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Are Panthers, Patriots good fits for Colin Kaepernick? Is another NFL team? | CLOSE Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid and the NFL agreed to settle on Friday, but the case wont truly be resolved until Kaepernick is back on the field. The former 49ers quarterback's attorney, Mark Geragos, told CNN's Ana Cabrera recently that he believed Carolina and New England were among three teams he believed might be in the market to sign his client "within the next two weeks." (Geragos made only a vague reference to a third potential suitor.) "(T)he natural would be if Cam Newton is out, then the natural place to be is to play with Eric (Reid) in Carolina. And youve got an owner there," Geragos explained, a reference to David Tepper, the Panthers' progressive new boss who greenlit the signing and subsequent extension of Reid, the safety who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco and also settled his own collusion grievance against the NFL. (Photo11: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) "I will tell you besides the Panthers, it would not surprise me if (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft makes a move." Geragos added of Kaepernick, 31: "He absolutely wants to play. He wants to compete at the highest level. I mean this is a competitive young man. ... This is someone whos in his prime. You get smarter at that position, and hes wise beyond his years." Definitively, yes. Kap's game pretty closely mirrors that of Newton, the Panthers' starter for eight years plus arm strength, extends plays, great athleticism on the move, capably limits turnovers ... but also not especially accurate, particularly on touch throws. Kaepernick (6-4, 230) isn't as sturdily built as the 6-5, 245-pound Newton it's probably safe to assume he's lighter than his listed playing weight while Newton appears even heavier. But Kap also doesn't invite the kind of punishment as the 2015 league MVP, who just underwent shoulder surgery, when he tucks the ball and runs or tries to barrel over the line on sneaks. Like Seattle's Russell Wilson, Kaepernick excels at gaining maximum yardage with his legs while knowing when to get down or out of bounds. Bottom line: The skill sets are similar enough that Carolina probably wouldn't experience much drop-off (or have to drastically redesign the offense or alter play calling) if Kaepernick were to replace Newton. And to suggest Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen are better options is simply silly. Meh. Maybe. Let's not discount that he could bring a new dimension to this attack perhaps even running point on certain packages the way Taysom Hill does in New Orleans. And if anyone knows how to leverage a given player's talents and Kaepernick presumably still has plenty of it it's Bill Belichick. But in that same vein, it never seems like a particularly good idea when the Saints effectively take the ball out of Drew Brees' hands. And though no one would suggest that Tom Brady's current backup, veteran Brian Hoyer, has Kaepernick's upside, he's also infinitely more familiar with the playbook and wouldn't require New England to reconfigure its attack on the fly if Brady went down. Accuracy and efficiently cycling through his progressions are Brady's bread and butter, yet have never been Kaepernick's strengths. Maybe he could get there under the tutelage of Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but this could also be a square peg, round hole situation. Does Kaepernick fit in ... There are other patently obvious teams that could immediately benefit from Kap's services. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco's moving to Denver, and Robert Griffin III is unsigned. The franchise has flirted with Kaepernick in the past, and he'd seem to plug in nicely to what's being built around Lamar Jackson. Houston Texans: Deceased owner Bob McNair probably would not have signed off, but they could obviously do much better than Brandon Weeden, Joe Webb et. al. reference the lost 2017 season if Deshaun Watson goes down again. Jacksonville Jaguars: No explanation required. Miami Dolphins: They're rebooting, and Ryan Tannehill's future with the franchise seems tenuous at best. New Orleans Saints: Teddy Bridgewater is headed for free agency, and Kaepernick is almost surely a better option behind Brees (and how much time does he have left?) on a regular basis than Hill. Oakland Raiders: A little competition for Derek Carr wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, and it would be interesting to see what Jon Gruden's offense would look like with a player like Kaepernick at the controls. Philadelphia Eagles: Perhaps the ideal locker room fit, and a roster that's about to need a new Plan B behind oft-injured Carson Wentz. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston is the only experienced quarterback they have under contract for 2019, and he's not signed for 2020. Be nice to have a capable reserve if new coach Bruce Arians ultimately concludes Winston is not the answer he's banking on. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota always seems to be banged up. And we saw what happened in Week 17 with their playoff aspirations riding on Blaine Gabbert. Washington Redskins: The need is obvious given Alex Smith's uncertain outlook. Of course, that was also painfully apparent in the final two months of 2018 ... when Washington threw away its playoff hopes by employing much less capable backups. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis | Colin Kaepernick's attorney says Carolina and New England are among three teams he believes might be in the market to sign his client. | bart | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/02/18/colin-kaepernick-patriots-panthers-nfl-team-fits/2904678002/ | 0.290898 |
Are Panthers, Patriots good fits for Colin Kaepernick? Is another NFL team? | CLOSE Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid and the NFL agreed to settle on Friday, but the case wont truly be resolved until Kaepernick is back on the field. The former 49ers quarterback's attorney, Mark Geragos, told CNN's Ana Cabrera recently that he believed Carolina and New England were among three teams he believed might be in the market to sign his client "within the next two weeks." (Geragos made only a vague reference to a third potential suitor.) "(T)he natural would be if Cam Newton is out, then the natural place to be is to play with Eric (Reid) in Carolina. And youve got an owner there," Geragos explained, a reference to David Tepper, the Panthers' progressive new boss who greenlit the signing and subsequent extension of Reid, the safety who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco and also settled his own collusion grievance against the NFL. (Photo11: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) "I will tell you besides the Panthers, it would not surprise me if (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft makes a move." Geragos added of Kaepernick, 31: "He absolutely wants to play. He wants to compete at the highest level. I mean this is a competitive young man. ... This is someone whos in his prime. You get smarter at that position, and hes wise beyond his years." Definitively, yes. Kap's game pretty closely mirrors that of Newton, the Panthers' starter for eight years plus arm strength, extends plays, great athleticism on the move, capably limits turnovers ... but also not especially accurate, particularly on touch throws. Kaepernick (6-4, 230) isn't as sturdily built as the 6-5, 245-pound Newton it's probably safe to assume he's lighter than his listed playing weight while Newton appears even heavier. But Kap also doesn't invite the kind of punishment as the 2015 league MVP, who just underwent shoulder surgery, when he tucks the ball and runs or tries to barrel over the line on sneaks. Like Seattle's Russell Wilson, Kaepernick excels at gaining maximum yardage with his legs while knowing when to get down or out of bounds. Bottom line: The skill sets are similar enough that Carolina probably wouldn't experience much drop-off (or have to drastically redesign the offense or alter play calling) if Kaepernick were to replace Newton. And to suggest Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen are better options is simply silly. Meh. Maybe. Let's not discount that he could bring a new dimension to this attack perhaps even running point on certain packages the way Taysom Hill does in New Orleans. And if anyone knows how to leverage a given player's talents and Kaepernick presumably still has plenty of it it's Bill Belichick. But in that same vein, it never seems like a particularly good idea when the Saints effectively take the ball out of Drew Brees' hands. And though no one would suggest that Tom Brady's current backup, veteran Brian Hoyer, has Kaepernick's upside, he's also infinitely more familiar with the playbook and wouldn't require New England to reconfigure its attack on the fly if Brady went down. Accuracy and efficiently cycling through his progressions are Brady's bread and butter, yet have never been Kaepernick's strengths. Maybe he could get there under the tutelage of Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but this could also be a square peg, round hole situation. Does Kaepernick fit in ... There are other patently obvious teams that could immediately benefit from Kap's services. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco's moving to Denver, and Robert Griffin III is unsigned. The franchise has flirted with Kaepernick in the past, and he'd seem to plug in nicely to what's being built around Lamar Jackson. Houston Texans: Deceased owner Bob McNair probably would not have signed off, but they could obviously do much better than Brandon Weeden, Joe Webb et. al. reference the lost 2017 season if Deshaun Watson goes down again. Jacksonville Jaguars: No explanation required. Miami Dolphins: They're rebooting, and Ryan Tannehill's future with the franchise seems tenuous at best. New Orleans Saints: Teddy Bridgewater is headed for free agency, and Kaepernick is almost surely a better option behind Brees (and how much time does he have left?) on a regular basis than Hill. Oakland Raiders: A little competition for Derek Carr wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, and it would be interesting to see what Jon Gruden's offense would look like with a player like Kaepernick at the controls. Philadelphia Eagles: Perhaps the ideal locker room fit, and a roster that's about to need a new Plan B behind oft-injured Carson Wentz. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston is the only experienced quarterback they have under contract for 2019, and he's not signed for 2020. Be nice to have a capable reserve if new coach Bruce Arians ultimately concludes Winston is not the answer he's banking on. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota always seems to be banged up. And we saw what happened in Week 17 with their playoff aspirations riding on Blaine Gabbert. Washington Redskins: The need is obvious given Alex Smith's uncertain outlook. Of course, that was also painfully apparent in the final two months of 2018 ... when Washington threw away its playoff hopes by employing much less capable backups. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis | Colin Kaepernick's attorney says Carolina and New England are among three teams he believes might be in the market to sign his client. The former 49ers quarterback's game pretty closely mirrors that of Cam Newton, the Panthers' starter for eight years. | bart | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/02/18/colin-kaepernick-patriots-panthers-nfl-team-fits/2904678002/ | 0.276777 |
Are Panthers, Patriots good fits for Colin Kaepernick? Is another NFL team? | CLOSE Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid and the NFL agreed to settle on Friday, but the case wont truly be resolved until Kaepernick is back on the field. The former 49ers quarterback's attorney, Mark Geragos, told CNN's Ana Cabrera recently that he believed Carolina and New England were among three teams he believed might be in the market to sign his client "within the next two weeks." (Geragos made only a vague reference to a third potential suitor.) "(T)he natural would be if Cam Newton is out, then the natural place to be is to play with Eric (Reid) in Carolina. And youve got an owner there," Geragos explained, a reference to David Tepper, the Panthers' progressive new boss who greenlit the signing and subsequent extension of Reid, the safety who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco and also settled his own collusion grievance against the NFL. (Photo11: Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images) "I will tell you besides the Panthers, it would not surprise me if (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft makes a move." Geragos added of Kaepernick, 31: "He absolutely wants to play. He wants to compete at the highest level. I mean this is a competitive young man. ... This is someone whos in his prime. You get smarter at that position, and hes wise beyond his years." Definitively, yes. Kap's game pretty closely mirrors that of Newton, the Panthers' starter for eight years plus arm strength, extends plays, great athleticism on the move, capably limits turnovers ... but also not especially accurate, particularly on touch throws. Kaepernick (6-4, 230) isn't as sturdily built as the 6-5, 245-pound Newton it's probably safe to assume he's lighter than his listed playing weight while Newton appears even heavier. But Kap also doesn't invite the kind of punishment as the 2015 league MVP, who just underwent shoulder surgery, when he tucks the ball and runs or tries to barrel over the line on sneaks. Like Seattle's Russell Wilson, Kaepernick excels at gaining maximum yardage with his legs while knowing when to get down or out of bounds. Bottom line: The skill sets are similar enough that Carolina probably wouldn't experience much drop-off (or have to drastically redesign the offense or alter play calling) if Kaepernick were to replace Newton. And to suggest Taylor Heinicke or Kyle Allen are better options is simply silly. Meh. Maybe. Let's not discount that he could bring a new dimension to this attack perhaps even running point on certain packages the way Taysom Hill does in New Orleans. And if anyone knows how to leverage a given player's talents and Kaepernick presumably still has plenty of it it's Bill Belichick. But in that same vein, it never seems like a particularly good idea when the Saints effectively take the ball out of Drew Brees' hands. And though no one would suggest that Tom Brady's current backup, veteran Brian Hoyer, has Kaepernick's upside, he's also infinitely more familiar with the playbook and wouldn't require New England to reconfigure its attack on the fly if Brady went down. Accuracy and efficiently cycling through his progressions are Brady's bread and butter, yet have never been Kaepernick's strengths. Maybe he could get there under the tutelage of Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, but this could also be a square peg, round hole situation. Does Kaepernick fit in ... There are other patently obvious teams that could immediately benefit from Kap's services. Baltimore Ravens: Joe Flacco's moving to Denver, and Robert Griffin III is unsigned. The franchise has flirted with Kaepernick in the past, and he'd seem to plug in nicely to what's being built around Lamar Jackson. Houston Texans: Deceased owner Bob McNair probably would not have signed off, but they could obviously do much better than Brandon Weeden, Joe Webb et. al. reference the lost 2017 season if Deshaun Watson goes down again. Jacksonville Jaguars: No explanation required. Miami Dolphins: They're rebooting, and Ryan Tannehill's future with the franchise seems tenuous at best. New Orleans Saints: Teddy Bridgewater is headed for free agency, and Kaepernick is almost surely a better option behind Brees (and how much time does he have left?) on a regular basis than Hill. Oakland Raiders: A little competition for Derek Carr wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, and it would be interesting to see what Jon Gruden's offense would look like with a player like Kaepernick at the controls. Philadelphia Eagles: Perhaps the ideal locker room fit, and a roster that's about to need a new Plan B behind oft-injured Carson Wentz. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston is the only experienced quarterback they have under contract for 2019, and he's not signed for 2020. Be nice to have a capable reserve if new coach Bruce Arians ultimately concludes Winston is not the answer he's banking on. Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota always seems to be banged up. And we saw what happened in Week 17 with their playoff aspirations riding on Blaine Gabbert. Washington Redskins: The need is obvious given Alex Smith's uncertain outlook. Of course, that was also painfully apparent in the final two months of 2018 ... when Washington threw away its playoff hopes by employing much less capable backups. *** Follow Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis | Colin Kaepernick's attorney says Carolina and New England are among three teams he believes might be in the market to sign his client. The former 49ers quarterback's game pretty closely mirrors that of Cam Newton, the Panthers' starter for eight years. "He absolutely wants to play. He wants to compete at the highest level," Mark Geragos said. | bart | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/02/18/colin-kaepernick-patriots-panthers-nfl-team-fits/2904678002/ | 0.307702 |
Why Can't We Expand Access To Transportation For Older Adults? | For decades, weve known about the consequences of poor transportation. It is a major reason why people miss medical appointments, struggle to shop for food and medicine, and become more socially isolated. It can contribute to malnutrition and falls, result in more emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and even push older adults to leave their homes and move to residential care. All for want of a simple ride. Yet, government, local non-profits, and businesses still are taking only small steps to fill this critical need. Often programs struggle to get beyond lip-service, or provide only half measures that look good on paper but do little to help older adults remain independent and as healthy as possible at home. Like so much else in the world of senior services, transportation for older adults suffers from a lack of both coordination and resources. Technology can help. Payment systems can be modernized. Jana Lynott of the AARP Public Policy Institute describes a model where consumers use universal scheduling software to better coordinate door-to-door transportation services such as senior shuttles, paratransit busses, taxicabs, and even ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft. She describes the concept, called Universal mobility as a service (UMaaS), as Expedia for paratransita simple way for consumers to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective ride. But this, and other solutions, must navigate a swamp of regulations and payment systems that are less-then-friendly. Traditional Medicare: Medicare generally pays only for ambulance trips to hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. Last week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new demonstration program that takes a modest step towards a more sensible model. Medicare would pay for ambulance rides to lower-cost and more accessible urgent care clinics or doctors offices. Thats fine, but seniors rarely need an ambulance to take them to the doctor. Ride-sharing or similar services would be far less costly and more convenient. Even better: Medicare could cover transportation to social services such as adult day programs, senior centers, and the like. Medicare Advantage: Unlike fee-for-service Medicare, MA managed care plans may provide non-emergency transportation to healthcare providers. And they can use less-costly alternatives than ambulances. Under new rules, the plans will be able to expand these services in the coming years and, for example, provide rides to adult day programs or other non-medical services. Even better: If they could provide rides to the grocery store. Medicaid: Non-emergency medical transportation is a required Medicaid benefit. However, because funding is short, many states limit this service. According to one study, 3.6 million beneficiaries miss or delay medical care because they cannot get to the doctor. Public transportation: Those living in cities and some suburbs may be able to rely on the bus or other mass transit. And buses increasingly are accessible for those who use wheelchairs or otherwise need assistance. But public transportation suffers from the last mile problem. Some public transit agencies provide paratransit or other options for older adults. But they often are expensive and inefficient. Limited service often means long waits. A growing number of cities and counties are winning designations as age-friendly by improving transit options, at least on paper. But many still fall far short in reality. Private market options: Ride sharing is a growing option for older adults, just as it is for everyone else. Uber and, especially, Lyft, are aggressively raising their profile in both the senior and medical markets. Lyft, for instance, is partnering with health systems to provide rides to medical appointments and even has begun adapting services to older customers who do not have smartphones. However, ride-sharing has its challenges: For example, most drivers are untrained in assisting customers who may have functional or cognitive limitations. Community organizations. Volunteer rides are a core service of many community organizations. Neighborhood-based senior villages link volunteers with those who need assistance. Rides. Faith communities and circles of friends do much the same informally, sometimes with the help of online calendar software such as lotsa helping hands. And community-based organizations are non-profits that often provide rides or information about third-party transportation (full disclosure: I am on the board of such a non-profit). This really isnt that hard, and the payoff in improved quality of life and potential cost savings could be significant. Government, business, the health system, and non-profits need to get on board this train. | Transportation for older adults suffers from a lack of coordination and resources. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/02/18/why-cant-we-expand-access-to-transportation-for-older-adults/ | 0.476985 |
Why Can't We Expand Access To Transportation For Older Adults? | For decades, weve known about the consequences of poor transportation. It is a major reason why people miss medical appointments, struggle to shop for food and medicine, and become more socially isolated. It can contribute to malnutrition and falls, result in more emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and even push older adults to leave their homes and move to residential care. All for want of a simple ride. Yet, government, local non-profits, and businesses still are taking only small steps to fill this critical need. Often programs struggle to get beyond lip-service, or provide only half measures that look good on paper but do little to help older adults remain independent and as healthy as possible at home. Like so much else in the world of senior services, transportation for older adults suffers from a lack of both coordination and resources. Technology can help. Payment systems can be modernized. Jana Lynott of the AARP Public Policy Institute describes a model where consumers use universal scheduling software to better coordinate door-to-door transportation services such as senior shuttles, paratransit busses, taxicabs, and even ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft. She describes the concept, called Universal mobility as a service (UMaaS), as Expedia for paratransita simple way for consumers to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective ride. But this, and other solutions, must navigate a swamp of regulations and payment systems that are less-then-friendly. Traditional Medicare: Medicare generally pays only for ambulance trips to hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. Last week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new demonstration program that takes a modest step towards a more sensible model. Medicare would pay for ambulance rides to lower-cost and more accessible urgent care clinics or doctors offices. Thats fine, but seniors rarely need an ambulance to take them to the doctor. Ride-sharing or similar services would be far less costly and more convenient. Even better: Medicare could cover transportation to social services such as adult day programs, senior centers, and the like. Medicare Advantage: Unlike fee-for-service Medicare, MA managed care plans may provide non-emergency transportation to healthcare providers. And they can use less-costly alternatives than ambulances. Under new rules, the plans will be able to expand these services in the coming years and, for example, provide rides to adult day programs or other non-medical services. Even better: If they could provide rides to the grocery store. Medicaid: Non-emergency medical transportation is a required Medicaid benefit. However, because funding is short, many states limit this service. According to one study, 3.6 million beneficiaries miss or delay medical care because they cannot get to the doctor. Public transportation: Those living in cities and some suburbs may be able to rely on the bus or other mass transit. And buses increasingly are accessible for those who use wheelchairs or otherwise need assistance. But public transportation suffers from the last mile problem. Some public transit agencies provide paratransit or other options for older adults. But they often are expensive and inefficient. Limited service often means long waits. A growing number of cities and counties are winning designations as age-friendly by improving transit options, at least on paper. But many still fall far short in reality. Private market options: Ride sharing is a growing option for older adults, just as it is for everyone else. Uber and, especially, Lyft, are aggressively raising their profile in both the senior and medical markets. Lyft, for instance, is partnering with health systems to provide rides to medical appointments and even has begun adapting services to older customers who do not have smartphones. However, ride-sharing has its challenges: For example, most drivers are untrained in assisting customers who may have functional or cognitive limitations. Community organizations. Volunteer rides are a core service of many community organizations. Neighborhood-based senior villages link volunteers with those who need assistance. Rides. Faith communities and circles of friends do much the same informally, sometimes with the help of online calendar software such as lotsa helping hands. And community-based organizations are non-profits that often provide rides or information about third-party transportation (full disclosure: I am on the board of such a non-profit). This really isnt that hard, and the payoff in improved quality of life and potential cost savings could be significant. Government, business, the health system, and non-profits need to get on board this train. | Poor transportation for older adults is a major reason why people miss medical appointments, struggle to shop for food and medicine, and become more socially isolated. Government, non-profits, and businesses are taking only small steps to fill this critical need. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/02/18/why-cant-we-expand-access-to-transportation-for-older-adults/ | 0.460501 |
Why Can't We Expand Access To Transportation For Older Adults? | For decades, weve known about the consequences of poor transportation. It is a major reason why people miss medical appointments, struggle to shop for food and medicine, and become more socially isolated. It can contribute to malnutrition and falls, result in more emergency department visits and hospital admissions, and even push older adults to leave their homes and move to residential care. All for want of a simple ride. Yet, government, local non-profits, and businesses still are taking only small steps to fill this critical need. Often programs struggle to get beyond lip-service, or provide only half measures that look good on paper but do little to help older adults remain independent and as healthy as possible at home. Like so much else in the world of senior services, transportation for older adults suffers from a lack of both coordination and resources. Technology can help. Payment systems can be modernized. Jana Lynott of the AARP Public Policy Institute describes a model where consumers use universal scheduling software to better coordinate door-to-door transportation services such as senior shuttles, paratransit busses, taxicabs, and even ride-hailing platforms like Uber and Lyft. She describes the concept, called Universal mobility as a service (UMaaS), as Expedia for paratransita simple way for consumers to choose the most appropriate and cost-effective ride. But this, and other solutions, must navigate a swamp of regulations and payment systems that are less-then-friendly. Traditional Medicare: Medicare generally pays only for ambulance trips to hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. Last week, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new demonstration program that takes a modest step towards a more sensible model. Medicare would pay for ambulance rides to lower-cost and more accessible urgent care clinics or doctors offices. Thats fine, but seniors rarely need an ambulance to take them to the doctor. Ride-sharing or similar services would be far less costly and more convenient. Even better: Medicare could cover transportation to social services such as adult day programs, senior centers, and the like. Medicare Advantage: Unlike fee-for-service Medicare, MA managed care plans may provide non-emergency transportation to healthcare providers. And they can use less-costly alternatives than ambulances. Under new rules, the plans will be able to expand these services in the coming years and, for example, provide rides to adult day programs or other non-medical services. Even better: If they could provide rides to the grocery store. Medicaid: Non-emergency medical transportation is a required Medicaid benefit. However, because funding is short, many states limit this service. According to one study, 3.6 million beneficiaries miss or delay medical care because they cannot get to the doctor. Public transportation: Those living in cities and some suburbs may be able to rely on the bus or other mass transit. And buses increasingly are accessible for those who use wheelchairs or otherwise need assistance. But public transportation suffers from the last mile problem. Some public transit agencies provide paratransit or other options for older adults. But they often are expensive and inefficient. Limited service often means long waits. A growing number of cities and counties are winning designations as age-friendly by improving transit options, at least on paper. But many still fall far short in reality. Private market options: Ride sharing is a growing option for older adults, just as it is for everyone else. Uber and, especially, Lyft, are aggressively raising their profile in both the senior and medical markets. Lyft, for instance, is partnering with health systems to provide rides to medical appointments and even has begun adapting services to older customers who do not have smartphones. However, ride-sharing has its challenges: For example, most drivers are untrained in assisting customers who may have functional or cognitive limitations. Community organizations. Volunteer rides are a core service of many community organizations. Neighborhood-based senior villages link volunteers with those who need assistance. Rides. Faith communities and circles of friends do much the same informally, sometimes with the help of online calendar software such as lotsa helping hands. And community-based organizations are non-profits that often provide rides or information about third-party transportation (full disclosure: I am on the board of such a non-profit). This really isnt that hard, and the payoff in improved quality of life and potential cost savings could be significant. Government, business, the health system, and non-profits need to get on board this train. | Poor transportation for older adults is a major reason why people miss medical appointments, struggle to shop for food and medicine, and become more socially isolated. Government, non-profits, and businesses are taking only small steps to fill this critical need, authors say. They say technology can help, but payment systems must be modernized. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/howardgleckman/2019/02/18/why-cant-we-expand-access-to-transportation-for-older-adults/ | 0.53744 |
How Well Is The Gig Economy Working For Gig Workers? | The gig economy gets lauded for letting millions of Americans set their own hours and choose their work assignments as freelancers and independent contractors. But the gig economy which includes people from Uber drivers to dog walkers to consultants gets low marks for letting them earn a decent living and receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The pay and benefits problems, however, are slowly starting to shrink, according to experts at a gig economy workshop held by The Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. last week. Improvements for Pay and Benefits for Gig Workers I do see some pathways. There are some people showing it can be done, Maureen Conway, The Aspen Institutes vice president for policy programs and executive director of its economic opportunities program, told me in an interview after the event. Also on Forbes: Conway, who hosted the panel (The Rise of Gig Work: Creating Flexibility and Stability for a New Era), was quick to add a word of caution, however. We do many events like this one featuring companies we think are leading, in terms of their practices. Unfortunately, many companies are not following. The gig economy, Conway added, is in some ways emblematic of the issues of instability in work in America today. But The Aspen Institutes panelists described a few glimmers for gig workers: States and Governments Libby Reder, senior fellow with The Aspen Institutes Future of Work Initiative, said a few state and local governments, like ones in Washington state and New York, are trying to improve gig worker pay and benefits. Washington state, Reder said, is attempting to come up with a whole new model through legislation that would let gig platforms contribute to benefits funds for gig workers and set governance requirements for administrators. Last week, a national teleconference organized by the labor advocacy group Working Washington instituted a campaign for a $15-an-hour minimum wage for gig workers. While a patchwork of state regulations might be less preferable than federal rules, Reder said, states are laboratories of our democracy. If we dont try a few things out there, we wont be able to think about a comprehensive solution. Benefits for House Cleaners Also, she noted, the National Domestic Workers Alliance last year launched a novel benefit program called Alia to help house cleaners. It won The Workers Lab 2018 Innovation Fund award. Employers of the house cleaners can pay into a benefits fund (usually $5 per cleaning) for the cleaners to draw paid time off and, in some cases, insurance coverage, said Reder. Cleaners in California and New York can access accident insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance or disability insurance, but not general health insurance. House cleaners can receive Alia contributions from multiple employers or clients and take the Alia Benefits Credits with them when they leave a job or client, making them portable. Alia plans to add insurance options in other states in coming months and to adjust the product for nannies and caregivers. A Points Program to Accrue Benefits Joshua Karam, co-founder and CEO of Hyr gig platform for the restaurant and hospitality industry, noted that his workers earn good money just shy of $20 an hour, on average. Also, he noted, Hyrs U Points program lets its gig workers choose where to allocate their points accruing them for paid time off, health or dental insurance or retirement savings. So far, Hyr is available in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles; Boston, Chicago, Toronto and other Canadian markets will be added soon. Helping Gig Workers Manage Taxes And Jake Biscoglio, vice president of strategic growth initiatives/new market development at Prudential Financial, talked about the tool Covered 1099 his firm launched two weeks ago to make it easier for gig workers to save for, and pay, their taxes. We found a main pain point for gig workers was saving for taxes the awareness that it needs to be done, the discipline to do it and the time off between gigs, said Biscoglio. Covered 1099 automates the process as you get income, so money goes into the account to pay for the taxes. Covered 1099 replicates the traditional employees W-2 experience for independent workers whose earnings show up on 1099 forms. Its Tax Estimator lets gig workers set aside money the tool believes will be due for taxes and then use that cash to pay quarterly estimated taxes. (Covered 1099 is not permitted for New York state residents.) The taxation piece is important, because gig workers are responsible to file their taxes and many are used to the withholding that comes with W-2 jobs, said Karam. They dont know what they dont know. The Struggle for Policymakers Reder noted that policymakers are struggling to close the gap between laws and regulations regarding pay and benefits for traditional workers and new ones needed for the business models we see today of gig-economy platforms and their independent contractors. And Conway told me she didnt see anything coming out of Washington in the year ahead to help gig workers pay or benefits because were fairly gridlocked. Gig Work: Still Challenging Despite the new and promising ideas described at The Aspen Institute panel, gig work remains challenging for many. A 2017 study from the Freelancers Union and the gig platform Upwork found that 63% of freelancers dipped into their savings once a month. Panelist Lyndsey Cameron, a researcher who has interviewed ride-sharing gig workers and been one for about three years, said: Its tough to earn daily bread. But [being a driver] gave me a lot of flexibility. In a recent Fast Company article on the gig economy, gig drivers lamented that they have been earning less money from their work lately as companies hiring them have tried to cut costs. One Instacart driver said he averaged nearly $20 an hour before November, but in January, was averaging well under $15 an hour. And, the article noted, about 1,600 Instacart drivers have signed a petition complaining about their 30 to 40% pay declines. For many drivers at companies like Uber and Lyft, Cameron said, the money they earn is supplemental income, but its not to go to Hawaii. Cameron said her research found that whether gig workers feel empowered or exploited depends on their backgrounds. If youre a first-generation immigrant expecting to work your way up and had done low-paid, low-skill work before, youre more likely to feel empowered, she said. The people who feel more exploited are ones who had been laid off from manufacturing or pink-collar jobs and wanted to stop their downward social mobility. But, Cameron said, the gig economy is a really good thing for workers who are fifty-plus. In fact, she noted, she was drawn to her gig research because her mother lost a job in her 50s and then did gig work for about six years. Where the Gig Economy Is Headed: People 45+ Angela Heath, an audience member who recently led the online Gig Worker Summit and is CEO and Gig Income Guru for consultant TKC Incorporated, told me she believes people 45+ are where the gig economy is headed. And, she noted, the gig economy encompasses far, far more than Uber drivers. Theres a continuum of gig platforms, including some for the nations top talent, such as consultants, said Heath, author of Do the Hustle Without the Hassle. We found at our summit that many of these gig workers didnt know how to build their businesses. Heath plans to offer another online gig summit GigCon for all types of gig workers later this year. | The gig economy gets low marks for letting gig workers earn a decent living and receive benefits. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/18/how-well-is-the-gig-economy-working-for-gig-workers/ | 0.211188 |
How Well Is The Gig Economy Working For Gig Workers? | The gig economy gets lauded for letting millions of Americans set their own hours and choose their work assignments as freelancers and independent contractors. But the gig economy which includes people from Uber drivers to dog walkers to consultants gets low marks for letting them earn a decent living and receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The pay and benefits problems, however, are slowly starting to shrink, according to experts at a gig economy workshop held by The Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. last week. Improvements for Pay and Benefits for Gig Workers I do see some pathways. There are some people showing it can be done, Maureen Conway, The Aspen Institutes vice president for policy programs and executive director of its economic opportunities program, told me in an interview after the event. Also on Forbes: Conway, who hosted the panel (The Rise of Gig Work: Creating Flexibility and Stability for a New Era), was quick to add a word of caution, however. We do many events like this one featuring companies we think are leading, in terms of their practices. Unfortunately, many companies are not following. The gig economy, Conway added, is in some ways emblematic of the issues of instability in work in America today. But The Aspen Institutes panelists described a few glimmers for gig workers: States and Governments Libby Reder, senior fellow with The Aspen Institutes Future of Work Initiative, said a few state and local governments, like ones in Washington state and New York, are trying to improve gig worker pay and benefits. Washington state, Reder said, is attempting to come up with a whole new model through legislation that would let gig platforms contribute to benefits funds for gig workers and set governance requirements for administrators. Last week, a national teleconference organized by the labor advocacy group Working Washington instituted a campaign for a $15-an-hour minimum wage for gig workers. While a patchwork of state regulations might be less preferable than federal rules, Reder said, states are laboratories of our democracy. If we dont try a few things out there, we wont be able to think about a comprehensive solution. Benefits for House Cleaners Also, she noted, the National Domestic Workers Alliance last year launched a novel benefit program called Alia to help house cleaners. It won The Workers Lab 2018 Innovation Fund award. Employers of the house cleaners can pay into a benefits fund (usually $5 per cleaning) for the cleaners to draw paid time off and, in some cases, insurance coverage, said Reder. Cleaners in California and New York can access accident insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance or disability insurance, but not general health insurance. House cleaners can receive Alia contributions from multiple employers or clients and take the Alia Benefits Credits with them when they leave a job or client, making them portable. Alia plans to add insurance options in other states in coming months and to adjust the product for nannies and caregivers. A Points Program to Accrue Benefits Joshua Karam, co-founder and CEO of Hyr gig platform for the restaurant and hospitality industry, noted that his workers earn good money just shy of $20 an hour, on average. Also, he noted, Hyrs U Points program lets its gig workers choose where to allocate their points accruing them for paid time off, health or dental insurance or retirement savings. So far, Hyr is available in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles; Boston, Chicago, Toronto and other Canadian markets will be added soon. Helping Gig Workers Manage Taxes And Jake Biscoglio, vice president of strategic growth initiatives/new market development at Prudential Financial, talked about the tool Covered 1099 his firm launched two weeks ago to make it easier for gig workers to save for, and pay, their taxes. We found a main pain point for gig workers was saving for taxes the awareness that it needs to be done, the discipline to do it and the time off between gigs, said Biscoglio. Covered 1099 automates the process as you get income, so money goes into the account to pay for the taxes. Covered 1099 replicates the traditional employees W-2 experience for independent workers whose earnings show up on 1099 forms. Its Tax Estimator lets gig workers set aside money the tool believes will be due for taxes and then use that cash to pay quarterly estimated taxes. (Covered 1099 is not permitted for New York state residents.) The taxation piece is important, because gig workers are responsible to file their taxes and many are used to the withholding that comes with W-2 jobs, said Karam. They dont know what they dont know. The Struggle for Policymakers Reder noted that policymakers are struggling to close the gap between laws and regulations regarding pay and benefits for traditional workers and new ones needed for the business models we see today of gig-economy platforms and their independent contractors. And Conway told me she didnt see anything coming out of Washington in the year ahead to help gig workers pay or benefits because were fairly gridlocked. Gig Work: Still Challenging Despite the new and promising ideas described at The Aspen Institute panel, gig work remains challenging for many. A 2017 study from the Freelancers Union and the gig platform Upwork found that 63% of freelancers dipped into their savings once a month. Panelist Lyndsey Cameron, a researcher who has interviewed ride-sharing gig workers and been one for about three years, said: Its tough to earn daily bread. But [being a driver] gave me a lot of flexibility. In a recent Fast Company article on the gig economy, gig drivers lamented that they have been earning less money from their work lately as companies hiring them have tried to cut costs. One Instacart driver said he averaged nearly $20 an hour before November, but in January, was averaging well under $15 an hour. And, the article noted, about 1,600 Instacart drivers have signed a petition complaining about their 30 to 40% pay declines. For many drivers at companies like Uber and Lyft, Cameron said, the money they earn is supplemental income, but its not to go to Hawaii. Cameron said her research found that whether gig workers feel empowered or exploited depends on their backgrounds. If youre a first-generation immigrant expecting to work your way up and had done low-paid, low-skill work before, youre more likely to feel empowered, she said. The people who feel more exploited are ones who had been laid off from manufacturing or pink-collar jobs and wanted to stop their downward social mobility. But, Cameron said, the gig economy is a really good thing for workers who are fifty-plus. In fact, she noted, she was drawn to her gig research because her mother lost a job in her 50s and then did gig work for about six years. Where the Gig Economy Is Headed: People 45+ Angela Heath, an audience member who recently led the online Gig Worker Summit and is CEO and Gig Income Guru for consultant TKC Incorporated, told me she believes people 45+ are where the gig economy is headed. And, she noted, the gig economy encompasses far, far more than Uber drivers. Theres a continuum of gig platforms, including some for the nations top talent, such as consultants, said Heath, author of Do the Hustle Without the Hassle. We found at our summit that many of these gig workers didnt know how to build their businesses. Heath plans to offer another online gig summit GigCon for all types of gig workers later this year. | The gig economy gets low marks for letting gig workers earn a decent living and receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The Aspen Institute hosted a gig economy workshop last week in Washington, D.C. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/18/how-well-is-the-gig-economy-working-for-gig-workers/ | 0.313685 |
How Well Is The Gig Economy Working For Gig Workers? | The gig economy gets lauded for letting millions of Americans set their own hours and choose their work assignments as freelancers and independent contractors. But the gig economy which includes people from Uber drivers to dog walkers to consultants gets low marks for letting them earn a decent living and receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. The pay and benefits problems, however, are slowly starting to shrink, according to experts at a gig economy workshop held by The Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. last week. Improvements for Pay and Benefits for Gig Workers I do see some pathways. There are some people showing it can be done, Maureen Conway, The Aspen Institutes vice president for policy programs and executive director of its economic opportunities program, told me in an interview after the event. Also on Forbes: Conway, who hosted the panel (The Rise of Gig Work: Creating Flexibility and Stability for a New Era), was quick to add a word of caution, however. We do many events like this one featuring companies we think are leading, in terms of their practices. Unfortunately, many companies are not following. The gig economy, Conway added, is in some ways emblematic of the issues of instability in work in America today. But The Aspen Institutes panelists described a few glimmers for gig workers: States and Governments Libby Reder, senior fellow with The Aspen Institutes Future of Work Initiative, said a few state and local governments, like ones in Washington state and New York, are trying to improve gig worker pay and benefits. Washington state, Reder said, is attempting to come up with a whole new model through legislation that would let gig platforms contribute to benefits funds for gig workers and set governance requirements for administrators. Last week, a national teleconference organized by the labor advocacy group Working Washington instituted a campaign for a $15-an-hour minimum wage for gig workers. While a patchwork of state regulations might be less preferable than federal rules, Reder said, states are laboratories of our democracy. If we dont try a few things out there, we wont be able to think about a comprehensive solution. Benefits for House Cleaners Also, she noted, the National Domestic Workers Alliance last year launched a novel benefit program called Alia to help house cleaners. It won The Workers Lab 2018 Innovation Fund award. Employers of the house cleaners can pay into a benefits fund (usually $5 per cleaning) for the cleaners to draw paid time off and, in some cases, insurance coverage, said Reder. Cleaners in California and New York can access accident insurance, critical illness insurance, life insurance or disability insurance, but not general health insurance. House cleaners can receive Alia contributions from multiple employers or clients and take the Alia Benefits Credits with them when they leave a job or client, making them portable. Alia plans to add insurance options in other states in coming months and to adjust the product for nannies and caregivers. A Points Program to Accrue Benefits Joshua Karam, co-founder and CEO of Hyr gig platform for the restaurant and hospitality industry, noted that his workers earn good money just shy of $20 an hour, on average. Also, he noted, Hyrs U Points program lets its gig workers choose where to allocate their points accruing them for paid time off, health or dental insurance or retirement savings. So far, Hyr is available in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles; Boston, Chicago, Toronto and other Canadian markets will be added soon. Helping Gig Workers Manage Taxes And Jake Biscoglio, vice president of strategic growth initiatives/new market development at Prudential Financial, talked about the tool Covered 1099 his firm launched two weeks ago to make it easier for gig workers to save for, and pay, their taxes. We found a main pain point for gig workers was saving for taxes the awareness that it needs to be done, the discipline to do it and the time off between gigs, said Biscoglio. Covered 1099 automates the process as you get income, so money goes into the account to pay for the taxes. Covered 1099 replicates the traditional employees W-2 experience for independent workers whose earnings show up on 1099 forms. Its Tax Estimator lets gig workers set aside money the tool believes will be due for taxes and then use that cash to pay quarterly estimated taxes. (Covered 1099 is not permitted for New York state residents.) The taxation piece is important, because gig workers are responsible to file their taxes and many are used to the withholding that comes with W-2 jobs, said Karam. They dont know what they dont know. The Struggle for Policymakers Reder noted that policymakers are struggling to close the gap between laws and regulations regarding pay and benefits for traditional workers and new ones needed for the business models we see today of gig-economy platforms and their independent contractors. And Conway told me she didnt see anything coming out of Washington in the year ahead to help gig workers pay or benefits because were fairly gridlocked. Gig Work: Still Challenging Despite the new and promising ideas described at The Aspen Institute panel, gig work remains challenging for many. A 2017 study from the Freelancers Union and the gig platform Upwork found that 63% of freelancers dipped into their savings once a month. Panelist Lyndsey Cameron, a researcher who has interviewed ride-sharing gig workers and been one for about three years, said: Its tough to earn daily bread. But [being a driver] gave me a lot of flexibility. In a recent Fast Company article on the gig economy, gig drivers lamented that they have been earning less money from their work lately as companies hiring them have tried to cut costs. One Instacart driver said he averaged nearly $20 an hour before November, but in January, was averaging well under $15 an hour. And, the article noted, about 1,600 Instacart drivers have signed a petition complaining about their 30 to 40% pay declines. For many drivers at companies like Uber and Lyft, Cameron said, the money they earn is supplemental income, but its not to go to Hawaii. Cameron said her research found that whether gig workers feel empowered or exploited depends on their backgrounds. If youre a first-generation immigrant expecting to work your way up and had done low-paid, low-skill work before, youre more likely to feel empowered, she said. The people who feel more exploited are ones who had been laid off from manufacturing or pink-collar jobs and wanted to stop their downward social mobility. But, Cameron said, the gig economy is a really good thing for workers who are fifty-plus. In fact, she noted, she was drawn to her gig research because her mother lost a job in her 50s and then did gig work for about six years. Where the Gig Economy Is Headed: People 45+ Angela Heath, an audience member who recently led the online Gig Worker Summit and is CEO and Gig Income Guru for consultant TKC Incorporated, told me she believes people 45+ are where the gig economy is headed. And, she noted, the gig economy encompasses far, far more than Uber drivers. Theres a continuum of gig platforms, including some for the nations top talent, such as consultants, said Heath, author of Do the Hustle Without the Hassle. We found at our summit that many of these gig workers didnt know how to build their businesses. Heath plans to offer another online gig summit GigCon for all types of gig workers later this year. | The gig economy gets low marks for letting people earn a decent living and receive benefits such as health insurance and retirement plans. State and local governments are trying to improve gig worker pay and benefits. Last week, a national teleconference organized by the labor advocacy group Working Washington instituted a campaign for a $15-an-hour minimum wage for gig workers. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/18/how-well-is-the-gig-economy-working-for-gig-workers/ | 0.384683 |
Can early education push help pass sports betting? | BATON ROUGE They may not seem like a natural fit, but sports betting and early childhood education soon may become inseparably linked at the Louisiana Capitol. Early childhood education advocates see gambling on sports events as an untapped source of financing for the millions of dollars they say are needed to give Louisiana a high-quality, seamless system of education and care for children from birth until they enter kindergarten. Some backers of legalizing sports betting in Louisiana see early childhood education a noncontroversial issue that politicians regularly say they support as a way to bolster possible passage of the gambling legislation. So discussions are ongoing to try to dedicate money generated by any proposal to authorize sports wagering to early learning programs, becoming the latest strange bedfellows in Louisiana politics. For years now, we have been in the trenches looking for funds, begging for funds, hands and knees. We dont have enough funds for our earliest learners. This is just another opportunity, said Paula Polito, chair of Louisianas Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council and owner of a Jefferson Parish early learning center. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards supports legalizing sports betting and said tying it to early childhood education programs is a conversation that I am willing to have. Lawmakers last year spurned a sports betting proposal by Sen. Danny Martiny, a Kenner Republican. But Martiny and other senators who support the gambling expansion hope a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing sports betting, combined with sports wagering now happening in Mississippi, could change minds. State panel seeks $86 million to address early child care waitlist They say gamblers are finding ways to wager, traveling to Mississippi casinos and using offshore gambling sites, and Louisiana is losing money that could be made by taxing the activity. "If we don't legalize sports betting in Louisiana, it's not going to go away," Martiny said. At least eight states allow sports betting. Others are considering it. Martiny said he'll file legislation in the regular session starting in April, to authorize sports wagering at Louisiana's land-based casino in New Orleans, 15 riverboat casinos, and four racetracks. He said he's trying to match what Mississippi allows, to keep Louisiana casinos competitive. Sports betting still faces high hurdles to passage in the Legislature, with opposition from conservative groups and pastors who object to increasing gambling options. But if passed, estimates of what Louisiana could receive from taxes on legalized sports betting range from $40 million to $70 million a year. That's why the early childhood education community's interested. An Early Childhood Care and Education Commission created by lawmakers said research shows young children with access to quality education options are less likely to need special education services in school, drop out before graduation or end up in the criminal justice system. Polito, a commission member, said 90 percent of child brain development occurs in the first four years of life. Louisiana years ago created a pre-K program for at-risk children, and the commission said 90 percent of needy 4-year-olds now have access to a quality early education program. The commission wants a state financing commitment to similarly help children from birth to three years old with early learning assistance. The commission estimates the price tag would be $86 million annually for the next decade. Martiny said early childhood development should be a priority and he'd support dedicating sports betting revenue to the effort. But he isn't committing to introduce his proposal that way and he's not sure if the dedication would help or hurt the measure's chances, particularly since some lawmakers believe Louisiana has too much money locked up. He also expects supporters of other causes to try to secure the sports betting money. "It's an election year. Everybody's got their own issue," Martiny said. "We have people who are against dedications. The governor seems to be in favor of the dedication. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are some people who won't vote for anything that the governor's for." Even if sports betting legalization wins passage, no money would come immediately. Local parishes would have to decide in the October election to authorize the activity at casinos and racetracks, Martiny said, and the Gaming Control Board would have to write regulations before wagering begins and taxes are collected. Sports Betting in Louisiana: 5 things that need to be worked out | Some backers of legalizing sports betting in Louisiana see early childhood education as a way to bolster possible passage of the gambling legislation. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.nola.com/education/2019/02/can-early-education-push-help-pass-sports-betting.html | 0.403541 |
Can early education push help pass sports betting? | BATON ROUGE They may not seem like a natural fit, but sports betting and early childhood education soon may become inseparably linked at the Louisiana Capitol. Early childhood education advocates see gambling on sports events as an untapped source of financing for the millions of dollars they say are needed to give Louisiana a high-quality, seamless system of education and care for children from birth until they enter kindergarten. Some backers of legalizing sports betting in Louisiana see early childhood education a noncontroversial issue that politicians regularly say they support as a way to bolster possible passage of the gambling legislation. So discussions are ongoing to try to dedicate money generated by any proposal to authorize sports wagering to early learning programs, becoming the latest strange bedfellows in Louisiana politics. For years now, we have been in the trenches looking for funds, begging for funds, hands and knees. We dont have enough funds for our earliest learners. This is just another opportunity, said Paula Polito, chair of Louisianas Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council and owner of a Jefferson Parish early learning center. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards supports legalizing sports betting and said tying it to early childhood education programs is a conversation that I am willing to have. Lawmakers last year spurned a sports betting proposal by Sen. Danny Martiny, a Kenner Republican. But Martiny and other senators who support the gambling expansion hope a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing sports betting, combined with sports wagering now happening in Mississippi, could change minds. State panel seeks $86 million to address early child care waitlist They say gamblers are finding ways to wager, traveling to Mississippi casinos and using offshore gambling sites, and Louisiana is losing money that could be made by taxing the activity. "If we don't legalize sports betting in Louisiana, it's not going to go away," Martiny said. At least eight states allow sports betting. Others are considering it. Martiny said he'll file legislation in the regular session starting in April, to authorize sports wagering at Louisiana's land-based casino in New Orleans, 15 riverboat casinos, and four racetracks. He said he's trying to match what Mississippi allows, to keep Louisiana casinos competitive. Sports betting still faces high hurdles to passage in the Legislature, with opposition from conservative groups and pastors who object to increasing gambling options. But if passed, estimates of what Louisiana could receive from taxes on legalized sports betting range from $40 million to $70 million a year. That's why the early childhood education community's interested. An Early Childhood Care and Education Commission created by lawmakers said research shows young children with access to quality education options are less likely to need special education services in school, drop out before graduation or end up in the criminal justice system. Polito, a commission member, said 90 percent of child brain development occurs in the first four years of life. Louisiana years ago created a pre-K program for at-risk children, and the commission said 90 percent of needy 4-year-olds now have access to a quality early education program. The commission wants a state financing commitment to similarly help children from birth to three years old with early learning assistance. The commission estimates the price tag would be $86 million annually for the next decade. Martiny said early childhood development should be a priority and he'd support dedicating sports betting revenue to the effort. But he isn't committing to introduce his proposal that way and he's not sure if the dedication would help or hurt the measure's chances, particularly since some lawmakers believe Louisiana has too much money locked up. He also expects supporters of other causes to try to secure the sports betting money. "It's an election year. Everybody's got their own issue," Martiny said. "We have people who are against dedications. The governor seems to be in favor of the dedication. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are some people who won't vote for anything that the governor's for." Even if sports betting legalization wins passage, no money would come immediately. Local parishes would have to decide in the October election to authorize the activity at casinos and racetracks, Martiny said, and the Gaming Control Board would have to write regulations before wagering begins and taxes are collected. Sports Betting in Louisiana: 5 things that need to be worked out | Early childhood education advocates see gambling on sports events as an untapped source of financing. Some backers of legalizing sports betting see early childhood education as a way to bolster possible passage. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/education/2019/02/can-early-education-push-help-pass-sports-betting.html | 0.397456 |
Can early education push help pass sports betting? | BATON ROUGE They may not seem like a natural fit, but sports betting and early childhood education soon may become inseparably linked at the Louisiana Capitol. Early childhood education advocates see gambling on sports events as an untapped source of financing for the millions of dollars they say are needed to give Louisiana a high-quality, seamless system of education and care for children from birth until they enter kindergarten. Some backers of legalizing sports betting in Louisiana see early childhood education a noncontroversial issue that politicians regularly say they support as a way to bolster possible passage of the gambling legislation. So discussions are ongoing to try to dedicate money generated by any proposal to authorize sports wagering to early learning programs, becoming the latest strange bedfellows in Louisiana politics. For years now, we have been in the trenches looking for funds, begging for funds, hands and knees. We dont have enough funds for our earliest learners. This is just another opportunity, said Paula Polito, chair of Louisianas Early Childhood Care and Education Advisory Council and owner of a Jefferson Parish early learning center. Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards supports legalizing sports betting and said tying it to early childhood education programs is a conversation that I am willing to have. Lawmakers last year spurned a sports betting proposal by Sen. Danny Martiny, a Kenner Republican. But Martiny and other senators who support the gambling expansion hope a U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing sports betting, combined with sports wagering now happening in Mississippi, could change minds. State panel seeks $86 million to address early child care waitlist They say gamblers are finding ways to wager, traveling to Mississippi casinos and using offshore gambling sites, and Louisiana is losing money that could be made by taxing the activity. "If we don't legalize sports betting in Louisiana, it's not going to go away," Martiny said. At least eight states allow sports betting. Others are considering it. Martiny said he'll file legislation in the regular session starting in April, to authorize sports wagering at Louisiana's land-based casino in New Orleans, 15 riverboat casinos, and four racetracks. He said he's trying to match what Mississippi allows, to keep Louisiana casinos competitive. Sports betting still faces high hurdles to passage in the Legislature, with opposition from conservative groups and pastors who object to increasing gambling options. But if passed, estimates of what Louisiana could receive from taxes on legalized sports betting range from $40 million to $70 million a year. That's why the early childhood education community's interested. An Early Childhood Care and Education Commission created by lawmakers said research shows young children with access to quality education options are less likely to need special education services in school, drop out before graduation or end up in the criminal justice system. Polito, a commission member, said 90 percent of child brain development occurs in the first four years of life. Louisiana years ago created a pre-K program for at-risk children, and the commission said 90 percent of needy 4-year-olds now have access to a quality early education program. The commission wants a state financing commitment to similarly help children from birth to three years old with early learning assistance. The commission estimates the price tag would be $86 million annually for the next decade. Martiny said early childhood development should be a priority and he'd support dedicating sports betting revenue to the effort. But he isn't committing to introduce his proposal that way and he's not sure if the dedication would help or hurt the measure's chances, particularly since some lawmakers believe Louisiana has too much money locked up. He also expects supporters of other causes to try to secure the sports betting money. "It's an election year. Everybody's got their own issue," Martiny said. "We have people who are against dedications. The governor seems to be in favor of the dedication. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are some people who won't vote for anything that the governor's for." Even if sports betting legalization wins passage, no money would come immediately. Local parishes would have to decide in the October election to authorize the activity at casinos and racetracks, Martiny said, and the Gaming Control Board would have to write regulations before wagering begins and taxes are collected. Sports Betting in Louisiana: 5 things that need to be worked out | Early childhood education advocates see gambling on sports events as an untapped source of financing. Some backers of legalizing sports betting in Louisiana see early childhood education as a way to bolster possible passage of the gambling legislation. "If we don't legalize sports betting in Louisiana, it's not going to go away," Sen. Danny Martiny said. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/education/2019/02/can-early-education-push-help-pass-sports-betting.html | 0.424023 |
Is Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia a first-ballot Hall of Famer? | New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia announced 2019 would be his final MLB season, putting to bed an impressive career. The big lefty is a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner and World Series winner. Many feel he has first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials. Others feel his greatness is not up to par to be a first-ballot inductee. CC Sabathia embodied greatness for most of his career. The California native burst on the scene at 20 years old with a 17-5 record in his rookie year and never looked back. He now has 246 total wins and .617 winning percentage at the time of publishing. Sabathia also got the job done in the playoffs, where he was ALCS MVP in 2009 with the World Series-winning Yankees. There is no way he doesn't get inducted on his first ballot. 2 x wins leader Cy Young winner Multiple All Star 250 wins Only third left handed pitcher to reach 3000 strikeouts. What more would he need to do for you to be first ballot Matthew Grace Photo (@matthewgphoto) February 16, 2019 CC Sabathias career is definitely worthy of a Hall of Fame induction, but not on the first ballot. If you dont think so, look no further than the resume of Mike Mussina. The former Oriole and Yankee great has a better ERA, better win percentage, more wins and a higher Wins Above Replacement. Mussina has yet to be inducted into the Hall. Sabathia will make it someday. However, itll take a few tries to get there. Not even close to a first ballot HOF pitcher! Kenny Powers (@sawxfan23) February 16, 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, wed love to hear what you have to say. | Sabathia is a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner and World Series winner. Many feel he has first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/02/is-yankees-pitcher-cc-sabathia-a-first-ballot-hall-of-famer.html | 0.21229 |
Is Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia a first-ballot Hall of Famer? | New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia announced 2019 would be his final MLB season, putting to bed an impressive career. The big lefty is a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner and World Series winner. Many feel he has first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials. Others feel his greatness is not up to par to be a first-ballot inductee. CC Sabathia embodied greatness for most of his career. The California native burst on the scene at 20 years old with a 17-5 record in his rookie year and never looked back. He now has 246 total wins and .617 winning percentage at the time of publishing. Sabathia also got the job done in the playoffs, where he was ALCS MVP in 2009 with the World Series-winning Yankees. There is no way he doesn't get inducted on his first ballot. 2 x wins leader Cy Young winner Multiple All Star 250 wins Only third left handed pitcher to reach 3000 strikeouts. What more would he need to do for you to be first ballot Matthew Grace Photo (@matthewgphoto) February 16, 2019 CC Sabathias career is definitely worthy of a Hall of Fame induction, but not on the first ballot. If you dont think so, look no further than the resume of Mike Mussina. The former Oriole and Yankee great has a better ERA, better win percentage, more wins and a higher Wins Above Replacement. Mussina has yet to be inducted into the Hall. Sabathia will make it someday. However, itll take a few tries to get there. Not even close to a first ballot HOF pitcher! Kenny Powers (@sawxfan23) February 16, 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, wed love to hear what you have to say. | Sabathia is a six-time All-Star, a Cy Young Award winner and World Series winner. Many feel he has first-ballot Hall of Fame credentials, but not on the first ballot. He is the third left-handed pitcher to reach 3000 strikeouts. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/02/is-yankees-pitcher-cc-sabathia-a-first-ballot-hall-of-famer.html | 0.298056 |
What's New At The 2019 South Beach Wine And Food Festival? | February in Miami is synonymous with The Food Network & Cooking Channel South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SOBEWFF). For five days, from February 20 to 24, the 18th annual edition, called Eat. Drink. Educate., will feature over 100 events spanning Miami-Dade, Broward and, for the first time, Palm Beach (Martha Stewart will be hosting a dinner here on the 21st). Over 70,000 attendees expected. As in prior years, proceeds will benefit Florida International Universitys Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. In addition to the festivals key signature events, including large-scale tastings on the beach to the more intimate chef-hosted dinners, this year will see the launch of several new marquee events. Here are some of those to look out for in Miami: Jos Andrs A Taste of Puerto Rico (February 21, Thursday; 7 PM to 10 PM; SLS South Beach; $175- Sold Out) Global social justice advocate, ThinkFoodGroup owner Jos Andrs is dedicated to fostering an understanding of the storied culture of Puerto Rico. This year, the James Beard Award-winning chef and 2017 SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner Honoree, will be hosting a Puerto Rican-inspired soiree with over a dozen chefs hailing from the island, to serve up dishes like mofongo, bacalaito, tostones, lechon, paired with wines from Gonzalez Byass. Adam Richmans Mixing It Up On The Miami River: Best Bars, Bites, Beats (February 21, Thursday; 10 PM to 12 AM; The Wharf Miami; $95) Adam Richman, host of Man Finds Food, will take guests through free-flowing cocktails and late-night bites from food trucks Mojo Donuts and Fried Chicken, La Santa Taqueria, Spris Artisan Pizza, over live music, right by the historic Miami River. Martha Stewarts Wine & Cheese Happy Hour (February 22, Friday; 5 PM to 7 PM; No. 3 Social Roof Bar & Lounge; $95- Sold Out) Martha Stewart herself will guide attendees through the world of cheese, paired with wines from Mouton Cadet, over scenic views of the Miami skyline at Wynwoods newest rooftop bar, No. 3 Social Roof Bar. Cindy Hutson and Delius Shirleys Taste Jamaica (February 22, Friday; 8 PM to 10:30 PM; National Hotel; $150) In partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Jamaican Gastronomy Network, South Floridas pioneers of Caribbean cuisine Cindy Hutson and Delius Shirley of Ortanique on the Mile and Zest in Miami, have rounded up some of their country's best chefs to introduce new Jamaican cuisine. DJ Irie will be spinning that evening. Marc Murphys Mangia! A Taste of Italy After Dark (February 22, Friday; 11 PM to 1 AM; Casa Tua Cucina; $95) Marc Murphy, judge on Chopped, will be leading attendees through dishes like homemade ravioli, truffled pizza, caprese salad, salmon tartare, skirt steak and tiramisufrom from Casa Tuas casual outpost in Brickell City Centre. Geoffrey Zakarians Ros Pool Party (February 23, Saturday; 3 PM to 5 PM; Eden Roc Miami Beach; $95) #RoseAllDay will come in various shades of pink from Chateau DEsclans at a rose poolside party hosted by chef, restaurateur and TV host Geoffrey Zakarian. Emeril Lagasses Sunset Stone Crab (February 23, Saturday; 6 PM to 9 PM; Montys Sunset; $175- Sold Out) Chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, TV personality and 2009 SOBEWFF Tribute Dinner honoree Emeril Lagasse will be hosting a sunset seafood feast, complete with stone crabs, and free-flowing wines and spirit, overlooking the sparkling waters of Biscayne Bay. I am incredibly excited to share with people some of the unexpected and delicious flavors of South Beach in a fun, informal, party-like setting, says Adam Richman in this exclusive with Forbes Life, who will also be hosting Rock n Roll: An Asian Night Market on February 22, as part of the CRAVE Greater Fort Lauderdale Series. And getting to do that while raising money for the next generation of culinary talent is something I consider a really great honor. For more information on SOBEWFF, visit sobewff.org | The 18th annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival will be held February 20-24. This year will see the launch of several new marquee events, including Jos Andrs' A Taste of Puerto Rico and Martha Stewart's Wine & Cheese Happy Hour. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cheryltiu/2019/02/18/whats-new-at-the-2019-south-beach-wine-and-food-festival/ | 0.324488 |
Are Whole Foods prices on the way up again? | In less than two weeks, Amazons ownership of Whole Foods Market will officially be one and a half years old. Since the sale closed on Aug. 28, 2017, the American-Statesman has tracked prices at the Austin-based grocer to see how Amazons promised cost reduction has proceeded. The newspaper has price-checked a basket at Whole Foods headquarter store on North Lamar Boulevard every six months. Prices of the 23-item basket have decreased over time. But ahead of another check set to happen this month, recent media reports indicate that Whole Foods prices are on the rise as Whole Foods sales growth has slowed. The grocery chain is increasing prices on some items because of rising packaging, ingredient and transportation costs, the Wall Street Journal reported recently. Additionally, contracts Whole Foods had signed with suppliers to sell hundreds of products at lower prices expired and wont be renewed, sending prices up. Soaps, detergents and oils are some of the most affected items, the Journal reported, with the average item's cost increase being 66 cents. Since Amazon purchased Whole Foods, its tried to erase the Whole Paycheck image the grocer has long carried. Many of the companys price reductions have come via its Amazon Prime rewards system or through deals the e-commerce company has offered online. In an emailed response Monday, Whole Foods spokeswoman Stephanie Ferragut said the company continues to work on its price structure. Our teams are working hard to lower costs and invest the savings in both lower prices for customers and new programs such as delivery of Whole Foods Market groceries via Prime Now, Ferragut said. The American-Statesmans latest price check in August showed that overall prices had dropped 4.69 percent since the first check right before the sale closed in 2017. But prices had risen 4.23 percent since a check in February 2018. Prices on popular items such as organic raspberries, ground beef and large brown eggs had remained lower since Amazons takeover. But Fuji apples, Whole Foods 365-brand organic spring mix and a gallon of 365-brand milk had increased in price. Overall sales at Whole Foods, which had climbed since Amazon came into the picture, have also not been as strong lately. In its fourth quarter earnings report on Jan. 31, Amazon said sales at its brick-and-mortar stores were down 3 percent year-over-year. Chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky said then in a call with investors thaht those sales mostly reflected Whole Foods stores. A shorter day count in that fourth quarter when compared to the previous fourth quarter affected numbers, Olsavsky said. In addition, purchases made online by Whole Foods customers for in-store pickup, which were counted as online sales, also skewed the outcome. Without those factors, Olsavsky said, physical store sales would have increased by 6 percent. Amazon has continued investing in Whole Foods. After only opening five new stores in 2017, Whole Foods opened about 25 new stores last year, a recent analysis by the American-Statesman found. Total store count has almost surpassed 500, with more stores planned to open in Illinois, Georgia and other locations. | The Wall Street Journal reports that Whole Foods is increasing prices on some items because of rising packaging, ingredient and transportation costs. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190218/are-whole-foods-prices-on-way-up-again | 0.188745 |
Are Whole Foods prices on the way up again? | In less than two weeks, Amazons ownership of Whole Foods Market will officially be one and a half years old. Since the sale closed on Aug. 28, 2017, the American-Statesman has tracked prices at the Austin-based grocer to see how Amazons promised cost reduction has proceeded. The newspaper has price-checked a basket at Whole Foods headquarter store on North Lamar Boulevard every six months. Prices of the 23-item basket have decreased over time. But ahead of another check set to happen this month, recent media reports indicate that Whole Foods prices are on the rise as Whole Foods sales growth has slowed. The grocery chain is increasing prices on some items because of rising packaging, ingredient and transportation costs, the Wall Street Journal reported recently. Additionally, contracts Whole Foods had signed with suppliers to sell hundreds of products at lower prices expired and wont be renewed, sending prices up. Soaps, detergents and oils are some of the most affected items, the Journal reported, with the average item's cost increase being 66 cents. Since Amazon purchased Whole Foods, its tried to erase the Whole Paycheck image the grocer has long carried. Many of the companys price reductions have come via its Amazon Prime rewards system or through deals the e-commerce company has offered online. In an emailed response Monday, Whole Foods spokeswoman Stephanie Ferragut said the company continues to work on its price structure. Our teams are working hard to lower costs and invest the savings in both lower prices for customers and new programs such as delivery of Whole Foods Market groceries via Prime Now, Ferragut said. The American-Statesmans latest price check in August showed that overall prices had dropped 4.69 percent since the first check right before the sale closed in 2017. But prices had risen 4.23 percent since a check in February 2018. Prices on popular items such as organic raspberries, ground beef and large brown eggs had remained lower since Amazons takeover. But Fuji apples, Whole Foods 365-brand organic spring mix and a gallon of 365-brand milk had increased in price. Overall sales at Whole Foods, which had climbed since Amazon came into the picture, have also not been as strong lately. In its fourth quarter earnings report on Jan. 31, Amazon said sales at its brick-and-mortar stores were down 3 percent year-over-year. Chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky said then in a call with investors thaht those sales mostly reflected Whole Foods stores. A shorter day count in that fourth quarter when compared to the previous fourth quarter affected numbers, Olsavsky said. In addition, purchases made online by Whole Foods customers for in-store pickup, which were counted as online sales, also skewed the outcome. Without those factors, Olsavsky said, physical store sales would have increased by 6 percent. Amazon has continued investing in Whole Foods. After only opening five new stores in 2017, Whole Foods opened about 25 new stores last year, a recent analysis by the American-Statesman found. Total store count has almost surpassed 500, with more stores planned to open in Illinois, Georgia and other locations. | The Wall Street Journal reports that Whole Foods is increasing prices on some items because of rising packaging, ingredient and transportation costs. Amazon has tried to erase the 'Whole Paycheck' image the grocer has long carried. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190218/are-whole-foods-prices-on-way-up-again | 0.268001 |
Are Whole Foods prices on the way up again? | In less than two weeks, Amazons ownership of Whole Foods Market will officially be one and a half years old. Since the sale closed on Aug. 28, 2017, the American-Statesman has tracked prices at the Austin-based grocer to see how Amazons promised cost reduction has proceeded. The newspaper has price-checked a basket at Whole Foods headquarter store on North Lamar Boulevard every six months. Prices of the 23-item basket have decreased over time. But ahead of another check set to happen this month, recent media reports indicate that Whole Foods prices are on the rise as Whole Foods sales growth has slowed. The grocery chain is increasing prices on some items because of rising packaging, ingredient and transportation costs, the Wall Street Journal reported recently. Additionally, contracts Whole Foods had signed with suppliers to sell hundreds of products at lower prices expired and wont be renewed, sending prices up. Soaps, detergents and oils are some of the most affected items, the Journal reported, with the average item's cost increase being 66 cents. Since Amazon purchased Whole Foods, its tried to erase the Whole Paycheck image the grocer has long carried. Many of the companys price reductions have come via its Amazon Prime rewards system or through deals the e-commerce company has offered online. In an emailed response Monday, Whole Foods spokeswoman Stephanie Ferragut said the company continues to work on its price structure. Our teams are working hard to lower costs and invest the savings in both lower prices for customers and new programs such as delivery of Whole Foods Market groceries via Prime Now, Ferragut said. The American-Statesmans latest price check in August showed that overall prices had dropped 4.69 percent since the first check right before the sale closed in 2017. But prices had risen 4.23 percent since a check in February 2018. Prices on popular items such as organic raspberries, ground beef and large brown eggs had remained lower since Amazons takeover. But Fuji apples, Whole Foods 365-brand organic spring mix and a gallon of 365-brand milk had increased in price. Overall sales at Whole Foods, which had climbed since Amazon came into the picture, have also not been as strong lately. In its fourth quarter earnings report on Jan. 31, Amazon said sales at its brick-and-mortar stores were down 3 percent year-over-year. Chief financial officer Brian Olsavsky said then in a call with investors thaht those sales mostly reflected Whole Foods stores. A shorter day count in that fourth quarter when compared to the previous fourth quarter affected numbers, Olsavsky said. In addition, purchases made online by Whole Foods customers for in-store pickup, which were counted as online sales, also skewed the outcome. Without those factors, Olsavsky said, physical store sales would have increased by 6 percent. Amazon has continued investing in Whole Foods. After only opening five new stores in 2017, Whole Foods opened about 25 new stores last year, a recent analysis by the American-Statesman found. Total store count has almost surpassed 500, with more stores planned to open in Illinois, Georgia and other locations. | The Austin American-Statesman has been price-checking a Whole Foods basket since the sale closed in August 2017. Overall prices had dropped 4.69 percent since the first check right before the sale closed. But prices had risen 4.23 percent since a check in February 2018. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190218/are-whole-foods-prices-on-way-up-again | 0.255998 |
Will 49ers put franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould? | More than two years after Robbie Gould was released by Chicago, it sure sounds like the 49ers placekicker wants to be reunited. When the Bears ended their 11-season relationship with Gould in September 2016, the franchises career scoring leader penned a letter to the greatest fans in the NFL that ended with this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Twenty-nine months later, Gould appeared on 670 The Score in Chicago on Sunday and his 22-minute interview ended with him saying this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Goulds wife, who is from suburban Chicago, and his three young sons have stayed in Chicago during Goulds two seasons in Santa Clara. He is building a home outside the city he has called home since 2005 and he wants his kids to grow up as Chicago sports fans. As it happens, the local football team hasnt adequately replaced Gould. In fact, the Bears 2018 season ended when Cody Parkey capped an erratic debut season in Chicago by missing a 43-yard field-goal try with five seconds left in a 16-15 wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia. The thing for me is its going to be the best place to win (and) the best place for my family, Gould said, and obviously that opportunity will come up and well make those decisions. But heres the thing: It might not be Goulds decision to make. NFL teams can begin applying the franchise tag to one player on their roster Tuesday and Gould is the 49ers only logical candidate to receive the designation (the franchise-tag period ends March 5). The one-year franchise tag will be about $5 million for kickers. If its applied, Gould could be the NFLs highest-paid kicker in 2019, but the second-most-accurate kicker in NFL history has earned a significant raise after signing a two-year, $4 million deal in 2017. With the 49ers, Gould has made 72 of 75 field-goal attempts, which is the most accurate two-season stretch in NFL history among kickers with at least 50 attempts. Last year, Gould led the NFL in field-goal percentage (97.1). Parkey ranked 30th (76.7) and missed as many regular-season kicks (seven) in 30 attempts as Gould has missed in his past 105 tries dating to 2015. However, Parkey has $3.5 million in guaranteed money in 2019 and he would count $5 million in dead cap space if released. The Bears are projected to have about $20 million in cap space. Codys obviously the kicker for the Chicago Bears, Gould said on The Score. They have a lot of things they would have to do in order for it to work. Were all ears if we get to (free agency) and well take it in stride. Wed definitely consider all opportunities when we get to that free-agent part, for sure. Gould said Sunday that hes seeking at least a three-year contract. Given his family considerations and desire to give myself a chance to win a Super Bowl he likely wouldnt welcome the one-year franchise tag from the 49ers, who went 4-12 in 2018. The 49ers, who are projected to have more than $60 million in cap space, can sign Gould to a contract extension. Last month, however, general manager John Lynch said such a deal wasnt imminent. Were hopeful to work things out with Robbie, Lynch said. And hes kicked unbelievably for us. Hes been incredibly clutch for us. And wed like to reward him for that. The franchise tag can strain relationship between teams and players, who often are seeking more long-term security. Still, it would be shocking if the 49ers didnt apply the tag to Gould because they dont fit his criteria. Its possible the 49ers could part with Gould and explore free-agent options that could include New Englands Stephen Gostkowski, Minnesotas Dan Bailey and longtime Falcon Matt Bryant, all of whom rank in the top 10 in career field-goal percentage. Bryant, who recently was released by Atlanta, played for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan with the Falcons, but will be 44 in May. Bailey, 31, is coming off a disappointing debut with the Vikings after the Cowboys released him before the 2018 season. For his part, Gould often sounded Sunday as if he was destined to reach free agency. It could be wishful thinking, or perhaps Gould knows something about the 49ers franchise-tag intentions. This can be said with certainty: When it comes to his future, well soon see if one of the most trustworthy kickers in NFL history is accurate again. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch | Robbie Gould says he wants to be reunited with the Chicago Bears. The 49ers are expected to apply the franchise tag to Gould. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/Will-49ers-put-franchise-tag-on-kicker-Robbie-13626054.php | 0.1929 |
Will 49ers put franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould? | More than two years after Robbie Gould was released by Chicago, it sure sounds like the 49ers placekicker wants to be reunited. When the Bears ended their 11-season relationship with Gould in September 2016, the franchises career scoring leader penned a letter to the greatest fans in the NFL that ended with this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Twenty-nine months later, Gould appeared on 670 The Score in Chicago on Sunday and his 22-minute interview ended with him saying this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Goulds wife, who is from suburban Chicago, and his three young sons have stayed in Chicago during Goulds two seasons in Santa Clara. He is building a home outside the city he has called home since 2005 and he wants his kids to grow up as Chicago sports fans. As it happens, the local football team hasnt adequately replaced Gould. In fact, the Bears 2018 season ended when Cody Parkey capped an erratic debut season in Chicago by missing a 43-yard field-goal try with five seconds left in a 16-15 wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia. The thing for me is its going to be the best place to win (and) the best place for my family, Gould said, and obviously that opportunity will come up and well make those decisions. But heres the thing: It might not be Goulds decision to make. NFL teams can begin applying the franchise tag to one player on their roster Tuesday and Gould is the 49ers only logical candidate to receive the designation (the franchise-tag period ends March 5). The one-year franchise tag will be about $5 million for kickers. If its applied, Gould could be the NFLs highest-paid kicker in 2019, but the second-most-accurate kicker in NFL history has earned a significant raise after signing a two-year, $4 million deal in 2017. With the 49ers, Gould has made 72 of 75 field-goal attempts, which is the most accurate two-season stretch in NFL history among kickers with at least 50 attempts. Last year, Gould led the NFL in field-goal percentage (97.1). Parkey ranked 30th (76.7) and missed as many regular-season kicks (seven) in 30 attempts as Gould has missed in his past 105 tries dating to 2015. However, Parkey has $3.5 million in guaranteed money in 2019 and he would count $5 million in dead cap space if released. The Bears are projected to have about $20 million in cap space. Codys obviously the kicker for the Chicago Bears, Gould said on The Score. They have a lot of things they would have to do in order for it to work. Were all ears if we get to (free agency) and well take it in stride. Wed definitely consider all opportunities when we get to that free-agent part, for sure. Gould said Sunday that hes seeking at least a three-year contract. Given his family considerations and desire to give myself a chance to win a Super Bowl he likely wouldnt welcome the one-year franchise tag from the 49ers, who went 4-12 in 2018. The 49ers, who are projected to have more than $60 million in cap space, can sign Gould to a contract extension. Last month, however, general manager John Lynch said such a deal wasnt imminent. Were hopeful to work things out with Robbie, Lynch said. And hes kicked unbelievably for us. Hes been incredibly clutch for us. And wed like to reward him for that. The franchise tag can strain relationship between teams and players, who often are seeking more long-term security. Still, it would be shocking if the 49ers didnt apply the tag to Gould because they dont fit his criteria. Its possible the 49ers could part with Gould and explore free-agent options that could include New Englands Stephen Gostkowski, Minnesotas Dan Bailey and longtime Falcon Matt Bryant, all of whom rank in the top 10 in career field-goal percentage. Bryant, who recently was released by Atlanta, played for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan with the Falcons, but will be 44 in May. Bailey, 31, is coming off a disappointing debut with the Vikings after the Cowboys released him before the 2018 season. For his part, Gould often sounded Sunday as if he was destined to reach free agency. It could be wishful thinking, or perhaps Gould knows something about the 49ers franchise-tag intentions. This can be said with certainty: When it comes to his future, well soon see if one of the most trustworthy kickers in NFL history is accurate again. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch | Robbie Gould was released by the Chicago Bears in September 2016. Gould has spent the past two seasons with the 49ers. Gould is seeking at least a three-year contract. The 49ers can apply the franchise tag to Gould. | bart | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/Will-49ers-put-franchise-tag-on-kicker-Robbie-13626054.php | 0.209191 |
Will 49ers put franchise tag on kicker Robbie Gould? | More than two years after Robbie Gould was released by Chicago, it sure sounds like the 49ers placekicker wants to be reunited. When the Bears ended their 11-season relationship with Gould in September 2016, the franchises career scoring leader penned a letter to the greatest fans in the NFL that ended with this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Twenty-nine months later, Gould appeared on 670 The Score in Chicago on Sunday and his 22-minute interview ended with him saying this: Once a Bear, always a Bear. Goulds wife, who is from suburban Chicago, and his three young sons have stayed in Chicago during Goulds two seasons in Santa Clara. He is building a home outside the city he has called home since 2005 and he wants his kids to grow up as Chicago sports fans. As it happens, the local football team hasnt adequately replaced Gould. In fact, the Bears 2018 season ended when Cody Parkey capped an erratic debut season in Chicago by missing a 43-yard field-goal try with five seconds left in a 16-15 wild-card playoff loss to Philadelphia. The thing for me is its going to be the best place to win (and) the best place for my family, Gould said, and obviously that opportunity will come up and well make those decisions. But heres the thing: It might not be Goulds decision to make. NFL teams can begin applying the franchise tag to one player on their roster Tuesday and Gould is the 49ers only logical candidate to receive the designation (the franchise-tag period ends March 5). The one-year franchise tag will be about $5 million for kickers. If its applied, Gould could be the NFLs highest-paid kicker in 2019, but the second-most-accurate kicker in NFL history has earned a significant raise after signing a two-year, $4 million deal in 2017. With the 49ers, Gould has made 72 of 75 field-goal attempts, which is the most accurate two-season stretch in NFL history among kickers with at least 50 attempts. Last year, Gould led the NFL in field-goal percentage (97.1). Parkey ranked 30th (76.7) and missed as many regular-season kicks (seven) in 30 attempts as Gould has missed in his past 105 tries dating to 2015. However, Parkey has $3.5 million in guaranteed money in 2019 and he would count $5 million in dead cap space if released. The Bears are projected to have about $20 million in cap space. Codys obviously the kicker for the Chicago Bears, Gould said on The Score. They have a lot of things they would have to do in order for it to work. Were all ears if we get to (free agency) and well take it in stride. Wed definitely consider all opportunities when we get to that free-agent part, for sure. Gould said Sunday that hes seeking at least a three-year contract. Given his family considerations and desire to give myself a chance to win a Super Bowl he likely wouldnt welcome the one-year franchise tag from the 49ers, who went 4-12 in 2018. The 49ers, who are projected to have more than $60 million in cap space, can sign Gould to a contract extension. Last month, however, general manager John Lynch said such a deal wasnt imminent. Were hopeful to work things out with Robbie, Lynch said. And hes kicked unbelievably for us. Hes been incredibly clutch for us. And wed like to reward him for that. The franchise tag can strain relationship between teams and players, who often are seeking more long-term security. Still, it would be shocking if the 49ers didnt apply the tag to Gould because they dont fit his criteria. Its possible the 49ers could part with Gould and explore free-agent options that could include New Englands Stephen Gostkowski, Minnesotas Dan Bailey and longtime Falcon Matt Bryant, all of whom rank in the top 10 in career field-goal percentage. Bryant, who recently was released by Atlanta, played for 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan with the Falcons, but will be 44 in May. Bailey, 31, is coming off a disappointing debut with the Vikings after the Cowboys released him before the 2018 season. For his part, Gould often sounded Sunday as if he was destined to reach free agency. It could be wishful thinking, or perhaps Gould knows something about the 49ers franchise-tag intentions. This can be said with certainty: When it comes to his future, well soon see if one of the most trustworthy kickers in NFL history is accurate again. Eric Branch is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ebranch@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Eric_Branch | The 49ers can apply the franchise tag to one player on their roster Tuesday. Robbie Gould is the only logical candidate to receive the designation. Gould has made 72 of 75 field-goal attempts, which is the most accurate two-season stretch in NFL history among kickers with at least 50 attempts. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/49ers/article/Will-49ers-put-franchise-tag-on-kicker-Robbie-13626054.php | 0.159926 |
How many winnable games are left for Suns this season? | Jan 24, 2019; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports (Photo11: Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports) The numbers tell the story of the current state of the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns: 11-48 NBAs worst record. As Kelly Oubre Jr. said, the Suns are at the bottom. 15 Current losing skid; games Devin Booker has missed due to injury. 11 Wins Phoenix needs to match last seasons win total. 23 Games remaining on schedule. Phoenix can redefine their season within that last number starting Thursday at Cleveland in the first of a three-game road trip. The Suns play Saturday at Atlanta and conclude the trip Monday at Miami. Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov talks with Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets in Phoenix January 6, 2019. (Photo11: Michael Chow/The Republic) All three have losing records, but the Hawks and Heat have already beaten the Suns. Theyll play the Cavaliers for the first time this season at Quicken Loans Arena. Igor Kokosov said the Suns needed an escape after losing their 15th straight game last week at Los Angeles against the Clippers. Were all going to get to escape from each other, Kokoskov said. I think we all need that escape emotionally from losing games, but we are who we are as a group. We belong here and if we want to change something, we have to do it as a group. Starting from each individual, understanding that we need to change. Having TJ Warren back would be a welcomed change as the teams second-leading scorer has missed the last 10 games with right ankle soreness, but it wont matter if the Suns continue to play poorly. Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) looks to pass between Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first quarter in Phoenix January 6, 2019. Thursday at Cleveland (12-46) Saturday at Atlanta (19-39) Monday at Miami (26-30) 3-1 New Orleans (26-33) 3-2 L.A. Lakers (28-29) 3-4 Milwaukee (43-14) 3-6 New York (11-47) 3-9 at Portland (34-23) 3-10 at Golden State (41-16) 3-13 Utah (32-25) 3-15 at Houston (33-24) 3-16 at New Orleans 3-18 Chicago (14-44) 3-21 Detroit (26-30) 3-23 at Sacramento (30-27) 2-25 at Utah 3-27 Washington (24-34) 3-30 Memphis (23-36) 4-1 Cleveland 4-3 Utah 4-5 New Orleans 4-7 at Houston 4-9 at Dallas (26-31) The Suns should win at least six more games to avoid matching the worst record in franchise history at 16-66 they set in their inaugural 1968-69 season. That's not a slam-dunk guarantee, though. Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson goes in for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Phoenix. (Photo11: Ross D. Franklin, AP) There are 11 teams left in their schedule with losing records, but theyve only beaten three of them New York, Memphis and Dallas. Phoenix has also beaten Milwaukee, which has the NBAs best record, and Sacramento. The Suns get the Bucks at home, but have to go to Sacramento where they lost earlier this month. If they somehow beat the Bucks again, itd be worth looking up if a team with the NBAs worst record has ever beaten a team with the NBAs best record twice in the same season. The Suns have 13 games against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended now or are within three games of the eighth spot Milwaukee, Golden State, Portland, Houston, Utah, Sacramento, L.A. Lakers, Detroit, Miami and Washington. They play the Jazz three more times with two being at home and are at Houston twice. Those teams have postseason motivation. The Suns need to find some of their own and play far better than they have to not only end this current skid, but redefine what has been a horrid 2018-19 season. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. | Phoenix Suns are 11-48 and have lost 15 of their last 16 games. The Suns face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday before a three-game road trip. Phoenix needs to win at least 11 more games to match last season's win total. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/02/18/phoenix-suns-verge-having-nbas-worst-record-again/2911819002/ | 0.395797 |
How many winnable games are left for Suns this season? | Jan 24, 2019; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports (Photo11: Joe Camporeale, Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports) The numbers tell the story of the current state of the 2018-19 Phoenix Suns: 11-48 NBAs worst record. As Kelly Oubre Jr. said, the Suns are at the bottom. 15 Current losing skid; games Devin Booker has missed due to injury. 11 Wins Phoenix needs to match last seasons win total. 23 Games remaining on schedule. Phoenix can redefine their season within that last number starting Thursday at Cleveland in the first of a three-game road trip. The Suns play Saturday at Atlanta and conclude the trip Monday at Miami. Phoenix Suns head coach Igor Kokoskov talks with Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (22) during the first quarter against the Charlotte Hornets in Phoenix January 6, 2019. (Photo11: Michael Chow/The Republic) All three have losing records, but the Hawks and Heat have already beaten the Suns. Theyll play the Cavaliers for the first time this season at Quicken Loans Arena. Igor Kokosov said the Suns needed an escape after losing their 15th straight game last week at Los Angeles against the Clippers. Were all going to get to escape from each other, Kokoskov said. I think we all need that escape emotionally from losing games, but we are who we are as a group. We belong here and if we want to change something, we have to do it as a group. Starting from each individual, understanding that we need to change. Having TJ Warren back would be a welcomed change as the teams second-leading scorer has missed the last 10 games with right ankle soreness, but it wont matter if the Suns continue to play poorly. Phoenix Suns forward T.J. Warren (12) looks to pass between Charlotte Hornets forward Marvin Williams (2) and center Bismack Biyombo (8) during the first quarter in Phoenix January 6, 2019. Thursday at Cleveland (12-46) Saturday at Atlanta (19-39) Monday at Miami (26-30) 3-1 New Orleans (26-33) 3-2 L.A. Lakers (28-29) 3-4 Milwaukee (43-14) 3-6 New York (11-47) 3-9 at Portland (34-23) 3-10 at Golden State (41-16) 3-13 Utah (32-25) 3-15 at Houston (33-24) 3-16 at New Orleans 3-18 Chicago (14-44) 3-21 Detroit (26-30) 3-23 at Sacramento (30-27) 2-25 at Utah 3-27 Washington (24-34) 3-30 Memphis (23-36) 4-1 Cleveland 4-3 Utah 4-5 New Orleans 4-7 at Houston 4-9 at Dallas (26-31) The Suns should win at least six more games to avoid matching the worst record in franchise history at 16-66 they set in their inaugural 1968-69 season. That's not a slam-dunk guarantee, though. Phoenix Suns forward Josh Jackson goes in for a dunk against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half of an NBA basketball game Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019, in Phoenix. (Photo11: Ross D. Franklin, AP) There are 11 teams left in their schedule with losing records, but theyve only beaten three of them New York, Memphis and Dallas. Phoenix has also beaten Milwaukee, which has the NBAs best record, and Sacramento. The Suns get the Bucks at home, but have to go to Sacramento where they lost earlier this month. If they somehow beat the Bucks again, itd be worth looking up if a team with the NBAs worst record has ever beaten a team with the NBAs best record twice in the same season. The Suns have 13 games against teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended now or are within three games of the eighth spot Milwaukee, Golden State, Portland, Houston, Utah, Sacramento, L.A. Lakers, Detroit, Miami and Washington. They play the Jazz three more times with two being at home and are at Houston twice. Those teams have postseason motivation. The Suns need to find some of their own and play far better than they have to not only end this current skid, but redefine what has been a horrid 2018-19 season. Reach Suns Insider Duane Rankin at dmrankin@gannett.com or contact him at 480-787-1240. Follow him on Twitter at @DuaneRankin. Support local journalism. Start your online subscription. | Phoenix Suns are 11-48 and have lost 15 of their last 16 games. The Suns face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday before a three-game road trip. Phoenix needs to win at least 11 more games to match last season's win total. The team has won just four of its last 19 games. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2019/02/18/phoenix-suns-verge-having-nbas-worst-record-again/2911819002/ | 0.44451 |
Is a witness in the Botham Jean case less credible after raising $30K on GoFundMe? | A woman who recorded video in the moments after an off-duty police officer fatally shot Botham Jean has raised more than $30,000 in contributions after she said publicizing her evidence led to her being threatened and fired. But legal experts say her fundraising could undercut her credibility as a witness in the murder trial of the now-fired officer, Amber Guyger, and the federal civil trial against Guyger and the city of Dallas. Ronnie Babbs, 29, recorded her video in a stairwell down the hall from Jeans apartment as paramedics rushed him down the hallway on a gurney. The video shows Guyger, still in uniform, frantically pacing the same hallway while she was on the phone. | Ronnie Babbs, 29, recorded video in a stairwell down the hall from Jean's apartment as paramedics rushed him down the hallway on a gurney. Legal experts say her fundraising could undercut her credibility as a witness in the murder trial of the now-fired officer, Amber Guyger. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2019/02/18/witness-used-role-botham-jean-case-raise-30k-gofundme-will-hurt-credibility-bunny-babbs-ronnie-amber-guyger | 0.148964 |
How Many Babies Will Be Conceived On Valentine's Day? | Approximately one half of Americans are expected to celebrate Valentines Day in some manner on Thursday, whether it be with the traditional pagan sacrifice of rosebushes, the traditional pecuniary sacrifice to the greeting card aisle, or any number of alternatives. (Some few will opt instead for the Finnish friendship holiday Ystvnpiv, a traditional sacrifice to pronunciation.) Whatever one calls Feb. 14, we can comfortably forecast an uptick in amorous enterprises at the end of the evening. By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, I can report that 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. Heres how I arrived at that number. Birth rates in the United States have generally declined in the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, totaling 3,855,500 in 2017, the most-recent data point available. Thats more than 10,000 children a day, on average. The key phrase being on average, since we know that birthdays are not evenly distributed across the calendar thanks to data that Carl Bialik, now the data science editor at Yelp, received from the Social Security Administration for a 2016 article on FiveThirtyEight. Based on these figures, which Bialik generously open-sourced, the data journalist Matt Stiles put together a widely popular chart on the most common birthdays, which spike in mid-September. For all its claims on love, Valentines Day produces far fewer babies than Christmastime. (I feel it in my fingers) The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now This would be a simple exercise if all pregnancies lasted exactly 38.5 weeks, the average gestation time according to 10 years of data from the CDCs natality figures. (That figure varies depending on the sourcesee the methodology note below.) Unfortunately, for both expectant parents and data journalists, due dates are not so precise. Over 90% of pregnancies have gestational periods between 37 and 42 weeks, which is considered a full term, and another 7% are late pre-term deliveries made after 34 weeks, which carry increased risk of complications but only a very small increase in dire outcomes. This equates to typical gestation periods between 238 to 300 days, highly concentrated around the middle of that range. Which is to say, children born between Oct. 10 and Dec. 11 might have been conceived on Valentines Day, with Peak Valentine Conception falling in mid-November. From here, its a fairly simple calculation: For each week in this span, I multiplied the percentage of births attributable to a Feb. 14 conception, based on the CDCs gestation data, by the number of children born that week, according to the Social Security Administration. While it would have been preferable to have day-by-day gestation data, this isnt generally possible since most mothers cannot pinpoint a pregnancy to a specific day after their last menstrual cycle. The result, 10,408 births, is not significantly different than the daily average for the entire year. This may mean Valentines Day is not the fertility factory one might suppose, though theres another factor to consider: Given how amorous the December holiday season isbirths are north of 11,000 a day for much of September, based on current annual fertility ratesa significant number of couples might already be pregnant by the time February rolls around. Methodology: The CDC measures the length of gestation according to an obstetric estimate, while older, more dated sources often use the expectant mothers last normal menstrual cycle as a guidepost. Contact us at editors@time.com. | In the U.S., 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. | ctrlsum | 0 | http://time.com/5528415/valentines-day-pregnancy-conception-babies-births/ | 0.627471 |
How Many Babies Will Be Conceived On Valentine's Day? | Approximately one half of Americans are expected to celebrate Valentines Day in some manner on Thursday, whether it be with the traditional pagan sacrifice of rosebushes, the traditional pecuniary sacrifice to the greeting card aisle, or any number of alternatives. (Some few will opt instead for the Finnish friendship holiday Ystvnpiv, a traditional sacrifice to pronunciation.) Whatever one calls Feb. 14, we can comfortably forecast an uptick in amorous enterprises at the end of the evening. By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, I can report that 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. Heres how I arrived at that number. Birth rates in the United States have generally declined in the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, totaling 3,855,500 in 2017, the most-recent data point available. Thats more than 10,000 children a day, on average. The key phrase being on average, since we know that birthdays are not evenly distributed across the calendar thanks to data that Carl Bialik, now the data science editor at Yelp, received from the Social Security Administration for a 2016 article on FiveThirtyEight. Based on these figures, which Bialik generously open-sourced, the data journalist Matt Stiles put together a widely popular chart on the most common birthdays, which spike in mid-September. For all its claims on love, Valentines Day produces far fewer babies than Christmastime. (I feel it in my fingers) The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now This would be a simple exercise if all pregnancies lasted exactly 38.5 weeks, the average gestation time according to 10 years of data from the CDCs natality figures. (That figure varies depending on the sourcesee the methodology note below.) Unfortunately, for both expectant parents and data journalists, due dates are not so precise. Over 90% of pregnancies have gestational periods between 37 and 42 weeks, which is considered a full term, and another 7% are late pre-term deliveries made after 34 weeks, which carry increased risk of complications but only a very small increase in dire outcomes. This equates to typical gestation periods between 238 to 300 days, highly concentrated around the middle of that range. Which is to say, children born between Oct. 10 and Dec. 11 might have been conceived on Valentines Day, with Peak Valentine Conception falling in mid-November. From here, its a fairly simple calculation: For each week in this span, I multiplied the percentage of births attributable to a Feb. 14 conception, based on the CDCs gestation data, by the number of children born that week, according to the Social Security Administration. While it would have been preferable to have day-by-day gestation data, this isnt generally possible since most mothers cannot pinpoint a pregnancy to a specific day after their last menstrual cycle. The result, 10,408 births, is not significantly different than the daily average for the entire year. This may mean Valentines Day is not the fertility factory one might suppose, though theres another factor to consider: Given how amorous the December holiday season isbirths are north of 11,000 a day for much of September, based on current annual fertility ratesa significant number of couples might already be pregnant by the time February rolls around. Methodology: The CDC measures the length of gestation according to an obstetric estimate, while older, more dated sources often use the expectant mothers last normal menstrual cycle as a guidepost. Contact us at editors@time.com. | In the U.S., 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. That's more than 10,000 children a day, on average. | ctrlsum | 1 | http://time.com/5528415/valentines-day-pregnancy-conception-babies-births/ | 0.603475 |
How Many Babies Will Be Conceived On Valentine's Day? | Approximately one half of Americans are expected to celebrate Valentines Day in some manner on Thursday, whether it be with the traditional pagan sacrifice of rosebushes, the traditional pecuniary sacrifice to the greeting card aisle, or any number of alternatives. (Some few will opt instead for the Finnish friendship holiday Ystvnpiv, a traditional sacrifice to pronunciation.) Whatever one calls Feb. 14, we can comfortably forecast an uptick in amorous enterprises at the end of the evening. By my back-of-the-envelope calculations, I can report that 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. Heres how I arrived at that number. Birth rates in the United States have generally declined in the past decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, totaling 3,855,500 in 2017, the most-recent data point available. Thats more than 10,000 children a day, on average. The key phrase being on average, since we know that birthdays are not evenly distributed across the calendar thanks to data that Carl Bialik, now the data science editor at Yelp, received from the Social Security Administration for a 2016 article on FiveThirtyEight. Based on these figures, which Bialik generously open-sourced, the data journalist Matt Stiles put together a widely popular chart on the most common birthdays, which spike in mid-September. For all its claims on love, Valentines Day produces far fewer babies than Christmastime. (I feel it in my fingers) The Brief Newsletter Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know right now. View Sample Sign Up Now This would be a simple exercise if all pregnancies lasted exactly 38.5 weeks, the average gestation time according to 10 years of data from the CDCs natality figures. (That figure varies depending on the sourcesee the methodology note below.) Unfortunately, for both expectant parents and data journalists, due dates are not so precise. Over 90% of pregnancies have gestational periods between 37 and 42 weeks, which is considered a full term, and another 7% are late pre-term deliveries made after 34 weeks, which carry increased risk of complications but only a very small increase in dire outcomes. This equates to typical gestation periods between 238 to 300 days, highly concentrated around the middle of that range. Which is to say, children born between Oct. 10 and Dec. 11 might have been conceived on Valentines Day, with Peak Valentine Conception falling in mid-November. From here, its a fairly simple calculation: For each week in this span, I multiplied the percentage of births attributable to a Feb. 14 conception, based on the CDCs gestation data, by the number of children born that week, according to the Social Security Administration. While it would have been preferable to have day-by-day gestation data, this isnt generally possible since most mothers cannot pinpoint a pregnancy to a specific day after their last menstrual cycle. The result, 10,408 births, is not significantly different than the daily average for the entire year. This may mean Valentines Day is not the fertility factory one might suppose, though theres another factor to consider: Given how amorous the December holiday season isbirths are north of 11,000 a day for much of September, based on current annual fertility ratesa significant number of couples might already be pregnant by the time February rolls around. Methodology: The CDC measures the length of gestation according to an obstetric estimate, while older, more dated sources often use the expectant mothers last normal menstrual cycle as a guidepost. Contact us at editors@time.com. | In the U.S., 10,408 children will be conceived this Valentines Day. That's more than 10,000 children a day, on average, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But Valentine's Day produces far fewer babies than Christmastime. | ctrlsum | 2 | http://time.com/5528415/valentines-day-pregnancy-conception-babies-births/ | 0.617198 |
Can the Charlotte airport get as big as the Atlanta airport? | Charlottes airport has rocking chairs, a NoDa Brewing Company taproom and soon, renovated concourses and seats with charging stations. Its dominant carrier, American Airlines, recently added domestic and international routes. And Charlotte Douglas International Airport picked up a couple of additional carriers too. Its entirely feasible, said airlines analyst Bob Mann, who is based in Port Washington, N.Y. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer But Atlanta, the second busiest airport for takeoffs and landings in the U.S., first would have to plateau in growth, he said. Meanwhile, Charlotte would need to grow in size and number of passengers to keep pace with Atlanta, aviation experts say. And becoming like Atlanta, with its internal train system, even more international options and cheaper fares could come at a cost, experts warn. Charlotte could lose some of its charm and convenience. And that is what local airport officials hope to avoid. Even so, heres what can help the Charlotte airport grow: Economic growth Airline analysts say Charlotte would need more business to call the city home, especially industries whose employees drive high airfare, such as bankers and lawyers, for the airport to offer the same destination options as Atlanta. Just over a decade ago, Charlotte housed the headquarters of eight banks. But now, only Bank of America is headquartered here, although BB&T and SunTrust Banks recently announced plans to merge and form a new bank with headquarters in Charlotte. Banking seems to generate more income and thus more people willing to pay premium airfares, said Joe Brancatelli, a New York-based editor of business travel website JoeSentMe. Charlotte has 40 banks that do business in the area, according to FDIC data. By comparison, Atlanta has 89. More local passengers Having more local passengers originating from Charlotte would spur additional flight options and cause other carriers to join the market, said Brent Cagle, the Charlotte airport aviation director. Atlanta, which saw 895,502 takeoffs and landings last year, according to FAA statistics, is the largest hub for Delta Airlines. Chicago OHare International Airport took the top spot, with just over 900,000. On the same list, Charlottes 550,013 takeoffs and landings ranked sixth, the spot it has held for the past several years. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, airport aviation Ditector Brent Cagle said. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com Charlotte had nearly 46 million total passengers in 2017, according to the airport. That is less than half of Atlantas roughly 100 million. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers, Cagle said. Thats because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, he said. In addition, prices out of Charlotte are traditionally more expensive than domestic fares at other airports. For the second quarter of last year, Charlotte prices averaged $427, according to the BTS. Charlotte ranked 28th. Meanwhile, Atlanta was third, with fares averaging $358. But Charlottes budget options are expanding. On Tuesday, low-cost, Florida-based Spirit Airlines announced it would launch flights to four U.S. airports, starting in June. And late last year, low-cost Mexican carrier Volaris began flying to Guadalara from Charlotte. More long-haul flights Airport analysts say offering more nonstop, long-haul destinations will help Charlottes airport grow. The international destinations that Charlotte passengers want to fly to, but currently require a layover, include the Vancouver and Ontario areas of Canada, Cagle said. Other top destinations are in the United States, including Albuquerque, N.M., Honolulu and Orange County, Calif., he said. Roughly 12 million Atlanta passengers, or about 12 percent, were traveling to and from international destinations in 2017. In Charlotte, roughly 3.3 million passengers, or about 7 percent were traveling internationally. Last summer, American Airlines announced plans to add a nonstop to Munich in March. At the time, the Charlotte Chamber said that more than 200 German companies in the city employ about 17,000 people. Some Charlotte growth plans call for a train to help transport passengers to a future terminal. Currently, Charlotte has 106 gates and five concourses over 50 acres, according to the airport. By comparison, Atlanta has 192 gates and seven concourses on about 150 acres, according to that airport. Charlotte is much more compact an airport than Atlanta, analyst Brancatelli said. In Atlanta, 11 trains operate during peak hours, according to the airport. A train in the existing Charlotte terminal is unlikely, said aviation director Cagle. But long-term plans call for a satellite terminal at the airport. That terminal could require a train or another automated people mover, Cagle said. That terminal could come to fruition in the next 15 to 20 years, or sooner if growth accelerates, he said. Trains are not always more efficient because passengers have to walk to the train, wait for it, then walk to their next gate, analyst Mann said. Youre often better just hoofing it. Front-porch feel While Charlottes airport is growing, its important to retain its Southern charm and front-porch feel, Cagle said. He said the Concourse A expansion shows that balance, with improvements like more charging stations and a clean design. The Atlanta airport is big and impersonal, said Brancatelli. Im battling Atlanta to get to where I want to go, he said. Charlotte is not just any airport, Brancatelli said. Its more relaxed and less chaotic than Atlantas, he said. And it has those famous rocking chairs. Charlotte feels like someplace, Brancatelli said. Thats what youll lose almost by definition as you get bigger. Observer reporter Danielle Chemtob contributed | Analysts say it's possible for Charlotte's airport to become as big as Atlanta's. But Charlotte would need more economic growth and more local passengers. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article225279915.html | 0.547462 |
Can the Charlotte airport get as big as the Atlanta airport? | Charlottes airport has rocking chairs, a NoDa Brewing Company taproom and soon, renovated concourses and seats with charging stations. Its dominant carrier, American Airlines, recently added domestic and international routes. And Charlotte Douglas International Airport picked up a couple of additional carriers too. Its entirely feasible, said airlines analyst Bob Mann, who is based in Port Washington, N.Y. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer But Atlanta, the second busiest airport for takeoffs and landings in the U.S., first would have to plateau in growth, he said. Meanwhile, Charlotte would need to grow in size and number of passengers to keep pace with Atlanta, aviation experts say. And becoming like Atlanta, with its internal train system, even more international options and cheaper fares could come at a cost, experts warn. Charlotte could lose some of its charm and convenience. And that is what local airport officials hope to avoid. Even so, heres what can help the Charlotte airport grow: Economic growth Airline analysts say Charlotte would need more business to call the city home, especially industries whose employees drive high airfare, such as bankers and lawyers, for the airport to offer the same destination options as Atlanta. Just over a decade ago, Charlotte housed the headquarters of eight banks. But now, only Bank of America is headquartered here, although BB&T and SunTrust Banks recently announced plans to merge and form a new bank with headquarters in Charlotte. Banking seems to generate more income and thus more people willing to pay premium airfares, said Joe Brancatelli, a New York-based editor of business travel website JoeSentMe. Charlotte has 40 banks that do business in the area, according to FDIC data. By comparison, Atlanta has 89. More local passengers Having more local passengers originating from Charlotte would spur additional flight options and cause other carriers to join the market, said Brent Cagle, the Charlotte airport aviation director. Atlanta, which saw 895,502 takeoffs and landings last year, according to FAA statistics, is the largest hub for Delta Airlines. Chicago OHare International Airport took the top spot, with just over 900,000. On the same list, Charlottes 550,013 takeoffs and landings ranked sixth, the spot it has held for the past several years. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, airport aviation Ditector Brent Cagle said. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com Charlotte had nearly 46 million total passengers in 2017, according to the airport. That is less than half of Atlantas roughly 100 million. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers, Cagle said. Thats because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, he said. In addition, prices out of Charlotte are traditionally more expensive than domestic fares at other airports. For the second quarter of last year, Charlotte prices averaged $427, according to the BTS. Charlotte ranked 28th. Meanwhile, Atlanta was third, with fares averaging $358. But Charlottes budget options are expanding. On Tuesday, low-cost, Florida-based Spirit Airlines announced it would launch flights to four U.S. airports, starting in June. And late last year, low-cost Mexican carrier Volaris began flying to Guadalara from Charlotte. More long-haul flights Airport analysts say offering more nonstop, long-haul destinations will help Charlottes airport grow. The international destinations that Charlotte passengers want to fly to, but currently require a layover, include the Vancouver and Ontario areas of Canada, Cagle said. Other top destinations are in the United States, including Albuquerque, N.M., Honolulu and Orange County, Calif., he said. Roughly 12 million Atlanta passengers, or about 12 percent, were traveling to and from international destinations in 2017. In Charlotte, roughly 3.3 million passengers, or about 7 percent were traveling internationally. Last summer, American Airlines announced plans to add a nonstop to Munich in March. At the time, the Charlotte Chamber said that more than 200 German companies in the city employ about 17,000 people. Some Charlotte growth plans call for a train to help transport passengers to a future terminal. Currently, Charlotte has 106 gates and five concourses over 50 acres, according to the airport. By comparison, Atlanta has 192 gates and seven concourses on about 150 acres, according to that airport. Charlotte is much more compact an airport than Atlanta, analyst Brancatelli said. In Atlanta, 11 trains operate during peak hours, according to the airport. A train in the existing Charlotte terminal is unlikely, said aviation director Cagle. But long-term plans call for a satellite terminal at the airport. That terminal could require a train or another automated people mover, Cagle said. That terminal could come to fruition in the next 15 to 20 years, or sooner if growth accelerates, he said. Trains are not always more efficient because passengers have to walk to the train, wait for it, then walk to their next gate, analyst Mann said. Youre often better just hoofing it. Front-porch feel While Charlottes airport is growing, its important to retain its Southern charm and front-porch feel, Cagle said. He said the Concourse A expansion shows that balance, with improvements like more charging stations and a clean design. The Atlanta airport is big and impersonal, said Brancatelli. Im battling Atlanta to get to where I want to go, he said. Charlotte is not just any airport, Brancatelli said. Its more relaxed and less chaotic than Atlantas, he said. And it has those famous rocking chairs. Charlotte feels like someplace, Brancatelli said. Thats what youll lose almost by definition as you get bigger. Observer reporter Danielle Chemtob contributed | Analysts say it's possible for Charlotte's airport to become as big as Atlanta's. But Charlotte would need to grow in size and number of passengers to keep pace with Atlanta. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article225279915.html | 0.548271 |
Can the Charlotte airport get as big as the Atlanta airport? | Charlottes airport has rocking chairs, a NoDa Brewing Company taproom and soon, renovated concourses and seats with charging stations. Its dominant carrier, American Airlines, recently added domestic and international routes. And Charlotte Douglas International Airport picked up a couple of additional carriers too. Its entirely feasible, said airlines analyst Bob Mann, who is based in Port Washington, N.Y. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer But Atlanta, the second busiest airport for takeoffs and landings in the U.S., first would have to plateau in growth, he said. Meanwhile, Charlotte would need to grow in size and number of passengers to keep pace with Atlanta, aviation experts say. And becoming like Atlanta, with its internal train system, even more international options and cheaper fares could come at a cost, experts warn. Charlotte could lose some of its charm and convenience. And that is what local airport officials hope to avoid. Even so, heres what can help the Charlotte airport grow: Economic growth Airline analysts say Charlotte would need more business to call the city home, especially industries whose employees drive high airfare, such as bankers and lawyers, for the airport to offer the same destination options as Atlanta. Just over a decade ago, Charlotte housed the headquarters of eight banks. But now, only Bank of America is headquartered here, although BB&T and SunTrust Banks recently announced plans to merge and form a new bank with headquarters in Charlotte. Banking seems to generate more income and thus more people willing to pay premium airfares, said Joe Brancatelli, a New York-based editor of business travel website JoeSentMe. Charlotte has 40 banks that do business in the area, according to FDIC data. By comparison, Atlanta has 89. More local passengers Having more local passengers originating from Charlotte would spur additional flight options and cause other carriers to join the market, said Brent Cagle, the Charlotte airport aviation director. Atlanta, which saw 895,502 takeoffs and landings last year, according to FAA statistics, is the largest hub for Delta Airlines. Chicago OHare International Airport took the top spot, with just over 900,000. On the same list, Charlottes 550,013 takeoffs and landings ranked sixth, the spot it has held for the past several years. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, airport aviation Ditector Brent Cagle said. David T. Foster III dtfoster@charlotteobserver.com Charlotte had nearly 46 million total passengers in 2017, according to the airport. That is less than half of Atlantas roughly 100 million. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers, Cagle said. Thats because it is such a large connecting hub for American Airlines, he said. In addition, prices out of Charlotte are traditionally more expensive than domestic fares at other airports. For the second quarter of last year, Charlotte prices averaged $427, according to the BTS. Charlotte ranked 28th. Meanwhile, Atlanta was third, with fares averaging $358. But Charlottes budget options are expanding. On Tuesday, low-cost, Florida-based Spirit Airlines announced it would launch flights to four U.S. airports, starting in June. And late last year, low-cost Mexican carrier Volaris began flying to Guadalara from Charlotte. More long-haul flights Airport analysts say offering more nonstop, long-haul destinations will help Charlottes airport grow. The international destinations that Charlotte passengers want to fly to, but currently require a layover, include the Vancouver and Ontario areas of Canada, Cagle said. Other top destinations are in the United States, including Albuquerque, N.M., Honolulu and Orange County, Calif., he said. Roughly 12 million Atlanta passengers, or about 12 percent, were traveling to and from international destinations in 2017. In Charlotte, roughly 3.3 million passengers, or about 7 percent were traveling internationally. Last summer, American Airlines announced plans to add a nonstop to Munich in March. At the time, the Charlotte Chamber said that more than 200 German companies in the city employ about 17,000 people. Some Charlotte growth plans call for a train to help transport passengers to a future terminal. Currently, Charlotte has 106 gates and five concourses over 50 acres, according to the airport. By comparison, Atlanta has 192 gates and seven concourses on about 150 acres, according to that airport. Charlotte is much more compact an airport than Atlanta, analyst Brancatelli said. In Atlanta, 11 trains operate during peak hours, according to the airport. A train in the existing Charlotte terminal is unlikely, said aviation director Cagle. But long-term plans call for a satellite terminal at the airport. That terminal could require a train or another automated people mover, Cagle said. That terminal could come to fruition in the next 15 to 20 years, or sooner if growth accelerates, he said. Trains are not always more efficient because passengers have to walk to the train, wait for it, then walk to their next gate, analyst Mann said. Youre often better just hoofing it. Front-porch feel While Charlottes airport is growing, its important to retain its Southern charm and front-porch feel, Cagle said. He said the Concourse A expansion shows that balance, with improvements like more charging stations and a clean design. The Atlanta airport is big and impersonal, said Brancatelli. Im battling Atlanta to get to where I want to go, he said. Charlotte is not just any airport, Brancatelli said. Its more relaxed and less chaotic than Atlantas, he said. And it has those famous rocking chairs. Charlotte feels like someplace, Brancatelli said. Thats what youll lose almost by definition as you get bigger. Observer reporter Danielle Chemtob contributed | Analysts say it's possible for Charlotte's airport to become as big as Atlanta's. But Charlotte would need to grow in size and number of passengers to keep pace with Atlanta. Charlotte has more flights than an airport its size should have based on the number of local passengers. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article225279915.html | 0.585599 |
What do public schools spend money on? | ANALYSIS/OPINION: Some know the value of education by having it. More money. Now. Depends. Those questions and answers might as well be inscribed on school budgets across the nation as teachers strike, localities seek state funding, states seek federal dollars and federal spenders allocate as if tomorrow is promised to no one. Tax now, spend tomorrow is their rule of thumb. That certainly has been the case since President Jimmy Carter and Congress separated education from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and made it a Cabinet-level agency. Prior to that, parents and other taxpayers knew local school salaries and understood budgets enough to know whether tax dollars should be spent on textbooks and chalk, or teacher raises and air conditioning. These days, raises top the list. The majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits. Toss athletic and specialty club stipends and housing tax credits into the bucket, too. Consider Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam wants to boost teachers pay by 5 percent. Thats on top of a 3 percent raise OKd in 2018. The raise would increase K-12 school spending to an estimated $7.3 billion. Not everybody, of course, appreciates the prospect of a 5 percent pay boost. Five percent feels insufficient, said Richmond middle-school teacher Sarah Pedersen, whos organizing Virginia Educators United. The coalition of teachers and education supports a 14 percent raise. In Denver, more than of the 4,725 teachers in district-run schools called in absent on Monday, the first time the city has faced a teachers strike in 25 years. Some students bucked picket lines to get to their classes, where administrators and substitute teachers held sway. Over the past year, there have been similar walkouts in Washington state, Arizona, Kentucky and Oklahoma, as teachers push for higher pay, smaller classes and more staff. Inside the Beltway, the D.C. Council could be setting children and their parents up for what could become an annual pay-as-you-go game of charades. The lawmakers plan is to bring in a lengthy list of appointed officials and bureaucrats between now until spring to discuss public schooling. They surely will get some numbers on graduate rates, literacy rates, textbook and technology costs. But when it comes and dollars and cents, the lawmakers should do some basic readin, writin and rithmetic homework beforehand to educate the public via transparency. (Names, ages and ethnicity not needed.) By getting down to such nitty gritty facts, parents can get a clearer picture of why teachers want to strike and why funding is always front and center as an educational issue. If elected leaders dont do their own homework and tell the truth, its easy to see why critics view advocates of school choice as the enemy. And why dont ask, dont tell and, whatever you do, dont tell the truth is their mantra. Deborah Simmons can be contacted at [email protected] Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission. | The majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/11/what-do-public-schools-spend-money/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS | 0.381862 |
What do public schools spend money on? | ANALYSIS/OPINION: Some know the value of education by having it. More money. Now. Depends. Those questions and answers might as well be inscribed on school budgets across the nation as teachers strike, localities seek state funding, states seek federal dollars and federal spenders allocate as if tomorrow is promised to no one. Tax now, spend tomorrow is their rule of thumb. That certainly has been the case since President Jimmy Carter and Congress separated education from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and made it a Cabinet-level agency. Prior to that, parents and other taxpayers knew local school salaries and understood budgets enough to know whether tax dollars should be spent on textbooks and chalk, or teacher raises and air conditioning. These days, raises top the list. The majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits. Toss athletic and specialty club stipends and housing tax credits into the bucket, too. Consider Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam wants to boost teachers pay by 5 percent. Thats on top of a 3 percent raise OKd in 2018. The raise would increase K-12 school spending to an estimated $7.3 billion. Not everybody, of course, appreciates the prospect of a 5 percent pay boost. Five percent feels insufficient, said Richmond middle-school teacher Sarah Pedersen, whos organizing Virginia Educators United. The coalition of teachers and education supports a 14 percent raise. In Denver, more than of the 4,725 teachers in district-run schools called in absent on Monday, the first time the city has faced a teachers strike in 25 years. Some students bucked picket lines to get to their classes, where administrators and substitute teachers held sway. Over the past year, there have been similar walkouts in Washington state, Arizona, Kentucky and Oklahoma, as teachers push for higher pay, smaller classes and more staff. Inside the Beltway, the D.C. Council could be setting children and their parents up for what could become an annual pay-as-you-go game of charades. The lawmakers plan is to bring in a lengthy list of appointed officials and bureaucrats between now until spring to discuss public schooling. They surely will get some numbers on graduate rates, literacy rates, textbook and technology costs. But when it comes and dollars and cents, the lawmakers should do some basic readin, writin and rithmetic homework beforehand to educate the public via transparency. (Names, ages and ethnicity not needed.) By getting down to such nitty gritty facts, parents can get a clearer picture of why teachers want to strike and why funding is always front and center as an educational issue. If elected leaders dont do their own homework and tell the truth, its easy to see why critics view advocates of school choice as the enemy. And why dont ask, dont tell and, whatever you do, dont tell the truth is their mantra. Deborah Simmons can be contacted at [email protected] Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission. | The majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam wants to boost teachers pay by 5 percent. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/11/what-do-public-schools-spend-money/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS | 0.439346 |
What do public schools spend money on? | ANALYSIS/OPINION: Some know the value of education by having it. More money. Now. Depends. Those questions and answers might as well be inscribed on school budgets across the nation as teachers strike, localities seek state funding, states seek federal dollars and federal spenders allocate as if tomorrow is promised to no one. Tax now, spend tomorrow is their rule of thumb. That certainly has been the case since President Jimmy Carter and Congress separated education from the Department of Health, Education and Welfare and made it a Cabinet-level agency. Prior to that, parents and other taxpayers knew local school salaries and understood budgets enough to know whether tax dollars should be spent on textbooks and chalk, or teacher raises and air conditioning. These days, raises top the list. The majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance, tuition reimbursement and other employee benefits. Toss athletic and specialty club stipends and housing tax credits into the bucket, too. Consider Virginia, where Gov. Ralph Northam wants to boost teachers pay by 5 percent. Thats on top of a 3 percent raise OKd in 2018. The raise would increase K-12 school spending to an estimated $7.3 billion. Not everybody, of course, appreciates the prospect of a 5 percent pay boost. Five percent feels insufficient, said Richmond middle-school teacher Sarah Pedersen, whos organizing Virginia Educators United. The coalition of teachers and education supports a 14 percent raise. In Denver, more than of the 4,725 teachers in district-run schools called in absent on Monday, the first time the city has faced a teachers strike in 25 years. Some students bucked picket lines to get to their classes, where administrators and substitute teachers held sway. Over the past year, there have been similar walkouts in Washington state, Arizona, Kentucky and Oklahoma, as teachers push for higher pay, smaller classes and more staff. Inside the Beltway, the D.C. Council could be setting children and their parents up for what could become an annual pay-as-you-go game of charades. The lawmakers plan is to bring in a lengthy list of appointed officials and bureaucrats between now until spring to discuss public schooling. They surely will get some numbers on graduate rates, literacy rates, textbook and technology costs. But when it comes and dollars and cents, the lawmakers should do some basic readin, writin and rithmetic homework beforehand to educate the public via transparency. (Names, ages and ethnicity not needed.) By getting down to such nitty gritty facts, parents can get a clearer picture of why teachers want to strike and why funding is always front and center as an educational issue. If elected leaders dont do their own homework and tell the truth, its easy to see why critics view advocates of school choice as the enemy. And why dont ask, dont tell and, whatever you do, dont tell the truth is their mantra. Deborah Simmons can be contacted at [email protected] Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. Click here for reprint permission. | Deborah Simmons: Tax now, spend tomorrow is the rule of federal spenders. She says the majority of school districts budgets is spent on salaries, pensions, health insurance. If elected leaders dont do their own homework and tell the truth, its easy to see why critics view school choice as the enemy. | bart | 2 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/11/what-do-public-schools-spend-money/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS | 0.194168 |
What's Going On With 'Red Dead Online'? | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. It's a big one, at least from a certain perspective: ever since launch the game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause with the general concept of lawlessness, and Rockstar is doing some work on the ideas of honor and dishonor with this one. You'll be able to see how honorable a player is by looking at the map, and player visibility on the map will also be reduced over long distances to reduce the viability of just running around killing everyone. Particularly lawless characters will get NPC bounty hunters coming after them, much like in the main game. Also, we're getting daily challenges with gold nugget and XP rewards. It's a list of changes that may well be welcome for the people that are currently playing Red Dead Online. I'm not entirely sure, because I only check in with this occasionally after I ran out of anything I particularly wanted to grind for. And there certainly isn't anything for a player like me in this update. I can't imagine I'm alone. This is the sort of update that seeks to improve the game as it is without adding more in on top. Consider the daily challenges, which people can complete for additional XP and Gold Nuggets. And not why in some sort of existential sense, which is always a good question to ask when we pitch our tents in a virtual world and become concerned with relative ROI on virtual salmon fishing. Red Dead Online released in a barebones state, short on content, rewards and activity in general, a striking difference from the bustling world of Red Dead Redemption 2. It felt like the most absurdly polished early access title that you've ever played, a sketch of a game that could become interesting in the future. Which I supposed, at the time, was not ideal but surely going to be rectified soon. And yet here we are, months later, and Rockstar has mostly only made lateral improvements without adding any actually meaningful goals, rewards or new content. There are no real high-end items worth grinding for, whether in the form of property, tricked-out wagons or even just weaponry that offers any sort of power or progression fantasy. The western setting already hampers Rockstar a little bit when it comes to high-end rewards, but the team hasn't even added in the more obvious loot that it has to work with. I designed my character to look like a young Al Swearengen so I could buy a saloon. So far the union suit is the only part I've got down. GTA Online launched in an arguably even more compromised state and went on to make billions, so one could make the argument that this isn't such a big deal. But GTA Online launched into a radically different gaming landscape than the one we're living in now. Games-as-service have become the dominant model for the entire industry, and Rockstar is now competing for attention with Fortnite releasing new content every week, an ascendant Apex Legends, regular content drops in most every other game on the market, etc. GTA Online has adapted successfully to this new model, which is what makes it even more curious that Red Dead Online seems to be borrowing more from 2012 than 2019. I wonder if this was always the plan: Red Dead Redemption 2 received several Rockstar-standard delays, after all, and we can't be sure that Red Dead Online launched in the state the team intended to launch it in. It's entirely possible that the developer decided that one more delay just wasn't in the cards and decided that the priority would go to finishing up single-player, giving Online short shrift. If that was the case, I can't help but imagine it might have been a better idea to just delay the mode until it had a legitimate content pipeline rather than letting it flounder like this. Red Dead Online is ostensibly still in beta, but there's not a lot of room for a distinction like that in modern gaming. The game is out, the game is available, the game costs money to play. Not only does it not feel like a beta, it won't look anything like a traditional launch when it finally "releases". I still want this game to work, but I'm growing more and more skeptical. As the shine wears off of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the industry moves on it's going to be harder and harder to gin up interest for the multiplayer component. | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. The game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/02/13/whats-going-on-with-red-dead-online/ | 0.131549 |
What's Going On With 'Red Dead Online'? | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. It's a big one, at least from a certain perspective: ever since launch the game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause with the general concept of lawlessness, and Rockstar is doing some work on the ideas of honor and dishonor with this one. You'll be able to see how honorable a player is by looking at the map, and player visibility on the map will also be reduced over long distances to reduce the viability of just running around killing everyone. Particularly lawless characters will get NPC bounty hunters coming after them, much like in the main game. Also, we're getting daily challenges with gold nugget and XP rewards. It's a list of changes that may well be welcome for the people that are currently playing Red Dead Online. I'm not entirely sure, because I only check in with this occasionally after I ran out of anything I particularly wanted to grind for. And there certainly isn't anything for a player like me in this update. I can't imagine I'm alone. This is the sort of update that seeks to improve the game as it is without adding more in on top. Consider the daily challenges, which people can complete for additional XP and Gold Nuggets. And not why in some sort of existential sense, which is always a good question to ask when we pitch our tents in a virtual world and become concerned with relative ROI on virtual salmon fishing. Red Dead Online released in a barebones state, short on content, rewards and activity in general, a striking difference from the bustling world of Red Dead Redemption 2. It felt like the most absurdly polished early access title that you've ever played, a sketch of a game that could become interesting in the future. Which I supposed, at the time, was not ideal but surely going to be rectified soon. And yet here we are, months later, and Rockstar has mostly only made lateral improvements without adding any actually meaningful goals, rewards or new content. There are no real high-end items worth grinding for, whether in the form of property, tricked-out wagons or even just weaponry that offers any sort of power or progression fantasy. The western setting already hampers Rockstar a little bit when it comes to high-end rewards, but the team hasn't even added in the more obvious loot that it has to work with. I designed my character to look like a young Al Swearengen so I could buy a saloon. So far the union suit is the only part I've got down. GTA Online launched in an arguably even more compromised state and went on to make billions, so one could make the argument that this isn't such a big deal. But GTA Online launched into a radically different gaming landscape than the one we're living in now. Games-as-service have become the dominant model for the entire industry, and Rockstar is now competing for attention with Fortnite releasing new content every week, an ascendant Apex Legends, regular content drops in most every other game on the market, etc. GTA Online has adapted successfully to this new model, which is what makes it even more curious that Red Dead Online seems to be borrowing more from 2012 than 2019. I wonder if this was always the plan: Red Dead Redemption 2 received several Rockstar-standard delays, after all, and we can't be sure that Red Dead Online launched in the state the team intended to launch it in. It's entirely possible that the developer decided that one more delay just wasn't in the cards and decided that the priority would go to finishing up single-player, giving Online short shrift. If that was the case, I can't help but imagine it might have been a better idea to just delay the mode until it had a legitimate content pipeline rather than letting it flounder like this. Red Dead Online is ostensibly still in beta, but there's not a lot of room for a distinction like that in modern gaming. The game is out, the game is available, the game costs money to play. Not only does it not feel like a beta, it won't look anything like a traditional launch when it finally "releases". I still want this game to work, but I'm growing more and more skeptical. As the shine wears off of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the industry moves on it's going to be harder and harder to gin up interest for the multiplayer component. | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. The game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause with the general concept of lawlessness, and Rockstar is doing some work on the ideas of honor and dishonor with this one. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/02/13/whats-going-on-with-red-dead-online/ | 0.131095 |
What's Going On With 'Red Dead Online'? | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. It's a big one, at least from a certain perspective: ever since launch the game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause with the general concept of lawlessness, and Rockstar is doing some work on the ideas of honor and dishonor with this one. You'll be able to see how honorable a player is by looking at the map, and player visibility on the map will also be reduced over long distances to reduce the viability of just running around killing everyone. Particularly lawless characters will get NPC bounty hunters coming after them, much like in the main game. Also, we're getting daily challenges with gold nugget and XP rewards. It's a list of changes that may well be welcome for the people that are currently playing Red Dead Online. I'm not entirely sure, because I only check in with this occasionally after I ran out of anything I particularly wanted to grind for. And there certainly isn't anything for a player like me in this update. I can't imagine I'm alone. This is the sort of update that seeks to improve the game as it is without adding more in on top. Consider the daily challenges, which people can complete for additional XP and Gold Nuggets. And not why in some sort of existential sense, which is always a good question to ask when we pitch our tents in a virtual world and become concerned with relative ROI on virtual salmon fishing. Red Dead Online released in a barebones state, short on content, rewards and activity in general, a striking difference from the bustling world of Red Dead Redemption 2. It felt like the most absurdly polished early access title that you've ever played, a sketch of a game that could become interesting in the future. Which I supposed, at the time, was not ideal but surely going to be rectified soon. And yet here we are, months later, and Rockstar has mostly only made lateral improvements without adding any actually meaningful goals, rewards or new content. There are no real high-end items worth grinding for, whether in the form of property, tricked-out wagons or even just weaponry that offers any sort of power or progression fantasy. The western setting already hampers Rockstar a little bit when it comes to high-end rewards, but the team hasn't even added in the more obvious loot that it has to work with. I designed my character to look like a young Al Swearengen so I could buy a saloon. So far the union suit is the only part I've got down. GTA Online launched in an arguably even more compromised state and went on to make billions, so one could make the argument that this isn't such a big deal. But GTA Online launched into a radically different gaming landscape than the one we're living in now. Games-as-service have become the dominant model for the entire industry, and Rockstar is now competing for attention with Fortnite releasing new content every week, an ascendant Apex Legends, regular content drops in most every other game on the market, etc. GTA Online has adapted successfully to this new model, which is what makes it even more curious that Red Dead Online seems to be borrowing more from 2012 than 2019. I wonder if this was always the plan: Red Dead Redemption 2 received several Rockstar-standard delays, after all, and we can't be sure that Red Dead Online launched in the state the team intended to launch it in. It's entirely possible that the developer decided that one more delay just wasn't in the cards and decided that the priority would go to finishing up single-player, giving Online short shrift. If that was the case, I can't help but imagine it might have been a better idea to just delay the mode until it had a legitimate content pipeline rather than letting it flounder like this. Red Dead Online is ostensibly still in beta, but there's not a lot of room for a distinction like that in modern gaming. The game is out, the game is available, the game costs money to play. Not only does it not feel like a beta, it won't look anything like a traditional launch when it finally "releases". I still want this game to work, but I'm growing more and more skeptical. As the shine wears off of Red Dead Redemption 2 and the industry moves on it's going to be harder and harder to gin up interest for the multiplayer component. | Red Dead Online is getting an update sometime this month. It's a big one, at least from a certain perspective. The game has struggled to balance the pain griefers can cause with the general concept of lawlessness. You'll be able to see how honorable a player is by looking at the map. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/02/13/whats-going-on-with-red-dead-online/ | 0.131388 |
Could instant replay be coming to Arizona high school football? | Instant replay could be coming to Arizona high school football. (Photo: azcentral sports) Instant replay could be part of the Arizona high school football playoffs next season after the National Federation of High Schools' Board of Directors approved the option for state associations. David Hines, executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, said the AIA Executive Board will need feedback from the schools "before we go down that road." Brian Gessner, who is in charge of officials for the AIA, said scoring plays and possibly turnovers would be reviewed with instant replay, but the AIA would only have that technology for state championship games. Maricopa coach Brandon Harris would like to see instant replay used for all games, not just the playoffs. "Getting calls right is important," he said. "Not just for playoffs but for in-season games as well. "Many times calls can impact a season that precludes a team from getting to the playoffs. Having them in the playoffs is a start, however." Glendale Cactus coach Joseph Ortiz is all for instant replay. "I think games in the playoffs are so important, so to be able to review them to insure that the right call is made, I feel is worth the wait it would take for the refs to review the call," he said. "Being a part of playoff games in the past where a review would of changed the game, I am totally in favor for it." Gilbert Highland coach Brock Farrel also is on board with instant replay. "I love the idea of instant replay," said Farrel, whose team reached the 6A semifinals last season. "Its important and referees are humans, too, that make mistakes. But if technology can aid them, then I am all for it." Snowflake coach and Athletic Director Kay Solomon is opposed to instant replay. "First of all, who will pay for the systems to ensure that there is instant replay at every game?" he said. "If the AIA becomes responsible for that, the costs they incur will simply be passed along to member schools who are already strapped for funds to maintain sports programs." Solomon also points to a lack of cameras beyond those in the pressbox and the time it would take for officials to review plays. "Officiating has always been a difficult job. As a coach, I respect and appreciate the work they do," Solomon said. "They will never get every call right, just like coaches will never call the right play or the correct defensive alignment and coverage every down. My preference would be that we continue to use replay for coaching and making adjustments, but let the officials call the game on the field using their best trained judgement." Play clock The NFHS board also approved the play clock increasing from 25 to 40 seconds after plays. The play clock will remain 25 seconds, according to a NFHS news release, in the following situations: - Prior to a try following a score. - To start a period or overtime series. - Following administration of an inadvertent whistle. - Following a charged timeout. - Following an officials timeout. - Following the stoppage of the play clock by the referee for any other reason. In all other cases, the 40-second play clock will be used when the ball is declared dead by a game official. "The 40 seconds after play ends versus 25 seconds from time chains, down markers are set will be more consistent and really should not affect us in any way," Farrel said. This has been the age of the RPO and no huddles and teams getting plays off in nano seconds. Get crucial breaking sports news alerts to your inbox. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Varies Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Breaking News Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "The play clock, I'm not sure about," Harris said. "I don't like the idea of the clock being bled out especially in end-of-quarter situations. You literally could use nearly a minute of time for each play with a clock that long. Some teams could essentially slow the game down to a crawl. If you had a 10-play drive, teams could bleed a whole quarter theoretically." Solomon doesn't oppose the 40-second play clock, but he's not sure it's needed. "I've had very few problems with the pacing of the game in the past by the officials," Solomon said. "I'm not opposed to the 40-second play clock, but I don't know that it's completely necessary in order to fix a broken part of the game." READ MORE To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. | Instant replay could be used in Arizona high school football next season. The National Federation of High Schools' Board of Directors approved the option for state associations. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/02/11/instant-replay-high-school-football-arizona-aia-options-playoffs/2840238002/ | 0.556262 |
Could instant replay be coming to Arizona high school football? | Instant replay could be coming to Arizona high school football. (Photo: azcentral sports) Instant replay could be part of the Arizona high school football playoffs next season after the National Federation of High Schools' Board of Directors approved the option for state associations. David Hines, executive director of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, said the AIA Executive Board will need feedback from the schools "before we go down that road." Brian Gessner, who is in charge of officials for the AIA, said scoring plays and possibly turnovers would be reviewed with instant replay, but the AIA would only have that technology for state championship games. Maricopa coach Brandon Harris would like to see instant replay used for all games, not just the playoffs. "Getting calls right is important," he said. "Not just for playoffs but for in-season games as well. "Many times calls can impact a season that precludes a team from getting to the playoffs. Having them in the playoffs is a start, however." Glendale Cactus coach Joseph Ortiz is all for instant replay. "I think games in the playoffs are so important, so to be able to review them to insure that the right call is made, I feel is worth the wait it would take for the refs to review the call," he said. "Being a part of playoff games in the past where a review would of changed the game, I am totally in favor for it." Gilbert Highland coach Brock Farrel also is on board with instant replay. "I love the idea of instant replay," said Farrel, whose team reached the 6A semifinals last season. "Its important and referees are humans, too, that make mistakes. But if technology can aid them, then I am all for it." Snowflake coach and Athletic Director Kay Solomon is opposed to instant replay. "First of all, who will pay for the systems to ensure that there is instant replay at every game?" he said. "If the AIA becomes responsible for that, the costs they incur will simply be passed along to member schools who are already strapped for funds to maintain sports programs." Solomon also points to a lack of cameras beyond those in the pressbox and the time it would take for officials to review plays. "Officiating has always been a difficult job. As a coach, I respect and appreciate the work they do," Solomon said. "They will never get every call right, just like coaches will never call the right play or the correct defensive alignment and coverage every down. My preference would be that we continue to use replay for coaching and making adjustments, but let the officials call the game on the field using their best trained judgement." Play clock The NFHS board also approved the play clock increasing from 25 to 40 seconds after plays. The play clock will remain 25 seconds, according to a NFHS news release, in the following situations: - Prior to a try following a score. - To start a period or overtime series. - Following administration of an inadvertent whistle. - Following a charged timeout. - Following an officials timeout. - Following the stoppage of the play clock by the referee for any other reason. In all other cases, the 40-second play clock will be used when the ball is declared dead by a game official. "The 40 seconds after play ends versus 25 seconds from time chains, down markers are set will be more consistent and really should not affect us in any way," Farrel said. This has been the age of the RPO and no huddles and teams getting plays off in nano seconds. Get crucial breaking sports news alerts to your inbox. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Varies Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Breaking News Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "The play clock, I'm not sure about," Harris said. "I don't like the idea of the clock being bled out especially in end-of-quarter situations. You literally could use nearly a minute of time for each play with a clock that long. Some teams could essentially slow the game down to a crawl. If you had a 10-play drive, teams could bleed a whole quarter theoretically." Solomon doesn't oppose the 40-second play clock, but he's not sure it's needed. "I've had very few problems with the pacing of the game in the past by the officials," Solomon said. "I'm not opposed to the 40-second play clock, but I don't know that it's completely necessary in order to fix a broken part of the game." READ MORE To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert. | Instant replay could be part of Arizona high school football playoffs next season. National Federation of High Schools' Board of Directors approved the option for state associations. National Federation of High Schools' board also approved play clock increasing from 25 to 40 seconds after plays. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/02/11/instant-replay-high-school-football-arizona-aia-options-playoffs/2840238002/ | 0.584776 |
Why is Grand Canyon University excluded from the Arizona Teachers Academy? | Opinion: Grand Canyon University has a well-regarded teacher training program. If the purpose is to produce and retain more teachers, it should be included. Grand Canyon University has a well-regarded teacher training program. If the purpose is to produce and retain more teachers, it should be included. (Photo: Michael Schennum, Michael Schennum / The Republic) Gov. Doug Ducey is heavily touting his Arizona Teachers Academy budget proposal. He has advocated that $21 million be appropriated to cover tuition and fees for students at the state universities ASU, U of A and NAU who pledge to teach at Arizona public schools for a period of time. Ducey says that it will help alleviate the teacher shortage. But the problem doesnt seem to be the number of people going into teaching. The big problem is keeping them once they enter the profession. Part of that is pay, and Ducey has addressed that component. But a large component is working conditions and expectations. Doing the job as designed in most schools requires a work week of 60 to 70 hours. Two months off during the summer doesnt compensate for that. Particularly for one-income families in which the breadwinner feels obligated to work some other job during that period. CLOSE "More transparency and more accountability," Ducey says are needed for taxpayers dollars spent in schools. Brian Snyder, Arizona Republic But if the state is going to provide scholarships specifically for future teachers, theres a significant omission in Duceys program: Grand Canyon University. GCU is a private, Christian college. But it has an extensive and highly regarded program for teacher education and training. If the purpose of Duceys mislabeled Academy is to increase the production of teachers and reduce their debt in hopes of keeping them in the field, there is no reason to exclude GCU. Its character shouldnt be a barrier to participation, particularly from a governor who professes to believe in school choice. Theres another element of the program that defies the principles of school choice. The scholarship is limited to students who pledge to teach at public schools. There are roughly 45,000 Arizona children who attend private schools. They need teachers too. And private schools face the same recruitment and retention challenges as public ones. Reach Robb at robert.robb@arizonarepublic.com. MORE ROBB COLUMNS: Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2019/02/11/why-grand-canyon-university-excluded-duceys-teachers-academy/2840614002/ | Gov. Doug Ducey is touting his Arizona Teachers Academy budget proposal. He wants $21 million to cover tuition and fees for students who pledge to teach at Arizona public schools for a period of time. Grand Canyon University is a private, Christian college. It has an extensive and highly regarded program for teacher education and training. | bart | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2019/02/11/why-grand-canyon-university-excluded-duceys-teachers-academy/2840614002/ | 0.242395 |
Will Kyler Murray go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals? | Former Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray has officially chosen football over baseball. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted ninth by the Oakland As in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, made his feelings known on social media Monday afternoon. He simply went with his heart and his first love. Now the question is whether Murray will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram Murray was already considered as a possible first-round pick. ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him going among the top 13, possibly as high as No. 5. He has a chance to be the first player drafted in the first round by the NFL and MLB. Murray picked Erik Burkhardt of Select Sports Group as his agent for football, according to sources. The decision has opened up the possibility of him going a lot higher, like first overall. Burkhardt also represents Kingsbury. And it doesnt take a brain surgeon to connect the dots. In October 2018, Kliff Kingsbury said he would take Kyler Murray as the first pick of the NFL draft if he could. There's a San Francisco Chronicle report that he's expected to declare and Kingsbury's @AZCardinals are first on the clock pic.twitter.com/ERF1lFz5qg ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2019 And there is no denying Kingsburys affinity for Murray dating back to his days as the Texas Tech coach last season when he openly stated he would take the former Allen star No. 1 overall if it was up to him. It wasnt his choice then but a lot has changed since, including Kingsbury being fired by Texas Tech, hired as the offensive coordinator at USC and then leaving that post to take the Cardinals head coaching job. He was hired by Arizona primarily because of his offensive expertise and knowledge of the college spread attack that is changing the face of the NFL, as well as his prowess in developing quarterbacks at Texas Tech. ESPN college football expert Kirk Herbstreit has already made the connection. Kirk Herbstreit on Kyler Murray in the NFL. "It wouldn't shock me between now and maybe even draft day to see Kliff Kingsbury possibly either move out of that spot, maybe get rid of Josh Rosen, and possibly try to pull the trigger to get a Kyler Murray. "#OUDNA | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/ePr3pG32IC Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) February 12, 2019 Murray is perfect for his scheme and system, similar to former Texas Tech protege Patrick Mahomes, now the quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs, who won NFL MVP award in 2018 with his revolutionary style of play. While Murray is undersized at 5-foot-10, his speed and quickness are off the charts. And he can throw it as well as any quarterback in the draft. According to an NFL scouting director, Murray has a chance to be very good in the right system. They will have to create a college system for him. He is Michael Vick in a Doug Flutie body. He has the skill and is tough. Its hard to predict for me. It might not be hard to predict for Kingsbury who has the right system for Murray. That the Cardinals drafted quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round last season may or may not be a problem. He was drafted by the previous staff and could be offered up as trade bait on draft day. Thats already being discussed in NFL circles. Kingsbury is going to draft him and trade Rosen, according to an unnamed agent via text. Classic. | Former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals are expected to pick first overall. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article226138880.html | 0.244882 |
Will Kyler Murray go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals? | Former Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray has officially chosen football over baseball. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted ninth by the Oakland As in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, made his feelings known on social media Monday afternoon. He simply went with his heart and his first love. Now the question is whether Murray will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram Murray was already considered as a possible first-round pick. ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him going among the top 13, possibly as high as No. 5. He has a chance to be the first player drafted in the first round by the NFL and MLB. Murray picked Erik Burkhardt of Select Sports Group as his agent for football, according to sources. The decision has opened up the possibility of him going a lot higher, like first overall. Burkhardt also represents Kingsbury. And it doesnt take a brain surgeon to connect the dots. In October 2018, Kliff Kingsbury said he would take Kyler Murray as the first pick of the NFL draft if he could. There's a San Francisco Chronicle report that he's expected to declare and Kingsbury's @AZCardinals are first on the clock pic.twitter.com/ERF1lFz5qg ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2019 And there is no denying Kingsburys affinity for Murray dating back to his days as the Texas Tech coach last season when he openly stated he would take the former Allen star No. 1 overall if it was up to him. It wasnt his choice then but a lot has changed since, including Kingsbury being fired by Texas Tech, hired as the offensive coordinator at USC and then leaving that post to take the Cardinals head coaching job. He was hired by Arizona primarily because of his offensive expertise and knowledge of the college spread attack that is changing the face of the NFL, as well as his prowess in developing quarterbacks at Texas Tech. ESPN college football expert Kirk Herbstreit has already made the connection. Kirk Herbstreit on Kyler Murray in the NFL. "It wouldn't shock me between now and maybe even draft day to see Kliff Kingsbury possibly either move out of that spot, maybe get rid of Josh Rosen, and possibly try to pull the trigger to get a Kyler Murray. "#OUDNA | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/ePr3pG32IC Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) February 12, 2019 Murray is perfect for his scheme and system, similar to former Texas Tech protege Patrick Mahomes, now the quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs, who won NFL MVP award in 2018 with his revolutionary style of play. While Murray is undersized at 5-foot-10, his speed and quickness are off the charts. And he can throw it as well as any quarterback in the draft. According to an NFL scouting director, Murray has a chance to be very good in the right system. They will have to create a college system for him. He is Michael Vick in a Doug Flutie body. He has the skill and is tough. Its hard to predict for me. It might not be hard to predict for Kingsbury who has the right system for Murray. That the Cardinals drafted quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round last season may or may not be a problem. He was drafted by the previous staff and could be offered up as trade bait on draft day. Thats already being discussed in NFL circles. Kingsbury is going to draft him and trade Rosen, according to an unnamed agent via text. Classic. | Former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals have the No. 1 pick and are expected to select Murray. The Cardinals are coached by former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article226138880.html | 0.257888 |
Will Kyler Murray go No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals? | Former Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray has officially chosen football over baseball. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who was drafted ninth by the Oakland As in the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, made his feelings known on social media Monday afternoon. He simply went with his heart and his first love. Now the question is whether Murray will be the No. 1 overall pick by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2019 NFL Draft. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram Murray was already considered as a possible first-round pick. ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay have him going among the top 13, possibly as high as No. 5. He has a chance to be the first player drafted in the first round by the NFL and MLB. Murray picked Erik Burkhardt of Select Sports Group as his agent for football, according to sources. The decision has opened up the possibility of him going a lot higher, like first overall. Burkhardt also represents Kingsbury. And it doesnt take a brain surgeon to connect the dots. In October 2018, Kliff Kingsbury said he would take Kyler Murray as the first pick of the NFL draft if he could. There's a San Francisco Chronicle report that he's expected to declare and Kingsbury's @AZCardinals are first on the clock pic.twitter.com/ERF1lFz5qg ESPN (@espn) January 10, 2019 And there is no denying Kingsburys affinity for Murray dating back to his days as the Texas Tech coach last season when he openly stated he would take the former Allen star No. 1 overall if it was up to him. It wasnt his choice then but a lot has changed since, including Kingsbury being fired by Texas Tech, hired as the offensive coordinator at USC and then leaving that post to take the Cardinals head coaching job. He was hired by Arizona primarily because of his offensive expertise and knowledge of the college spread attack that is changing the face of the NFL, as well as his prowess in developing quarterbacks at Texas Tech. ESPN college football expert Kirk Herbstreit has already made the connection. Kirk Herbstreit on Kyler Murray in the NFL. "It wouldn't shock me between now and maybe even draft day to see Kliff Kingsbury possibly either move out of that spot, maybe get rid of Josh Rosen, and possibly try to pull the trigger to get a Kyler Murray. "#OUDNA | #BoomerSooner pic.twitter.com/ePr3pG32IC Sooner Gridiron (@soonergridiron) February 12, 2019 Murray is perfect for his scheme and system, similar to former Texas Tech protege Patrick Mahomes, now the quarterback of Kansas City Chiefs, who won NFL MVP award in 2018 with his revolutionary style of play. While Murray is undersized at 5-foot-10, his speed and quickness are off the charts. And he can throw it as well as any quarterback in the draft. According to an NFL scouting director, Murray has a chance to be very good in the right system. They will have to create a college system for him. He is Michael Vick in a Doug Flutie body. He has the skill and is tough. Its hard to predict for me. It might not be hard to predict for Kingsbury who has the right system for Murray. That the Cardinals drafted quarterback Josh Rosen in the first round last season may or may not be a problem. He was drafted by the previous staff and could be offered up as trade bait on draft day. Thats already being discussed in NFL circles. Kingsbury is going to draft him and trade Rosen, according to an unnamed agent via text. Classic. | Former Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to declare for the NFL draft. The Arizona Cardinals have the No. 1 pick and are expected to select Murray. The Cardinals are coached by Kliff Kingsbury, who has a history of developing quarterbacks in his time at Texas Tech. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/nfl/dallas-cowboys/article226138880.html | 0.298004 |
Can Oregons defense stand tall while on road for 5 of last 7 games? | EUGENE Oregon enters the pivotal seven-game home stretch of the regular season with virtually no margin for error, but if its defense can stand tall during a span that includes five road games the Ducks have the talent to make a run at the postseason. Beating Cal and Stanford were all but guarantees last week for Oregon (15-9, 6-5 Pac-12), which improved to over .500 in conference play for the first time after holding the Cardinal to 27.3 percent from the field, lowest by a Pac-12 opponent against UO in over five years. Defense is always the top priority getting stops, guard Victor Bailey Jr. said. Coach has emphasized that from the beginning of the year. But I think for us really locking in and staying on the defensive end, thats going to take us over the top over offense any day. The adage is that defense travels and for Oregon thats been true in road wins but much less so in most of its losses away from Matthew Knight Arena this season. Oregon Ducks basketball resume review: Every game a must-win Oregon's opportunities to move up enough for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament may have evaporated due to the rest of the Pac-12 cannibalizing itself. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play and did well at containing Arizona and Utah in hostile environments. But at Arizona State and Colorado the Ducks had trouble on offense and it impacted their defense. A one week span showed the extremes Oregon is capable of: One of the worst shooting performances in Dana Altmans tenure at Colorado and one of UOs best defense efforts in his nine seasons while Routing Stanford. Not making excuses for them but thats sometimes youth; Things dont go your way and you give into it, Altman said. Colorados playing really good, but we had a bad half that first half. We were really bad. Hopefully our guys understand the difference preparing yourself ready for a game. How important every possession is in a game. All season Altman has stressed the need for more activity and movement on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end. When the Ducks do those things, they tend to create turnovers, create more open shots and ultimately win. It sounds so easy, but this season has been anything but. Altman joked that if his team could text each other on the court rather than talk theyd be more effective. This is just a quiet group," he said. "They dont talk much of the floor, they dont talk much on the floor. We got to do a better job forcing them to do that, get them out of their comfort zone. Eliminate some bad mistakes were still making. How Oregons season ends up turning out will be determined over the remaining seven games, starting Saturday at Oregon State, then at USC and UCLA, home against Arizona State and Arizona and at Washington State and Washington. The Ducks are a game back of the three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12 and a top four finish is widely considered necessary to have any chance of winning the Pac-12 Tournament. If Oregon were to go 6-1 or better it could be on the bubble for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The best thing is were probably as healthy as weve been in a long time, especially a couple of days here, hopefully get Paul (White)s ankle a little bit better," Altman said. "Thats the positive; Kenny (Wooten)s gotten used to his mask and I think were a little healthier than weve ever been. Thats the positive. The negative is the schedule really shifts against us here. | The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play. Oregon has won five of its last seven games on the road. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/02/can-oregons-defense-stand-tall-while-on-road-for-5-of-last-7-games.html | 0.28963 |
Can Oregons defense stand tall while on road for 5 of last 7 games? | EUGENE Oregon enters the pivotal seven-game home stretch of the regular season with virtually no margin for error, but if its defense can stand tall during a span that includes five road games the Ducks have the talent to make a run at the postseason. Beating Cal and Stanford were all but guarantees last week for Oregon (15-9, 6-5 Pac-12), which improved to over .500 in conference play for the first time after holding the Cardinal to 27.3 percent from the field, lowest by a Pac-12 opponent against UO in over five years. Defense is always the top priority getting stops, guard Victor Bailey Jr. said. Coach has emphasized that from the beginning of the year. But I think for us really locking in and staying on the defensive end, thats going to take us over the top over offense any day. The adage is that defense travels and for Oregon thats been true in road wins but much less so in most of its losses away from Matthew Knight Arena this season. Oregon Ducks basketball resume review: Every game a must-win Oregon's opportunities to move up enough for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament may have evaporated due to the rest of the Pac-12 cannibalizing itself. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play and did well at containing Arizona and Utah in hostile environments. But at Arizona State and Colorado the Ducks had trouble on offense and it impacted their defense. A one week span showed the extremes Oregon is capable of: One of the worst shooting performances in Dana Altmans tenure at Colorado and one of UOs best defense efforts in his nine seasons while Routing Stanford. Not making excuses for them but thats sometimes youth; Things dont go your way and you give into it, Altman said. Colorados playing really good, but we had a bad half that first half. We were really bad. Hopefully our guys understand the difference preparing yourself ready for a game. How important every possession is in a game. All season Altman has stressed the need for more activity and movement on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end. When the Ducks do those things, they tend to create turnovers, create more open shots and ultimately win. It sounds so easy, but this season has been anything but. Altman joked that if his team could text each other on the court rather than talk theyd be more effective. This is just a quiet group," he said. "They dont talk much of the floor, they dont talk much on the floor. We got to do a better job forcing them to do that, get them out of their comfort zone. Eliminate some bad mistakes were still making. How Oregons season ends up turning out will be determined over the remaining seven games, starting Saturday at Oregon State, then at USC and UCLA, home against Arizona State and Arizona and at Washington State and Washington. The Ducks are a game back of the three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12 and a top four finish is widely considered necessary to have any chance of winning the Pac-12 Tournament. If Oregon were to go 6-1 or better it could be on the bubble for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The best thing is were probably as healthy as weve been in a long time, especially a couple of days here, hopefully get Paul (White)s ankle a little bit better," Altman said. "Thats the positive; Kenny (Wooten)s gotten used to his mask and I think were a little healthier than weve ever been. Thats the positive. The negative is the schedule really shifts against us here. | The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play. Oregon has lost five of its last seven games away from Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks need to win their final seven games to have any chance of making the NCAA Tournament. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/02/can-oregons-defense-stand-tall-while-on-road-for-5-of-last-7-games.html | 0.281778 |
Can Oregons defense stand tall while on road for 5 of last 7 games? | EUGENE Oregon enters the pivotal seven-game home stretch of the regular season with virtually no margin for error, but if its defense can stand tall during a span that includes five road games the Ducks have the talent to make a run at the postseason. Beating Cal and Stanford were all but guarantees last week for Oregon (15-9, 6-5 Pac-12), which improved to over .500 in conference play for the first time after holding the Cardinal to 27.3 percent from the field, lowest by a Pac-12 opponent against UO in over five years. Defense is always the top priority getting stops, guard Victor Bailey Jr. said. Coach has emphasized that from the beginning of the year. But I think for us really locking in and staying on the defensive end, thats going to take us over the top over offense any day. The adage is that defense travels and for Oregon thats been true in road wins but much less so in most of its losses away from Matthew Knight Arena this season. Oregon Ducks basketball resume review: Every game a must-win Oregon's opportunities to move up enough for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament may have evaporated due to the rest of the Pac-12 cannibalizing itself. The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play and did well at containing Arizona and Utah in hostile environments. But at Arizona State and Colorado the Ducks had trouble on offense and it impacted their defense. A one week span showed the extremes Oregon is capable of: One of the worst shooting performances in Dana Altmans tenure at Colorado and one of UOs best defense efforts in his nine seasons while Routing Stanford. Not making excuses for them but thats sometimes youth; Things dont go your way and you give into it, Altman said. Colorados playing really good, but we had a bad half that first half. We were really bad. Hopefully our guys understand the difference preparing yourself ready for a game. How important every possession is in a game. All season Altman has stressed the need for more activity and movement on the defensive end and ball movement on the offensive end. When the Ducks do those things, they tend to create turnovers, create more open shots and ultimately win. It sounds so easy, but this season has been anything but. Altman joked that if his team could text each other on the court rather than talk theyd be more effective. This is just a quiet group," he said. "They dont talk much of the floor, they dont talk much on the floor. We got to do a better job forcing them to do that, get them out of their comfort zone. Eliminate some bad mistakes were still making. How Oregons season ends up turning out will be determined over the remaining seven games, starting Saturday at Oregon State, then at USC and UCLA, home against Arizona State and Arizona and at Washington State and Washington. The Ducks are a game back of the three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12 and a top four finish is widely considered necessary to have any chance of winning the Pac-12 Tournament. If Oregon were to go 6-1 or better it could be on the bubble for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The best thing is were probably as healthy as weve been in a long time, especially a couple of days here, hopefully get Paul (White)s ankle a little bit better," Altman said. "Thats the positive; Kenny (Wooten)s gotten used to his mask and I think were a little healthier than weve ever been. Thats the positive. The negative is the schedule really shifts against us here. | The Ducks are second in the Pac-12 in scoring defense in league play. Oregon has lost five of its last seven games away from Matthew Knight Arena. The Ducks need to win their final seven games to have any chance of an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/02/can-oregons-defense-stand-tall-while-on-road-for-5-of-last-7-games.html | 0.283719 |
What did CA Governor Gavin Newsom say in state of the state speech? | Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday delivered his first state of the state speech. Here are his prepared remarks as released by his office. Mr. Speaker, thank you for being a champion for all Californians and for welcoming Jen and me into your house today. Madam Pro Tem thank you for your commitment to collaboration, which has helped make our first month together so productive. I also have the honor of saying for the first time ever in this chamber: thank you Madam Lieutenant Governor for that very kind and short introduction. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee To all the constitutional officers and legislators assembled here today thank you for your service to our state. And let me reassure everyone: our son Dutch is not here. We learned our lesson at the inauguration. It was just over four weeks ago that I stood in front of this Capitol and pledged to defend not just the California constitution but the California dream. Today, I want to talk about how we can do that together. By every traditional measure, the state of our state is strong. We have a record-breaking surplus. Weve added 3 million jobs since the depths of the recession. Wages are rising. We have more scientists, researchers, and engineers, more Nobel laureates, and the finest system of higher education anywhere in the world. But along with that prosperity and progress, there are problems that have been deferred for too long and that threaten to put the California dream out of reach for too many. We face hard decisions that are coming due. The choices we make will shape our future for decades. This is what I want to talk about today, as frankly and directly as I can: The tough calls we must make together on rail, water, and energy. How we protect migrants, care for seniors, and help the homeless, and how we will tackle the affordability crisis that is coming to define life in this state. I wont pretend to have all the answers. But the only way to find them is to face these issues honestly. Lets start with the fear mongering from the White House about the so-called emergency at our border. For me, this is an echo from fifteen years ago. I was a new mayor sitting in the gallery at the State of the Union when President Bush said LGBT Americans should not be able to get married. It was an attack on our friends and neighbors, and on Californias values. I was so proud to watch brave Californians answer those attacks with love and courage. Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin made history when they were married 15 years ago to this very day. Now, just like back then, we must stand up for those maligned, marginalized, and scapegoated. Because last week, we heard another president stand up at the State of the Union and offer a vision of an America fundamentally at odds with California values. He described a country where inequality doesnt seem to be a problem, where climate change doesnt exist, and where the greatest threat we face comes from families seeking asylum. Just last night, he went down to El Paso and said it again. Immigration Let us state the facts. We are currently experiencing the lowest number of border crossings since 1971. In California, like our nation, our undocumented population is at its lowest level in more than a decade. Some 550,000 fewer in our state alone. Immigrants, both those here legally and those without documentation, commit crime at a lower rate than native-born citizens. And those families, women and children, seeking asylum at our borders, are doing so lawfully. Those are the facts. The border emergency is a manufactured crisis and California will not be part of this political theater. Were not backing down. Just yesterday, I gave the National Guard a new mission one that will refocus on the real threats facing our state. A third of our forces currently on the border will be redeployed to help prepare for the upcoming fire season by joining Cal Fire in prevention and suppression. Work, ironically, the Federal government curtailed during the recent shutdown. Another third will boost the National Guards statewide counter-drug task force by redeploying up north to go after illegal cannabis farms, many of which are run by cartels, are devastating our pristine forests, and are increasingly becoming fire hazards themselves. The remaining third of our Guard will focus on stopping criminals smuggling drugs and guns through existing border checkpoints. A wall that stretches thousands of miles through the wilderness will do nothing to stop this threat. This is our answer to the White House: No more division, no more xenophobia and no more nativism. We suffered enough from that in the nineties with Props 187 and 227. High speed rail Next, lets level about high speed rail. I have nothing but respect for Governor Browns and Governor Schwarzeneggers ambitious vision. I share it. And theres no doubt that our states economy and quality of life depend on improving transportation. But lets be real. The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long. Theres been too little oversight and not enough transparency. Right now, there simply isnt a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A. I wish there were. However, we do have the capacity to complete a high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield. I know that some critics will say this is a train to nowhere. But thats wrong and offensive. The people of the Central Valley endure the worst air pollution in America as well as some of the longest commutes. And they have suffered too many years of neglect from policymakers here in Sacramento. They deserve better. High Speed Rail is much more than a train project. Its about economic transformation and unlocking the enormous potential of the Valley. We can align our economic and workforce development strategies, anchored by High Speed Rail, and pair them with tools like opportunity zones, to form the backbone of a reinvigorated Central Valley economy. Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, and communities in between are more dynamic than many realize. The Valley may be known around the world for agriculture, but there is another story ready to be told. A story of a region hungry for investment, a workforce eager for more training and good jobs, Californians who deserve a fair share of our states prosperity. Look, we will continue our regional projects north and south. Well finish Phase 1 environmental work. Well connect the revitalized Central Valley to other parts of the state, and continue to push for more federal funding and private dollars. But lets just get something done. For those who want to walk away from this whole endeavor, I offer you this: Abandoning high speed rail entirely means we will have wasted billions of dollars with nothing but broken promises and lawsuits to show for it. And by the way, I am not interested in sending $3.5 billion in federal funding that was allocated to this project back to Donald Trump. Nor am I interested in repeating the same old mistakes. Today I am ordering new transparency measures. Were going to hold contractors and consultants accountable to explain how taxpayer dollars are spent including change orders, cost overruns, even travel expenses. Its going online, for everybody to see. Youre also going to see some governance changes, starting with my pick for the next chair of the High Speed Rail Authority, Lenny Mendonca, my Economic Development Director. Because, at the end of the day, transportation and economic development must go hand in hand. Delta tunnels We also need a fresh approach when it comes to meeting Californias massive water challenges. We have a big state with diverse water needs. Cities that need clean water to drink, farms that need irrigation to keep feeding the world, fragile ecosystems that must be protected. Our water supply is becoming less reliable because of climate change. And our population is growing because of a strong economy. That means a lot of demand on an unpredictable supply. There are no easy answers. But let me be direct about where I stand: I do not support the Water Fix as currently configured. Meaning, I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work thats already been done. Thats why I do support a single tunnel. The status quo is not an option. We need to protect our water supply from earthquakes and rising sea levels, preserve delta fisheries, and meet the needs of cities and farms. We have to get past the old binaries, like farmers versus environmentalists, or North versus South. Our approach cant be either/or. It must be yes/and. Conveyance and efficiency. And recycling projects like were seeing in Southern Californias Met Water District, expanding floodplains in the Central Valley, groundwater recharge, like farmers are doing in Fresno County. We need a portfolio approach to building water infrastructure and meeting long-term demand. To help bring this balance, Im appointing a new chair of the California water board, Joaquin Esquivel. Our first task is to cross the finish line on real agreements to save the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. California Governor Gavin Newsom visited Monterey Tract in Ceres, Calif., to talk with residents about getting safe and affordable drinking water Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Andy Alfaro aalfaro@modbee.com We must get this done for the resilience of our mighty rivers, the stability of our agriculture sector, and the millions who depend on this water every day. Now, lets talk honestly about clean drinking water. Just this morning, more than a million Californians woke up without clean water to bathe in or drink. Some schools have shut down drinking fountains due to contamination. Some poorer communities, like those I visited recently in Stanislaus County, are paying more for undrinkable water than Beverly Hills pays for its pristine water. This is a moral disgrace and a medical emergency. There are literally hundreds of water systems across the state contaminated by lead, arsenic, or uranium. Solving this crisis demands sustained funding. It demands political will. PG&Es bankruptcy Next, lets talk about our energy future and PG&Es bankruptcy. We are all frustrated and angry that its come to this. PG&E didnt do enough to secure dangerous equipment or plan for the future. My administration will work to make sure PG&E upholds its obligations. I have convened a team of the nations best bankruptcy lawyers and financial experts from the energy sector. They will work with my strike team to develop a comprehensive strategy that we will present within 60 days. We will ensure continued access to safe affordable power. We will seek justice for fire victims, fairness for employees, and protection for ratepayers. We will continue to invest in safety, and we will never waver on achieving the nations most ambitious clean energy goals. The problems we face are far greater than PG&E. Climate change is putting pressure on all of our utilities public and private, north and south. Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric both recently had their credit ratings downgraded. This pressure comes at a time when the entire energy market is evolving. From roof-top solar and wind generation to smart grid technologies. From Community Choice Aggregators to direct access service. More and more of our electricity now is procured outside of investor-owned utilities. Regulations and insurance practices created decades ago didnt anticipate these changes. We must map out longer-term strategies, not just for the utilities future, but for Californias energy future, to ensure that the cost of climate change doesnt fall on those least able to afford it. Schools Now let me turn to education. The teachers strike in LA is over but the need to confront its underlying causes has only just begun. Understaffed schools, overcrowded classrooms, pension pressures, the achievement gap, and charter school growth these stressors are showing up all over the state, right here in Sacramento, in Fresno, and Oakland. Districts across the state are challenged to balance budgets even in this strong economy, and at a time when were spending more on schools than ever before. Seven years ago, we invested $47.3 billion in our schools. Next year, with your support, well invest more than $80 billion -- that includes $576 million for special education. But its not enough. Were still 41st in the nation in per pupil funding. Something needs to change. We need to have an honest conversation about how we fund our schools at a state and local level. But at the same time, lets remember that the measure of a school systems excellence is more than the sum of its budgets. We need clear and achievable standards of transparency, more information sharing, and accountability for all public schools traditional and charter. We need a new president for the State Board of Education, to lead the way and work alongside State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and to lift up all of our students. And my pick for that position is nationally recognized education expert Linda Darling Hammond. Homelessness Theres another urgent moral issue we must confront: the homelessness epidemic. So many of Californias homeless whether theyre families, veterans, victims of rent spikes, or survivors fleeing domestic violence are invisible and left behind by our society. Too many on the streets are suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or paranoia. Many are self-medicating with drug or alcohol as a consequence. Our homelessness crisis has increasingly become a public health crisis. Last year, there was a Hepatitis-A outbreak in San Diego. Recently, there was an outbreak of Syphilis in Sonoma. And now, typhus in Los Angeles. Typhus. Thats a Medieval disease. In California. In 2019. Mayors, county supervisors, and city councils around the state are working hard to reduce homelessness and its underlying causes. Weve got to have their backs. But they cant do it alone. To help lead this discussion, Im appointing a new Commission on Homelessness and Supportive Housing, led by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. With your support, lets put half a billion dollars into immediate funding for navigation centers emergency shelters with services on site, and another hundred million for Whole Person Care to replace a fragmented approach to services with one thats more integrated and comprehensive. And while cities and counties are on the front lines, this challenge will only be solved regionally. We need to work together as a state to focus on prevention, rapid rehousing, mental health, and more permanent supportive housing because while shelter solves sleep, only permanent supportive housing solves homelessness. The Golden State is getting grayer Now, lets talk about something too often overlooked: The Golden State is getting grayer. We need to get ready for the major demographic challenge headed our way. For the first time in our history, older Californians will outnumber young children. Over the next decade, our statewide senior population will increase by 4 million. In 25 years, it will double. And more than half will require some form of long-term care. Growing old knows no boundaries aging doesnt care what race you are, your economic status, or if youre single with no other family support. Ive had some personal and painful experience with this recently. I lost my father over the holidays, after years of declining physical health and dementia. He was determined to live out his days with dignity. He also happened to be a retired public official with a pension and a support circle of family and friends. Even with all those advantages, it was a daily challenge to meet his needs so he could live in place and maintain a good quality of life. Millions of Californians share a similar story, and the numbers will only grow. Its time for a new master plan on aging. It must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity. And we cant talk about aging without focusing on Alzheimers. Too many of us have seen the crushing grip this disease has on our loved ones and especially on our wives and mothers two-thirds of new Alzheimers cases are women. Today, I am launching the Alzheimers Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, bringing the most renowned scientists and thinkers together to develop first-of-its-kind research in this area. It will be headed by a leading advocate for families dealing with Alzheimers, our former first lady, Maria Shriver. She is here today and we are grateful for her continued service. Housing affordability Tying together many of the hard challenges we face is the broader cost crisis. In a recent survey, 61% of young adults in California said they cant afford to live here. California should never be a place where only the well-off can lead a good life. It starts with housing, perhaps our most overwhelming challenge right now. We all know the problem. Theres too much demand and too little supply. And that is happening in large part because too many cities and counties arent even planning for how to build. Some are flat out refusing to do anything at all. Thats why I have committed $750 million for a major new incentive package for communities to do the right thing. $250 million in support to cities and counties to update their housing plans, revamp their zoning process, and get more housing entitled. $500 million more in grants when they achieve these milestones. If we want a California for All, we have to build housing for all. I want to support local governments that do whats right, like Anaheim and Santa Rosa. But there must be accountability for those that dont. Two weeks ago, the state of California sued the city of Huntington Beach for failing to meet its obligations on affordable housing. Let me tell you, as a former mayor, the last thing I wanted to do was start my term by suing a city. But they left us no choice. This isnt about picking on Huntington Beach, they happened to be first because of a statute of limitations. There are 47 other cities across California that are not complying with their planning requirements in one way or another. Some cities are trying, like Clovis. But others are not, like Wheatland, Huntington Park, and Montebello. I am inviting these cities leaders to sit down next week for a candid conversation. I dont intend to file suit against all 47, but Im not going to preside over neglect and denial. These cities need to summon the political courage to build their fair share of housing. I also want to acknowledge other factors beyond city planning that have limited our ability to provide housing. In recent years, weve expedited judicial review on CEQA for professional sports. Its time we do the same thing for housing. I want to applaud the efforts by home builders and labor leaders, who together are working to forge a compromise to accelerate production. But there is no way we can achieve our ambitious targets unless we train a skilled workforce big enough to meet this challenge and those workers deserve wages high enough to support their families. Lets encourage this progress, bring more people to the table, and get something big done. And while were at it, lets not forget the commitments many of us made after Prop 10 failed last year. The pressures on vulnerable renters didnt go away after the election. We need new rules to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent evictions, without putting small landlords out of business. I want the best ideas from everyone in this chamber. Here is my promise to you, get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it. Health care Next, if were serious about taming the cost crisis we need affordable health care for all Californians. Our ability to invest in everything we care about is constrained by the pressure of rising health care costs. It impacts everything else we want to do. The White House is laser-focused on destroying the Affordable Care Act. The vandalism theyve already done to the individual mandate has had consequences. This years Covered California premiums increased almost twice as much as we expected. This is just what we feared, and its just what they wanted. Thats why, when it comes to the individual mandate, California must act where Washington failed. If we do, we will be able to deepen subsidies for those earning up to $48,000 and extend subsidies to families earning up to $150,000, something no other state in America has done. We all know California has among the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in America. Thats why our budget devotes more than $1 billion to increase rates and address the provider shortage. This investment will also allow us to increase access to preventative health measures like -immunizations, trauma screenings, and mental health services. And it provides $100 million for reproductive health and family planning. As we pursue the long-term goal of single payer financing, let us make a down-payment now by expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians up to age 26, regardless of their immigration status. But access is only part of the solution. Cost is another. We must address rising costs throughout the system, like the consolidation of hospitals and other health providers, which limits patient choice and makes care more expensive. And we must continue to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. My first act as governor was to lay the foundation for a single-purchasing system the largest such system in the nation, which will save hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the people of California. I want to thank President Trump for calling attention to prescription drug prices in his State of the Union. Yes, you heard that right. I hope he follows through. After all, this should be a bipartisan issue. But with or without the Federal government, California will lead. Jobs and wages Finally, we must ask ourselves, how do we create a future with more good jobs and higher wages. Because when it comes to making life in California more affordable, cost is only one side of the equation, the other is income. Despite our rising wages, working families in California today barely earn more than they did a decade ago. Many working parents are making less than their parents did at the same age. Thats why, with your support, we will provide a cost of living refund by expanding the earned income tax credit to a million more Californians who need it the most. For families with kids under the age of six, theyll see their benefit go up by as much as three times. But, in an economy where the world of work is in a perpetual state of flu, where workers are too often displaced, devalued and disconnected from the social safety net, we must also think bigger. Its time to develop a new modern compact for Californias changing workforce. This is much bigger than Dynamex. California needs a comprehensive statewide strategy to uplift and upskill our workers, to ensure technological advancements in AI, blockchain, big data, are creating jobs, not destroying them, and to reform our institutions so that more workers have an ownership stake in their sweat equity. We will appoint a new Commission on Californias Workforce & Future of Work. We will bring together leaders from labor and business both the public and private sectors. Their assignment is to come up with new ideas to expand worker opportunity without extinguishing innovation or flexibility. California is proud to be home to technology companies determined to change the world. But companies that make billions of dollars collecting, curating and monetizing our personal data have a duty to protect it. Consumers have a right to know and control how their data is being used. I applaud this legislature for passing the first-in-the-nation digital privacy law last year. But Californias consumers should also be able to share in the wealth that is created from their data. And so Ive asked my team to develop a proposal for a new Data Dividend for Californians, because we recognize that your data has value and it belongs to you. So much left to do Now, weve covered a lot of ground today, but there is so much more that deserves our focus. Climate change. Reforming our tax code and our criminal justice system. Major initiatives like paid family leave, universal pre-school, free community college, re-imagining the DMVtheres so much more. And Ill be talking a lot about those issues in the coming months. At my inauguration, I quoted the Sermon on the Mount about a house that did not fall in the face of floods and storms, because it was founded upon a rock. I promised that, together, We will build one house for one California. Weve started drawing the blueprint for that house, and together we will finish it. President Donald Trump, FEMA Director Brock Long, Gov. Jerry Brown, Gov.-elect Gavin Newson and Paradise mayor Jody Jones tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park during Trumps visit of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file This goes deeper than budget numbers or program details. This is about the bonds between us as human beings. As St. Paul said, we are many parts but one body. We are all diminished when one of us struggles to lead a good life. The problems we face are as hard as they come, and decades in the making. But I truly believe we have the tools to solve them. We have the technology and the know-how. Most importantly, we have the generosity of our people. Remember the story of the registered nurse in Paradise who was sitting in traffic, trying to escape the fire, as flames started to engulf his car. He thought, this is it. He recorded a goodbye video for his family. Then a miracle occurred: a bulldozer cleared burning cars out of his path. At that point, he could have driven away as fast as possible. Thats what a lot of people would have done. Instead, he turned his car around and drove straight to the hospital in the middle of town, where he worked in the ICU. He and his colleagues started treating injured people. Then the hospital caught fire. They moved patients to a helipad 100 yards away as fast as they could. Every single one of them was safely evacuated. When he was asked why he did this why he drove back through the fire when he could have saved himself he shrugged and said, This is what we do. His name is Allyn Pierce and hes here with us today. Allyn is right. Taking care of each other, showing courage when it matters most this is what we do in California. Yes, we have so much left to do. But I believe in the remarkable talent assembled here. I believe in our state. And I know that the best is yet to come. Thank you. | Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his first state of the state speech on Tuesday. Newsom: "The state of our state is strong. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226151065.html | 0.270077 |
What did CA Governor Gavin Newsom say in state of the state speech? | Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday delivered his first state of the state speech. Here are his prepared remarks as released by his office. Mr. Speaker, thank you for being a champion for all Californians and for welcoming Jen and me into your house today. Madam Pro Tem thank you for your commitment to collaboration, which has helped make our first month together so productive. I also have the honor of saying for the first time ever in this chamber: thank you Madam Lieutenant Governor for that very kind and short introduction. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee To all the constitutional officers and legislators assembled here today thank you for your service to our state. And let me reassure everyone: our son Dutch is not here. We learned our lesson at the inauguration. It was just over four weeks ago that I stood in front of this Capitol and pledged to defend not just the California constitution but the California dream. Today, I want to talk about how we can do that together. By every traditional measure, the state of our state is strong. We have a record-breaking surplus. Weve added 3 million jobs since the depths of the recession. Wages are rising. We have more scientists, researchers, and engineers, more Nobel laureates, and the finest system of higher education anywhere in the world. But along with that prosperity and progress, there are problems that have been deferred for too long and that threaten to put the California dream out of reach for too many. We face hard decisions that are coming due. The choices we make will shape our future for decades. This is what I want to talk about today, as frankly and directly as I can: The tough calls we must make together on rail, water, and energy. How we protect migrants, care for seniors, and help the homeless, and how we will tackle the affordability crisis that is coming to define life in this state. I wont pretend to have all the answers. But the only way to find them is to face these issues honestly. Lets start with the fear mongering from the White House about the so-called emergency at our border. For me, this is an echo from fifteen years ago. I was a new mayor sitting in the gallery at the State of the Union when President Bush said LGBT Americans should not be able to get married. It was an attack on our friends and neighbors, and on Californias values. I was so proud to watch brave Californians answer those attacks with love and courage. Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin made history when they were married 15 years ago to this very day. Now, just like back then, we must stand up for those maligned, marginalized, and scapegoated. Because last week, we heard another president stand up at the State of the Union and offer a vision of an America fundamentally at odds with California values. He described a country where inequality doesnt seem to be a problem, where climate change doesnt exist, and where the greatest threat we face comes from families seeking asylum. Just last night, he went down to El Paso and said it again. Immigration Let us state the facts. We are currently experiencing the lowest number of border crossings since 1971. In California, like our nation, our undocumented population is at its lowest level in more than a decade. Some 550,000 fewer in our state alone. Immigrants, both those here legally and those without documentation, commit crime at a lower rate than native-born citizens. And those families, women and children, seeking asylum at our borders, are doing so lawfully. Those are the facts. The border emergency is a manufactured crisis and California will not be part of this political theater. Were not backing down. Just yesterday, I gave the National Guard a new mission one that will refocus on the real threats facing our state. A third of our forces currently on the border will be redeployed to help prepare for the upcoming fire season by joining Cal Fire in prevention and suppression. Work, ironically, the Federal government curtailed during the recent shutdown. Another third will boost the National Guards statewide counter-drug task force by redeploying up north to go after illegal cannabis farms, many of which are run by cartels, are devastating our pristine forests, and are increasingly becoming fire hazards themselves. The remaining third of our Guard will focus on stopping criminals smuggling drugs and guns through existing border checkpoints. A wall that stretches thousands of miles through the wilderness will do nothing to stop this threat. This is our answer to the White House: No more division, no more xenophobia and no more nativism. We suffered enough from that in the nineties with Props 187 and 227. High speed rail Next, lets level about high speed rail. I have nothing but respect for Governor Browns and Governor Schwarzeneggers ambitious vision. I share it. And theres no doubt that our states economy and quality of life depend on improving transportation. But lets be real. The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long. Theres been too little oversight and not enough transparency. Right now, there simply isnt a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A. I wish there were. However, we do have the capacity to complete a high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield. I know that some critics will say this is a train to nowhere. But thats wrong and offensive. The people of the Central Valley endure the worst air pollution in America as well as some of the longest commutes. And they have suffered too many years of neglect from policymakers here in Sacramento. They deserve better. High Speed Rail is much more than a train project. Its about economic transformation and unlocking the enormous potential of the Valley. We can align our economic and workforce development strategies, anchored by High Speed Rail, and pair them with tools like opportunity zones, to form the backbone of a reinvigorated Central Valley economy. Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, and communities in between are more dynamic than many realize. The Valley may be known around the world for agriculture, but there is another story ready to be told. A story of a region hungry for investment, a workforce eager for more training and good jobs, Californians who deserve a fair share of our states prosperity. Look, we will continue our regional projects north and south. Well finish Phase 1 environmental work. Well connect the revitalized Central Valley to other parts of the state, and continue to push for more federal funding and private dollars. But lets just get something done. For those who want to walk away from this whole endeavor, I offer you this: Abandoning high speed rail entirely means we will have wasted billions of dollars with nothing but broken promises and lawsuits to show for it. And by the way, I am not interested in sending $3.5 billion in federal funding that was allocated to this project back to Donald Trump. Nor am I interested in repeating the same old mistakes. Today I am ordering new transparency measures. Were going to hold contractors and consultants accountable to explain how taxpayer dollars are spent including change orders, cost overruns, even travel expenses. Its going online, for everybody to see. Youre also going to see some governance changes, starting with my pick for the next chair of the High Speed Rail Authority, Lenny Mendonca, my Economic Development Director. Because, at the end of the day, transportation and economic development must go hand in hand. Delta tunnels We also need a fresh approach when it comes to meeting Californias massive water challenges. We have a big state with diverse water needs. Cities that need clean water to drink, farms that need irrigation to keep feeding the world, fragile ecosystems that must be protected. Our water supply is becoming less reliable because of climate change. And our population is growing because of a strong economy. That means a lot of demand on an unpredictable supply. There are no easy answers. But let me be direct about where I stand: I do not support the Water Fix as currently configured. Meaning, I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work thats already been done. Thats why I do support a single tunnel. The status quo is not an option. We need to protect our water supply from earthquakes and rising sea levels, preserve delta fisheries, and meet the needs of cities and farms. We have to get past the old binaries, like farmers versus environmentalists, or North versus South. Our approach cant be either/or. It must be yes/and. Conveyance and efficiency. And recycling projects like were seeing in Southern Californias Met Water District, expanding floodplains in the Central Valley, groundwater recharge, like farmers are doing in Fresno County. We need a portfolio approach to building water infrastructure and meeting long-term demand. To help bring this balance, Im appointing a new chair of the California water board, Joaquin Esquivel. Our first task is to cross the finish line on real agreements to save the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. California Governor Gavin Newsom visited Monterey Tract in Ceres, Calif., to talk with residents about getting safe and affordable drinking water Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Andy Alfaro aalfaro@modbee.com We must get this done for the resilience of our mighty rivers, the stability of our agriculture sector, and the millions who depend on this water every day. Now, lets talk honestly about clean drinking water. Just this morning, more than a million Californians woke up without clean water to bathe in or drink. Some schools have shut down drinking fountains due to contamination. Some poorer communities, like those I visited recently in Stanislaus County, are paying more for undrinkable water than Beverly Hills pays for its pristine water. This is a moral disgrace and a medical emergency. There are literally hundreds of water systems across the state contaminated by lead, arsenic, or uranium. Solving this crisis demands sustained funding. It demands political will. PG&Es bankruptcy Next, lets talk about our energy future and PG&Es bankruptcy. We are all frustrated and angry that its come to this. PG&E didnt do enough to secure dangerous equipment or plan for the future. My administration will work to make sure PG&E upholds its obligations. I have convened a team of the nations best bankruptcy lawyers and financial experts from the energy sector. They will work with my strike team to develop a comprehensive strategy that we will present within 60 days. We will ensure continued access to safe affordable power. We will seek justice for fire victims, fairness for employees, and protection for ratepayers. We will continue to invest in safety, and we will never waver on achieving the nations most ambitious clean energy goals. The problems we face are far greater than PG&E. Climate change is putting pressure on all of our utilities public and private, north and south. Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric both recently had their credit ratings downgraded. This pressure comes at a time when the entire energy market is evolving. From roof-top solar and wind generation to smart grid technologies. From Community Choice Aggregators to direct access service. More and more of our electricity now is procured outside of investor-owned utilities. Regulations and insurance practices created decades ago didnt anticipate these changes. We must map out longer-term strategies, not just for the utilities future, but for Californias energy future, to ensure that the cost of climate change doesnt fall on those least able to afford it. Schools Now let me turn to education. The teachers strike in LA is over but the need to confront its underlying causes has only just begun. Understaffed schools, overcrowded classrooms, pension pressures, the achievement gap, and charter school growth these stressors are showing up all over the state, right here in Sacramento, in Fresno, and Oakland. Districts across the state are challenged to balance budgets even in this strong economy, and at a time when were spending more on schools than ever before. Seven years ago, we invested $47.3 billion in our schools. Next year, with your support, well invest more than $80 billion -- that includes $576 million for special education. But its not enough. Were still 41st in the nation in per pupil funding. Something needs to change. We need to have an honest conversation about how we fund our schools at a state and local level. But at the same time, lets remember that the measure of a school systems excellence is more than the sum of its budgets. We need clear and achievable standards of transparency, more information sharing, and accountability for all public schools traditional and charter. We need a new president for the State Board of Education, to lead the way and work alongside State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and to lift up all of our students. And my pick for that position is nationally recognized education expert Linda Darling Hammond. Homelessness Theres another urgent moral issue we must confront: the homelessness epidemic. So many of Californias homeless whether theyre families, veterans, victims of rent spikes, or survivors fleeing domestic violence are invisible and left behind by our society. Too many on the streets are suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or paranoia. Many are self-medicating with drug or alcohol as a consequence. Our homelessness crisis has increasingly become a public health crisis. Last year, there was a Hepatitis-A outbreak in San Diego. Recently, there was an outbreak of Syphilis in Sonoma. And now, typhus in Los Angeles. Typhus. Thats a Medieval disease. In California. In 2019. Mayors, county supervisors, and city councils around the state are working hard to reduce homelessness and its underlying causes. Weve got to have their backs. But they cant do it alone. To help lead this discussion, Im appointing a new Commission on Homelessness and Supportive Housing, led by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. With your support, lets put half a billion dollars into immediate funding for navigation centers emergency shelters with services on site, and another hundred million for Whole Person Care to replace a fragmented approach to services with one thats more integrated and comprehensive. And while cities and counties are on the front lines, this challenge will only be solved regionally. We need to work together as a state to focus on prevention, rapid rehousing, mental health, and more permanent supportive housing because while shelter solves sleep, only permanent supportive housing solves homelessness. The Golden State is getting grayer Now, lets talk about something too often overlooked: The Golden State is getting grayer. We need to get ready for the major demographic challenge headed our way. For the first time in our history, older Californians will outnumber young children. Over the next decade, our statewide senior population will increase by 4 million. In 25 years, it will double. And more than half will require some form of long-term care. Growing old knows no boundaries aging doesnt care what race you are, your economic status, or if youre single with no other family support. Ive had some personal and painful experience with this recently. I lost my father over the holidays, after years of declining physical health and dementia. He was determined to live out his days with dignity. He also happened to be a retired public official with a pension and a support circle of family and friends. Even with all those advantages, it was a daily challenge to meet his needs so he could live in place and maintain a good quality of life. Millions of Californians share a similar story, and the numbers will only grow. Its time for a new master plan on aging. It must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity. And we cant talk about aging without focusing on Alzheimers. Too many of us have seen the crushing grip this disease has on our loved ones and especially on our wives and mothers two-thirds of new Alzheimers cases are women. Today, I am launching the Alzheimers Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, bringing the most renowned scientists and thinkers together to develop first-of-its-kind research in this area. It will be headed by a leading advocate for families dealing with Alzheimers, our former first lady, Maria Shriver. She is here today and we are grateful for her continued service. Housing affordability Tying together many of the hard challenges we face is the broader cost crisis. In a recent survey, 61% of young adults in California said they cant afford to live here. California should never be a place where only the well-off can lead a good life. It starts with housing, perhaps our most overwhelming challenge right now. We all know the problem. Theres too much demand and too little supply. And that is happening in large part because too many cities and counties arent even planning for how to build. Some are flat out refusing to do anything at all. Thats why I have committed $750 million for a major new incentive package for communities to do the right thing. $250 million in support to cities and counties to update their housing plans, revamp their zoning process, and get more housing entitled. $500 million more in grants when they achieve these milestones. If we want a California for All, we have to build housing for all. I want to support local governments that do whats right, like Anaheim and Santa Rosa. But there must be accountability for those that dont. Two weeks ago, the state of California sued the city of Huntington Beach for failing to meet its obligations on affordable housing. Let me tell you, as a former mayor, the last thing I wanted to do was start my term by suing a city. But they left us no choice. This isnt about picking on Huntington Beach, they happened to be first because of a statute of limitations. There are 47 other cities across California that are not complying with their planning requirements in one way or another. Some cities are trying, like Clovis. But others are not, like Wheatland, Huntington Park, and Montebello. I am inviting these cities leaders to sit down next week for a candid conversation. I dont intend to file suit against all 47, but Im not going to preside over neglect and denial. These cities need to summon the political courage to build their fair share of housing. I also want to acknowledge other factors beyond city planning that have limited our ability to provide housing. In recent years, weve expedited judicial review on CEQA for professional sports. Its time we do the same thing for housing. I want to applaud the efforts by home builders and labor leaders, who together are working to forge a compromise to accelerate production. But there is no way we can achieve our ambitious targets unless we train a skilled workforce big enough to meet this challenge and those workers deserve wages high enough to support their families. Lets encourage this progress, bring more people to the table, and get something big done. And while were at it, lets not forget the commitments many of us made after Prop 10 failed last year. The pressures on vulnerable renters didnt go away after the election. We need new rules to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent evictions, without putting small landlords out of business. I want the best ideas from everyone in this chamber. Here is my promise to you, get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it. Health care Next, if were serious about taming the cost crisis we need affordable health care for all Californians. Our ability to invest in everything we care about is constrained by the pressure of rising health care costs. It impacts everything else we want to do. The White House is laser-focused on destroying the Affordable Care Act. The vandalism theyve already done to the individual mandate has had consequences. This years Covered California premiums increased almost twice as much as we expected. This is just what we feared, and its just what they wanted. Thats why, when it comes to the individual mandate, California must act where Washington failed. If we do, we will be able to deepen subsidies for those earning up to $48,000 and extend subsidies to families earning up to $150,000, something no other state in America has done. We all know California has among the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in America. Thats why our budget devotes more than $1 billion to increase rates and address the provider shortage. This investment will also allow us to increase access to preventative health measures like -immunizations, trauma screenings, and mental health services. And it provides $100 million for reproductive health and family planning. As we pursue the long-term goal of single payer financing, let us make a down-payment now by expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians up to age 26, regardless of their immigration status. But access is only part of the solution. Cost is another. We must address rising costs throughout the system, like the consolidation of hospitals and other health providers, which limits patient choice and makes care more expensive. And we must continue to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. My first act as governor was to lay the foundation for a single-purchasing system the largest such system in the nation, which will save hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the people of California. I want to thank President Trump for calling attention to prescription drug prices in his State of the Union. Yes, you heard that right. I hope he follows through. After all, this should be a bipartisan issue. But with or without the Federal government, California will lead. Jobs and wages Finally, we must ask ourselves, how do we create a future with more good jobs and higher wages. Because when it comes to making life in California more affordable, cost is only one side of the equation, the other is income. Despite our rising wages, working families in California today barely earn more than they did a decade ago. Many working parents are making less than their parents did at the same age. Thats why, with your support, we will provide a cost of living refund by expanding the earned income tax credit to a million more Californians who need it the most. For families with kids under the age of six, theyll see their benefit go up by as much as three times. But, in an economy where the world of work is in a perpetual state of flu, where workers are too often displaced, devalued and disconnected from the social safety net, we must also think bigger. Its time to develop a new modern compact for Californias changing workforce. This is much bigger than Dynamex. California needs a comprehensive statewide strategy to uplift and upskill our workers, to ensure technological advancements in AI, blockchain, big data, are creating jobs, not destroying them, and to reform our institutions so that more workers have an ownership stake in their sweat equity. We will appoint a new Commission on Californias Workforce & Future of Work. We will bring together leaders from labor and business both the public and private sectors. Their assignment is to come up with new ideas to expand worker opportunity without extinguishing innovation or flexibility. California is proud to be home to technology companies determined to change the world. But companies that make billions of dollars collecting, curating and monetizing our personal data have a duty to protect it. Consumers have a right to know and control how their data is being used. I applaud this legislature for passing the first-in-the-nation digital privacy law last year. But Californias consumers should also be able to share in the wealth that is created from their data. And so Ive asked my team to develop a proposal for a new Data Dividend for Californians, because we recognize that your data has value and it belongs to you. So much left to do Now, weve covered a lot of ground today, but there is so much more that deserves our focus. Climate change. Reforming our tax code and our criminal justice system. Major initiatives like paid family leave, universal pre-school, free community college, re-imagining the DMVtheres so much more. And Ill be talking a lot about those issues in the coming months. At my inauguration, I quoted the Sermon on the Mount about a house that did not fall in the face of floods and storms, because it was founded upon a rock. I promised that, together, We will build one house for one California. Weve started drawing the blueprint for that house, and together we will finish it. President Donald Trump, FEMA Director Brock Long, Gov. Jerry Brown, Gov.-elect Gavin Newson and Paradise mayor Jody Jones tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park during Trumps visit of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file This goes deeper than budget numbers or program details. This is about the bonds between us as human beings. As St. Paul said, we are many parts but one body. We are all diminished when one of us struggles to lead a good life. The problems we face are as hard as they come, and decades in the making. But I truly believe we have the tools to solve them. We have the technology and the know-how. Most importantly, we have the generosity of our people. Remember the story of the registered nurse in Paradise who was sitting in traffic, trying to escape the fire, as flames started to engulf his car. He thought, this is it. He recorded a goodbye video for his family. Then a miracle occurred: a bulldozer cleared burning cars out of his path. At that point, he could have driven away as fast as possible. Thats what a lot of people would have done. Instead, he turned his car around and drove straight to the hospital in the middle of town, where he worked in the ICU. He and his colleagues started treating injured people. Then the hospital caught fire. They moved patients to a helipad 100 yards away as fast as they could. Every single one of them was safely evacuated. When he was asked why he did this why he drove back through the fire when he could have saved himself he shrugged and said, This is what we do. His name is Allyn Pierce and hes here with us today. Allyn is right. Taking care of each other, showing courage when it matters most this is what we do in California. Yes, we have so much left to do. But I believe in the remarkable talent assembled here. I believe in our state. And I know that the best is yet to come. Thank you. | Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his first state of the state speech on Tuesday. He said the state is strong but there are problems that have been deferred for too long and threaten to put the California dream out of reach for too many. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226151065.html | 0.586753 |
What did CA Governor Gavin Newsom say in state of the state speech? | Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday delivered his first state of the state speech. Here are his prepared remarks as released by his office. Mr. Speaker, thank you for being a champion for all Californians and for welcoming Jen and me into your house today. Madam Pro Tem thank you for your commitment to collaboration, which has helped make our first month together so productive. I also have the honor of saying for the first time ever in this chamber: thank you Madam Lieutenant Governor for that very kind and short introduction. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee To all the constitutional officers and legislators assembled here today thank you for your service to our state. And let me reassure everyone: our son Dutch is not here. We learned our lesson at the inauguration. It was just over four weeks ago that I stood in front of this Capitol and pledged to defend not just the California constitution but the California dream. Today, I want to talk about how we can do that together. By every traditional measure, the state of our state is strong. We have a record-breaking surplus. Weve added 3 million jobs since the depths of the recession. Wages are rising. We have more scientists, researchers, and engineers, more Nobel laureates, and the finest system of higher education anywhere in the world. But along with that prosperity and progress, there are problems that have been deferred for too long and that threaten to put the California dream out of reach for too many. We face hard decisions that are coming due. The choices we make will shape our future for decades. This is what I want to talk about today, as frankly and directly as I can: The tough calls we must make together on rail, water, and energy. How we protect migrants, care for seniors, and help the homeless, and how we will tackle the affordability crisis that is coming to define life in this state. I wont pretend to have all the answers. But the only way to find them is to face these issues honestly. Lets start with the fear mongering from the White House about the so-called emergency at our border. For me, this is an echo from fifteen years ago. I was a new mayor sitting in the gallery at the State of the Union when President Bush said LGBT Americans should not be able to get married. It was an attack on our friends and neighbors, and on Californias values. I was so proud to watch brave Californians answer those attacks with love and courage. Phyllis Lyon and Del Martin made history when they were married 15 years ago to this very day. Now, just like back then, we must stand up for those maligned, marginalized, and scapegoated. Because last week, we heard another president stand up at the State of the Union and offer a vision of an America fundamentally at odds with California values. He described a country where inequality doesnt seem to be a problem, where climate change doesnt exist, and where the greatest threat we face comes from families seeking asylum. Just last night, he went down to El Paso and said it again. Immigration Let us state the facts. We are currently experiencing the lowest number of border crossings since 1971. In California, like our nation, our undocumented population is at its lowest level in more than a decade. Some 550,000 fewer in our state alone. Immigrants, both those here legally and those without documentation, commit crime at a lower rate than native-born citizens. And those families, women and children, seeking asylum at our borders, are doing so lawfully. Those are the facts. The border emergency is a manufactured crisis and California will not be part of this political theater. Were not backing down. Just yesterday, I gave the National Guard a new mission one that will refocus on the real threats facing our state. A third of our forces currently on the border will be redeployed to help prepare for the upcoming fire season by joining Cal Fire in prevention and suppression. Work, ironically, the Federal government curtailed during the recent shutdown. Another third will boost the National Guards statewide counter-drug task force by redeploying up north to go after illegal cannabis farms, many of which are run by cartels, are devastating our pristine forests, and are increasingly becoming fire hazards themselves. The remaining third of our Guard will focus on stopping criminals smuggling drugs and guns through existing border checkpoints. A wall that stretches thousands of miles through the wilderness will do nothing to stop this threat. This is our answer to the White House: No more division, no more xenophobia and no more nativism. We suffered enough from that in the nineties with Props 187 and 227. High speed rail Next, lets level about high speed rail. I have nothing but respect for Governor Browns and Governor Schwarzeneggers ambitious vision. I share it. And theres no doubt that our states economy and quality of life depend on improving transportation. But lets be real. The project, as currently planned, would cost too much and take too long. Theres been too little oversight and not enough transparency. Right now, there simply isnt a path to get from Sacramento to San Diego, let alone from San Francisco to L.A. I wish there were. However, we do have the capacity to complete a high-speed rail link between Merced and Bakersfield. I know that some critics will say this is a train to nowhere. But thats wrong and offensive. The people of the Central Valley endure the worst air pollution in America as well as some of the longest commutes. And they have suffered too many years of neglect from policymakers here in Sacramento. They deserve better. High Speed Rail is much more than a train project. Its about economic transformation and unlocking the enormous potential of the Valley. We can align our economic and workforce development strategies, anchored by High Speed Rail, and pair them with tools like opportunity zones, to form the backbone of a reinvigorated Central Valley economy. Merced, Fresno, Bakersfield, and communities in between are more dynamic than many realize. The Valley may be known around the world for agriculture, but there is another story ready to be told. A story of a region hungry for investment, a workforce eager for more training and good jobs, Californians who deserve a fair share of our states prosperity. Look, we will continue our regional projects north and south. Well finish Phase 1 environmental work. Well connect the revitalized Central Valley to other parts of the state, and continue to push for more federal funding and private dollars. But lets just get something done. For those who want to walk away from this whole endeavor, I offer you this: Abandoning high speed rail entirely means we will have wasted billions of dollars with nothing but broken promises and lawsuits to show for it. And by the way, I am not interested in sending $3.5 billion in federal funding that was allocated to this project back to Donald Trump. Nor am I interested in repeating the same old mistakes. Today I am ordering new transparency measures. Were going to hold contractors and consultants accountable to explain how taxpayer dollars are spent including change orders, cost overruns, even travel expenses. Its going online, for everybody to see. Youre also going to see some governance changes, starting with my pick for the next chair of the High Speed Rail Authority, Lenny Mendonca, my Economic Development Director. Because, at the end of the day, transportation and economic development must go hand in hand. Delta tunnels We also need a fresh approach when it comes to meeting Californias massive water challenges. We have a big state with diverse water needs. Cities that need clean water to drink, farms that need irrigation to keep feeding the world, fragile ecosystems that must be protected. Our water supply is becoming less reliable because of climate change. And our population is growing because of a strong economy. That means a lot of demand on an unpredictable supply. There are no easy answers. But let me be direct about where I stand: I do not support the Water Fix as currently configured. Meaning, I do not support the twin tunnels. But we can build on the important work thats already been done. Thats why I do support a single tunnel. The status quo is not an option. We need to protect our water supply from earthquakes and rising sea levels, preserve delta fisheries, and meet the needs of cities and farms. We have to get past the old binaries, like farmers versus environmentalists, or North versus South. Our approach cant be either/or. It must be yes/and. Conveyance and efficiency. And recycling projects like were seeing in Southern Californias Met Water District, expanding floodplains in the Central Valley, groundwater recharge, like farmers are doing in Fresno County. We need a portfolio approach to building water infrastructure and meeting long-term demand. To help bring this balance, Im appointing a new chair of the California water board, Joaquin Esquivel. Our first task is to cross the finish line on real agreements to save the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. California Governor Gavin Newsom visited Monterey Tract in Ceres, Calif., to talk with residents about getting safe and affordable drinking water Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. Andy Alfaro aalfaro@modbee.com We must get this done for the resilience of our mighty rivers, the stability of our agriculture sector, and the millions who depend on this water every day. Now, lets talk honestly about clean drinking water. Just this morning, more than a million Californians woke up without clean water to bathe in or drink. Some schools have shut down drinking fountains due to contamination. Some poorer communities, like those I visited recently in Stanislaus County, are paying more for undrinkable water than Beverly Hills pays for its pristine water. This is a moral disgrace and a medical emergency. There are literally hundreds of water systems across the state contaminated by lead, arsenic, or uranium. Solving this crisis demands sustained funding. It demands political will. PG&Es bankruptcy Next, lets talk about our energy future and PG&Es bankruptcy. We are all frustrated and angry that its come to this. PG&E didnt do enough to secure dangerous equipment or plan for the future. My administration will work to make sure PG&E upholds its obligations. I have convened a team of the nations best bankruptcy lawyers and financial experts from the energy sector. They will work with my strike team to develop a comprehensive strategy that we will present within 60 days. We will ensure continued access to safe affordable power. We will seek justice for fire victims, fairness for employees, and protection for ratepayers. We will continue to invest in safety, and we will never waver on achieving the nations most ambitious clean energy goals. The problems we face are far greater than PG&E. Climate change is putting pressure on all of our utilities public and private, north and south. Edison and San Diego Gas & Electric both recently had their credit ratings downgraded. This pressure comes at a time when the entire energy market is evolving. From roof-top solar and wind generation to smart grid technologies. From Community Choice Aggregators to direct access service. More and more of our electricity now is procured outside of investor-owned utilities. Regulations and insurance practices created decades ago didnt anticipate these changes. We must map out longer-term strategies, not just for the utilities future, but for Californias energy future, to ensure that the cost of climate change doesnt fall on those least able to afford it. Schools Now let me turn to education. The teachers strike in LA is over but the need to confront its underlying causes has only just begun. Understaffed schools, overcrowded classrooms, pension pressures, the achievement gap, and charter school growth these stressors are showing up all over the state, right here in Sacramento, in Fresno, and Oakland. Districts across the state are challenged to balance budgets even in this strong economy, and at a time when were spending more on schools than ever before. Seven years ago, we invested $47.3 billion in our schools. Next year, with your support, well invest more than $80 billion -- that includes $576 million for special education. But its not enough. Were still 41st in the nation in per pupil funding. Something needs to change. We need to have an honest conversation about how we fund our schools at a state and local level. But at the same time, lets remember that the measure of a school systems excellence is more than the sum of its budgets. We need clear and achievable standards of transparency, more information sharing, and accountability for all public schools traditional and charter. We need a new president for the State Board of Education, to lead the way and work alongside State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and to lift up all of our students. And my pick for that position is nationally recognized education expert Linda Darling Hammond. Homelessness Theres another urgent moral issue we must confront: the homelessness epidemic. So many of Californias homeless whether theyre families, veterans, victims of rent spikes, or survivors fleeing domestic violence are invisible and left behind by our society. Too many on the streets are suffering from bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or paranoia. Many are self-medicating with drug or alcohol as a consequence. Our homelessness crisis has increasingly become a public health crisis. Last year, there was a Hepatitis-A outbreak in San Diego. Recently, there was an outbreak of Syphilis in Sonoma. And now, typhus in Los Angeles. Typhus. Thats a Medieval disease. In California. In 2019. Mayors, county supervisors, and city councils around the state are working hard to reduce homelessness and its underlying causes. Weve got to have their backs. But they cant do it alone. To help lead this discussion, Im appointing a new Commission on Homelessness and Supportive Housing, led by Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg. With your support, lets put half a billion dollars into immediate funding for navigation centers emergency shelters with services on site, and another hundred million for Whole Person Care to replace a fragmented approach to services with one thats more integrated and comprehensive. And while cities and counties are on the front lines, this challenge will only be solved regionally. We need to work together as a state to focus on prevention, rapid rehousing, mental health, and more permanent supportive housing because while shelter solves sleep, only permanent supportive housing solves homelessness. The Golden State is getting grayer Now, lets talk about something too often overlooked: The Golden State is getting grayer. We need to get ready for the major demographic challenge headed our way. For the first time in our history, older Californians will outnumber young children. Over the next decade, our statewide senior population will increase by 4 million. In 25 years, it will double. And more than half will require some form of long-term care. Growing old knows no boundaries aging doesnt care what race you are, your economic status, or if youre single with no other family support. Ive had some personal and painful experience with this recently. I lost my father over the holidays, after years of declining physical health and dementia. He was determined to live out his days with dignity. He also happened to be a retired public official with a pension and a support circle of family and friends. Even with all those advantages, it was a daily challenge to meet his needs so he could live in place and maintain a good quality of life. Millions of Californians share a similar story, and the numbers will only grow. Its time for a new master plan on aging. It must address: person-centered care, the patchwork of public services, social isolation, bed-locked seniors in need of transportation, the nursing shortage, and demand for In-Home Supportive Services that far outpaces its capacity. And we cant talk about aging without focusing on Alzheimers. Too many of us have seen the crushing grip this disease has on our loved ones and especially on our wives and mothers two-thirds of new Alzheimers cases are women. Today, I am launching the Alzheimers Prevention and Preparedness Task Force, bringing the most renowned scientists and thinkers together to develop first-of-its-kind research in this area. It will be headed by a leading advocate for families dealing with Alzheimers, our former first lady, Maria Shriver. She is here today and we are grateful for her continued service. Housing affordability Tying together many of the hard challenges we face is the broader cost crisis. In a recent survey, 61% of young adults in California said they cant afford to live here. California should never be a place where only the well-off can lead a good life. It starts with housing, perhaps our most overwhelming challenge right now. We all know the problem. Theres too much demand and too little supply. And that is happening in large part because too many cities and counties arent even planning for how to build. Some are flat out refusing to do anything at all. Thats why I have committed $750 million for a major new incentive package for communities to do the right thing. $250 million in support to cities and counties to update their housing plans, revamp their zoning process, and get more housing entitled. $500 million more in grants when they achieve these milestones. If we want a California for All, we have to build housing for all. I want to support local governments that do whats right, like Anaheim and Santa Rosa. But there must be accountability for those that dont. Two weeks ago, the state of California sued the city of Huntington Beach for failing to meet its obligations on affordable housing. Let me tell you, as a former mayor, the last thing I wanted to do was start my term by suing a city. But they left us no choice. This isnt about picking on Huntington Beach, they happened to be first because of a statute of limitations. There are 47 other cities across California that are not complying with their planning requirements in one way or another. Some cities are trying, like Clovis. But others are not, like Wheatland, Huntington Park, and Montebello. I am inviting these cities leaders to sit down next week for a candid conversation. I dont intend to file suit against all 47, but Im not going to preside over neglect and denial. These cities need to summon the political courage to build their fair share of housing. I also want to acknowledge other factors beyond city planning that have limited our ability to provide housing. In recent years, weve expedited judicial review on CEQA for professional sports. Its time we do the same thing for housing. I want to applaud the efforts by home builders and labor leaders, who together are working to forge a compromise to accelerate production. But there is no way we can achieve our ambitious targets unless we train a skilled workforce big enough to meet this challenge and those workers deserve wages high enough to support their families. Lets encourage this progress, bring more people to the table, and get something big done. And while were at it, lets not forget the commitments many of us made after Prop 10 failed last year. The pressures on vulnerable renters didnt go away after the election. We need new rules to stabilize neighborhoods and prevent evictions, without putting small landlords out of business. I want the best ideas from everyone in this chamber. Here is my promise to you, get me a good package on rent stability this year and I will sign it. Health care Next, if were serious about taming the cost crisis we need affordable health care for all Californians. Our ability to invest in everything we care about is constrained by the pressure of rising health care costs. It impacts everything else we want to do. The White House is laser-focused on destroying the Affordable Care Act. The vandalism theyve already done to the individual mandate has had consequences. This years Covered California premiums increased almost twice as much as we expected. This is just what we feared, and its just what they wanted. Thats why, when it comes to the individual mandate, California must act where Washington failed. If we do, we will be able to deepen subsidies for those earning up to $48,000 and extend subsidies to families earning up to $150,000, something no other state in America has done. We all know California has among the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates in America. Thats why our budget devotes more than $1 billion to increase rates and address the provider shortage. This investment will also allow us to increase access to preventative health measures like -immunizations, trauma screenings, and mental health services. And it provides $100 million for reproductive health and family planning. As we pursue the long-term goal of single payer financing, let us make a down-payment now by expanding Medi-Cal coverage to all Californians up to age 26, regardless of their immigration status. But access is only part of the solution. Cost is another. We must address rising costs throughout the system, like the consolidation of hospitals and other health providers, which limits patient choice and makes care more expensive. And we must continue to bring down the cost of prescription drugs. My first act as governor was to lay the foundation for a single-purchasing system the largest such system in the nation, which will save hundreds of millions of dollars a year for the people of California. I want to thank President Trump for calling attention to prescription drug prices in his State of the Union. Yes, you heard that right. I hope he follows through. After all, this should be a bipartisan issue. But with or without the Federal government, California will lead. Jobs and wages Finally, we must ask ourselves, how do we create a future with more good jobs and higher wages. Because when it comes to making life in California more affordable, cost is only one side of the equation, the other is income. Despite our rising wages, working families in California today barely earn more than they did a decade ago. Many working parents are making less than their parents did at the same age. Thats why, with your support, we will provide a cost of living refund by expanding the earned income tax credit to a million more Californians who need it the most. For families with kids under the age of six, theyll see their benefit go up by as much as three times. But, in an economy where the world of work is in a perpetual state of flu, where workers are too often displaced, devalued and disconnected from the social safety net, we must also think bigger. Its time to develop a new modern compact for Californias changing workforce. This is much bigger than Dynamex. California needs a comprehensive statewide strategy to uplift and upskill our workers, to ensure technological advancements in AI, blockchain, big data, are creating jobs, not destroying them, and to reform our institutions so that more workers have an ownership stake in their sweat equity. We will appoint a new Commission on Californias Workforce & Future of Work. We will bring together leaders from labor and business both the public and private sectors. Their assignment is to come up with new ideas to expand worker opportunity without extinguishing innovation or flexibility. California is proud to be home to technology companies determined to change the world. But companies that make billions of dollars collecting, curating and monetizing our personal data have a duty to protect it. Consumers have a right to know and control how their data is being used. I applaud this legislature for passing the first-in-the-nation digital privacy law last year. But Californias consumers should also be able to share in the wealth that is created from their data. And so Ive asked my team to develop a proposal for a new Data Dividend for Californians, because we recognize that your data has value and it belongs to you. So much left to do Now, weve covered a lot of ground today, but there is so much more that deserves our focus. Climate change. Reforming our tax code and our criminal justice system. Major initiatives like paid family leave, universal pre-school, free community college, re-imagining the DMVtheres so much more. And Ill be talking a lot about those issues in the coming months. At my inauguration, I quoted the Sermon on the Mount about a house that did not fall in the face of floods and storms, because it was founded upon a rock. I promised that, together, We will build one house for one California. Weve started drawing the blueprint for that house, and together we will finish it. President Donald Trump, FEMA Director Brock Long, Gov. Jerry Brown, Gov.-elect Gavin Newson and Paradise mayor Jody Jones tour the Skyway Villa Mobile Home and RV Park during Trumps visit of the Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Paul Kitagaki Jr. Sacramento Bee file This goes deeper than budget numbers or program details. This is about the bonds between us as human beings. As St. Paul said, we are many parts but one body. We are all diminished when one of us struggles to lead a good life. The problems we face are as hard as they come, and decades in the making. But I truly believe we have the tools to solve them. We have the technology and the know-how. Most importantly, we have the generosity of our people. Remember the story of the registered nurse in Paradise who was sitting in traffic, trying to escape the fire, as flames started to engulf his car. He thought, this is it. He recorded a goodbye video for his family. Then a miracle occurred: a bulldozer cleared burning cars out of his path. At that point, he could have driven away as fast as possible. Thats what a lot of people would have done. Instead, he turned his car around and drove straight to the hospital in the middle of town, where he worked in the ICU. He and his colleagues started treating injured people. Then the hospital caught fire. They moved patients to a helipad 100 yards away as fast as they could. Every single one of them was safely evacuated. When he was asked why he did this why he drove back through the fire when he could have saved himself he shrugged and said, This is what we do. His name is Allyn Pierce and hes here with us today. Allyn is right. Taking care of each other, showing courage when it matters most this is what we do in California. Yes, we have so much left to do. But I believe in the remarkable talent assembled here. I believe in our state. And I know that the best is yet to come. Thank you. | Gov. Gavin Newsom delivered his first state of the state speech on Tuesday. He said the state is strong but there are problems that have been deferred for too long and threaten to put the California dream out of reach for too many. He said the state must stand up for those maligned, marginalized, and scapegoated. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article226151065.html | 0.699487 |
Should Congress ban the use of government shutdowns? | Lawmakers have narrowly avoided another government shutdown, coming together on a compromise mere days before the deadline. While Democrats are happy with the deal--which provides the president with a small fraction of the border wall funding he had been pushing for--many are wondering why government shutdowns have become such an omnipresent threat. Several pieces of legislation have been proposed to make shutdowns obsolete. But many lawmakers want the threat to negotiate with. PERSPECTIVES According to The Week, most countries do not have budgets so intimately ruled by political debate and partisanship. In other countries, not passing a budget leads to swift and decisive consequences. For decades, members of Congress have proposed a solution to the threat of government shutdowns--automatic continuing resolutions. According to Slate: While the solution to the threat of shutdowns is relatively simple, no such legislation has ever been passed. According to The Atlantic, some worry an automatic continuing resolution would lead lawmakers to rest on their laurels and refuse to pass any permanent budget on principle. Tom Davis, a former Republican representative, proposed legislation that would instate automatic continuing resolutions during his time in office. But according to the Washington Post, nothing was ever passed because lawmakers have little to no incentive to do away with shutdowns. 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. | Lawmakers have narrowly avoided another government shutdown. Several pieces of legislation have been proposed to make shutdowns obsolete. Members of Congress have proposed a solution to the threat of shutdowns--automatic continuing resolutions. No such legislation has ever been passed. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/02/should_congress_ban_the_use_of.html | 0.177536 |
Why was Matthew McConaughey in the Texas basketball huddle? | Dressed in a three-piece orange suit, Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey joined the Texas basketball huddle on Tuesday night during the Longhorns' game against Kansas State. McConaughey briefly posed as one of coach Shaka Smart's assistants by listening in during huddles in Texas' 71-64 loss to the first-place Wildcats. McConaughey, a 1993 Texas alum, was tabbed the university's "Minister of Culture" in December. The actor's role is to help "create a fan experience unlike any other," according to the university. It's part of a marketing effort as the program is slated to open a new $338 million basketball arena and entertainment facility in 2021. The new stadium will seat 10,000 and is partially funded by ArenaCo, a corporation in which McConaughey is an investor. Its time to raise the bar," McConaughey said in the December release announcing his role as Minister of Culture. "Its time for an authentic home-court advantage for our Longhorn basketball teams." He added on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month that his goal is "to have that arena be the last place any visiting basketball team wants to play and the first place that any world-class large band act does want to play." STAR POWER: Five college basketball players poised to rise in March BRACKETOLOGY: Wild night with upsets of Kentucky, Michigan | Matthew McConaughey posed as an assistant coach during Texas' game against Kansas State. | bart | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/big12/2019/02/13/matthew-mcconaughey-showed-up-texas-basketball-huddles-vs-kstate/2859992002/ | 0.123462 |
Why was Matthew McConaughey in the Texas basketball huddle? | Dressed in a three-piece orange suit, Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey joined the Texas basketball huddle on Tuesday night during the Longhorns' game against Kansas State. McConaughey briefly posed as one of coach Shaka Smart's assistants by listening in during huddles in Texas' 71-64 loss to the first-place Wildcats. McConaughey, a 1993 Texas alum, was tabbed the university's "Minister of Culture" in December. The actor's role is to help "create a fan experience unlike any other," according to the university. It's part of a marketing effort as the program is slated to open a new $338 million basketball arena and entertainment facility in 2021. The new stadium will seat 10,000 and is partially funded by ArenaCo, a corporation in which McConaughey is an investor. Its time to raise the bar," McConaughey said in the December release announcing his role as Minister of Culture. "Its time for an authentic home-court advantage for our Longhorn basketball teams." He added on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month that his goal is "to have that arena be the last place any visiting basketball team wants to play and the first place that any world-class large band act does want to play." STAR POWER: Five college basketball players poised to rise in March BRACKETOLOGY: Wild night with upsets of Kentucky, Michigan | Matthew McConaughey posed as one of Texas' assistants during Tuesday's game. The actor's role is to help "create a fan experience unlike any other," according to the university. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/big12/2019/02/13/matthew-mcconaughey-showed-up-texas-basketball-huddles-vs-kstate/2859992002/ | 0.135987 |
Why was Matthew McConaughey in the Texas basketball huddle? | Dressed in a three-piece orange suit, Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey joined the Texas basketball huddle on Tuesday night during the Longhorns' game against Kansas State. McConaughey briefly posed as one of coach Shaka Smart's assistants by listening in during huddles in Texas' 71-64 loss to the first-place Wildcats. McConaughey, a 1993 Texas alum, was tabbed the university's "Minister of Culture" in December. The actor's role is to help "create a fan experience unlike any other," according to the university. It's part of a marketing effort as the program is slated to open a new $338 million basketball arena and entertainment facility in 2021. The new stadium will seat 10,000 and is partially funded by ArenaCo, a corporation in which McConaughey is an investor. Its time to raise the bar," McConaughey said in the December release announcing his role as Minister of Culture. "Its time for an authentic home-court advantage for our Longhorn basketball teams." He added on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last month that his goal is "to have that arena be the last place any visiting basketball team wants to play and the first place that any world-class large band act does want to play." STAR POWER: Five college basketball players poised to rise in March BRACKETOLOGY: Wild night with upsets of Kentucky, Michigan | Matthew McConaughey posed as one of Texas' assistants during Tuesday's game against Kansas State. The actor's role is to help "create a fan experience unlike any other," according to the university. It's part of a marketing effort as the program is slated to open a new $338 million basketball arena in 2021. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/big12/2019/02/13/matthew-mcconaughey-showed-up-texas-basketball-huddles-vs-kstate/2859992002/ | 0.271106 |
Why does the Memphis Express have so many former LSU players? | Anybody wanting to see which former LSU players are in the upstart Alliance of American Football should follow one team. Because of the leagues player-allocation policy, the majority of former Tigers playing in the league are likely to be placed on the Memphis Express. The opening weekend of games saw at least 10 former LSU players on the eight AAF rosters, but eight of those players were on the Memphis-based team coached by Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary. A three-phase allocation process before the season put those former Tigers there. The first phase puts players on teams nearest where they competed in college. With the Birmingham-based AAF team drawing players from Alabama and Auburn, the league opted to put former LSU players on the Memphis roster. The eight former LSU players on the Express are: Zach Mettenberger, quarterback (sixth-round draft choice, 2014, Tennessee Titans) Terrence Magee, running back (undrafted, 2015) Toby Weathersby, offensive line (undrafted, 2018) Greg Gilmore, defensive tackle (undrafted, 2018) Sam Montgomery, defensive line (third round, 2013, Houston Texans) Anthony Johnson, linebacker (undrafted, 2014) Brad Wing, punter (undrafted, 2013) Josh Jasper, punter (undrafted, 2011) Other schools in the Memphis allocation zone are Tennessee, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Carson-Newman, Lane and Tusculum. Although Tulane does not have a tie-in with any teams, the one former Green Wave player in the league is defensive tackle Julius Warmsley. He landed with the Express based on the second phase of the allocation process, which put the former Tennessee Titans practice squad player on the Alliance team closest to his most recent NFL team. The third phase allows teams to sign any player who did not receive an assignment through the first two phases. The Express also has two former New Orleans Saints players. Davis Tull, a fifth-round drafted linebacker in 2015, played in college at Chattanooga. He was with the Saints in 2015 and on the practice squad in 2016 before the team waived him in 2017. Colton Jumper, a linebacker, joined the Saints as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee in 2018. The Saints cut him after the preseason. Here is everything you need to know about The Alliance Player Allocation process. Associated college and professional teams will be released by Alliance City Team. Get ready to #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/AtN2cMCrYi The Alliance (@TheAAF) July 12, 2018 Another former LSU player on an AAF roster to start the season was cornerback Ron Brooks with the San Diego Fleet. Sione Teuhema, a linebacker who began his college career at LSU and finished at Southeastern Louisiana, is with the Arizona Hotshots. Other former Saints players on AAF rosters are cornerback Sterling Moore, linebacker Obum Gwacham and receiver Josh Huff with the Arizona Hotshots, cornerback Damian Swann and receiver Seantavius Jones with the Atlanta Legends, offensive lineman Avery Young with the Birmingham Iron, offensive lineman Andrew Tiller with the Orlando Apollos and linebacker Travis Feeney with the San Diego Fleet. AAF kicks off without kickoffs, but with SkyJudge In the opening week, Memphis lost at Birmingham 26-0. Among the former LSU players, Magree rushed five times for 18 yards, Johnson registered a sack and Wing punted five times. Warmsley, the former Tulane player, shared a sack. Tull, the former Saints player, posted three tackles. Mettenberger did not play behind starter Christian Hackenberg and backup Brandon Silvers, who both played. Next, Memphis plays 7 p.m. Saturday at home against Arizona. | The Memphis Express has eight former LSU players on its roster. The majority of former Tigers playing in the AAF are likely to be placed on the Memphis Express because of the league's player-allocation policy. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/sports/2019/02/why-does-the-memphis-express-have-so-many-former-lsu-players.html | 0.712988 |
Why does the Memphis Express have so many former LSU players? | Anybody wanting to see which former LSU players are in the upstart Alliance of American Football should follow one team. Because of the leagues player-allocation policy, the majority of former Tigers playing in the league are likely to be placed on the Memphis Express. The opening weekend of games saw at least 10 former LSU players on the eight AAF rosters, but eight of those players were on the Memphis-based team coached by Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary. A three-phase allocation process before the season put those former Tigers there. The first phase puts players on teams nearest where they competed in college. With the Birmingham-based AAF team drawing players from Alabama and Auburn, the league opted to put former LSU players on the Memphis roster. The eight former LSU players on the Express are: Zach Mettenberger, quarterback (sixth-round draft choice, 2014, Tennessee Titans) Terrence Magee, running back (undrafted, 2015) Toby Weathersby, offensive line (undrafted, 2018) Greg Gilmore, defensive tackle (undrafted, 2018) Sam Montgomery, defensive line (third round, 2013, Houston Texans) Anthony Johnson, linebacker (undrafted, 2014) Brad Wing, punter (undrafted, 2013) Josh Jasper, punter (undrafted, 2011) Other schools in the Memphis allocation zone are Tennessee, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Middle Tennessee, Austin Peay, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Tennessee State, Tennessee-Martin, Carson-Newman, Lane and Tusculum. Although Tulane does not have a tie-in with any teams, the one former Green Wave player in the league is defensive tackle Julius Warmsley. He landed with the Express based on the second phase of the allocation process, which put the former Tennessee Titans practice squad player on the Alliance team closest to his most recent NFL team. The third phase allows teams to sign any player who did not receive an assignment through the first two phases. The Express also has two former New Orleans Saints players. Davis Tull, a fifth-round drafted linebacker in 2015, played in college at Chattanooga. He was with the Saints in 2015 and on the practice squad in 2016 before the team waived him in 2017. Colton Jumper, a linebacker, joined the Saints as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee in 2018. The Saints cut him after the preseason. Here is everything you need to know about The Alliance Player Allocation process. Associated college and professional teams will be released by Alliance City Team. Get ready to #JoinTheAlliance pic.twitter.com/AtN2cMCrYi The Alliance (@TheAAF) July 12, 2018 Another former LSU player on an AAF roster to start the season was cornerback Ron Brooks with the San Diego Fleet. Sione Teuhema, a linebacker who began his college career at LSU and finished at Southeastern Louisiana, is with the Arizona Hotshots. Other former Saints players on AAF rosters are cornerback Sterling Moore, linebacker Obum Gwacham and receiver Josh Huff with the Arizona Hotshots, cornerback Damian Swann and receiver Seantavius Jones with the Atlanta Legends, offensive lineman Avery Young with the Birmingham Iron, offensive lineman Andrew Tiller with the Orlando Apollos and linebacker Travis Feeney with the San Diego Fleet. AAF kicks off without kickoffs, but with SkyJudge In the opening week, Memphis lost at Birmingham 26-0. Among the former LSU players, Magree rushed five times for 18 yards, Johnson registered a sack and Wing punted five times. Warmsley, the former Tulane player, shared a sack. Tull, the former Saints player, posted three tackles. Mettenberger did not play behind starter Christian Hackenberg and backup Brandon Silvers, who both played. Next, Memphis plays 7 p.m. Saturday at home against Arizona. | The Memphis Express has eight former LSU players on its roster. The majority of former Tigers playing in the AAF are likely to be placed on the Memphis Express because of the leagues player-allocation policy. The Express also has two former New Orleans Saints players. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/sports/2019/02/why-does-the-memphis-express-have-so-many-former-lsu-players.html | 0.736683 |
What did NBA have to say about officiating in Heat-Warriors? | A day after Erik Spoelstra implored the NBA not to fine him for criticizing the officiating, the league obliged. According to a source briefed on the situation, the NBA decided not to penalize the Heat coach for his comments in the wake of Miamis 120-118 loss at Golden State. But in its daily officiating report, the NBA conceded that the Heat was victimized by one bad call. The NBAs Last Two Minute report released Monday evening indicates there should have been a discontinued dribble called on Kevin Durant with 24.6 seconds today. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Miami Herald Combining video evidence from multiple angles confirms that the ball does not make contact with Justise Winslows foot/shin and a discontinued dribble should have been called on Durant, the report reads. But the report also indicates the officials made the right call on the second play the Heat questioned, when Josh Richardson found himself on the ground while trying to run open on an inbounds play with 5.4 seconds to play. [Klay] Thompson does not appear to extend his leg unnaturally and there is no conclusive angle that shows foot contact while trailing Richardson, the report reads. From broadcast, it appears that Richardson may trip over [Bam] Adebayos foot as he comes off the screen. After Sundays game, Spoelstra began his postgame news conference with this message for the league: Look, NBA do not fine me. Im allowed to say this. It ends up being 26 to 8, he said of the Warriors 26 free throw attempts, compared with Miamis eight. I know nobody wants to hear that, and thats not why we lost. The officials, so lets be clear about it, so I do not get fined, thats not why we lost. But you hate to see 26 to 8 when our guys are going aggressively. Beyond that, those two calls late in the game particularly angered the Heat. With the score tied at 118, Durant lost his dribble but was the first to touch it first with one hand, then the other - after the ball rolled away. He then missed a three-pointer, but DeMarcus Cousins grabbed the rebound, was fouled by Winslow and hit two free throws with 5.4 seconds left to provide the winning margin. Its a double-dribble, Spoelstra said of that play. Everybody can see it. Those are tough calls to make, but everybody saw it. Its right there in front of everybody. That should be a violation. And you cant miss those calls. The NBA on Monday conceded Spoelstra was right about that. On the ensuing play following a timeout, Richardson tumbled to the court and slid into the bench while trying to position himself the inbounds pass. Richardson was a primary Heat option on that play. I dont know if he got knocked off course, Spoelstra said. But Ive said my piece. But it looked like he was coming off and had an opportunity to break free. Richardson, who scored a career-high 37 points, said: I was running to the corner for the inbounds. I got tripped. I slid out of bounds. I got held to the bench. Nobody called it or saw it, so it is what it is. The NBA disagreed with that assessment by Richardson. With Richardson falling out of the plan, Waiters missed a three-pointer that could have won the game. Before the Heats game against Denver on Monday night, Spoelstra indicated he agreed with the decision not to fine him. I didnt say anything inflammatory, he said. Im allowed to say my peace about that. I didnt cross the line. I didnt anticipate I would be fined. Spoelstra said assistant coach Chris Quinn read him the last two minute report from the Golden State game, which was released about two hours before Heat tipoff in Denver. I said enough last night, Spoelstra said Monday evening. Were very accountable. And I know the league is really pushing for that type of accountability as well. I walked out of that building with an L on our heads. At the end of the day, you deserve it and well take accountability for the things we could have done better. What I said is we just disagreed. It didnt look right and it didnt feel right. I understand the two-minute report. I understand the accountability. We just want them to watch the game film and understand some of the things we saw. Similarly, how we did it last night on the plane. I was angry. I went through things we could have done better regardless of how that went. Thats all. Were accountable. Players are accountable. That is the worst job in the legaue, to officiate. I have empathy for how difficult that can be. Accountability all across is what this league wants. Thats what this league is about. Transparency is good. We want not just the two-minute review. I went through the entire game twice. And that game deserves a review, not to rescind anything. We took an L and we walked out of there deserving of that, but just to look at some of the potential inconsistencies. | Erik Spoelstra implored the NBA not to fine him for criticizing the officiating. The NBA decided not to penalize the Heat coach for his comments in the wake of Miamis 120-118 loss at Golden State. But in its daily officiating report, the NBA conceded that the Heat was victimized by one bad call. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article226105310.html | 0.113093 |
What's on in Whanganui this week? | [A_140213WCBRCMo01.JPG] La Fiesta Whanganui's fun festival celebrating women begins this week. The brainchild of Whanganui Women's Network manager Carla Donson, La Fiesta began 10 years ago as a celebration of International Women's Day and has grown from a week-long event into a bold and beautiful month-long, action-packed extravaganza. Events begin today and the official launch will be held at the new and improved Space Gallery on Saturday. See lafiestanz.com or pick up a programme. THURSDAY One Billion Rising What: Celebration of women and children When: 10am to 5pm Where: Majestic Square Details: Part of a worldwide solidarity event. Free family day with music, dance, drumming and speakers. See more at lafiestanz.com Art Group What: River City Artists - from beginners to established artists. When: 9.30am to 4pm Where: Christ Church Community Hall, 243 Wicksteed St. Details: Val 343 6316 or 027 4599448, Richard 343 5646. Meditation What: Drop-in classes from Gen Demo from Amitabha Buddhist Centre. When: 6pm to 7.30pm. Where: Whanganui Community Arts Centre, 19 Taupo Quay. Details: Suggested donation $12. Advertisement Thoughtful Thursday Screening What: La Fiesta screening When: 6.30pm Where: Confluence, 15 Watt St Details: Embrace - follows body image activist Taryn Brumfitt's crusade as she explores the global issue of body loathing. $10 at the door or book at confluence.kiwi Kowhai Park Runs What: Hosted by Wanganui Harrier Club When: From 5.30pm Where: Kowhai Park, Anzac Parade Details: Start of 6 week series. Pay at event. Valentines Evening at Lucky What: Celebrate Valentine's Day When: From 8pm Where:Lucky Bar + Kitchen, 53 Wilson St Details:Food, drinks, dancing and romancing. FRIDAY Intro to Social Enterprise Workshop What: Starting a social enterprise journey When: 9am to 12pm Where: Thrive Whanganui, 142 Guyton St Details: Join the Thrive team for an interactive workshop introducing social enterprise the concept and some case studies. Free. Sign up on Facebook Kilmarnock's social enterprise journey What: Starting a social enterprise journey When: 1.30pm to 33.30pm Where: Thrive Whanganui, 142 Guyton St Details: What: Hear insights from Kilmarnock Enterprises CEO Michelle Sharp. Picnic on Pedals What: Bike Month event When: Meet at 5pm Where: I-site Whanganui, Taupo Quay Details: Family friendly ride. Ride around the bridges to have a picnic in Kowhai Park. BYO food and drink. Free Saturday River Traders Market What: Goods, produce, food. When: 8.30am to 1pm Where: Downtown Whanganui riverbank Details: Goods, produce, food. Beach Furnace & Big Dig What: See 100 glass art treasures buried in the sand When: 2pm to 4pm Where: Castlecliff Beach Details: $10 ticket to dig in a square will be available to the public to purchase from 1pm on a first come, first served basis. Earth Tongue Drxnes & Transistor What: Brooding psychedelic force of music and theatre When: 9pm Where: Lucky Bar + Kitchen, 53 Wilson St Details: Tickets $10 from undertheradar.co.nz Sunday Castlecliff Market What: Goods, produce and food. When: 11am to 3pm Where: 5 Bryce St, Castlecliff. Hymnfest 1909 What: Celebration of a musical treasure When: 2.30pm Where St Stephens Church, Maunder St, Marton Details: The certification of St Stephens historic organ will be celebrated with music from the era when the organ was first installed. Entry by donation, afternoon tea provided. Monday Marlon Williams What: Turangawaewae tour with Emily Fairlight When:7.30pm Where: Royal Wanganui Opera House Details: Tickets A reserve $67, B reserve $55.50. Book at Ticketek. Grassroots Singers What: We welcome new (and current) singers. When: 6.30pm Where: Duncan Pavilion, Castlecliff beach Details: Mary Ann 06 3439981 Tuesday Slimming Support What: Slimmers Support Group - lose weight and keep it off. When: 5pm. Details: $10 joining fee with $2 weekly - inquiries Ngaire 347 1613. Tai Chi for Health What: A modified form of tai chi specifically for health. Suitable all ages and fitness. When: Beginners classes at 5.30pm. Where: 97 Putiki Drive. Cost: $3 per session Inquiries: Miriam 345 1395 or kevin.miriamas@gmail.com Ukuleles What: River City Ukes - bring your ukulele to gain confidence and skills. When: 7pm-9pm. Where: Club Metro, 13 Ridgway St. Support Group What: Al-Anon meeting - confidential and anonymous programme for those affected by a friend's or family member's drinking. When: 7.30pm. Where: Quaker Rooms, 256 Wicksteed St. Details: No fees but koha appreciated | La Fiesta Whanganui's fun festival celebrating women begins this week. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=12203438 | 0.509252 |
Is new game Apex Legends a threat to Fortnite? | Image copyright Electronic Arts Apex Legends - a new Battle Royale game - has had over 2 million concurrent players and over 25 million downloads in its first week. The game, released at the start of February, has a similar narrative to Fortnite. But Apex's new spin has taken the gaming world by storm, leading people to question whether it will be a threat. Apex Legends is available on PlayStation and Xbox - and Like Fortnite, it's free to download. What's come as a shock to some is how fast Apex is growing. Although Fortnite now has over 200 million players, Apex Legends seems to be growing much faster in its earlier stages. Fortnite was released in July, 2017. In its first two weeks, only 10 million gamers had played it. Newsbeat has been speaking to some American gaming experts who've played both. Image copyright Javy Gwaltney Image caption Javy Gwaltney, 29 (right) Javy Gwaltney is an associate editor for Game Informer in Minnesota. He believes Apex Legends is a great game but is not convinced it will be as successful as people think. "It just doesn't have the potential for that level of appeal in a way that doesn't really have to do with the mechanics of the game itself. "They have to learn, in a shockingly short amount of time, how to give players reasons to return over and over again outside of the core gameplay loop. "That means doing more than just dropping cosmetic skins and weapons into the game." Skins are a range of costumes that can be used to customize aspects of your character and playing experience. They can be bought with the in-game currency V-Bucks. Image copyright Javy Gwaltney Image caption Javy often writes reviews about newly released games for Game Informer The 29-year-old believes the reason why Apex Legends has done so well so far is due to the hype around the battle royale concept. Despite this, Javy doesn't think Apex will pose as much of a threat to Fortnite. "The problem isn't 'Apex Legends isn't as good as Fortnite' - but instead Fortnite was at the right time and place when nothing else was. "Epic (games) wisely built on that in a way that was massively beneficial to them. "You can't replicate that kind of success by making a great, even better game." "Sure, the game's got 25 million people who have played it but those numbers drop off all the time." However, Javy would still choose Apex Legends over Fortnite as for him the shooting lets it down. "The combat is fantastic. Movement, gunplay, sound, everything is just superb. "The shooting in Fortnite is bad. It's real bad." Cade Onder is editor-in-chief of GameZone. The 18-year-old from Iowa in the United States says Apex Legends is a completely different experience compared to Fortnite. "Apex has 60 players and you're forced into squads of three. "Fortnite has 100 players and you can play solos, duos, or squads of four. Apex is first person, Fortnite is third person" Similar to Javy, Cade thinks Apex's game play gives it the edge. "Communicating with players without headsets, automatically transferring attachments to new guns you pick up, and more. "It gets rid of a large amount of junk and fixes the issues that bog down other battle royale games. "Apex has much better shooting mechanics, much more enjoyable. "If Apex Legends can find a way to raise the bar and keep the engagement alive, it could at the very least go toe to toe with Fortnite." Josh, a YouTuber from Birmingham who goes by the name Frenzee says it's too early to decide whether Apex will be a long term threat to Fortnite. "But with the way it has launched, already hitting 25 million players with 1 million plus concurrent players, I think Fortnite are a little scared. "If the Apex developers have a solid roadmap and keep things fresh I do believe it could continue to take over the battle royale genre." Image copyright Jason Wyllie Image caption Jason Wyllie, 23 Jason Wyllie, 23, a Twitch streamer from Scotland says Apex can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore first-person-shooter lovers. "The game has a high skill ceiling cap - but low threshold for beginners - which means new players have a better first time experience (than Fortnite)." But Jason, who also goes by the name of Jaspers, believes Apex may not be a threat to Fortnite because of the strong following it's gained. "Fortnite is such a unique game that they will always have a core group that play the game and caters to the younger generation, as well as older generations." However when asked to choose between the two, Apex Legends still took the biscuit. "The big draw to apex over Fortnite is it comes down to team play, individual ability and gun skill. "Fortnite has a added skill of building that I'm not a fan of I prefer one on one gunfights where your aim is what wins the fight." Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here. | Apex Legends has had over 2 million concurrent players and over 25 million downloads in its first week. The game, released at the start of February, has a similar narrative to Fortnite. But Apex's new spin has taken the gaming world by storm, leading people to question whether it will be a threat. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-47211771 | 0.129857 |
Will El Chapo's conviction change anything in the drug trade? | The nearly half a century old war on drugs shows no sign of ending, and neither does the illegal trafficking Standing on the steps of the Brooklyn courthouse amid flurries of sleet and snow, US attorney Richard Donoghue hailed the conviction of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn as a famous victory in Americas longest conflict. There are those who say the war on drugs is not worth fighting. Those people are wrong, he said. But that war now nearly half a century old shows no sign of ending, and neither does the trade in illegal narcotics. In the course of Guzmns eleven week trial, prosecutors presented the Sinaloa Federation as a vertically-integrated organization with a clear chain of command leading all the way up to one all-powerful boss: El Chapo. But Guzmn was arrested nearly three years ago, since which: Production of coca, the raw material of cocaine, has soared: 171,000 hectares were used to grow coca in Colombia in 2017 up 25,000 hectares (17%) on the year before. Provisional figures for 2018 suggest a further increase to record levels; most Colombian cocaine is shipped by Mexican cartels and their partners to the USA and Europe. The appetite for cocaine in the US and Europe remains insatiable cocaine prices in the UK are at their highest since 1990 and the drug is purer than it has been for a decade and while supplies of methamphetamine and synthetic drugs soar. Mexico set new records for murder, with 25,394 homicides in the first nine months of 2018, 18% up on the 21,460 recorded in the same period of 2017, the highest figure since records began in 1997, according to the interior ministry. In his final report to the nation, Mexican president Enrique Pea Nieto blamed the surge on the polices inability to combat small criminal gangs which arose after Guzmn and other major cartel leaders were captured. On 10 December 2006, president Felipe Caldern, launched Mexicos war on drugs by sending 6,500 troops into his home state of Michoacn, where rival cartels were engaged in tit-for-tat massacres. Caldern declared war eight days after taking power a move widely seen as an attempt to boost his own legitimacy after a bitterly contested election victory. Within two months, around 20,000 troops were involved in operations across the country. The US has donated at least $1.5bn through the Merida Initiative since 2008, while Mexico has spent at least $54bn on security and defence since 2007. Critics say that this influx of cash has helped create an opaque security industry open to corruption at every level. But the biggest costs have been human: since 2007, around 230,000 people have been murdered and more than 28,000 reported as disappeared. Human rights groups have also detailed a vast rise in human rights abuses by security forces. As the cartels have fractured and diversified, other violent crimes such as kidnapping and extortion have also surged. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by violence. Improved collaboration between the US and Mexico has resulted in numerous high-profile arrests and drug busts. Officials say 25 of the 37 drug traffickers on Calderns most-wanted list have been jailed, extradited to the US or killed, although not all of these actions have been independently corroborated. The biggest victory and most embarrassing blunder under Pea Nietos leadership was the recapture, escape and another recapture of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn, leader of the Sinaloa cartel. While the crackdown and capture of kingpins has won praise from the media and US, it has done little to reduce the violence. Mexicos decade-long war on drugs would never have been possible without the huge injection of American cash and military cooperation under the Merida Initiative. The funds have continued to flow despite growing evidence of serious human rights violations. Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFP But even before El Chapos trial, there was always widespread suspicion that successive Mexican governments had collaborated with the Sinaloa cartel against rivals less easy to control, to forge a Pax Mafiosa. On the ground, Sinaloa remains a force to be reckoned with, still shipping drugs north even as the fight for local markets in Mexico sends murder rates soaring. 'The only two powerful cartels left': rivals clash in Mexico's murder capital Read more Where the cartel is overstretched or torn apart by internecine war rival factions ramp up the violence and other cartels emerge to fill the vacuum. Once seen as a newcomer eager to make its mark, the Jalisco New Generation cartel is now a major player. The Zetas are no longer as strong as they once were, but they never lost the north-east and west coasts, nor the worlds busiest international trade crossing from Nuevo Laredo into Laredo, Texas. Meanwhile Mexican society has become brutalised: in the shadow of narco-trafficking violence come killings over other illicit economies, femicides and appalling levels of domestic violence. The products cocaine, meth, heroin - flow with the same official impunity with Guzmn arrested, extradited and convicted as at any other time. And Mexicos new president Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador seems as committed as his predecessors to the militarized anti-drugs strategy that has only contributed to the bloodshed. Guzmns conviction is a historic moment, but its legacy could be measured against that of less trumpeted moments in the narco-narrative. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Emma Coronel Aispuro, center, wife of El Chapo leaving the US federal courthouse after a verdict was announced at the trial on Tuesday. Photograph: Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images One was an appeal by then Colombian president Juan Manual Santos to the Organisation of American States at its summit in Cartagea in 2010, to tear up the war on drugs battle plan, and start again on the basis of co-responsibility between producing nations torn apart by violence over narco-traffic, and consuming countries where the noses, veins and pill-wrappers are, and where the money gets cleaned. The response from President Barack Obama was a rare admission that its really a two-way situation here but the war on drugs raged on, racking up more statistics of death and loss. Then there are those other figures: the dollars. The most revealing testimony of the trial came from Jess Zambada Garca, the accountant of the Sinaloa cartel. He explained how a successful shipment to New York would yield $390m in clear profit, to share between five investors, including his brother Ismael Zambada Garca El Mayo who co-founded the federation with Guzmn. Asked how many shipments he would make in a year to US entrepots, Zambada replied: hundreds. Theres no evidence to suggest that is not still the case only that there is a vacancy around the investment opportunity table. Guzmns trial marked the end of one of the worlds largest manhunts. An exhaustive report on the micro- and macro-economies of cocaine, published in 2012 by two academics at the Universitad de los Andes in Bogot concluded that 2.6% of the street value of cocaine from Colombia stays there, while 96.4% swills through distribution networks and banks in consuming countries. Colombian society has suffered to almost no economic advantage from the drugs trade, said one of the reports authors Alejandro Gavria, while huge profits are made by criminal distribution networks in consuming countries, and recycled by banks which operate with nothing like the restrictions that Colombias own banking system is subject to. At Guzmns trial, we heard about shipments, from Colombia via Mexico to the US, but this language that never reached the courtroom; the money always went back to Mexico: planes and Samsonite bags of cash flown and hauled here and there. But we know it doesnt stay in Mexico. Across the East River from the Brooklyn courthouse is the US headquarters of HSBC, through which hundreds of millions of dollars of profits were laundered for distribution through the legal economy. How a big US bank laundered billions from Mexico's murderous drug gangs Read more The Wachovia bank did the same with even greater amounts, admitted to the US district court of southern Florida. In both cases, the punishment was admonition. An indictment of Guzmn filed in El Paso in 2012 accuses him of running a vast money-laundering apparatus. An indictment in southern Florida filed in 2014 after the Wachovia settlement lists 92 wire transfers conducted by associates of Guzmn between 2003 and 2007, worth tens and hundreds of dollars each, through a branch of Bank of America in Oklahoma City. None of this language featured at trial. Guzmns defence lawyers also adopted the vision of a single integrated cartel, only they argued that it was ruled by El Mayo the man who co-founded the federation with El Chapo and then shopped him to the authorities. Guzmns trial marked the end of one of the worlds largest manhunts. El Mayo has kept a much lower profile than El Chapo, who was eventually arrested after granting an audience to Hollywood star Sean Penn, but in 2010, Zambada gave a rare interview to Mexicos Proceso magazine. One day I may decide to turn myself in, so they can shoot me, and therell be general euphoria, said the veteran drug lord. But we all know that at the end of the day, nothing will have changed. | Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn was found guilty of drug trafficking. The war on drugs is now nearly half a century old and shows no sign of ending. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/el-chapo-conviction-drug-war-drug-trade | 0.134735 |
Will El Chapo's conviction change anything in the drug trade? | The nearly half a century old war on drugs shows no sign of ending, and neither does the illegal trafficking Standing on the steps of the Brooklyn courthouse amid flurries of sleet and snow, US attorney Richard Donoghue hailed the conviction of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn as a famous victory in Americas longest conflict. There are those who say the war on drugs is not worth fighting. Those people are wrong, he said. But that war now nearly half a century old shows no sign of ending, and neither does the trade in illegal narcotics. In the course of Guzmns eleven week trial, prosecutors presented the Sinaloa Federation as a vertically-integrated organization with a clear chain of command leading all the way up to one all-powerful boss: El Chapo. But Guzmn was arrested nearly three years ago, since which: Production of coca, the raw material of cocaine, has soared: 171,000 hectares were used to grow coca in Colombia in 2017 up 25,000 hectares (17%) on the year before. Provisional figures for 2018 suggest a further increase to record levels; most Colombian cocaine is shipped by Mexican cartels and their partners to the USA and Europe. The appetite for cocaine in the US and Europe remains insatiable cocaine prices in the UK are at their highest since 1990 and the drug is purer than it has been for a decade and while supplies of methamphetamine and synthetic drugs soar. Mexico set new records for murder, with 25,394 homicides in the first nine months of 2018, 18% up on the 21,460 recorded in the same period of 2017, the highest figure since records began in 1997, according to the interior ministry. In his final report to the nation, Mexican president Enrique Pea Nieto blamed the surge on the polices inability to combat small criminal gangs which arose after Guzmn and other major cartel leaders were captured. On 10 December 2006, president Felipe Caldern, launched Mexicos war on drugs by sending 6,500 troops into his home state of Michoacn, where rival cartels were engaged in tit-for-tat massacres. Caldern declared war eight days after taking power a move widely seen as an attempt to boost his own legitimacy after a bitterly contested election victory. Within two months, around 20,000 troops were involved in operations across the country. The US has donated at least $1.5bn through the Merida Initiative since 2008, while Mexico has spent at least $54bn on security and defence since 2007. Critics say that this influx of cash has helped create an opaque security industry open to corruption at every level. But the biggest costs have been human: since 2007, around 230,000 people have been murdered and more than 28,000 reported as disappeared. Human rights groups have also detailed a vast rise in human rights abuses by security forces. As the cartels have fractured and diversified, other violent crimes such as kidnapping and extortion have also surged. In addition, hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by violence. Improved collaboration between the US and Mexico has resulted in numerous high-profile arrests and drug busts. Officials say 25 of the 37 drug traffickers on Calderns most-wanted list have been jailed, extradited to the US or killed, although not all of these actions have been independently corroborated. The biggest victory and most embarrassing blunder under Pea Nietos leadership was the recapture, escape and another recapture of Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn, leader of the Sinaloa cartel. While the crackdown and capture of kingpins has won praise from the media and US, it has done little to reduce the violence. Mexicos decade-long war on drugs would never have been possible without the huge injection of American cash and military cooperation under the Merida Initiative. The funds have continued to flow despite growing evidence of serious human rights violations. Photograph: Pedro Pardo/AFP But even before El Chapos trial, there was always widespread suspicion that successive Mexican governments had collaborated with the Sinaloa cartel against rivals less easy to control, to forge a Pax Mafiosa. On the ground, Sinaloa remains a force to be reckoned with, still shipping drugs north even as the fight for local markets in Mexico sends murder rates soaring. 'The only two powerful cartels left': rivals clash in Mexico's murder capital Read more Where the cartel is overstretched or torn apart by internecine war rival factions ramp up the violence and other cartels emerge to fill the vacuum. Once seen as a newcomer eager to make its mark, the Jalisco New Generation cartel is now a major player. The Zetas are no longer as strong as they once were, but they never lost the north-east and west coasts, nor the worlds busiest international trade crossing from Nuevo Laredo into Laredo, Texas. Meanwhile Mexican society has become brutalised: in the shadow of narco-trafficking violence come killings over other illicit economies, femicides and appalling levels of domestic violence. The products cocaine, meth, heroin - flow with the same official impunity with Guzmn arrested, extradited and convicted as at any other time. And Mexicos new president Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador seems as committed as his predecessors to the militarized anti-drugs strategy that has only contributed to the bloodshed. Guzmns conviction is a historic moment, but its legacy could be measured against that of less trumpeted moments in the narco-narrative. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Emma Coronel Aispuro, center, wife of El Chapo leaving the US federal courthouse after a verdict was announced at the trial on Tuesday. Photograph: Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images One was an appeal by then Colombian president Juan Manual Santos to the Organisation of American States at its summit in Cartagea in 2010, to tear up the war on drugs battle plan, and start again on the basis of co-responsibility between producing nations torn apart by violence over narco-traffic, and consuming countries where the noses, veins and pill-wrappers are, and where the money gets cleaned. The response from President Barack Obama was a rare admission that its really a two-way situation here but the war on drugs raged on, racking up more statistics of death and loss. Then there are those other figures: the dollars. The most revealing testimony of the trial came from Jess Zambada Garca, the accountant of the Sinaloa cartel. He explained how a successful shipment to New York would yield $390m in clear profit, to share between five investors, including his brother Ismael Zambada Garca El Mayo who co-founded the federation with Guzmn. Asked how many shipments he would make in a year to US entrepots, Zambada replied: hundreds. Theres no evidence to suggest that is not still the case only that there is a vacancy around the investment opportunity table. Guzmns trial marked the end of one of the worlds largest manhunts. An exhaustive report on the micro- and macro-economies of cocaine, published in 2012 by two academics at the Universitad de los Andes in Bogot concluded that 2.6% of the street value of cocaine from Colombia stays there, while 96.4% swills through distribution networks and banks in consuming countries. Colombian society has suffered to almost no economic advantage from the drugs trade, said one of the reports authors Alejandro Gavria, while huge profits are made by criminal distribution networks in consuming countries, and recycled by banks which operate with nothing like the restrictions that Colombias own banking system is subject to. At Guzmns trial, we heard about shipments, from Colombia via Mexico to the US, but this language that never reached the courtroom; the money always went back to Mexico: planes and Samsonite bags of cash flown and hauled here and there. But we know it doesnt stay in Mexico. Across the East River from the Brooklyn courthouse is the US headquarters of HSBC, through which hundreds of millions of dollars of profits were laundered for distribution through the legal economy. How a big US bank laundered billions from Mexico's murderous drug gangs Read more The Wachovia bank did the same with even greater amounts, admitted to the US district court of southern Florida. In both cases, the punishment was admonition. An indictment of Guzmn filed in El Paso in 2012 accuses him of running a vast money-laundering apparatus. An indictment in southern Florida filed in 2014 after the Wachovia settlement lists 92 wire transfers conducted by associates of Guzmn between 2003 and 2007, worth tens and hundreds of dollars each, through a branch of Bank of America in Oklahoma City. None of this language featured at trial. Guzmns defence lawyers also adopted the vision of a single integrated cartel, only they argued that it was ruled by El Mayo the man who co-founded the federation with El Chapo and then shopped him to the authorities. Guzmns trial marked the end of one of the worlds largest manhunts. El Mayo has kept a much lower profile than El Chapo, who was eventually arrested after granting an audience to Hollywood star Sean Penn, but in 2010, Zambada gave a rare interview to Mexicos Proceso magazine. One day I may decide to turn myself in, so they can shoot me, and therell be general euphoria, said the veteran drug lord. But we all know that at the end of the day, nothing will have changed. | Joaqun El Chapo Guzmn was found guilty of drug trafficking. But the war on drugs shows no sign of ending, and neither does the trade in illegal narcotics. The appetite for cocaine in the US and Europe remains insatiable. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/feb/13/el-chapo-conviction-drug-war-drug-trade | 0.253597 |
Should kids learn multiple languages in school? | From elementary school to high school, kids learn things like math, reading and basic science. But for many kids, some subjects--like learning a second language--are not offered at all. Research shows that learning multiple languages early onimproves brain function and increases empathy, and many believe it should be required learning in all schools. Others say students already have enough on their plate. PERSPECTIVES There's no question that students benefit from learning a second language. According to Panda Tree, a site dedicated to helping young kids learn multiple languages, research shows that bilingual kids and adults have higher brain function than their monolingual peers, particularly when it comes to skills like multi-tasking and paying attention. Furthermore, when kids learn a second language, they are more likely to perform well on standardized tests: Studies of tens of thousands of high school students have found that students who have studied foreign languages perform better on the American College Test (ACT) for English and Mathematics. Additional studies have found that SAT-verbal scores improve with the length of time students have studied the foreign language. Given the importance school systems place on standardized tests, particularly the ACT and the SAT, it seems like a no-brainer that a second language would be included in every curriculum. It will help achieve a district's goals. Classes That SHOULD Be Mandatory in High School: - Accounting - Money Management - Taxes - How to Build and Keep Good Credit - Establishing a Job/Career - Nutrition - Self-Defense Also, Americans should be forced to be fluent in at least one other language. -- Omni (@InfernoOmni) April 27, 2018 Others don't see these "spillover" benefits as worth the time it would take to for all elementary students to study a second language. According to Forbes' Art Carden, studying another language in school is a waste of time, especially given how few students end up becoming fluent in the languages they study. Carden ties the question of studying multiple languages to the first lesson of economics: scarcity. By choosing to do one thing, you're choosing not to do another, and additional language study would have to come at the expense of something else--something else that people, facing the incentives and constraints they currently face, have deemed more important than a little more language learning. According to Carden, other classes like art history, or even economics itself, would have a more lasting impact on students, while still increasing their cultural understanding much in the same way studying a second language would. Doubtful. Keep in mind, the U.S. does not have an official language. So when it comes to learning a second language, some could argue it's every young person's civic duty. Although English is the most common language in America, the U.S. is also home to over 40 million native speakers of Spanish, Chinese, and French collectively. In a country of immigrants, it is essential that the American education system encourage diversity of language. Furthermore, learning a second language early on in life can increase your ability to empathize with others. Panda Tree's founder, Kristina Klausen, looked to Dr. Katherine Kinzler of Cornell University for insight: As Dr. Kinzler explains, "children in multilingual environments have social experiences that provide routine practice in considering the perspectives of others: they have to think about who speaks which language to whom, who understands which content, and the times and places in which different languages are spoken." Given the country's current divide and rhetoric when it comes to immigration and refugees, empathy through learning would surely only help. it amazes me how so many school curriculums teach foreign language solely in hs -- red cr7 (@lockeheartt) September 28, 2018 Even experts in the field agree that learning multiple languages in school is a waste of time. HuffPost's linguist and lexicographer Delfin Carbonell, Ph.D. is of the mind that many monolingual people and societies get on perfectly well with their single language. Furthermore, there are roughly 6,500 languages spoken across the globe, and Carbonell argues that the multitude of choices make it impossible to dictate curriculums that include foreign language options for students. Instead of arguing over Chinese for students' future business opportunities or Spanish to promote unity, Carbonell's advice is simple: when in doubt, abstain. The reformed linguist finishes his proclamation, saying: I have come to the conclusion that life is short and we should not waste a minute of it with the effort, time and money involved in language-learning. It takes years and years and the result is never satisfactory: native speakers will always mock our accent, mimic our ways and call us names...Body language gives us plenty of possibilities to convey our thoughts and can be "spoken" in all countries...I have turned into a convert scoff-language linguist. Learning a Second Language is a Waste of Time 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. | There's no question that students benefit from learning a second language. Bilingual kids and adults have higher brain function than monolingual peers. Studies show that students who have studied foreign languages perform better on standardized tests. Others say studying another language in school is a waste of time, especially given how few students end up becoming fluent. | bart | 2 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/should_kids_learn_multiple_lan.html | 0.125822 |
Should 'austerity' be a dirty word? | Voter Anger Sweeps Europe, screams the Wall Street Journal the morning after elections in Europe. Oh my! The incredible selfishness driving the voters of Europe boggles the mind. In France, industrial production is down; consumer prices are up, in March the unemployment rate was close to 10%. In Greece, the statistics are similar, only with the unemployment rate around 20%. The economy in all of Europe, and most countries around the world, is in rough shape and the voters yet are demanding more handouts, angry that their governments say they cant afford them. Here in the United States, we see a similar attitude in the Occupy Wall Street crowd. Their attitude conveys a We deserve what the rich have forget about the fact most of the rich earned their money. As Governor John Kasich of Ohio put it, There is no money. Government overspending has helped to bring our economy into what is now called the Great Recession. The presidents vaunted stimulus packages didnt stimulate private sector jobs. Since Obama came into office, America has lost a net of 740,000 according to Elizabeth McDonald of the Fox Business network. Housing prices are down, food costs are up, health care costs are up. Large numbers of people who were formerly looking for work have become discouraged and simply stopped looking. There are fewer jobs. Meanwhile, the Occupy Wall Streeters are busy planning their next rage rumble, demanding more taxes on the rich and more government support. Waving signs, shouting loud slogans, striking at the factories that have been paying you to put bread on your table wont put more real money in your pocket. If you want to lose weight, put down that fork. In the present US economy, we all need to step back from the trough. Now is a good time, before this governments spending forces another reduction in our national credit rating. [pullquote] It will take a disciplined approach on the part of our elected officials to carefully lift the economy from its current precariousness. Call it whatever you want, but without a strong dose of self-control now, our country can expect to be in the shoes of Greece sometime in the future. The question is whether the citizens of America have the backbone and willingness to be unselfish in their demands and self-interested enough to do what has to be done to secure a future for the nation. Austerity is not a dirty word. In fact, in a well thought out design, it is a road to the future. Republican Sue Kelly represented New York's 19th District in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2007. | Sue Kelly: Voters in Europe are demanding more handouts, angry that their governments say they can't afford them. She says in the United States, we see a similar attitude in the Occupy Wall Street crowd. Kelly: Austerity is not a dirty word. In fact, in a well thought out design, it is a road to the future. | bart | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/should-austerity-be-a-dirty-word | 0.101378 |
Is the AAF already better than the NFL? | The Alliance of American Football league made its debut, and the first week was a big hit. Viewers were treated to a huge hit on a quarterback, transparent replay challenges and no kickoffs, all of which made for great reviews on social media. Many enjoyed the fresh approach to the sport. While the AAF might be the new kid on the block, others feel the NFL is still a better product with better athletes and competition. PERSPECTIVES Look out, NFL. There's a new football brand on the block and it's changing the way people are thinking of football. Unlike its more established counterpart, the Alliance of American Football is taking risks and it's paying off. San Diego Fleet quarterback Mike Bercovici took a massive, but legal hit that would've easily been a flag in the NFL, playing to the desire of fans who want to see old school football. There's also no field goals in overtime, only two-point conversions and onside kicks are replaced with the option to attempt 4th & 10 at own 35-yard line. One week in and the AAF is already more fun than the NFL! Wow! That's revolutionary! The NFL tries to hide behind a shroud of mystery at all times, while the AAF actually takes you into the replay booth to see and hear what the official thinks. It won't stop bad calls, but at least you know there is some clarity and accountability with each decision. Oh, it is... The American Alliance of Football is only getting attention because of one big hit and the Philly Special being run. Everything else about the league pales in comparison to the NFL. The two games that happened was a 34-point blowout and a 15-6 snoozefest. There's nothing exciting about football like that. It's like what happened the XFL. People flocked to it because it was football when there was no NFL, but as soon as the difference in quality became apparent, fans stopped tuning in. The NFL might have its problems, but thinking the AAF or any other football league is on the same level as the Shield is asinine. Did people already forget about the 100+ shootout between the Rams and Chiefs during the regular season?! Week in and week out, there's always an exciting matchup. The National Football League is still the best football anyone will ever see in the world. From wide receivers throwing TD passes to the Miami Miracle: 2018 NFL season's best plays How quickly they forget. Athletes playing the AAF are NFL rejects. While the Alliance of American Football is giving table scrap-levels of football, the National Football League serves up prime rib. The athletes that play in the NFL perform some of the most ridiculous athlete feats ever seen. The AAF might get lucky, but they can't pull off the kinds of highlights their rivals put out every week. The 20 most freakish athletes in the NFL 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 new Alliance of American Football league made its debut last week. The AAF features transparent replay challenges and no kickoffs. Some say the AAF is already better than the NFL. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/is_the_aaf_already_better_than.html | 0.335789 |
Is the AAF already better than the NFL? | The Alliance of American Football league made its debut, and the first week was a big hit. Viewers were treated to a huge hit on a quarterback, transparent replay challenges and no kickoffs, all of which made for great reviews on social media. Many enjoyed the fresh approach to the sport. While the AAF might be the new kid on the block, others feel the NFL is still a better product with better athletes and competition. PERSPECTIVES Look out, NFL. There's a new football brand on the block and it's changing the way people are thinking of football. Unlike its more established counterpart, the Alliance of American Football is taking risks and it's paying off. San Diego Fleet quarterback Mike Bercovici took a massive, but legal hit that would've easily been a flag in the NFL, playing to the desire of fans who want to see old school football. There's also no field goals in overtime, only two-point conversions and onside kicks are replaced with the option to attempt 4th & 10 at own 35-yard line. One week in and the AAF is already more fun than the NFL! Wow! That's revolutionary! The NFL tries to hide behind a shroud of mystery at all times, while the AAF actually takes you into the replay booth to see and hear what the official thinks. It won't stop bad calls, but at least you know there is some clarity and accountability with each decision. Oh, it is... The American Alliance of Football is only getting attention because of one big hit and the Philly Special being run. Everything else about the league pales in comparison to the NFL. The two games that happened was a 34-point blowout and a 15-6 snoozefest. There's nothing exciting about football like that. It's like what happened the XFL. People flocked to it because it was football when there was no NFL, but as soon as the difference in quality became apparent, fans stopped tuning in. The NFL might have its problems, but thinking the AAF or any other football league is on the same level as the Shield is asinine. Did people already forget about the 100+ shootout between the Rams and Chiefs during the regular season?! Week in and week out, there's always an exciting matchup. The National Football League is still the best football anyone will ever see in the world. From wide receivers throwing TD passes to the Miami Miracle: 2018 NFL season's best plays How quickly they forget. Athletes playing the AAF are NFL rejects. While the Alliance of American Football is giving table scrap-levels of football, the National Football League serves up prime rib. The athletes that play in the NFL perform some of the most ridiculous athlete feats ever seen. The AAF might get lucky, but they can't pull off the kinds of highlights their rivals put out every week. The 20 most freakish athletes in the NFL 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 Alliance of American Football made its debut this week. There was a huge hit on a quarterback, transparent replay challenges and no kickoffs. While the AAF might be the new kid on the block, others feel the NFL is still a better product. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/is_the_aaf_already_better_than.html | 0.377316 |
Did Kacey Musgraves deserve her Album of the Year win at the 2019 Grammys? | The internet is divided on if Kacey Musgraves should have won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene, but according to her, she still has trouble getting her music played on country radio. So many music lovers may be unfamiliar with her. Musgraves has a strong fanbase, but considering she was up against artists like Janelle Monae, Drake and Cardi B for Album of the Year some were blindsided by her win. PERSPECTIVES Musgraves won a Grammy for her album "Golden Hour" and her fans felt it was well deserved. Musgraves is a Texas native and has come along way in music since she released her first single in 2012. kacey musgraves winning album of the year feels like the first time in forever that someone who deserved to win album of the year, won. -- steven j. horowitz (@speriod) February 11, 2019 Kacey Musgraves had the best, most accessible and critically adored album of any Album of the Year nominees, but radio wouldn't touch it. Just proves how out of touch and completely irrelevant radio is in 2019. -- new york nick (@NickEdwardEvans) February 11, 2019 Some viewers of the 2019 GRAMMYs had never heard of Musgraves and were blindsided by her win. #GRAMMYs -- Jarius Jackson (@JJtruble) February 11, 2019 Who tf is Kacey Musgraves and how did she win Album of the Year! [?] -- Okuurrt (@reddyy_freddy) February 11, 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. | Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/did_kacey_musgraves_deserve_he.html | 0.153425 |
Did Kacey Musgraves deserve her Album of the Year win at the 2019 Grammys? | The internet is divided on if Kacey Musgraves should have won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene, but according to her, she still has trouble getting her music played on country radio. So many music lovers may be unfamiliar with her. Musgraves has a strong fanbase, but considering she was up against artists like Janelle Monae, Drake and Cardi B for Album of the Year some were blindsided by her win. PERSPECTIVES Musgraves won a Grammy for her album "Golden Hour" and her fans felt it was well deserved. Musgraves is a Texas native and has come along way in music since she released her first single in 2012. kacey musgraves winning album of the year feels like the first time in forever that someone who deserved to win album of the year, won. -- steven j. horowitz (@speriod) February 11, 2019 Kacey Musgraves had the best, most accessible and critically adored album of any Album of the Year nominees, but radio wouldn't touch it. Just proves how out of touch and completely irrelevant radio is in 2019. -- new york nick (@NickEdwardEvans) February 11, 2019 Some viewers of the 2019 GRAMMYs had never heard of Musgraves and were blindsided by her win. #GRAMMYs -- Jarius Jackson (@JJtruble) February 11, 2019 Who tf is Kacey Musgraves and how did she win Album of the Year! [?] -- Okuurrt (@reddyy_freddy) February 11, 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. | Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene. Some viewers were blindsided by her win. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/did_kacey_musgraves_deserve_he.html | 0.140997 |
Did Kacey Musgraves deserve her Album of the Year win at the 2019 Grammys? | The internet is divided on if Kacey Musgraves should have won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene, but according to her, she still has trouble getting her music played on country radio. So many music lovers may be unfamiliar with her. Musgraves has a strong fanbase, but considering she was up against artists like Janelle Monae, Drake and Cardi B for Album of the Year some were blindsided by her win. PERSPECTIVES Musgraves won a Grammy for her album "Golden Hour" and her fans felt it was well deserved. Musgraves is a Texas native and has come along way in music since she released her first single in 2012. kacey musgraves winning album of the year feels like the first time in forever that someone who deserved to win album of the year, won. -- steven j. horowitz (@speriod) February 11, 2019 Kacey Musgraves had the best, most accessible and critically adored album of any Album of the Year nominees, but radio wouldn't touch it. Just proves how out of touch and completely irrelevant radio is in 2019. -- new york nick (@NickEdwardEvans) February 11, 2019 Some viewers of the 2019 GRAMMYs had never heard of Musgraves and were blindsided by her win. #GRAMMYs -- Jarius Jackson (@JJtruble) February 11, 2019 Who tf is Kacey Musgraves and how did she win Album of the Year! [?] -- Okuurrt (@reddyy_freddy) February 11, 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. | Kacey Musgraves won Album of the Year at the 2019 Grammys. The country singer is far from new to the music scene. Her fans felt it was well deserved. Some viewers had never heard of Musgraves and were blindsided by her win. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/did_kacey_musgraves_deserve_he.html | 0.51902 |
What does Kris Abrams-Draines Top 10 list mean for his LSU commitment? | Despite releasing a Top 10 list of his favorite schools recently, Spanish Fort 2020 receiver Kris Abrams-Draine said he is still committed to LSU. The four-star prospect committed to the Bengal Tigers last March. Last week, he released on Twitter a Top 10 that along with LSU also included Arkansas, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oregon, Tennessee, Kansas, Florida, Indiana and Ole Miss. I just wanted to let everyone know my recruitment is open, Abrams-Draine said following Spanish Forts loss to rival Daphne in the Class 6A, Area 2 championship basketball game. Im still committed, but its open. T O P T E N pic.twitter.com/iFY43sH86g Kris Abrams-Draine (@KD1ERA) January 30, 2019 The 6-foot, 160-pound Abrams-Draine, No. 10 among 2020 recruits in the state of Alabama on the latest 247 Sports composite rankings, said he plans to visit LSU again soon but also would like to take visits to Arkansas and Oregon among other schools. His former Spanish Fort teammate, cornerback D.J. James, signed with Oregon last week. D.J. has told me a lot about it, Abrams-Draine said. He said, when you go up there, its way nicer than you can imagine. In his past two seasons at Spanish Fort, Abrams-Draine has caught 99 passes for 1,487 yards and 22 TDs. As a junior, he finished with 941 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns while spending time at quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner. John Garcia Jr., a recruiting analyst for 247 Sports, said Abrams-Draine could be the most explosive offensive player in the state next season. A look at the state's top recruits for 2020 I would imagine he would have a big senior year, Spanish Fort head coach Ben Blackmon said. Hes been an incredibly versatile player for us. I dont think that will change next fall either. Blackmon said Abrams-Draines determination to improve in the offseason has been evident. If he works at it and I think he will he can be as good as anyone has ever been at the next level, Blackmon said. I think he has the capability to be THAT guy. I can see his determination. I can see him maturing. Hes coming in right now at 6:30 every morning to lift weights, and that is during basketball season. He wants to get stronger and wants to keep improving. LSU has another strong year in Mobile | Spanish Fort 2020 receiver Kris Abrams-Draine says he is still committed to LSU. He released a Top 10 list of his favorite schools recently, including LSU. The four-star prospect said he plans to visit LSU again soon. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/sports/2019/02/what-does-kris-abrams-draines-top-10-list-mean-for-his-lsu-commitment.html | 0.100837 |
What does Kris Abrams-Draines Top 10 list mean for his LSU commitment? | Despite releasing a Top 10 list of his favorite schools recently, Spanish Fort 2020 receiver Kris Abrams-Draine said he is still committed to LSU. The four-star prospect committed to the Bengal Tigers last March. Last week, he released on Twitter a Top 10 that along with LSU also included Arkansas, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oregon, Tennessee, Kansas, Florida, Indiana and Ole Miss. I just wanted to let everyone know my recruitment is open, Abrams-Draine said following Spanish Forts loss to rival Daphne in the Class 6A, Area 2 championship basketball game. Im still committed, but its open. T O P T E N pic.twitter.com/iFY43sH86g Kris Abrams-Draine (@KD1ERA) January 30, 2019 The 6-foot, 160-pound Abrams-Draine, No. 10 among 2020 recruits in the state of Alabama on the latest 247 Sports composite rankings, said he plans to visit LSU again soon but also would like to take visits to Arkansas and Oregon among other schools. His former Spanish Fort teammate, cornerback D.J. James, signed with Oregon last week. D.J. has told me a lot about it, Abrams-Draine said. He said, when you go up there, its way nicer than you can imagine. In his past two seasons at Spanish Fort, Abrams-Draine has caught 99 passes for 1,487 yards and 22 TDs. As a junior, he finished with 941 all-purpose yards and 14 touchdowns while spending time at quarterback, wide receiver and kick returner. John Garcia Jr., a recruiting analyst for 247 Sports, said Abrams-Draine could be the most explosive offensive player in the state next season. A look at the state's top recruits for 2020 I would imagine he would have a big senior year, Spanish Fort head coach Ben Blackmon said. Hes been an incredibly versatile player for us. I dont think that will change next fall either. Blackmon said Abrams-Draines determination to improve in the offseason has been evident. If he works at it and I think he will he can be as good as anyone has ever been at the next level, Blackmon said. I think he has the capability to be THAT guy. I can see his determination. I can see him maturing. Hes coming in right now at 6:30 every morning to lift weights, and that is during basketball season. He wants to get stronger and wants to keep improving. LSU has another strong year in Mobile | Spanish Fort 2020 receiver Kris Abrams-Draine says he is still committed to LSU. The four-star prospect committed to the Bengal Tigers last March. Last week, he released on Twitter a Top 10 that along with LSU also included Arkansas, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Oregon, Tennessee and Ole Miss. | bart | 2 | https://www.nola.com/sports/2019/02/what-does-kris-abrams-draines-top-10-list-mean-for-his-lsu-commitment.html | 0.234561 |
Does Drew Brees get his due recognition? | Drew Brees became the NFLs all-time leading passer in 2018, but his place in the pantheon of the leagues best quarterbacks remains up for debate. Breaking down the top quarterbacks in league history is purely subjective, but it still seems many people outside New Orleans dont give Brees his due. Tom Brady is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, and he surely gained more believers when he won his sixth Super Bowl earlier this month. According to Pro Football References Approximate Value statistic, Peyton Manning is the best quarterback and player in NFL history. Other players mentioned in such a debate might include Joe Montana, Brett Favre, John Elway or Aaron Rodgers. In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, three former players and current analysts answered the question of whether Brees career is appropriately appreciated. Probably not, said Phil Simms, the longtime Giants quarterback who works for CBS. Numbers dont mean anything to anybody anymore. It used to be I couldve told you who the leading hitter in baseball was every year. I have no clue anymore. Its a shame, but thats what it comes down to. Having a great season and all that doesnt cross peoples minds anymore. Theyll go, Well, he didnt come through in the one game we needed him and they lost or whatever. So, I dont think hes been appreciated the way he should be. Probably never will be, but his satisfaction of what he did will always be in his brain and heart and his family and all of his teammates. Thats probably the most important thing. Saints could bolster tight end corps after unproductive 2018 Boomer Esiason, another longtime NFL quarterback and CBS analyst, immediately mentioned Super Bowl appearances as a determining factor in how a quarterback is judged. The only thing with Drew is he just doesnt have the nine Super Bowl appearances (like Brady), Esiason said. He has all the numbers. Hes shorter than most. Hes remarkably gifted, and I would say he plays with a chip on his shoulders. And I would say the players that he plays with absolutely love him and respect him, and its one of the reasons why Sean Payton is so good as a coach because hes got a guy on the field that he can trust. Brees and Payton have a lot in common with Brady and Bill Belichick in terms of tenure, but the Patriots quarterback and coach have combined to win six Super Bowls as opposed to the one for the Saints duo. Brees has more passing yards and touchdowns as well as a higher career completion percentage than Brady, but those regular-season stats dont matter to many people as much as postseason success. Still, as Brees continues to rewrite the record books, one of his former teammates thinks hes starting to receive proper due. I dont think he is (appropriately appreciate), but I think were starting to appreciate it, Hall of Fame running back and NFL Network analyst LaDainian Tomlinson said. This guy is an all-time leading passer, 500 touchdowns, Super Bowl win. You name it, he has it, so I think we are now starting to put him in his proper place as an all-time great without question. AAF kicks off without kickoffs, but with SkyJudge | Drew Brees became the NFLs all-time leading passer in 2018. But many people outside New Orleans dont give Brees his due. | bart | 1 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/02/does-drew-brees-get-his-due-recognition.html | 0.197604 |
Does Drew Brees get his due recognition? | Drew Brees became the NFLs all-time leading passer in 2018, but his place in the pantheon of the leagues best quarterbacks remains up for debate. Breaking down the top quarterbacks in league history is purely subjective, but it still seems many people outside New Orleans dont give Brees his due. Tom Brady is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time, and he surely gained more believers when he won his sixth Super Bowl earlier this month. According to Pro Football References Approximate Value statistic, Peyton Manning is the best quarterback and player in NFL history. Other players mentioned in such a debate might include Joe Montana, Brett Favre, John Elway or Aaron Rodgers. In the week leading up to the Super Bowl, three former players and current analysts answered the question of whether Brees career is appropriately appreciated. Probably not, said Phil Simms, the longtime Giants quarterback who works for CBS. Numbers dont mean anything to anybody anymore. It used to be I couldve told you who the leading hitter in baseball was every year. I have no clue anymore. Its a shame, but thats what it comes down to. Having a great season and all that doesnt cross peoples minds anymore. Theyll go, Well, he didnt come through in the one game we needed him and they lost or whatever. So, I dont think hes been appreciated the way he should be. Probably never will be, but his satisfaction of what he did will always be in his brain and heart and his family and all of his teammates. Thats probably the most important thing. Saints could bolster tight end corps after unproductive 2018 Boomer Esiason, another longtime NFL quarterback and CBS analyst, immediately mentioned Super Bowl appearances as a determining factor in how a quarterback is judged. The only thing with Drew is he just doesnt have the nine Super Bowl appearances (like Brady), Esiason said. He has all the numbers. Hes shorter than most. Hes remarkably gifted, and I would say he plays with a chip on his shoulders. And I would say the players that he plays with absolutely love him and respect him, and its one of the reasons why Sean Payton is so good as a coach because hes got a guy on the field that he can trust. Brees and Payton have a lot in common with Brady and Bill Belichick in terms of tenure, but the Patriots quarterback and coach have combined to win six Super Bowls as opposed to the one for the Saints duo. Brees has more passing yards and touchdowns as well as a higher career completion percentage than Brady, but those regular-season stats dont matter to many people as much as postseason success. Still, as Brees continues to rewrite the record books, one of his former teammates thinks hes starting to receive proper due. I dont think he is (appropriately appreciate), but I think were starting to appreciate it, Hall of Fame running back and NFL Network analyst LaDainian Tomlinson said. This guy is an all-time leading passer, 500 touchdowns, Super Bowl win. You name it, he has it, so I think we are now starting to put him in his proper place as an all-time great without question. AAF kicks off without kickoffs, but with SkyJudge | Drew Brees became the NFLs all-time leading passer in 2018, but his place in the pantheon of the leagues best quarterbacks remains up for debate. Breaking down the top quarterbacks in league history is purely subjective, but it still seems many people outside New Orleans dont give Brees his due. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/02/does-drew-brees-get-his-due-recognition.html | 0.26616 |
How far did LSU rise in the polls after topping Mississippi State, Auburn? | The LSU Tigers rose two spots the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll, and rose one spot in the USA Today Coaches poll, both of which were released Monday morning. LSU (19-4, SEC 9-1) went to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and to No. 21 in the coaches poll after securing double-digit comeback wins over both Mississippi State and Auburn. No. 19 LSU has a top-20 matchup on Tuesday with No. 5 Kentucky. The Tigers were No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and No. 22 in the coaches poll last week. LSU is one of three ranked SEC teams in the AP Top 25: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and the Tigers. Auburn was receiving votes. There are three ranked SEC teams in the coaches poll as well: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and LSU. Both Mississippi State and Auburn teams LSU topped last week received votes. Ole Miss also received votes. LSU started the season as the No. 23 team in the Associated Press preseason poll, rose to No. 22 after the first week and moved to No. 19 when it was 4-0. The Tigers tumbled out of the poll after losing back-to-back games in the Advocare Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. LSU appeared back in the poll after starting SEC play at 4-0. The Tigers didnt make the coaches preseason poll, rose to No. 21 after starting the season at 4-0, and then fell out of the poll the next week after its Advocare Invitational showing. | The LSU Tigers rose two spots the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll, and rose one spot in the USA Today Coaches poll. | bart | 0 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/how-far-did-lsu-rise-in-the-polls-after-topping-mississippi-state-auburn.html | 0.173202 |
How far did LSU rise in the polls after topping Mississippi State, Auburn? | The LSU Tigers rose two spots the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll, and rose one spot in the USA Today Coaches poll, both of which were released Monday morning. LSU (19-4, SEC 9-1) went to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and to No. 21 in the coaches poll after securing double-digit comeback wins over both Mississippi State and Auburn. No. 19 LSU has a top-20 matchup on Tuesday with No. 5 Kentucky. The Tigers were No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and No. 22 in the coaches poll last week. LSU is one of three ranked SEC teams in the AP Top 25: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and the Tigers. Auburn was receiving votes. There are three ranked SEC teams in the coaches poll as well: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and LSU. Both Mississippi State and Auburn teams LSU topped last week received votes. Ole Miss also received votes. LSU started the season as the No. 23 team in the Associated Press preseason poll, rose to No. 22 after the first week and moved to No. 19 when it was 4-0. The Tigers tumbled out of the poll after losing back-to-back games in the Advocare Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. LSU appeared back in the poll after starting SEC play at 4-0. The Tigers didnt make the coaches preseason poll, rose to No. 21 after starting the season at 4-0, and then fell out of the poll the next week after its Advocare Invitational showing. | LSU (19-4, SEC 9-1) went to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and to No. 21 in the coaches poll. No. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/how-far-did-lsu-rise-in-the-polls-after-topping-mississippi-state-auburn.html | 0.199182 |
How far did LSU rise in the polls after topping Mississippi State, Auburn? | The LSU Tigers rose two spots the latest Associated Press Top-25 poll, and rose one spot in the USA Today Coaches poll, both of which were released Monday morning. LSU (19-4, SEC 9-1) went to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and to No. 21 in the coaches poll after securing double-digit comeback wins over both Mississippi State and Auburn. No. 19 LSU has a top-20 matchup on Tuesday with No. 5 Kentucky. The Tigers were No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and No. 22 in the coaches poll last week. LSU is one of three ranked SEC teams in the AP Top 25: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and the Tigers. Auburn was receiving votes. There are three ranked SEC teams in the coaches poll as well: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 5 Kentucky and LSU. Both Mississippi State and Auburn teams LSU topped last week received votes. Ole Miss also received votes. LSU started the season as the No. 23 team in the Associated Press preseason poll, rose to No. 22 after the first week and moved to No. 19 when it was 4-0. The Tigers tumbled out of the poll after losing back-to-back games in the Advocare Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend. LSU appeared back in the poll after starting SEC play at 4-0. The Tigers didnt make the coaches preseason poll, rose to No. 21 after starting the season at 4-0, and then fell out of the poll the next week after its Advocare Invitational showing. | LSU (19-4, SEC 9-1) went to No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and to No. 21 in the coaches poll. The Tigers were No. 21 in the AP Top 25 and No. 22 in the coaches poll last week. No. 19 LSU has a top-20 matchup on Tuesday with No. 5 Kentucky. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/how-far-did-lsu-rise-in-the-polls-after-topping-mississippi-state-auburn.html | 0.263152 |
What Was It Like When The Universe Made Its Heaviest Elements? | When it comes to the elements of the Universe, every one of them has its own unique story. Hydrogen and helium were created in the earliest stages of the Big Bang; light elements like carbon and oxygen are created in Sun-like stars; heavier elements like silicon, sulfur and iron are created in more massive stars; elements beyond iron are made when those massive stars explode in supernovae. But the most massive elements of all at the very high end of the periodic table including platinum, gold, radon, and even uranium owe their origins to an even rarer, more energetic process. The heaviest elements of all come from merging neutron stars, a fact that was long suspected but only confirmed in 2017. Here's the cosmic story of how the Universe got there. Whenever you form stars, they arise from a large molecular cloud of gas that contracts down into a variety of clumps. The clumps grow more and more massive over time, as the atoms and molecules inside radiate heat away and allow them to collapse down. Eventually, they grow massive and dense enough that nuclear fusion can ignite inside of them. Eventually, these clumps will evolve into stars. In the earliest stages, with just hydrogen and helium, stars grew to enormous masses: tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times the mass of the Sun, typically. Later on, the presence of heavier elements enabled more efficient cooling, keeping the average mass much lower and limiting the maximum to only 200-300 times as great as our Sun. Still, even today, stars come in a wide variety of masses and sizes. They also come in a wide variety of distributions. While many of the star systems out there are similar to our own possessing only one star surrounded by planets multi-star systems are extremely common as well. The REsearch Consortium On Nearby Stars (RECONS) surveyed all the stars they could find within 25 parsecs (about 81 light-years), and discovered 2,959 stars total. Of those, 1533 were single star systems, but the remaining 1426 were bound into binary, trinary, or even more complex systems. As our observations have shown us, these clustering properties are independent of mass. Even the most massive stars can be commonly found grouped together in twos, threes, or even greater numbers. Over the history of the Universe, the most massive periods of star formation occur when galaxies interact, merge together, or fall into massive groups and clusters. These events will gravitationally perturb the hydrogen gas present within a galaxy, triggering an event known as a starburst. During a starburst, that gas gets rapidly converted into stars of all masses and in enormous varieties of groupings: singles, binaries, trinaries, all the way up to at least sextuple systems. The more numerous, less massive stars will burn through their fuel slowly, living extremely long times. About 80-90% of the stars ever created are still fusing hydrogen into helium, and will remain doing so until more time than the present age of the Universe has gone by. The next step up in mass, to Sun-like stars, makes a big difference for a large slew of elements present in our Solar System today. During most of their lives, Sun-like stars will fuse hydrogen into helium, while during the late stages, they swell into red giants while their cores fuse helium into carbon. As they evolve, however, and approach the end of their lives, these stars begin producing free neutrons, which start to get absorbed by the other nuclei present within the star. One by one, neutrons get absorbed by a variety of nuclei, allowing us to not only create elements like nitrogen, but many of the heavier elements that go beyond what are made in supernovae. Strontium, zircon, tin and barium are examples; smaller amounts of elements like tungsten, mercury and lead are also produced. But lead is the limit; the next element upwards is bismuth, which is unstable. As soon as lead absorbs a neutron, bismuth decays, and so we're back below lead again. Sun-like stars cannot get us over that hump. Neither can the most massive stars. Although they're quite small in number, these cosmic behemoths account for a significant fraction of the total mass that goes into star formation. These stars, despite having the most matter inside them, are the shortest-lived, since they burn through their fuel far more quickly than any of the other star types. They fuse hydrogen into helium, helium into carbon, and then work their way up the periodic table to iron. After iron, however, there's nowhere to go that's energetically favorable. These stars, in their final moments, see their cores implode, creating either neutron stars or black holes at their centers, while triggering a runaway fusion reaction in the outer layers. The result is a supernova explosion, coupled with a barrage of neutrons that rapidly get captured, creating many of the elements heavier than iron. Still, there are gaping holes in the periodic table, even with all of this. At the low end, lithium, beryllium and boron will only get created when high-energy particles zipping through the Universe cosmic rays slam into nuclei, blasting them apart through a process known as spallation. At the high end, elements from rubidium (element 44) and upwards, including most of the iodine, iridium, platinum, gold, and every element heavier than lead requires something else. These supernovae, many of which occur in binary systems, will very frequently leave neutron stars behind. When two or more stars go supernova in the same system, the existence of multiple neutron stars bound together leads to a tremendous possibility: a binary neutron star merger. For a long time, it was speculated that merging neutron stars would provide the origin of these elements, as two massive balls of neutrons smashing together could create an endless variety of heavy atomic nuclei. Sure, most of the mass from these objects would merge together into a final-stage object like a black hole, but a few percent should be ejected as part of the collision. In 2017, observations made with both telescopes and with gravitational wave observatories confirmed that not only are neutron star mergers responsible for the overwhelming majority of these heavy elements, but that short-period gamma ray bursts can be linked to these mergers as well. Now known as a kilonova, it's well-understood that neutron star-neutron star mergers are the origin of the majority of the heaviest elements found throughout the Universe. We frequently, when we talk about the history of the Universe, discuss it as though it were a series of events that happened at particular, well-defined instants in time. Although there are some moments in cosmic history that can be classed that way, the lives and deaths of stars are not so easily categorized. Star formation increases for the first 3 billion years after the Big Bang, then falls off and gradually declines. Heavy elements are present from when the Universe was less than 100 million years old, but the last populations of pristine gas were not destroyed until 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang. And the elements of the periodic table are continuously being created and destroyed by these processes that take place mostly inside stars and in interacting stellar remnants. Remarkably, we know today how many elements and of what different types are present, but it's a story that's constantly in flux. The heaviest elements of all, though, were created through one mechanism alone: neutron star mergers. Sure, supernovae can get you all the way up the periodic table, but only in insignificant amounts. Dying Sun-like stars can slowly drive the creation of heavier and heavier elements, but you cannot maintain anything beyond lead through that process. Cosmically, the only way we create significant amounts of the heaviest elements of all is through the inspiral and merger of the densest physical objects in the known Universe: neutron stars. Now that gravitational wave observatories have confirmed our cosmic picture of this creation, the tools and technology are at hand for investigating them further and in greater detail. The next step will show us, observationally, how the Universe's elemental abundances have evolved throughout space. At long last, a map of the chemical history of the Universe is within our reach. | The heaviest elements of all come from merging neutron stars, a fact that was long suspected but only confirmed in 2017. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/13/what-was-it-like-when-the-universe-made-its-heaviest-elements/ | 0.102675 |
What Was It Like When The Universe Made Its Heaviest Elements? | When it comes to the elements of the Universe, every one of them has its own unique story. Hydrogen and helium were created in the earliest stages of the Big Bang; light elements like carbon and oxygen are created in Sun-like stars; heavier elements like silicon, sulfur and iron are created in more massive stars; elements beyond iron are made when those massive stars explode in supernovae. But the most massive elements of all at the very high end of the periodic table including platinum, gold, radon, and even uranium owe their origins to an even rarer, more energetic process. The heaviest elements of all come from merging neutron stars, a fact that was long suspected but only confirmed in 2017. Here's the cosmic story of how the Universe got there. Whenever you form stars, they arise from a large molecular cloud of gas that contracts down into a variety of clumps. The clumps grow more and more massive over time, as the atoms and molecules inside radiate heat away and allow them to collapse down. Eventually, they grow massive and dense enough that nuclear fusion can ignite inside of them. Eventually, these clumps will evolve into stars. In the earliest stages, with just hydrogen and helium, stars grew to enormous masses: tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times the mass of the Sun, typically. Later on, the presence of heavier elements enabled more efficient cooling, keeping the average mass much lower and limiting the maximum to only 200-300 times as great as our Sun. Still, even today, stars come in a wide variety of masses and sizes. They also come in a wide variety of distributions. While many of the star systems out there are similar to our own possessing only one star surrounded by planets multi-star systems are extremely common as well. The REsearch Consortium On Nearby Stars (RECONS) surveyed all the stars they could find within 25 parsecs (about 81 light-years), and discovered 2,959 stars total. Of those, 1533 were single star systems, but the remaining 1426 were bound into binary, trinary, or even more complex systems. As our observations have shown us, these clustering properties are independent of mass. Even the most massive stars can be commonly found grouped together in twos, threes, or even greater numbers. Over the history of the Universe, the most massive periods of star formation occur when galaxies interact, merge together, or fall into massive groups and clusters. These events will gravitationally perturb the hydrogen gas present within a galaxy, triggering an event known as a starburst. During a starburst, that gas gets rapidly converted into stars of all masses and in enormous varieties of groupings: singles, binaries, trinaries, all the way up to at least sextuple systems. The more numerous, less massive stars will burn through their fuel slowly, living extremely long times. About 80-90% of the stars ever created are still fusing hydrogen into helium, and will remain doing so until more time than the present age of the Universe has gone by. The next step up in mass, to Sun-like stars, makes a big difference for a large slew of elements present in our Solar System today. During most of their lives, Sun-like stars will fuse hydrogen into helium, while during the late stages, they swell into red giants while their cores fuse helium into carbon. As they evolve, however, and approach the end of their lives, these stars begin producing free neutrons, which start to get absorbed by the other nuclei present within the star. One by one, neutrons get absorbed by a variety of nuclei, allowing us to not only create elements like nitrogen, but many of the heavier elements that go beyond what are made in supernovae. Strontium, zircon, tin and barium are examples; smaller amounts of elements like tungsten, mercury and lead are also produced. But lead is the limit; the next element upwards is bismuth, which is unstable. As soon as lead absorbs a neutron, bismuth decays, and so we're back below lead again. Sun-like stars cannot get us over that hump. Neither can the most massive stars. Although they're quite small in number, these cosmic behemoths account for a significant fraction of the total mass that goes into star formation. These stars, despite having the most matter inside them, are the shortest-lived, since they burn through their fuel far more quickly than any of the other star types. They fuse hydrogen into helium, helium into carbon, and then work their way up the periodic table to iron. After iron, however, there's nowhere to go that's energetically favorable. These stars, in their final moments, see their cores implode, creating either neutron stars or black holes at their centers, while triggering a runaway fusion reaction in the outer layers. The result is a supernova explosion, coupled with a barrage of neutrons that rapidly get captured, creating many of the elements heavier than iron. Still, there are gaping holes in the periodic table, even with all of this. At the low end, lithium, beryllium and boron will only get created when high-energy particles zipping through the Universe cosmic rays slam into nuclei, blasting them apart through a process known as spallation. At the high end, elements from rubidium (element 44) and upwards, including most of the iodine, iridium, platinum, gold, and every element heavier than lead requires something else. These supernovae, many of which occur in binary systems, will very frequently leave neutron stars behind. When two or more stars go supernova in the same system, the existence of multiple neutron stars bound together leads to a tremendous possibility: a binary neutron star merger. For a long time, it was speculated that merging neutron stars would provide the origin of these elements, as two massive balls of neutrons smashing together could create an endless variety of heavy atomic nuclei. Sure, most of the mass from these objects would merge together into a final-stage object like a black hole, but a few percent should be ejected as part of the collision. In 2017, observations made with both telescopes and with gravitational wave observatories confirmed that not only are neutron star mergers responsible for the overwhelming majority of these heavy elements, but that short-period gamma ray bursts can be linked to these mergers as well. Now known as a kilonova, it's well-understood that neutron star-neutron star mergers are the origin of the majority of the heaviest elements found throughout the Universe. We frequently, when we talk about the history of the Universe, discuss it as though it were a series of events that happened at particular, well-defined instants in time. Although there are some moments in cosmic history that can be classed that way, the lives and deaths of stars are not so easily categorized. Star formation increases for the first 3 billion years after the Big Bang, then falls off and gradually declines. Heavy elements are present from when the Universe was less than 100 million years old, but the last populations of pristine gas were not destroyed until 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang. And the elements of the periodic table are continuously being created and destroyed by these processes that take place mostly inside stars and in interacting stellar remnants. Remarkably, we know today how many elements and of what different types are present, but it's a story that's constantly in flux. The heaviest elements of all, though, were created through one mechanism alone: neutron star mergers. Sure, supernovae can get you all the way up the periodic table, but only in insignificant amounts. Dying Sun-like stars can slowly drive the creation of heavier and heavier elements, but you cannot maintain anything beyond lead through that process. Cosmically, the only way we create significant amounts of the heaviest elements of all is through the inspiral and merger of the densest physical objects in the known Universe: neutron stars. Now that gravitational wave observatories have confirmed our cosmic picture of this creation, the tools and technology are at hand for investigating them further and in greater detail. The next step will show us, observationally, how the Universe's elemental abundances have evolved throughout space. At long last, a map of the chemical history of the Universe is within our reach. | Hydrogen and helium were created in the earliest stages of the Big Bang. Light elements like carbon and oxygen are created in Sun-like stars. heavier elements like silicon, sulfur and iron are created in more massive stars. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/13/what-was-it-like-when-the-universe-made-its-heaviest-elements/ | 0.311258 |
What Was It Like When The Universe Made Its Heaviest Elements? | When it comes to the elements of the Universe, every one of them has its own unique story. Hydrogen and helium were created in the earliest stages of the Big Bang; light elements like carbon and oxygen are created in Sun-like stars; heavier elements like silicon, sulfur and iron are created in more massive stars; elements beyond iron are made when those massive stars explode in supernovae. But the most massive elements of all at the very high end of the periodic table including platinum, gold, radon, and even uranium owe their origins to an even rarer, more energetic process. The heaviest elements of all come from merging neutron stars, a fact that was long suspected but only confirmed in 2017. Here's the cosmic story of how the Universe got there. Whenever you form stars, they arise from a large molecular cloud of gas that contracts down into a variety of clumps. The clumps grow more and more massive over time, as the atoms and molecules inside radiate heat away and allow them to collapse down. Eventually, they grow massive and dense enough that nuclear fusion can ignite inside of them. Eventually, these clumps will evolve into stars. In the earliest stages, with just hydrogen and helium, stars grew to enormous masses: tens, hundreds, or even thousands of times the mass of the Sun, typically. Later on, the presence of heavier elements enabled more efficient cooling, keeping the average mass much lower and limiting the maximum to only 200-300 times as great as our Sun. Still, even today, stars come in a wide variety of masses and sizes. They also come in a wide variety of distributions. While many of the star systems out there are similar to our own possessing only one star surrounded by planets multi-star systems are extremely common as well. The REsearch Consortium On Nearby Stars (RECONS) surveyed all the stars they could find within 25 parsecs (about 81 light-years), and discovered 2,959 stars total. Of those, 1533 were single star systems, but the remaining 1426 were bound into binary, trinary, or even more complex systems. As our observations have shown us, these clustering properties are independent of mass. Even the most massive stars can be commonly found grouped together in twos, threes, or even greater numbers. Over the history of the Universe, the most massive periods of star formation occur when galaxies interact, merge together, or fall into massive groups and clusters. These events will gravitationally perturb the hydrogen gas present within a galaxy, triggering an event known as a starburst. During a starburst, that gas gets rapidly converted into stars of all masses and in enormous varieties of groupings: singles, binaries, trinaries, all the way up to at least sextuple systems. The more numerous, less massive stars will burn through their fuel slowly, living extremely long times. About 80-90% of the stars ever created are still fusing hydrogen into helium, and will remain doing so until more time than the present age of the Universe has gone by. The next step up in mass, to Sun-like stars, makes a big difference for a large slew of elements present in our Solar System today. During most of their lives, Sun-like stars will fuse hydrogen into helium, while during the late stages, they swell into red giants while their cores fuse helium into carbon. As they evolve, however, and approach the end of their lives, these stars begin producing free neutrons, which start to get absorbed by the other nuclei present within the star. One by one, neutrons get absorbed by a variety of nuclei, allowing us to not only create elements like nitrogen, but many of the heavier elements that go beyond what are made in supernovae. Strontium, zircon, tin and barium are examples; smaller amounts of elements like tungsten, mercury and lead are also produced. But lead is the limit; the next element upwards is bismuth, which is unstable. As soon as lead absorbs a neutron, bismuth decays, and so we're back below lead again. Sun-like stars cannot get us over that hump. Neither can the most massive stars. Although they're quite small in number, these cosmic behemoths account for a significant fraction of the total mass that goes into star formation. These stars, despite having the most matter inside them, are the shortest-lived, since they burn through their fuel far more quickly than any of the other star types. They fuse hydrogen into helium, helium into carbon, and then work their way up the periodic table to iron. After iron, however, there's nowhere to go that's energetically favorable. These stars, in their final moments, see their cores implode, creating either neutron stars or black holes at their centers, while triggering a runaway fusion reaction in the outer layers. The result is a supernova explosion, coupled with a barrage of neutrons that rapidly get captured, creating many of the elements heavier than iron. Still, there are gaping holes in the periodic table, even with all of this. At the low end, lithium, beryllium and boron will only get created when high-energy particles zipping through the Universe cosmic rays slam into nuclei, blasting them apart through a process known as spallation. At the high end, elements from rubidium (element 44) and upwards, including most of the iodine, iridium, platinum, gold, and every element heavier than lead requires something else. These supernovae, many of which occur in binary systems, will very frequently leave neutron stars behind. When two or more stars go supernova in the same system, the existence of multiple neutron stars bound together leads to a tremendous possibility: a binary neutron star merger. For a long time, it was speculated that merging neutron stars would provide the origin of these elements, as two massive balls of neutrons smashing together could create an endless variety of heavy atomic nuclei. Sure, most of the mass from these objects would merge together into a final-stage object like a black hole, but a few percent should be ejected as part of the collision. In 2017, observations made with both telescopes and with gravitational wave observatories confirmed that not only are neutron star mergers responsible for the overwhelming majority of these heavy elements, but that short-period gamma ray bursts can be linked to these mergers as well. Now known as a kilonova, it's well-understood that neutron star-neutron star mergers are the origin of the majority of the heaviest elements found throughout the Universe. We frequently, when we talk about the history of the Universe, discuss it as though it were a series of events that happened at particular, well-defined instants in time. Although there are some moments in cosmic history that can be classed that way, the lives and deaths of stars are not so easily categorized. Star formation increases for the first 3 billion years after the Big Bang, then falls off and gradually declines. Heavy elements are present from when the Universe was less than 100 million years old, but the last populations of pristine gas were not destroyed until 2-3 billion years after the Big Bang. And the elements of the periodic table are continuously being created and destroyed by these processes that take place mostly inside stars and in interacting stellar remnants. Remarkably, we know today how many elements and of what different types are present, but it's a story that's constantly in flux. The heaviest elements of all, though, were created through one mechanism alone: neutron star mergers. Sure, supernovae can get you all the way up the periodic table, but only in insignificant amounts. Dying Sun-like stars can slowly drive the creation of heavier and heavier elements, but you cannot maintain anything beyond lead through that process. Cosmically, the only way we create significant amounts of the heaviest elements of all is through the inspiral and merger of the densest physical objects in the known Universe: neutron stars. Now that gravitational wave observatories have confirmed our cosmic picture of this creation, the tools and technology are at hand for investigating them further and in greater detail. The next step will show us, observationally, how the Universe's elemental abundances have evolved throughout space. At long last, a map of the chemical history of the Universe is within our reach. | Hydrogen and helium were created in the earliest stages of the Big Bang. Light elements like carbon and oxygen are created in Sun-like stars. heavier elements like silicon, sulfur and iron are created in more massive stars. The heaviest elements of all come from merging neutron stars. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/13/what-was-it-like-when-the-universe-made-its-heaviest-elements/ | 0.377039 |
Should navigation apps warn when police are nearby? | Some navigations apps do more than tell you when to turn left or right; they tell you when you're approaching a police checkpoint. Nav apps like Waze argue this feature makes everyone drive safer-the more warnings, the more people tap the brakes. Users love the warnings because they help them avoid tickets. But some, NYPD included, believe this kind of features interferes with the implementation of the law, and is therefore criminal. PERSPECTIVES In February of 2019, the NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google. Although tech companies like Google, Apple and Facebook have been making headlines about leaking data as of late, this time, Google was in trouble to warning drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps (Waze and Google Maps). According to CBS New York, NYPD is under the impression that these warnings hinder the police force's ability to keep the city safe: "Individuals who post the locations of DWI checkpoints may be engaging in criminal conduct since such actions could be intentional attempts to prevent and/or impair the administration of the DWI laws and other relevant criminal and traffic laws," the letter continued. "The posting of such information for public consumption is irresponsible since it only serves to aid impaired and intoxicated drivers to evade checkpoints and encourage reckless driving. Revealing the location of checkpoints puts those drivers, their passengers, and the general public at risk." When nav apps give drivers a heads up about the police, they are able to alter drivers' behavior so they can avoid getting in trouble. This might seem great to drivers, but when it comes to enforcing the law, these apps make it more difficult. NYPD To Google: Stop Revealing Location Of DWI Checkpoints But according to Waze, notifying drivers of upcoming police helps keep the roads safe. CNN's Lauren del Valle reports: "We believe highlighting police presence promotes road safety because drivers tend to drive more carefully and obey traffic laws when they are aware of nearby police. We've also seen police encourage such reporting as it serves as both a warning to drivers, as well as a way to highlight police work that keeps roadways safe," a Waze spokesperson said in a statement to CNN on Thursday. If your driving down the highway and your phone alerts you the police are close, of course you are going to slow down. The more this happens, the better. Navigation apps are performing a civic duty by keeping the roads more tame. OK Waze, NYPD wants you to stop reporting locations of DUI checkpoints An alert on an app is no different from another driver flashing their lights, warning of a police stakeout ahead. By sending such a message, you are obstructing police activity. Plus, chronic speeders or even impaired drivers might choose Waze and Google Maps for the very sake of taking advantage of these features. In doing so, Google assists drivers in evading law enforcement. Sonila Kar agrees with the NYPD's cease and desist order: a valid demand! -- Sonila Kar (@sonilakar) February 8, 2019 Many people argue that since police checkpoints must be public information, sharing them via Waze, which crowd-sources information on traffic, hazards and police locations, is well within users' rights. According to a blog post from Guardian Interlock: Way back in 1990, a legal challenge came up in Michigan and the attempt was made to deem checkpoints unconstitutional. The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that they were constitutional, but they mandated that checkpoints must be publicized ahead of time. If the police don't publicize a checkpoint it can be considered a detention without reasonable suspicion, and that violates your Fourth Amendment rights. (Just for the record, I am highly dubious that any court would uphold a prosecution against an individual for making public the location of police operations on public property and it is likely First Amendment protected activity) -- Byron Tau (@ByronTau) February 6, 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. | Waze and Google Maps warn drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps. The NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/should_navigation_apps_warn_wh.html | 0.34568 |
Should navigation apps warn when police are nearby? | Some navigations apps do more than tell you when to turn left or right; they tell you when you're approaching a police checkpoint. Nav apps like Waze argue this feature makes everyone drive safer-the more warnings, the more people tap the brakes. Users love the warnings because they help them avoid tickets. But some, NYPD included, believe this kind of features interferes with the implementation of the law, and is therefore criminal. PERSPECTIVES In February of 2019, the NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google. Although tech companies like Google, Apple and Facebook have been making headlines about leaking data as of late, this time, Google was in trouble to warning drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps (Waze and Google Maps). According to CBS New York, NYPD is under the impression that these warnings hinder the police force's ability to keep the city safe: "Individuals who post the locations of DWI checkpoints may be engaging in criminal conduct since such actions could be intentional attempts to prevent and/or impair the administration of the DWI laws and other relevant criminal and traffic laws," the letter continued. "The posting of such information for public consumption is irresponsible since it only serves to aid impaired and intoxicated drivers to evade checkpoints and encourage reckless driving. Revealing the location of checkpoints puts those drivers, their passengers, and the general public at risk." When nav apps give drivers a heads up about the police, they are able to alter drivers' behavior so they can avoid getting in trouble. This might seem great to drivers, but when it comes to enforcing the law, these apps make it more difficult. NYPD To Google: Stop Revealing Location Of DWI Checkpoints But according to Waze, notifying drivers of upcoming police helps keep the roads safe. CNN's Lauren del Valle reports: "We believe highlighting police presence promotes road safety because drivers tend to drive more carefully and obey traffic laws when they are aware of nearby police. We've also seen police encourage such reporting as it serves as both a warning to drivers, as well as a way to highlight police work that keeps roadways safe," a Waze spokesperson said in a statement to CNN on Thursday. If your driving down the highway and your phone alerts you the police are close, of course you are going to slow down. The more this happens, the better. Navigation apps are performing a civic duty by keeping the roads more tame. OK Waze, NYPD wants you to stop reporting locations of DUI checkpoints An alert on an app is no different from another driver flashing their lights, warning of a police stakeout ahead. By sending such a message, you are obstructing police activity. Plus, chronic speeders or even impaired drivers might choose Waze and Google Maps for the very sake of taking advantage of these features. In doing so, Google assists drivers in evading law enforcement. Sonila Kar agrees with the NYPD's cease and desist order: a valid demand! -- Sonila Kar (@sonilakar) February 8, 2019 Many people argue that since police checkpoints must be public information, sharing them via Waze, which crowd-sources information on traffic, hazards and police locations, is well within users' rights. According to a blog post from Guardian Interlock: Way back in 1990, a legal challenge came up in Michigan and the attempt was made to deem checkpoints unconstitutional. The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that they were constitutional, but they mandated that checkpoints must be publicized ahead of time. If the police don't publicize a checkpoint it can be considered a detention without reasonable suspicion, and that violates your Fourth Amendment rights. (Just for the record, I am highly dubious that any court would uphold a prosecution against an individual for making public the location of police operations on public property and it is likely First Amendment protected activity) -- Byron Tau (@ByronTau) February 6, 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. | Waze and Google Maps warn drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps. The NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google for posting the location of DWI checkpoints. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/should_navigation_apps_warn_wh.html | 0.399294 |
Should navigation apps warn when police are nearby? | Some navigations apps do more than tell you when to turn left or right; they tell you when you're approaching a police checkpoint. Nav apps like Waze argue this feature makes everyone drive safer-the more warnings, the more people tap the brakes. Users love the warnings because they help them avoid tickets. But some, NYPD included, believe this kind of features interferes with the implementation of the law, and is therefore criminal. PERSPECTIVES In February of 2019, the NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google. Although tech companies like Google, Apple and Facebook have been making headlines about leaking data as of late, this time, Google was in trouble to warning drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps (Waze and Google Maps). According to CBS New York, NYPD is under the impression that these warnings hinder the police force's ability to keep the city safe: "Individuals who post the locations of DWI checkpoints may be engaging in criminal conduct since such actions could be intentional attempts to prevent and/or impair the administration of the DWI laws and other relevant criminal and traffic laws," the letter continued. "The posting of such information for public consumption is irresponsible since it only serves to aid impaired and intoxicated drivers to evade checkpoints and encourage reckless driving. Revealing the location of checkpoints puts those drivers, their passengers, and the general public at risk." When nav apps give drivers a heads up about the police, they are able to alter drivers' behavior so they can avoid getting in trouble. This might seem great to drivers, but when it comes to enforcing the law, these apps make it more difficult. NYPD To Google: Stop Revealing Location Of DWI Checkpoints But according to Waze, notifying drivers of upcoming police helps keep the roads safe. CNN's Lauren del Valle reports: "We believe highlighting police presence promotes road safety because drivers tend to drive more carefully and obey traffic laws when they are aware of nearby police. We've also seen police encourage such reporting as it serves as both a warning to drivers, as well as a way to highlight police work that keeps roadways safe," a Waze spokesperson said in a statement to CNN on Thursday. If your driving down the highway and your phone alerts you the police are close, of course you are going to slow down. The more this happens, the better. Navigation apps are performing a civic duty by keeping the roads more tame. OK Waze, NYPD wants you to stop reporting locations of DUI checkpoints An alert on an app is no different from another driver flashing their lights, warning of a police stakeout ahead. By sending such a message, you are obstructing police activity. Plus, chronic speeders or even impaired drivers might choose Waze and Google Maps for the very sake of taking advantage of these features. In doing so, Google assists drivers in evading law enforcement. Sonila Kar agrees with the NYPD's cease and desist order: a valid demand! -- Sonila Kar (@sonilakar) February 8, 2019 Many people argue that since police checkpoints must be public information, sharing them via Waze, which crowd-sources information on traffic, hazards and police locations, is well within users' rights. According to a blog post from Guardian Interlock: Way back in 1990, a legal challenge came up in Michigan and the attempt was made to deem checkpoints unconstitutional. The United States Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that they were constitutional, but they mandated that checkpoints must be publicized ahead of time. If the police don't publicize a checkpoint it can be considered a detention without reasonable suspicion, and that violates your Fourth Amendment rights. (Just for the record, I am highly dubious that any court would uphold a prosecution against an individual for making public the location of police operations on public property and it is likely First Amendment protected activity) -- Byron Tau (@ByronTau) February 6, 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. | Waze and Google Maps warn drivers of upcoming police checkpoints in its navigation apps. The NYPD sent a cease and desist letter to Google for posting the location of DWI checkpoints. Waze says this helps keep the roads safe, while the NYPD says it hinders law enforcement. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/should_navigation_apps_warn_wh.html | 0.445909 |
What is open and closed on Presidents Day? | CLOSE The third Monday of every February is a time to remember past presidents but also give some workers a three-day weekend. USA TODAY The third Monday of every February is a time to remember presidents (or at least one) and, for some, enjoy a day off work or school. Presidents Day, known also as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday, meaning many government institutions will close. The day was originally established in the 1880s to honor President George Washington but later became viewed as a time to recognize all presidents, past and present after it was moved to a Monday as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which took effect in 1971. At that time, the name was also changed to Presidents Day. Here are some key businesses that will and won't be closed on Feb. 18: Mail services The United States Postal Service will not deliver mail on Presidents Day. UPS will continue services. FedEx home delivery will be operational, but FedEx Express and FedEx SmartPost will have modified service. Banks Most banks, including Federal Reserve Banks, will be closed. Schools Most public schools will be closed to observe the federal holiday, and many private schools will do the same. Some schools might be in session to make up for weather-related cancellations. Stock markets The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will be closed. Garbage Trash pickup will vary. Check with your local provider. DMV Department of Motor Vehicles offices across the U.S. will be closed. Courts Courts will not be in session. Retail stores Most department stores and retail shops will be open, many offering Presidents Day sales. Most restaurants will also remain open. Grocery stores Most grocery stores will be open. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | Many government institutions will be closed on Presidents Day. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | 0.116776 |
What is open and closed on Presidents Day? | CLOSE The third Monday of every February is a time to remember past presidents but also give some workers a three-day weekend. USA TODAY The third Monday of every February is a time to remember presidents (or at least one) and, for some, enjoy a day off work or school. Presidents Day, known also as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday, meaning many government institutions will close. The day was originally established in the 1880s to honor President George Washington but later became viewed as a time to recognize all presidents, past and present after it was moved to a Monday as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which took effect in 1971. At that time, the name was also changed to Presidents Day. Here are some key businesses that will and won't be closed on Feb. 18: Mail services The United States Postal Service will not deliver mail on Presidents Day. UPS will continue services. FedEx home delivery will be operational, but FedEx Express and FedEx SmartPost will have modified service. Banks Most banks, including Federal Reserve Banks, will be closed. Schools Most public schools will be closed to observe the federal holiday, and many private schools will do the same. Some schools might be in session to make up for weather-related cancellations. Stock markets The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will be closed. Garbage Trash pickup will vary. Check with your local provider. DMV Department of Motor Vehicles offices across the U.S. will be closed. Courts Courts will not be in session. Retail stores Most department stores and retail shops will be open, many offering Presidents Day sales. Most restaurants will also remain open. Grocery stores Most grocery stores will be open. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | The third Monday of every February is a time to remember presidents (or at least one) Postal services will not deliver mail on Presidents Day. Schools will be closed, but some schools might be in session. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | 0.142944 |
What is open and closed on Presidents Day? | CLOSE The third Monday of every February is a time to remember past presidents but also give some workers a three-day weekend. USA TODAY The third Monday of every February is a time to remember presidents (or at least one) and, for some, enjoy a day off work or school. Presidents Day, known also as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday, meaning many government institutions will close. The day was originally established in the 1880s to honor President George Washington but later became viewed as a time to recognize all presidents, past and present after it was moved to a Monday as part of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act which took effect in 1971. At that time, the name was also changed to Presidents Day. Here are some key businesses that will and won't be closed on Feb. 18: Mail services The United States Postal Service will not deliver mail on Presidents Day. UPS will continue services. FedEx home delivery will be operational, but FedEx Express and FedEx SmartPost will have modified service. Banks Most banks, including Federal Reserve Banks, will be closed. Schools Most public schools will be closed to observe the federal holiday, and many private schools will do the same. Some schools might be in session to make up for weather-related cancellations. Stock markets The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will be closed. Garbage Trash pickup will vary. Check with your local provider. DMV Department of Motor Vehicles offices across the U.S. will be closed. Courts Courts will not be in session. Retail stores Most department stores and retail shops will be open, many offering Presidents Day sales. Most restaurants will also remain open. Grocery stores Most grocery stores will be open. Follow Ashley May on Twitter: @AshleyMayTweets Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | Presidents Day, also known as Washington's Birthday, is a federal holiday. The day was originally established in the 1880s to honor President George Washington. Most banks, including Federal Reserve Banks, will be closed. The New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and bond markets will be closed. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/02/12/presidents-day-what-is-open-and-closed/2845408002/ | 0.300164 |
What next after Theresa May's appeal for more time on Brexit? | After Theresa Mays latest Brexit statement to the Commons we know some extra details about the timetable for the process but not a whole lot more. The prime minister reiterated the fact that the government intends to press ahead with seeking changes to the Irish backstop the aspect of her Brexit deal that most enrages leavers in her own party. Theresa May asks MPs to hold their nerve on Brexit talks Read more She said she had still not yet decided which of three potential options she will pursue a unilateral exit mechanism; a time-limit; or the hi-tech solutions envisaged in the so-called Malthouse compromise. She also reiterated the governments opposition to Labours proposed condition of staying in a customs union to back a deal, but stressed commitment to maintaining workers and environmental rights. May confirmed that the next deadline of Thursday will as widely assumed not see a revised deal put to the Commons. Instead, the government will table a motion setting out its current plans, which MPs will be able to amend, to try to shape the process. The next date is 27 February. May confirmed in her statement that if by then she has still not put a revised deal to parliament, the government will table another amendable motion. The PM indicated she could well table a deal later than this, saying that the government would, if needed, seek to set aside the usual rules which dictate that international treaties need 21 parliamentary working days before they can be ratified. Not so much, it would seem. It had been billed as another chance for MPs to try to extend article 50 or seek to prevent a no-deal departure, after an initial motion at the end of last month saw the Commons turn down such ideas, and instead opt for a scheme by the leading Tory backbencher Graham Brady seeking changes to the backstop. However, it seems most MPs will now wait until the end of the month, mindful that amendments are unlikely to win enough support this time given Conservative MPs are minded to give May another couple of weeks to talk to the EU. Barring a hugely unexpected change of heart in Brussels she will not get the EU to agree to the legally-binding changes to the backstop demanded by many Tories. This will leave the prime minister having to instead either persuade her MPs and the Democratic Unionist Party to accept a lesser tweak to the backstop, which seems a tough ask, or put together a plan which would win over enough Labour MPs to see her over the line. The risk for May then would be that such a plan would involve enough concessions, particularly over a possible customs union, to split the Conservatives. There is definitely worry among many MPs that May could either inadvertently trigger a no-deal Brexit by vacillating too long in search of a non-existent breakthrough, or even that she might actively prefer this to a deal which would split her party. While the consensus sentiment for now is to allow the prime minister to reach the 27 February deadline unimpeded, a number of Conservative MPs say efforts by her to delay further would most likely trigger ministerial resignations and moves by the Commons to seize control of the process. On Tuesday, a new cross-party plan led by Labours Yvette Cooper and Conservative grandee Oliver Letwin was published, stating that without a resolution by the end of the month they will table an amendment to guarantee parliamentary time for a bill to give MPs a vote between no deal and an extension to article 50. | Theresa May confirmed that the next deadline of Thursday will as widely assumed not see a revised deal put to the Commons. Instead, the government will table a motion setting out its current plans, which MPs will be able to amend. | bart | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/12/what-next-after-theresa-mays-appeal-for-more-time-on-brexit | 0.114871 |
Who made Rob Maclean's team of the week? | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen super sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. Formation 3-4-3: Daniel Bachmann (Kilmarnock); Connor Goldson (Rangers), Steven Anderson (Partick Thistle), Mark Reynolds (Dundee United); Michael Gardyne (Ross County), Ross McCrorie (Rangers), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen); Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South), Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen), Scott Sinclair (Celtic). Goalkeeper - Daniel Bachmann I wondered - maybe you did as well - about Kilmarnock replacing that great shot-stopper Jamie MacDonald with Austrian goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann back in November. His commanding performances have dispelled any doubts and his penalty save on Saturday evening went a long way to earning Steve Clarke's men another Scottish Cup crack at Rangers after their goalless draw. Media playback is not supported on this device Kilmarnock 0-0 Rangers: James Tavernier's spot kick is saved Defenders - Connor Goldson, Steven Anderson & Mark Reynolds Connor Goldson brings a calmness to the Rangers defence and they're happy to have him back after injury. There was little to trouble goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the Rugby Park stalemate and the solid performance of Goldson was one big reason for Kilmarnock's lack of cutting edge. Veteran defender Steven Anderson might struggle to keep up his goal-per-game record for Partick Thistle but he could play an important part in preserving the Firhill side's Championship status. And, having scored on his debut in Inverness, the on-loan St Johnstone man netted the only goal against East Fife on Saturday to earn Thistle a home Scottish Cup quarter-final date with Hearts next month. Mark Reynolds looks like he could be a handy acquisition for Dundee United in their bid for promotion. And the 31-year-old Aberdeen loanee used all his knowhow to make sure 10-man United weathered a late St Mirren storm to reach the last eight. Midfielders - Michael Gardyne, Ross McCrorie, Daryl Horgan, Niall McGinn Michael Gardyne is a Ross County record-holder for both goals and appearances and his influence at the Dingwall club shows no signs of diminishing, even at the age of 33. He brilliantly created County's first equaliser in the Highland derby on Monday night and was, generally, the star of the show. It's the maturity of Ross McCrorie's midfield contribution for Rangers that makes you double-check the fact that he's still only 20. Learning from boss Steven Gerrard is obviously doing his progress no harm and young McCrorie was a top performer in Ayrshire. Daryl Horgan was the main man for Hibernian on Saturday as they made smooth progress to the quarter-finals. After a clever dummy, the talented little Irishman curled in the opening goal in a 3-1 win against Raith Rovers and had a hand in the other two home strikes. Niall McGinn was the game-changer for Aberdeen in the BBC live match on Sunday. They were going nowhere fast against Queen of the South until McGinn's introduction at half-time. He scored less than two minutes into the second period and created another two goals in the 4-1 win, lifting the standards of those around him. Forwards - Stephen Dobbie, Sam Cosgrove, Scott Sinclair Media playback is not supported on this device Watch: Dobbie scores stunning 38th goal of season There was no Scottish Cup upset for the Dumfries side, but they did provide one of the weekend's most memorable moments. Stephen Dobbie's equaliser, from more than 30 yards out, his 38th goal of the season, was a thing of beauty. The "King of Queens", as he was christened by commentator Liam McLeod, is a joy to watch. Sam Cosgrove is probably still wondering how he failed to secure his first hat-trick in senior football when he missed a sitter on Sunday. But the Aberdeen striker did score a brace for the sixth time this season. That's now 14 goals in his last 13 games as this incredible rise continues unabated. Scott Sinclair has come back with a bang for Celtic in the last couple of months after a dip in form had him on the periphery of the starting XI. The Englishman is again doing what he does so well, nipping in off the left flank and getting himself on the score-sheet. His treble against St Johnstone on Sunday means he's netted 11 goals in his last 11 games. | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47218088 | 0.144206 |
Who made Rob Maclean's team of the week? | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen super sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. Formation 3-4-3: Daniel Bachmann (Kilmarnock); Connor Goldson (Rangers), Steven Anderson (Partick Thistle), Mark Reynolds (Dundee United); Michael Gardyne (Ross County), Ross McCrorie (Rangers), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen); Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South), Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen), Scott Sinclair (Celtic). Goalkeeper - Daniel Bachmann I wondered - maybe you did as well - about Kilmarnock replacing that great shot-stopper Jamie MacDonald with Austrian goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann back in November. His commanding performances have dispelled any doubts and his penalty save on Saturday evening went a long way to earning Steve Clarke's men another Scottish Cup crack at Rangers after their goalless draw. Media playback is not supported on this device Kilmarnock 0-0 Rangers: James Tavernier's spot kick is saved Defenders - Connor Goldson, Steven Anderson & Mark Reynolds Connor Goldson brings a calmness to the Rangers defence and they're happy to have him back after injury. There was little to trouble goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the Rugby Park stalemate and the solid performance of Goldson was one big reason for Kilmarnock's lack of cutting edge. Veteran defender Steven Anderson might struggle to keep up his goal-per-game record for Partick Thistle but he could play an important part in preserving the Firhill side's Championship status. And, having scored on his debut in Inverness, the on-loan St Johnstone man netted the only goal against East Fife on Saturday to earn Thistle a home Scottish Cup quarter-final date with Hearts next month. Mark Reynolds looks like he could be a handy acquisition for Dundee United in their bid for promotion. And the 31-year-old Aberdeen loanee used all his knowhow to make sure 10-man United weathered a late St Mirren storm to reach the last eight. Midfielders - Michael Gardyne, Ross McCrorie, Daryl Horgan, Niall McGinn Michael Gardyne is a Ross County record-holder for both goals and appearances and his influence at the Dingwall club shows no signs of diminishing, even at the age of 33. He brilliantly created County's first equaliser in the Highland derby on Monday night and was, generally, the star of the show. It's the maturity of Ross McCrorie's midfield contribution for Rangers that makes you double-check the fact that he's still only 20. Learning from boss Steven Gerrard is obviously doing his progress no harm and young McCrorie was a top performer in Ayrshire. Daryl Horgan was the main man for Hibernian on Saturday as they made smooth progress to the quarter-finals. After a clever dummy, the talented little Irishman curled in the opening goal in a 3-1 win against Raith Rovers and had a hand in the other two home strikes. Niall McGinn was the game-changer for Aberdeen in the BBC live match on Sunday. They were going nowhere fast against Queen of the South until McGinn's introduction at half-time. He scored less than two minutes into the second period and created another two goals in the 4-1 win, lifting the standards of those around him. Forwards - Stephen Dobbie, Sam Cosgrove, Scott Sinclair Media playback is not supported on this device Watch: Dobbie scores stunning 38th goal of season There was no Scottish Cup upset for the Dumfries side, but they did provide one of the weekend's most memorable moments. Stephen Dobbie's equaliser, from more than 30 yards out, his 38th goal of the season, was a thing of beauty. The "King of Queens", as he was christened by commentator Liam McLeod, is a joy to watch. Sam Cosgrove is probably still wondering how he failed to secure his first hat-trick in senior football when he missed a sitter on Sunday. But the Aberdeen striker did score a brace for the sixth time this season. That's now 14 goals in his last 13 games as this incredible rise continues unabated. Scott Sinclair has come back with a bang for Celtic in the last couple of months after a dip in form had him on the periphery of the starting XI. The Englishman is again doing what he does so well, nipping in off the left flank and getting himself on the score-sheet. His treble against St Johnstone on Sunday means he's netted 11 goals in his last 11 games. | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen super sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. Click here to read the full transcript of the BBC's coverage of the Scottish Cup quarter-finals. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47218088 | 0.160463 |
Who made Rob Maclean's team of the week? | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen super sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. Formation 3-4-3: Daniel Bachmann (Kilmarnock); Connor Goldson (Rangers), Steven Anderson (Partick Thistle), Mark Reynolds (Dundee United); Michael Gardyne (Ross County), Ross McCrorie (Rangers), Daryl Horgan (Hibernian), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen); Stephen Dobbie (Queen of the South), Sam Cosgrove (Aberdeen), Scott Sinclair (Celtic). Goalkeeper - Daniel Bachmann I wondered - maybe you did as well - about Kilmarnock replacing that great shot-stopper Jamie MacDonald with Austrian goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann back in November. His commanding performances have dispelled any doubts and his penalty save on Saturday evening went a long way to earning Steve Clarke's men another Scottish Cup crack at Rangers after their goalless draw. Media playback is not supported on this device Kilmarnock 0-0 Rangers: James Tavernier's spot kick is saved Defenders - Connor Goldson, Steven Anderson & Mark Reynolds Connor Goldson brings a calmness to the Rangers defence and they're happy to have him back after injury. There was little to trouble goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the Rugby Park stalemate and the solid performance of Goldson was one big reason for Kilmarnock's lack of cutting edge. Veteran defender Steven Anderson might struggle to keep up his goal-per-game record for Partick Thistle but he could play an important part in preserving the Firhill side's Championship status. And, having scored on his debut in Inverness, the on-loan St Johnstone man netted the only goal against East Fife on Saturday to earn Thistle a home Scottish Cup quarter-final date with Hearts next month. Mark Reynolds looks like he could be a handy acquisition for Dundee United in their bid for promotion. And the 31-year-old Aberdeen loanee used all his knowhow to make sure 10-man United weathered a late St Mirren storm to reach the last eight. Midfielders - Michael Gardyne, Ross McCrorie, Daryl Horgan, Niall McGinn Michael Gardyne is a Ross County record-holder for both goals and appearances and his influence at the Dingwall club shows no signs of diminishing, even at the age of 33. He brilliantly created County's first equaliser in the Highland derby on Monday night and was, generally, the star of the show. It's the maturity of Ross McCrorie's midfield contribution for Rangers that makes you double-check the fact that he's still only 20. Learning from boss Steven Gerrard is obviously doing his progress no harm and young McCrorie was a top performer in Ayrshire. Daryl Horgan was the main man for Hibernian on Saturday as they made smooth progress to the quarter-finals. After a clever dummy, the talented little Irishman curled in the opening goal in a 3-1 win against Raith Rovers and had a hand in the other two home strikes. Niall McGinn was the game-changer for Aberdeen in the BBC live match on Sunday. They were going nowhere fast against Queen of the South until McGinn's introduction at half-time. He scored less than two minutes into the second period and created another two goals in the 4-1 win, lifting the standards of those around him. Forwards - Stephen Dobbie, Sam Cosgrove, Scott Sinclair Media playback is not supported on this device Watch: Dobbie scores stunning 38th goal of season There was no Scottish Cup upset for the Dumfries side, but they did provide one of the weekend's most memorable moments. Stephen Dobbie's equaliser, from more than 30 yards out, his 38th goal of the season, was a thing of beauty. The "King of Queens", as he was christened by commentator Liam McLeod, is a joy to watch. Sam Cosgrove is probably still wondering how he failed to secure his first hat-trick in senior football when he missed a sitter on Sunday. But the Aberdeen striker did score a brace for the sixth time this season. That's now 14 goals in his last 13 games as this incredible rise continues unabated. Scott Sinclair has come back with a bang for Celtic in the last couple of months after a dip in form had him on the periphery of the starting XI. The Englishman is again doing what he does so well, nipping in off the left flank and getting himself on the score-sheet. His treble against St Johnstone on Sunday means he's netted 11 goals in his last 11 games. | Rob Maclean's Scottish Cup team of the week features Queen of the South's figurehead, an Aberdeen super sub and a resurgent Celtic attacker. Click here to read the full transcript of the BBC's match report from the Scottish Cup quarter-final between Rangers and Kilmarnock. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47218088 | 0.160852 |
What are the different measures of inflation, and are we being conned? | It seems so. There are three main estimates produced by the ONS: the consumer prices index (CPI); consumer prices index including owner-occupiers housing costs (CPIH): and the retail prices index (RPI). The rates for December 2018 Januarys figures are out tomorrow show CPI is 2.1%, CPIH is 2.0%, and RPI is 2.7%. The headline rate that tends to be used by the government and media is the CPI. Statisticians appear to prefer CPIH, while RPI is either hated or loved depending on whether it makes you a winner or a loser. Thats a constant refrain from pensioners, who argue that CPI is falsely low because it over reflects the falling price of electronics but not the rocketing cost of heating bills and council tax; and from younger adults, who argue that it doesnt capture sky-high increases in house prices. Give the statisticians some slack here. Broadly, the CPI should be seen as a shopping basket containing all the goods and services bought by households in the UK around 700 items, from the cost of a cinema seat to the price of a pint at the local pub, from a holiday in Spain to the cost of a bicycle. The ONS accepts that no one is average, and that the CPI inflation figure may not strictly apply to any one individual or family, but still gives us a useful yardstick of the impact of inflation on our own pocket or purse. We used RPI throughout the 1970s and 80s but now it is regarded as deeply flawed. In particular, the Carli formula used in RPI calculations appears to overestimate inflation in clothes prices. Various estimates suggest that the RPI has structurally overstated inflation by 0.5% to 0.8% a year. Its hard not to agree with the House of Lords economic affairs committee, which concluded that the government is engaged in inflation shopping using the lower CPI figure where it has to pay out such as for welfare benefits but switching to the higher RPI number when it wants to charge people, such as for student loans and rail fares. Even the ONS acknowledges that RPI has serious shortcomings, and no longer designates it as a proper national statistic. There is a thorny problem with the tens of billions of pounds worth of bonds issued by the government called index-linked gilts which are contractually obliged to pay interest based on the RPI figure. It wont be until 2068 that the last bond with an RPI contract will finally mature, and there is no chance the government will renege on those contracts. The House of Lords committee argues that with improvements (above all on capturing housing costs) the RPI can once again become a single general measure of inflation. But others argue that it is too flawed to be fixed and should be scrapped. | There are three main estimates produced by the ONS: CPI, CPIH and RPI. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/12/what-different-measures-of-inflation-are-we-being-conned | 0.15373 |
What are the different measures of inflation, and are we being conned? | It seems so. There are three main estimates produced by the ONS: the consumer prices index (CPI); consumer prices index including owner-occupiers housing costs (CPIH): and the retail prices index (RPI). The rates for December 2018 Januarys figures are out tomorrow show CPI is 2.1%, CPIH is 2.0%, and RPI is 2.7%. The headline rate that tends to be used by the government and media is the CPI. Statisticians appear to prefer CPIH, while RPI is either hated or loved depending on whether it makes you a winner or a loser. Thats a constant refrain from pensioners, who argue that CPI is falsely low because it over reflects the falling price of electronics but not the rocketing cost of heating bills and council tax; and from younger adults, who argue that it doesnt capture sky-high increases in house prices. Give the statisticians some slack here. Broadly, the CPI should be seen as a shopping basket containing all the goods and services bought by households in the UK around 700 items, from the cost of a cinema seat to the price of a pint at the local pub, from a holiday in Spain to the cost of a bicycle. The ONS accepts that no one is average, and that the CPI inflation figure may not strictly apply to any one individual or family, but still gives us a useful yardstick of the impact of inflation on our own pocket or purse. We used RPI throughout the 1970s and 80s but now it is regarded as deeply flawed. In particular, the Carli formula used in RPI calculations appears to overestimate inflation in clothes prices. Various estimates suggest that the RPI has structurally overstated inflation by 0.5% to 0.8% a year. Its hard not to agree with the House of Lords economic affairs committee, which concluded that the government is engaged in inflation shopping using the lower CPI figure where it has to pay out such as for welfare benefits but switching to the higher RPI number when it wants to charge people, such as for student loans and rail fares. Even the ONS acknowledges that RPI has serious shortcomings, and no longer designates it as a proper national statistic. There is a thorny problem with the tens of billions of pounds worth of bonds issued by the government called index-linked gilts which are contractually obliged to pay interest based on the RPI figure. It wont be until 2068 that the last bond with an RPI contract will finally mature, and there is no chance the government will renege on those contracts. The House of Lords committee argues that with improvements (above all on capturing housing costs) the RPI can once again become a single general measure of inflation. But others argue that it is too flawed to be fixed and should be scrapped. | There are three main estimates produced by the ONS: the consumer prices index (CPI), CPIH and the retail prices Index (RPI) RPI is either hated or loved depending on whether it makes you a winner or a loser. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/12/what-different-measures-of-inflation-are-we-being-conned | 0.157103 |
Will Trump's New Artificial Intelligence Initiative Make The U.S. The World Leader In AI? | The tech world got a surprise on Monday when a senior administration official for the Trump administration announced during a telephone briefing that the President would be signing an executive order that would create an American AI Initiative designed to dedicate resources and funnel investments into research on artificial intelligence (AI). The order, titled Accelerating Americas Leadership in Artificial Intelligence, will direct agencies to prioritize AI investments in research and development, increase access to federal data and models for that research and prepare workers to adapt to the era of AI. While an obvious concern is funding for these innovations, no announcements have been made about the specific financial resources that will become available to the new program. Aside from how it will be paid for, we also currently lack information on how the government intends to structure or re-structure resources, who, exactly, they intend to call on for this effort (other than federal agencies), or how soon we should expect to see things take shape. Of course, Congress will ultimately decide how much money the program gets. The order has five pillars, according to the unnamed official: 1) Research and development (which will ask agencies to increase funding for and specifically report on AI research) 2) Infrastructure (which will encourage information sharing, though potentially run up against issues of privacy) 3) Governance (which will have to be drafted by government agencies and, we can only hope, other civic and academic groups, but at least aims to ensure the safe and ethical use of AI) 4) Workforce (which will support job training and continuing education in computer science) 5) International engagement (which will require collaborating on projects with other countries, without giving them the technological edge the U.S. seeks) Other than this general framework, we have very little else in terms of what will happen, though the government plans to release more information over the next 6 months. While for many AI conjures images of Skynet or other sci-fi fears of sentient machines threatening to eliminate or enslave humanity, the term is actually used quite differently in tech circles. AI is simply the all-encompassing term for machines which can intelligently solve problems or complete tasks based on a set of stipulated rules (or algorithms). While these algorithms are written by humans, giving them their own set of issues and biases, the machines dont need human intervention to go about their work. AI is used in recommending your next television show or new music; its also been used more problematically in predictive policing and criminal sentencing, for example. But still, its not the Terminator. Two subsets of AI that are even more sophisticated are fields known as machine learning and deep learning. Machine learning aims to enable machines to make accurate predictions based on data provided by programmers. Right now, deep learning is the pinnacle of what weve achieved in the field of AI. It is inspired by the way the human brain learns and processes information and patterns, and the goal is to enable machines to label and categorize people and items in order to categorize and make decisions about them. But the more we let machines make these decisions with minimal human intervention, the more humans are kept in the dark about the decision-making processes that machines employ. These are what takes AI to the next level and what an ambitious new federal program would likely concentrate on. Still, machines that use deep learning are very different from self-aware machines. The U.S. is still behind the curve in terms of federal AI strategy. In fact, it will be the 19th country to announce a formal strategy for the future of AI. Canada was the first, back in March of 2017. Seventeen countries followed suit after that, including France, Mexico, the UAE, and China. There was a special sense of urgency on behalf of the U.S. government once it became clear that China was set to overtake the U.S. in AI innovation. The American AI Initiative announcement comes almost exactly a year after The New York Times published a story on Chinas plan to become a world leader in AI by the year 2030, which technologists took as a direct challenge to Americas lead in arguably the most important tech research to come along in decades. Chinas 28-page (in translation) document laid out an aggressive plan to spark innovation and pump billions into new breakthroughs, though it was similar in many ways to a report the Obama administration had released about the future of AI back in 2016. Of course, there is research going on all around the country in both industry and academia on AI, machine learning, and deep learning. Kate Crawford, co-director of AI Now, told Science that ...while the executive order correctly highlights AI as a major priority for U.S. policymaking, she remains concerned about its apparent lack of input from academic researchers and civic leaders as well as the administrations troubling track record when it comes to privacy and civil liberties. But the truth is, its still unclear what kind of input went into the Trump administrations plan. Still, many are applauding the effort. Virginia Dignum, Professor of Social and Ethical Artificial Intelligence in Ume Universitys Department of Computer Science, told me she thought the U.S. government has been too quiet about AI and its societal impact, since the attempts of the Obama administration and the research is too important to ignore knowing that it will affect all people and all industries and world leaders need to take their role and responsibility seriously. She continued: It is also good to see that the U.S.'s view seems to approach Europe's in terms of analysing the need and scope of regulation, the availability of open (government) data, and the call for wide participation. I hope that this means Europe and the U.S. can collaborate in their efforts to ensure responsible development and use of AI. Of course, collaboration could be tricky when so many governments think of technological innovation as a race to the top, with a winner-take-all sense of success. Dignum also cautioned against this warlike narrative about an 'AI race, noting that while massive investments are crucial, there is not ONE finish line and also there are many routes to progress in AI. Instead of seeing world leaders create a narrative of more and bigger data and more and bigger computational power as the only way to realise the potential of AI, she hopes to see investments in environmentally sustainable, and smarter, approaches to AI. Another important consideration the most important, some might argue is how we can be sure that ethical standards and policy guidelines keep pace with this planned growth. Two of the administrations proposed pillars deal with ethical issues such as privacy and potential job loss, but the announcement is otherwise vague about how the program plans to ensure that responsible development and use of AI remain central throughout the process. This news also comes on the heels of concerns from companies such as Google about the government using privately developed AI technology, especially in warfare. Google had to end its collaboration with the Department of Defense last year on Project Maven after thousands of its own employees signed a petition to end the use of their work by the military. However, tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft have pledged to continue to work with the government, and, specifically, the Department of Defense as they see fit. While the role of universities has yet to be determined in the new plan, those on the forefront of AI research are eager to see whats ahead and what their roles may be. When contacted for comment, Fei-Fei Li, the Co-Director of Stanford University's Human-Centered AI Institute (who also spent a sabbatical year as Google Clouds Chief Scientist of AI/ML and Vice President) said: At Stanford, we support the responsible development and implementation of AI - especially when it ensures AI's impact on communities around the world is safe, fair and empowering. Building a future that benefits everyone will require cooperation on a truly historic scale, and that includes significant government investment. We look forward to hearing more details about the Trump Administration's plans. Its clear that no matter what shape the Trump administrations plans take, they will have to answer to AI researchers and advocates around the world who are, more loudly than ever, calling for advances that not only reach the masses but ensure their fair and equitable treatment. While the order calls on agencies to protect civil liberties, privacy, and American values in applying the new technology, AI simply cant be limited by geographic boundaries, and global cooperation will be crucial. | The U.S. will be the 19th country in the world to launch an artificial intelligence program. The program will focus on research and development, infrastructure, workforce training and international engagement. The goal is to make the United States the world leader in AI, says TechCrunch's Richard Quest. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicabaron/2019/02/11/will-trumps-new-artificial-intelligence-initiative-make-the-u-s-the-world-leader-in-ai/ | 0.221872 |
Will President Buhari Continue To Rule Nigeria Despite Failing To Address Havoc In The Middle Belt? | On February 16, 2019, general elections will be held in Nigeria. The list of candidates is long. Among them, the leading candidate is President Muhammadu Buhari who is hoping to be reelected. The question is whether his record in recent years proves he has what it takes to secure the win. Buhari has received widespread praise for his strong stance on corruption and for his proactive approach to the mass atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. Nonetheless, the conduct of the Nigerian Security Forces in addressing the issue of Boko Haram is currently considered by the International Criminal Court as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also, the handling of the cases of Leah Sharibu and Alice Loksha Ngaddah show that the claimed success is tainted. Yet there remains a significant issue that has been neglected. For Buhari, it may cost him the elections. That issue surrounds the mass atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt - atrocities that in 2018 have outnumbered the fatalities caused by Boko Haram. The Fulani herdsmen also referred to as the Fulani militia, are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist ethnic group who live predominantly within Nigerias Middle Belt. The attacks carried out by Fulani herdsmen are focused on the area of the Middle Belt, in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Taraba particularly. However, some reports suggest that the Fulani herdsmen are expanding the territories of their terror and have already reached southern states, including Oyo and Enugu, as well as northern states like Zamfara and Gombe. Fulani herdsmen are reportedly highly militarized and widely use AK-47. The atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen have been the cause of thousands of fatalities in 2018. As a result, in July 2018, the Nigerian House of Representatives recognised the atrocities in Plateau state as genocide. Despite this designation, no decisive steps have followed to address the alarming situation in the Middle Belt. The question the Nigerian electorate has to ask is why Buhari has failed to respond to it. The situation in the Middle Belt is often referred to as a clash over grazing land. However, the attacks are more targeted. They occur against indigenous tribes and local, mainly Christian, farmers. These farmers are being attacked and slaughtered in their own homes. Further, the clashes intensified around the 2011 elections, and again around the 2015 election suggesting political motives. Because of the systematic nature of the attacks, and the specific targeting Christians, it has been suggested that Fulani herdsmen are not only looking for dominance over territory and properties, it looks as though they ultimately want to eliminate the presence of Christians from the area. However, there are also reports that Fulani herdsmen attack anyone who does not follow their ideology. Violence perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria is nothing new and the situation has been deteriorating since approximately 2012. However, recent months have seen a definite intensification of their campaign. Looking at the figures between January and June 2018, there were 47.5% more attacks by Fulani than those of Boko Haram. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported that since the beginning of 2018, 66 separate events involving the militia have been recorded, a 260% increase from the same month in 2017. One of the more recent attacks (on June 23, 2018) left more than 200 dead. In response, the Nigerian military reportedly deployed 300 soldiers and seven helicopter gunships to Benue, Plateau and Taraba States. This action came months if not years too late. And indeed, the situation only continued to deteriorate over the subsequent months. As a result, new data suggests that between January and September 2018 alone, Fulani herdsmen were responsible for nearly 1,700 deaths, a figure that is six times greater than the number of people killed by Boko Haram that year. This is how the Fulani herdsmen secured the title the most lethal faction operating in Nigeria in 2018. Boko Haram has been a significant threat to peace and security in Nigeria and had to be addressed by Buhari. However, the flagrant neglect of the issue of violence in the Middle Belt cannot be justified. | President Muhammadu Buhari is hoping to be reelected in Nigeria on February 16, 2019. He has received widespread praise for his strong stance on corruption and for his proactive approach to the mass atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2019/02/11/will-buhari-rule-despite-failing-to-address-havoc-in-the-middle-belt/ | 0.133931 |
Will President Buhari Continue To Rule Nigeria Despite Failing To Address Havoc In The Middle Belt? | On February 16, 2019, general elections will be held in Nigeria. The list of candidates is long. Among them, the leading candidate is President Muhammadu Buhari who is hoping to be reelected. The question is whether his record in recent years proves he has what it takes to secure the win. Buhari has received widespread praise for his strong stance on corruption and for his proactive approach to the mass atrocities perpetrated by Boko Haram in Northern Nigeria. Nonetheless, the conduct of the Nigerian Security Forces in addressing the issue of Boko Haram is currently considered by the International Criminal Court as possible war crimes and crimes against humanity. Also, the handling of the cases of Leah Sharibu and Alice Loksha Ngaddah show that the claimed success is tainted. Yet there remains a significant issue that has been neglected. For Buhari, it may cost him the elections. That issue surrounds the mass atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt - atrocities that in 2018 have outnumbered the fatalities caused by Boko Haram. The Fulani herdsmen also referred to as the Fulani militia, are a semi-nomadic, pastoralist ethnic group who live predominantly within Nigerias Middle Belt. The attacks carried out by Fulani herdsmen are focused on the area of the Middle Belt, in Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, Benue, and Taraba particularly. However, some reports suggest that the Fulani herdsmen are expanding the territories of their terror and have already reached southern states, including Oyo and Enugu, as well as northern states like Zamfara and Gombe. Fulani herdsmen are reportedly highly militarized and widely use AK-47. The atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen have been the cause of thousands of fatalities in 2018. As a result, in July 2018, the Nigerian House of Representatives recognised the atrocities in Plateau state as genocide. Despite this designation, no decisive steps have followed to address the alarming situation in the Middle Belt. The question the Nigerian electorate has to ask is why Buhari has failed to respond to it. The situation in the Middle Belt is often referred to as a clash over grazing land. However, the attacks are more targeted. They occur against indigenous tribes and local, mainly Christian, farmers. These farmers are being attacked and slaughtered in their own homes. Further, the clashes intensified around the 2011 elections, and again around the 2015 election suggesting political motives. Because of the systematic nature of the attacks, and the specific targeting Christians, it has been suggested that Fulani herdsmen are not only looking for dominance over territory and properties, it looks as though they ultimately want to eliminate the presence of Christians from the area. However, there are also reports that Fulani herdsmen attack anyone who does not follow their ideology. Violence perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria is nothing new and the situation has been deteriorating since approximately 2012. However, recent months have seen a definite intensification of their campaign. Looking at the figures between January and June 2018, there were 47.5% more attacks by Fulani than those of Boko Haram. The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project reported that since the beginning of 2018, 66 separate events involving the militia have been recorded, a 260% increase from the same month in 2017. One of the more recent attacks (on June 23, 2018) left more than 200 dead. In response, the Nigerian military reportedly deployed 300 soldiers and seven helicopter gunships to Benue, Plateau and Taraba States. This action came months if not years too late. And indeed, the situation only continued to deteriorate over the subsequent months. As a result, new data suggests that between January and September 2018 alone, Fulani herdsmen were responsible for nearly 1,700 deaths, a figure that is six times greater than the number of people killed by Boko Haram that year. This is how the Fulani herdsmen secured the title the most lethal faction operating in Nigeria in 2018. Boko Haram has been a significant threat to peace and security in Nigeria and had to be addressed by Buhari. However, the flagrant neglect of the issue of violence in the Middle Belt cannot be justified. | On February 16, 2019, general elections will be held in Nigeria. Leading candidate is President Muhammadu Buhari who is hoping to be reelected. Yet there remains a significant issue that has been neglected. That issue surrounds the mass atrocities perpetrated by the Fulani herdsmen in the Middle Belt. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewelinaochab/2019/02/11/will-buhari-rule-despite-failing-to-address-havoc-in-the-middle-belt/ | 0.20362 |
Why Go Induction? | With only an electric stove option at my current residence, I decided to purchase an induction stove, rather than use the outdated electric one that existed there previously. After years of cooking on a gas stove, I was wary of how this induction stove would cook; I thought I would miss the flame, and the cooking process I was so accustomed to. But after cooking on an induction stove for just a few weeks, it will forever be my cooking appliance of choice. Many people are still not familiar with this relatively new technology. Although Ive been writing about induction stoves for years I had never experienced cooking on one myself, until now. First introduced at the Worlds Fair in Chicago in 1933, induction cooking now has about 8% of the market share for cooktops and ranges. According to Consumer Reports, No other cooking technology that weve tested is faster than the fastest induction elementswere talking 2 to 4 minutes speedier than the competition to bring 6 quarts of water to a near-boil. Induction Simplified An electromagnetic field below the glass top surface transfers current directly to magnetic cookware, causing it to heat up. Induction stoves and cooktops look like regular electric ranges, but when they heat up, they do not display the glow that these other ranges do. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the cooktop, currents are transferred to the pan and instant heat is generated. The cooktop doesn't heat up, the cookware does. And as soon as the pot is removed the heating stops; the induction stove-top will not heat up unless there is a magnetic pot on it. Advantages of Induction A major difference between induction and other types of cooktops is the speed with which induction cooks. For a first time user, they may very well burn the first food they begin to cook. There is a power mode that will heat up a small amount of food in seconds and will boil water in a few minutes. There are various levels of heat, that can be used to heat food quickly or much slower at the lowest levels. In addition to the speed of cooking induction ranges also save energy by automatically shutting off when a pot is removed from the range. This is also a safety feature, because there is no chance of leaving the stove on when cooking is finished. Induction stoves are very easy to clean. Unlike gas stoves with grills and crevices, the top of an induction cooktop is flat with minimal detail to clean. Grease and spills can easily be wiped off and cleaned with a special cream, specially designed for glass top appliances. It is easy to keep an induction stove looking like new. Disadvantages of Induction A minor disadvantage is the requirement to use magnetic pots for induction stoves. However, many kitchens are already equipped with pots that are magnetic; these pots can also be used with any other types of stoves. In the past, induction ranges have been more expensive than other cooktops. Recently, however, there are more modestly priced units, making them more affordable and comparable to the price of may other stove tops. New Technology One of the newest technologies to be coming out in appliances, including stoves, is connectivity, whereby the appliance can be programed and controlled. According to the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM), connectivity "will allow consumers to save additional time, conserve energy, integrate the use of renewable energy and pave the way for faster and more accurate repairs." AHAM predicts "Connected devices will be in nearly every home by 2020, when the total number of those devices is expected to reach 26 billion." The GE Appliance Caf cooktop shown above can be automatically adjusted to the pan temperature as the home chef proceeds through a video-guided recipe. Another new technology which will be introduced by Wolf in 2019 is the Cook Anywhere induction cooktop. A pan can be placed anywhere on the cooktop surface and the technology will automatically detect the pans footprint, heating only the area making contact. The cooktop will be able to heat up to six pots and pans simultaneously in any position, allowing additional cooking flexibility so the user is not constrained to specific cooking zones. | Induction cooking now has about 8% of the market share for cooktops and ranges. When an induction-compatible pan is placed on the cooktop, currents are transferred to the pan and instant heat is generated. Induction ranges also save energy by automatically shutting off when a pot is removed from the range. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/sherikoones/2019/02/11/why-go-induction/ | 0.101009 |
What Is Some Good Career Advice For Aspiring Robotics Entrepreneurs? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Erik Schluntz, Cofounder & CTO at Cobalt Robotics, on Quora: My favorite thing about both robotics and entrepreneurship is that they force you to get your hands dirty and be generalists. In most other fields you get pushed towards specialization until all youre doing is some tiny part of a much bigger problem and you cant do anything else. My advice is to fight this as much as you can, and stay a generalist! In robotics, all problems are inherently cross-stack. You could solve a problem mechanically, by changing your robot. In electronics, by how you control it. In software, by avoiding the problem or approaching it differently. In most situations, one of these solutions is going to be 100 times easier than the others, but often, someone who is an expert in just one domain wont realize that. Theyll plow ahead into a weeks-long R&D project when it instead could have been solved in a few hours. Theres a saying: to a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. One of our mottos at Cobalt is, Dont be a hammer! Entrepreneurship is exactly the sameyou need to be good at engineering, sales, marketing, customer discovery, logistics, and leadership, all while also knowing how to prioritize your time. Youll be doing all of these things yourself for a while, so its really important that you can get your hands dirty and get stuff donenot just talk about it. That might mean making 50 cold sales calls a day, or it might mean hand soldering your first set of 30 circuit boards. To a 17-year-old, I would say focus on getting into a great college where youll learn some awesome engineering skills, and more importantly, surround yourself with amazing people that you can work with for the rest of your career! Work on real group projects so you can learn about what it takes to manage a team and get something to work outside of a class. And have a lot of fun while youre there! 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: | Erik Schluntz is the Cofounder & CTO at Cobalt Robotics. He says that in robotics, all problems are inherently cross-stack. Entrepreneurship is exactly the same, he says. You need to be good at engineering, sales, marketing, customer discovery and leadership. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/02/11/what-is-some-good-career-advice-for-aspiring-robotics-entrepreneurs/ | 0.32201 |
Can TripAdvisor's Hotel Segment Return To Growth In Q4? | TripAdvisor is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, February 13. The company has delivered a solid performance so far this year, driven by a turnaround in its Hotel business and solid demand for its Non-Hotel business, particularly the Restaurants and Experiences segment. In fact, the companys Non-Hotel segment has continued to deliver operational and marketing efficiencies, which has resulted in a strong improvement in its profitability. In the first nine months of 2018, the companys total revenues grew 3% year-over-year (y-o-y) to $1.3 billion. In addition, the companys adjusted EBITDA grew 25% during this period, largely due to increased investments, notably to enhance technological capabilities in order to improve customer engagement. TripAdvisor experienced a more than 50% surge in its stock price over the course of 2018. We have a price estimate for TripAdvisor of $64, which is around 10% ahead of the current market price. We have created an interactive dashboard on What To Expect From TripAdvisors Q4, which details our key forecasts and estimates for the company. You can modify the interactive charts in this dashboard to gauge the impact that changes in key drivers for TripAdvisor can have on the companys earnings and valuation, and see all of our Information Technology data here. Segment Expectations TripAdvisors Hotel segment accounts for almost 80% of the companys revenues. The companys revenues declined moderately in its core hotel-booking segment, even as profitability spiked in the division in the first nine months of fiscal 2018. However, management expects that the hotel business will return to growth in Q4 following several consecutive quarters of declines, largely on the back of its lower cost base and more restrained spending. On the other hand, TripAdvisors Non-Hotel segment is broken down into Experiences, Restaurants, and Rentals. In the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the segments revenue jumped 25% to $350 million. The segment has been profitable but is still largely in growth mode as management focuses on adding to its portfolio of bookable products in hopes of capturing a dominant position in this high-growth market. We expect the Hotel segment to generate about $1.2 billion in revenue in 2018 from Click-Based and Transaction revenues, Display-Based Advertising and Subscription revenue, and Other Hotel revenues. The company has witnessed increased visitors (or hotel shoppers) on its primary website over recent years, where direct suppliers and Online Travel Agencies place their advertisements. Additionally, the company also generates commissions from its travel partners for its instant booking feature. Increased visitors on the TripAdvisor website have driven more clicks and partnerships with advertisers (hotels and OTAs). However, declining revenue per hotel shopper amid increased competition has put pressure on revenues. We expect this metric to decline going forward, putting further pressure on the companys revenue growth. Although we expect TripAdvisors Hotel revenues to decline for full-year fiscal 2018, the segments revenues should rebound over the long run as the company is focusing on three major areas brand advertising, product experience, and marketing mix. In addition, the company continues to capitalize on the significant supply and demand advantages in Non-Hotel offerings and remains focused on driving market share gains in the segment. Also, TripAdvisor plans to globally expand its platform by using Viators tech base to support multiple languages and points of sale. Going forward, the company plans to continue investing in long-term core growth initiatives that should drive solid growth in its revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | TripAdvisor is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, February 13. The company has delivered a solid performance so far this year, driven by a turnaround in its Hotel business and solid demand for its Non-Hotel business. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/11/can-tripadvisors-hotel-segment-return-to-growth-in-q4/ | 0.123467 |
Can TripAdvisor's Hotel Segment Return To Growth In Q4? | TripAdvisor is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, February 13. The company has delivered a solid performance so far this year, driven by a turnaround in its Hotel business and solid demand for its Non-Hotel business, particularly the Restaurants and Experiences segment. In fact, the companys Non-Hotel segment has continued to deliver operational and marketing efficiencies, which has resulted in a strong improvement in its profitability. In the first nine months of 2018, the companys total revenues grew 3% year-over-year (y-o-y) to $1.3 billion. In addition, the companys adjusted EBITDA grew 25% during this period, largely due to increased investments, notably to enhance technological capabilities in order to improve customer engagement. TripAdvisor experienced a more than 50% surge in its stock price over the course of 2018. We have a price estimate for TripAdvisor of $64, which is around 10% ahead of the current market price. We have created an interactive dashboard on What To Expect From TripAdvisors Q4, which details our key forecasts and estimates for the company. You can modify the interactive charts in this dashboard to gauge the impact that changes in key drivers for TripAdvisor can have on the companys earnings and valuation, and see all of our Information Technology data here. Segment Expectations TripAdvisors Hotel segment accounts for almost 80% of the companys revenues. The companys revenues declined moderately in its core hotel-booking segment, even as profitability spiked in the division in the first nine months of fiscal 2018. However, management expects that the hotel business will return to growth in Q4 following several consecutive quarters of declines, largely on the back of its lower cost base and more restrained spending. On the other hand, TripAdvisors Non-Hotel segment is broken down into Experiences, Restaurants, and Rentals. In the first nine months of fiscal 2018, the segments revenue jumped 25% to $350 million. The segment has been profitable but is still largely in growth mode as management focuses on adding to its portfolio of bookable products in hopes of capturing a dominant position in this high-growth market. We expect the Hotel segment to generate about $1.2 billion in revenue in 2018 from Click-Based and Transaction revenues, Display-Based Advertising and Subscription revenue, and Other Hotel revenues. The company has witnessed increased visitors (or hotel shoppers) on its primary website over recent years, where direct suppliers and Online Travel Agencies place their advertisements. Additionally, the company also generates commissions from its travel partners for its instant booking feature. Increased visitors on the TripAdvisor website have driven more clicks and partnerships with advertisers (hotels and OTAs). However, declining revenue per hotel shopper amid increased competition has put pressure on revenues. We expect this metric to decline going forward, putting further pressure on the companys revenue growth. Although we expect TripAdvisors Hotel revenues to decline for full-year fiscal 2018, the segments revenues should rebound over the long run as the company is focusing on three major areas brand advertising, product experience, and marketing mix. In addition, the company continues to capitalize on the significant supply and demand advantages in Non-Hotel offerings and remains focused on driving market share gains in the segment. Also, TripAdvisor plans to globally expand its platform by using Viators tech base to support multiple languages and points of sale. Going forward, the company plans to continue investing in long-term core growth initiatives that should drive solid growth in its revenue and adjusted EBITDA. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | TripAdvisor is scheduled to announce its fiscal fourth quarter results on Wednesday, February 13. The companys Hotel segment is expected to return to growth in Q4 following several consecutive quarters of declines, largely on the back of its lower cost base and more restrained spending. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/11/can-tripadvisors-hotel-segment-return-to-growth-in-q4/ | 0.461133 |
Can AI Cure What Ails Health Insurance? | I n 1970, Americans spent $74.5 billion on healthcare$448 billion in todays dollars. But by 2017, that price tag had ballooned to $3.5 trillion flowing to and from insurers, Medicare and Medicaid via patient premiums and claims payouts to healthcare providers and drug companies. All told, keeping the U.S. healthcare system spinning took six billion insurance-related transactions (an increase of 1.2 billion transactions from 2016), according to the nonprofit Council of Affordable Quality Healthcare. Thats roughly 11,450 transactions per minute. For insurance companies, its a cumbersome, complex, and expensive system. Experts say yes. Insurers could save up to $7 billion over 18 months using AI-driven technologies by streamlining administrative processes, according to a recent Accenture study. By automating routine business tasks alone, the study projects that health insurers could save $15 million per 100 full-time employees. But AIs promise extends beyond reducing wasteful spendingit could also help insurers improve consumers overall health. More and more, youre seeing investment in AI to intervene on behalf of customers to change behavior in ways that actually result in better healthcare outcomes, says Christer Johnson, health care data and analytics advisory leader at Ernst & Young. Health insurance companies are aware of this potential and acting on it. Roughly three-quarters of health insurance executives (72%) say investing in AI will be one of their top three strategic priorities for the coming year, an Accenture survey reveals. 72% of health insurance executives say investing in AI will be one of their top three strategic priorities for the coming year. And while health insurance leaders eyes are on the prize of long-term savings and improved patient health, AIs impact is already rippling across the industry. Here are four areas where the technology is transforming the industry today. Engaging Customers With AI Bots When consumers reach out to ZhongAn Tech, Chinas largest insurance company, to apply for coverage, check their benefits, or file a medical claim, 97% of the time they interact with an AI chatbot. Only the thorniest inquiries (3%) are directed to a human representative. In the future, expect AI-based customer engagement to be the rule, not the exception. By 2030, chatbots will be the primary touchpoint for most insurance customers, with 70% to 90% fewer human personnel engaging with customers than in 2018, according to a McKinsey report. Today, 68% of insurers are already using chatbots in various segments of their business, an Accenture survey finds. And the consulting firm reports that health insurance companies could save more than $2 billion annually by using AI to manage customer interactions. Increasingly, health insurance customers are becoming acclimated to human-machine interactions, according to Torben Nielsen, VP of innovation and strategic investments for Premera Blue Cross. 68% of insurers are already using chatbots in various segments of their business. Weve done a ton of research into our member experience, and weve found that more and more people are very comfortable engaging with technology solutions versus talking to a person, Nielsen reveals. With 2.2 million members, Premera is the Pacific Northwests largest health insurer. In 2017, it launched Premera Scout, a 24/7 chatbot to help customers quickly access information on claims, benefits, and other Premera services. What members want is a personalized experience, Nielsen explains. AI allows us to take complex data and really extract value out of it in a much more personalized manner for the individual. Cigna and Humana are among the other major health insurers engaging customers with bots. Cignas Answers chatbot uses natural language processing to understand and respond to more than 150 common questions with personalized benefits information. Thanks to Answers and Cignas digital One Guide service platform, the company reports that customer satisfaction rose by 20% in 2017. While bots are primarily handling basic customer interactions at present, Nielsen envisions them eventually dispensing customized, data-driven health guidance. In the future, bots will access your personal health information and identify gaps in care that you werent aware of, he predicts. They will really become a guide in your healthcare journey. Faster, Smarter Claims Management Out of every 10 healthcare claims submitted, insurers flag as many as eight as unusualthat is, as potentially incorrect or fraudulentbased on the companys guidelines, according to a McKinsey study. That means up to 80% of all claims must be reviewed by adjusters, a process that requires a great deal of time, money, and human effort. But AI is transforming claims processing across the insurance industry, as algorithms detect anomalies in seconds, rather than days, weeks, or months. Over the years, claims acceptance or denials have been primarily based on set rules that are hard-coded in processing systems, explains Johnson. Now they are starting to embed more machine-learning models that can take into account multiple factors, instead of just a hard, fast rule. Among the largest investment in AI tech in the insurance industry has been in fraud detection, with more than 75% of insurers reporting the use of machine-learning algorithms to flag fraud cases in 2016, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Faster fraud detection means faster processing. A pilot program spearheaded by Prudential in Singapore credits AI with reducing the time to process hospital claims by 75%; a claim that once took nine days to process can now be settled in a mere 2.3 seconds. Still, EYs Johnson finds that AI automation in claims processing has progressed more slowly than many had hoped, hindered by challenges such as preparing, cleansing, and aggregating unstructured data from diverse silos such as hospital facilities, doctors offices, and pharmacies. If you had asked me five years ago where wed be today, its been slower than I would have expected, says Johnson. But, he adds, Its happening. Predicting ER Visits With AI Many major insurers are exploring how to leverage AI solutions to prevent negative health outcomes before they happenand investing in tech startups to tap their innovative analytics. Case in point: In 2017, Premera Blue Cross took an early stake in Cardinal Analytx, a healthcare AI startup incubated at Stanford University that uses predictive modeling to recommend healthcare interventions in advance of medical crises. Cardinal is able to, with a high degree of certainty, predict when a member is about to have a severe health event, Nielsen says. Thats much better for the individual because theyre avoiding something big and nasty. And it allows us to reduce costs that we would otherwise have incurred. Similarly, Cigna has invested in Prognos, which applies AI to lab diagnostics. Analyzing a database of 14 billion medical records, the insurer reports that it can predict when a customer is most likely to visit an emergency room, need hip or knee replacement within six months, and pinpoint a diagnosis of depression three months before an antidepressant is ever prescribed. Early intervention especially benefits patients suffering chronic illnesses. Today, roughly 75% of total healthcare costs are related to chronic conditions such as non-terminal cancer and diabetes," Johnson says, citing CDC research. Johnson explains that predictive analytics, based on indicators like when a patient searches online for information about symptoms or visits a specialist, can indicate an impending negative health event. By reaching out early, insurers can engage them in preemptive care. With AI, you can identify patterns that suggest this is the right moment in time for a person with a chronic condition to get an intervention call, he says. Weve actually seen that if you call at the right time, you can increase engagement by over 800%. Live Healthier, Pay Less In 2014, Progressive Insurance launched a mobile app for its Snapshot program, offering to reduce premiums for safe drivers based on AI analysis of millions of data points on speeding, braking hard, or texting while driving. Major insurers like Allstate, State Farm, and Nationwide, among others, have since offered similar incentives based on telematic data, saving consumers billions in premium costs. And car insurers have saved billions in accident payouts for themselves in the process. Studies show that vehicle telematics can reduce speeding events by 60% and lower catastrophic accident rates among young drivers by 35%. Given the widespread popularity of wearable sensors such as Fitbit and health data tracking via smartphones, behavior-based premiums seem like an inevitability in health insurance. Weve already seen some examples of insurance companies starting to experiment with it, says Nielsen. If you walk a certain number of steps on a daily basis, there may be an incentive for you, such as money being allocated to your health savings account. In 2018, John Hancock announced that it would stop selling traditional life insurance and sell only interactive policies that track health data through smartphones and wearables. The insurers CEO Brooks Tingle explained the shift to The New York Times, saying, The longer people live, the more money we make. But, Nielsen emphasizes, its still early days for behavior-based policies in the health insurance sector. The industry is still trying to determine whether that is something that should be further scaled up, he notes. Consumers, for their part, seem very willing to trade personal data for cheaper insurance; nearly half of 1,194 U.S. consumers surveyed by Troubadour Research said they would share their biometric data with health insurers in exchange for premium discounts. The Road Ahead: Personalization Through AI While major health insurers are eyeing behavior-based products warily, several insurance-technology startups already offer them. BioBeats and FitSense are using AI tech to crunch data generated by fitness wearables to offer personalized employee health plans. Other AI-driven health insurance startups innovating more personalized products include Collective Health, Bind, and Oscar, which is pioneering a white-glove concierge for all plan. Nielsen, for one, believes the new, tech-fueled entrants into the sector will ultimately benefit all healthcare insurersand their customers. I see startups coming into the health insurance marketplace as a positive, and I think we all do in the industry, he explains. They bring new thinking, and it allows us to really take a close look at what our core competencies are and to make sure that were developing products for what future healthcare may look like. Ultimately, this shift toward personalization is fundamentally transforming health insurers traditional business model. For generations, insurance companies have based their coverage on risk pools determined by statistical sampling. Now AI is allowing them to mine huge data sets in real time to predict health outcomes for a single consumer instead of a group. And insurers are optimizing those insights to help consumers live healthier lives. Natural language processing, bot technology, machine learningthese processes are not just playing a key role in creating efficiencies for companies, says Nielsen. Theyre creating a better health experience for members. | Health insurers could save up to $7 billion over 18 months using AI-driven technologies, according to a recent Accenture study. AIs promise extends beyond reducing wasteful spendingit could also help insurers improve consumers' overall health. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-intelai/2019/02/11/can-ai-cure-what-ails-health-insurance/ | 0.113096 |
Can AI Cure What Ails Health Insurance? | I n 1970, Americans spent $74.5 billion on healthcare$448 billion in todays dollars. But by 2017, that price tag had ballooned to $3.5 trillion flowing to and from insurers, Medicare and Medicaid via patient premiums and claims payouts to healthcare providers and drug companies. All told, keeping the U.S. healthcare system spinning took six billion insurance-related transactions (an increase of 1.2 billion transactions from 2016), according to the nonprofit Council of Affordable Quality Healthcare. Thats roughly 11,450 transactions per minute. For insurance companies, its a cumbersome, complex, and expensive system. Experts say yes. Insurers could save up to $7 billion over 18 months using AI-driven technologies by streamlining administrative processes, according to a recent Accenture study. By automating routine business tasks alone, the study projects that health insurers could save $15 million per 100 full-time employees. But AIs promise extends beyond reducing wasteful spendingit could also help insurers improve consumers overall health. More and more, youre seeing investment in AI to intervene on behalf of customers to change behavior in ways that actually result in better healthcare outcomes, says Christer Johnson, health care data and analytics advisory leader at Ernst & Young. Health insurance companies are aware of this potential and acting on it. Roughly three-quarters of health insurance executives (72%) say investing in AI will be one of their top three strategic priorities for the coming year, an Accenture survey reveals. 72% of health insurance executives say investing in AI will be one of their top three strategic priorities for the coming year. And while health insurance leaders eyes are on the prize of long-term savings and improved patient health, AIs impact is already rippling across the industry. Here are four areas where the technology is transforming the industry today. Engaging Customers With AI Bots When consumers reach out to ZhongAn Tech, Chinas largest insurance company, to apply for coverage, check their benefits, or file a medical claim, 97% of the time they interact with an AI chatbot. Only the thorniest inquiries (3%) are directed to a human representative. In the future, expect AI-based customer engagement to be the rule, not the exception. By 2030, chatbots will be the primary touchpoint for most insurance customers, with 70% to 90% fewer human personnel engaging with customers than in 2018, according to a McKinsey report. Today, 68% of insurers are already using chatbots in various segments of their business, an Accenture survey finds. And the consulting firm reports that health insurance companies could save more than $2 billion annually by using AI to manage customer interactions. Increasingly, health insurance customers are becoming acclimated to human-machine interactions, according to Torben Nielsen, VP of innovation and strategic investments for Premera Blue Cross. 68% of insurers are already using chatbots in various segments of their business. Weve done a ton of research into our member experience, and weve found that more and more people are very comfortable engaging with technology solutions versus talking to a person, Nielsen reveals. With 2.2 million members, Premera is the Pacific Northwests largest health insurer. In 2017, it launched Premera Scout, a 24/7 chatbot to help customers quickly access information on claims, benefits, and other Premera services. What members want is a personalized experience, Nielsen explains. AI allows us to take complex data and really extract value out of it in a much more personalized manner for the individual. Cigna and Humana are among the other major health insurers engaging customers with bots. Cignas Answers chatbot uses natural language processing to understand and respond to more than 150 common questions with personalized benefits information. Thanks to Answers and Cignas digital One Guide service platform, the company reports that customer satisfaction rose by 20% in 2017. While bots are primarily handling basic customer interactions at present, Nielsen envisions them eventually dispensing customized, data-driven health guidance. In the future, bots will access your personal health information and identify gaps in care that you werent aware of, he predicts. They will really become a guide in your healthcare journey. Faster, Smarter Claims Management Out of every 10 healthcare claims submitted, insurers flag as many as eight as unusualthat is, as potentially incorrect or fraudulentbased on the companys guidelines, according to a McKinsey study. That means up to 80% of all claims must be reviewed by adjusters, a process that requires a great deal of time, money, and human effort. But AI is transforming claims processing across the insurance industry, as algorithms detect anomalies in seconds, rather than days, weeks, or months. Over the years, claims acceptance or denials have been primarily based on set rules that are hard-coded in processing systems, explains Johnson. Now they are starting to embed more machine-learning models that can take into account multiple factors, instead of just a hard, fast rule. Among the largest investment in AI tech in the insurance industry has been in fraud detection, with more than 75% of insurers reporting the use of machine-learning algorithms to flag fraud cases in 2016, according to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud. Faster fraud detection means faster processing. A pilot program spearheaded by Prudential in Singapore credits AI with reducing the time to process hospital claims by 75%; a claim that once took nine days to process can now be settled in a mere 2.3 seconds. Still, EYs Johnson finds that AI automation in claims processing has progressed more slowly than many had hoped, hindered by challenges such as preparing, cleansing, and aggregating unstructured data from diverse silos such as hospital facilities, doctors offices, and pharmacies. If you had asked me five years ago where wed be today, its been slower than I would have expected, says Johnson. But, he adds, Its happening. Predicting ER Visits With AI Many major insurers are exploring how to leverage AI solutions to prevent negative health outcomes before they happenand investing in tech startups to tap their innovative analytics. Case in point: In 2017, Premera Blue Cross took an early stake in Cardinal Analytx, a healthcare AI startup incubated at Stanford University that uses predictive modeling to recommend healthcare interventions in advance of medical crises. Cardinal is able to, with a high degree of certainty, predict when a member is about to have a severe health event, Nielsen says. Thats much better for the individual because theyre avoiding something big and nasty. And it allows us to reduce costs that we would otherwise have incurred. Similarly, Cigna has invested in Prognos, which applies AI to lab diagnostics. Analyzing a database of 14 billion medical records, the insurer reports that it can predict when a customer is most likely to visit an emergency room, need hip or knee replacement within six months, and pinpoint a diagnosis of depression three months before an antidepressant is ever prescribed. Early intervention especially benefits patients suffering chronic illnesses. Today, roughly 75% of total healthcare costs are related to chronic conditions such as non-terminal cancer and diabetes," Johnson says, citing CDC research. Johnson explains that predictive analytics, based on indicators like when a patient searches online for information about symptoms or visits a specialist, can indicate an impending negative health event. By reaching out early, insurers can engage them in preemptive care. With AI, you can identify patterns that suggest this is the right moment in time for a person with a chronic condition to get an intervention call, he says. Weve actually seen that if you call at the right time, you can increase engagement by over 800%. Live Healthier, Pay Less In 2014, Progressive Insurance launched a mobile app for its Snapshot program, offering to reduce premiums for safe drivers based on AI analysis of millions of data points on speeding, braking hard, or texting while driving. Major insurers like Allstate, State Farm, and Nationwide, among others, have since offered similar incentives based on telematic data, saving consumers billions in premium costs. And car insurers have saved billions in accident payouts for themselves in the process. Studies show that vehicle telematics can reduce speeding events by 60% and lower catastrophic accident rates among young drivers by 35%. Given the widespread popularity of wearable sensors such as Fitbit and health data tracking via smartphones, behavior-based premiums seem like an inevitability in health insurance. Weve already seen some examples of insurance companies starting to experiment with it, says Nielsen. If you walk a certain number of steps on a daily basis, there may be an incentive for you, such as money being allocated to your health savings account. In 2018, John Hancock announced that it would stop selling traditional life insurance and sell only interactive policies that track health data through smartphones and wearables. The insurers CEO Brooks Tingle explained the shift to The New York Times, saying, The longer people live, the more money we make. But, Nielsen emphasizes, its still early days for behavior-based policies in the health insurance sector. The industry is still trying to determine whether that is something that should be further scaled up, he notes. Consumers, for their part, seem very willing to trade personal data for cheaper insurance; nearly half of 1,194 U.S. consumers surveyed by Troubadour Research said they would share their biometric data with health insurers in exchange for premium discounts. The Road Ahead: Personalization Through AI While major health insurers are eyeing behavior-based products warily, several insurance-technology startups already offer them. BioBeats and FitSense are using AI tech to crunch data generated by fitness wearables to offer personalized employee health plans. Other AI-driven health insurance startups innovating more personalized products include Collective Health, Bind, and Oscar, which is pioneering a white-glove concierge for all plan. Nielsen, for one, believes the new, tech-fueled entrants into the sector will ultimately benefit all healthcare insurersand their customers. I see startups coming into the health insurance marketplace as a positive, and I think we all do in the industry, he explains. They bring new thinking, and it allows us to really take a close look at what our core competencies are and to make sure that were developing products for what future healthcare may look like. Ultimately, this shift toward personalization is fundamentally transforming health insurers traditional business model. For generations, insurance companies have based their coverage on risk pools determined by statistical sampling. Now AI is allowing them to mine huge data sets in real time to predict health outcomes for a single consumer instead of a group. And insurers are optimizing those insights to help consumers live healthier lives. Natural language processing, bot technology, machine learningthese processes are not just playing a key role in creating efficiencies for companies, says Nielsen. Theyre creating a better health experience for members. | Health insurers could save up to $7 billion over 18 months using AI-driven technologies, according to a recent Accenture study. But AIs promise extends beyond reducing wasteful spendingit could also help insurers improve consumers overall health, says an expert. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/insights-intelai/2019/02/11/can-ai-cure-what-ails-health-insurance/ | 0.121754 |
Can Cars Of The Future Fight Back Against Burglary By Moving? | Recently I had a break-in with my Tesla. The thief broke that small back window (known as the "quarter window") in order to pull the back seat forward and see into the trunk. While there were things in the trunk, he or she abandoned the task and fortunately didn't take anything. The thief is of course the real villain, though Tesla could certainly handle this sort of problem better. Tesla's issues here are not the subject of this article, however. The subject is the much more interesting topic of how robocars (or even the Tesla) might (literally) fight car break-ins in radical new ways. Yes, fight -- I want to examine what would happen if robocars were to start driving to escape or deter burglars, even sometimes hurting a burglar if they foolishly don't back off. Many people react to this by saying, "You just can't leave valuables in your car." That may or may not be true. If it is true, the secured lockbox could be the simplest answer. But even those who won't store valuables still want to leave non-valuables. Many like to have an umbrella, low cost sports gear or an overnight change of clothes and various other items of little value to a thief. People with kids tend to load up their vehicles with stuff for the children. Thieves will still break-in on seeing the shape of these items to find out if they are valuable. Some people, though, also leave more valuable things like laptops, cameras, high end sporting goods and like the ability to safely do so. Well, it's not very useful to steal the car itself. These cars will need interaction with HQ to work, so if stolen it could only be for the parts. And they probably won't be able to drive it away. Teslas and many other cars can already be remote disabled. Makers of these cars should be able to serialize all their expensive parts -- certainly any electronic parts -- and seriously dampen the black market for stolen parts. This leaves the main reason for a break-in the theft of personal property. Fortunately, it turns out that people don't really try to steal or break into these small robots. We've driven hundreds of thousands of miles with minimal incident. Even vandalism is very rare. To compound that, the robot connects to a remote operations center if anything unusual is going on. The remote operator can sound a loud alarm, and can warn the thief that they are being recorded with the 360 degree view cameras, and they are indeed being recorded. The police don't do much about theft these days, but victims are keen to stop it. If we saw the same person trying to steal a Starship robot more than once, we would be able to put together a well documented multiple-crime case to the police that they actually would care about. Yes, thieves can do fancy things like wear masks or make Faraday cages to block all signals -- but real world thieves are not nearly that organized most of the time. The robot can also drive away, if it has a way out. Alarm blaring. First, start with a better alarm Everybody hates car alarms. They have frequent false alarms, to much annoyance, so much that they are generally ignored by the public and there are now legal limits on how much they can sound. They are now viewed as near-useless unless the owner hears them. (Tesla's ability to send the alarm to your phone helps a bit here.) Modern technology should allow the creation of much better, reliable car alarms. We can start with better, cheaper sensors for things like glass breakage, and motion detection inside the vehicle. If somebody is moving inside your vehicle suddenly after it's been locked and static for a while, that's usually a very clear sign -- unless it's your dog. The interesting news is that Tesla has promised it will shortly provide a software update with a much better alarm. Elon Musk has stated that they will offer a "Sentry Mode" which, among other things, will play Bach's famous "Toccata and Fugue" during a robbery. Tesla Sentry Mode will play Bachs Toccata and Fugue during a robbery (and keep Summer safe)https://t.co/wnS5qLeB2E Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2019 Few other details are present, but I will speculate on what a better alarm system might involve. Some cars (including the Tesla) now feature an inward facing camera. This camera is not used, but is speculated to be useful for monitoring driver gaze while using Autopilot, so people don't take their eyes off the road for long. There is some chance that regulators may insist on this sort of function, and other high end cars with similar functions have been doing this. The Tesla, like many other cars, has an array of cameras looking in all directions. Today, we have much better machine learning technology which could be put to task trying to spot a burglary. The problem with existing car alarms is the false alarms. AI tools could do a lot to get that number way down. By watching what's going on, and listening to sounds, and getting input from sensors of vibration and motion, a much better job is possible. Remote control center Cars with connectivity can also send the alarm to the owner's phone, or to a remote operations center. The remote operator can be given the chance to look out through the cameras and hear the sounds. They can get the ability to speak directly to those in or near the car and hear them. "You in the green hoodie, step away from the Tesla! We're recording you on video and contacting police." The last part about the police is probably a lie, but might help convince the burglars to move on. And they could play an alarm in confidence; with human confirmation there should be few false alarms. They could play some Bach. The remote operations center can also make final decisions on nastier alarms. For example, you could place a super-loud alarm inside the car. An alarm which starts off annoying and rises to ear-splitting, so loud that you just can't bear to stay inside the car. By being inside, it would not bother those outside at that level, but you still don't want to set it off by accident or with the owner or other friendlies in the car -- but triggering by a human could make sense. The ability to use a human in the loop means the AI systems don't have to be perfect. The better they are, the fewer false alarms they send to the control center and that makes it cheaper to run. To have a human in the loop requires connectivity, which means enclosed and underground garages need to have WiFi to get your business. But once you have that human, you possibly have a more dramatic option. Ideally, garages would install Wifi or micro-cells to make sure parked cars remain connected. This would be a selling feature of a parking spot. An option open to the robocar (and perhaps even to the Tesla before too long) would be to move -- if not plugged in. If somebody is trying to break in, drive away! I'm not talking about actively hitting them, which would almost surely be legally risky, but simply moving to get away in a fashion that is not completely risk-free to them. My thief had his or her arm buried in my car through the arm-sized hole in the window. If the car started to move at that point it might unintentionally bruise that arm. The law doesn't let you leave traps for thieves. Punishment is the job of the law, not the victim. Courts have ruled if you leave a bear trap in your back yard, the burglar can still sue you even though he was trespassing. You can't inflict harm for the sake of harm. But I suspect the law might be more favourable to what happens when your robot is trying to escape an assailant, just as we are to people. Force is allowed to defend property, but not deadly force. (This varies a lot state by state. In some states you can use deadly force to defend property. In others it is not permitted, or is a very last resort.) The robot could give warnings. In fact, it would surely sound alarms. It could even wiggle slightly as it gets ready to move, to make it clear that motion is about to start and the arm should be retracted. In fact, that could be enough -- a car that is just wiggling back and forth a few inches or so is not a car you want to be breaking into. (It could even do this when plugged in.) It, or the operator directing it, could even make verbal warnings, perhaps, for amusement, in the voice of the ED-209 robot from Robocop -- "You have 15 seconds to retreat from the car!" But it would not then shoot them. Probably. Of course, if the thief were to stand in the way of the car, it must not run them over. A clever thief, or team of thieves, could box the car in and block it from escaping. But most of these thieves are not clever or in teams, and it's hard to both simultaneously stand in front of a car and rob it, while an alarm is blaring and the owner or security might be coming. The car would need to be sure it doesn't run over anybody (you can't be sure if the person in the way of the car is the burglar, after all.) A proper robocar could then drive to a new safe location. A simpler car like a Tesla could just rock back and forth until given a command by its owner on the mobile app. While you might not safely move the car with the burglar's arm inside, movement before the arm goes in might be allowable and make it hard to burgle. While it might be attractive to think a car could move in the interests of escape, generally the law doesn't allow touching somebody with a motor vehicle (considered deadly force) unless live humans are in fear for themselves, not for their car. So while Asimov's laws are fictional, they do apply in this case. It's untested if having the car move very slowly, so slowly as to nudge but not hurt, could be enough to make it not be deadly force. If the burglar lay on the ground in front of the car, the car would legally need to stop. And it might need sensors to make sure nobody is under the bumper, which not all cars have. In some states, civil liability for harm could still apply even if criminal law didn't. An amusing prospect is that a car might take a thief who is fully inside and drive them to the police station. They could jump out, but the harm from that might be on them. The voice could advise them to buckle up for safety, and remind them that they're on video and will suffer more if they trash the car on the way. I'm going to leave that to the lawyers -- since this could also be viewed as kidnapping. Modern sensors, like motion detectors and cameras fed into neural networks should be capable of accurately detecting break-ins with few false alarms. A vehicle that can then escape in such circumstances would be a very hard car to rob. A group of professional attackers could figure out how, but many car burglars are crimes of opportunity by people who are not the smartest. Even they would learn, though, that certain cars are not worth getting into. Even the pros would face a challenge. They would know there is video of all they do. If carrying cell phones, their IDs would be recorded. The cars themselves would be useless to steal except for parts, most of which would have serial numbers. Valuable personal property can be worth stealing, but less so for pros, who need a big score to merit the risk, because police -- and the car companies themselves -- will go after organized rings in a way they don't go after random thieves. Indeed, it could be in the interests of a car maker or fleet operator to double down to send out the clear message, "if you think you want to burglarize cars, these are not the ones." Companies could assist police in tracking villains so that customers know this is a good car to use. | Robocars of the future could fight car break-ins in radical new ways. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2019/02/11/can-cars-of-the-future-fight-back-against-burglary-by-moving/ | 0.123376 |
Can Cars Of The Future Fight Back Against Burglary By Moving? | Recently I had a break-in with my Tesla. The thief broke that small back window (known as the "quarter window") in order to pull the back seat forward and see into the trunk. While there were things in the trunk, he or she abandoned the task and fortunately didn't take anything. The thief is of course the real villain, though Tesla could certainly handle this sort of problem better. Tesla's issues here are not the subject of this article, however. The subject is the much more interesting topic of how robocars (or even the Tesla) might (literally) fight car break-ins in radical new ways. Yes, fight -- I want to examine what would happen if robocars were to start driving to escape or deter burglars, even sometimes hurting a burglar if they foolishly don't back off. Many people react to this by saying, "You just can't leave valuables in your car." That may or may not be true. If it is true, the secured lockbox could be the simplest answer. But even those who won't store valuables still want to leave non-valuables. Many like to have an umbrella, low cost sports gear or an overnight change of clothes and various other items of little value to a thief. People with kids tend to load up their vehicles with stuff for the children. Thieves will still break-in on seeing the shape of these items to find out if they are valuable. Some people, though, also leave more valuable things like laptops, cameras, high end sporting goods and like the ability to safely do so. Well, it's not very useful to steal the car itself. These cars will need interaction with HQ to work, so if stolen it could only be for the parts. And they probably won't be able to drive it away. Teslas and many other cars can already be remote disabled. Makers of these cars should be able to serialize all their expensive parts -- certainly any electronic parts -- and seriously dampen the black market for stolen parts. This leaves the main reason for a break-in the theft of personal property. Fortunately, it turns out that people don't really try to steal or break into these small robots. We've driven hundreds of thousands of miles with minimal incident. Even vandalism is very rare. To compound that, the robot connects to a remote operations center if anything unusual is going on. The remote operator can sound a loud alarm, and can warn the thief that they are being recorded with the 360 degree view cameras, and they are indeed being recorded. The police don't do much about theft these days, but victims are keen to stop it. If we saw the same person trying to steal a Starship robot more than once, we would be able to put together a well documented multiple-crime case to the police that they actually would care about. Yes, thieves can do fancy things like wear masks or make Faraday cages to block all signals -- but real world thieves are not nearly that organized most of the time. The robot can also drive away, if it has a way out. Alarm blaring. First, start with a better alarm Everybody hates car alarms. They have frequent false alarms, to much annoyance, so much that they are generally ignored by the public and there are now legal limits on how much they can sound. They are now viewed as near-useless unless the owner hears them. (Tesla's ability to send the alarm to your phone helps a bit here.) Modern technology should allow the creation of much better, reliable car alarms. We can start with better, cheaper sensors for things like glass breakage, and motion detection inside the vehicle. If somebody is moving inside your vehicle suddenly after it's been locked and static for a while, that's usually a very clear sign -- unless it's your dog. The interesting news is that Tesla has promised it will shortly provide a software update with a much better alarm. Elon Musk has stated that they will offer a "Sentry Mode" which, among other things, will play Bach's famous "Toccata and Fugue" during a robbery. Tesla Sentry Mode will play Bachs Toccata and Fugue during a robbery (and keep Summer safe)https://t.co/wnS5qLeB2E Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2019 Few other details are present, but I will speculate on what a better alarm system might involve. Some cars (including the Tesla) now feature an inward facing camera. This camera is not used, but is speculated to be useful for monitoring driver gaze while using Autopilot, so people don't take their eyes off the road for long. There is some chance that regulators may insist on this sort of function, and other high end cars with similar functions have been doing this. The Tesla, like many other cars, has an array of cameras looking in all directions. Today, we have much better machine learning technology which could be put to task trying to spot a burglary. The problem with existing car alarms is the false alarms. AI tools could do a lot to get that number way down. By watching what's going on, and listening to sounds, and getting input from sensors of vibration and motion, a much better job is possible. Remote control center Cars with connectivity can also send the alarm to the owner's phone, or to a remote operations center. The remote operator can be given the chance to look out through the cameras and hear the sounds. They can get the ability to speak directly to those in or near the car and hear them. "You in the green hoodie, step away from the Tesla! We're recording you on video and contacting police." The last part about the police is probably a lie, but might help convince the burglars to move on. And they could play an alarm in confidence; with human confirmation there should be few false alarms. They could play some Bach. The remote operations center can also make final decisions on nastier alarms. For example, you could place a super-loud alarm inside the car. An alarm which starts off annoying and rises to ear-splitting, so loud that you just can't bear to stay inside the car. By being inside, it would not bother those outside at that level, but you still don't want to set it off by accident or with the owner or other friendlies in the car -- but triggering by a human could make sense. The ability to use a human in the loop means the AI systems don't have to be perfect. The better they are, the fewer false alarms they send to the control center and that makes it cheaper to run. To have a human in the loop requires connectivity, which means enclosed and underground garages need to have WiFi to get your business. But once you have that human, you possibly have a more dramatic option. Ideally, garages would install Wifi or micro-cells to make sure parked cars remain connected. This would be a selling feature of a parking spot. An option open to the robocar (and perhaps even to the Tesla before too long) would be to move -- if not plugged in. If somebody is trying to break in, drive away! I'm not talking about actively hitting them, which would almost surely be legally risky, but simply moving to get away in a fashion that is not completely risk-free to them. My thief had his or her arm buried in my car through the arm-sized hole in the window. If the car started to move at that point it might unintentionally bruise that arm. The law doesn't let you leave traps for thieves. Punishment is the job of the law, not the victim. Courts have ruled if you leave a bear trap in your back yard, the burglar can still sue you even though he was trespassing. You can't inflict harm for the sake of harm. But I suspect the law might be more favourable to what happens when your robot is trying to escape an assailant, just as we are to people. Force is allowed to defend property, but not deadly force. (This varies a lot state by state. In some states you can use deadly force to defend property. In others it is not permitted, or is a very last resort.) The robot could give warnings. In fact, it would surely sound alarms. It could even wiggle slightly as it gets ready to move, to make it clear that motion is about to start and the arm should be retracted. In fact, that could be enough -- a car that is just wiggling back and forth a few inches or so is not a car you want to be breaking into. (It could even do this when plugged in.) It, or the operator directing it, could even make verbal warnings, perhaps, for amusement, in the voice of the ED-209 robot from Robocop -- "You have 15 seconds to retreat from the car!" But it would not then shoot them. Probably. Of course, if the thief were to stand in the way of the car, it must not run them over. A clever thief, or team of thieves, could box the car in and block it from escaping. But most of these thieves are not clever or in teams, and it's hard to both simultaneously stand in front of a car and rob it, while an alarm is blaring and the owner or security might be coming. The car would need to be sure it doesn't run over anybody (you can't be sure if the person in the way of the car is the burglar, after all.) A proper robocar could then drive to a new safe location. A simpler car like a Tesla could just rock back and forth until given a command by its owner on the mobile app. While you might not safely move the car with the burglar's arm inside, movement before the arm goes in might be allowable and make it hard to burgle. While it might be attractive to think a car could move in the interests of escape, generally the law doesn't allow touching somebody with a motor vehicle (considered deadly force) unless live humans are in fear for themselves, not for their car. So while Asimov's laws are fictional, they do apply in this case. It's untested if having the car move very slowly, so slowly as to nudge but not hurt, could be enough to make it not be deadly force. If the burglar lay on the ground in front of the car, the car would legally need to stop. And it might need sensors to make sure nobody is under the bumper, which not all cars have. In some states, civil liability for harm could still apply even if criminal law didn't. An amusing prospect is that a car might take a thief who is fully inside and drive them to the police station. They could jump out, but the harm from that might be on them. The voice could advise them to buckle up for safety, and remind them that they're on video and will suffer more if they trash the car on the way. I'm going to leave that to the lawyers -- since this could also be viewed as kidnapping. Modern sensors, like motion detectors and cameras fed into neural networks should be capable of accurately detecting break-ins with few false alarms. A vehicle that can then escape in such circumstances would be a very hard car to rob. A group of professional attackers could figure out how, but many car burglars are crimes of opportunity by people who are not the smartest. Even they would learn, though, that certain cars are not worth getting into. Even the pros would face a challenge. They would know there is video of all they do. If carrying cell phones, their IDs would be recorded. The cars themselves would be useless to steal except for parts, most of which would have serial numbers. Valuable personal property can be worth stealing, but less so for pros, who need a big score to merit the risk, because police -- and the car companies themselves -- will go after organized rings in a way they don't go after random thieves. Indeed, it could be in the interests of a car maker or fleet operator to double down to send out the clear message, "if you think you want to burglarize cars, these are not the ones." Companies could assist police in tracking villains so that customers know this is a good car to use. | Robocars of the future could fight car break-ins in radical new ways. They could start with a better alarm blaring, and serialize all their expensive parts. The robot could also drive away, if it has a way out. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2019/02/11/can-cars-of-the-future-fight-back-against-burglary-by-moving/ | 0.237604 |
Can Cars Of The Future Fight Back Against Burglary By Moving? | Recently I had a break-in with my Tesla. The thief broke that small back window (known as the "quarter window") in order to pull the back seat forward and see into the trunk. While there were things in the trunk, he or she abandoned the task and fortunately didn't take anything. The thief is of course the real villain, though Tesla could certainly handle this sort of problem better. Tesla's issues here are not the subject of this article, however. The subject is the much more interesting topic of how robocars (or even the Tesla) might (literally) fight car break-ins in radical new ways. Yes, fight -- I want to examine what would happen if robocars were to start driving to escape or deter burglars, even sometimes hurting a burglar if they foolishly don't back off. Many people react to this by saying, "You just can't leave valuables in your car." That may or may not be true. If it is true, the secured lockbox could be the simplest answer. But even those who won't store valuables still want to leave non-valuables. Many like to have an umbrella, low cost sports gear or an overnight change of clothes and various other items of little value to a thief. People with kids tend to load up their vehicles with stuff for the children. Thieves will still break-in on seeing the shape of these items to find out if they are valuable. Some people, though, also leave more valuable things like laptops, cameras, high end sporting goods and like the ability to safely do so. Well, it's not very useful to steal the car itself. These cars will need interaction with HQ to work, so if stolen it could only be for the parts. And they probably won't be able to drive it away. Teslas and many other cars can already be remote disabled. Makers of these cars should be able to serialize all their expensive parts -- certainly any electronic parts -- and seriously dampen the black market for stolen parts. This leaves the main reason for a break-in the theft of personal property. Fortunately, it turns out that people don't really try to steal or break into these small robots. We've driven hundreds of thousands of miles with minimal incident. Even vandalism is very rare. To compound that, the robot connects to a remote operations center if anything unusual is going on. The remote operator can sound a loud alarm, and can warn the thief that they are being recorded with the 360 degree view cameras, and they are indeed being recorded. The police don't do much about theft these days, but victims are keen to stop it. If we saw the same person trying to steal a Starship robot more than once, we would be able to put together a well documented multiple-crime case to the police that they actually would care about. Yes, thieves can do fancy things like wear masks or make Faraday cages to block all signals -- but real world thieves are not nearly that organized most of the time. The robot can also drive away, if it has a way out. Alarm blaring. First, start with a better alarm Everybody hates car alarms. They have frequent false alarms, to much annoyance, so much that they are generally ignored by the public and there are now legal limits on how much they can sound. They are now viewed as near-useless unless the owner hears them. (Tesla's ability to send the alarm to your phone helps a bit here.) Modern technology should allow the creation of much better, reliable car alarms. We can start with better, cheaper sensors for things like glass breakage, and motion detection inside the vehicle. If somebody is moving inside your vehicle suddenly after it's been locked and static for a while, that's usually a very clear sign -- unless it's your dog. The interesting news is that Tesla has promised it will shortly provide a software update with a much better alarm. Elon Musk has stated that they will offer a "Sentry Mode" which, among other things, will play Bach's famous "Toccata and Fugue" during a robbery. Tesla Sentry Mode will play Bachs Toccata and Fugue during a robbery (and keep Summer safe)https://t.co/wnS5qLeB2E Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2019 Few other details are present, but I will speculate on what a better alarm system might involve. Some cars (including the Tesla) now feature an inward facing camera. This camera is not used, but is speculated to be useful for monitoring driver gaze while using Autopilot, so people don't take their eyes off the road for long. There is some chance that regulators may insist on this sort of function, and other high end cars with similar functions have been doing this. The Tesla, like many other cars, has an array of cameras looking in all directions. Today, we have much better machine learning technology which could be put to task trying to spot a burglary. The problem with existing car alarms is the false alarms. AI tools could do a lot to get that number way down. By watching what's going on, and listening to sounds, and getting input from sensors of vibration and motion, a much better job is possible. Remote control center Cars with connectivity can also send the alarm to the owner's phone, or to a remote operations center. The remote operator can be given the chance to look out through the cameras and hear the sounds. They can get the ability to speak directly to those in or near the car and hear them. "You in the green hoodie, step away from the Tesla! We're recording you on video and contacting police." The last part about the police is probably a lie, but might help convince the burglars to move on. And they could play an alarm in confidence; with human confirmation there should be few false alarms. They could play some Bach. The remote operations center can also make final decisions on nastier alarms. For example, you could place a super-loud alarm inside the car. An alarm which starts off annoying and rises to ear-splitting, so loud that you just can't bear to stay inside the car. By being inside, it would not bother those outside at that level, but you still don't want to set it off by accident or with the owner or other friendlies in the car -- but triggering by a human could make sense. The ability to use a human in the loop means the AI systems don't have to be perfect. The better they are, the fewer false alarms they send to the control center and that makes it cheaper to run. To have a human in the loop requires connectivity, which means enclosed and underground garages need to have WiFi to get your business. But once you have that human, you possibly have a more dramatic option. Ideally, garages would install Wifi or micro-cells to make sure parked cars remain connected. This would be a selling feature of a parking spot. An option open to the robocar (and perhaps even to the Tesla before too long) would be to move -- if not plugged in. If somebody is trying to break in, drive away! I'm not talking about actively hitting them, which would almost surely be legally risky, but simply moving to get away in a fashion that is not completely risk-free to them. My thief had his or her arm buried in my car through the arm-sized hole in the window. If the car started to move at that point it might unintentionally bruise that arm. The law doesn't let you leave traps for thieves. Punishment is the job of the law, not the victim. Courts have ruled if you leave a bear trap in your back yard, the burglar can still sue you even though he was trespassing. You can't inflict harm for the sake of harm. But I suspect the law might be more favourable to what happens when your robot is trying to escape an assailant, just as we are to people. Force is allowed to defend property, but not deadly force. (This varies a lot state by state. In some states you can use deadly force to defend property. In others it is not permitted, or is a very last resort.) The robot could give warnings. In fact, it would surely sound alarms. It could even wiggle slightly as it gets ready to move, to make it clear that motion is about to start and the arm should be retracted. In fact, that could be enough -- a car that is just wiggling back and forth a few inches or so is not a car you want to be breaking into. (It could even do this when plugged in.) It, or the operator directing it, could even make verbal warnings, perhaps, for amusement, in the voice of the ED-209 robot from Robocop -- "You have 15 seconds to retreat from the car!" But it would not then shoot them. Probably. Of course, if the thief were to stand in the way of the car, it must not run them over. A clever thief, or team of thieves, could box the car in and block it from escaping. But most of these thieves are not clever or in teams, and it's hard to both simultaneously stand in front of a car and rob it, while an alarm is blaring and the owner or security might be coming. The car would need to be sure it doesn't run over anybody (you can't be sure if the person in the way of the car is the burglar, after all.) A proper robocar could then drive to a new safe location. A simpler car like a Tesla could just rock back and forth until given a command by its owner on the mobile app. While you might not safely move the car with the burglar's arm inside, movement before the arm goes in might be allowable and make it hard to burgle. While it might be attractive to think a car could move in the interests of escape, generally the law doesn't allow touching somebody with a motor vehicle (considered deadly force) unless live humans are in fear for themselves, not for their car. So while Asimov's laws are fictional, they do apply in this case. It's untested if having the car move very slowly, so slowly as to nudge but not hurt, could be enough to make it not be deadly force. If the burglar lay on the ground in front of the car, the car would legally need to stop. And it might need sensors to make sure nobody is under the bumper, which not all cars have. In some states, civil liability for harm could still apply even if criminal law didn't. An amusing prospect is that a car might take a thief who is fully inside and drive them to the police station. They could jump out, but the harm from that might be on them. The voice could advise them to buckle up for safety, and remind them that they're on video and will suffer more if they trash the car on the way. I'm going to leave that to the lawyers -- since this could also be viewed as kidnapping. Modern sensors, like motion detectors and cameras fed into neural networks should be capable of accurately detecting break-ins with few false alarms. A vehicle that can then escape in such circumstances would be a very hard car to rob. A group of professional attackers could figure out how, but many car burglars are crimes of opportunity by people who are not the smartest. Even they would learn, though, that certain cars are not worth getting into. Even the pros would face a challenge. They would know there is video of all they do. If carrying cell phones, their IDs would be recorded. The cars themselves would be useless to steal except for parts, most of which would have serial numbers. Valuable personal property can be worth stealing, but less so for pros, who need a big score to merit the risk, because police -- and the car companies themselves -- will go after organized rings in a way they don't go after random thieves. Indeed, it could be in the interests of a car maker or fleet operator to double down to send out the clear message, "if you think you want to burglarize cars, these are not the ones." Companies could assist police in tracking villains so that customers know this is a good car to use. | Robocars of the future could fight car break-ins in radical new ways. They could start with a better alarm blaring, and serialize all their expensive parts. They would also be able to drive away, if it has a way out, if they are stolen. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/bradtempleton/2019/02/11/can-cars-of-the-future-fight-back-against-burglary-by-moving/ | 0.277545 |
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