he had come up through the ranks of that police department, he could probably count on the kind of support and buy-in hes gotten after coming up through the ranks in New Orleans. Hes been a good police superintendent as New Orleans has looked to meet the demands of a federal court consent decree, but given that the circumstances in Baltimore are so different, thats not enough reason to predict that hell do well there. If you ask New Orleanians to name the best police superintendent weve had over the last few decades, most of them will probably say Richard Pennington, who served in that top role from 1994 to 2002. In 1996 around Christmastime, Pennington entered Galatoires restaurant and was given a standing ovation by everybody present. But Pennington wasnt as beloved in Atlanta even though he had some successes. I knew Atlantans who would become apoplectic at the mention of his name especially after three plainclothes Atlanta police officers forced their way into 92-year-old Kathryn Johnstons home, killed her after she fired at the apparent intruders, planted marijuana in her house and then claimed to have bought drugs there. And the Atlanta Police Department is not even notorious for its criminally aggressive police. In September 2014, The Sun published a series called Undue Force, which began: Over the past four years, more than 100 people have won court judgments or settlements related to allegations of brutality and civil rights violations. Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson. . Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones -- jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles -- head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement. Such beatings can poison relationships between police and the community, limiting cooperation in the fight against crime, the mayor and police officials say. In 2015, After police took handcuffed suspect Freddie Gray on a rough ride that severed his spine, the cousin mentioned above wrote a dispatch for The Nation from his funeral. An attorney for Grays family asked for prayer for then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, saying, She knows what the police do. She knows. Theres not a single person in this church who dont know what they do. Harrison knows what they do, too. Which makes it surprising that at this point in his career, this is the job hes choosing. I can understand him wanting a challenge. But its harder to understand him wanting this one. | New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison leaves to head Baltimore police. | bart | 0 | https://www.nola.com/opinions/2019/01/is-new-orleans-police-superintendent-michael-harrison-up-to-the-task-in-baltimore.html | 0.34628 |
Is New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison up to the task in Baltimore? | On Tuesday morning, a cousin in Baltimore tweeted the link to a Baltimore Sun report that Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh had chosen New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison as that citys new police commissioner. It wasnt just the news of Harrisons departure that grabbed my attention; it was also my relatives additional commentary: Can a mayor be impeached? When I asked her to explain her comment, she said Harrison will be the 5th police commissioner in 4 years. All this as police corruption remains at an all-time high. (Pugh) keeps selecting candidates for this role without properly vetting them or taking community feedback into consideration (despite sloppily soliciting it). And this N.O. candidate didnt even apply for the position. Indeed, after Pugh fired police Commissioner Kevin Davis in January 2018, she has struggled to fill the position. Harrison, according to The Sun, was Pughs third choice to replace Davis. Her first pick was confirmed by the Baltimore City Council, served a few months and then resigned after federal prosecutors hit him with three counts of failing to file federal taxes. The interim commissioner initially expressed interest in becoming permanent, but then said he didnt want to be considered. In November, after what The Sun calls a secretive search, Pugh said shed picked Fort Worths police chief for commissioner. The Sun discovered that Fitzgerald overstated and misrepresented some accomplishments on his resume, but when Fitzgerald withdrew his name from consideration Monday, he cited a medical emergency that left his 13-year-old needing two brain surgeries. After all that, Pugh announced that shed picked Harrison a month after Harrison said in a statement that he had asked not to be considered for the position because of my commitment to achieving our goals at NOPD. Even before I knew that Baltimores mayor has made a mess of her search for a commissioner, I wondered why Harrison, a 27-year veteran of the police force in his hometown, would choose to uproot himself, move to a new city and lead a police force that has historically has been every bit as bad if not worse as NOPD. New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison leaving to head Baltimore police If Harrison loved Baltimore or had roots there, his move would make more sense. If he had come up through the ranks of that police department, he could probably count on the kind of support and buy-in hes gotten after coming up through the ranks in New Orleans. Hes been a good police superintendent as New Orleans has looked to meet the demands of a federal court consent decree, but given that the circumstances in Baltimore are so different, thats not enough reason to predict that hell do well there. If you ask New Orleanians to name the best police superintendent weve had over the last few decades, most of them will probably say Richard Pennington, who served in that top role from 1994 to 2002. In 1996 around Christmastime, Pennington entered Galatoires restaurant and was given a standing ovation by everybody present. But Pennington wasnt as beloved in Atlanta even though he had some successes. I knew Atlantans who would become apoplectic at the mention of his name especially after three plainclothes Atlanta police officers forced their way into 92-year-old Kathryn Johnstons home, killed her after she fired at the apparent intruders, planted marijuana in her house and then claimed to have bought drugs there. And the Atlanta Police Department is not even notorious for its criminally aggressive police. In September 2014, The Sun published a series called Undue Force, which began: Over the past four years, more than 100 people have won court judgments or settlements related to allegations of brutality and civil rights violations. Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson. . Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones -- jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles -- head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement. Such beatings can poison relationships between police and the community, limiting cooperation in the fight against crime, the mayor and police officials say. In 2015, After police took handcuffed suspect Freddie Gray on a rough ride that severed his spine, the cousin mentioned above wrote a dispatch for The Nation from his funeral. An attorney for Grays family asked for prayer for then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, saying, She knows what the police do. She knows. Theres not a single person in this church who dont know what they do. Harrison knows what they do, too. Which makes it surprising that at this point in his career, this is the job hes choosing. I can understand him wanting a challenge. But its harder to understand him wanting this one. | New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison will become Baltimore's new police commissioner. John Sutter: Harrison is a good police superintendent, but he won't be up to the task in Baltimore. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/opinions/2019/01/is-new-orleans-police-superintendent-michael-harrison-up-to-the-task-in-baltimore.html | 0.484201 |
Is New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison up to the task in Baltimore? | On Tuesday morning, a cousin in Baltimore tweeted the link to a Baltimore Sun report that Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh had chosen New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison as that citys new police commissioner. It wasnt just the news of Harrisons departure that grabbed my attention; it was also my relatives additional commentary: Can a mayor be impeached? When I asked her to explain her comment, she said Harrison will be the 5th police commissioner in 4 years. All this as police corruption remains at an all-time high. (Pugh) keeps selecting candidates for this role without properly vetting them or taking community feedback into consideration (despite sloppily soliciting it). And this N.O. candidate didnt even apply for the position. Indeed, after Pugh fired police Commissioner Kevin Davis in January 2018, she has struggled to fill the position. Harrison, according to The Sun, was Pughs third choice to replace Davis. Her first pick was confirmed by the Baltimore City Council, served a few months and then resigned after federal prosecutors hit him with three counts of failing to file federal taxes. The interim commissioner initially expressed interest in becoming permanent, but then said he didnt want to be considered. In November, after what The Sun calls a secretive search, Pugh said shed picked Fort Worths police chief for commissioner. The Sun discovered that Fitzgerald overstated and misrepresented some accomplishments on his resume, but when Fitzgerald withdrew his name from consideration Monday, he cited a medical emergency that left his 13-year-old needing two brain surgeries. After all that, Pugh announced that shed picked Harrison a month after Harrison said in a statement that he had asked not to be considered for the position because of my commitment to achieving our goals at NOPD. Even before I knew that Baltimores mayor has made a mess of her search for a commissioner, I wondered why Harrison, a 27-year veteran of the police force in his hometown, would choose to uproot himself, move to a new city and lead a police force that has historically has been every bit as bad if not worse as NOPD. New Orleans Police Chief Michael Harrison leaving to head Baltimore police If Harrison loved Baltimore or had roots there, his move would make more sense. If he had come up through the ranks of that police department, he could probably count on the kind of support and buy-in hes gotten after coming up through the ranks in New Orleans. Hes been a good police superintendent as New Orleans has looked to meet the demands of a federal court consent decree, but given that the circumstances in Baltimore are so different, thats not enough reason to predict that hell do well there. If you ask New Orleanians to name the best police superintendent weve had over the last few decades, most of them will probably say Richard Pennington, who served in that top role from 1994 to 2002. In 1996 around Christmastime, Pennington entered Galatoires restaurant and was given a standing ovation by everybody present. But Pennington wasnt as beloved in Atlanta even though he had some successes. I knew Atlantans who would become apoplectic at the mention of his name especially after three plainclothes Atlanta police officers forced their way into 92-year-old Kathryn Johnstons home, killed her after she fired at the apparent intruders, planted marijuana in her house and then claimed to have bought drugs there. And the Atlanta Police Department is not even notorious for its criminally aggressive police. In September 2014, The Sun published a series called Undue Force, which began: Over the past four years, more than 100 people have won court judgments or settlements related to allegations of brutality and civil rights violations. Victims include a 15-year-old boy riding a dirt bike, a 26-year-old pregnant accountant who had witnessed a beating, a 50-year-old woman selling church raffle tickets, a 65-year-old church deacon rolling a cigarette and an 87-year-old grandmother aiding her wounded grandson. . Officers have battered dozens of residents who suffered broken bones -- jaws, noses, arms, legs, ankles -- head trauma, organ failure, and even death, coming during questionable arrests. Some residents were beaten while handcuffed; others were thrown to the pavement. Such beatings can poison relationships between police and the community, limiting cooperation in the fight against crime, the mayor and police officials say. In 2015, After police took handcuffed suspect Freddie Gray on a rough ride that severed his spine, the cousin mentioned above wrote a dispatch for The Nation from his funeral. An attorney for Grays family asked for prayer for then-Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, saying, She knows what the police do. She knows. Theres not a single person in this church who dont know what they do. Harrison knows what they do, too. Which makes it surprising that at this point in his career, this is the job hes choosing. I can understand him wanting a challenge. But its harder to understand him wanting this one. | New Orleans Police Superintendent Michael Harrison will become Baltimore's new police commissioner. John Sutter: Harrison is a good police superintendent, but he won't be up to the task in Baltimore. He says Harrison's move would make more sense if he loved Baltimore or had roots there. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/opinions/2019/01/is-new-orleans-police-superintendent-michael-harrison-up-to-the-task-in-baltimore.html | 0.581017 |
Where in the world is Salvator Mundi, the most expensive painting ever sold? | Long before it got caught up in Robert Muellers investigation into Donald Trumps dealings with Russia, the ethereally beautiful portrait of Jesus known as Salvator Mundi, Latin for saviour of the world, was in the possession of a Catholic choir master and air conditioning contractor in Baton Rouge, La., called Basil Clovis Hendry. In those innocent times, before Hendry died in 2004 and his daughter sold it for a few thousand dollars, no one thought it was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. Hendry had inherited it from his aunt, Minnie Kurtz, who had bought it with her husband Warren for $45 in 1958, as part of their interest in European art. At the time, they believed it was by a minor follower of da Vinci, Giovanni Boltraffio. Before that, it had been in a private collection in England since 1900, but before that, there was a gap of centuries. Now, it is understood to have once been owned by Charles I, the 17th century king of England, and before that in the French royal court. Today, however, a little over a year after it sold to a Saudi prince for $450 million as the most expensive painting ever, no one knows where it is, and there are grave concerns for its physical safety. There is also wild speculation over the true purpose of what has been reported as a massive overpayment for a painting that was expected to fetch about a quarter that amount. And there are tantalizing details about the seller, a Russian oligarch whose purchase of property from Trump for a suspiciously high price is part of the FBI investigation into alleged Trump campaign collusion with Russia, and about the buyer, Mohammed bin Salman, the controversial ruler of Saudi Arabia who enjoys Trumps firm support even after his central role in the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi seems all but proven. It was a very intense picture and I felt a whole slipstream of artistry and genius and some sort of otherworldliness that I'll never experience again Salvator Mundi, a work of oil on walnut wood of 66 by 45 centimetres, was supposed to go on display in December at the Louvre Abu Dhabi, a satellite of the Paris museum, but that exhibition has been delayed without explanation. Nobody outside the immediate Arab hierarchy knows where it is, Martin Kemp, the art historian who first saw the painting in 2008 and helped to vouch for its authenticity, told The Times of London in November. Robert Simon, the dealer who bought it from the Hendry family in 2005, similarly said, The mystery of its location is, of course, disturbing. And Dianne Dwyer Modestini, who restored it from the miserable condition it was in cracked, overpainted, grimy said she has been pleading with the Louvre Abu Dhabi for assurances that the fragile work is being properly cared for. It was a very intense picture and I felt a whole slipstream of artistry and genius and some sort of otherworldliness that Ill never experience again, she told CNN. There has also been a dispute over how the painting was stored, and why a glass covering, which was removed for the 2017 auction, was replaced with a less air-tight acrylic. Known colloquially as the male Mona Lisa, Salvator Mundi is a painting of the most iconic figure in the world by the most important artist of all time, said Loic Gouzer, who led the auction for Christies. His colleague, Alan Wintermute, called it the Holy Grail of Old Master paintings, and its sale is as close as Ive come to an art world miracle. This unique value is due to the place da Vinci occupies in the Western artistic imagination, as an unrivalled polymath, artistic genius, creative inventor, and master of the human form. Only about 20 of his paintings are thought to be in existence. Those include The Last Supper, a masterpiece of composition that nevertheless has spawned several jokes about why everyone is sitting on the same side of the table, and the Mona Lisa, whose enigmatic smile has made it the most famous painting in the world. Art dealers Robert Simon and Alexander Parrish bought it for less than $10,000 in 2005 at Hendrys estate sale in New Orleans, and with Modestinis restoration help, they showed it to experts in 2008 in London. Kemp would later report that signs of Leonardos magic asserted themselves. There was controversy, and still is. The crystal orb in Jesuss left hand seems to violate the physics of light, which is curious. Salvator Mundi was painted around 1500, when da Vinci was in his late 40s, and had been closely studying the science of light. His right thumb also appears to have shifted in position. There is also a notable absence of any pose or physical composition typical of da Vincis genius sense for the human body. Jesus simply faces the viewer dead on. But it was authenticated by Englands National Gallery, and shown there in 2011, and at the Dallas Museum of Art in 2012. The next year, Simon and Parrish sold it to a Russian billionaire potash magnate, Dmitry Rybolovlev, via art dealer Yves Bouvier, a Swiss shipping tycoon facing investigation in a massive alleged fraud. Rybolovlev, who is president of Monacos football club and is the largest shareholder in the Bank of Cyprus, has figured in the Mueller investigation because he bought property in Florida from Trump in 2008 at approximately double the value, and because of reports his plane was spotted at airports coinciding with Trump campaign events. His purchase of Salvator Mundi and other artworks led to an ongoing legal war in the courts of many countries against Bouvier, over claims the price had been inflated. In October, Rybolovlev also sued Sothebys, claiming he was misled over the price, which the auction house denies. Salvator Mundi only came to major international attention, however, when Rybolovlev decided to sell it at Christies in New York, and a major tour was set up. The final winning bid was $400 million, plus $50 million in fees. The New York Times, reportedly based on information from the FBI, soon identified the buyer as a Saudi prince acting on behalf of Mohammed bin Salman. That prince was later named Saudi culture minister. The price reportedly went so high because another competing bidder was also close to the Saudi ruler, Mohammed Bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and they were unwittingly bidding against each other. Lately, there have been reports that bin Salman may even have traded it for a yacht. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has given no indication of when it might be displayed. Email: jbrean@nationalpost.com | Twitter: josephbrean | Salvator Mundi was sold to a Saudi prince for $450 million, making it the most expensive painting ever. It is understood to have once been owned by Charles I, the 17th century king of England. There is wild speculation over the true purpose of what has been reported as a massive overpayment. | bart | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/news/where-in-the-world-is-salvator-mundi-the-most-expensive-painting-ever-sold | 0.245516 |
Does the government shutdown affect food stamps in Oregon? | More than 600,000 Oregonians who rely on federal food stamp benefits are safe for now despite a partial government shutdown, a state official said Tuesday. The state has secured funding to cover food stamps through February. Separately, state officials say they have money to continue a different food program for women, children and infants through March. The food stamp program, formally called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, serves more than 350,000 households statewide. It provides about $75 million monthly to needy Oregonians, with an average household benefit of just over $200. The federal government covers all food stamp benefits for Oregonians, and the state has already received its funding through February, said Dawn Myers, the program manager. I would not say that I am super concerned yet, said Myers, who has experienced other brief federal shutdowns in her 13 years with the Department of Human Services. I think that we have a good amount of time that we can go with benefits for individuals not being affected. Oregon issues food stamp credits to recipients each month, between the first and ninth, depending on a persons Social Security number. That means the earliest the federal shutdown could impact Oregonians would be March 1. The state does not maintain a reserve to fund the food-stamp program, Myers said. If the shutdown were to continue, Myers said the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food and Nutrition Service would likely provide information to state programs. But when such directions would come is unknown. Meanwhile, the state has secured federal funding for a different food program serving about 89,000 people through March, said Robb Cowie, a spokesman for the Oregon Health Authority. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides recipients about $4 million a month, or $50 on average. -- Brad Schmidt bschmidt@oregonian.com 503-294-7628 @_brad_schmidt Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. | The federal government covers all food stamp benefits for Oregonians. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2019/01/does-the-government-shutdown-affect-food-stamps-in-oregon.html | 0.264151 |
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