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How Is China Implementing Blockchain Technology? | From digital payments to robotics, China has been able to leverage quickly and efficiently its role as an economic leader and drive mass technology adoption. The country has built a blockchain wall, an ecosystem composed of three major layers/bricks. At the base of the blockchain-powered nation, forming the foundation of the wall, are institutional investors linked to corporate players: Chinese blockchain projects connecting with powerful CEOs and traditional venture capital firms to raise money. Less importance is placed on marketing and more on the actual technology and product design. Essentially, these projects secure institutional support, then develop real-use cases and pilots, before finally focusing on marketing. It is a top-down approach rather than a bottom-up one, with a high level of pragmatism. The second layer of the wall is composed of a diversified network of universities and incubators that facilitate the growth and development of blockchain initiatives through hackathons and blockchain labs. This solves the main challenge of sourcing talent and helps in building a community of nodes. Due to their younger age, students have higher technology adoption, which represents a key element for any projects development. For blockchains to ultimately succeed, they need the final layer of the wall: a dynamic financial environment and fast-moving regulatory implementation. Despite the gap between the regulated banking industry and the decentralized nature of many blockchain projects, some of the largest financial institutions are considering implementing the technology to improve their processes and their operational efficiency. Bank of China is also expected to increase investment in the development of blockchain technology. On the regulatory side, the fast-paced nature of the technology requires ongoing reviews and improvements. China could benefit from its political structure to move quickly and provide rapid development and approval of any rules related to the technology. China has the right credentials to make massive advancements in the blockchain world. Its not a matter of how or whether it will; its probably just a matter of time. | China has built a blockchain wall composed of three major layers/bricks. At the base of the wall are institutional investors linked to corporate players. The second layer is composed of a diversified network of universities and incubators. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/fiorenzomanganiello/2019/02/06/how-is-china-implementing-blockchain-technology/ | 0.208663 |
How Is China Implementing Blockchain Technology? | From digital payments to robotics, China has been able to leverage quickly and efficiently its role as an economic leader and drive mass technology adoption. The country has built a blockchain wall, an ecosystem composed of three major layers/bricks. At the base of the blockchain-powered nation, forming the foundation of the wall, are institutional investors linked to corporate players: Chinese blockchain projects connecting with powerful CEOs and traditional venture capital firms to raise money. Less importance is placed on marketing and more on the actual technology and product design. Essentially, these projects secure institutional support, then develop real-use cases and pilots, before finally focusing on marketing. It is a top-down approach rather than a bottom-up one, with a high level of pragmatism. The second layer of the wall is composed of a diversified network of universities and incubators that facilitate the growth and development of blockchain initiatives through hackathons and blockchain labs. This solves the main challenge of sourcing talent and helps in building a community of nodes. Due to their younger age, students have higher technology adoption, which represents a key element for any projects development. For blockchains to ultimately succeed, they need the final layer of the wall: a dynamic financial environment and fast-moving regulatory implementation. Despite the gap between the regulated banking industry and the decentralized nature of many blockchain projects, some of the largest financial institutions are considering implementing the technology to improve their processes and their operational efficiency. Bank of China is also expected to increase investment in the development of blockchain technology. On the regulatory side, the fast-paced nature of the technology requires ongoing reviews and improvements. China could benefit from its political structure to move quickly and provide rapid development and approval of any rules related to the technology. China has the right credentials to make massive advancements in the blockchain world. Its not a matter of how or whether it will; its probably just a matter of time. | China has built a blockchain wall composed of three major layers/bricks. At the base of the wall are institutional investors linked to corporate players. The second layer is composed of a diversified network of universities and incubators. The final layer is a dynamic financial environment and fast-moving regulatory implementation. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/fiorenzomanganiello/2019/02/06/how-is-china-implementing-blockchain-technology/ | 0.407084 |
Will Eagles Be Able To Trade Foles After He Exercises $2 Million Option To Become Free Agent? | It was the worst kept secret. The Eagles would pick up Nick Foles $20 million option. Foles would then exercise the $2 million buyout clause to void it and set himself free. And then the fun would begin. Well, it appears to be Game On, because according to several sources thats precisely whats taken place within the last 24 hoursjust as Forbes.com projected on January 18. The most likely scenario, though no ones saying a word publicly, is that its all part of a well orchestrated plot. More than likely Foles agent, Justin Schulman, has already tested the free agent waters and has a pretty good idea of which teams are interested in his client and to what extent theyll go to attain his services. At the same time the Eagles, who have enough other situations to deal with, would love to have the matter settled before free agency actually begins, March 13. Thats a distinct possibility if theyre working in concert with Foles and Schulman. For the moment Foles has all the leverage, at least until February 19 when teams can begin to franchise players. That would leave just over three weeks to work things out between the Eagles, Foles and his prospective new team, assuming general manager Howie Roseman can find a partner. They have until March 5 to tag him and while trades can be verbally agreed to at any point--like the 2018 Alex Smith deal between the Chiefs and Redskins--nothing becomes official until the 13th. Well, that may be what eventually happens. But suppose Team A doesnt want Foles to hit free agency, where it would have to be in position to outbid Teams B, C, D, etc. One way to ensure that is to trade for himeither at franchise tag value or else at a prearranged long-term deal. While Foles cant prevent that from happening one expert makes it clear hes still calling most of the shots He wont sign if he doesnt like the team, said Adam Caplan of Sirius XMs NFL Radio. He controls a lot of this. He doesnt necessarily have to sign a long-term deal. Foles can also play the waiting game, since contracts are guaranteed as of March 13 when teams have to be under the salary cap. The Eagles best hope is that hes willing to work with them finding his new address. While some may shudder at the prospect of him signing with the NFC rivals Giants and Redskins, its not unreasonable to believe the last thing Foles wants to do is face his old team twice a year. Meanwhile, the man hes replaced at the end of each of the last two seasons, Carson Wentz, recently met with a half dozen Philadelphia reporters to discuss his current situation. In a no-holds barred session the 26-year-old Wentz addressed issues ranging from the published report where unnamed teammates criticized him for being selfish, uncompromising and playing favorites to his physical struggles over the past year. While Wentz made it a point not to deny some of the charges, he emphasized he intends to take it to heart and become a better teammate. I know Im not perfect, said Wentz, who was having an MVP season in 2017 before tearing up his knee late in the season, which he concedes hampered his mobility this season. I know I have flaws. "So Im not going to sit here and say it (the story) was inaccurate and completely made up. I realize I have my shortcomings. Yes, I can be selfish. I think we all have selfishness inside of us. But Ill be straight up. It hasnt been the easiest last year for me on the physical level, just battling the injuries, but then just personally going through it, sitting on the sideline and then playing and then sitting on the sideline again. "So I realize like I maybe wasnt the greatest teammate at times because I was emotionally kind of all over the place. As for his relationship with Foles, its complicated. Theyre good teammates who respect each other and cheer when the others on the field. Yet they're fiercely competitive, which is why it would never work with them both still being Eagles. Obviously, it was frustrating watching, continued Wentz, who's hopeful the fracture in his back which was diagnosed late in the season will be healed in time for him to be ready for OTAs and mini camp late in April and May. So I want to do everything I can to be healthy, to stay healthy, and not have to do that again. But I think it was awesome for Nick to show there wasnt a fluke. Nick's a heck of a player. But at the same time, theres the real emotions that, I want to be out there. By the time hes cleared to go Nick Foles will almost certainly be a memory. A memory of glory days which Carson Wentz & Co. can only hope to someday relive. Now thats an even worse kept secret. | The Eagles would pick up Nick Foles $20 million option. Foles would then exercise the $2 million buyout clause to void it and set himself free. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmarks/2019/02/06/will-eagles-be-able-to-trade-foles-after-he-exercises-2-million-option-to-become-free-agent/ | 0.183081 |
Will Eagles Be Able To Trade Foles After He Exercises $2 Million Option To Become Free Agent? | It was the worst kept secret. The Eagles would pick up Nick Foles $20 million option. Foles would then exercise the $2 million buyout clause to void it and set himself free. And then the fun would begin. Well, it appears to be Game On, because according to several sources thats precisely whats taken place within the last 24 hoursjust as Forbes.com projected on January 18. The most likely scenario, though no ones saying a word publicly, is that its all part of a well orchestrated plot. More than likely Foles agent, Justin Schulman, has already tested the free agent waters and has a pretty good idea of which teams are interested in his client and to what extent theyll go to attain his services. At the same time the Eagles, who have enough other situations to deal with, would love to have the matter settled before free agency actually begins, March 13. Thats a distinct possibility if theyre working in concert with Foles and Schulman. For the moment Foles has all the leverage, at least until February 19 when teams can begin to franchise players. That would leave just over three weeks to work things out between the Eagles, Foles and his prospective new team, assuming general manager Howie Roseman can find a partner. They have until March 5 to tag him and while trades can be verbally agreed to at any point--like the 2018 Alex Smith deal between the Chiefs and Redskins--nothing becomes official until the 13th. Well, that may be what eventually happens. But suppose Team A doesnt want Foles to hit free agency, where it would have to be in position to outbid Teams B, C, D, etc. One way to ensure that is to trade for himeither at franchise tag value or else at a prearranged long-term deal. While Foles cant prevent that from happening one expert makes it clear hes still calling most of the shots He wont sign if he doesnt like the team, said Adam Caplan of Sirius XMs NFL Radio. He controls a lot of this. He doesnt necessarily have to sign a long-term deal. Foles can also play the waiting game, since contracts are guaranteed as of March 13 when teams have to be under the salary cap. The Eagles best hope is that hes willing to work with them finding his new address. While some may shudder at the prospect of him signing with the NFC rivals Giants and Redskins, its not unreasonable to believe the last thing Foles wants to do is face his old team twice a year. Meanwhile, the man hes replaced at the end of each of the last two seasons, Carson Wentz, recently met with a half dozen Philadelphia reporters to discuss his current situation. In a no-holds barred session the 26-year-old Wentz addressed issues ranging from the published report where unnamed teammates criticized him for being selfish, uncompromising and playing favorites to his physical struggles over the past year. While Wentz made it a point not to deny some of the charges, he emphasized he intends to take it to heart and become a better teammate. I know Im not perfect, said Wentz, who was having an MVP season in 2017 before tearing up his knee late in the season, which he concedes hampered his mobility this season. I know I have flaws. "So Im not going to sit here and say it (the story) was inaccurate and completely made up. I realize I have my shortcomings. Yes, I can be selfish. I think we all have selfishness inside of us. But Ill be straight up. It hasnt been the easiest last year for me on the physical level, just battling the injuries, but then just personally going through it, sitting on the sideline and then playing and then sitting on the sideline again. "So I realize like I maybe wasnt the greatest teammate at times because I was emotionally kind of all over the place. As for his relationship with Foles, its complicated. Theyre good teammates who respect each other and cheer when the others on the field. Yet they're fiercely competitive, which is why it would never work with them both still being Eagles. Obviously, it was frustrating watching, continued Wentz, who's hopeful the fracture in his back which was diagnosed late in the season will be healed in time for him to be ready for OTAs and mini camp late in April and May. So I want to do everything I can to be healthy, to stay healthy, and not have to do that again. But I think it was awesome for Nick to show there wasnt a fluke. Nick's a heck of a player. But at the same time, theres the real emotions that, I want to be out there. By the time hes cleared to go Nick Foles will almost certainly be a memory. A memory of glory days which Carson Wentz & Co. can only hope to someday relive. Now thats an even worse kept secret. | The Eagles would pick up Nick Foles $20 million option. Foles would then exercise the $2 million buyout clause to void it and set himself free. The most likely scenario, though no ones saying a word publicly, is that its all part of a well orchestrated plot. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmarks/2019/02/06/will-eagles-be-able-to-trade-foles-after-he-exercises-2-million-option-to-become-free-agent/ | 0.213351 |
How Big Is Macy's Cash Stash Now? | Macy's (NYSE: M) wrapped up its 2018 fiscal year last week. The iconic department store giant won't report its full results until later this month, but it already reduced its full-year earnings per share guidance to a range of $3.95 to $4.00 in an early January investor update. (On the bright side, that's still higher than Macy's initial EPS forecast for fiscal 2018.) However, despite this earnings miss -- which was driven by a revenue slowdown in December -- Macy's likely ended the fiscal year with quite a bit of cash on its balance sheet. That could give the company the flexibility to restart a meaningful share buyback program this year. The fourth quarter is the time for cash flow Like most of its peers, Macy's generates the vast majority of its annual cash flow in the holiday quarter. In recent years, the company has typically generated operating cash flow of at least $1.5 billion in the fourth quarter. M Cash from Operations (Quarterly) Chart More Macy's Cash from Operations (Quarterly), data by YCharts. While the holiday season didn't quite live up to Macy's expectations, $1.5 billion still seems like a reasonable estimate of its operating cash flow for last quarter. Based on management's full-year guidance and Macy's capital expenditures for the first three quarters of fiscal 2018, the company probably spent between $300 million and $400 million on capex during the period. That would put its quarterly free cash flow between $1.1 billion and $1.2 billion. Macy's used most of this cash flow for a massive debt tender offer last quarter. The company repurchased $750 million of its debt in December, strengthening its balance sheet. Macy's also used approximately $116 million to pay its regular quarterly dividend. While the debt repayments and dividends represented a significant use of cash, Macy's still should have had at least $200 million to $300 million left over to add to its cash reserves. Asset sales will add to the haul Macy's also completed several asset sales during the fourth quarter, representing an additional source of cash. Most notably, the company completed the sale of the I. Magnin building -- part of its San Francisco flagship store -- just before the end of the fiscal year, reaping proceeds of $250 million. The exterior of Macy's Union Square flagship store in San Francisco More Macy's recently sold the I. Magnin building (left) in San Francisco. Image source: Macy's. | Macy's will report its full fiscal year results later this month. The company is expected to report operating cash flow of at least $1.5 billion. Macy's used most of this cash flow for a massive debt tender offer last quarter, but it still had $200 million to $300 million left. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/big-macy-apos-cash-stash-022000570.html | 0.121605 |
Can Jordan Spieth rediscover putting touch in Pebble Beach Pro-Am? | PEBBLE BEACH Jordan Spieth won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am two years ago. That propelled him to a strong season in 2017, with two more victories (including the British Open) and 12 top-10 finishes in all. Now he returns to Pebble in a decidedly different state. Spieth, once the worlds No. 1 player, has dropped to 21st in the rankings. He hasnt won in his past 33 PGA Tour starts and hasnt even finished in the top 10 of any tournament since July. Thats not very Spieth-like. The obvious explanation: He isnt making putts the way he previously did. Spieth tied for 123rd on tour last season in strokes gained/putting, a startling contrast to his ranking the previous season (39th) or, most notably, in 2015-16 (second). Spieth spoke confidently during his news conference Wednesday, insisting hes starting to rediscover his touch on the greens. Ive seen a lot of improvement over the last five or six months, back to where I need to be and really close to where its been in the past, he said. Im in a good place right now. I feel like my games trending in the right direction. Sometimes, that means results are coming soon and sometimes it means theyre coming later, but theyre coming. Spieth and his amateur partner, Jake Owen, will tee off at 8:11 a.m. Thursday at Monterey Peninsula, alongside Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. Rules chatter: Rickie Fowler nearly fumbled away the Phoenix Open when his chip shot scooted into the water Sunday on No. 11 and then he incurred another penalty when his next ball, at rest, also rolled down the slope and into the water. Fowler was nowhere near the ball at the time and did nothing to cause it to move. Thats why Tony Finau joined the chorus of players questioning the logic of the rule that punished Fowler. I watched that transpire and couldnt help but think, This is not what the integrity of the game is about, Finau said Wednesday. He didnt do anything to make the ball move. If the rules arent going to protect the integrity of the game, then theyre wrong. Golfs rules are a timely topic on the eve of this years Pro-Am. One example: Many players have criticized the new rule prohibiting caddies from lining up their player before they hit a shot. Denny McCarthy was assessed a two-stroke penalty during Fridays second round in Scottsdale, Ariz. and, after much criticism, PGA Tour officials reversed their decision the next day. I feel like some of the new rules dont make a lot of sense, Finau said. Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. | Jordan Spieth hasn't won in his past 33 PGA Tour starts. Spieth says he's starting to rediscover his touch on the greens. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am starts Thursday. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/golf/article/Can-Jordan-Spieth-rediscover-putting-touch-in-13596184.php | 0.123196 |
Can Jordan Spieth rediscover putting touch in Pebble Beach Pro-Am? | PEBBLE BEACH Jordan Spieth won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am two years ago. That propelled him to a strong season in 2017, with two more victories (including the British Open) and 12 top-10 finishes in all. Now he returns to Pebble in a decidedly different state. Spieth, once the worlds No. 1 player, has dropped to 21st in the rankings. He hasnt won in his past 33 PGA Tour starts and hasnt even finished in the top 10 of any tournament since July. Thats not very Spieth-like. The obvious explanation: He isnt making putts the way he previously did. Spieth tied for 123rd on tour last season in strokes gained/putting, a startling contrast to his ranking the previous season (39th) or, most notably, in 2015-16 (second). Spieth spoke confidently during his news conference Wednesday, insisting hes starting to rediscover his touch on the greens. Ive seen a lot of improvement over the last five or six months, back to where I need to be and really close to where its been in the past, he said. Im in a good place right now. I feel like my games trending in the right direction. Sometimes, that means results are coming soon and sometimes it means theyre coming later, but theyre coming. Spieth and his amateur partner, Jake Owen, will tee off at 8:11 a.m. Thursday at Monterey Peninsula, alongside Dustin Johnson and Wayne Gretzky. Rules chatter: Rickie Fowler nearly fumbled away the Phoenix Open when his chip shot scooted into the water Sunday on No. 11 and then he incurred another penalty when his next ball, at rest, also rolled down the slope and into the water. Fowler was nowhere near the ball at the time and did nothing to cause it to move. Thats why Tony Finau joined the chorus of players questioning the logic of the rule that punished Fowler. I watched that transpire and couldnt help but think, This is not what the integrity of the game is about, Finau said Wednesday. He didnt do anything to make the ball move. If the rules arent going to protect the integrity of the game, then theyre wrong. Golfs rules are a timely topic on the eve of this years Pro-Am. One example: Many players have criticized the new rule prohibiting caddies from lining up their player before they hit a shot. Denny McCarthy was assessed a two-stroke penalty during Fridays second round in Scottsdale, Ariz. and, after much criticism, PGA Tour officials reversed their decision the next day. I feel like some of the new rules dont make a lot of sense, Finau said. Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. | Jordan Spieth hasn't won in his past 33 PGA Tour starts. Spieth says he's starting to rediscover his touch on the greens. The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am kicks off Thursday at Monterey Peninsula, California. The tournament is one of three this year at Pebble Beach. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/golf/article/Can-Jordan-Spieth-rediscover-putting-touch-in-13596184.php | 0.146141 |
Will the Botched Doctors Be Able to Give a Patient With "Paper Thin" Tissue New Breasts? | Rejection is awful in all aspects of life! On Wednesday's all-new Botched, new patient Jessie turned to Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif after several failed boob jobs left her with one breast. Per Jessie, she pursued her first breast augmentation after being cheated on twice. "At this point in my life, I'd loved two men and both of them cheated on me with women with big boobs," Jessie shared in a confessional. "I decided enough's enough, maybe having bigger boobs would make my chances less likelysomebody cheatin' on me." Thus, Jessie decided to get massive implantsand faced rejection of a different kind. Apparently, after two weeks, one of Jessie's implants ruptured her incisions and came out of her skin. Unfortunately, this implant rejection occurred a total of three times, leaving Jessie with only one breast for six years. "There isn't a day that goes by when I don't regret getting my boobs done just to keep a man," an emotional Jessie added. "I just want to live free, not trapped by this breast. It consumes so much of my life!" | The new Botched features a patient who gets three breast implants in six years. One of the implants ruptured and came out of her skin. The patient was left with only one breast. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1012224/will-the-botched-doctors-be-able-to-give-a-patient-with-paper-thin-tissue-new-breasts?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 0.116892 |
Will the Botched Doctors Be Able to Give a Patient With "Paper Thin" Tissue New Breasts? | Rejection is awful in all aspects of life! On Wednesday's all-new Botched, new patient Jessie turned to Dr. Terry Dubrow and Dr. Paul Nassif after several failed boob jobs left her with one breast. Per Jessie, she pursued her first breast augmentation after being cheated on twice. "At this point in my life, I'd loved two men and both of them cheated on me with women with big boobs," Jessie shared in a confessional. "I decided enough's enough, maybe having bigger boobs would make my chances less likelysomebody cheatin' on me." Thus, Jessie decided to get massive implantsand faced rejection of a different kind. Apparently, after two weeks, one of Jessie's implants ruptured her incisions and came out of her skin. Unfortunately, this implant rejection occurred a total of three times, leaving Jessie with only one breast for six years. "There isn't a day that goes by when I don't regret getting my boobs done just to keep a man," an emotional Jessie added. "I just want to live free, not trapped by this breast. It consumes so much of my life!" | The new Botched features a patient who gets three breast implants in six years. One of the implants ruptured and came out of her skin. The patient was left with only one breast. The show will air on Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.eonline.com/uk/news/1012224/will-the-botched-doctors-be-able-to-give-a-patient-with-paper-thin-tissue-new-breasts?cmpid=rss-000000-rssfeed-365-topstories&utm_source=eonline&utm_medium=rssfeeds&utm_campaign=rss_topstories | 0.135982 |
Is Patriots Julian Edelman an NFL Hall of Fame candidate? | As is his wont, our pal Adam Schefter blew our collective mind Sunday night. But it wasnt some breaking-news bomb that set off the Internet. No, it was a Hall-of-Fame take. As the MVP of this years Super Bowl, Patriots WR Julian Edelman is playing himself into a spot in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Schefter tweeted after Edelman won Super Bowl LIII MVP for his 10-catch, 114-yard performance. Lets get the pros of this argument out of the way first. Edelman has proven himself to be a clutch receiver, especially in the playoffs, for a team thats gone to four Super Bowls in five years and won three of them. Along with his hardwarethree rings and Super Bowl MVPhes alone in second for playoff receiving yards and 833 yards away from Jerry Rices record. Hed need four postseasons at his current clip of 78 yards per game for a chance to catch Rice, but he would conceivably retire comfortably in second place in that category. The other pro is that history smiles favorably upon dynasties, and after Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Edelman would be the next-best offensive option to be enshrined in Canton. But thats also a double-edged sword. Working against Edelman is the idea that as long as the Patriots have Bill Belichick and Brady, they can plug and play with whomever. Edelman has zero All Pros or Pro Bowls to his name. (Remember what Brady had to say about Pro Bowls?) In nine seasons he has 5,390 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns. Hes No. 248 on the all-time list for receiving yards, with 29 active players ahead of him. Of those 28, 21 are receivers, and only five of the 21 have been in the league longer than Edelman. Hell enter next season at 33 years old with his ACL repair two years behind him. Even if Edelman tallied 1,000 receiving yards in each of his next five seasons, he likely still wouldnt be in the top-50 all-time by the end of the 2023 season. Its also not as simple as placing someone in the Hall of Fame. Think of Canton like All Pros or Pro Bowls. Before you say someone got snubbed, figure out who you would take out in place of the snub. There are 27 receivers in Canton. Only seven played a snap in this millennium, and really only three of themMarvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Terrell Owenscould be considered receivers of the 2000s. Thats to say that its an incredibly elite class that still hasnt let in Isaac Bruce even though he retired in 2009 behind only Rice in receiving yards. Bruce, Torry Holt, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Hines Ward and Calvin Johnson are all retired receivers who deserve consideration before Edelman. Then theres Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones who are sure to get into Canton five or six years after they retire. And thats before we even begin to start projecting the careers of Edelman contemporaries like Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins. Edelman is going to need a lot more Super Bowl LIII performances and Super Bowl LI catches before he has to decide how much beard his bust should have. Sign up for The MMQBs Morning Huddle. HOT READS NOW ON THE MMQB: Andy Benoit breaks down the tape from Super Bowl LIII. Conor Orr writes that the mystery of Todd Gurley remains unsolved. Several NFL commentators gave their exit interviews to Jacob Feldman. Some AFC storylines for you to follow this offseason. and more. WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: A look at the true value of Trey Flowers. Robert Klemko breaks down THE play of the Super Bowl. Assessing whether this is curtains for Gronk. and more. PRESS COVERAGE 1. The San Francisco 49ers are flexing their territorial rights on the Oakland Raiders. 2. ESPNs Mina Kimes on why the retirement decision wont be an easy one for Rob Gronkowski. 3. The leagues only black general manager introduced the leagues only minority head coach from this hiring cycle, writes Jason Reid of the Undefeated. 4. Longtime Falcons kicker Matt Bryant was informed of his release Tuesday night. At 43, he made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts last season and should be scooped up quickly in free agency. 5. The Patriots will name former Bucs head coach Greg Schiano as their new defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Brian Flores. THE KICKER The NBA trade deadline is upon us, so I wont be scheduling anything today between the hours of 1-3 p.m. EST. Let the team know at talkback@themmqb.com | Julian Edelman won Super Bowl LIII MVP for his 10-catch, 114-yard performance. The New England Patriots receiver is a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/07/julian-edelman-patriots-nfl-hall-of-fame | 0.281212 |
Is Patriots Julian Edelman an NFL Hall of Fame candidate? | As is his wont, our pal Adam Schefter blew our collective mind Sunday night. But it wasnt some breaking-news bomb that set off the Internet. No, it was a Hall-of-Fame take. As the MVP of this years Super Bowl, Patriots WR Julian Edelman is playing himself into a spot in Canton in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Schefter tweeted after Edelman won Super Bowl LIII MVP for his 10-catch, 114-yard performance. Lets get the pros of this argument out of the way first. Edelman has proven himself to be a clutch receiver, especially in the playoffs, for a team thats gone to four Super Bowls in five years and won three of them. Along with his hardwarethree rings and Super Bowl MVPhes alone in second for playoff receiving yards and 833 yards away from Jerry Rices record. Hed need four postseasons at his current clip of 78 yards per game for a chance to catch Rice, but he would conceivably retire comfortably in second place in that category. The other pro is that history smiles favorably upon dynasties, and after Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Edelman would be the next-best offensive option to be enshrined in Canton. But thats also a double-edged sword. Working against Edelman is the idea that as long as the Patriots have Bill Belichick and Brady, they can plug and play with whomever. Edelman has zero All Pros or Pro Bowls to his name. (Remember what Brady had to say about Pro Bowls?) In nine seasons he has 5,390 receiving yards and 30 touchdowns. Hes No. 248 on the all-time list for receiving yards, with 29 active players ahead of him. Of those 28, 21 are receivers, and only five of the 21 have been in the league longer than Edelman. Hell enter next season at 33 years old with his ACL repair two years behind him. Even if Edelman tallied 1,000 receiving yards in each of his next five seasons, he likely still wouldnt be in the top-50 all-time by the end of the 2023 season. Its also not as simple as placing someone in the Hall of Fame. Think of Canton like All Pros or Pro Bowls. Before you say someone got snubbed, figure out who you would take out in place of the snub. There are 27 receivers in Canton. Only seven played a snap in this millennium, and really only three of themMarvin Harrison, Randy Moss and Terrell Owenscould be considered receivers of the 2000s. Thats to say that its an incredibly elite class that still hasnt let in Isaac Bruce even though he retired in 2009 behind only Rice in receiving yards. Bruce, Torry Holt, Steve Smith, Reggie Wayne, Hines Ward and Calvin Johnson are all retired receivers who deserve consideration before Edelman. Then theres Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Brown and Julio Jones who are sure to get into Canton five or six years after they retire. And thats before we even begin to start projecting the careers of Edelman contemporaries like Odell Beckham Jr. and DeAndre Hopkins. Edelman is going to need a lot more Super Bowl LIII performances and Super Bowl LI catches before he has to decide how much beard his bust should have. Sign up for The MMQBs Morning Huddle. HOT READS NOW ON THE MMQB: Andy Benoit breaks down the tape from Super Bowl LIII. Conor Orr writes that the mystery of Todd Gurley remains unsolved. Several NFL commentators gave their exit interviews to Jacob Feldman. Some AFC storylines for you to follow this offseason. and more. WHAT YOU MAY HAVE MISSED: A look at the true value of Trey Flowers. Robert Klemko breaks down THE play of the Super Bowl. Assessing whether this is curtains for Gronk. and more. PRESS COVERAGE 1. The San Francisco 49ers are flexing their territorial rights on the Oakland Raiders. 2. ESPNs Mina Kimes on why the retirement decision wont be an easy one for Rob Gronkowski. 3. The leagues only black general manager introduced the leagues only minority head coach from this hiring cycle, writes Jason Reid of the Undefeated. 4. Longtime Falcons kicker Matt Bryant was informed of his release Tuesday night. At 43, he made 20 of 21 field-goal attempts last season and should be scooped up quickly in free agency. 5. The Patriots will name former Bucs head coach Greg Schiano as their new defensive coordinator, replacing the departed Brian Flores. THE KICKER The NBA trade deadline is upon us, so I wont be scheduling anything today between the hours of 1-3 p.m. EST. Let the team know at talkback@themmqb.com | Julian Edelman won Super Bowl LIII MVP for his 10-catch, 114-yard performance. The New England Patriots receiver is a strong candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Edelman would be the next-best offensive option after Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/02/07/julian-edelman-patriots-nfl-hall-of-fame | 0.439701 |
Should schools be required to disclose the number of unvaccinated students to parents? | A bill from Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, would allow parents to obtain immunization information about a specific school without filing an open records request, which is the current policy. If Im a parent and Im trying to look at immunization rates to decide where to send my child to school, I can only see exemption rates for the school district not the school, said Rekha Lakshmanan, director of advocacy and public policy for the Immunization Partnership, a Houston nonprofit. Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents who ask for it. They would have to identify, by vaccine type, the number of students without up-to-date vaccinations, the number with nonmedical and medical exemptions and the number who have been admitted with pending immunization documents. The bill would also require the state health department to produce biennial reports on outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization rates. The Texas Education Agency would have to produce annual reports on the immunization status of students for each school district and school campus. | Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents. | bart | 0 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/02/06/schools-required-disclose-number-unvaccinated-students-parents | 0.107303 |
Should schools be required to disclose the number of unvaccinated students to parents? | A bill from Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, would allow parents to obtain immunization information about a specific school without filing an open records request, which is the current policy. If Im a parent and Im trying to look at immunization rates to decide where to send my child to school, I can only see exemption rates for the school district not the school, said Rekha Lakshmanan, director of advocacy and public policy for the Immunization Partnership, a Houston nonprofit. Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents who ask for it. They would have to identify, by vaccine type, the number of students without up-to-date vaccinations, the number with nonmedical and medical exemptions and the number who have been admitted with pending immunization documents. The bill would also require the state health department to produce biennial reports on outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization rates. The Texas Education Agency would have to produce annual reports on the immunization status of students for each school district and school campus. | Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents who ask for it. They would have to identify, by vaccine type, the number of students without up-to-date vaccinations. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/02/06/schools-required-disclose-number-unvaccinated-students-parents | 0.231417 |
Should schools be required to disclose the number of unvaccinated students to parents? | A bill from Sen. Kel Seliger, R-Amarillo, would allow parents to obtain immunization information about a specific school without filing an open records request, which is the current policy. If Im a parent and Im trying to look at immunization rates to decide where to send my child to school, I can only see exemption rates for the school district not the school, said Rekha Lakshmanan, director of advocacy and public policy for the Immunization Partnership, a Houston nonprofit. Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents who ask for it. They would have to identify, by vaccine type, the number of students without up-to-date vaccinations, the number with nonmedical and medical exemptions and the number who have been admitted with pending immunization documents. The bill would also require the state health department to produce biennial reports on outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization rates. The Texas Education Agency would have to produce annual reports on the immunization status of students for each school district and school campus. | Senate Bill 329 would require schools to give their immunization rate to parents who ask for it. They would have to identify, by vaccine type, the number of students without up-to-date vaccinations. The bill would also require the state health department to produce biennial reports on outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization rates. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/02/06/schools-required-disclose-number-unvaccinated-students-parents | 0.304431 |
Is anti-Semitism on the rise in the UK? | To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Jenny went to meet Jewish children to talk to them about anti-Semitism (February 2015) A new report says that there was a record number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year. The Community Security Trust (CST) revealed there were 1,652 incidents in total, which is 16% more than the 1,420 recorded the year before. Anti-Semitism is actions or language promoting a dislike towards Jewish people. The result of it can be that a Jewish person or group of people are treated unkindly, unequally or unfairly because of their faith. If the anti-Semitic incident is particularly serious, it can be a form of hate crime, which is against the law. Commenting on the new figures, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "All acts of anti-Semitism are utterly despicable and have no place in society." The report revealed that 2018 was the third year in a row that the number has gone up, suggesting that the problem of anti-Semitism in the UK is growing. Almost three in every four incidents happened in Greater London or Greater Manchester, which have the two largest Jewish communities in the UK. The CST - which works to monitor anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community - said it was also the first year that more than 100 incidents were reported every single month of the year. John Mann - a member of Parliament who is head of a group working to tackle the issue - added that he believes the problem is actually bigger than the figures suggest because not all cases are reported to the police. | There were 1,652 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year. This is 16% more than the 1,420 recorded the year before. | bart | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47149545 | 0.258477 |
Is anti-Semitism on the rise in the UK? | To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Jenny went to meet Jewish children to talk to them about anti-Semitism (February 2015) A new report says that there was a record number of anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year. The Community Security Trust (CST) revealed there were 1,652 incidents in total, which is 16% more than the 1,420 recorded the year before. Anti-Semitism is actions or language promoting a dislike towards Jewish people. The result of it can be that a Jewish person or group of people are treated unkindly, unequally or unfairly because of their faith. If the anti-Semitic incident is particularly serious, it can be a form of hate crime, which is against the law. Commenting on the new figures, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: "All acts of anti-Semitism are utterly despicable and have no place in society." The report revealed that 2018 was the third year in a row that the number has gone up, suggesting that the problem of anti-Semitism in the UK is growing. Almost three in every four incidents happened in Greater London or Greater Manchester, which have the two largest Jewish communities in the UK. The CST - which works to monitor anti-Semitism and protect the Jewish community - said it was also the first year that more than 100 incidents were reported every single month of the year. John Mann - a member of Parliament who is head of a group working to tackle the issue - added that he believes the problem is actually bigger than the figures suggest because not all cases are reported to the police. | There were 1,652 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK last year. This is 16% more than the 1,420 recorded the year before. Almost three in every four incidents happened in Greater London or Greater Manchester. | bart | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47149545 | 0.252904 |
How can I back up my bookmarks and access them online? | I have a lot of bookmarked sites for medieval manuscripts on my laptop, which it took a long time to collect. Jenifer As you know, Google is closing Google+ in April. I currently use the site as my online bookmarking tool. EC First things first, Jenifer. You should have a backup of your whole hard drive in case your laptop dies. Your operating system almost certainly includes usable backup software. Otherwise, there are more than 30 free third-party alternatives for Windows including BackUp Maker, AOMEI Backupper Standard and EaseUS Todo Backup Free. Fortunately, almost all browsers let you save bookmarks into a single file in the webs HTML format. Double-clicking this file will load it in a tab in your default browser, where you will be able to click the links to your hearts content. In fact, some people find that having their bookmarks as a local webpage is handier than folders of bookmarks. The saved document isnt updated when you add a new bookmark. Manually saving bookmarks In a well-designed browser such as Vivaldi, you can go to the File menu and simply select Export Bookmarks to create a backup file. Opera is almost as good you select Bookmarks then Export Bookmarks but most browsers now make it more complicated. In Firefox, for example, you have to use the obscure Library button, or press Ctrl-Shift-B (for Bookmarks), then click the drop-down menu item for Import and Backup. In Google Chrome, you can press Ctrl-Shift-O (for Obscure, I assume) to load the bookmark manager or, like me, type chrome://bookmarks in the address bar and hit enter. After that, click the three dots in the blue Bookmarks bar and select Export bookmarks. In Microsoft Edge, click the three dots for Settings, or press Alt-X, then the Import from another browser button. The export routine has been cunningly hidden behind the import routine. Once you have saved a file called Vivaldi_Bookmarks-20190207.html or something similar, you can stow it somewhere safe. The options include an external hard drive, a USB memory stick, an SD card and so on. You should also load the file drag and drop usually works into one or more of your free online storage spaces such as Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, Apple iCloud, Dropbox or whatever you prefer. Once the file is online, you can access it from other PCs, smartphones, tablets and other devices. You can even store your bookmarks in a Microsoft Word document, which will preserve any layout and provide Ctrl-clickable links. I do this by loading the HTML file into a browser, saving it as an MHTML or MHT file, loading that into Word and then saving it as Word file (eg as a doc, docx, rtf file, etc). Internet Explorer can save files in the standard MHTML format. Chromium-based browsers such as Google Chrome, Vivaldi and Opera can also save MHTML files if you edit the settings (chrome://flags or vivaldi://flags or opera://flags etc). Alternatively, add a browser extension such as SingleFile, which works in both Firefox and Chrome. (MHTML usefully encapsulates whole web pages in a single file, without creating a subdirectory to hold loads of separate js, css and other files.) Syncing bookmarks and bookmark managers Facebook Twitter Pinterest Vivaldi is one of many browsers that offers a syncing feature designed to keep your bookmarks up to date across different computers. Photograph: Vivaldi Browsers generally use folders and subfolders to manage bookmarks. Many of them including Chrome, Firefox, Vivaldi and Edge also have synchronisation systems built in to sync bookmarks across different devices, which can be used to restore them onto replacement computers should the worst happen. However, folders can become unwieldy when you have hundreds or thousands of bookmarks, which is where bookmark managers come in. Bookmark managers generally allow you to add tags, notes and comments. Tags are useful because you can give each link multiple tags, which is like putting them in multiple folders. Bookmark managers should also provide an extension or bookmarklet so that you can bookmark sites from your browser, without going to the bookmark managers website. Google has one of the simplest bookmark managers, which is deservedly obscure, but could suit some users. Apples iCloud Bookmarks is rather better, and works in several different browsers Safari, Firefox, Chrome, IE but not Edge on many different devices. I have not used many bookmark managers or checked for online apps, so youll have to try a few to find something you like. The options include start.me, Bookmark Ninja, Dropmark, Raindrop.io, Bookmax, Atavi and, for Chrome only, Booky. Sadly, two of the most popular sites in this category Delicious and Xmarks have closed down. Theres also the excellent Pinboard, which now costs $11 a year. Pinboard is run by its founder, Maciej Cegowski, who bought the remains of Delicious. Guardian Technology used Pinboard for a few years for linkbucket blog posts. Pocket which is incorporated into Firefox but available for Chrome would work as a bookmark manager, but is generally used for saving pages to read later. Instapaper does much the same thing. Most researchers who need Zotero will already know about it, though it could well suit someone who likes medieval manuscripts. Otherwise, people who habitually use Microsoft OneNote or Evernote will know they can work really well as bookmark managers, as well as storing web clippings, photos, documents and many other things. Social bookmarking Facebook Twitter Pinterest Pinterest is one of many sites that might be a good replacement for Google+ as a social bookmarking service. Photograph: Dpa Picture Alliance Archive/Alamy Bookmarks graduated from being personal directories to shared resources on sites such as Delicious. This gave rise to social bookmarking and, from 2005-07, a boom in folksonomy or collaborative tagging. In other words, lots of different people adding tags to public links. Delicious was the archetypal example of the genre. Lots of us loved it. Folksonomy was replaced by #hashtagging. This is exactly the same thing, except that hashtags can be applied to anything, not just bookmarks. The main hashtagging sites include Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. But they are social networking sites, not bookmark managers. I would not have suggested Google+ as a bookmarking site, but perhaps its failure as a social network helped make it viable for that purpose. You could replace it with Bookmax (where free accounts are limited to 1,000 links) or Raindrop.io, but Pinterest might be the best alternative. The basic idea of Pinterest is to create public displays, but you can have any number of secret boards. These are private by default, though you can share them with selected people. You could create a separate board for each set of bookmarks to cover news, movies, music etc. Goodbye Google+ Either way, you should download your data from Google+ before it closes on 2 April. The download page lets you select posts from your page and Google+ Communities in HTML format, plus contacts from your Circles. These are in vCard format by default, but you can select CSV, HTML or JSON instead. It doesnt matter because you only get their name, nickname (if any) and their doomed G+ address. You dont get their email addresses, phone numbers, job titles or anything else that might be useful. You can have your takeout data sent to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or Box, or download it from an emailed link. In my case, it was only a 9MB download, 17MB when unzipped. Email it to Ask.Jack@theguardian.com | Almost all browsers let you save bookmarks into a single file in the webs HTML format. Double-clicking this file will load it in a tab in your default browser. Once the file is online, you can access it from other PCs, smartphones, tablets and other devices. You can even store your bookmarks in a Microsoft Word document. | bart | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2019/feb/07/back-up-bookmarks-google | 0.1675 |
Who is Donald Tusk? | You might have seen this man in the news a lot recently. Donald Tusk has been one of the most important people in deciding how the UK will exit the EU. Getty Images Donald Tusk has been helping to negotiate a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union Donald Tusk is President of the European Council. He's one of Europe's most senior politicians. He's not voted for directly by the public but is appointed by the European Council which is made up of the leaders of the 28 EU member countries. Together, they help decide the political direction of the European Union, but it does not make or pass laws. Before this, Donald Tusk was Prime Minister of Poland for seven years. Mr Tusk has been working with Prime Minister Theresa May to decide a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union. However, this work has been very difficult. The deal that Prime Minister May agreed with EU leaders on was rejected by the UK Parliament. The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29 2019 - and it could be that they leave without a deal if nothing can be agreed. I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted #Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Donald Tusk , European Council president on social media Donald Tusk thinks leaving without a deal is bad for the United Kingdom and has said that he believes Brexit is a mistake for the UK, full stop. Theresa May has been having meetings with Mr Tusk about changing the terms of her deal - especially about how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be managed. She hopes that if that can be changed, she will be able to get MPs to vote for her deal in time fore the March 29 deadline. But Mr Tusk, so far, says the EU won't change what it has agreed. This week he took to Twitter, saying that he is angry about UK politicians who campaigned for Brexit but had not decided what Britain's exit deal should be beforehand. He said he's wondering what a "special place in hell looks like" for those who supported Brexit without "a plan to carry it out safety". Many people, including many people who support Brexit, are angry at Donald Tusk's comment. Former UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said in response, "When people throw insults around it says more about them than the people they're insulting." To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. The European Union is a group of 28 European countries that was created to make trade and travel between the member countries easier. It has its own parliament, anthem, and a list of rules and benefits for all of its members. In 2016, the UK voted to leave this group of countries. To do that they had to work with the European Union to decide how they should leave, and what their relationship with the EU should look like after they have left. But lots of people have lots of different ideas about what Britain's exit from the EU should be, and what a future relationship should look like. One of Prime Minster Theresa May's most difficult jobs is working out a way through this complicated issue. | Donald Tusk is President of the European Council and a senior politician. He has been helping to negotiate a deal for Britain's exit from the EU. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154523 | 0.533215 |
Who is Donald Tusk? | You might have seen this man in the news a lot recently. Donald Tusk has been one of the most important people in deciding how the UK will exit the EU. Getty Images Donald Tusk has been helping to negotiate a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union Donald Tusk is President of the European Council. He's one of Europe's most senior politicians. He's not voted for directly by the public but is appointed by the European Council which is made up of the leaders of the 28 EU member countries. Together, they help decide the political direction of the European Union, but it does not make or pass laws. Before this, Donald Tusk was Prime Minister of Poland for seven years. Mr Tusk has been working with Prime Minister Theresa May to decide a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union. However, this work has been very difficult. The deal that Prime Minister May agreed with EU leaders on was rejected by the UK Parliament. The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29 2019 - and it could be that they leave without a deal if nothing can be agreed. I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted #Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Donald Tusk , European Council president on social media Donald Tusk thinks leaving without a deal is bad for the United Kingdom and has said that he believes Brexit is a mistake for the UK, full stop. Theresa May has been having meetings with Mr Tusk about changing the terms of her deal - especially about how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be managed. She hopes that if that can be changed, she will be able to get MPs to vote for her deal in time fore the March 29 deadline. But Mr Tusk, so far, says the EU won't change what it has agreed. This week he took to Twitter, saying that he is angry about UK politicians who campaigned for Brexit but had not decided what Britain's exit deal should be beforehand. He said he's wondering what a "special place in hell looks like" for those who supported Brexit without "a plan to carry it out safety". Many people, including many people who support Brexit, are angry at Donald Tusk's comment. Former UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said in response, "When people throw insults around it says more about them than the people they're insulting." To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. The European Union is a group of 28 European countries that was created to make trade and travel between the member countries easier. It has its own parliament, anthem, and a list of rules and benefits for all of its members. In 2016, the UK voted to leave this group of countries. To do that they had to work with the European Union to decide how they should leave, and what their relationship with the EU should look like after they have left. But lots of people have lots of different ideas about what Britain's exit from the EU should be, and what a future relationship should look like. One of Prime Minster Theresa May's most difficult jobs is working out a way through this complicated issue. | Donald Tusk is President of the European Council and one of Europe's most senior politicians. He has been helping to negotiate a deal for Britain's exit from the EU. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154523 | 0.548618 |
Who is Donald Tusk? | You might have seen this man in the news a lot recently. Donald Tusk has been one of the most important people in deciding how the UK will exit the EU. Getty Images Donald Tusk has been helping to negotiate a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union Donald Tusk is President of the European Council. He's one of Europe's most senior politicians. He's not voted for directly by the public but is appointed by the European Council which is made up of the leaders of the 28 EU member countries. Together, they help decide the political direction of the European Union, but it does not make or pass laws. Before this, Donald Tusk was Prime Minister of Poland for seven years. Mr Tusk has been working with Prime Minister Theresa May to decide a deal for Britain's exit from the European Union. However, this work has been very difficult. The deal that Prime Minister May agreed with EU leaders on was rejected by the UK Parliament. The UK is due to leave the EU on March 29 2019 - and it could be that they leave without a deal if nothing can be agreed. I've been wondering what that special place in hell looks like, for those who promoted #Brexit, without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Donald Tusk , European Council president on social media Donald Tusk thinks leaving without a deal is bad for the United Kingdom and has said that he believes Brexit is a mistake for the UK, full stop. Theresa May has been having meetings with Mr Tusk about changing the terms of her deal - especially about how the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will be managed. She hopes that if that can be changed, she will be able to get MPs to vote for her deal in time fore the March 29 deadline. But Mr Tusk, so far, says the EU won't change what it has agreed. This week he took to Twitter, saying that he is angry about UK politicians who campaigned for Brexit but had not decided what Britain's exit deal should be beforehand. He said he's wondering what a "special place in hell looks like" for those who supported Brexit without "a plan to carry it out safety". Many people, including many people who support Brexit, are angry at Donald Tusk's comment. Former UK Brexit Secretary David Davis said in response, "When people throw insults around it says more about them than the people they're insulting." To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. The European Union is a group of 28 European countries that was created to make trade and travel between the member countries easier. It has its own parliament, anthem, and a list of rules and benefits for all of its members. In 2016, the UK voted to leave this group of countries. To do that they had to work with the European Union to decide how they should leave, and what their relationship with the EU should look like after they have left. But lots of people have lots of different ideas about what Britain's exit from the EU should be, and what a future relationship should look like. One of Prime Minster Theresa May's most difficult jobs is working out a way through this complicated issue. | Donald Tusk is President of the European Council and one of Europe's most senior politicians. He has been working with Prime Minister Theresa May to decide a deal for Britain's exit from the EU. The deal that Prime Minister May agreed with EU leaders on was rejected by the UK Parliament. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154523 | 0.543007 |
Is Fear Driving Sales Of Dicamba-Proof Soybeans? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Charles/NPR Dan Charles/NPR The biggest, most valuable new technology on Midwestern farms these days is a new family of soybean seeds. But some farmers say they're buying these seeds partly out of fear. A new lawsuit claims that the company Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, violated antitrust laws when it introduced the seeds. Bayer is asking the court to dismiss the complaint. The seeds go by the trade name Xtend. They're worth an estimated billion dollars a year to Bayer. Dennis Wentworth, a farmer in central Illinois, is totally onboard with the new product. "One hundred percent of the soybeans that we plant are Xtend soybeans," he says. These new soybeans have been genetically tweaked so they don't die when sprayed with an herbicide called dicamba. This weedkiller has been around for decades, but it normally kills soybeans. Now, Wentworth can spray it right over his fields of dicamba-tolerant plants. "It controls the weeds," he says. "Kills the weeds. That's the bottom line. It doesn't affect the crop." In just the past three years, Xtend soybeans have taken over 60 to 75 percent of the American soybean market. Farmers say they made the switch because dicamba can kill weeds that other herbicides can't. Some farmers--and Bayer--also say these new seeds produce a bigger harvest. But a lot of farmers say there's also a third reason. Enlarge this image toggle caption Derek R. Henkle/AFP/Getty Images Derek R. Henkle/AFP/Getty Images "I just had to go along with the dicamba program whether I liked it or not," says Randy Brazel, who grows soybeans in southeastern Missouri and western Tennessee. In early December, Brazel had already ordered his seeds for next year but not the new Xtend soybeans. He was planning to use the same weedkillers he'd used in the past. Then, in mid-December, he got a phone call. "I have a neighbor, a friend. He calls me and says, 'I am going to have to go dicamba,'" Brazel says. That phone call changed Brazel's plans completely, because dicamba has a well-known problem. After being sprayed, it sometimes blows across property lines into neighbors' farms. Lots of people have tried to stop this. Pesticide companies have reformulated the product. Government regulators have imposed restrictions on how and where farmers can spray it. All those rules are on the product's label. And still, dicamba fumes from fields of Xtend soybeans have curled up the leaves of sycamore trees and millions of acres of traditional soybeans across much of the Midwest and South. Brazel wasn't willing to take the risk of that happening to his crops. He cancelled his entire order and bought the new dicamba-tolerant soybeans instead. "Then I have to get on the phone and call every other neighbor and say,'Listen, I did not want to do this. But I am going to be forced to go dicamba.' Well, then that forces all those neighbors to call all their neighbors. And eventually what you have is a monopoly," he says. Among the losers in this situation are seed companies that are sell competing products, like Rob-See-Co, in Elkhorn, Neb. "We don't believe in Xtend," says Rob Robinson, CEO of Rob-See-Co. "It's too complicated. It's very difficult to meet the requirements on the label, and it causes too many issues with neighbors" because of conflicts over damaged crops. Robinson says he's lost customers who've decided to plant those Xtend seeds. Most of them, he says, are buying this product at least partly to protect their crops from harm because their neighbors are spraying dicamba. He says it's part of the sales pitch for these new seeds. "At least on a local basis, they're being sold with this idea. It's actively part of the sales process," he says. Seed companies will remind farmers that if they plant Xtend soybeans, they won't see any damage from dicamba, so they won't have those fights with neighbors. "Now, how far that goes up the management chain with Monsanto, now Bayer, I can't tell you, but I know that locally, that's the message," he says. Several law firms now have filed a lawsuit on behalf of farmers against Monsanto, arguing that the company violated antitrust law by selling dicamba-tolerant seeds. The lawsuit claims that the company understood that the risk of drifting dicamba could drive competitors out of the market. Bayer, which now owns Monsanto, has asked the court to dismiss that lawsuit; a decision is pending. Bayer declined NPR's request for an interview about this issue. In its public statements, the company insists that if dicamba is used properly, according to all the rules, it will cause no harm to any neighbors. The company also says that farmers are buying Xtend seeds solely because they offer better weed control and higher yields. It also points out that reports of damage from drifting dicamba were down sharply last year after the company and other organizations held hundreds of training sessions for farmers. The company's critics, though, say fewer crops are getting damaged in part because so many farmers have decided to buy Bayer's product: crops that dicamba can't harm. | New family of soybean seeds have been genetically tweaked so they don't die when sprayed with an herbicide called dicamba. Some farmers say they're buying these seeds partly out of fear. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/07/691979417/is-fear-driving-sales-of-dicamba-proof-soybeans?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr | 0.276651 |
Can honeybees do maths? | Getty Images Honeybees are able to do basic maths like adding and subtracting, that's according to scientists in Australia. This new study, led by researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, shows that bees can be taught to recognise colours that represent addition and subtraction, and they can use this information to solve maths problems. Researchers say that solving maths problems involves being able to manage numbers, and to use you long-term and short-term memory. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Professor Adrian Dyer said: "You need to be able to hold the rules around adding and subtracting in your long-term memory", while working things out with specific numbers in your short-term memory. He think that more non-human animals continued: "Our findings suggest that advanced numerical cognition may be found much more widely in nature among non-human animals than previously suspected." The study hopes to get a better understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. Getty Images Scientists trained honeybees to visit a Y-shaped maze. The bees got a reward of sugary water when they made a correct choice in the maze, and got a bitter-tasting solution if the choice was incorrect. When a bee flew into the entrance of the maze they would see 1 to 5 shapes. The shapes were either blue, which meant the bee had to add, or yellow, which meant the bee had to subtract. The bee would then fly to another room where it could choose to fly to the left or right side of the maze. One side had an incorrect solution to the problem and the other side had the correct solution. The correct answer was changed randomly throughout the experiment to avoid bees learning to visit just one side of the maze. According to researchers at the beginning of the experiment, bees made random choices until they could work out how to solve the problem. They eventually learned that blue meant +1, while yellow meant -1. The bees could then apply the rules to new numbers. | Scientists in Australia have found that honeybees can do basic maths. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154810 | 0.456967 |
Can honeybees do maths? | Getty Images Honeybees are able to do basic maths like adding and subtracting, that's according to scientists in Australia. This new study, led by researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, shows that bees can be taught to recognise colours that represent addition and subtraction, and they can use this information to solve maths problems. Researchers say that solving maths problems involves being able to manage numbers, and to use you long-term and short-term memory. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Professor Adrian Dyer said: "You need to be able to hold the rules around adding and subtracting in your long-term memory", while working things out with specific numbers in your short-term memory. He think that more non-human animals continued: "Our findings suggest that advanced numerical cognition may be found much more widely in nature among non-human animals than previously suspected." The study hopes to get a better understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. Getty Images Scientists trained honeybees to visit a Y-shaped maze. The bees got a reward of sugary water when they made a correct choice in the maze, and got a bitter-tasting solution if the choice was incorrect. When a bee flew into the entrance of the maze they would see 1 to 5 shapes. The shapes were either blue, which meant the bee had to add, or yellow, which meant the bee had to subtract. The bee would then fly to another room where it could choose to fly to the left or right side of the maze. One side had an incorrect solution to the problem and the other side had the correct solution. The correct answer was changed randomly throughout the experiment to avoid bees learning to visit just one side of the maze. According to researchers at the beginning of the experiment, bees made random choices until they could work out how to solve the problem. They eventually learned that blue meant +1, while yellow meant -1. The bees could then apply the rules to new numbers. | Honeybees can do basic maths like adding and subtracting. Scientists trained bees to visit a Y-shaped maze. They learned that blue meant +1, while yellow meant -1. The bees could then apply the rules to new numbers. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154810 | 0.75212 |
Can honeybees do maths? | Getty Images Honeybees are able to do basic maths like adding and subtracting, that's according to scientists in Australia. This new study, led by researchers at RMIT University in Melbourne, shows that bees can be taught to recognise colours that represent addition and subtraction, and they can use this information to solve maths problems. Researchers say that solving maths problems involves being able to manage numbers, and to use you long-term and short-term memory. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Professor Adrian Dyer said: "You need to be able to hold the rules around adding and subtracting in your long-term memory", while working things out with specific numbers in your short-term memory. He think that more non-human animals continued: "Our findings suggest that advanced numerical cognition may be found much more widely in nature among non-human animals than previously suspected." The study hopes to get a better understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. Getty Images Scientists trained honeybees to visit a Y-shaped maze. The bees got a reward of sugary water when they made a correct choice in the maze, and got a bitter-tasting solution if the choice was incorrect. When a bee flew into the entrance of the maze they would see 1 to 5 shapes. The shapes were either blue, which meant the bee had to add, or yellow, which meant the bee had to subtract. The bee would then fly to another room where it could choose to fly to the left or right side of the maze. One side had an incorrect solution to the problem and the other side had the correct solution. The correct answer was changed randomly throughout the experiment to avoid bees learning to visit just one side of the maze. According to researchers at the beginning of the experiment, bees made random choices until they could work out how to solve the problem. They eventually learned that blue meant +1, while yellow meant -1. The bees could then apply the rules to new numbers. | Scientists in Australia have found that honeybees can do basic maths. They were taught to recognise colours that represent addition and subtraction. Researchers say that advanced numerical cognition may be found much more widely in nature among non-human animals than previously suspected. The study hopes to get a better understanding of the relationship between brain size and brain power. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47154810 | 0.682368 |
Will the Departure of Arconics CEO Derail Its Turnaround Plan? | Arconic (NYSE: ARNC) CEO Chip Blankenship is out after barely a year on the job, further unsettling a company that has had a chaotic run since being spun off by Alcoa (NYSE: AA) in 2016. Blankenship's restructuring plan was central to the Arconic bull case, and his sudden departure hints at a broader boardroom battle behind the scenes. Investors should tread carefully as the latest chapter in the Arconic saga plays out. The fourth CEO since 2016 Arconic said before markets opened on Wednesday that Blankenship, who took over as CEO in January 2018, had been replaced by chairman John Plant, the former CEO of TRW Automotive. Plant will serve as CEO for one year, with fellow director Elmer Doty also joining the company as chief operating officer. The departure comes barely two weeks after Arconic walked away from talks to sell itself to Apollo Global Management in favor of remaining independent. I believe that decision was a long-term win for investors who now have the opportunity to reap the benefits of a turnaround instead of Apollo. But activist fund Elliott Management, holder of 10.75% of the company as of Sept. 30, was said to strongly favor the transaction. Aluminum Alloy Coils More Image source: Arconic. Elliott feuded with Blankenship's predecessor, Klaus Kleinfeld, who stepped down in April 2017 after the board said he showed poor judgement in his interactions with Elliott. Between April and January, the company was run by interim CEO David Hess, meaning Plant is the fourth CEO in Arconic's brief history. Arconic's statement announcing the CEO change offered few details, but news reports paint an unsettling picture. Blankenship was said to be in favor of the buyout, which would give him more freedom and flexibility to orchestrate his plan without the constant spotlight -- and quarterly reporting requirements -- of a public company. Arconic's board, however, was against the deal, and tensions between Elliott Management and Plant, who was originally appointed to the board at Elliott's request, are said to be running high. The New York Post reported Tuesday that investment bankers pushing the deal gave out Plant's personal information, including his mobile number, to key shareholders after the deal was rejected in hopes the investors would pressure the board chairman to reconsider his decision. Internal struggle, external challenges If the Post is correct, Arconic is in a difficult position. When Blankenship first arrived, he described a company in disarray, implying that Kleinfeld, while still with Alcoa, had done a poor job integrating the numerous acquisitions that were combined to create Arconic. "While the company has many strengths, there are clearly areas that need improvement," Blankenship told investors in February 2018 shortly after taking the job. "In the end, it comes down to execution, and I am working with our team to improve here." He made solid progress in the quarters since, picking low-hanging fruit like moving the company's headquarters out of high-cost New York City and seeking buyers for its building and construction-systems business and other slower-growing businesses, in order to focus on aerospace and other better-performing sectors. The company reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations, raised full-year earnings guidance, and reaffirmed that guidance when announcing Blankenship's departure. | Arconic CEO Chip Blankenship is out after barely a year on the job. His sudden departure hints at a broader boardroom battle behind the scenes. Investors should tread carefully as the latest chapter in the Arconic saga plays out. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/departure-arconic-ceo-derail-turnaround-110300921.html | 0.14009 |
Will the Departure of Arconics CEO Derail Its Turnaround Plan? | Arconic (NYSE: ARNC) CEO Chip Blankenship is out after barely a year on the job, further unsettling a company that has had a chaotic run since being spun off by Alcoa (NYSE: AA) in 2016. Blankenship's restructuring plan was central to the Arconic bull case, and his sudden departure hints at a broader boardroom battle behind the scenes. Investors should tread carefully as the latest chapter in the Arconic saga plays out. The fourth CEO since 2016 Arconic said before markets opened on Wednesday that Blankenship, who took over as CEO in January 2018, had been replaced by chairman John Plant, the former CEO of TRW Automotive. Plant will serve as CEO for one year, with fellow director Elmer Doty also joining the company as chief operating officer. The departure comes barely two weeks after Arconic walked away from talks to sell itself to Apollo Global Management in favor of remaining independent. I believe that decision was a long-term win for investors who now have the opportunity to reap the benefits of a turnaround instead of Apollo. But activist fund Elliott Management, holder of 10.75% of the company as of Sept. 30, was said to strongly favor the transaction. Aluminum Alloy Coils More Image source: Arconic. Elliott feuded with Blankenship's predecessor, Klaus Kleinfeld, who stepped down in April 2017 after the board said he showed poor judgement in his interactions with Elliott. Between April and January, the company was run by interim CEO David Hess, meaning Plant is the fourth CEO in Arconic's brief history. Arconic's statement announcing the CEO change offered few details, but news reports paint an unsettling picture. Blankenship was said to be in favor of the buyout, which would give him more freedom and flexibility to orchestrate his plan without the constant spotlight -- and quarterly reporting requirements -- of a public company. Arconic's board, however, was against the deal, and tensions between Elliott Management and Plant, who was originally appointed to the board at Elliott's request, are said to be running high. The New York Post reported Tuesday that investment bankers pushing the deal gave out Plant's personal information, including his mobile number, to key shareholders after the deal was rejected in hopes the investors would pressure the board chairman to reconsider his decision. Internal struggle, external challenges If the Post is correct, Arconic is in a difficult position. When Blankenship first arrived, he described a company in disarray, implying that Kleinfeld, while still with Alcoa, had done a poor job integrating the numerous acquisitions that were combined to create Arconic. "While the company has many strengths, there are clearly areas that need improvement," Blankenship told investors in February 2018 shortly after taking the job. "In the end, it comes down to execution, and I am working with our team to improve here." He made solid progress in the quarters since, picking low-hanging fruit like moving the company's headquarters out of high-cost New York City and seeking buyers for its building and construction-systems business and other slower-growing businesses, in order to focus on aerospace and other better-performing sectors. The company reported third-quarter earnings that beat expectations, raised full-year earnings guidance, and reaffirmed that guidance when announcing Blankenship's departure. | Arconic CEO Chip Blankenship is out after barely a year on the job. The company has had a chaotic run since being spun off by Alcoa in 2016. Investors should tread carefully as the latest chapter in the Ar Conic saga plays out. It's too early to tell if the departure will derail the company's turnaround plan. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/departure-arconic-ceo-derail-turnaround-110300921.html | 0.264695 |
Who are the top 10 high school football recruits in Michigan for 2020? | CLOSE Rashawn Williams, the No. 3 prospect in Michigan for 2020, talks his recruitment, and Michigan and Michigan State. Joey Delgado, For the Detroit Free press National Signing Day has come and gone (both of them) and coaches have already turned their attention toward the Class of 2020. When it comes to the best prospects in Michigan, many have not verbally chosen their college destinations yet. The highest ranked committed recruit in the state is Belleville's Andre Seldon, who has verbally committed to Michigan. Here are the top 10 recruits in the state in the class of 2020, ranked per the 247Sports composite: Buy Photo Warren De La Salle's Brett Stanley is tackled by Oak Park's Justin Rogers on Friday, November 2, 2018 at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Mich. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press) Justin Rogers, Oak Park Vitals: 6-3, 311 247 composite ranking: 5-stars; No. 1 in state; No. 14 nationally; No. 1 OG Offers: 42 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU. Enzo Jennings, Oak Park Vitals: 6-1, 185 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 2 in state; No. 95 nationally; No. 7 ATH Offers: 18 total, including Michigan, Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee. More: 4-star Enzo Jennings on Michigan-Michigan State: You could feel the hatred Rashawn Williams, Detroit King Vitals: 6-1, 185 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 3 in state; No. 156 nationally; No. 29 WR Offers: 26 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri and Ohio State. Buy Photo West Bloomfield safety Makari Paige returns an interception against Clarkston. The junior has a 4-star rating and has received over a dozen scholarship offers. (Photo: Wright Wilson/For the Detroit Free Press) Makari Paige, West Bloomfield Vitals: 6-3, 182 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 4 in state; No. 200 nationally; No. 11 S Offers: 16 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. Andre Seldon, Belleville Vitals: 5-9, 154 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 5 in state; No. 285 nationally; No. 24 CB Offers: Received 8; Committed to Michigan in June, 2018. More: Michigan football commit Andre Seldon helping recruit the class of 2020 Braiden McGregor, Port Huron Northern Vitals: 6-5, 248 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 6 in state; No. 323 nationally; No. 18 SDE Offers: 23 total, including Michigan, Michigan State Notre Dame, Alabama and Clemson. More: Port Huron Northern's Braiden McGregor 'shocked' by Alabama offer Buy Photo Detroit King's Peny Boone is tackled by Muskegon's Ray Williams, during the Division football state title at Ford Field on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press) Peny Boone, Detroit King Vitals: 6-2, 225 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 7 in state; No. 339 nationally; No. 29 RB Offers: 20 total, including Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee. Bryce Mostella, East Kentwood Vitals: 6-6, 235 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 8 in state; No. 343 nationally; No. 14 WDE Offers: 19 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State. Earnest Sanders, Flint Beecher Vitals: 6-2, 190 247 composite ranking: 3-stars; No. 9 in state; No. 388 nationally; No. 73 WR Offers: 8 total including Michigan State, Kentucky, Central Michigan and Bowling Green. Bryce Austin, Southfield Vitals: 6-2, 260 247 composite ranking: 3-stars; No. 10 in state; No. 389 nationallty; No. 31 DT Offers: 14 total, including Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue and Minnesota. | The highest ranked committed recruit in the state is Belleville's Andre Seldon, who has verbally committed to Michigan. Rashawn Williams, the No. 3 prospect in Michigan for 2020, talks his recruitment, and Michigan and Michigan State. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.freep.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/02/07/michigan-high-school-football-top-10-recruits-2020/2796951002/ | 0.348566 |
Who are the top 10 high school football recruits in Michigan for 2020? | CLOSE Rashawn Williams, the No. 3 prospect in Michigan for 2020, talks his recruitment, and Michigan and Michigan State. Joey Delgado, For the Detroit Free press National Signing Day has come and gone (both of them) and coaches have already turned their attention toward the Class of 2020. When it comes to the best prospects in Michigan, many have not verbally chosen their college destinations yet. The highest ranked committed recruit in the state is Belleville's Andre Seldon, who has verbally committed to Michigan. Here are the top 10 recruits in the state in the class of 2020, ranked per the 247Sports composite: Buy Photo Warren De La Salle's Brett Stanley is tackled by Oak Park's Justin Rogers on Friday, November 2, 2018 at Oak Park High School in Oak Park, Mich. (Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press) Justin Rogers, Oak Park Vitals: 6-3, 311 247 composite ranking: 5-stars; No. 1 in state; No. 14 nationally; No. 1 OG Offers: 42 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU. Enzo Jennings, Oak Park Vitals: 6-1, 185 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 2 in state; No. 95 nationally; No. 7 ATH Offers: 18 total, including Michigan, Auburn, Georgia, Notre Dame, Penn State and Tennessee. More: 4-star Enzo Jennings on Michigan-Michigan State: You could feel the hatred Rashawn Williams, Detroit King Vitals: 6-1, 185 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 3 in state; No. 156 nationally; No. 29 WR Offers: 26 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri and Ohio State. Buy Photo West Bloomfield safety Makari Paige returns an interception against Clarkston. The junior has a 4-star rating and has received over a dozen scholarship offers. (Photo: Wright Wilson/For the Detroit Free Press) Makari Paige, West Bloomfield Vitals: 6-3, 182 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 4 in state; No. 200 nationally; No. 11 S Offers: 16 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Penn State. Andre Seldon, Belleville Vitals: 5-9, 154 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 5 in state; No. 285 nationally; No. 24 CB Offers: Received 8; Committed to Michigan in June, 2018. More: Michigan football commit Andre Seldon helping recruit the class of 2020 Braiden McGregor, Port Huron Northern Vitals: 6-5, 248 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 6 in state; No. 323 nationally; No. 18 SDE Offers: 23 total, including Michigan, Michigan State Notre Dame, Alabama and Clemson. More: Port Huron Northern's Braiden McGregor 'shocked' by Alabama offer Buy Photo Detroit King's Peny Boone is tackled by Muskegon's Ray Williams, during the Division football state title at Ford Field on Saturday, Nov. 24, 2018. (Photo: Kimberly P. Mitchell, Detroit Free Press) Peny Boone, Detroit King Vitals: 6-2, 225 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 7 in state; No. 339 nationally; No. 29 RB Offers: 20 total, including Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee. Bryce Mostella, East Kentwood Vitals: 6-6, 235 247 composite ranking: 4-stars; No. 8 in state; No. 343 nationally; No. 14 WDE Offers: 19 total, including Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota and Penn State. Earnest Sanders, Flint Beecher Vitals: 6-2, 190 247 composite ranking: 3-stars; No. 9 in state; No. 388 nationally; No. 73 WR Offers: 8 total including Michigan State, Kentucky, Central Michigan and Bowling Green. Bryce Austin, Southfield Vitals: 6-2, 260 247 composite ranking: 3-stars; No. 10 in state; No. 389 nationallty; No. 31 DT Offers: 14 total, including Michigan State, Missouri, Purdue and Minnesota. | Detroit King's Rashawn Williams is the No. 3 prospect in Michigan for 2020. Belleville's Andre Seldon is the highest ranked committed recruit in the state. The top 10 recruits in Michigan in the class of 2020 are ranked per the 247Sports composite. | bart | 2 | https://www.freep.com/story/sports/high-school/2019/02/07/michigan-high-school-football-top-10-recruits-2020/2796951002/ | 0.301669 |
What major announcement will Nashville MLS make on Feb. 20? | CLOSE New CEO Ian Ayre, a Liverpool native, quoted one of the more famous members of his home town, Beatles member John Lennon in his introduction speech. Autumn Allison, USA TODAY NETWORK- Tennessee Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. The event will be free and open to the public at 5 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. According to a statement announcing the event, attendees will witness "Nashville sports history and the next step in the 'March to MLS.'" Former ESPN personality Sara Walsh, now with Fox Sports, will serve as the host along with other special guests. To reserve a spot, RSVP here. Two days after the announcement, Nashville SC will play future MLS foe New York City FC at 7 p.m. at First Tennessee Park in a preseason friendly. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. More: Nashville MLS team to open play in 2020 and play home games at Nissan Stadium More: Tennessee congressman's state fair group sues Nashville seeking to stop MLS stadium | Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. | bart | 0 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2019/02/07/nashville-mls-announcement-feb-20/2790456002/ | 0.621058 |
What major announcement will Nashville MLS make on Feb. 20? | CLOSE New CEO Ian Ayre, a Liverpool native, quoted one of the more famous members of his home town, Beatles member John Lennon in his introduction speech. Autumn Allison, USA TODAY NETWORK- Tennessee Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. The event will be free and open to the public at 5 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. According to a statement announcing the event, attendees will witness "Nashville sports history and the next step in the 'March to MLS.'" Former ESPN personality Sara Walsh, now with Fox Sports, will serve as the host along with other special guests. To reserve a spot, RSVP here. Two days after the announcement, Nashville SC will play future MLS foe New York City FC at 7 p.m. at First Tennessee Park in a preseason friendly. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. More: Nashville MLS team to open play in 2020 and play home games at Nissan Stadium More: Tennessee congressman's state fair group sues Nashville seeking to stop MLS stadium | Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. The event will be free and open to the public at 5 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. | bart | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2019/02/07/nashville-mls-announcement-feb-20/2790456002/ | 0.720943 |
What major announcement will Nashville MLS make on Feb. 20? | CLOSE New CEO Ian Ayre, a Liverpool native, quoted one of the more famous members of his home town, Beatles member John Lennon in his introduction speech. Autumn Allison, USA TODAY NETWORK- Tennessee Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. The event will be free and open to the public at 5 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. According to a statement announcing the event, attendees will witness "Nashville sports history and the next step in the 'March to MLS.'" Former ESPN personality Sara Walsh, now with Fox Sports, will serve as the host along with other special guests. To reserve a spot, RSVP here. Two days after the announcement, Nashville SC will play future MLS foe New York City FC at 7 p.m. at First Tennessee Park in a preseason friendly. Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter. More: Nashville MLS team to open play in 2020 and play home games at Nissan Stadium More: Tennessee congressman's state fair group sues Nashville seeking to stop MLS stadium | Nashville MLS will make a major announcement Feb. 20 concerning the future of the franchise. The event will be free and open to the public at 5 p.m. at Marathon Music Works. Former ESPN personality Sara Walsh, now with Fox Sports, will serve as the host. Two days after the announcement, Nashville SC will play New York City FC. | bart | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2019/02/07/nashville-mls-announcement-feb-20/2790456002/ | 0.798258 |
Who won the Sixers-Clippers trade? | The Los Angeles Clippers dealt Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott to the Philadelphia 76ers. In exchange, they got Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, the Sixers' 2020 first-rounder, the Miami Heat's 2021 unprotected first pick and two second-round picks in 2021 and 2023. Many think Philadelphia won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. Others think the Clippers got essential assets for a quick rebuild. PERSPECTIVES Forget about a Big Three. The Philadelphia 76ers have a Big Four and are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Harris would've easily been an All-Star if he was in the Eastern Conference and was only snubbed because the West was so stacked. Now, he gets to ply his efficient trade on the Sixers who already have Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons -- three All-Star-level players who currently have Philadelphia in fifth position for the NBA Playoffs. Getting Harris is both a short-term and long-term win for the Sixers. They won the trade. The Sixers are budgeting to re-sign and keep a new Big 4, including free agents Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Philadelphia has long-term plans for Harris, Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons together. -- Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019 The Clippers gave up an All-Star-caliber player, but what they got in return is the ability to easily upgrade that slot in the 2019 free agency period and draft picks to build a talented young team. Los Angeles is estimated to have over $46 million in cap space this summer to sign one max contract and build around that one player. They also get draft picks that can either be traded or used to get a great rookie. Harris is gone, but the Clippers won the trade. The Jerry West/Clippers era is amazing. -- Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 6, 2019 NBA trade rumors: Updated NBA title odds after Tobias Harris deal 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 Los Angeles Clippers traded Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many think Philadelphia won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/who_won_the_sixers-clippers_tr.html | 0.421111 |
Who won the Sixers-Clippers trade? | The Los Angeles Clippers dealt Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott to the Philadelphia 76ers. In exchange, they got Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, the Sixers' 2020 first-rounder, the Miami Heat's 2021 unprotected first pick and two second-round picks in 2021 and 2023. Many think Philadelphia won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. Others think the Clippers got essential assets for a quick rebuild. PERSPECTIVES Forget about a Big Three. The Philadelphia 76ers have a Big Four and are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Harris would've easily been an All-Star if he was in the Eastern Conference and was only snubbed because the West was so stacked. Now, he gets to ply his efficient trade on the Sixers who already have Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons -- three All-Star-level players who currently have Philadelphia in fifth position for the NBA Playoffs. Getting Harris is both a short-term and long-term win for the Sixers. They won the trade. The Sixers are budgeting to re-sign and keep a new Big 4, including free agents Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Philadelphia has long-term plans for Harris, Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons together. -- Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019 The Clippers gave up an All-Star-caliber player, but what they got in return is the ability to easily upgrade that slot in the 2019 free agency period and draft picks to build a talented young team. Los Angeles is estimated to have over $46 million in cap space this summer to sign one max contract and build around that one player. They also get draft picks that can either be traded or used to get a great rookie. Harris is gone, but the Clippers won the trade. The Jerry West/Clippers era is amazing. -- Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 6, 2019 NBA trade rumors: Updated NBA title odds after Tobias Harris deal 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 Los Angeles Clippers traded Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many think Philadelphia won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. Others think the Clippers got essential assets for a quick rebuild. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/who_won_the_sixers-clippers_tr.html | 0.403788 |
Who won the Sixers-Clippers trade? | The Los Angeles Clippers dealt Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic and Mike Scott to the Philadelphia 76ers. In exchange, they got Landry Shamet, Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, the Sixers' 2020 first-rounder, the Miami Heat's 2021 unprotected first pick and two second-round picks in 2021 and 2023. Many think Philadelphia won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. Others think the Clippers got essential assets for a quick rebuild. PERSPECTIVES Forget about a Big Three. The Philadelphia 76ers have a Big Four and are the team to beat in the Eastern Conference. Harris would've easily been an All-Star if he was in the Eastern Conference and was only snubbed because the West was so stacked. Now, he gets to ply his efficient trade on the Sixers who already have Jimmy Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons -- three All-Star-level players who currently have Philadelphia in fifth position for the NBA Playoffs. Getting Harris is both a short-term and long-term win for the Sixers. They won the trade. The Sixers are budgeting to re-sign and keep a new Big 4, including free agents Tobias Harris and Jimmy Butler this summer, league sources tell ESPN. Philadelphia has long-term plans for Harris, Butler, Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons together. -- Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 6, 2019 The Clippers gave up an All-Star-caliber player, but what they got in return is the ability to easily upgrade that slot in the 2019 free agency period and draft picks to build a talented young team. Los Angeles is estimated to have over $46 million in cap space this summer to sign one max contract and build around that one player. They also get draft picks that can either be traded or used to get a great rookie. Harris is gone, but the Clippers won the trade. The Jerry West/Clippers era is amazing. -- Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 6, 2019 NBA trade rumors: Updated NBA title odds after Tobias Harris deal 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 Los Angeles Clippers traded Tobias Harris to the Philadelphia 76ers. Many think the 76ers won the trade making a team with four All-Star level players. Others think the Clippers got essential assets for a quick rebuild. The Tylt wants to hear what you think about the Clippers-76ers trade. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/interact/2019/02/who_won_the_sixers-clippers_tr.html | 0.482012 |
Is Starbucks an Expensive Stock? | After stagnating over the course of two and half years, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) stock is showing signs of perking up. In fact, since its summer swoon, better-than-expected earnings have catapulted shares a handsome 40% off their July 2018 lows. With the stock now trading at a P/E ratio of 30 times trailing earnings and over 25 times forward earnings estimates. It's hard to make the argument that Starbucks is cheap. The answer depends on what kind of stock you (or the market) think Starbucks is. The argument that Starbucks is expensive There are plenty who will scoff at Starbucks' valuation. Twenty-five times earnings estimates may be a reasonable figure to pay for a high-growth company, but Starbucks' recent guidance calls for only 5%-7% revenue growth in FY 2019. That's hardly "high-growth." A man in a suit looks up, the bow of his glasses touches his lips. Image source: Getty Images. In addition, there are other dominant brands we use every day - mostly in the technology space that are growing much faster, yet sport lower valuations. For instance, Alphabet and Facebook are each growing much faster than Starbucks, yet both have lower forward P/E ratios. Check out some stats for the three companies in the following charts. SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) Chart More SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts As you can see, both Alphabet and Facebook are growing revenue 20%-30% yet both have forward P/E ratios of about 22.5, below Starbucks' 25. Not only that, but Alphabet and Facebook also have huge amounts of excess cash on their balance sheets. When stripping this out, they are even cheaper by comparison. Check out the net debt of Starbucks, Alphabet, and Facebook in the following chart. | Starbucks stock is trading at a P/E ratio of 30 times trailing earnings and over 25 times forward earnings estimates. | pegasus | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/starbucks-expensive-stock-130000468.html | 0.248534 |
Is Starbucks an Expensive Stock? | After stagnating over the course of two and half years, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) stock is showing signs of perking up. In fact, since its summer swoon, better-than-expected earnings have catapulted shares a handsome 40% off their July 2018 lows. With the stock now trading at a P/E ratio of 30 times trailing earnings and over 25 times forward earnings estimates. It's hard to make the argument that Starbucks is cheap. The answer depends on what kind of stock you (or the market) think Starbucks is. The argument that Starbucks is expensive There are plenty who will scoff at Starbucks' valuation. Twenty-five times earnings estimates may be a reasonable figure to pay for a high-growth company, but Starbucks' recent guidance calls for only 5%-7% revenue growth in FY 2019. That's hardly "high-growth." A man in a suit looks up, the bow of his glasses touches his lips. Image source: Getty Images. In addition, there are other dominant brands we use every day - mostly in the technology space that are growing much faster, yet sport lower valuations. For instance, Alphabet and Facebook are each growing much faster than Starbucks, yet both have lower forward P/E ratios. Check out some stats for the three companies in the following charts. SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) Chart More SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts As you can see, both Alphabet and Facebook are growing revenue 20%-30% yet both have forward P/E ratios of about 22.5, below Starbucks' 25. Not only that, but Alphabet and Facebook also have huge amounts of excess cash on their balance sheets. When stripping this out, they are even cheaper by comparison. Check out the net debt of Starbucks, Alphabet, and Facebook in the following chart. | It depends on what kind of stock you (or the market) think Starbucks is. The argument that Starbucks is expensive is that it's a high-growth company. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/starbucks-expensive-stock-130000468.html | 0.239255 |
Is Starbucks an Expensive Stock? | After stagnating over the course of two and half years, Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) stock is showing signs of perking up. In fact, since its summer swoon, better-than-expected earnings have catapulted shares a handsome 40% off their July 2018 lows. With the stock now trading at a P/E ratio of 30 times trailing earnings and over 25 times forward earnings estimates. It's hard to make the argument that Starbucks is cheap. The answer depends on what kind of stock you (or the market) think Starbucks is. The argument that Starbucks is expensive There are plenty who will scoff at Starbucks' valuation. Twenty-five times earnings estimates may be a reasonable figure to pay for a high-growth company, but Starbucks' recent guidance calls for only 5%-7% revenue growth in FY 2019. That's hardly "high-growth." A man in a suit looks up, the bow of his glasses touches his lips. Image source: Getty Images. In addition, there are other dominant brands we use every day - mostly in the technology space that are growing much faster, yet sport lower valuations. For instance, Alphabet and Facebook are each growing much faster than Starbucks, yet both have lower forward P/E ratios. Check out some stats for the three companies in the following charts. SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) Chart More SBUX PE Ratio (Forward) data by YCharts As you can see, both Alphabet and Facebook are growing revenue 20%-30% yet both have forward P/E ratios of about 22.5, below Starbucks' 25. Not only that, but Alphabet and Facebook also have huge amounts of excess cash on their balance sheets. When stripping this out, they are even cheaper by comparison. Check out the net debt of Starbucks, Alphabet, and Facebook in the following chart. | It depends on what kind of stock you (or the market) think Starbucks is. The argument that Starbucks is expensive is that it's a high-growth company with a low forward P/E ratio. The answer is yes, but there are other dominant brands that are growing much faster, yet sport lower valuations. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/starbucks-expensive-stock-130000468.html | 0.366241 |
Can FMC (FMC) Keep the Earnings Surprise Streak Alive? | FMC Corporation FMC will release its fourth-quarter 2018 results after the bell on Feb 11. The chemical maker saw its profits jump roughly 32% year over year to $72.8 million or 54 cents per share in third-quarter 2018. Adjusted earnings of 98 cents per share for the quarter topped the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents, reflecting a positive earnings surprise of 6.5%. Revenues surged roughly 60% year over year to $1,035.6 million, also exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1,009.6 million. The companys Agricultural Solutions business delivered strong results in the quarter on the back of solid demand and execution of commercial strategy, especially in Brazil. The company beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average positive surprise of 7.6%. Shares of FMC are up around 1.7% over a year, outperforming the industrys decline of roughly 19%. Lets see how things are shaping up for this announcement. Factors to Consider Last month, FMC raised its earnings guidance for the fourth quarter factoring in strong performance of its Agricultural Solutions unit and lower than expected taxes. The company now expects adjusted earnings for the quarter to be in a band of $1.62-$1.67 per share compared with its earlier guidance of $1.33-$1.43 per share. The Agricultural Solutions segment witnessed strong demand across all regions in the fourth quarter, leading to an 18% increase in revenues for the division on an adjusted basis. Higher EBITDA for the segment also drives roughly 8 cents incremental adjusted earnings per share vis--vis midpoint of earlier guidance. Moreover, a significant reduction in tax rate is forecast to contribute an additional 15-20 cents incremental adjusted earnings per share vis--vis the midpoint of earlier guidance. The company also expects revenues to rise 4-6% in 2019 versus adjusted 2018 revenues. It also expects total EBITDA growth of 5-9% versus adjusted 2018 EBITDA, despite significant headwinds from raw material costs and currency. Moreover, FMC expects adjusted earnings per share for 2019 to be in the range of $5.55-$5.75, barring any impact from share repurchases. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues for FMC for the fourth quarter stands at $1,173 million, reflecting an estimated year over year growth of 19.7%. Net sales for Agricultural Solutions for the fourth quarter is expected rise around 20.6% year over year as the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at $1,044 million. Results in this business, in the third quarter, were driven by DuPonts Crop Protection asset buyout as well as strong demand. The same is expected to continue in the December quarter. Moreover, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for net sales for the Lithium business stands at $127 million, reflecting an estimated 12.4% rise on a year-over-year basis. We expect FMC to provide an update on its progress on the separation of the Lithium business which has been now rebranded as Livent Corporation. Livent started trading on the NYSE in October 2018 after its initial public offering (IPO). FMC plans to spin off its roughly 85% stake in Livent to FMC shareholders on Mar 1, 2019, in the form of a pro-rata distribution of Livent shares. | FMC will release its fourth-quarter 2018 results after the bell on Feb 11. The chemical maker saw its profits jump roughly 32% year over year to $72.8 million. The company beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, delivering an average positive surprise of 7.6%. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/fmc-fmc-keep-earnings-surprise-122412887.html | 0.118556 |
How Did The Universe Expand To 46 Billion Light-Years In Just 13.8 Billion Years? | The answer seems obvious: 13.8 billion light-years, since a light-year is the distance light can travel in a year, and nothing can go faster than that. Unfortunately, like a great many answers that seem obvious when you apply your logical common sense to them, that's not how things actually work. In reality, if you were to look at the most distant thing of all you can possibly see, and ask "how far away is it," the answer is much farther than that: 46 billion light-years. That might sound impossible, but it's not. You just have to expand your way of thinking. Traditionally, the way you most often think of a distance is by taking two points and drawing a line between them. It's something we learn to do as kids, and keep with us into adulthood. For most applications, there's no problem in doing this, whether we use a ruler, an odometer, or a light clock: by measuring the amount of time it takes a light signal to take either a one-way or round-trip journey. But this assumption isn't strictly valid when it comes to the Universe. Distance isn't necessarily defined by a straight line, nor do those distances remain the same over time. The reason for this is something we don't think about in our day-to-day experience: space isn't flat, and it's also inextricably linked to time, in the form of spacetime. The "space isn't flat" part is perhaps easier to understand. When you think about the Earth revolving around the Sun, you probably think about it the same way that Newton did: in terms of an invisible, attractive force acting from one object (the Sun) on another (the Earth). This is the way we thought about gravity for centuries, and it literally took a genius at the level of Einstein to go beyond it. It isn't that mass at a certain distance causes a force, but that mass is a type of energy, and energy causes the fabric of the Universe to curve. The fabric of the Universe isn't just space, but a quantity known as spacetime, where anyone and anything in it experiences space and time together, dependent on how they're moving relative to everything else in the Universe. One of the things we learn about a Universe governed by Einstein's laws General Relativity is that it cannot be both static and stable if it has matter in it. A Universe that's static, where the overall fabric of spacetime doesn't change over time, would be in trouble if you put matter down into it. Over time, that matter would gravitationally attract, and would draw itself together towards a point. In a static Universe filled with matter, there's only one possible fate: contracting down to a black hole. Don't worry; that's not our fate. Because our Universe is doing the one thing it can do to prevent it: it's expanding. The best way to imagine the Universe is as a loaf of dough in some zero-gravity oven, where the dough is filled with raisins. Each individual raisin represents a gravitationally bound structure in the Universe: a star cluster, a galaxy, a group of galaxies, or something even larger. Each raisin also isn't bound to any other raisin; they are far enough apart that gravity will not bring them together, even given an infinite amount of time. Because the dough is rising. And that dough represents the fabric of spacetime. As time goes by, the Universe expands, and distant raisins (galaxies) appear to move away from one another. This is the key point that's so hard for most people to understand. The expansion of the Universe isn't about a speed. The Universe doesn't expand at the speed of light, the speed of sound, or any other speed. If you were to look at a raisin that's close by you, it would appear to move away from you relatively slowly, and a light signal sent from it to you would only take a short amount of time to get there. But if you were to look at a raisin that was much farther away, it would appear to recede much more quickly. A light signal sent from it to you would take a very long time to get there. The reason is because the expansion of the Universe depends on how far away an object is from you. It's not a speed; it's a speed-per-unit-distance. This is why, when we talk about the measured expansion rate of the Universe what we sometimes call the Hubble constant it comes along with such weird, foreign values: something like ~70 km/s/Mpc. This tells us that for every megaparsec (Mpc, or about 3.26 million light-years) a galaxy is distant from any other galaxy, it appears to recede at 70 km/s. So if an object is presently 100 Mpc away from us, it appears to move away at 7,000 km/s. If an object is 4,300 Mpc away from us, it appears to move away at around 300,000 km/s, or the speed of light. And if an object is 14,100 Mpc away from us, it appears to move away at around 987,000 km/s, which is a crazy large number. But I keep saying something you may be glossing over: it appears that these objects move away from us at these speeds. In reality, the objects themselves aren't moving, just like the raisins aren't moving relative to the dough that they're in. Instead, what's happening is that the fabric of spacetime itself is expanding, and the light coming from these objects is getting stretched to longer, redder wavelengths as the Universe expands. This is why we talk about the redshift of distant objects: because their light gets stretched as the fabric of the Universe expands. It's the matter and energy density of the Universe that determines how quickly the Universe expands, and we have to add up all the different types of energy, including neutrinos, radiation, dark matter and dark energy, to get the right answer. Today, there's light arriving at our eyes from all sorts of different objects at all sorts of different distances. The objects that are 13.8 billion light-years away from us now were much closer in the distant past. When they first emitted the light that's reaching us today, this occurred at a time that was already billions of years ago. That galaxy might be 13.8 billion light-years away right now, but the light didn't need to travel for 13.8 billion years to reach us; it traveled a shorter distance and for a shorter amount of time. In fact, we can see objects that are farther away than 13.8 billion light-years today, all because of the fact that the fabric of the Universe itself is expanding. If you do the math, you get an incredible answer: 46 billion light-years. (Or 46.1 billion light-years if you want to be even more precise.) If our Universe had more dark energy and less matter, the answer would be slightly larger; if the Universe had more matter and less dark energy, the answer would be slightly smaller. But that's how we get to the edge of the observable Universe. This doesn't mean we can reach everything in the part of the Universe we can see! The most distant parts of the Universe are only visible during the earliest stages. In fact, everything that's more distant than about 4,300 Mpc (or 14 billion light-years) today is at the limit of how far we can reach at the speed of light. The object more distant than that can still be seen by us, but only as they were in the past; similarly, they can only see us as we were in our past. Someone more distant than 14 billion light-years from us, even with an infinitely powerful telescope, could never observe human civilization as it is today on Earth. The fact that we can see the Universe we do tells us that it must be expanding, a fantastic match of theory and observation. It also tells us that we can extrapolate back in time to as early a stage as we want, and find all sorts of interesting milestones that happen as far as the size of the Universe is concerned compared with its age. When the Universe was a million years old, its edge was already some 100 million light-years away. When it was just a year old, we could see for nearly 100,000 light-years. When it was just a millisecond old, we could already see for a light-year in all directions. And today, 13.8 billion years after the Big Bang, the farthest thing we could possibly see, corresponding to the light emitted at the first moment of the Big Bang, is 46.1 billion light-years distant. Given the contents of our Universe, it couldn't have turned out any other way. | The most distant thing we can see is 46 billion light-years away. This is because the fabric of the Universe is inextricably linked to time, in the form of spacetime. The Universe is expanding because it has matter in it, not because it's flat. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/26/how-did-the-universe-expand-to-46-billion-light-years-in-just-13-8-billion-years/ | 0.224054 |
What Causes Toxicity In The Workplace? | In previous articles, weve looked at how toxicity can thrive in the workplace and also how to spot it. Its helpful to be able to identify toxicity but what weve not looked at yet is what may cause it in the first place. Below are some potential causes of toxicity, these cases ultimately lead to toxic ways of being and doing Deficiencies Earlier In Life - Toxic leaders have often experienced deficiencies during the formative years of their life. These deficiencies can include a lack of positive role models, deficiencies in praise, care and compassion from caregivers and also deficiencies in balance. Deficiencies in balance often revolve around success and failure. More often than not its caregivers that set the tone for this and hold success and winning in very high regard. They may have an expectation that nothing less than winning is acceptable. Anything deemed as failure may be highly criticized and judged. When there is a deficiency of balance in this way and an all or nothing influence it shapes how an individual navigates the world and views themselves. Unhelpful Ideology and Values - An individual raised with the deficiencies mentioned above may have also developed unhelpful ideologies and values around success and failure. When raised in this way they can become molded to do and be the best, prioritizing personal success over the experiences of others. That becomes core to their values system and ideology they live by. Theyll stick close to these values and ideas and seek praise and positive reinforcement. Theyll work hard for this praise and approval but if they dont get it from the world they may turn inward and lavish it upon themselves. They may become even more distanced from the experiences and needs of others as they try to meet their own through these values and ideals. These kinds of values can be highly damaging though and negatively influence a persons life as well as their behaviors, relationships and interactions. Lack Of Self Awareness - We all have thoughts, beliefs and patterns that shape us and our interactions. Some are really helpful, some are extremely unhelpful and negatively influence our behaviors and treatment of others. When we have self-awareness we can acknowledge and understand the unhelpful parts of us that may need to adapt or heal. When we are aware of them we can also have more choice about how we behave in response to them and ultimately how we live, work and treat others. When an individual lacks self-awareness, however, they will work and live in a more robotic and thoughtless way. Never questioning the how or why of who they are. Never stopping to reflect on themselves and their experiences. This leads to them ultimately working and living in a way that means they dont understand how they have been impacted by those around them and how they now go on to impact others. Ego - Toxic behaviors are often caused by a big ego that needs a lot of protection. When an individual is guided by their ego they will seek success and praise in order to reinforce the positive things they want to believe about themselves. Theyll want to avoid anything that bruises their ego at all cost and ignore any shortcomings they might have. Whats under a big ego is usually quite a fragile person who may have very genuine and deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Toxicity arises when an individual doesnt dare to face those fears and feelings. Instead, theyll guard their ego at all costs, go all out to win, play up everything they feel is great about themselves and make sure their ego stays aggressively protected at all times. There are many other life experiences and causes that lead to toxic behaviors, these are just a few of the most common. There is always a story behind who a person is and why they behave the way they do. However, that doesnt justify negatively impacting those around them. In the final article in this set on toxicity, well look at what perpetuates toxicity in the workplace and how we can distance and protect ourselves from it. | Toxic leaders have often experienced deficiencies during the formative years of their life. Toxicity is often caused by a big ego that needs a lot of protection. A lack of self-awareness can also lead to toxic behaviors. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/carleysime/2019/02/26/what-causes-toxicity-in-the-workplace/ | 0.517099 |
What Causes Toxicity In The Workplace? | In previous articles, weve looked at how toxicity can thrive in the workplace and also how to spot it. Its helpful to be able to identify toxicity but what weve not looked at yet is what may cause it in the first place. Below are some potential causes of toxicity, these cases ultimately lead to toxic ways of being and doing Deficiencies Earlier In Life - Toxic leaders have often experienced deficiencies during the formative years of their life. These deficiencies can include a lack of positive role models, deficiencies in praise, care and compassion from caregivers and also deficiencies in balance. Deficiencies in balance often revolve around success and failure. More often than not its caregivers that set the tone for this and hold success and winning in very high regard. They may have an expectation that nothing less than winning is acceptable. Anything deemed as failure may be highly criticized and judged. When there is a deficiency of balance in this way and an all or nothing influence it shapes how an individual navigates the world and views themselves. Unhelpful Ideology and Values - An individual raised with the deficiencies mentioned above may have also developed unhelpful ideologies and values around success and failure. When raised in this way they can become molded to do and be the best, prioritizing personal success over the experiences of others. That becomes core to their values system and ideology they live by. Theyll stick close to these values and ideas and seek praise and positive reinforcement. Theyll work hard for this praise and approval but if they dont get it from the world they may turn inward and lavish it upon themselves. They may become even more distanced from the experiences and needs of others as they try to meet their own through these values and ideals. These kinds of values can be highly damaging though and negatively influence a persons life as well as their behaviors, relationships and interactions. Lack Of Self Awareness - We all have thoughts, beliefs and patterns that shape us and our interactions. Some are really helpful, some are extremely unhelpful and negatively influence our behaviors and treatment of others. When we have self-awareness we can acknowledge and understand the unhelpful parts of us that may need to adapt or heal. When we are aware of them we can also have more choice about how we behave in response to them and ultimately how we live, work and treat others. When an individual lacks self-awareness, however, they will work and live in a more robotic and thoughtless way. Never questioning the how or why of who they are. Never stopping to reflect on themselves and their experiences. This leads to them ultimately working and living in a way that means they dont understand how they have been impacted by those around them and how they now go on to impact others. Ego - Toxic behaviors are often caused by a big ego that needs a lot of protection. When an individual is guided by their ego they will seek success and praise in order to reinforce the positive things they want to believe about themselves. Theyll want to avoid anything that bruises their ego at all cost and ignore any shortcomings they might have. Whats under a big ego is usually quite a fragile person who may have very genuine and deep-seated feelings of inadequacy. Toxicity arises when an individual doesnt dare to face those fears and feelings. Instead, theyll guard their ego at all costs, go all out to win, play up everything they feel is great about themselves and make sure their ego stays aggressively protected at all times. There are many other life experiences and causes that lead to toxic behaviors, these are just a few of the most common. There is always a story behind who a person is and why they behave the way they do. However, that doesnt justify negatively impacting those around them. In the final article in this set on toxicity, well look at what perpetuates toxicity in the workplace and how we can distance and protect ourselves from it. | Toxic leaders have often experienced deficiencies during the formative years of their life. These deficiencies can include a lack of positive role models, deficiencies in praise, care and compassion from caregivers and also deficiencies in balance. Toxic behaviors are often caused by a big ego that needs a lot of protection. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/carleysime/2019/02/26/what-causes-toxicity-in-the-workplace/ | 0.181502 |
Why did an insurer make things more difficult after my daughter died? | My daughter, who had cancer for more than three years, died last November. She had still been driving and just before her death renewed her car insurance with Hastings Direct. She was always full of hope she would overcome her illness. When I contacted Hastings Direct it said a refund of 371 was due. I confirmed that as there was no will, the cheque would have to be paid directly to me as the close family member dealing with her estate. The problem is that Hastings keeps sending cheques payable to the executor claiming this is the only way it could issue a refund, unless a grant of probate letter was provided. I was then told it could pay up to 250 directly to me. Reluctantly, I agreed just to bring the matter to a close. Now it says the cheque should be paid into my daughters bank account, which has been closed. I am frustrated with my dealings with them at this difficult time for the whole family. NM, Cornwall Very happy to intervene and, in fairness to Hastings Direct, staff moved very quickly to put this right. They called you to apologise and a cheque has been sent in your name. Lets hope lessons have been learned. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions | Hastings Direct said a refund of 371 was due when my daughter died. I confirmed that as there was no will, the cheque would have to be paid directly to me as the close family member. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/feb/26/hastings-direct-death-car-insurance-policy-refund | 0.139348 |
Why did an insurer make things more difficult after my daughter died? | My daughter, who had cancer for more than three years, died last November. She had still been driving and just before her death renewed her car insurance with Hastings Direct. She was always full of hope she would overcome her illness. When I contacted Hastings Direct it said a refund of 371 was due. I confirmed that as there was no will, the cheque would have to be paid directly to me as the close family member dealing with her estate. The problem is that Hastings keeps sending cheques payable to the executor claiming this is the only way it could issue a refund, unless a grant of probate letter was provided. I was then told it could pay up to 250 directly to me. Reluctantly, I agreed just to bring the matter to a close. Now it says the cheque should be paid into my daughters bank account, which has been closed. I am frustrated with my dealings with them at this difficult time for the whole family. NM, Cornwall Very happy to intervene and, in fairness to Hastings Direct, staff moved very quickly to put this right. They called you to apologise and a cheque has been sent in your name. Lets hope lessons have been learned. We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Consumer Champions, Money, the Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number. Submission and publication of all letters is subject to our terms and conditions | My daughter, who had cancer for more than three years, died last November. She had just renewed her car insurance with Hastings Direct. When I contacted Hastings Direct it said a refund of 371 was due. As there was no will, the cheque would have to be paid directly to me. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/money/2019/feb/26/hastings-direct-death-car-insurance-policy-refund | 0.243779 |
Can a sitting U.S. president face criminal charges? | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Constitution explains how a president can be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanors by Congress using the impeachment process. But the Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution in court, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not directly addressed the question. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo The question looms large with Special Counsel Robert Mueller preparing a report on his investigation into Russias role in the 2016 U.S. election, whether President Donald Trumps campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. The U.S. Justice Department has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, indicating that criminal charges against Trump would be unlikely, according to legal experts. Here is an explanation of the rationale behind the Justice Department policy and whether it applies to Mueller. In 1973, in the midst of the Watergate scandal engulfing President Richard Nixon, the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel adopted in an internal memo the position that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Nixon resigned in 1974, with the House of Representatives moving toward impeaching him. The spectacle of an indicted president still trying to serve as Chief Executive boggles the imagination, the memo stated. The department reaffirmed the policy in a 2000 memo, saying court decisions in the intervening years had not changed its conclusion that a sitting president is constitutionally immune from indictment and criminal prosecution. It concluded that criminal charges against a president would violate the constitutional separation of powers delineating the authority of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions, the memo stated. The 1973 and 2000 memos are binding on Justice Department employees, including Mueller, according to many legal experts. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 by the departments No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein. But some lawyers have argued that the nations founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution, but did not do so, suggesting an indictment would be permissible. According to this view, immunity for the president violates the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law. Possibly. The Justice Department regulations governing Muellers appointment allow him to deviate from department policy in extraordinary circumstances with the approval of the U.S. attorney general, the nations top law enforcement official. Trump appointee William Barr currently holds that post. Some legal experts have suggested Mueller could invoke this exception if he has uncovered serious wrongdoing and lacked confidence in the ability of the divided Congress to hold Trump accountable. Some lawyers also have said Mueller is not bound by the 1973 and 2000 memos because he is not a typical employee of the department. Ken Starr, who investigated President Bill Clinton in the 1990s in the somewhat different role of independent counsel, in 1998 conducted his own analysis of the question of whether a sitting president can be indicted, indicating he did not consider the 1973 Justice Department memo binding on him. Starr did not indict Clinton in his investigation involving the presidents relationship with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky, but lawyers in his office concluded he had the authority to do so, according to a once-secret internal memo made public by the New York Times in 2017. After the independent counsel statute under which Starr was named expired in 1999, the Justice Department devised procedures governing the appointment of special counsels to handle certain investigations. Mueller was named after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been overseeing the agencys Russia probe. Yes. There is no debate over whether a former president can be indicted for conduct that occurred while in office. In fact, President Gerald Ford, who succeeded Nixon after his resignation, was mindful of this when he granted a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed. The statute of limitations - restricting the time within which legal proceedings such as a prosecution may be brought - may work to Trumps benefit if he is re-elected in 2020 and serves a full two four-year terms as president until January 2025. Many federal crimes have a five-year statute of limitations, meaning prosecutors have five years from the date the conduct at issue occurred to bring an indictment. That means criminal charges against a re-elected Trump could be time-barred. Some lawyers have said that, as a matter of fairness, the normal rules on timeliness of charges should not apply to the president. The issue potentially could be resolved in the courts. | The Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution. | bart | 0 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-indictment-explainer/can-a-sitting-u-s-president-face-criminal-charges-idUSKCN1QF1D3?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | 0.160064 |
Can a sitting U.S. president face criminal charges? | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Constitution explains how a president can be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanors by Congress using the impeachment process. But the Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution in court, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not directly addressed the question. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo The question looms large with Special Counsel Robert Mueller preparing a report on his investigation into Russias role in the 2016 U.S. election, whether President Donald Trumps campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. The U.S. Justice Department has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, indicating that criminal charges against Trump would be unlikely, according to legal experts. Here is an explanation of the rationale behind the Justice Department policy and whether it applies to Mueller. In 1973, in the midst of the Watergate scandal engulfing President Richard Nixon, the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel adopted in an internal memo the position that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Nixon resigned in 1974, with the House of Representatives moving toward impeaching him. The spectacle of an indicted president still trying to serve as Chief Executive boggles the imagination, the memo stated. The department reaffirmed the policy in a 2000 memo, saying court decisions in the intervening years had not changed its conclusion that a sitting president is constitutionally immune from indictment and criminal prosecution. It concluded that criminal charges against a president would violate the constitutional separation of powers delineating the authority of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions, the memo stated. The 1973 and 2000 memos are binding on Justice Department employees, including Mueller, according to many legal experts. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 by the departments No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein. But some lawyers have argued that the nations founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution, but did not do so, suggesting an indictment would be permissible. According to this view, immunity for the president violates the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law. Possibly. The Justice Department regulations governing Muellers appointment allow him to deviate from department policy in extraordinary circumstances with the approval of the U.S. attorney general, the nations top law enforcement official. Trump appointee William Barr currently holds that post. Some legal experts have suggested Mueller could invoke this exception if he has uncovered serious wrongdoing and lacked confidence in the ability of the divided Congress to hold Trump accountable. Some lawyers also have said Mueller is not bound by the 1973 and 2000 memos because he is not a typical employee of the department. Ken Starr, who investigated President Bill Clinton in the 1990s in the somewhat different role of independent counsel, in 1998 conducted his own analysis of the question of whether a sitting president can be indicted, indicating he did not consider the 1973 Justice Department memo binding on him. Starr did not indict Clinton in his investigation involving the presidents relationship with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky, but lawyers in his office concluded he had the authority to do so, according to a once-secret internal memo made public by the New York Times in 2017. After the independent counsel statute under which Starr was named expired in 1999, the Justice Department devised procedures governing the appointment of special counsels to handle certain investigations. Mueller was named after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been overseeing the agencys Russia probe. Yes. There is no debate over whether a former president can be indicted for conduct that occurred while in office. In fact, President Gerald Ford, who succeeded Nixon after his resignation, was mindful of this when he granted a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed. The statute of limitations - restricting the time within which legal proceedings such as a prosecution may be brought - may work to Trumps benefit if he is re-elected in 2020 and serves a full two four-year terms as president until January 2025. Many federal crimes have a five-year statute of limitations, meaning prosecutors have five years from the date the conduct at issue occurred to bring an indictment. That means criminal charges against a re-elected Trump could be time-barred. Some lawyers have said that, as a matter of fairness, the normal rules on timeliness of charges should not apply to the president. The issue potentially could be resolved in the courts. | The Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution in court. The U.S. Justice Department has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted. | bart | 1 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-indictment-explainer/can-a-sitting-u-s-president-face-criminal-charges-idUSKCN1QF1D3?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | 0.267625 |
Can a sitting U.S. president face criminal charges? | WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Constitution explains how a president can be removed from office for high crimes and misdemeanors by Congress using the impeachment process. But the Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution in court, and the U.S. Supreme Court has not directly addressed the question. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during campaign rally at Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S., August 2, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo The question looms large with Special Counsel Robert Mueller preparing a report on his investigation into Russias role in the 2016 U.S. election, whether President Donald Trumps campaign conspired with Moscow and whether Trump unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. The U.S. Justice Department has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted, indicating that criminal charges against Trump would be unlikely, according to legal experts. Here is an explanation of the rationale behind the Justice Department policy and whether it applies to Mueller. In 1973, in the midst of the Watergate scandal engulfing President Richard Nixon, the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel adopted in an internal memo the position that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Nixon resigned in 1974, with the House of Representatives moving toward impeaching him. The spectacle of an indicted president still trying to serve as Chief Executive boggles the imagination, the memo stated. The department reaffirmed the policy in a 2000 memo, saying court decisions in the intervening years had not changed its conclusion that a sitting president is constitutionally immune from indictment and criminal prosecution. It concluded that criminal charges against a president would violate the constitutional separation of powers delineating the authority of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the U.S. government. The indictment or criminal prosecution of a sitting President would unconstitutionally undermine the capacity of the executive branch to perform its constitutionally assigned functions, the memo stated. The 1973 and 2000 memos are binding on Justice Department employees, including Mueller, according to many legal experts. Mueller was appointed in May 2017 by the departments No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein. But some lawyers have argued that the nations founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution, but did not do so, suggesting an indictment would be permissible. According to this view, immunity for the president violates the fundamental principle that nobody is above the law. Possibly. The Justice Department regulations governing Muellers appointment allow him to deviate from department policy in extraordinary circumstances with the approval of the U.S. attorney general, the nations top law enforcement official. Trump appointee William Barr currently holds that post. Some legal experts have suggested Mueller could invoke this exception if he has uncovered serious wrongdoing and lacked confidence in the ability of the divided Congress to hold Trump accountable. Some lawyers also have said Mueller is not bound by the 1973 and 2000 memos because he is not a typical employee of the department. Ken Starr, who investigated President Bill Clinton in the 1990s in the somewhat different role of independent counsel, in 1998 conducted his own analysis of the question of whether a sitting president can be indicted, indicating he did not consider the 1973 Justice Department memo binding on him. Starr did not indict Clinton in his investigation involving the presidents relationship with a White House intern named Monica Lewinsky, but lawyers in his office concluded he had the authority to do so, according to a once-secret internal memo made public by the New York Times in 2017. After the independent counsel statute under which Starr was named expired in 1999, the Justice Department devised procedures governing the appointment of special counsels to handle certain investigations. Mueller was named after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, who had been overseeing the agencys Russia probe. Yes. There is no debate over whether a former president can be indicted for conduct that occurred while in office. In fact, President Gerald Ford, who succeeded Nixon after his resignation, was mindful of this when he granted a full, free, and absolute pardon unto Richard Nixon for all offenses against the United States which he, Richard Nixon, has committed or may have committed. The statute of limitations - restricting the time within which legal proceedings such as a prosecution may be brought - may work to Trumps benefit if he is re-elected in 2020 and serves a full two four-year terms as president until January 2025. Many federal crimes have a five-year statute of limitations, meaning prosecutors have five years from the date the conduct at issue occurred to bring an indictment. That means criminal charges against a re-elected Trump could be time-barred. Some lawyers have said that, as a matter of fairness, the normal rules on timeliness of charges should not apply to the president. The issue potentially could be resolved in the courts. | The Constitution is silent on whether a president can face criminal prosecution in court. The U.S. Justice Department has a decades-old policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Some lawyers have argued that the nation's founders could have included a provision in the Constitution shielding the president from prosecution. | bart | 2 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-russia-indictment-explainer/can-a-sitting-u-s-president-face-criminal-charges-idUSKCN1QF1D3?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29 | 0.345459 |
What do Mikael Granlund, Wayne Simmonds bring to the Predators? | David Poile cashed in his "phone a friend" Monday as the NHL trade deadline approached. The Predators general manager, who had been stonewalled in acquiring Mark Stone from the Senators, was in jeopardy of running out of time. So he phoned Wild GM Paul Fenton, his assistant for 12 seasons in Nashville, and played "Let's Make a Deal." That deal turned out to be sending Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for forward/center Mikael Granlund, whose fiancee had begun the process of having a baby when the news was delivered. JOE REXRODE: Predators got good additions with Mikael Granlund, Wayne Simmonds. MORE: Predators trade deadline moves: Fans react to Kevin Fiala, Ryan Hartman deals The move capped a busy Monday during which 32 players were moved in 20 deals across the league, followed by a night when another trade acquisition, Brian Boyle, scored the winning goal in a shootout victory against the Oilers. CLOSE PK Subban reacts to Predators' trades on deadline day after win over the Oilers Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean Not long before the Fiala-for-Granlund deal, Poile traded last season's trade-deadline acquisition, Ryan Hartman, to the Flyers for Wayne Simmonds and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2020 draft that turns into a third-round pick should the Predators win a playoff series this season. While Simmonds will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and could turn out to be a rental, Granlund has one more year left on his contract, which carries a $5.75 million cap hit. Poile said he has every intention of trying to keep Granlund, and he never would have made the deal if not for his contract status. TRADES FISHER-APPROVED: Predators honor former captain Mike Fisher CATFISH CORNER: Sign up for Preds news, analysis delivered to your inbox Poile also was able to escape deadline day by not giving up any prized prospects hello, Eeli Tolvanen and Dante Fabbro and addressing two important needs in power-play presence and physicality. The Predators are last in the former and were sorely lacking in the latter, especially after losing Austin Watson to an indefinite suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. CLOSE Preds coach Peter Laviolette on trade deadline acqusitions Wayne Simmonds, Mikael Granlund Paul Skrbina, The Tennessean "We're going to see, aren't we?" Poile said. "If I hadn't done anything today, which you never know how this goes .. I would've probably used that line with you today. I would have said that we've had some inconsistencies but I don't feel (there's) any reason why we couldn't get it together and be a top team. "Having said that ... I believe our team is better today than it was yesterday. I'm all in, as you can see." Mikael Granlund The 27-year-old forward/center is in his seventh season and could be the second-line player the Predators have lacked/coveted. Granlund provides consistency and is on pace for his third straight 60-point season. Status: Granlund has one year left on his deal, giving the Predators and Granlund some time to evaluate the situation. Stats: He has 15 goals, 34 assists and 18 power-play points this season. Subscribe to Catfish Corner: A Predators Podcast Spreaker | iTunes | Google Play Music Where he fits in: Poile has stressed the importance of production from the second line. Granlund could very well fit that bill playing alongside Kyle Turris and Craig Smith, when he returns from injury. Poile pegged him as potentially one of the team's top scorers, up there with Filip Forsberg, Ryan Johansen and Viktor Arvidsson, and even hinted he could play on the top at times. They'll have to wait, though, for him to report due to his family situation. Why it makes sense: Fiala is just 22. Poile labeled him a 30-goal scorer someday and said he may someday regret the move. But Fiala has been wildly inconsistent this season and has had confidence issues. Granlund is on pace for his third straight 60-point season. Quotable: "There's no question we've been looking for more secondary scoring. Wherever our coach puts Granlund, whether thats breaking up our first line or enhancing our second line, I'm very confident were going to be more of a threat than we were previously." Poile on Granlund. Wayne Simmonds NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Top and trending sports headlines you need to know for your busy day. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-342-8237. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters The 30-year-old, one-time All-Star is in his 11th season. He played for Predators coach Peter Laviolette for three years in Philadelphia. Has two 60-point seasons under his belt. Status: Unrestricted free agent after this season. Stats: Has 16 goals, 11 assists and five power-play goals this season. Where he fits in: At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Simmonds isn't the biggest guy. But he's not afraid to protect his teammates and he's not shy about being a net-front presence, which the Predators, with the exception of Brian Boyle, have mostly lacked. Figure Simmonds could see a lot of time on the third line with Nick Bonino and Calle Jarnkrok. Why it makes sense: The Predators gave up a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick and Victor Ejdsell for Hartman at last year's trade deadline. Hartman struggled in the playoffs, had shoulder surgery last summer and went two months without a goal recently while bouncing around from line to line. This move essentially allows Poile to erase the move he made last season. Quotable: "Wayne Simmonds brings not only the offensive consistency, but he's a presence on the power play In addition, he gives us that physical element we probably wanted to add a little bit more, a complement to Brian Boyle, if you will." Poile on Simmonds, who is expected to play Tuesday against the Blues. MORE: As NHL trade deadline approaches several Predators know the uneasy feeling Reach Paul Skrbina at pskrbina@tennessean.com and follow him on Twitter @PaulSkrbina. | Predators general manager David Poile cashed in his "phone a friend" Monday as the NHL trade deadline approached. Poile traded Kevin Fiala to Minnesota for forward/center Mikael Granlund. Granlund provides consistency and is on pace for his third straight 60-point season. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2019/02/26/predators-trade-deadline-wayne-simmonds-mikael-granlund-what-it-means-david-poile/2973569002/ | 0.135735 |
Are AI And ML The Answers To The Data Tsunami? | In our digital age, advanced analytics including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become valuable tools in business decision making. Businesses are gathering and processing more data than ever before and investing considerable resources to drive analytics-based decisions. With an exponential volume of information flowing on a daily basis, businesses have struggled to keep pace with advanced technology and make the best use of their data. AI and ML are the solutions everyone seems to want to employ, although few understand the difference in those technologies or how to effectively employ them. Benefits Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning While the terms AI and ML are both part of the advanced analytics lexicon and are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Machine learning defines a computer system that has the ability to learn how to do specific tasks, which includes using past data to make decisions or predictions without human interaction. Artificial intelligence refers to "computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages." Many AI systems use machine learning techniques to function. One of the key similarities between both AI and ML is that both technologies become even smarter with data. They help us create actionable information from the incredible amount of data we have access to, therefore allowing us to have more meaningful interactions with our customers. They can help us answer the age-old questions of "Who are our customers?" and "What do they want to buy?" For example, a music subscription service uses AI and ML to evaluate what a user has listened to in the past in order to make recommendations for future listening sessions. Voice-activated assistants and chatbots use AI and ML to perform tasks, like responding to a user when they a question about a product or service. When consumers shops online, businesses will use an algorithm to feed them advertisements for similar products the customers are likely to purchase based on their shopping or viewing history. As consumers, we get a more personalized experience with the apps and programs were using on a daily basis. As businesses, we gain vital information on those who are interacting with our brand. Challenges Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning One of the challenges associated with AI and ML is having a sufficient amount of data and the type of data required for a system to learn over time. For example, as people have used search engines over time for answers to all kinds of life questions, those search engines have relied on that data, along with AI and ML systems, to generate more accurate and relevant responses each time someone searches. Cross-device identification has added another layer to this data tsunami a user might search a term on their laptop, and then conduct a separate search on a cell phone later that day. A business must be equipped with the right tools to identify that consumer and keep up with their interests and habits. There is also a transparency factor when it comes to AI and ML. If a business uses an ML system to predict a users next playlist or song choice, the results might be skewed if the users friend takes over the music during a road trip. The machines next few suggested songs or playlists might not make sense to the user until the algorithm starts to learn again with the original user. In addition, businesses need to be mindful of legal implications and customer privacy before utilizing AI and ML. In a regulated industry such as banking, advanced analytics can be a convenient tool to help businesses make lending decisions based on their consumers spending habits and credit histories, but expandability and compliance are both concerns. While the impact of product sales is important, in that AI and ML help to increase sales and contribute to the businesss bottom line, the decision doesnt have the same implications as a regulated decision. When a customer applies for a loan, a financial institution can face a large-cost implication if it wrongfully rejects or accepts an application. When a machine helps make the decision, it becomes hard to provide the reasoning. In addition, it becomes harder to ensure non-static decisioning models are compliant. You might be able to ensure they are compliant to begin with, but as they learn and adjust, you can no longer prove that model is still compliant. A Future With Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning As more data is created, more sources become available and more data sets are created, the ability to start thinking about alternate ways to manage the data becomes more relevant. While AI and ML have their challenges and benefits, both have become increasingly important. When used correctly, they both can help businesses sell more, make better predictions and create satisfied customers. There is still plenty of room for growth and improvement, but as long as a business determines what its objectives are, the outside factors that might impact a data-driven business decision and any potential implications for an undesired outcome, the answer is yes: AI and ML can help us better ride todays data tsunami. | Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become valuable tools in business decision making. Businesses are gathering and processing more data than ever before and investing considerable resources to drive analytics-based decisions. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/02/26/are-ai-and-ml-the-answers-to-the-data-tsunami/ | 0.131473 |
Are AI And ML The Answers To The Data Tsunami? | In our digital age, advanced analytics including artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become valuable tools in business decision making. Businesses are gathering and processing more data than ever before and investing considerable resources to drive analytics-based decisions. With an exponential volume of information flowing on a daily basis, businesses have struggled to keep pace with advanced technology and make the best use of their data. AI and ML are the solutions everyone seems to want to employ, although few understand the difference in those technologies or how to effectively employ them. Benefits Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning While the terms AI and ML are both part of the advanced analytics lexicon and are often used interchangeably, there is a difference. Machine learning defines a computer system that has the ability to learn how to do specific tasks, which includes using past data to make decisions or predictions without human interaction. Artificial intelligence refers to "computer systems able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, and translation between languages." Many AI systems use machine learning techniques to function. One of the key similarities between both AI and ML is that both technologies become even smarter with data. They help us create actionable information from the incredible amount of data we have access to, therefore allowing us to have more meaningful interactions with our customers. They can help us answer the age-old questions of "Who are our customers?" and "What do they want to buy?" For example, a music subscription service uses AI and ML to evaluate what a user has listened to in the past in order to make recommendations for future listening sessions. Voice-activated assistants and chatbots use AI and ML to perform tasks, like responding to a user when they a question about a product or service. When consumers shops online, businesses will use an algorithm to feed them advertisements for similar products the customers are likely to purchase based on their shopping or viewing history. As consumers, we get a more personalized experience with the apps and programs were using on a daily basis. As businesses, we gain vital information on those who are interacting with our brand. Challenges Of Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning One of the challenges associated with AI and ML is having a sufficient amount of data and the type of data required for a system to learn over time. For example, as people have used search engines over time for answers to all kinds of life questions, those search engines have relied on that data, along with AI and ML systems, to generate more accurate and relevant responses each time someone searches. Cross-device identification has added another layer to this data tsunami a user might search a term on their laptop, and then conduct a separate search on a cell phone later that day. A business must be equipped with the right tools to identify that consumer and keep up with their interests and habits. There is also a transparency factor when it comes to AI and ML. If a business uses an ML system to predict a users next playlist or song choice, the results might be skewed if the users friend takes over the music during a road trip. The machines next few suggested songs or playlists might not make sense to the user until the algorithm starts to learn again with the original user. In addition, businesses need to be mindful of legal implications and customer privacy before utilizing AI and ML. In a regulated industry such as banking, advanced analytics can be a convenient tool to help businesses make lending decisions based on their consumers spending habits and credit histories, but expandability and compliance are both concerns. While the impact of product sales is important, in that AI and ML help to increase sales and contribute to the businesss bottom line, the decision doesnt have the same implications as a regulated decision. When a customer applies for a loan, a financial institution can face a large-cost implication if it wrongfully rejects or accepts an application. When a machine helps make the decision, it becomes hard to provide the reasoning. In addition, it becomes harder to ensure non-static decisioning models are compliant. You might be able to ensure they are compliant to begin with, but as they learn and adjust, you can no longer prove that model is still compliant. A Future With Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning As more data is created, more sources become available and more data sets are created, the ability to start thinking about alternate ways to manage the data becomes more relevant. While AI and ML have their challenges and benefits, both have become increasingly important. When used correctly, they both can help businesses sell more, make better predictions and create satisfied customers. There is still plenty of room for growth and improvement, but as long as a business determines what its objectives are, the outside factors that might impact a data-driven business decision and any potential implications for an undesired outcome, the answer is yes: AI and ML can help us better ride todays data tsunami. | Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become valuable tools in business decision making. They help us create actionable information from the incredible amount of data we have access to. One of the challenges associated with AI and ML is having enough data and the type of data required to learn. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/02/26/are-ai-and-ml-the-answers-to-the-data-tsunami/ | 0.230028 |
Should cigarettes be banned? | Tobacco causes 6-7 million deaths per year around the world. Some argue an outright ban on cigarettes is necessary in order to address the massive public health risk they pose to smokers and nonsmokers alike. Others say banning cigarettes violates personal freedom. An estimated 34.3 million Americans smoke cigarettes. A ban would mean massive changes in addictive behavior for each of them, but it could also mean saving the lives of the people they interact with. In the United States alone, cigarette smoking causes 480,000 deaths every year, making it the leading cause of preventable death. Secondhand smoke causes 41,000 deaths per year. Cigarette smoking can lead to lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Although smoking in the U.S. is on the decline, an outright ban on cigarettes would help prevent the one billion projected tobacco-related deaths in the 21st century. The BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics explains: The weightiest factor supporting a ban, we argue, is the often substantial well-being losses many individuals suffer because of smoking...The potential gains in well-being and equality, we argue, outweigh the limits a ban places on individuals freedom, its failure to respect some individuals autonomous choice and the likelihood that it may, in individual cases, reduce well-being. Update: People still smoke cigarettes with their kids in the car but yes please ban straws. Jackie Bouvier (@jackiembouvier) February 12, 2019 Although banning cigarettes would certainly help the public health of the country, it would also contribute to inequality. If the U.S. placed a ban on cigarettes, a significant portion of its population could find itself addicted to a newly illicit substance. If lawmakers take the ban a step further and make possession of tobacco illegalas was attempted in an 2013 Oregon billsmokers could face fines and prison time. The last thing the U.S. criminal justice system needs is more drug-related crimes. Banning cigarettes would mount inequality and bias. ever notice the government wants to ban cigarettes . I mean I dont like them, I dont like em around me but what I dont like is that government is telling you what you can and cannot do & its getting tyrannical..... Yankee Doodle Boi (@luissxxmartinez) February 11, 2019 Hawaii might be the first state to put a cigarette ban into effect. According to State Representative Richard Creagan, taxing cigarettes is not enough. As long as people are still dying from cigarette use, there's something more their government can do to help prevent those deaths. KRON4 reports: Creagan dismisses the argument that his proposal would take away a smoker's civil liberty, saying it is something the tobacco industry has long cited. Creagan plans to roll out the ban in phases so the state can reallocated tax revenue to account for its losses from cigarette sales. He also looks forward to increased tourism as a result of the ban, implying that "if Hawaii becomes the first cigarette-free destination, visitors will flock here." Our beaches will be free of cigarette butts, our parks, all of that. Kids wont be exposed. You wont have to worry about your baby or your dog chewing on a cigarette butt, I mean, well be the first state to be cigarette-free and i think thats really cool. Hawaii could be first in US to ban sale of cigarettes Smoking is already villainized in the public discourseand rightfully sobut smokers themselves should not be subject to the same demonization. One smoker writes on Quora: ... the government should not be able to ban us smokers because we know the harm it does to our bodies. I have the same opinion about the government trying to ban or tax more highly the purchase of soda over a certain size, its up to the individual drinkers what they want to put in their body, if they like soda, they shouldnt be penalized for it. To a point, you have the right to choose what you put into your body. By grouping cigarettes in with other illegal substances, the government would be interfering with individual liberty. I don't smoke, but this is a slippery slope....nope. sassy_nach (@sassy_nach) February 5, 2019 A ban on cigarettes could work help level the playing field in the long run. According to the BMI Journal of Ethics: Of course, not all disadvantaged people smoke, and not all smokers are disadvantaged, socio-economically or otherwise. In the aggregate, however, a ban could help reduce inequalities in health outcomes. Studies suggest that, in Europe, smoking could be the largest single contributor to socio-economic inequalities in health, particularly among men. In the UK, tobacco is considered the cause of about half of the socioeconomic status difference in death rates. Good. Cigarettes are killers and tobacco companies make a fortune on the misery of other people jezmund (@jezmundzmusic) February 10, 2019 A ban on cigarettes will not change the behavior of thousands of Americans overnight. One smoker writes on Quora: To be completely honest if youre going to ban smoking and there will be notice given (whether you want it or not) Im going to start growing my own tobacco because I will not give it up that easily. I will continue smoking it because I enjoy it. I enjoy the smells, tastes, and sight of the plumes of smoke rising out of my pipes and cigars. A ban on cigarettes would only turn many Americans personal decision into an illegal activity, and even then, a nominal ban would not result in the actual absence of cigarettes. I think that if Hawaii works to ban cigarettes, it will create more of a black market and increase crime. More people will want them and work harder to get them even though they are illegal. It is difficult to change behavior with laws. Zoe F. (@Zoe_Alxa) February 19, 2019 | Hawaii might be the first state in the U.S. to put a cigarette ban into effect. Some argue a ban on cigarettes is necessary to address the massive public health risk they pose to smokers and nonsmokers. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/02/should-cigarettes-be-banned.html | 0.161204 |
Should cigarettes be banned? | Tobacco causes 6-7 million deaths per year around the world. Some argue an outright ban on cigarettes is necessary in order to address the massive public health risk they pose to smokers and nonsmokers alike. Others say banning cigarettes violates personal freedom. An estimated 34.3 million Americans smoke cigarettes. A ban would mean massive changes in addictive behavior for each of them, but it could also mean saving the lives of the people they interact with. In the United States alone, cigarette smoking causes 480,000 deaths every year, making it the leading cause of preventable death. Secondhand smoke causes 41,000 deaths per year. Cigarette smoking can lead to lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. Although smoking in the U.S. is on the decline, an outright ban on cigarettes would help prevent the one billion projected tobacco-related deaths in the 21st century. The BMJ Journal of Medical Ethics explains: The weightiest factor supporting a ban, we argue, is the often substantial well-being losses many individuals suffer because of smoking...The potential gains in well-being and equality, we argue, outweigh the limits a ban places on individuals freedom, its failure to respect some individuals autonomous choice and the likelihood that it may, in individual cases, reduce well-being. Update: People still smoke cigarettes with their kids in the car but yes please ban straws. Jackie Bouvier (@jackiembouvier) February 12, 2019 Although banning cigarettes would certainly help the public health of the country, it would also contribute to inequality. If the U.S. placed a ban on cigarettes, a significant portion of its population could find itself addicted to a newly illicit substance. If lawmakers take the ban a step further and make possession of tobacco illegalas was attempted in an 2013 Oregon billsmokers could face fines and prison time. The last thing the U.S. criminal justice system needs is more drug-related crimes. Banning cigarettes would mount inequality and bias. ever notice the government wants to ban cigarettes . I mean I dont like them, I dont like em around me but what I dont like is that government is telling you what you can and cannot do & its getting tyrannical..... Yankee Doodle Boi (@luissxxmartinez) February 11, 2019 Hawaii might be the first state to put a cigarette ban into effect. According to State Representative Richard Creagan, taxing cigarettes is not enough. As long as people are still dying from cigarette use, there's something more their government can do to help prevent those deaths. KRON4 reports: Creagan dismisses the argument that his proposal would take away a smoker's civil liberty, saying it is something the tobacco industry has long cited. Creagan plans to roll out the ban in phases so the state can reallocated tax revenue to account for its losses from cigarette sales. He also looks forward to increased tourism as a result of the ban, implying that "if Hawaii becomes the first cigarette-free destination, visitors will flock here." Our beaches will be free of cigarette butts, our parks, all of that. Kids wont be exposed. You wont have to worry about your baby or your dog chewing on a cigarette butt, I mean, well be the first state to be cigarette-free and i think thats really cool. Hawaii could be first in US to ban sale of cigarettes Smoking is already villainized in the public discourseand rightfully sobut smokers themselves should not be subject to the same demonization. One smoker writes on Quora: ... the government should not be able to ban us smokers because we know the harm it does to our bodies. I have the same opinion about the government trying to ban or tax more highly the purchase of soda over a certain size, its up to the individual drinkers what they want to put in their body, if they like soda, they shouldnt be penalized for it. To a point, you have the right to choose what you put into your body. By grouping cigarettes in with other illegal substances, the government would be interfering with individual liberty. I don't smoke, but this is a slippery slope....nope. sassy_nach (@sassy_nach) February 5, 2019 A ban on cigarettes could work help level the playing field in the long run. According to the BMI Journal of Ethics: Of course, not all disadvantaged people smoke, and not all smokers are disadvantaged, socio-economically or otherwise. In the aggregate, however, a ban could help reduce inequalities in health outcomes. Studies suggest that, in Europe, smoking could be the largest single contributor to socio-economic inequalities in health, particularly among men. In the UK, tobacco is considered the cause of about half of the socioeconomic status difference in death rates. Good. Cigarettes are killers and tobacco companies make a fortune on the misery of other people jezmund (@jezmundzmusic) February 10, 2019 A ban on cigarettes will not change the behavior of thousands of Americans overnight. One smoker writes on Quora: To be completely honest if youre going to ban smoking and there will be notice given (whether you want it or not) Im going to start growing my own tobacco because I will not give it up that easily. I will continue smoking it because I enjoy it. I enjoy the smells, tastes, and sight of the plumes of smoke rising out of my pipes and cigars. A ban on cigarettes would only turn many Americans personal decision into an illegal activity, and even then, a nominal ban would not result in the actual absence of cigarettes. I think that if Hawaii works to ban cigarettes, it will create more of a black market and increase crime. More people will want them and work harder to get them even though they are illegal. It is difficult to change behavior with laws. Zoe F. (@Zoe_Alxa) February 19, 2019 | Hawaii might be the first state in the U.S. to put a cigarette ban into effect. Some argue a ban on cigarettes is necessary to address the massive public health risk they pose to smokers and nonsmokers alike. Others argue that banning cigarettes violates personal freedom. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/02/should-cigarettes-be-banned.html | 0.19439 |
When it Comes to the Financial Industry, What Does it Take to Gain Trust? | The war for trust is being waged hot and heavy. These days, any commercial by a financial services company (insurance companies, stock brokerages, etc.) prominently displays a rainbow of humanity paired with an overly sincere professional (actor) trying to convey the message of trust. These ads, created by marketing gurus and hyper produced by ad executives, attempt to bridge the gap between an under-educated public and the sales professionals who wish to separate you from your hard-earned cash. I must ask the following questions. Something just doesnt add up. According to the CFP Institute and Edelman Investor Trust Study (2013), only 51% of retail investors trust investment management firms to do what is right. The study goes on to say that the financial services is the industry least trusted by the general population. According to the study, there are three major practices that build trust: 1) Transparency and open business practices is the leading response, followed closely by 2) Taking responsible actions to address an issue or crisis, and 3) Has ethical business practices. Well, here we are in 2019 and it doesnt appear that the industry, as a whole, has inched any closer to action gaining the publics trust. We seek advice from people we trust, says Meir Statman, Professor of Finance at Santa Clara University and author of Finance for Normal People and What Investors Really Want. Trust, however, has downsides when misplaced, evident in Ponzi schemes. Advisors who provided services that build trust suffer lower withdrawals, whole those with the ability to steal from their clients suffered greater withdrawals. Consumer education is key in making prudent decisions when it is in conjunction with the stated requirement of accountability, transparency, and ethical behavior. The CFA Institute published their 2016 Trust to Loyalty Survey that states that investors would be willing to pay more in return for: ethical behavior in all interactions, full disclosure of fees and costs, and taking time to understand priorities and dynamics with different stakeholders. Well if that isnt a hue and cry for making a hard left turn into a more consumer-friendly lane. What is being asked for is ethical behavior and transparency! Instead, we get commercials that say all the right words but the firms paying the freight dont walk the talk. Here are a few things you can do: 1. Read, but understand the point of view of the writer. 2. Demand transparency. Real trust cannot be attained unless you are able to see for yourself. 3. Do your research (brokercheck.org). Make sure you understand the background of the person and organization with which youre working. If theyve been fined over and over again, ask yourself why you are supporting their bad behavior. 4. Acknowledge that change is challenging, but if your current financial advisor isnt transparent or acting in the highest ethical standard (Fiduciary Standard), then consider making the switch to someone who will act in your best interest. Check out NAPFA.org to find a financial advisor who will. 5. Ask questions-Ask questions-Ask questions. Dont settle for answers that dont specifically address your concerns or demonstrate that you are being heard and understood. 6. Begin with your values and make sure your life and those in it align best with your values. Whether its the relationship that brings more sadness than joy, the job that has more moments of frustration than satisfaction or the company that has promised a service but never seems to satisfactorily deliver, we find ourselves exhausting every possibility to make things better. Often this pattern occurs because we place an inordinate amount of the blame on ourselves. We believe that if we can finally get it right, all will be fine. There is an important distinction between personal responsibility for mistakes and righteous indignation at a situation that had let us down. It takes wisdom and objectivity to tell the difference. Before catapulting toward self-blame, critically assess something that isnt working, ask for input from those you trust, and know that making a change can open a new world of glorious possibilities. You deserve financial success. While you might not feel your financial acumen is sufficient to go it alone (and youre probably correct), make sure the firm, organization, team, or individual you put your faith in (and your financial success) is worthy of that trust. | According to the CFP Institute and Edelman Investor Trust Study (2013), only 51% of retail investors trust investment management firms to do what is right. Financial services is the industry least trusted by the general population. What is being asked for is ethical behavior and transparency. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelkay/2019/02/26/when-it-comes-to-the-financial-industry-what-does-it-take-to-gain-trust/ | 0.13778 |
Will the NFL punish Robert Kraft and the Patriots over prostitution allegations? | The NFL has its latest controversy, with the twist being that this time it involves an owner rather than a player. On Friday, news broke that police were charging New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft with soliciting sex at a Florida massage parlor, something authorities uncovered while investigating an alleged sex trafficking ring. On Monday, police issued an arrest warrant for Kraft for two separate misdemeanor charges. This turn of events has created yet another controversy for a league already plagued with them and has provided embattled commissioner Roger Goodell with yet another challenge. According to police reports, Kraft visited the parlor on two separate occasions, one being the day of the Patriots AFC title game last month, and paid for a sexual act. In addition, police claim to have video evidence of one of those encounters. Kraft faces two charges of soliciting prostitution. If he is convicted, he faces up to one year in jail, a $5,000 penalty and 100 hours of education and community service. Robert Kraft: documents say Patriots owner solicited sex on day of AFC title game Read more In response, Krafts spokesperson issued the following statement: We categorically deny that Mr Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. It could be quite a big deal. Since Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, saving them from a potential relocation, the team has turned into the NFLs most successful franchise. Under head coach Bill Belichick, who was hired during Krafts tenure, the team has won six Super Bowls, including the most recent. Because of this, Kraft has become one of the most high-profile and influential owners in the league. When the NFL ended its lockout in 2011, many within the league recognized Krafts efforts during the negotiation process. Now, if this were just the matter of a rich man engaging the services of a sex worker, the incident would possibly rank as more embarrassing for the league than anything else. However, officials allege that the Orchids of Asia Day Spa is involved with sex trafficking. If that ends up being the case, and it needs to be emphasized that we currently only have law enforcements side of events, it would be the story of one the most powerful people in the NFL being complicit, whether knowingly or not, with what amounts to modern-day slavery. Thats a big deal and the league would have to treat it as one. Thats the question going forward. The league has received a huge amount of criticism for its disciplinary policy with, for example, cases of domestic violence being less severely punished than drug offenses. If theres clear evidence that Kraft is guilty, the NFL will need to punish him or risk opening themselves up to legitimate charges of treating owners more leniently than players. It should also be pointed out that the league can issue punishments even if Kraft is not found guilty in court. Goodell himself has said everyone in the NFL needs to be treated the same. When Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of a controlled substance in 2014, the NFL gave him a six-game suspension and a $500,000 penalty. Yes. In 2007, the league fined the team $250,000 and took away their first-round draft pick after an investigation revealed that Belichick illegally taped opponents signs. In addition, Belichick was also fined $500,000. In 2015, the team was fined $1m and lost two draft picks, including another first rounder, after quarterback Tom Brady was caught using improperly deflated footballs. Brady was also suspended four games, a punishment he eventually served after a lengthy court battle. Since this latest scandal doesnt directly involve the team the allegations involve Krafts private life the Patriots are unlikely to be punished. the most likely punishment for Kraft would be a suspension and a hefty fine, although that wont hurt a man worth billions too much. Although, again, attempting to predict what Goodell and company will do when it comes to issuing punishments is extremely tricky. In an article for the New York Daily News, Jane McManus makes a convincing argument that, should Kraft be found guilty, he should be banned from the league. McManus points out that Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson was essentially forced out of the league after sexual harassment allegations and she argues that this case would justify a similar result. Goodell and any owners who dont want to be tainted by these alleged actions need to investigate and send a message, she writes, you cant appeal to women if owners exploit them without consequences, whether that is on the field, as employees or even in their private lives. According to Sports Illustrateds legal expert Michael McCann, that is highly unlikely, as it would require the votes of 23 of 31 eligible owners. McCann does allow for the possibility that the Kraft could be persuaded to hand over control of his team in order to save face. Krafts son Jonathan, who already plays a large role in the organization, would be the obvious successor. The case, it needs to be emphasized, is far bigger than football. Kraft is just one of hundreds who have been charged with soliciting prostitution as part of this investigation. There is a legitimate sports story here involving how the NFL will treat the matter, especially considering past failures when it comes to employees mistreating women. It should not, however, overshadow the fact that the larger story appears to involve women who have been exploited and forced to work under terrible conditions. They are the real victims here, and, in comparison, the trials and tribulations of an NFL team are inconsequential. | Robert Kraft has been charged with soliciting sex at a Florida massage parlor. If found guilty, Kraft could face up to one year in jail and a $5,000 penalty. The NFL has been criticized for its lenient punishment of players in the past. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/feb/26/robert-kraft-allegations-prostitution-nfl-punishment-new-england-patriots | 0.123419 |
What is the history of the Grand Canyon? | Getty Images On 26 February 1919 - exactly 100 years ago today - the Grand Canyon in Arizona in the US became an official National Park. Lots of events are taking place throughout the year to celebrate this park's big birthday. Millions of people visit the canyon every year, but for a long period of history, it was an unexplored part of the world. The canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it. It is believed the river made its course through the canyon about six million years ago. People knew about the Colorado River - which stretches from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California - but the Grand Canyon section remained a bit of a mystery. Getty Images The Grand Canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it Now, we know that people have been based in and around the canyon from over 10,000 years ago, when hunter gatherers used to pass through. We know this because of archaeological evidence, such as homes, artefacts and food storing areas which they left behind. But there is still more to explore. The first Europeans to reach the Grand Canyon did so in the 16th Century. Spanish explorers first ventured into the south rim in 1540, but they didn't find anything of value so they turned back. It was many more years before European explorers would turn their attention back to the area. Even as late as the mid-19th Century, the Grand Canyon was still known as 'The Great Unknown' because that's exactly what it was. It was even left as a blank area on maps! In 1857, an army lieutenant called Joseph Christmas Ives took a 50-foot steamboat up the river to explore the area. His boat crashed and he continued on foot, becoming the first European American known to reach the river within the canyon itself, although he did not explore the full length. Getty Images This travel poster to encourage tourists to visit the Grand Canyon is from 1939 He wrote about his expedition: "The extent and magnitude of the system of canyons is astounding. The plateau is cut into shreds by these gigantic chasms, and resembles a vast ruin. "It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed." He couldn't have been more wrong. The man credited as the first main explorer of the canyon was someone called John Wesley Powell. In 1869, along with nine men in four small wooden boats, Powell headed up the Colorado River, through the canyon. Getty Images Major John Wesley Powell came up with the name that we all use today - the Grand Canyon It was a treacherous trip and by the end, with few supplies left, it became a fight for survival. Many of his notes from this trip were lost and there are no photographs. But he survived and led another expedition in 1871, which gave the world the first reliable maps of the Colorado River. He was even responsible for giving the area the name we use today - the Grand Canyon. Getty Images This picture shows John Wesley Powell's boat called Emma Dean, which he named after his wife, on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during his second trip Over the years, the canyon has also served as a mine, after a man called Dan Hogan came to the canyon in 1890 and explored it for mining potential. He also set up tourist facilities and around the turn of the century, the tourist industry around the Grand Canyon really started to take off. Hogan sold his business to Madeleine Jacobs in 1946 who, at first, didn't realise the canyon's mining potential and focused more on the tourist side of things. But when Jacobs realised the rich uranium available, according to the official National Park Service website, the canyon operated as "one of the most productive uranium mines in the region, in operation from 1953 to 1969". Mining would eventually stop here when the market for uranium declined and it became very expensive to ship. The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt. Getty Images The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt He visited it in 1903 and, in 1906, signed a law that made it the Grand Canyon Game Reserve. Two years later, he made it a national monument. "Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it," he said. Later, on 26 February 1919, US President Woodrow Wilson made the area a National Park by law. And on 26 October 1979, it was designated a World Heritage Site, which means that you're not actually allowed to pick up chunks of rock and take them home with you as a souvenir, although you can buy them at tourist shops. When it first opened as a National Park, around 45,000 people visited it each year. Now, this figure is around 6 million people. You can find out more about the Grand Canyon here. | On 26 February 1919, the Grand Canyon became an official National Park. The canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47362852 | 0.270287 |
What is the history of the Grand Canyon? | Getty Images On 26 February 1919 - exactly 100 years ago today - the Grand Canyon in Arizona in the US became an official National Park. Lots of events are taking place throughout the year to celebrate this park's big birthday. Millions of people visit the canyon every year, but for a long period of history, it was an unexplored part of the world. The canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it. It is believed the river made its course through the canyon about six million years ago. People knew about the Colorado River - which stretches from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California - but the Grand Canyon section remained a bit of a mystery. Getty Images The Grand Canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it Now, we know that people have been based in and around the canyon from over 10,000 years ago, when hunter gatherers used to pass through. We know this because of archaeological evidence, such as homes, artefacts and food storing areas which they left behind. But there is still more to explore. The first Europeans to reach the Grand Canyon did so in the 16th Century. Spanish explorers first ventured into the south rim in 1540, but they didn't find anything of value so they turned back. It was many more years before European explorers would turn their attention back to the area. Even as late as the mid-19th Century, the Grand Canyon was still known as 'The Great Unknown' because that's exactly what it was. It was even left as a blank area on maps! In 1857, an army lieutenant called Joseph Christmas Ives took a 50-foot steamboat up the river to explore the area. His boat crashed and he continued on foot, becoming the first European American known to reach the river within the canyon itself, although he did not explore the full length. Getty Images This travel poster to encourage tourists to visit the Grand Canyon is from 1939 He wrote about his expedition: "The extent and magnitude of the system of canyons is astounding. The plateau is cut into shreds by these gigantic chasms, and resembles a vast ruin. "It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed." He couldn't have been more wrong. The man credited as the first main explorer of the canyon was someone called John Wesley Powell. In 1869, along with nine men in four small wooden boats, Powell headed up the Colorado River, through the canyon. Getty Images Major John Wesley Powell came up with the name that we all use today - the Grand Canyon It was a treacherous trip and by the end, with few supplies left, it became a fight for survival. Many of his notes from this trip were lost and there are no photographs. But he survived and led another expedition in 1871, which gave the world the first reliable maps of the Colorado River. He was even responsible for giving the area the name we use today - the Grand Canyon. Getty Images This picture shows John Wesley Powell's boat called Emma Dean, which he named after his wife, on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during his second trip Over the years, the canyon has also served as a mine, after a man called Dan Hogan came to the canyon in 1890 and explored it for mining potential. He also set up tourist facilities and around the turn of the century, the tourist industry around the Grand Canyon really started to take off. Hogan sold his business to Madeleine Jacobs in 1946 who, at first, didn't realise the canyon's mining potential and focused more on the tourist side of things. But when Jacobs realised the rich uranium available, according to the official National Park Service website, the canyon operated as "one of the most productive uranium mines in the region, in operation from 1953 to 1969". Mining would eventually stop here when the market for uranium declined and it became very expensive to ship. The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt. Getty Images The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt He visited it in 1903 and, in 1906, signed a law that made it the Grand Canyon Game Reserve. Two years later, he made it a national monument. "Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it," he said. Later, on 26 February 1919, US President Woodrow Wilson made the area a National Park by law. And on 26 October 1979, it was designated a World Heritage Site, which means that you're not actually allowed to pick up chunks of rock and take them home with you as a souvenir, although you can buy them at tourist shops. When it first opened as a National Park, around 45,000 people visited it each year. Now, this figure is around 6 million people. You can find out more about the Grand Canyon here. | The Grand Canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River. It is believed the river made its course through the canyon about six million years ago. The first Europeans to reach the Grand Canyon did so in the 16th Century. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47362852 | 0.432152 |
What is the history of the Grand Canyon? | Getty Images On 26 February 1919 - exactly 100 years ago today - the Grand Canyon in Arizona in the US became an official National Park. Lots of events are taking place throughout the year to celebrate this park's big birthday. Millions of people visit the canyon every year, but for a long period of history, it was an unexplored part of the world. The canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it. It is believed the river made its course through the canyon about six million years ago. People knew about the Colorado River - which stretches from its source in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado to the Gulf of California - but the Grand Canyon section remained a bit of a mystery. Getty Images The Grand Canyon was created as a result of water erosion of the Colorado River, which flows through it Now, we know that people have been based in and around the canyon from over 10,000 years ago, when hunter gatherers used to pass through. We know this because of archaeological evidence, such as homes, artefacts and food storing areas which they left behind. But there is still more to explore. The first Europeans to reach the Grand Canyon did so in the 16th Century. Spanish explorers first ventured into the south rim in 1540, but they didn't find anything of value so they turned back. It was many more years before European explorers would turn their attention back to the area. Even as late as the mid-19th Century, the Grand Canyon was still known as 'The Great Unknown' because that's exactly what it was. It was even left as a blank area on maps! In 1857, an army lieutenant called Joseph Christmas Ives took a 50-foot steamboat up the river to explore the area. His boat crashed and he continued on foot, becoming the first European American known to reach the river within the canyon itself, although he did not explore the full length. Getty Images This travel poster to encourage tourists to visit the Grand Canyon is from 1939 He wrote about his expedition: "The extent and magnitude of the system of canyons is astounding. The plateau is cut into shreds by these gigantic chasms, and resembles a vast ruin. "It seems intended by nature that the Colorado River, along the greater portion of its lonely and majestic way, shall be forever unvisited and undisturbed." He couldn't have been more wrong. The man credited as the first main explorer of the canyon was someone called John Wesley Powell. In 1869, along with nine men in four small wooden boats, Powell headed up the Colorado River, through the canyon. Getty Images Major John Wesley Powell came up with the name that we all use today - the Grand Canyon It was a treacherous trip and by the end, with few supplies left, it became a fight for survival. Many of his notes from this trip were lost and there are no photographs. But he survived and led another expedition in 1871, which gave the world the first reliable maps of the Colorado River. He was even responsible for giving the area the name we use today - the Grand Canyon. Getty Images This picture shows John Wesley Powell's boat called Emma Dean, which he named after his wife, on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon during his second trip Over the years, the canyon has also served as a mine, after a man called Dan Hogan came to the canyon in 1890 and explored it for mining potential. He also set up tourist facilities and around the turn of the century, the tourist industry around the Grand Canyon really started to take off. Hogan sold his business to Madeleine Jacobs in 1946 who, at first, didn't realise the canyon's mining potential and focused more on the tourist side of things. But when Jacobs realised the rich uranium available, according to the official National Park Service website, the canyon operated as "one of the most productive uranium mines in the region, in operation from 1953 to 1969". Mining would eventually stop here when the market for uranium declined and it became very expensive to ship. The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt. Getty Images The first US president to really begin to protect the canyon as a place of national importance was Theodore Roosevelt He visited it in 1903 and, in 1906, signed a law that made it the Grand Canyon Game Reserve. Two years later, he made it a national monument. "Leave it as it is. You cannot improve on it. The ages have been at work on it, and man can only mar it," he said. Later, on 26 February 1919, US President Woodrow Wilson made the area a National Park by law. And on 26 October 1979, it was designated a World Heritage Site, which means that you're not actually allowed to pick up chunks of rock and take them home with you as a souvenir, although you can buy them at tourist shops. When it first opened as a National Park, around 45,000 people visited it each year. Now, this figure is around 6 million people. You can find out more about the Grand Canyon here. | For a long period of history, the Grand Canyon was an unexplored part of the world. The first Europeans to reach the canyon did so in the 16th Century, but they didn't find anything of value so they turned back. Today, millions of people visit the canyon every year, but there is still more to explore. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47362852 | 0.367081 |
Are Concerns About Age Discrimination By Employers Overblown? | Talk to a job seeker over 50 and youll likely hear frustration, if not anger, about perceived age discrimination by employers. Many 50+ job hunters believe their age has kept them from getting hired or even getting a job interview. But Philip Taylor, a respected Australian professor specializing in age and the labor market, thinks that age discrimination concerns may be overblown. In fact, Taylors research says, younger men face more workplace age discrimination than older men. I heard Taylor, who is associate dean, research at Federation University Australia and professorial fellow at University of Melbourne, make these provocative arguments a few months back at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference I attended as a GSA Journalists in Aging fellow. Though I dont agree with all of Taylor's views on the subject, I wanted to learn more about them. So I rang him up and heard him expound not only on misperceptions of age discrimination, but why some older applicants need to up their skills and why employers need to do more to help their older workers. Professor Philip Taylor: To a large extent. I think it is complicated and nuanced. In Australia, theres a tendency among advocates of older people to state that age discrimination is endemic. My view is that the evidence is not there to support that claim. Research by my colleages at the University of Melbourne shows that the reported incidence of age discrimination among experienced older job seekers has been in a long-term decline. And if you look at some other data we analyzed, we find the reported incidence of discrimination is quite low. Also, research has indicated that people are more likely to report every day discrimination thats not ageism or sexism. Things like perceiving that they missed out on promotions unfairly or hearing insulting jokes or comments. And when you look at the data, its young men who are more likely to report such experiences than older men. Among women, there are no age differences. So the picture is complicated. One thing thats important to stress: I dont believe age discrimination is a phenomenon thats only experienced by older people. I think its useful to rethink age discrimination from a generational solidarity point of view. If we argue that age discrimination can happen to anyone, that then opens a discussion between older and younger about issues of work, so were not pitting the young versus the old. You may believe you experienced age discrimination when you didnt get hired. Maybe there were other factors at work. It could have been your skill set was not suitable. Advocacy organizations need to be careful how they approach this issue and not tell older people they will be discriminated against because of their age. Thats a mistaken approach to tackling age discrimination. Last year, AARP found that 61% of Americans age 45 and older it surveyed said they have experienced or seen age discrimination at work. There may be something peculiar about the U.S., that older people are more likely to feel age discrimination. I believe age discrimination by employers exists and probably affects older job seekers more than other workers, generally. I would be very cautious about making that argument. Older job seekers often say they cant hired because of their age. Age discrimination is an issue; dont misunderstand me. But whether age discrimination explains all of the situation, Im doubtful. The OECD [The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovernmental group with 36 countries] says age discrimination is everywhere. If you look at our data, it certainly isnt, from a workplace perspective. Employers may use age stereotypes with people who are looking for work, but they are less likely to apply the stereotypes to the people they know inside their workplace. Advocates for older people argue that older workers are supposedly more reliable, more loyal and will be with you longer as an employer. I think these advocates are firmly drawing on age stereotypes. Saying older workers are more reliable is an inference that younger workers are unreliable. I have an intellectual problem with advocating for older workers by using age stereotypes. Employers view these stereotypes as very unimportant reasons for hiring older workers. Theyre not viewed as positives; theyre often viewed as negatives. The loyalty argument can also suggest to employers that older workers are set in their ways and resistant to change. So loyalty and reliability have negative connotations. Some older workers worry about losing their jobs because theyre the highest paid and have the most expensive benefits. And employers often do fire them when they need to reduce headcount. Employers making judgments around cost reduction might target older people not because they happen to be older, but because they are paid more. There are moves in some workplaces towards flatter wage structures, so you dont automatically get year-to-year pay increases. That is a challenge for businesses and one that needs to be looked at. Some older workers are stepping back and downshifting; that might mean a win/win. We need to look at these sorts of options for retaining older workers. Employers need to look at retooling workers over their working life. Older workers arent getting training as they age and then employers say their skill sets are outdated. In most nations, we still tend to view training as something that happens to you when youre young. People talk about lifelong learning; we need to make it a reality, so that when you hit your fifties or sixties you dont have outdated skills. | Australian professor says age discrimination concerns may be overblown. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/26/are-concerns-about-age-discrimination-by-employers-overblown/ | 0.306746 |
Are Concerns About Age Discrimination By Employers Overblown? | Talk to a job seeker over 50 and youll likely hear frustration, if not anger, about perceived age discrimination by employers. Many 50+ job hunters believe their age has kept them from getting hired or even getting a job interview. But Philip Taylor, a respected Australian professor specializing in age and the labor market, thinks that age discrimination concerns may be overblown. In fact, Taylors research says, younger men face more workplace age discrimination than older men. I heard Taylor, who is associate dean, research at Federation University Australia and professorial fellow at University of Melbourne, make these provocative arguments a few months back at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference I attended as a GSA Journalists in Aging fellow. Though I dont agree with all of Taylor's views on the subject, I wanted to learn more about them. So I rang him up and heard him expound not only on misperceptions of age discrimination, but why some older applicants need to up their skills and why employers need to do more to help their older workers. Professor Philip Taylor: To a large extent. I think it is complicated and nuanced. In Australia, theres a tendency among advocates of older people to state that age discrimination is endemic. My view is that the evidence is not there to support that claim. Research by my colleages at the University of Melbourne shows that the reported incidence of age discrimination among experienced older job seekers has been in a long-term decline. And if you look at some other data we analyzed, we find the reported incidence of discrimination is quite low. Also, research has indicated that people are more likely to report every day discrimination thats not ageism or sexism. Things like perceiving that they missed out on promotions unfairly or hearing insulting jokes or comments. And when you look at the data, its young men who are more likely to report such experiences than older men. Among women, there are no age differences. So the picture is complicated. One thing thats important to stress: I dont believe age discrimination is a phenomenon thats only experienced by older people. I think its useful to rethink age discrimination from a generational solidarity point of view. If we argue that age discrimination can happen to anyone, that then opens a discussion between older and younger about issues of work, so were not pitting the young versus the old. You may believe you experienced age discrimination when you didnt get hired. Maybe there were other factors at work. It could have been your skill set was not suitable. Advocacy organizations need to be careful how they approach this issue and not tell older people they will be discriminated against because of their age. Thats a mistaken approach to tackling age discrimination. Last year, AARP found that 61% of Americans age 45 and older it surveyed said they have experienced or seen age discrimination at work. There may be something peculiar about the U.S., that older people are more likely to feel age discrimination. I believe age discrimination by employers exists and probably affects older job seekers more than other workers, generally. I would be very cautious about making that argument. Older job seekers often say they cant hired because of their age. Age discrimination is an issue; dont misunderstand me. But whether age discrimination explains all of the situation, Im doubtful. The OECD [The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovernmental group with 36 countries] says age discrimination is everywhere. If you look at our data, it certainly isnt, from a workplace perspective. Employers may use age stereotypes with people who are looking for work, but they are less likely to apply the stereotypes to the people they know inside their workplace. Advocates for older people argue that older workers are supposedly more reliable, more loyal and will be with you longer as an employer. I think these advocates are firmly drawing on age stereotypes. Saying older workers are more reliable is an inference that younger workers are unreliable. I have an intellectual problem with advocating for older workers by using age stereotypes. Employers view these stereotypes as very unimportant reasons for hiring older workers. Theyre not viewed as positives; theyre often viewed as negatives. The loyalty argument can also suggest to employers that older workers are set in their ways and resistant to change. So loyalty and reliability have negative connotations. Some older workers worry about losing their jobs because theyre the highest paid and have the most expensive benefits. And employers often do fire them when they need to reduce headcount. Employers making judgments around cost reduction might target older people not because they happen to be older, but because they are paid more. There are moves in some workplaces towards flatter wage structures, so you dont automatically get year-to-year pay increases. That is a challenge for businesses and one that needs to be looked at. Some older workers are stepping back and downshifting; that might mean a win/win. We need to look at these sorts of options for retaining older workers. Employers need to look at retooling workers over their working life. Older workers arent getting training as they age and then employers say their skill sets are outdated. In most nations, we still tend to view training as something that happens to you when youre young. People talk about lifelong learning; we need to make it a reality, so that when you hit your fifties or sixties you dont have outdated skills. | Australian professor says age discrimination concerns may be overblown. Philip Taylor: "Age discrimination is a phenomenon thats only experienced by older people" He says it's useful to rethink age discrimination from a generational solidarity point of view. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/26/are-concerns-about-age-discrimination-by-employers-overblown/ | 0.32949 |
Are Concerns About Age Discrimination By Employers Overblown? | Talk to a job seeker over 50 and youll likely hear frustration, if not anger, about perceived age discrimination by employers. Many 50+ job hunters believe their age has kept them from getting hired or even getting a job interview. But Philip Taylor, a respected Australian professor specializing in age and the labor market, thinks that age discrimination concerns may be overblown. In fact, Taylors research says, younger men face more workplace age discrimination than older men. I heard Taylor, who is associate dean, research at Federation University Australia and professorial fellow at University of Melbourne, make these provocative arguments a few months back at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) conference I attended as a GSA Journalists in Aging fellow. Though I dont agree with all of Taylor's views on the subject, I wanted to learn more about them. So I rang him up and heard him expound not only on misperceptions of age discrimination, but why some older applicants need to up their skills and why employers need to do more to help their older workers. Professor Philip Taylor: To a large extent. I think it is complicated and nuanced. In Australia, theres a tendency among advocates of older people to state that age discrimination is endemic. My view is that the evidence is not there to support that claim. Research by my colleages at the University of Melbourne shows that the reported incidence of age discrimination among experienced older job seekers has been in a long-term decline. And if you look at some other data we analyzed, we find the reported incidence of discrimination is quite low. Also, research has indicated that people are more likely to report every day discrimination thats not ageism or sexism. Things like perceiving that they missed out on promotions unfairly or hearing insulting jokes or comments. And when you look at the data, its young men who are more likely to report such experiences than older men. Among women, there are no age differences. So the picture is complicated. One thing thats important to stress: I dont believe age discrimination is a phenomenon thats only experienced by older people. I think its useful to rethink age discrimination from a generational solidarity point of view. If we argue that age discrimination can happen to anyone, that then opens a discussion between older and younger about issues of work, so were not pitting the young versus the old. You may believe you experienced age discrimination when you didnt get hired. Maybe there were other factors at work. It could have been your skill set was not suitable. Advocacy organizations need to be careful how they approach this issue and not tell older people they will be discriminated against because of their age. Thats a mistaken approach to tackling age discrimination. Last year, AARP found that 61% of Americans age 45 and older it surveyed said they have experienced or seen age discrimination at work. There may be something peculiar about the U.S., that older people are more likely to feel age discrimination. I believe age discrimination by employers exists and probably affects older job seekers more than other workers, generally. I would be very cautious about making that argument. Older job seekers often say they cant hired because of their age. Age discrimination is an issue; dont misunderstand me. But whether age discrimination explains all of the situation, Im doubtful. The OECD [The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, an intergovernmental group with 36 countries] says age discrimination is everywhere. If you look at our data, it certainly isnt, from a workplace perspective. Employers may use age stereotypes with people who are looking for work, but they are less likely to apply the stereotypes to the people they know inside their workplace. Advocates for older people argue that older workers are supposedly more reliable, more loyal and will be with you longer as an employer. I think these advocates are firmly drawing on age stereotypes. Saying older workers are more reliable is an inference that younger workers are unreliable. I have an intellectual problem with advocating for older workers by using age stereotypes. Employers view these stereotypes as very unimportant reasons for hiring older workers. Theyre not viewed as positives; theyre often viewed as negatives. The loyalty argument can also suggest to employers that older workers are set in their ways and resistant to change. So loyalty and reliability have negative connotations. Some older workers worry about losing their jobs because theyre the highest paid and have the most expensive benefits. And employers often do fire them when they need to reduce headcount. Employers making judgments around cost reduction might target older people not because they happen to be older, but because they are paid more. There are moves in some workplaces towards flatter wage structures, so you dont automatically get year-to-year pay increases. That is a challenge for businesses and one that needs to be looked at. Some older workers are stepping back and downshifting; that might mean a win/win. We need to look at these sorts of options for retaining older workers. Employers need to look at retooling workers over their working life. Older workers arent getting training as they age and then employers say their skill sets are outdated. In most nations, we still tend to view training as something that happens to you when youre young. People talk about lifelong learning; we need to make it a reality, so that when you hit your fifties or sixties you dont have outdated skills. | Australian professor says age discrimination concerns may be overblown. Philip Taylor: "Age discrimination is a phenomenon thats only experienced by older people" He says it's useful to rethink age discrimination from a generational solidarity point of view. Taylor: Employers may use age discrimination as a tool to get older workers to up their skills. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/02/26/are-concerns-about-age-discrimination-by-employers-overblown/ | 0.469116 |
What do people think of May's plan for vote on delaying Brexit? | LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May on Tuesday offered lawmakers the chance to vote in two weeks for a potentially disorderly no-deal Brexit or to delay Britains exit from the European Union if her attempt to ratify a divorce agreement fails. Here is some reaction to her proposal OPPOSITION LABOUR LEADER JEREMY CORBYN They say ... history repeats itself, first time as tragedy, second time as farce. By the umpteenth time, it can only be described as grotesquely reckless. This is not dithering, its a deliberate strategy to run down the clock. The Prime Minister is promising to achieve something she knows is not achievable, and is stringing people along. PORTUGALS PRIME MINISTER ANTONIO COSTA If the sovereign decision of the UK is to leave the European Union, we will regret it, respect it and negotiate it that way. If the sovereign decision of the UK is to continue in the European Union for little longer we will be satisfied. And if the UKs decision is to remain permanently in the European Union we will be very satisfied. CONSERVATIVE EUROSCEPTIC LAWMAKER JACOB REES-MOGG If its being delayed, which is my suspicion, as a plot to stop Brexit altogether then I think that would be the most grievous error that politicians could commit. It would be overthrowing the referendum result, two general elections - one to call for the referendum and one to endorse the referendum - and would undermine our democracy. CONSERVATIVE LAWMAKER OLIVER LETWIN Very good news. PM statement does what is needed to prevent no deal exit on 29 March and enables MPs to forge cross-party consensus on new way forward if PMs deal does not succeed on 12 March. No need now for Cooper-Letwin Bill. CONSERVATIVE EUROSCEPTIC LAWMAKER ANDREW BRIDGEN The prime minister has said over a 100 times that we are leaving the European Union on March 29 with or without a deal, he told Reuters. The question she has not answered which way she and the government will vote if the revised agreement again fails to pass and theres a subsequent vote ... on whether to accept leaving with no deal. If its line with her previous policy ... clearly she and the government should be voting to leave without a deal. We all remember that the PM also said that no deal is better than a bad deal I reiterate that what we do know is that if no deal is taken off the table then we will have no leverage over the EU for them to continue with negotiations. DUP LAWMAKER JEFFREY DONALDSON Were focused on March 29 and believe there is still time to secure changes that are needed to allow parliament to approve the Withdrawal Agreement. Thats the mandate the prime ministers been given and we support her in seeking to have the necessary changes that will reassure parliament on the backstop. SCOTTISH FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON PM still not acting in best interests of UK or any part of it. This is all just cynical maneuvering to try to bully MPs into accepting her bad deal - a deal which would remove us from EU/SM/CU (European Union, single market, customs union) with no clarity about what comes after. No one should fall for this. BELGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DIDIER REYNDERS We are not against (a delay). Of course it will be easier to do that with a roadmap, knowing what we are doing in fact. Because if it is just to prolong the result its more difficult. Like some weeks ago, we are waiting for some decisions in London. It will be that, the first step. BMW BMWs board member in charge of purchasing, Andreas Wendt, told German trade weekly Automobilwoche in remarks released before May confirmed her plan: A slice-by-slice delay of the start date would not be a good scenario for us. INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS Parliament must feel and accept the weight of responsibility that is on their shoulders... Seeing the impasse continue may not be comfortable for businesses, but a disorderly exit could bring unbearable disruption for firms. While an extension is not an end in itself, it may become a necessity to achieve an orderly exit. CITY OF LONDON CORPORATION Any extension to Article 50 must not be a bridge to nowhere. Clarity is required on what a short limited extension means in practice, adding that the plans were still welcome news. Politicians must ensure that the UK does not crash out of the European Union next month without a deal A deal needs to be agreed by the Government, Parliament and the EU in order to enable City firms to plan for the future with confidence. Only then can we move on to the crucial next phase of negotiations on the future relationship between the UK and the EU. | Prime Minister Theresa May offered lawmakers the chance to vote in two weeks for a potentially disorderly no-deal Brexit or to delay Britains exit from the European Union if her attempt to ratify a divorce agreement fails. The proposal has been criticized as a deliberate strategy to run down the clock. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-reaction-instantview/what-do-people-think-of-mays-plan-for-vote-on-delaying-brexit-idUSKCN1QF1MW?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.314809 |
How can a vegan take part in the rodeo? | My mother used to bake pancakes drenched in butter and slap freshly sizzled bacon on a plate for me to devour. Friday night takeout was reserved for either double cheeseburgers from Burger King or triple cheese pizzas from Domino's. This meat-and-dairy diet followed me into high school, when a whole pack of thinly sliced turkey and American cheese on white bread became a lunch staple. Growing up in Houston, with barbecue joints on every corner and billboards flaunting Whataburger's newest triple bacon cheeseburger above every freeway, I never saw flaws in our typical American diets or had reason to question the clothes I wore. A few years ago, though, I went to my first Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. I couldn't help cringing at the meats cooked without any shame of where they came from. People were digging their teeth into turkey legs as though they had ripped them straight from the bird. Layers of barbecue sauce failed to hide pigs' hooves and snouts. There were so many foods on a stick, and, for many, the stick was just the animal's bone. And that was just the food. In temperatures as hot as 95 degrees, animals were stuffed in cages, cramped and paraded around. Sitting in the stands, I watched teenagers chase down baby cows and rope them to the ground. Many of the teens choked the animals to stop them from moving and then yanked them with ropes tied on their faces. Even from the stands, I could see the piles of dirt the calves kicked up. As the crowd cheered, I dug my face into my boyfriend's shoulder. Somehow, looking away was easier. We walked out of the stadium so I could forget what I saw and inhaled a large pile of fries covered in chili cheese. Clearly, calf roping wasn't enough to change me. It wasn't until 2017, when I watched a documentary, "What the Health," that I made the choice to become vegan. The documentary graphically showed me broiler chickens so overfed they couldn't hold themselves up, beheaded cows hung upside down to drain their blood, pigs so sick from being force-fed in tight cages surrounded by fecal matter and dead animals that their bodies swelled from infection and oozed pus. The documentary showed me the death inherent to the American diet I grew up enjoying. I gave up eating meat, eggs and dairy. No more of my mom's pancakes. No more of the breakfast sausage, bacon, turkey sandwiches, fajitas, steak, flautas and empanadas I grew up loving. I started eating fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds. I stopped wearing leather boots and clothes made with animal products. Since then, I have been unable to justify any act of cruelty regardless of how "good" it tastes or looks. It's not so simple. The rodeo increases regional employment, pumps millions of dollars into our economy, provides scholarship opportunities and brings together communities from all over the state. It's a tradition. As a native Houstonian, I recognize that the rodeo is a huge boost to our city every year. And I recognize that raising and caring for animals can help young people learn responsibility and empathy. The rodeo is an important cultural part of our city and our state, with roots that stretch back decades, all the way to the 1930s. My conflict is not just with the food or the leather boots, it's with animal welfare, too. Sometimes, it feels as though I'm in conflict with the very essence of Texas. For years, protesters have rallied outside the rodeo to raise awareness about these issues and provide a voice that people can understand, because the cries of animals can be easily ignored, especially when the crowds are cheering. This year, a petition asking Cardi B, an animal lover, to cancel her performance scheduled for March 1, has received more than 22,000 signatures to date. I know I can still order veggie burgers, fried pickles, homemade potato chips and watch Panic! at the Disco in faux-leather boots and do my part to make purchases that support the least amount of cruelty. But, in the end, I would be lying if I said that I do not feel conflicted by the fact that I would like to see a concert at the rodeo but do not love that I have to give money to an organization that makes food, products and sport out of animals. I know I could always just not go, but ignoring and avoiding the problem is not a solution, either. It's tough, sometimes, in Texas. Samantha Lopez is an intern at the Chronicle. Email Allyn West. Get the Gray Matters newsletter. Vegans can participate. | LZ Granderson grew up eating a meat-and-dairy diet. He says he became a vegan after watching a documentary about animal cruelty. Granderson: Rodeo is an important cultural part of Houston, a tradition that goes back decades. The rodeo is a good place to learn responsibility and empathy, he says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/vegan-rodeo-houston-animal-welfare-13643195.php | 0.181673 |
What Will It Take For Apple To Succeed In The Streaming Video Business? | Apple is likely to unveil its new video streaming service at an event held in March, according to a report from Bloomberg. The new offering, which could launch sometime in the summer, is likely to be Apples most high-profile services launch since Apple Music was introduced in 2015, and comes at a time when Apple is counting on digital services to drive growth with sales of its major hardware products cooling off. However, Apple is entering a crowded market, with multiple players ranging from tech giants to media companies competing for share. In this note, we take a look at what it would take for Apple to succeed in the market. We have created an interactive dashboard analysis on Breaking Down Apples Services Revenue. You can also see all of our data for Information Technology Companies here. Apples Has The Cash And Has Been Amassing Talent. While Apple has a large installed base of devices and strong tech backing to drive its streaming foray, the quality of content will ultimately decide the uptake of the service, and early examples of Apples original TV content have been relatively underwhelming. The companys Carpool Karaoke series was critically panned, while its Planet of the Apps show was also relatively poorly received. However, Apple could come up with a hit. It has shows lined up with big Hollywood players including Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, with an executive team of highly-regarded Hollywood veterans with deep industry relationships overseeing its streaming plans. The company is apparently looking to create a niche for itself, sticking to family-oriented fare, focusing on high-quality shows with a broad appeal, unlike many other streaming players which offer edgier content. The company apparently earmarked about $1 billion for content spending in 2018. While this is well below the estimated $12 billion that Netflix spent in 2018, Apple could scale this up significantly considering its massive cash holding. While original content could make up a meaningful part of the titles, we expect Apple to tap into programming from other media players as well. For instance, there is a possibility that Apple could buy libraries of content from smaller studios such as MGM or Lionsgate. Although its not clear what business model Apple will follow for the streaming offering, its likely that the company will make it a paid service with a monthly subscription, potentially offering an initial free trial, as it did with Apple Music. We expect that the service will be largely platform-agnostic, working with smartphones and streaming hardware from various platforms, as it would broaden its reach although we expect that Apple users will be the biggest initial drivers of the service. To be sure, it could take a few years for the service to scale up and gain significant traction. If we assume that Apple prices the video services at $7.50 per month (Netflix HD starts at $13 and Hulus Ad supported tier now starts at $6), while garnering about 50 million subscribers by 2022 (less than 5% of its total device installed base), the service could add about $4.5 billion to the companys top line. There is also a possibility that Apple could eventually bundle multiple services offerings (music, video streaming, and the rumored News subscription service) into a monthly package, along the lines of Amazon Prime, to improve customer loyalty. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Apple is expected to unveil its new video streaming service at an event held in March, according to a report from Bloomberg. Apple has a large installed base of devices and strong tech backing to drive its streaming foray, but the quality of content will ultimately decide the uptake of the service. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/26/what-will-it-take-for-apple-to-succeed-in-the-streaming-video-business/ | 0.173271 |
Which NCAA Tournament seed is projected for LSU this week? | There are four games left in the regular season and No. 13 LSU is still projected to have a high seed after losing to Florida, but beating Tennessee. Bracket forecasters are still high on LSU, as the Tigers appear in all 112 brackets on bracketmatrix.com and are seeded highly at that. The Bracket Project compiles bracket forecasts from all over the web, tracking teams movement in projections all season long. Currently, LSUs average seed in those 112 brackets is 3.46 slightly higher than last week meaning plenty of bracket forecasters have LSU at either a No. 3 or a No. 4 seed. The highest seed LSU is currently receiving is a No. 2 seed (four bracket forecasts) and the lowest is a No. 5 seed (one bracket prediction). Many of the more notable bracket predictions out there all have LSU seeded highly, too. Nothing changed from last week in Joe Lunardis Bracketology for ESPN. He has the Tigers as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 seed Hofstra. That game would be played in Jacksonville, Florida. Jerry Palms Bracketology for CBS Sports, on Monday, has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East, facing No. 14 Montana. That game would be played in Jacksonville. Sports Illustrateds Bracket Watch has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East facing No. 14 Texas State. USA Todays latest Bracketology has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the West, facing No. 14 Radford. That game would be played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Athletic releases its Bracket Watch on Wednesdays. Last week, before LSUs loss to Florida or win over Tennessee, the Athletic had LSU as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 Liberty. That game would be played in Jacksonville. LSU hasnt been higher than a No. 4 seed since 1981 when the Tigers were a No. 1 seed. The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament was in 2015, and they were a No. 9 seed that year. LSU was a No. 8 seed in 2009, and a No. 4 seed in 2006. Will Wades VCU teams in 2016 and 2017 were No. 10 seeds both years. | No. 13 LSU is projected to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have lost to Florida and Tennessee this season. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/which-ncaa-tournament-seed-is-projected-for-lsu-this-week.html | 0.584035 |
Which NCAA Tournament seed is projected for LSU this week? | There are four games left in the regular season and No. 13 LSU is still projected to have a high seed after losing to Florida, but beating Tennessee. Bracket forecasters are still high on LSU, as the Tigers appear in all 112 brackets on bracketmatrix.com and are seeded highly at that. The Bracket Project compiles bracket forecasts from all over the web, tracking teams movement in projections all season long. Currently, LSUs average seed in those 112 brackets is 3.46 slightly higher than last week meaning plenty of bracket forecasters have LSU at either a No. 3 or a No. 4 seed. The highest seed LSU is currently receiving is a No. 2 seed (four bracket forecasts) and the lowest is a No. 5 seed (one bracket prediction). Many of the more notable bracket predictions out there all have LSU seeded highly, too. Nothing changed from last week in Joe Lunardis Bracketology for ESPN. He has the Tigers as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 seed Hofstra. That game would be played in Jacksonville, Florida. Jerry Palms Bracketology for CBS Sports, on Monday, has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East, facing No. 14 Montana. That game would be played in Jacksonville. Sports Illustrateds Bracket Watch has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East facing No. 14 Texas State. USA Todays latest Bracketology has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the West, facing No. 14 Radford. That game would be played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Athletic releases its Bracket Watch on Wednesdays. Last week, before LSUs loss to Florida or win over Tennessee, the Athletic had LSU as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 Liberty. That game would be played in Jacksonville. LSU hasnt been higher than a No. 4 seed since 1981 when the Tigers were a No. 1 seed. The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament was in 2015, and they were a No. 9 seed that year. LSU was a No. 8 seed in 2009, and a No. 4 seed in 2006. Will Wades VCU teams in 2016 and 2017 were No. 10 seeds both years. | No. 13 LSU is still projected to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Many bracket forecasters have the Tigers seeded highly. The highest seed LSU is currently receiving is a No. 2 seed. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/which-ncaa-tournament-seed-is-projected-for-lsu-this-week.html | 0.591987 |
Which NCAA Tournament seed is projected for LSU this week? | There are four games left in the regular season and No. 13 LSU is still projected to have a high seed after losing to Florida, but beating Tennessee. Bracket forecasters are still high on LSU, as the Tigers appear in all 112 brackets on bracketmatrix.com and are seeded highly at that. The Bracket Project compiles bracket forecasts from all over the web, tracking teams movement in projections all season long. Currently, LSUs average seed in those 112 brackets is 3.46 slightly higher than last week meaning plenty of bracket forecasters have LSU at either a No. 3 or a No. 4 seed. The highest seed LSU is currently receiving is a No. 2 seed (four bracket forecasts) and the lowest is a No. 5 seed (one bracket prediction). Many of the more notable bracket predictions out there all have LSU seeded highly, too. Nothing changed from last week in Joe Lunardis Bracketology for ESPN. He has the Tigers as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 seed Hofstra. That game would be played in Jacksonville, Florida. Jerry Palms Bracketology for CBS Sports, on Monday, has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East, facing No. 14 Montana. That game would be played in Jacksonville. Sports Illustrateds Bracket Watch has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the East facing No. 14 Texas State. USA Todays latest Bracketology has LSU as the No. 3 seed in the West, facing No. 14 Radford. That game would be played in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Athletic releases its Bracket Watch on Wednesdays. Last week, before LSUs loss to Florida or win over Tennessee, the Athletic had LSU as the No. 4 seed in the East, facing No. 13 Liberty. That game would be played in Jacksonville. LSU hasnt been higher than a No. 4 seed since 1981 when the Tigers were a No. 1 seed. The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament was in 2015, and they were a No. 9 seed that year. LSU was a No. 8 seed in 2009, and a No. 4 seed in 2006. Will Wades VCU teams in 2016 and 2017 were No. 10 seeds both years. | No. 13 LSU is still projected to be a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. Many bracket forecasters have the Tigers seeded highly. The highest seed LSU is currently receiving is a No. 2 seed. The last time the Tigers made the NCAA Tournament was in 2015, and they were a No. 9 seed that year. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/02/which-ncaa-tournament-seed-is-projected-for-lsu-this-week.html | 0.668673 |
What is 5G and when will the UK get it? | Superfast 5G internet is coming to the UK this year and promises speeds much faster than we have now. You've probably seen the 4G or 3G icon on your phone - that's what connects it you the internet when you're out and about. 5G is the new version of this and is short for fifth generation mobile networks. It's all about making internet connections faster and enabling more devices to access the mobile internet at the same time. Big tech companies are getting excited, showing off their latest phones and gadgets that will take advantage of the new mobile network. | 5G is the new version of the 4G or 3G mobile network. It promises speeds much faster than we have now. The UK is expected to get 5G internet this year. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47379168 | 0.388738 |
What is 5G and when will the UK get it? | Superfast 5G internet is coming to the UK this year and promises speeds much faster than we have now. You've probably seen the 4G or 3G icon on your phone - that's what connects it you the internet when you're out and about. 5G is the new version of this and is short for fifth generation mobile networks. It's all about making internet connections faster and enabling more devices to access the mobile internet at the same time. Big tech companies are getting excited, showing off their latest phones and gadgets that will take advantage of the new mobile network. | 5G is the new version of the 4G or 3G mobile network. It promises speeds much faster than we have now. 5G will be available in the UK by the end of the year, with prices starting at 20,000 for a two-year contract. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47379168 | 0.470078 |
Will new Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Gerry Gdowski call plays like Andy Ludwig? | Many critical Vanderbilt fans were happy to see offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig leave, but Gerry Gdowskis similarities to Ludwig are part of the reason he got the job. Ludwig, who left in January to become Utahs offensive coordinator, had a good partnership with coach Derek Mason over the past four seasons. They competed in practice with Mason scheming his defense to stop Ludwigs offense. They worked well together in tweaking the offensive game plan during the week. And on game days, Mason found a balance of lightly tinkering but mostly letting Ludwig call the plays. Now Gdowski takes over as offensive coordinator, beginning with the opening workout of spring practice Wednesday, and he wants to make some minor changes to the offense. For this 2019 group, well try to put our stamp on it pretty early, Gdowski said. Dont expect either answer to stray too far from the template that Ludwig set. The big thing in this transition for all (of) us offensively was that we didnt want a whole bunch of big changes, said Gdowski, who has served in numerous roles on Masons staff since 2014. It really comes down to the nuts and bolts of what we do in communication and terminology. Weve got four years invested. Its really Andys system. Having that much time invested, we didnt want to change the nuts and bolts of what we do and how we call this. Gdowski, Mason partnership goes back 15 years Gdowski and Mason have worked together in an offensive meeting room previously. When Gdowski was New Mexico States offensive coordinator in 2004, Mason was hired as his wide receivers coach. In 2005-06 at Ohio, Gdowski coached quarterbacks and Mason coached wide receivers. Vanderbilt's Gerry Gdowski has served as tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator under Derek Mason. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. (Photo11: Vanderbilt) When Mason became a first-time head coach at Vanderbilt, Gdowski followed him to Nashville without knowing his position on the staff. The first couple weeks I was wide receivers (coach) and then I ended up with tight ends (and then quarterbacks coach in 2016-18). Its been fun, Gdowski said. Under either Ludwig or Gdowski, Vanderbilts offense was going to look different this season because of a new style of quarterback. Kyle Shurmur, a pro-style quarterback, left as the programs all-time passer. He will be replaced by either dual-threat quarterback Deuce Wallace or Ball State graduate transfer Riley Neal, who passed for 7,393 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns in his Ball State career. Ludwigs offensive terminology will remain. Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn rushed for 1,244 yards on just 157 carries last season. (Photo11: Shelley Mays/tennessean.com) (Vaughn) can be a special guy. If he can stay healthy and be consistent, the sky is the limit, Gdowski said. Now, he is a running back, so there are a lot of things that go into that. There are five guys up front that have to block people. He understands that. In addition to Vaughn, Vanderbilt returns wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney, both All-SEC performers. With that trio, Vanderbilt averaged 28.5 points per game, the programs fourth-highest mark since World War II. Gdowski thinks his most important jobs are choosing a quarterback and getting the ball to those proven playmakers. A big part of it will be the quarterback spot, Gdowski said. But when you have a guy like KeShawn Vaughn, a guy like (Jared) Pinkney, a guy like Kalija (Lipscomb), youve got a pretty good place to start from. Its not that hard. Get those guys the ball. Figure it out. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Vanderbilt football news from The Tennessean on your mobile device COACH CONTRACT: Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason gets contract extension QB BATTLE: Ball State transfer Riley Neal's signing starts Vanderbilt quarterback competition Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | Gerry Gdowski replaces Andy Ludwig as Vanderbilt's offensive coordinator. Ludwig called the plays for the Commodores for the past four seasons. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/02/26/vanderbilt-football-offensive-coordinator-gerry-gdowski-andy-ludwig/2975585002/ | 0.30075 |
Will new Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Gerry Gdowski call plays like Andy Ludwig? | Many critical Vanderbilt fans were happy to see offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig leave, but Gerry Gdowskis similarities to Ludwig are part of the reason he got the job. Ludwig, who left in January to become Utahs offensive coordinator, had a good partnership with coach Derek Mason over the past four seasons. They competed in practice with Mason scheming his defense to stop Ludwigs offense. They worked well together in tweaking the offensive game plan during the week. And on game days, Mason found a balance of lightly tinkering but mostly letting Ludwig call the plays. Now Gdowski takes over as offensive coordinator, beginning with the opening workout of spring practice Wednesday, and he wants to make some minor changes to the offense. For this 2019 group, well try to put our stamp on it pretty early, Gdowski said. Dont expect either answer to stray too far from the template that Ludwig set. The big thing in this transition for all (of) us offensively was that we didnt want a whole bunch of big changes, said Gdowski, who has served in numerous roles on Masons staff since 2014. It really comes down to the nuts and bolts of what we do in communication and terminology. Weve got four years invested. Its really Andys system. Having that much time invested, we didnt want to change the nuts and bolts of what we do and how we call this. Gdowski, Mason partnership goes back 15 years Gdowski and Mason have worked together in an offensive meeting room previously. When Gdowski was New Mexico States offensive coordinator in 2004, Mason was hired as his wide receivers coach. In 2005-06 at Ohio, Gdowski coached quarterbacks and Mason coached wide receivers. Vanderbilt's Gerry Gdowski has served as tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator under Derek Mason. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. (Photo11: Vanderbilt) When Mason became a first-time head coach at Vanderbilt, Gdowski followed him to Nashville without knowing his position on the staff. The first couple weeks I was wide receivers (coach) and then I ended up with tight ends (and then quarterbacks coach in 2016-18). Its been fun, Gdowski said. Under either Ludwig or Gdowski, Vanderbilts offense was going to look different this season because of a new style of quarterback. Kyle Shurmur, a pro-style quarterback, left as the programs all-time passer. He will be replaced by either dual-threat quarterback Deuce Wallace or Ball State graduate transfer Riley Neal, who passed for 7,393 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns in his Ball State career. Ludwigs offensive terminology will remain. Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn rushed for 1,244 yards on just 157 carries last season. (Photo11: Shelley Mays/tennessean.com) (Vaughn) can be a special guy. If he can stay healthy and be consistent, the sky is the limit, Gdowski said. Now, he is a running back, so there are a lot of things that go into that. There are five guys up front that have to block people. He understands that. In addition to Vaughn, Vanderbilt returns wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney, both All-SEC performers. With that trio, Vanderbilt averaged 28.5 points per game, the programs fourth-highest mark since World War II. Gdowski thinks his most important jobs are choosing a quarterback and getting the ball to those proven playmakers. A big part of it will be the quarterback spot, Gdowski said. But when you have a guy like KeShawn Vaughn, a guy like (Jared) Pinkney, a guy like Kalija (Lipscomb), youve got a pretty good place to start from. Its not that hard. Get those guys the ball. Figure it out. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Vanderbilt football news from The Tennessean on your mobile device COACH CONTRACT: Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason gets contract extension QB BATTLE: Ball State transfer Riley Neal's signing starts Vanderbilt quarterback competition Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | Gerry Gdowski replaces Andy Ludwig as Vanderbilt's offensive coordinator. Ludwig called the plays for the Commodores for the past four seasons. Gdowsi has been on Derek Mason's staff for 15 years. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/02/26/vanderbilt-football-offensive-coordinator-gerry-gdowski-andy-ludwig/2975585002/ | 0.333225 |
Will new Vanderbilt offensive coordinator Gerry Gdowski call plays like Andy Ludwig? | Many critical Vanderbilt fans were happy to see offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig leave, but Gerry Gdowskis similarities to Ludwig are part of the reason he got the job. Ludwig, who left in January to become Utahs offensive coordinator, had a good partnership with coach Derek Mason over the past four seasons. They competed in practice with Mason scheming his defense to stop Ludwigs offense. They worked well together in tweaking the offensive game plan during the week. And on game days, Mason found a balance of lightly tinkering but mostly letting Ludwig call the plays. Now Gdowski takes over as offensive coordinator, beginning with the opening workout of spring practice Wednesday, and he wants to make some minor changes to the offense. For this 2019 group, well try to put our stamp on it pretty early, Gdowski said. Dont expect either answer to stray too far from the template that Ludwig set. The big thing in this transition for all (of) us offensively was that we didnt want a whole bunch of big changes, said Gdowski, who has served in numerous roles on Masons staff since 2014. It really comes down to the nuts and bolts of what we do in communication and terminology. Weve got four years invested. Its really Andys system. Having that much time invested, we didnt want to change the nuts and bolts of what we do and how we call this. Gdowski, Mason partnership goes back 15 years Gdowski and Mason have worked together in an offensive meeting room previously. When Gdowski was New Mexico States offensive coordinator in 2004, Mason was hired as his wide receivers coach. In 2005-06 at Ohio, Gdowski coached quarterbacks and Mason coached wide receivers. Vanderbilt's Gerry Gdowski has served as tight ends coach, quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator under Derek Mason. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2019. (Photo11: Vanderbilt) When Mason became a first-time head coach at Vanderbilt, Gdowski followed him to Nashville without knowing his position on the staff. The first couple weeks I was wide receivers (coach) and then I ended up with tight ends (and then quarterbacks coach in 2016-18). Its been fun, Gdowski said. Under either Ludwig or Gdowski, Vanderbilts offense was going to look different this season because of a new style of quarterback. Kyle Shurmur, a pro-style quarterback, left as the programs all-time passer. He will be replaced by either dual-threat quarterback Deuce Wallace or Ball State graduate transfer Riley Neal, who passed for 7,393 yards and 46 touchdowns and rushed for 1,363 yards and 15 touchdowns in his Ball State career. Ludwigs offensive terminology will remain. Vanderbilt running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn rushed for 1,244 yards on just 157 carries last season. (Photo11: Shelley Mays/tennessean.com) (Vaughn) can be a special guy. If he can stay healthy and be consistent, the sky is the limit, Gdowski said. Now, he is a running back, so there are a lot of things that go into that. There are five guys up front that have to block people. He understands that. In addition to Vaughn, Vanderbilt returns wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb and tight end Jared Pinkney, both All-SEC performers. With that trio, Vanderbilt averaged 28.5 points per game, the programs fourth-highest mark since World War II. Gdowski thinks his most important jobs are choosing a quarterback and getting the ball to those proven playmakers. A big part of it will be the quarterback spot, Gdowski said. But when you have a guy like KeShawn Vaughn, a guy like (Jared) Pinkney, a guy like Kalija (Lipscomb), youve got a pretty good place to start from. Its not that hard. Get those guys the ball. Figure it out. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Vanderbilt football news from The Tennessean on your mobile device COACH CONTRACT: Vanderbilt football coach Derek Mason gets contract extension QB BATTLE: Ball State transfer Riley Neal's signing starts Vanderbilt quarterback competition Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | Gerry Gdowski replaces Andy Ludwig as Vanderbilt's offensive coordinator. Ludwig called the plays for the Commodores for the past four seasons. Gdowsi has been on Derek Mason's staff for 15 years, most recently as wide receivers coach at New Mexico State. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/02/26/vanderbilt-football-offensive-coordinator-gerry-gdowski-andy-ludwig/2975585002/ | 0.364564 |
Will Robust Volume/Mix Plus Synergies Affect Keurig Dr Pepper's Top Line And Profitability In 2018? | Keurig Dr Pepper (NYSE: KDP), a leading coffee and beverage company in North America, is set to announce its Q4 2018 results on February 28, 2019, followed by a conference call with analysts. This would be the second quarterly results of the company after its merger with Dr Pepper Snapple. The market expects the company to post adjusted earnings of $0.30 per share in Q4 2018, 25% higher than $0.24 in Q4 2017. Total revenue is expected to be approximately $2.84 billion in Q4 2018, which would mark a whopping increase of 72.9% on a year-on-year basis. Higher revenues and superior adjusted earnings would likely be a reflection of robust volume/mix which is attributed to improved shipment volumes for Dr Pepper, Canada Dry, Core Bai and BODYARMOR brands, continued growth in the ginger ale category, expansion of and market share gains in the coffee portfolio, along with a lower tax expense following the implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, partially offset by higher interest expense on the back of increased debt as the company assumed DPSs debt after the merger. We have summarized our key expectations from the companys 2018 results in our interactive dashboard Keurig Dr Pepper Likely To Achieve Better Top Line Growth Due To Robust Volume/Mix In 2018. In addition, here is more Consumer Staples data. Key Factors Affecting Earnings Growth in coffee: The global ready-to-drink tea and coffee market size is expected to reach $135 billion by 2024, growing at a CAGR of 8.4%. Thus, the coffee segment provides immense growth opportunities for KDP, which is seeing volume growth of pods and brewers. Further, it is expanding the coffee portfolio on the back of unit growth for the single-serve pod category as well as improved market share for pods produced by Keurig Dr Pepper. In Q3 2018, this segments net sales growth was fueled by volume growth of approximately 3% for pods and 8% for brewers, although the pricing remained weak. The company is aiming to drive its household penetration through the launch of new coffeehouse brewers the K-Caf and the K-Latte and updated version of its K-Mini brewer platform. Bai Brand: As the young generation is shifting away from carbonated soft drinks due to changing preferences, increased awareness, and health concerns, demand for healthier alternatives is increasing. This trend is likely to help KDP as Bai is the front-runner for the company in terms of healthy-beverage options. In Q3 2018, Bais volumes increased by about 22% driven by distribution gains, product innovation, and promotional activity, as well as higher sales to third party bottlers in the Latin America Beverages segment. Additionally, while there are still distribution opportunities for its enhanced water product, opportunities also lie in other platforms, such as Bubbles, Super Tea, and Black. The Latin America beverages segment is expected to witness revenue growth of 8% in 2018. Ginger Ale: With the millennials preferring more authentic, quality beverages having natural flavors, the company has witnessed steady growth in the ginger ale category. Ginger, a sought-after flavor, was also ranked in the top 10 in Googles 2017 Beverage Report. Additionally, ginger beverages have been gaining traction in markets such as US, UK, Spain, and Mexico. Sales of ginger ale is likely to remain strong in Q4 2018 and beyond, contributing to higher sales from the beverage concentrates segment. We expect revenues from this segment to grow by 3.5% in 2018 followed by a 3% rise in 2019. Profitability: KDP expects merger-related synergies totaling about $600 million over the next three years, with $200 million in savings expected per year. This is expected to help in providing a fillip to margins. Additionally, lowering of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% following the implementation of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2018 is expected to lead to lower tax outgo and thus boost margins. However, we expect the upside in the net income margin to be limited due to higher interest expense. With the merger with DPS, Keurig Dr Pepper has assumed all of DPSs senior unsecured notes amounting to approximately $12 billion, which has led to almost a three-fold rise (y-o-y) in the consolidated debt of the company at the end of Q3 2018. Higher interest expense along with currency headwinds is likely to adversely affect margins in 2018. We expect net income margin to increase to 18% in 2018 from 16.1% in 2017. The upward trend is expected to continue in 2019 as well. We have a price estimate of $27 for the company, almost in line with its current market price. Management recently announced a quarterly dividend program and declared its first dividend of $0.15 per share. Thus, we believe that improving margins, coupled with managements renewed focus on enhancing shareholder returns, would support KDPs stock price in the near future. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Keurig Dr Pepper is expected to post adjusted earnings of $0.30 per share in Q4 2018, 25% higher than Q4 2017. Robust Volume/Mix Plus Synergies will likely be a reflection of robust volume/mix. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/02/26/will-robust-volumemix-plus-synergies-affect-keurig-dr-peppers-top-line-and-profitability-in-2018/ | 0.310359 |
What's Wrong With Being A Likeable Woman? | Ive built my entire careerheck, Ive built my entire lifearound being likeable. Not only was the like button being introduced for brands on Facebookbut being likeable was what got me ahead for most of my career. I would meet people, they would like me. Theyd take a chance on me. Even if I wasnt the most qualified, or the smartest, or the most badasswhen I was hired, it was generally because I was good enough, and because someone, somewhere, liked me. And yet, as a woman leader, I cannot be likeable. Youve surely seen the research already. A 2007 report from the Catalyst Group reveals the double-bind dilemma women face in the workplace: Women leaders are perceived as competent or liked, but rarely both. If we live up to gender stereotypes of being kind and submissive, then were regarded as nice but incompetent. Yet if we behave in ways that are typically viewed as masculine, then were competent but unlikeable. Put in this lose-lose situation, more and more women are choosing to just not care about being likeable anymore. Chimamanda Ngozi, author of We Should All Be Feminists, advises, If you start thinking about being likable you are not going to tell your story honestly, because you are going to be so concerned with not offending, and thats going to ruin your story, so forget about likability. Her point about staying true to yourself is well taken. As Marianne Cooper wrote in the Harvard Business Review: What is really going on...is that high-achieving women experience social backlash because their very successand specifically the behaviors that created that successviolates our expectations about how women are supposed to behave. Women are expected to be nice, warm, friendly, and nurturing. Ultimately, thats the problem with the likeability debate: Its being held in the unfair context of sexist perceptions. After all, it shouldnt be unlikeable for a woman to be tough and assertive. It shouldnt be unlikeable for a woman to be decisive and confident. It shouldnt be unlikeable to for a woman to be honest and flawed. It shouldnt be unlikeable for a woman to be human. In the political arena, as female candidates like Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren enter the 2020 US presidential race, many women are already bracing for the unlikeability conversation that has plagued plenty of female politicians in the past. And yes, yes it does. As Amy Edmondson, professor of leadership and management at the Harvard Business School, explained to The Washington Post, Any kind of derision leads to fear leads to conformity but never creativity and ingenuity. Youre not going to get new thinking from fear. Ever. The problem, of course, is that women face far more backlash for being toughor even cruelin the workplace than men ever do. The answer isnt to just embrace being unlikeable leaders. Its to start holding men to the same standards that we hold women in power. Heres the thing: Likeability does matter. Whether you like it or not, it matters in politics. It matters in business. And it certainly matters in our personal and professional relationships. We dont need to forget about being likeable in order to get ahead. We need to change the way we talk about likeability. For me, likeability is when someone has come out of the experience of working with you and enjoyed it. No leader can truly succeed without the ability to make people feel good about the experience of working with them and being led by them. As women, the choice between being respected and being liked is a false one. Just look at Jenna Lyons, the former president and executive creative director of J. Crew who was responsible for turning the fashion brand into an arbiter of styleall while making sure her team actually enjoyed working for her. As one employee once said: She knows how to make you feel appreciated, even if you need to be redirected. Theres nothing wrong with being likeableand women shouldnt feel shamed for wanting to be so. In fact, if all of uswhatever our genderfocused on being more likeable, wed have better businesses, better governments, and a better world. | Being likeable was what got me ahead for most of my career. The problem is that women face far more backlash for being tough in the workplace than men do. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/carriekerpen/2019/02/26/whats-wrong-with-being-a-likeable-woman/ | 0.12149 |
Do Dwight Evans And Darrell Evans Deserve Spots In Baseball Hall Of Fame? | Dwight Evans and Darrell Evans are not related. But they do have a relationship. According to Bill James, father of baseball sabermetrics, both should be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. James says Dwight was the best player in a Red Sox outfield that also included Fred Lynn and Jim Rice (who eventually reached Cooperstown on his last try) and calls Darrell the most underrated player in baseball history. In The Bill James Handbook 2019, the author, analyst, and mathematician has a section called The 25 Best Players Who Are Not in the Hall of Fame. Dwight Evans is ranked No. 4 and Darrell Evans No. 7. The former spent all but the final season of his career with the Boston Red Sox, playing for the team in the 1975 and 1986 World Series. The 6'2", 180-pound righthaded hitter was best-known for his spectacular defense in right field, were he won eight Gold Gloves. He also made the American League All-Star team three times. Evans, a durable star who played the entire 162-game schedule twice, played for 20 years from 1972-91, earning a peak salary of $1,600,000 in 1988. That was a year after his most prolific power season, 1987, when he had 34 home runs and 123 runs batted in. By the time he played out the string with the Baltimore Orioles, Dewey Evans had 385 home runs and a .370 lifetime on-base percentage nearly 100 points higher than his batting average. The differential in Darrell Evans was even more dramatic. He had a .361 on-base percentage but only a .248 batting average. The 6'2", 200-pound lefthanded batter began with the Atlanta Braves, where in 1973 he was part of the first trio of teammates (with Hank Aaron and Davey Johnson) to hit 40 home runs in the same season. Primarily a third baseman, the native California clubbed 40 home runs in both leagues, leading the American League with 40 in 1985. His final count was 414. Although he won a World Series ring with the 1984 Tigers, Evans always said the thrill of his career was scoring ahead of Hank Aarons 715th home run on April 8, 1974. He also had a career highlight in 1984, when he homered in his first at-bat with the Tigers. Coached and managed by Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, another lefty-hitting slugger who played third base for the Braves, Evans drew 1,605 walks, eighth on the career list at the time his 21-year career ended. The two-time All-Star had great baseball bloodlines: both his mother and aunt played professional softball. Darrell Evans never made more than $1,083,333 in a season but would earn significantly more in todays inflated market. Hes never mentioned when the various Veterans Committees come up their annual 10-man ballots every December but perhaps that should change. At least Bill James thinks so. In his book, he compares Darrell Evans to Graig Nettles, another lefty-hitting third baseman who hit for high power but a low average. Nettles was a better defensive third baseman and retained his value longer, James writes, but Evans rates higher as a Hall of Fame candidate because of his extremely high walk totals. He has the same career batting average as Nettles and about the same home run total but his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is 42 points higher mostly because of his walks. When these guys played, people just couldnt imagine that a .250 hitter could be a really valuable player because of his walks and homers. James gives the other Evans even higher praise. I wrote a long article for Grantland a few years ago, arguing that Evans should be in the Hall of Fame, he says in the 622-page paperback. Great defense, power, walks. Another victim of the batting average illusion like (Bobby) Grich, Darrell Evans, Graig Nettles, and others. But Dwight didnt hit .248. He hit .272. The only players listed ahead of Dwight Evans in the James book are Ted Simmons, Lou Whitaker, and early 20th century shortstop Bill Dahlen. | Bill James says Dwight Evans and Darrell Evans should be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The former spent all but the final season of his career with the Boston Red Sox. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschlossberg/2019/02/26/do-dwight-evans-and-darrell-evans-deserve-spots-in-baseball-hall-of-fame/ | 0.348148 |
Do Dwight Evans And Darrell Evans Deserve Spots In Baseball Hall Of Fame? | Dwight Evans and Darrell Evans are not related. But they do have a relationship. According to Bill James, father of baseball sabermetrics, both should be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. James says Dwight was the best player in a Red Sox outfield that also included Fred Lynn and Jim Rice (who eventually reached Cooperstown on his last try) and calls Darrell the most underrated player in baseball history. In The Bill James Handbook 2019, the author, analyst, and mathematician has a section called The 25 Best Players Who Are Not in the Hall of Fame. Dwight Evans is ranked No. 4 and Darrell Evans No. 7. The former spent all but the final season of his career with the Boston Red Sox, playing for the team in the 1975 and 1986 World Series. The 6'2", 180-pound righthaded hitter was best-known for his spectacular defense in right field, were he won eight Gold Gloves. He also made the American League All-Star team three times. Evans, a durable star who played the entire 162-game schedule twice, played for 20 years from 1972-91, earning a peak salary of $1,600,000 in 1988. That was a year after his most prolific power season, 1987, when he had 34 home runs and 123 runs batted in. By the time he played out the string with the Baltimore Orioles, Dewey Evans had 385 home runs and a .370 lifetime on-base percentage nearly 100 points higher than his batting average. The differential in Darrell Evans was even more dramatic. He had a .361 on-base percentage but only a .248 batting average. The 6'2", 200-pound lefthanded batter began with the Atlanta Braves, where in 1973 he was part of the first trio of teammates (with Hank Aaron and Davey Johnson) to hit 40 home runs in the same season. Primarily a third baseman, the native California clubbed 40 home runs in both leagues, leading the American League with 40 in 1985. His final count was 414. Although he won a World Series ring with the 1984 Tigers, Evans always said the thrill of his career was scoring ahead of Hank Aarons 715th home run on April 8, 1974. He also had a career highlight in 1984, when he homered in his first at-bat with the Tigers. Coached and managed by Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews, another lefty-hitting slugger who played third base for the Braves, Evans drew 1,605 walks, eighth on the career list at the time his 21-year career ended. The two-time All-Star had great baseball bloodlines: both his mother and aunt played professional softball. Darrell Evans never made more than $1,083,333 in a season but would earn significantly more in todays inflated market. Hes never mentioned when the various Veterans Committees come up their annual 10-man ballots every December but perhaps that should change. At least Bill James thinks so. In his book, he compares Darrell Evans to Graig Nettles, another lefty-hitting third baseman who hit for high power but a low average. Nettles was a better defensive third baseman and retained his value longer, James writes, but Evans rates higher as a Hall of Fame candidate because of his extremely high walk totals. He has the same career batting average as Nettles and about the same home run total but his OPS (on-base plus slugging) is 42 points higher mostly because of his walks. When these guys played, people just couldnt imagine that a .250 hitter could be a really valuable player because of his walks and homers. James gives the other Evans even higher praise. I wrote a long article for Grantland a few years ago, arguing that Evans should be in the Hall of Fame, he says in the 622-page paperback. Great defense, power, walks. Another victim of the batting average illusion like (Bobby) Grich, Darrell Evans, Graig Nettles, and others. But Dwight didnt hit .248. He hit .272. The only players listed ahead of Dwight Evans in the James book are Ted Simmons, Lou Whitaker, and early 20th century shortstop Bill Dahlen. | Bill James says Dwight Evans and Darrell Evans should be considered for the Baseball Hall of Fame. The former spent all but the final season of his career with the Boston Red Sox. Darrell Evans never made more than $1,083,333 in a season but would earn significantly more in todays inflated market. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschlossberg/2019/02/26/do-dwight-evans-and-darrell-evans-deserve-spots-in-baseball-hall-of-fame/ | 0.448416 |
Will An Appeals Court Make The EPA Ban A Pesticide Linked To Serious Health Risks? | Eric Perez and his wife, Mari, live with their five children in the Wenatchee Valley, in central Washington state. Their house is just feet from an orchard. A couple years ago, the kids were having an Easter egg hunt in the yard when they smelled something "plasticky," Perez remembers like "rotten eggs." Perez says they realized the orchard must have been sprayed while the family was away for their Easter lunch. Perez says they got stomachaches, started throwing up and having trouble breathing, and got diarrhea and scratchy throats. "I think we all went to the doctor," he remembers. Washington's Department of Agriculture investigated and found evidence that a pesticide called chlorpyrifos had drifted onto the Perez property from the neighboring orchard. Crops like apples, corn, soybeans, and Christmas trees are all sprayed with chlorpyrifos. The Environmental Protection Agency decided to phase the popular pesticide out of household use back in 2000, but it's still allowed in agriculture. Now, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban it. When chlorpyrifos drifts onto farmworkers and rural residents, the immediate symptoms can include "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle weakness, muscle twitching, coughing, wheezing," says Richard Fenske, a University of Washington professor who's studied the chemical. For babies and children, the pesticide can be even more dangerous. "There are developmental effects in children and in the fetus during pregnancy," he says. "We may see slower learning, not making progress in school as quickly as other students." Specifically, children with more chlorpyrifos in their blood at birth and in early childhood scored lower on memory, verbal comprehension, and reasoning tests. They also had lower IQs and higher rates of ADHD and impulsive behavior than children exposed to less chlorpyrifos. EPA scientists recommended a total ban on the chemical. But in March 2017, President Donald Trump's new EPA administrator at the time, Scott Pruitt, decided against that. A group of environmental and farmworkers' organizations who want a total ban sued the EPA. Last August, a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the EPA had to ban chlorpyrifos. But the EPA appealed that decision, and, now, the full Ninth Circuit Court is reconsidering the ruling. Farmers applaud that decision, saying they need chlorpyrifos. Sean Gilbert is a fifth-generation farmer in Yakima, Washington. He grows apples and other tree fruit. He says he sometimes uses chlorpyrifos in his orchards. "It will primarily go after a pest called scale," Gilbert says. "Scale irritates the skin of the apple and creates bright red spots on it. It would look like it had the measles." "Scale, in particular, if left unchecked can kill your tree," says Betsy Beers, an entomologist at Washington State University who studies pest management. "So it is something that growers have to take very seriously." Not just apple growers use chlorpyrifos. Christmas tree farmers also depend on the chemical; they use it to kill aphids, which can leave trees black, gnarled, and pretty much unsellable. Beers says there are alternatives to chlorpyrifos, but they're more expensive. "We can't count on there being an effective replacement coming anytime soon," she says. It's unclear how much chlorpyrifos residue remains on fruit and Christmas trees when they reach consumers. One study found chlorpyrifos derivatives in the urine of kids who eat produce that is not labeled organic. But there's no evidence linking that level of exposure to actual harm. In the Wenatchee Valley, Eric Perez got tired of the pesticide blowing over onto his house. "I saw my kids go to the doctor so many times," he says. "I failed them as a parent." He wishes he had said or done more, sooner, to keep the chemical away from his family. A year and a half ago, in September 2017, he bought the orchard next to his house. Now, it's farmed organically. The Ninth Circuit Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case against the EPA on March 25. Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting contributed to this story. | The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban chlorpyrifos. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/26/698227414/will-an-appeals-court-make-the-epa-ban-a-pesticide-linked-to-serious-health-risk?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr | 0.174333 |
Will An Appeals Court Make The EPA Ban A Pesticide Linked To Serious Health Risks? | Eric Perez and his wife, Mari, live with their five children in the Wenatchee Valley, in central Washington state. Their house is just feet from an orchard. A couple years ago, the kids were having an Easter egg hunt in the yard when they smelled something "plasticky," Perez remembers like "rotten eggs." Perez says they realized the orchard must have been sprayed while the family was away for their Easter lunch. Perez says they got stomachaches, started throwing up and having trouble breathing, and got diarrhea and scratchy throats. "I think we all went to the doctor," he remembers. Washington's Department of Agriculture investigated and found evidence that a pesticide called chlorpyrifos had drifted onto the Perez property from the neighboring orchard. Crops like apples, corn, soybeans, and Christmas trees are all sprayed with chlorpyrifos. The Environmental Protection Agency decided to phase the popular pesticide out of household use back in 2000, but it's still allowed in agriculture. Now, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban it. When chlorpyrifos drifts onto farmworkers and rural residents, the immediate symptoms can include "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle weakness, muscle twitching, coughing, wheezing," says Richard Fenske, a University of Washington professor who's studied the chemical. For babies and children, the pesticide can be even more dangerous. "There are developmental effects in children and in the fetus during pregnancy," he says. "We may see slower learning, not making progress in school as quickly as other students." Specifically, children with more chlorpyrifos in their blood at birth and in early childhood scored lower on memory, verbal comprehension, and reasoning tests. They also had lower IQs and higher rates of ADHD and impulsive behavior than children exposed to less chlorpyrifos. EPA scientists recommended a total ban on the chemical. But in March 2017, President Donald Trump's new EPA administrator at the time, Scott Pruitt, decided against that. A group of environmental and farmworkers' organizations who want a total ban sued the EPA. Last August, a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the EPA had to ban chlorpyrifos. But the EPA appealed that decision, and, now, the full Ninth Circuit Court is reconsidering the ruling. Farmers applaud that decision, saying they need chlorpyrifos. Sean Gilbert is a fifth-generation farmer in Yakima, Washington. He grows apples and other tree fruit. He says he sometimes uses chlorpyrifos in his orchards. "It will primarily go after a pest called scale," Gilbert says. "Scale irritates the skin of the apple and creates bright red spots on it. It would look like it had the measles." "Scale, in particular, if left unchecked can kill your tree," says Betsy Beers, an entomologist at Washington State University who studies pest management. "So it is something that growers have to take very seriously." Not just apple growers use chlorpyrifos. Christmas tree farmers also depend on the chemical; they use it to kill aphids, which can leave trees black, gnarled, and pretty much unsellable. Beers says there are alternatives to chlorpyrifos, but they're more expensive. "We can't count on there being an effective replacement coming anytime soon," she says. It's unclear how much chlorpyrifos residue remains on fruit and Christmas trees when they reach consumers. One study found chlorpyrifos derivatives in the urine of kids who eat produce that is not labeled organic. But there's no evidence linking that level of exposure to actual harm. In the Wenatchee Valley, Eric Perez got tired of the pesticide blowing over onto his house. "I saw my kids go to the doctor so many times," he says. "I failed them as a parent." He wishes he had said or done more, sooner, to keep the chemical away from his family. A year and a half ago, in September 2017, he bought the orchard next to his house. Now, it's farmed organically. The Ninth Circuit Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case against the EPA on March 25. Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting contributed to this story. | The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban chlorpyrifos. The EPA decided to phase the popular pesticide out of household use back in 2000. | bart | 1 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/26/698227414/will-an-appeals-court-make-the-epa-ban-a-pesticide-linked-to-serious-health-risk?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr | 0.222833 |
Will An Appeals Court Make The EPA Ban A Pesticide Linked To Serious Health Risks? | Eric Perez and his wife, Mari, live with their five children in the Wenatchee Valley, in central Washington state. Their house is just feet from an orchard. A couple years ago, the kids were having an Easter egg hunt in the yard when they smelled something "plasticky," Perez remembers like "rotten eggs." Perez says they realized the orchard must have been sprayed while the family was away for their Easter lunch. Perez says they got stomachaches, started throwing up and having trouble breathing, and got diarrhea and scratchy throats. "I think we all went to the doctor," he remembers. Washington's Department of Agriculture investigated and found evidence that a pesticide called chlorpyrifos had drifted onto the Perez property from the neighboring orchard. Crops like apples, corn, soybeans, and Christmas trees are all sprayed with chlorpyrifos. The Environmental Protection Agency decided to phase the popular pesticide out of household use back in 2000, but it's still allowed in agriculture. Now, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban it. When chlorpyrifos drifts onto farmworkers and rural residents, the immediate symptoms can include "nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle weakness, muscle twitching, coughing, wheezing," says Richard Fenske, a University of Washington professor who's studied the chemical. For babies and children, the pesticide can be even more dangerous. "There are developmental effects in children and in the fetus during pregnancy," he says. "We may see slower learning, not making progress in school as quickly as other students." Specifically, children with more chlorpyrifos in their blood at birth and in early childhood scored lower on memory, verbal comprehension, and reasoning tests. They also had lower IQs and higher rates of ADHD and impulsive behavior than children exposed to less chlorpyrifos. EPA scientists recommended a total ban on the chemical. But in March 2017, President Donald Trump's new EPA administrator at the time, Scott Pruitt, decided against that. A group of environmental and farmworkers' organizations who want a total ban sued the EPA. Last August, a three-judge panel ruled 2-1 that the EPA had to ban chlorpyrifos. But the EPA appealed that decision, and, now, the full Ninth Circuit Court is reconsidering the ruling. Farmers applaud that decision, saying they need chlorpyrifos. Sean Gilbert is a fifth-generation farmer in Yakima, Washington. He grows apples and other tree fruit. He says he sometimes uses chlorpyrifos in his orchards. "It will primarily go after a pest called scale," Gilbert says. "Scale irritates the skin of the apple and creates bright red spots on it. It would look like it had the measles." "Scale, in particular, if left unchecked can kill your tree," says Betsy Beers, an entomologist at Washington State University who studies pest management. "So it is something that growers have to take very seriously." Not just apple growers use chlorpyrifos. Christmas tree farmers also depend on the chemical; they use it to kill aphids, which can leave trees black, gnarled, and pretty much unsellable. Beers says there are alternatives to chlorpyrifos, but they're more expensive. "We can't count on there being an effective replacement coming anytime soon," she says. It's unclear how much chlorpyrifos residue remains on fruit and Christmas trees when they reach consumers. One study found chlorpyrifos derivatives in the urine of kids who eat produce that is not labeled organic. But there's no evidence linking that level of exposure to actual harm. In the Wenatchee Valley, Eric Perez got tired of the pesticide blowing over onto his house. "I saw my kids go to the doctor so many times," he says. "I failed them as a parent." He wishes he had said or done more, sooner, to keep the chemical away from his family. A year and a half ago, in September 2017, he bought the orchard next to his house. Now, it's farmed organically. The Ninth Circuit Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case against the EPA on March 25. Tony Schick of Oregon Public Broadcasting contributed to this story. | The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals will decide whether or not the EPA has to ban chlorpyrifos. The chemical is used in agriculture to kill pests like scale and aphids. It can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, muscle weakness, muscle twitching, coughing, wheezing. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/02/26/698227414/will-an-appeals-court-make-the-epa-ban-a-pesticide-linked-to-serious-health-risk?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr | 0.344196 |
Can Vegas Vic bring star power to UNLV football defense? | UNLV football has a star in junior quarterback Armani Rogers. He is one of the highest rated recruits in program history, the offense is built around his formidable skill set, and his teammates look to him to set the tone. In the 2018 finale, it was Rogers who put the Rebels on his back and carried them to victory, totaling five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in a memorable comeback win over rival UNR. On the first day of spring practice, Rogers exuded that broad-shouldered star power. He flashed a big smile and expressed his confidence that the offense will put plenty of points on the board in 2019. Rogers could be right. He could be wrong. But what really matters is that his teammates completely believe in his ability to make it happen. Thats what star players do they draw in their peers and lead from the front. And thats exactly what UNLV has lacked on the defensive side of the ball during Tony Sanchezs tenure as head coach. Sure, the Rebels havent been overly talented on defense, but those issues were exacerbated by a lack of personality, a lack of identity the absence of an it factor. What the Rebels could really use is a Rogers type on defense. And they may have it in Vic Viramontes. Viramontes is probably the highest-profile recruit of the Sanchez era only Rogers can challenge him for that title and he has the outsized personality to match. A 4-star linebacker who played at Riverside CC last year, Viramontes committed to UNLV in December and immediately endeared himself to Rebels fans by tweeting a photo of himself dressed as the Vegas Vic cowboy. Viramontes carried that flashy persona onto the field for the first day of spring ball, where he lined up at middle linebacker with the first team and looked really good, according to Sanchez. The middle (or Mike) linebacker is a position that carries leadership responsibilities, and Sanchez thought Viramontes fit in with his new teammates like a natural. Hes a confident dude, Sanchez said. He knows the game. Hes studied it. So to come on out and be as communicative as he was on Day 1 is kind of surprising since he hadnt been out there before. But sitting there at that Mike spot and getting the defense lined up and talking the way he did, I was really impressed. An athletic specimen at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Viramontes recorded 66.0 tackles and 1.5 sacks in junior college last year, and he intercepted a pass. But more than stats, the Rebels are looking to him to galvanize a defense that showed flashes under first-year coordinator Tim Skipper last year, but ultimately allowed 37.2 points per game. After one practice with the team, Viramontes thinks UNLV has the pieces in place to turn things around. I think we have a lot of talent on this defense, Viramontes said. Weve got to start Day 1. We got Day 1 done, and weve just got to continue through all these practices, continue in the weight room tomorrow. But this defense has a lot of potential. Especially with this defensive staff here, theyre going to coach us up and theyre going to put us in the right spot to make plays. When asked how he can contribute, Viramontes said his leadership will extend off the field. A lot of energy, he said. I love to work out, so Im going to be in the weight room pushing all the guys. Even Sanchez seems to be buying in. He kind of created it, Sanchez said. So its like, youd better put up now. Hes got that type of a personality. I think hes going to be fun for [the media] to talk to. Hes like that all the time. Hes got a great energy. Heck, were expecting him to be as good as he says he is. Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala. | Vic Viramontes is a 4-star linebacker who played at Riverside CC last year. UNLV is looking to him to galvanize a defense that allowed 37.2 points per game last season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/feb/26/can-vegas-vic-bring-star-power-to-unlv-football-de/ | 0.14099 |
Can Vegas Vic bring star power to UNLV football defense? | UNLV football has a star in junior quarterback Armani Rogers. He is one of the highest rated recruits in program history, the offense is built around his formidable skill set, and his teammates look to him to set the tone. In the 2018 finale, it was Rogers who put the Rebels on his back and carried them to victory, totaling five touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) in a memorable comeback win over rival UNR. On the first day of spring practice, Rogers exuded that broad-shouldered star power. He flashed a big smile and expressed his confidence that the offense will put plenty of points on the board in 2019. Rogers could be right. He could be wrong. But what really matters is that his teammates completely believe in his ability to make it happen. Thats what star players do they draw in their peers and lead from the front. And thats exactly what UNLV has lacked on the defensive side of the ball during Tony Sanchezs tenure as head coach. Sure, the Rebels havent been overly talented on defense, but those issues were exacerbated by a lack of personality, a lack of identity the absence of an it factor. What the Rebels could really use is a Rogers type on defense. And they may have it in Vic Viramontes. Viramontes is probably the highest-profile recruit of the Sanchez era only Rogers can challenge him for that title and he has the outsized personality to match. A 4-star linebacker who played at Riverside CC last year, Viramontes committed to UNLV in December and immediately endeared himself to Rebels fans by tweeting a photo of himself dressed as the Vegas Vic cowboy. Viramontes carried that flashy persona onto the field for the first day of spring ball, where he lined up at middle linebacker with the first team and looked really good, according to Sanchez. The middle (or Mike) linebacker is a position that carries leadership responsibilities, and Sanchez thought Viramontes fit in with his new teammates like a natural. Hes a confident dude, Sanchez said. He knows the game. Hes studied it. So to come on out and be as communicative as he was on Day 1 is kind of surprising since he hadnt been out there before. But sitting there at that Mike spot and getting the defense lined up and talking the way he did, I was really impressed. An athletic specimen at 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, Viramontes recorded 66.0 tackles and 1.5 sacks in junior college last year, and he intercepted a pass. But more than stats, the Rebels are looking to him to galvanize a defense that showed flashes under first-year coordinator Tim Skipper last year, but ultimately allowed 37.2 points per game. After one practice with the team, Viramontes thinks UNLV has the pieces in place to turn things around. I think we have a lot of talent on this defense, Viramontes said. Weve got to start Day 1. We got Day 1 done, and weve just got to continue through all these practices, continue in the weight room tomorrow. But this defense has a lot of potential. Especially with this defensive staff here, theyre going to coach us up and theyre going to put us in the right spot to make plays. When asked how he can contribute, Viramontes said his leadership will extend off the field. A lot of energy, he said. I love to work out, so Im going to be in the weight room pushing all the guys. Even Sanchez seems to be buying in. He kind of created it, Sanchez said. So its like, youd better put up now. Hes got that type of a personality. I think hes going to be fun for [the media] to talk to. Hes like that all the time. Hes got a great energy. Heck, were expecting him to be as good as he says he is. Mike Grimala can be reached at 702-948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Mike on Twitter at twitter.com/mikegrimala. | Vic Viramontes is a 4-star linebacker who played at Riverside CC last year. UNLV is looking to him to galvanize a defense that showed flashes under first-year coordinator Tim Skipper last year, but ultimately allowed 37.2 points per game. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://lasvegassun.com/news/2019/feb/26/can-vegas-vic-bring-star-power-to-unlv-football-de/ | 0.147896 |
Is it true that Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs? | On Monday, President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. "My daughter has created millions of jobs," he told a White House gathering of the nation's governors. "I don't know if anyone knows that, but she's created millions of jobs." However, he did not elaborate on this claim. Asked by CBS News about the claim, a White House official didn't exactly answer the question but said that because of Ivanka Trump's leadership of the Office of Economic Initiatives, "millions of opportunities have been created for America's workers both by legislative and administration action, including Perkins CTE, tax reform, the National Council for the American Worker, and the 6.5 million opportunities for career enhancement, continuing education, and on-the-job training pledged by 200 companies the private sector for American students and workers." Ivanka Trump has played a role in her father's workforce development initiatives, including co-chairing the "Council for American Worker," a White House education and job training entity. In her work for the council, she has, the White House said, highlighted the need for more vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Mr. Trump said in his remarks on Monday that the council has "gained commitments from private sector leaders to hire and train more than 6.5 million Americans." But those "commitments" to the president's initiative do not translate into tangible jobs created, but rather, training and "career enhancement." The Pledge to America's Workers White House website expressly notes that the commitments are not for concrete jobs, but for "new opportunities pledged for America's workers" over the next five years. Some entities, like A2Z Hospice Sterilization Corp., promised 25 opportunities, and on the high end, IPC, the association for the electronics interconnection industry, pledged 1 million. There does not appear to be a mechanism for tracking fulfilled jobs or training opportunities on the White House website. Meanwhile, the eldest Trump daughter, who before joining her father's administration worked as a fashion model and later started her own now-defunct clothing line, weighed in on wages for American workers. She argued that most Americans don't want a "guaranteed minimum" wage, as currently outlined in the Green New Deal and throughout Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's platform. "I don't think most Americans, in their heart, want to be given something. I've spent a lot of time traveling around this country over the last four years. People want to work for what they get. So I think that this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want. They want the ability to be able to secure a job. They want the ability to live in a country where there's the potential for upward mobility," Trump said on Fox News Channel's "The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton." Trump went on to tout her father's impact on the nation's economy, saying the country's economic health was "undoubtedly" better than it was two years ago. "America is doing very well and it stands in quite sharp contrast to the rest of the world. So, not only are we doing well but much of the world has slowed down in terms of the pace of their growth. And our policies are continuing to allow this economy to thrive," she added. CBS News' Kathryn Watson contributed to this report. | President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-touts-daughter-ivanka-as-creating-millions-of-jobs-ivanka-slams-guaranteed-minimum/ | 0.32929 |
Is it true that Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs? | On Monday, President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. "My daughter has created millions of jobs," he told a White House gathering of the nation's governors. "I don't know if anyone knows that, but she's created millions of jobs." However, he did not elaborate on this claim. Asked by CBS News about the claim, a White House official didn't exactly answer the question but said that because of Ivanka Trump's leadership of the Office of Economic Initiatives, "millions of opportunities have been created for America's workers both by legislative and administration action, including Perkins CTE, tax reform, the National Council for the American Worker, and the 6.5 million opportunities for career enhancement, continuing education, and on-the-job training pledged by 200 companies the private sector for American students and workers." Ivanka Trump has played a role in her father's workforce development initiatives, including co-chairing the "Council for American Worker," a White House education and job training entity. In her work for the council, she has, the White House said, highlighted the need for more vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Mr. Trump said in his remarks on Monday that the council has "gained commitments from private sector leaders to hire and train more than 6.5 million Americans." But those "commitments" to the president's initiative do not translate into tangible jobs created, but rather, training and "career enhancement." The Pledge to America's Workers White House website expressly notes that the commitments are not for concrete jobs, but for "new opportunities pledged for America's workers" over the next five years. Some entities, like A2Z Hospice Sterilization Corp., promised 25 opportunities, and on the high end, IPC, the association for the electronics interconnection industry, pledged 1 million. There does not appear to be a mechanism for tracking fulfilled jobs or training opportunities on the White House website. Meanwhile, the eldest Trump daughter, who before joining her father's administration worked as a fashion model and later started her own now-defunct clothing line, weighed in on wages for American workers. She argued that most Americans don't want a "guaranteed minimum" wage, as currently outlined in the Green New Deal and throughout Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's platform. "I don't think most Americans, in their heart, want to be given something. I've spent a lot of time traveling around this country over the last four years. People want to work for what they get. So I think that this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want. They want the ability to be able to secure a job. They want the ability to live in a country where there's the potential for upward mobility," Trump said on Fox News Channel's "The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton." Trump went on to tout her father's impact on the nation's economy, saying the country's economic health was "undoubtedly" better than it was two years ago. "America is doing very well and it stands in quite sharp contrast to the rest of the world. So, not only are we doing well but much of the world has slowed down in terms of the pace of their growth. And our policies are continuing to allow this economy to thrive," she added. CBS News' Kathryn Watson contributed to this report. | President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. However, he did not elaborate on this claim. Ivanka Trump has played a role in her father's workforce development initiatives. | bart | 1 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-touts-daughter-ivanka-as-creating-millions-of-jobs-ivanka-slams-guaranteed-minimum/ | 0.371999 |
Is it true that Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs? | On Monday, President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. "My daughter has created millions of jobs," he told a White House gathering of the nation's governors. "I don't know if anyone knows that, but she's created millions of jobs." However, he did not elaborate on this claim. Asked by CBS News about the claim, a White House official didn't exactly answer the question but said that because of Ivanka Trump's leadership of the Office of Economic Initiatives, "millions of opportunities have been created for America's workers both by legislative and administration action, including Perkins CTE, tax reform, the National Council for the American Worker, and the 6.5 million opportunities for career enhancement, continuing education, and on-the-job training pledged by 200 companies the private sector for American students and workers." Ivanka Trump has played a role in her father's workforce development initiatives, including co-chairing the "Council for American Worker," a White House education and job training entity. In her work for the council, she has, the White House said, highlighted the need for more vocational training and apprenticeship opportunities across the country. Mr. Trump said in his remarks on Monday that the council has "gained commitments from private sector leaders to hire and train more than 6.5 million Americans." But those "commitments" to the president's initiative do not translate into tangible jobs created, but rather, training and "career enhancement." The Pledge to America's Workers White House website expressly notes that the commitments are not for concrete jobs, but for "new opportunities pledged for America's workers" over the next five years. Some entities, like A2Z Hospice Sterilization Corp., promised 25 opportunities, and on the high end, IPC, the association for the electronics interconnection industry, pledged 1 million. There does not appear to be a mechanism for tracking fulfilled jobs or training opportunities on the White House website. Meanwhile, the eldest Trump daughter, who before joining her father's administration worked as a fashion model and later started her own now-defunct clothing line, weighed in on wages for American workers. She argued that most Americans don't want a "guaranteed minimum" wage, as currently outlined in the Green New Deal and throughout Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's platform. "I don't think most Americans, in their heart, want to be given something. I've spent a lot of time traveling around this country over the last four years. People want to work for what they get. So I think that this idea of a guaranteed minimum is not something most people want. They want the ability to be able to secure a job. They want the ability to live in a country where there's the potential for upward mobility," Trump said on Fox News Channel's "The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton." Trump went on to tout her father's impact on the nation's economy, saying the country's economic health was "undoubtedly" better than it was two years ago. "America is doing very well and it stands in quite sharp contrast to the rest of the world. So, not only are we doing well but much of the world has slowed down in terms of the pace of their growth. And our policies are continuing to allow this economy to thrive," she added. CBS News' Kathryn Watson contributed to this report. | President Trump boasted that his daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump created "millions" of jobs. However, he did not elaborate on this claim. Ivanka Trump has played a role in her father's workforce development initiatives. There does not appear to be a mechanism for tracking fulfilled jobs or training opportunities. | bart | 2 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-touts-daughter-ivanka-as-creating-millions-of-jobs-ivanka-slams-guaranteed-minimum/ | 0.454477 |
Whos running in NC3 special election for Walter Jones seat? | At least three North Carolina state lawmakers have entered the race for the Republican nomination in the special election to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones in Congress. And thats not even half the Republican field. State Reps. Greg Murphy, Michael Speciale and Phil Shepard have announced their candidacies in the 3rd Congressional District, which covers much of Eastern North Carolina. The growing field also includes: Michele Nix, an official with the state party; Phil Law, a Marine who twice ran against Jones; Jeff Moore, who served in former Gov. Pat McCrorys administration; and Sandy Smith, a political newcomer. Democrat Ollie Nelson planned to announce his candidacy Monday night, according to the Jacksonville Daily News. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer Jones, a Republican, represented the district from 1995 until he died on Feb. 10. The 76-year-old Jones, who was a Democrat before changing party affiliation prior to the 1994 election, earned a reputation as a independent voice in Congress, often irking those in his own party. He ran unopposed in the 2018 general election. Gov. Roy Cooper will set the dates for the new election. The state board of elections sent Cooper a proposed schedule for the 3rd district, which would put the primary election on May 14 and the general election on either July 23 (if a second primary isnt needed) or Oct. 9 (if a second primary is needed). The state board will set the dates for the new election in North Carolinas 9th Congressional District, which remains without a representative after the five-member board voted Feb. 21 to order a new contest due to fraud in the 2018 general election. Board chairman Bob Cordle said it makes sense for the two elections to run on the same dates. Phil Law: Law grew up near Winston-Salem and joined the Marines upon his high school graduation. He saw combat in Iraq and also served in Kosovo and Liberia during his four years in the Marines. A married father of three, Law lives in Jacksonville and works in information technology. He said he will stand behind President Donald Trump on issues, including combating illegal immigration. President Trump is fighting for us every day and needs our support, which I will stress each day on the campaign trail. We cannot allow radical Democratic officials to nullify the vote of the people through phony impeachment charges. If this is to become President Trumps Alamo, then I will stand with him to the very end win or lose, Law said in a statement announcing his candidacy on Jan. 14. Jeff Moore: Moore, who worked in McCrorys administration on economic and workforce development policy, is a native of Carteret County. Moore, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, worked in financial services and now is a geopolitical risk consultant. He also worked as a reporter for the North State Journal. A married father of two, Moore lists immigration as his top issue. The leftist push for amnesty for illegal aliens and protection from law enforcement in sanctuary cities rips at the fabric of civil society. Every town should cooperate fully with ICE, and we should empower those protecting our homeland to do their jobs, Moore writes on his campaign website. Greg Murphy: Murphy represents NC House District 9 in the legislature. A urologic surgeon, Murphy is a practicing physician. As a medical missionary, Murphy traveled to Haiti, India and Africa. In the state House, he introduced legislation to stop the misuse of opioids. A married father of three, Murphy attended high school in Raleigh and lives in Greenville. Murphys platform includes calls for lower taxes, less government, more liberty and the promotion of personal responsibility. My vote will never be turned over to any person or party. It belongs to the people, Murphy said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Michele Nix: The vice chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, Nix calls herself a conservative patriot on her Twitter account. She filed paperwork to run in February. Nix, from Kinston, worked at First Citizens Investor Services for nearly 18 years, according to her LinkedIn account. In October, Nix posted a photo on Instagram that some Democrats called racist. It featured a white hand making the OK symbol and a dark-colored hand making a fist. Phil Shepard: A pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Shepard is in his fifth term representing Onslow County in the NC House. He was born in Jacksonville, attended Coastal Carolina Community College and has lived in Onslow County all of his life, he said in a candidate questionnaire last fall. Sandy Smith: Smith has never run for political office before, according to her campaign website. She calls herself the breath of fresh air that the Republican Party needs. Smith is married and has four adult children, including a daughter who enlisted in the Marines. She and her husband have a sustainable farm in Ayden, raising free-range pigs and bees. She is a graduate of East Carolina University, who has lived all over the country but settled in Eastern North Carolina. Yes, we have the most women ever in congress, which is truly a great thing, Smith writes on her website. The problem is we have the wrong women in congress. The time is imperative now that we put the right women in congress. I am a Strong Republican Women that love this great country, respect our President and is truly proud to embraces all of Americas Greatness. Michael Speciale: Speciale, who was born in Chicago, is in his fourth term in the NC House representing Craven County. He joined the Marines and spent much of his career at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point. Speciale is married with two children and eight grandchildren. Speciale has made headlines throughout his term in the NC House. In 2017, he introduced a bill to make gay marriage illegal again in the state in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The same year, he wanted the states constitutional ban on secession dropped. In 2015, Speciale shared a Facebook post that referred to President Barack Obama as Islamic son of a bitch. He made fun of a bill aimed at requiring dog breeders to exercise their animals and use humane euthanasia, according to previous News & Observer reporting. Exercise on a daily basis if I kick him across the floor, is that daily exercise? Speciale said during floor debate in 2013. Euthanasia performed humanely so I should choose the ax or the baseball bat? Speciale played up those headlines in his campaign announcement. He is unapologetic for what he believes and has made media headlines for standing strong for those positions, the statement said. | State Reps. Greg Murphy, Michael Speciale and Phil Shepard have announced their candidacies in the 3rd Congressional District. | bart | 0 | https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article226775819.html | 0.103268 |
Whos running in NC3 special election for Walter Jones seat? | At least three North Carolina state lawmakers have entered the race for the Republican nomination in the special election to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones in Congress. And thats not even half the Republican field. State Reps. Greg Murphy, Michael Speciale and Phil Shepard have announced their candidacies in the 3rd Congressional District, which covers much of Eastern North Carolina. The growing field also includes: Michele Nix, an official with the state party; Phil Law, a Marine who twice ran against Jones; Jeff Moore, who served in former Gov. Pat McCrorys administration; and Sandy Smith, a political newcomer. Democrat Ollie Nelson planned to announce his candidacy Monday night, according to the Jacksonville Daily News. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer Jones, a Republican, represented the district from 1995 until he died on Feb. 10. The 76-year-old Jones, who was a Democrat before changing party affiliation prior to the 1994 election, earned a reputation as a independent voice in Congress, often irking those in his own party. He ran unopposed in the 2018 general election. Gov. Roy Cooper will set the dates for the new election. The state board of elections sent Cooper a proposed schedule for the 3rd district, which would put the primary election on May 14 and the general election on either July 23 (if a second primary isnt needed) or Oct. 9 (if a second primary is needed). The state board will set the dates for the new election in North Carolinas 9th Congressional District, which remains without a representative after the five-member board voted Feb. 21 to order a new contest due to fraud in the 2018 general election. Board chairman Bob Cordle said it makes sense for the two elections to run on the same dates. Phil Law: Law grew up near Winston-Salem and joined the Marines upon his high school graduation. He saw combat in Iraq and also served in Kosovo and Liberia during his four years in the Marines. A married father of three, Law lives in Jacksonville and works in information technology. He said he will stand behind President Donald Trump on issues, including combating illegal immigration. President Trump is fighting for us every day and needs our support, which I will stress each day on the campaign trail. We cannot allow radical Democratic officials to nullify the vote of the people through phony impeachment charges. If this is to become President Trumps Alamo, then I will stand with him to the very end win or lose, Law said in a statement announcing his candidacy on Jan. 14. Jeff Moore: Moore, who worked in McCrorys administration on economic and workforce development policy, is a native of Carteret County. Moore, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, worked in financial services and now is a geopolitical risk consultant. He also worked as a reporter for the North State Journal. A married father of two, Moore lists immigration as his top issue. The leftist push for amnesty for illegal aliens and protection from law enforcement in sanctuary cities rips at the fabric of civil society. Every town should cooperate fully with ICE, and we should empower those protecting our homeland to do their jobs, Moore writes on his campaign website. Greg Murphy: Murphy represents NC House District 9 in the legislature. A urologic surgeon, Murphy is a practicing physician. As a medical missionary, Murphy traveled to Haiti, India and Africa. In the state House, he introduced legislation to stop the misuse of opioids. A married father of three, Murphy attended high school in Raleigh and lives in Greenville. Murphys platform includes calls for lower taxes, less government, more liberty and the promotion of personal responsibility. My vote will never be turned over to any person or party. It belongs to the people, Murphy said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Michele Nix: The vice chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, Nix calls herself a conservative patriot on her Twitter account. She filed paperwork to run in February. Nix, from Kinston, worked at First Citizens Investor Services for nearly 18 years, according to her LinkedIn account. In October, Nix posted a photo on Instagram that some Democrats called racist. It featured a white hand making the OK symbol and a dark-colored hand making a fist. Phil Shepard: A pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Shepard is in his fifth term representing Onslow County in the NC House. He was born in Jacksonville, attended Coastal Carolina Community College and has lived in Onslow County all of his life, he said in a candidate questionnaire last fall. Sandy Smith: Smith has never run for political office before, according to her campaign website. She calls herself the breath of fresh air that the Republican Party needs. Smith is married and has four adult children, including a daughter who enlisted in the Marines. She and her husband have a sustainable farm in Ayden, raising free-range pigs and bees. She is a graduate of East Carolina University, who has lived all over the country but settled in Eastern North Carolina. Yes, we have the most women ever in congress, which is truly a great thing, Smith writes on her website. The problem is we have the wrong women in congress. The time is imperative now that we put the right women in congress. I am a Strong Republican Women that love this great country, respect our President and is truly proud to embraces all of Americas Greatness. Michael Speciale: Speciale, who was born in Chicago, is in his fourth term in the NC House representing Craven County. He joined the Marines and spent much of his career at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point. Speciale is married with two children and eight grandchildren. Speciale has made headlines throughout his term in the NC House. In 2017, he introduced a bill to make gay marriage illegal again in the state in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The same year, he wanted the states constitutional ban on secession dropped. In 2015, Speciale shared a Facebook post that referred to President Barack Obama as Islamic son of a bitch. He made fun of a bill aimed at requiring dog breeders to exercise their animals and use humane euthanasia, according to previous News & Observer reporting. Exercise on a daily basis if I kick him across the floor, is that daily exercise? Speciale said during floor debate in 2013. Euthanasia performed humanely so I should choose the ax or the baseball bat? Speciale played up those headlines in his campaign announcement. He is unapologetic for what he believes and has made media headlines for standing strong for those positions, the statement said. | At least three North Carolina state lawmakers have entered the race for the Republican nomination in the 3rd Congressional District. Democrat Ollie Nelson planned to announce his candidacy Monday night. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article226775819.html | 0.105884 |
Whos running in NC3 special election for Walter Jones seat? | At least three North Carolina state lawmakers have entered the race for the Republican nomination in the special election to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones in Congress. And thats not even half the Republican field. State Reps. Greg Murphy, Michael Speciale and Phil Shepard have announced their candidacies in the 3rd Congressional District, which covers much of Eastern North Carolina. The growing field also includes: Michele Nix, an official with the state party; Phil Law, a Marine who twice ran against Jones; Jeff Moore, who served in former Gov. Pat McCrorys administration; and Sandy Smith, a political newcomer. Democrat Ollie Nelson planned to announce his candidacy Monday night, according to the Jacksonville Daily News. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer Jones, a Republican, represented the district from 1995 until he died on Feb. 10. The 76-year-old Jones, who was a Democrat before changing party affiliation prior to the 1994 election, earned a reputation as a independent voice in Congress, often irking those in his own party. He ran unopposed in the 2018 general election. Gov. Roy Cooper will set the dates for the new election. The state board of elections sent Cooper a proposed schedule for the 3rd district, which would put the primary election on May 14 and the general election on either July 23 (if a second primary isnt needed) or Oct. 9 (if a second primary is needed). The state board will set the dates for the new election in North Carolinas 9th Congressional District, which remains without a representative after the five-member board voted Feb. 21 to order a new contest due to fraud in the 2018 general election. Board chairman Bob Cordle said it makes sense for the two elections to run on the same dates. Phil Law: Law grew up near Winston-Salem and joined the Marines upon his high school graduation. He saw combat in Iraq and also served in Kosovo and Liberia during his four years in the Marines. A married father of three, Law lives in Jacksonville and works in information technology. He said he will stand behind President Donald Trump on issues, including combating illegal immigration. President Trump is fighting for us every day and needs our support, which I will stress each day on the campaign trail. We cannot allow radical Democratic officials to nullify the vote of the people through phony impeachment charges. If this is to become President Trumps Alamo, then I will stand with him to the very end win or lose, Law said in a statement announcing his candidacy on Jan. 14. Jeff Moore: Moore, who worked in McCrorys administration on economic and workforce development policy, is a native of Carteret County. Moore, a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, worked in financial services and now is a geopolitical risk consultant. He also worked as a reporter for the North State Journal. A married father of two, Moore lists immigration as his top issue. The leftist push for amnesty for illegal aliens and protection from law enforcement in sanctuary cities rips at the fabric of civil society. Every town should cooperate fully with ICE, and we should empower those protecting our homeland to do their jobs, Moore writes on his campaign website. Greg Murphy: Murphy represents NC House District 9 in the legislature. A urologic surgeon, Murphy is a practicing physician. As a medical missionary, Murphy traveled to Haiti, India and Africa. In the state House, he introduced legislation to stop the misuse of opioids. A married father of three, Murphy attended high school in Raleigh and lives in Greenville. Murphys platform includes calls for lower taxes, less government, more liberty and the promotion of personal responsibility. My vote will never be turned over to any person or party. It belongs to the people, Murphy said in a statement announcing his candidacy. Michele Nix: The vice chair of the North Carolina Republican Party, Nix calls herself a conservative patriot on her Twitter account. She filed paperwork to run in February. Nix, from Kinston, worked at First Citizens Investor Services for nearly 18 years, according to her LinkedIn account. In October, Nix posted a photo on Instagram that some Democrats called racist. It featured a white hand making the OK symbol and a dark-colored hand making a fist. Phil Shepard: A pastor at Lighthouse Baptist Church, Shepard is in his fifth term representing Onslow County in the NC House. He was born in Jacksonville, attended Coastal Carolina Community College and has lived in Onslow County all of his life, he said in a candidate questionnaire last fall. Sandy Smith: Smith has never run for political office before, according to her campaign website. She calls herself the breath of fresh air that the Republican Party needs. Smith is married and has four adult children, including a daughter who enlisted in the Marines. She and her husband have a sustainable farm in Ayden, raising free-range pigs and bees. She is a graduate of East Carolina University, who has lived all over the country but settled in Eastern North Carolina. Yes, we have the most women ever in congress, which is truly a great thing, Smith writes on her website. The problem is we have the wrong women in congress. The time is imperative now that we put the right women in congress. I am a Strong Republican Women that love this great country, respect our President and is truly proud to embraces all of Americas Greatness. Michael Speciale: Speciale, who was born in Chicago, is in his fourth term in the NC House representing Craven County. He joined the Marines and spent much of his career at Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point. Speciale is married with two children and eight grandchildren. Speciale has made headlines throughout his term in the NC House. In 2017, he introduced a bill to make gay marriage illegal again in the state in defiance of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The same year, he wanted the states constitutional ban on secession dropped. In 2015, Speciale shared a Facebook post that referred to President Barack Obama as Islamic son of a bitch. He made fun of a bill aimed at requiring dog breeders to exercise their animals and use humane euthanasia, according to previous News & Observer reporting. Exercise on a daily basis if I kick him across the floor, is that daily exercise? Speciale said during floor debate in 2013. Euthanasia performed humanely so I should choose the ax or the baseball bat? Speciale played up those headlines in his campaign announcement. He is unapologetic for what he believes and has made media headlines for standing strong for those positions, the statement said. | At least three North Carolina state lawmakers have entered the race for the Republican nomination in the special election to replace the late Rep. Walter Jones. The growing field also includes: Michele Nix, an official with the state party; Phil Law, a Marine who twice ran against Jones. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article226775819.html | 0.31045 |
How did a 10-ton humpback whale end up in the Amazon jungle? | A 10-ton whale was found on the island of Marajo, seen here, at the mouth of the Amazon River, in late February 2019. A 10-ton whale was found on the island of Marajo, seen here, at the mouth of the Amazon River, in late February 2019. 1 / 23 Back to Gallery It sounds like the start of a children's nursing rhyme or riddle. Researchers stumble upon a 26-foot-long humpback whale amid the twisting vines and sagging trees of Brazil's Amazon jungle, nearly 50 feet from the shore. Scientists aren't entirely sure. The 10-ton mammal was found on the island of Marajo, at the mouth of the Amazon River, in late February, according to the Independent. The Bicho D'Agua Institute, a conservation group that is studying the animal, think a large wave tossed the carcass deep into the mangrove, but it's unclear why the whale was swimming off the coast of Brazil in the first place. ALSO: Dead and dying dolphins washing up on Calif. shores "We're still not sure how it landed here, but we're guessing that the creature was floating close to the shore and the tide, which has been pretty considerable over the past few days," Renata Emin, the institute's project leader, told the Independent. Emrin said she was "baffled" by the whale's presence on the north coast of Brazil in February, which she called a "very unusual occurrence." Humpback whales, though common on the Bahia coast of Brazil between August and November, rarely swim north to the mouth of the Amazon, a journey requiring thousands of miles of travel inland. It appears the humpback was a calf that was separated from its mother while migrating to Antarctica for the warmer season, Emrin told the publication. A cause of death has not yet been determined. Researchers continue to study the whale, an effort made especially difficult by the large animal's remote location. Read Michelle Robertson's latest stories and send her news tips at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com. Start receiving breaking news emails on wildfires, civil emergencies, riots, national breaking news, Amber Alerts, weather emergencies, and other critical events with the SFGATE breaking news email. Click here to make sure you get the news. | Researchers stumble upon a 26-foot-long humpback whale amid the twisting vines and sagging trees of Brazil's Amazon jungle. The 10-ton mammal was found on the island of Marajo, at the mouth of the Amazon River, in late February. | bart | 2 | https://www.sfgate.com/science/article/humpback-whale-amazon-jungle-brazil-how-washed-13647004.php | 0.211082 |
Does Help to Buy prop up housebuilders? | Image copyright Getty Images The Help to Buy housing scheme, launched in 2013, is hailed by the government as one of its big successes. The Treasury says 494,108 English homes have been bought through the scheme, with the vast majority going to first-time buyers living outside London. Ministers and mortgage lenders alike say it lifts people into home ownership by getting them on the housing ladder. But critics say it merely subsidises housebuilders and pushes up the price of new homes. Similar schemes exist in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are two main forms: Help to Buy loans and Help to Buy Individual Savings Accounts (Isas). In the first version, the government lends up to 20% of the cost of a newly built property - or 40% within Greater London - so buyers need only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage to buy it. Those purchasing a new-build home are not charged interest for the first five years. The Help to Buy Isa was launched later, in December 2015, and is open to first-time buyers in the UK. Savers receive a 25% bonus from the government when they withdraw the money they have saved to buy their first property. The maximum purchase price is 250,000, or 450,000 in London. The maximum government bonus that someone can receive is 3,000, if they have saved 12,000. Savers can deposit up to 200 a month, although they can kick-start saving with a lump sum of 1,200. Chancellor Philip Hammond is certainly firmly behind the scheme, which was introduced by his predecessor, George Osborne. He has extended it to run until March 2023 and says the move will support "half a million more home purchases". He said: "The government supports those who dream of owning their own home and wants to help them take the first step on to the property ladder." Support also comes from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association. Its executive director, Kate Davies, said Help to Buy had become "a cornerstone of the UK property market" and provides "essential support to the whole of the UK property sector". She added: "Although last year saw the highest number of first-time buyers since the financial crisis, millions of households are still waiting to get on the housing ladder and Help to Buy will continue to play a crucial role in helping some of these households into home ownership over the next four years." The argument against the scheme has gained ground this week, with the news that one of the UK's biggest builders of houses, Persimmon, saw its annual profits top 1bn last year. A day earlier, the firm's share price fell 5% because of suggestions that its participation in Help to Buy was under government scrutiny. For opponents of the scheme, that just shows how dependent the firm has become on big injections of public cash. Mike Amey, managing director of global investment management firm Pimco, told the BBC that profit on a house sold by Persimmon had trebled since Help to Buy was introduced, "roughly from 20,000 to 60,000". Image copyright Getty Images And property expert Henry Pryor told the BBC that last year, half the number of homes Persimmon built were underpinned by support from Help to Buy. Mr Pryor said the scheme was brought in for legitimate reasons following the credit crunch, to restore confidence in the sector. But since then, it had become "the crack cocaine of the building industry", he said. "When we are weaned off it, it is going to be painful," he added. Other big housebuilders, such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, are thought to have benefited to a similar extent. Well, it has arguably distorted the housing market by making it more advantageous to buy a new-build home than an existing one. Research by investment bank Morgan Stanley in 2017 said the price gap between new homes and second-hand ones had set a new record. "There has always been a small premium for new-build; people will pay extra for spanking-new kitchens and bathrooms. But since 2013, that premium has rocketed," it said. For Mark Dyason, managing director of specialist property broker Thistle Finance, Help to Buy could come to a sticky end when the scheme is finally wound up. He said: "Help to Buy is in much the same vein as low [interest] rates since the global financial crisis. "They have kept the economy going, but equally they have kicked the can down the road. "The Help to Buy scheme is arguably a hollow victory, with the potential to cause all manner of problems, both for the buyers who have used it and the developers that have offered it." | Critics say Help to Buy merely subsidises housebuilders. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47372385 | 0.262686 |
Does Help to Buy prop up housebuilders? | Image copyright Getty Images The Help to Buy housing scheme, launched in 2013, is hailed by the government as one of its big successes. The Treasury says 494,108 English homes have been bought through the scheme, with the vast majority going to first-time buyers living outside London. Ministers and mortgage lenders alike say it lifts people into home ownership by getting them on the housing ladder. But critics say it merely subsidises housebuilders and pushes up the price of new homes. Similar schemes exist in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There are two main forms: Help to Buy loans and Help to Buy Individual Savings Accounts (Isas). In the first version, the government lends up to 20% of the cost of a newly built property - or 40% within Greater London - so buyers need only a 5% deposit and a 75% mortgage to buy it. Those purchasing a new-build home are not charged interest for the first five years. The Help to Buy Isa was launched later, in December 2015, and is open to first-time buyers in the UK. Savers receive a 25% bonus from the government when they withdraw the money they have saved to buy their first property. The maximum purchase price is 250,000, or 450,000 in London. The maximum government bonus that someone can receive is 3,000, if they have saved 12,000. Savers can deposit up to 200 a month, although they can kick-start saving with a lump sum of 1,200. Chancellor Philip Hammond is certainly firmly behind the scheme, which was introduced by his predecessor, George Osborne. He has extended it to run until March 2023 and says the move will support "half a million more home purchases". He said: "The government supports those who dream of owning their own home and wants to help them take the first step on to the property ladder." Support also comes from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association. Its executive director, Kate Davies, said Help to Buy had become "a cornerstone of the UK property market" and provides "essential support to the whole of the UK property sector". She added: "Although last year saw the highest number of first-time buyers since the financial crisis, millions of households are still waiting to get on the housing ladder and Help to Buy will continue to play a crucial role in helping some of these households into home ownership over the next four years." The argument against the scheme has gained ground this week, with the news that one of the UK's biggest builders of houses, Persimmon, saw its annual profits top 1bn last year. A day earlier, the firm's share price fell 5% because of suggestions that its participation in Help to Buy was under government scrutiny. For opponents of the scheme, that just shows how dependent the firm has become on big injections of public cash. Mike Amey, managing director of global investment management firm Pimco, told the BBC that profit on a house sold by Persimmon had trebled since Help to Buy was introduced, "roughly from 20,000 to 60,000". Image copyright Getty Images And property expert Henry Pryor told the BBC that last year, half the number of homes Persimmon built were underpinned by support from Help to Buy. Mr Pryor said the scheme was brought in for legitimate reasons following the credit crunch, to restore confidence in the sector. But since then, it had become "the crack cocaine of the building industry", he said. "When we are weaned off it, it is going to be painful," he added. Other big housebuilders, such as Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, are thought to have benefited to a similar extent. Well, it has arguably distorted the housing market by making it more advantageous to buy a new-build home than an existing one. Research by investment bank Morgan Stanley in 2017 said the price gap between new homes and second-hand ones had set a new record. "There has always been a small premium for new-build; people will pay extra for spanking-new kitchens and bathrooms. But since 2013, that premium has rocketed," it said. For Mark Dyason, managing director of specialist property broker Thistle Finance, Help to Buy could come to a sticky end when the scheme is finally wound up. He said: "Help to Buy is in much the same vein as low [interest] rates since the global financial crisis. "They have kept the economy going, but equally they have kicked the can down the road. "The Help to Buy scheme is arguably a hollow victory, with the potential to cause all manner of problems, both for the buyers who have used it and the developers that have offered it." | Treasury says 494,108 English homes have been bought through the scheme. Ministers and mortgage lenders say it lifts people into home ownership. Critics say it merely subsidises housebuilders and pushes up the price of new homes. Similar schemes exist in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47372385 | 0.111919 |
Was GOP Congressman Matt Gaetz's Tweet to Michael Cohen Witness Intimidation? | As Michael Cohen apologized to a Senate panel Tuesday for having previously given false testimony, Rep. Matt Gaetz, a Congressman serving Floridas first district and a stalwart ally of President Trump, took to Twitter with a tweet that some ethics experts considered a threat to Cohen. Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if shell remain faithful when youre in prison. Shes about to learn a lot, Gaetzs tweet said. Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if shell remain faithful when youre in prison. Shes about to learn a lot Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) February 26, 2019 Cohen made a long-delayed return to Capitol Hill Tuesday to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, apologizing for false testimony he gave the panel during a 2017 appearance, CNN reported. Cohens latest testimony, conducted behind closed doors, is the first of three planned appearances before congressional committees this week. In a reply to Gaetzs tweet, Walter Shaub, a former director of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, invoked the federal witness tampering statute and quoted a 2017 Congressional interpretation of the U.S. Constitutions Speech or Debate Clause. Conversely, actions that have not been viewed as integral to the legislative process and, therefore, have not been interpreted to be protected legislative acts include: speaking outside of Congress; writing newsletters and issuing press releases, Shaub wrote, quoting from the document. A tweet in which a sitting member of Congress tries his hand at witness intimidation: https://t.co/tSdtKvgDjb Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 26, 2019 "Conversely, actions that have not been viewed as integral to the legislative process and, therefore, have not been interpreted to be protected legislative acts include: speaking outside of Congress; writing newsletters and issuing press releaseshttps://t.co/an5i4KkpOm Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) February 26, 2019 The statute Shaub referenced reads in part, Whoever knowingly uses intimidation, threatens, or corruptly persuades another person, or attempts to do so, or engages in misleading conduct toward another person, with intent toinfluence, delay, or prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. Rep. Gaetz didnt immediately respond to an email from Fortune seeking further comment about his tweet. Alex Ward, a reporter for Vox, said on Twitter he asked Gaetz about claims his tweet was a form of witness tampering. Im witness testing, Gaetz answered. @mattgaetz: Im witness testing. We still are allowed to test the veracity and character of witnesses, I think. Gaetz: Yes. https://t.co/aBRZAF314A Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox) February 26, 2019 Gaetzs tweet about Michael Cohen comes a month after a series of tweets and comments that Trump made about Stones family, particularly his father in law. Trump attorney Rudy Giuilani said at the time that Trumps comments were simply defending himself against Cohens planned testimony. | Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, tweeted that he wondered if Michael Cohen would remain faithful in prison. An ethics expert invoked a federal witness tampering statute and quoted a Congressional interpretation of the U.S. Constitution's Speech or Debate Clause. | pegasus | 1 | http://fortune.com/2019/02/26/trump-ally-gop-congressman-matt-gaetz-tweet-michael-cohen-wife-girlfriends/ | 0.155921 |
Could barristers earn more working in McDonald's? | Image copyright Getty Images A senior lawyer has claimed that barristers are often paid less per hour than they would be working in a fast-food restaurant. Chris Henley, who chairs the Criminal Bar Association, said: "Too often fees for prosecuting produce hourly rates worse than wages at McDonald's," adding that this "sadly" was not hyperbole. He gave an example of a barrister being paid 46.50 for a full night of preparation and a day in court, working out at about 5 an hour. The average pay for a junior criminal barrister with up to 15 years experience is about 40,000 a year. Once you subtract the fees to rent chambers and other costs, this falls to about 28,000, according to figures from the Bar Council. That's still significantly more than the annual earnings of someone working front of house at McDonald's, on a starting wage of 8 an hour or 16,640 a year. But that's an average - low fixed fees for public barristers and the many hours it can take to prepare for a case mean they can quite easily slip under the minimum wage. Equally, some barristers will earn far more and those working privately can earn hundreds of thousands. Criminal barristers can also supplement their incomes by taking a mix of public and private cases. '5.80 an hour' While law can be an incredibly lucrative profession, especially in the private sector where they often bill by the hour, barristers in public criminal cases funded by the state face a different prospect. Public prosecutors and defence barristers' rates are set by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) respectively - and most barristers are self-employed, so their gross fee has to pay for travel, insurance, pensions and other costs. A junior prosecuting barrister will receive 46.50 for a single court appearance. If that takes a full eight-hour day, factoring in the court appearance itself, preparation and travel time, then this works out at 5.80 an hour - way below the minimum wage. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Actress Maxine Peake joined protests against legal aid cuts in 2014 A junior defence barrister (who may have up to a decade of experience) will be paid 90 for a single court appearance and 125 for a sentence hearing. A basic trial fee would be 600 but can be considerably more depending on the offence being tried and how long that trial is therefore likely to last. The Criminal Bar Association has calculated that average hourly rates for prosecution barristers work out at 20 or less in a quarter of Crown Court hearings. Barristers are set to meet next week to discuss what to do about the "crisis" in fees. Last year, the MoJ published a new system, banding different types of offences by complexity and therefore how much a barrister should be paid to take them to court. For example, a multiple murder, the highest banded offence, would attract higher rates for barristers, to reflect the complexity of the case and volume of evidence. Digital evidence When the government consulted on these changes, it said the aim was to make sure barristers were paid fairly for complex cases, particularly "taking into account the fact that more and more evidence is submitted electronically". This relatively new wealth of digital evidence means lawyers have far greater volumes of material to go through to prepare for a trial. But the Criminal Bar Association says, despite the new system, these fixed fees don't take into account all the preparation that goes into a trial. And if the trial is dropped, that fee can be significantly reduced - even if all the work has already been done on it. The association is concerned that this will lead to many barristers turning down particularly prosecution work, which attracts lower pay, putting at risk the ability to secure convictions. There has been a 20% fall in criminal cases being prosecuted by the CPS over the past three years. When many of the cuts to publicly funded law were ushered in, in 2014, Baroness Hale warned that it could also have an impact on diversity in the legal profession, making people "who don't fit the male, public school boy model" less able to succeed at the bar. The CPS is currently reviewing the pay of prosecuting barristers. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Barristers are often paid less per hour than they would be working in a fast-food restaurant. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47372265 | 0.211028 |
Could barristers earn more working in McDonald's? | Image copyright Getty Images A senior lawyer has claimed that barristers are often paid less per hour than they would be working in a fast-food restaurant. Chris Henley, who chairs the Criminal Bar Association, said: "Too often fees for prosecuting produce hourly rates worse than wages at McDonald's," adding that this "sadly" was not hyperbole. He gave an example of a barrister being paid 46.50 for a full night of preparation and a day in court, working out at about 5 an hour. The average pay for a junior criminal barrister with up to 15 years experience is about 40,000 a year. Once you subtract the fees to rent chambers and other costs, this falls to about 28,000, according to figures from the Bar Council. That's still significantly more than the annual earnings of someone working front of house at McDonald's, on a starting wage of 8 an hour or 16,640 a year. But that's an average - low fixed fees for public barristers and the many hours it can take to prepare for a case mean they can quite easily slip under the minimum wage. Equally, some barristers will earn far more and those working privately can earn hundreds of thousands. Criminal barristers can also supplement their incomes by taking a mix of public and private cases. '5.80 an hour' While law can be an incredibly lucrative profession, especially in the private sector where they often bill by the hour, barristers in public criminal cases funded by the state face a different prospect. Public prosecutors and defence barristers' rates are set by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) respectively - and most barristers are self-employed, so their gross fee has to pay for travel, insurance, pensions and other costs. A junior prosecuting barrister will receive 46.50 for a single court appearance. If that takes a full eight-hour day, factoring in the court appearance itself, preparation and travel time, then this works out at 5.80 an hour - way below the minimum wage. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Actress Maxine Peake joined protests against legal aid cuts in 2014 A junior defence barrister (who may have up to a decade of experience) will be paid 90 for a single court appearance and 125 for a sentence hearing. A basic trial fee would be 600 but can be considerably more depending on the offence being tried and how long that trial is therefore likely to last. The Criminal Bar Association has calculated that average hourly rates for prosecution barristers work out at 20 or less in a quarter of Crown Court hearings. Barristers are set to meet next week to discuss what to do about the "crisis" in fees. Last year, the MoJ published a new system, banding different types of offences by complexity and therefore how much a barrister should be paid to take them to court. For example, a multiple murder, the highest banded offence, would attract higher rates for barristers, to reflect the complexity of the case and volume of evidence. Digital evidence When the government consulted on these changes, it said the aim was to make sure barristers were paid fairly for complex cases, particularly "taking into account the fact that more and more evidence is submitted electronically". This relatively new wealth of digital evidence means lawyers have far greater volumes of material to go through to prepare for a trial. But the Criminal Bar Association says, despite the new system, these fixed fees don't take into account all the preparation that goes into a trial. And if the trial is dropped, that fee can be significantly reduced - even if all the work has already been done on it. The association is concerned that this will lead to many barristers turning down particularly prosecution work, which attracts lower pay, putting at risk the ability to secure convictions. There has been a 20% fall in criminal cases being prosecuted by the CPS over the past three years. When many of the cuts to publicly funded law were ushered in, in 2014, Baroness Hale warned that it could also have an impact on diversity in the legal profession, making people "who don't fit the male, public school boy model" less able to succeed at the bar. The CPS is currently reviewing the pay of prosecuting barristers. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Senior lawyer Chris Henley says fees for prosecuting are 'worse than wages at McDonald's' He gave an example of a barrister being paid 46. | bart | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47372265 | 0.123445 |
Could barristers earn more working in McDonald's? | Image copyright Getty Images A senior lawyer has claimed that barristers are often paid less per hour than they would be working in a fast-food restaurant. Chris Henley, who chairs the Criminal Bar Association, said: "Too often fees for prosecuting produce hourly rates worse than wages at McDonald's," adding that this "sadly" was not hyperbole. He gave an example of a barrister being paid 46.50 for a full night of preparation and a day in court, working out at about 5 an hour. The average pay for a junior criminal barrister with up to 15 years experience is about 40,000 a year. Once you subtract the fees to rent chambers and other costs, this falls to about 28,000, according to figures from the Bar Council. That's still significantly more than the annual earnings of someone working front of house at McDonald's, on a starting wage of 8 an hour or 16,640 a year. But that's an average - low fixed fees for public barristers and the many hours it can take to prepare for a case mean they can quite easily slip under the minimum wage. Equally, some barristers will earn far more and those working privately can earn hundreds of thousands. Criminal barristers can also supplement their incomes by taking a mix of public and private cases. '5.80 an hour' While law can be an incredibly lucrative profession, especially in the private sector where they often bill by the hour, barristers in public criminal cases funded by the state face a different prospect. Public prosecutors and defence barristers' rates are set by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) respectively - and most barristers are self-employed, so their gross fee has to pay for travel, insurance, pensions and other costs. A junior prosecuting barrister will receive 46.50 for a single court appearance. If that takes a full eight-hour day, factoring in the court appearance itself, preparation and travel time, then this works out at 5.80 an hour - way below the minimum wage. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Actress Maxine Peake joined protests against legal aid cuts in 2014 A junior defence barrister (who may have up to a decade of experience) will be paid 90 for a single court appearance and 125 for a sentence hearing. A basic trial fee would be 600 but can be considerably more depending on the offence being tried and how long that trial is therefore likely to last. The Criminal Bar Association has calculated that average hourly rates for prosecution barristers work out at 20 or less in a quarter of Crown Court hearings. Barristers are set to meet next week to discuss what to do about the "crisis" in fees. Last year, the MoJ published a new system, banding different types of offences by complexity and therefore how much a barrister should be paid to take them to court. For example, a multiple murder, the highest banded offence, would attract higher rates for barristers, to reflect the complexity of the case and volume of evidence. Digital evidence When the government consulted on these changes, it said the aim was to make sure barristers were paid fairly for complex cases, particularly "taking into account the fact that more and more evidence is submitted electronically". This relatively new wealth of digital evidence means lawyers have far greater volumes of material to go through to prepare for a trial. But the Criminal Bar Association says, despite the new system, these fixed fees don't take into account all the preparation that goes into a trial. And if the trial is dropped, that fee can be significantly reduced - even if all the work has already been done on it. The association is concerned that this will lead to many barristers turning down particularly prosecution work, which attracts lower pay, putting at risk the ability to secure convictions. There has been a 20% fall in criminal cases being prosecuted by the CPS over the past three years. When many of the cuts to publicly funded law were ushered in, in 2014, Baroness Hale warned that it could also have an impact on diversity in the legal profession, making people "who don't fit the male, public school boy model" less able to succeed at the bar. The CPS is currently reviewing the pay of prosecuting barristers. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter | Average pay for a junior criminal barrister with up to 15 years experience is about 40,000 a year. That's still significantly more than the annual earnings of someone working front of house at McDonald's. Barristers are set to meet next week to discuss what to do about the 'crisis' in fees. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-47372265 | 0.361747 |
Whos going to play the outfield for the Cleveland Indians after the winter purge? | CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If youre Greg Allen, this has to be a an uncomfortable time of year. If not uncomfortable as least uneasy. Tyler Naquin, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Matt Joyce and Trayce Thompson have to be feeling the same way. Allen and the others are Indians outfielders in spring training and they really dont know whats going to happen in the weeks ahead. Last years outfield has been all but purged. Michael Brantley, Melky Cabrera, Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer have all signed elsewhere as free agents. Bradley Zimmer is still recovering from surgery on his right shoulder and will probably open the year on the disabled list. Leonys Martin is back and healthy. If he stays that way, hes going to be in the outfield come opening day. Barnes played briefly with the Tribe in September. But hes in camp on a minor-league deal. Prospects Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado have had their moments in the early part of the Cactus League schedule Johnson homered and tripled in Tuesdays 5-3 win over the Rockies but theyll open the season in the minors. Allen, Bauers, Luplow, Naquin and Zimmer have minor-league options. Joyce and Thompson are in camp on minor-league deals. The addition of Hanley Ramirez may have added another twist. If Ramirez, who signed a minor-league deal on Tuesday, makes the team hell be the DH, according to manager Terry Francona. Before Ramirezs arrival, it seemed like Bauers and Carlos Santana would share DH and first base. Ramirezs presence may force one of them, probably Bauers, into competition for an outfield spot. The good thing is the Indians need four or five outfielders on the 25-man roster. Three starters and one or two reserves depending how many relievers Francona carries and how versatile his utility man is. The Indians penchant for platooning will help the Tribes displaced outfielders as well. Francona says you cant platoon everybody on the roster, but he may try that with the outfield. So Allen and the others have that going for them. But unless youre a thrill seeker, someone who gets by on a daily surge of adrenaline, its a hard way to go to work every morning. For me and a lot of the other guys here, I think we see ourselves fitting anywhere theres an opportunity, said Allen in the early days of spring training. Were still five or so weeks from opening day. Theres a lot that can change from now until them. Allen made five trips between Class AAA Columbus and Cleveland last year. But all that bouncing around taught him something. More than anything (it taught me) to try and keep myself mentally and physically in that place where Im focused on the moment wherever my feet may be, said Allen. Whether it was down in Columbus or up with the big-league team. Focus on what I can do and what I can control and go from there. When Francona told Allen he was going to compete for a job in all three outfield positions this spring, he knew exactly where his feet were. What helped me over the past year has been getting acclimated to all three positions, said Allen. You never know where you could find yourself. You could be coming in late in left or right field. A lot of times Id come in and be in center field and Rajai (Davis) would come in and play center and Id move to right. I think that really helped me to be dialed into all three positions. Allen is a switch-hitter who can run and track down a fly ball. He needs to get on base more to make himself an option if leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor cant open the season because of his right calf injury. He had a .310 on-base percentage last year, drawing just 14 walks in 91 games. But from Aug. 9 through the end of the season, Allen hit .297 (35-for-118), scored 12 runs and stole 15 of his 22 bases. Allen got his chance to play regularly when Martin went down with a bacterial infection that nearly killed him. Martin took ill in early August when Allen was recalled from Columbus. For whatever reason, when he came back, and Leonys (Martin) went down, he stepped up his game and really helped us, Francona. He was always a good defender, but he was getting on base. Driving the ball a little better. Swinging at more strikes. Allen has played parts of two seasons with the Indians. But there was always someone in front of him. Now theyre gone and no one else is coming. The door is wide open for Allen, Naquin and all the others. I felt fortunate the past few years to be around those veterans that we dont have now, said Allen. Just to see how they went about things, and the culture and standard that was set here. Even though they may be gone, were still going to hold ourselves to it. Culture is one thing. The chance to play is another. Thats what this camp represents for Allen and every other outfielder wondering what the next day will bring. | Greg Allen and the others are Indians outfielders in spring training. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/02/whos-going-to-play-the-outfield-for-the-cleveland-indians-after-the-winter-purge.html | 0.161691 |
Whos going to play the outfield for the Cleveland Indians after the winter purge? | CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If youre Greg Allen, this has to be a an uncomfortable time of year. If not uncomfortable as least uneasy. Tyler Naquin, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Matt Joyce and Trayce Thompson have to be feeling the same way. Allen and the others are Indians outfielders in spring training and they really dont know whats going to happen in the weeks ahead. Last years outfield has been all but purged. Michael Brantley, Melky Cabrera, Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer have all signed elsewhere as free agents. Bradley Zimmer is still recovering from surgery on his right shoulder and will probably open the year on the disabled list. Leonys Martin is back and healthy. If he stays that way, hes going to be in the outfield come opening day. Barnes played briefly with the Tribe in September. But hes in camp on a minor-league deal. Prospects Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado have had their moments in the early part of the Cactus League schedule Johnson homered and tripled in Tuesdays 5-3 win over the Rockies but theyll open the season in the minors. Allen, Bauers, Luplow, Naquin and Zimmer have minor-league options. Joyce and Thompson are in camp on minor-league deals. The addition of Hanley Ramirez may have added another twist. If Ramirez, who signed a minor-league deal on Tuesday, makes the team hell be the DH, according to manager Terry Francona. Before Ramirezs arrival, it seemed like Bauers and Carlos Santana would share DH and first base. Ramirezs presence may force one of them, probably Bauers, into competition for an outfield spot. The good thing is the Indians need four or five outfielders on the 25-man roster. Three starters and one or two reserves depending how many relievers Francona carries and how versatile his utility man is. The Indians penchant for platooning will help the Tribes displaced outfielders as well. Francona says you cant platoon everybody on the roster, but he may try that with the outfield. So Allen and the others have that going for them. But unless youre a thrill seeker, someone who gets by on a daily surge of adrenaline, its a hard way to go to work every morning. For me and a lot of the other guys here, I think we see ourselves fitting anywhere theres an opportunity, said Allen in the early days of spring training. Were still five or so weeks from opening day. Theres a lot that can change from now until them. Allen made five trips between Class AAA Columbus and Cleveland last year. But all that bouncing around taught him something. More than anything (it taught me) to try and keep myself mentally and physically in that place where Im focused on the moment wherever my feet may be, said Allen. Whether it was down in Columbus or up with the big-league team. Focus on what I can do and what I can control and go from there. When Francona told Allen he was going to compete for a job in all three outfield positions this spring, he knew exactly where his feet were. What helped me over the past year has been getting acclimated to all three positions, said Allen. You never know where you could find yourself. You could be coming in late in left or right field. A lot of times Id come in and be in center field and Rajai (Davis) would come in and play center and Id move to right. I think that really helped me to be dialed into all three positions. Allen is a switch-hitter who can run and track down a fly ball. He needs to get on base more to make himself an option if leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor cant open the season because of his right calf injury. He had a .310 on-base percentage last year, drawing just 14 walks in 91 games. But from Aug. 9 through the end of the season, Allen hit .297 (35-for-118), scored 12 runs and stole 15 of his 22 bases. Allen got his chance to play regularly when Martin went down with a bacterial infection that nearly killed him. Martin took ill in early August when Allen was recalled from Columbus. For whatever reason, when he came back, and Leonys (Martin) went down, he stepped up his game and really helped us, Francona. He was always a good defender, but he was getting on base. Driving the ball a little better. Swinging at more strikes. Allen has played parts of two seasons with the Indians. But there was always someone in front of him. Now theyre gone and no one else is coming. The door is wide open for Allen, Naquin and all the others. I felt fortunate the past few years to be around those veterans that we dont have now, said Allen. Just to see how they went about things, and the culture and standard that was set here. Even though they may be gone, were still going to hold ourselves to it. Culture is one thing. The chance to play is another. Thats what this camp represents for Allen and every other outfielder wondering what the next day will bring. | Last year's outfield has been all but purged by the Cleveland Indians. Greg Allen, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Matt Joyce in camp. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/02/whos-going-to-play-the-outfield-for-the-cleveland-indians-after-the-winter-purge.html | 0.183292 |
Whos going to play the outfield for the Cleveland Indians after the winter purge? | CLEVELAND, Ohio -- If youre Greg Allen, this has to be a an uncomfortable time of year. If not uncomfortable as least uneasy. Tyler Naquin, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Matt Joyce and Trayce Thompson have to be feeling the same way. Allen and the others are Indians outfielders in spring training and they really dont know whats going to happen in the weeks ahead. Last years outfield has been all but purged. Michael Brantley, Melky Cabrera, Rajai Davis, Lonnie Chisenhall and Brandon Guyer have all signed elsewhere as free agents. Bradley Zimmer is still recovering from surgery on his right shoulder and will probably open the year on the disabled list. Leonys Martin is back and healthy. If he stays that way, hes going to be in the outfield come opening day. Barnes played briefly with the Tribe in September. But hes in camp on a minor-league deal. Prospects Daniel Johnson and Oscar Mercado have had their moments in the early part of the Cactus League schedule Johnson homered and tripled in Tuesdays 5-3 win over the Rockies but theyll open the season in the minors. Allen, Bauers, Luplow, Naquin and Zimmer have minor-league options. Joyce and Thompson are in camp on minor-league deals. The addition of Hanley Ramirez may have added another twist. If Ramirez, who signed a minor-league deal on Tuesday, makes the team hell be the DH, according to manager Terry Francona. Before Ramirezs arrival, it seemed like Bauers and Carlos Santana would share DH and first base. Ramirezs presence may force one of them, probably Bauers, into competition for an outfield spot. The good thing is the Indians need four or five outfielders on the 25-man roster. Three starters and one or two reserves depending how many relievers Francona carries and how versatile his utility man is. The Indians penchant for platooning will help the Tribes displaced outfielders as well. Francona says you cant platoon everybody on the roster, but he may try that with the outfield. So Allen and the others have that going for them. But unless youre a thrill seeker, someone who gets by on a daily surge of adrenaline, its a hard way to go to work every morning. For me and a lot of the other guys here, I think we see ourselves fitting anywhere theres an opportunity, said Allen in the early days of spring training. Were still five or so weeks from opening day. Theres a lot that can change from now until them. Allen made five trips between Class AAA Columbus and Cleveland last year. But all that bouncing around taught him something. More than anything (it taught me) to try and keep myself mentally and physically in that place where Im focused on the moment wherever my feet may be, said Allen. Whether it was down in Columbus or up with the big-league team. Focus on what I can do and what I can control and go from there. When Francona told Allen he was going to compete for a job in all three outfield positions this spring, he knew exactly where his feet were. What helped me over the past year has been getting acclimated to all three positions, said Allen. You never know where you could find yourself. You could be coming in late in left or right field. A lot of times Id come in and be in center field and Rajai (Davis) would come in and play center and Id move to right. I think that really helped me to be dialed into all three positions. Allen is a switch-hitter who can run and track down a fly ball. He needs to get on base more to make himself an option if leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor cant open the season because of his right calf injury. He had a .310 on-base percentage last year, drawing just 14 walks in 91 games. But from Aug. 9 through the end of the season, Allen hit .297 (35-for-118), scored 12 runs and stole 15 of his 22 bases. Allen got his chance to play regularly when Martin went down with a bacterial infection that nearly killed him. Martin took ill in early August when Allen was recalled from Columbus. For whatever reason, when he came back, and Leonys (Martin) went down, he stepped up his game and really helped us, Francona. He was always a good defender, but he was getting on base. Driving the ball a little better. Swinging at more strikes. Allen has played parts of two seasons with the Indians. But there was always someone in front of him. Now theyre gone and no one else is coming. The door is wide open for Allen, Naquin and all the others. I felt fortunate the past few years to be around those veterans that we dont have now, said Allen. Just to see how they went about things, and the culture and standard that was set here. Even though they may be gone, were still going to hold ourselves to it. Culture is one thing. The chance to play is another. Thats what this camp represents for Allen and every other outfielder wondering what the next day will bring. | Last year's outfield has been all but purged by the Cleveland Indians. Greg Allen, Jake Bauers, Jordan Luplow, Brandon Barnes, Matt Joyce and Trayce Thompson are in camp. The Indians need four or five outfielders on the 25-man roster. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2019/02/whos-going-to-play-the-outfield-for-the-cleveland-indians-after-the-winter-purge.html | 0.474594 |
Why is The SEC Picking on Elon Musk Instead of Mark Zuckerberg? | Investors around the globe look to the SEC to properly supervise public companies and take enforcement action when necessary. The SEC is supposed to instill confidence in American markets. The problem is: the SEC's enforcement is so inconsistent it is confusing. Take for example, the erratic nature of its fines and its complete lack of patience with Elon Musk compared to its apparent unending patience with Mark Zuckerberg. Just consider what we know about Facebook. A consolidated class action suit filed on October 15, 2018, against Facebook and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, COO Sheryl Sandberg, and CFO David Wehner alleges the defendants made "materially false and misleading statements and omissions concerning Facebook's privacy and data protection practices," "employed devices, schemes and artifices to defraud...and engaged in acts, practices, and a course of business that operated as a fraud or deceit," impacting the company's stock price and impacting its investors. Far from puffery, in July 2018, Facebook lost $119 billion in market value in one day -- the single largest drop in the U.S. stock market history, following an earnings call which revealed a decline in Facebook users and a lack of readiness to comply with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation. The class action complaint also alleges the three executives violated insider trading laws, detailing Zuckerberg's sale of more than 29.4 million Facebook shares for nearly $5.3 billion, Sandberg's sale of over 2.5 million shares worth $389 million, and Wehner's trades totaling $21 million. The 164-page complaint is eye-opening and worth a read. Following Mark Zuckerberg's testimony to Congress in April 2018, numerous media reports speculated whether he had possibly lied to Congress; the Washington Post ran a story detailing 14 years of Zuckerberg repeatedly apologizing for privacy lapses and then promising to do better. Following the Cambridge Analytica scandal and Zuckerberg's testimony, we learned that the SEC, FTC, Department of Justice, and FBI were investigating Facebook over its sharing of personal user data and other actions and statements by officers. Since then, there has been no further news about the SEC's investigation. It is apparently progressing, but certainly not swiftly. (In contrast, The Washington Post reported recently that the FTC was negotiating a "multi-billion" dollar fine with Facebook for violating its 2011 Consent Order about protecting personal data.) There is another very important point to make here: the SEC is the only entity that can rein in Mark Zuckerberg. He owns 60% of the stock and 70% of the voting rights. Neither the board nor the shareholders can curb his greed or errors in management. The only entity who can be the parent to Zuckerberg and protect shareholders is the SEC, and they have failed to take action. Let's look at a couple of other SEC enforcement actions to get a clearer picture of the uneven nature of its enforcement actions. In April 2018, the SEC took action against Yahoo for failing to notify investors of a 2014 breach that involved personal data on 500 million users. (It is unclear why the SEC took no action regarding a 2013 breach that also was not reported, but which involved 3 times the number of users...1.5 billion Yahoo account holders.) In addition to the 2014 breach that was undisclosed to Yahoo users, the SEC found that Yahoo misled Verizon in its due diligence. The SEC Order states: Although Yahoo was aware of additional evidence in the first half of 2016 indicating that its user database had been stolen, Yahoo made affirmative representations denying the existence of any significant data breaches in a July 23, 2016 stock purchase agreement with Verizon, by which Verizon was to acquire Yahoos operating business for $4.825 billion. Yeow! That is a serious misrepresentation. The SEC ultimately fined Altaba (the name of the company holding the remaining Yahoo shares that Verizon did not purchase) a paltry $35 million. One may ask why the SEC did not go after Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo who managed these incidents. "We do not second-guess good faith exercises of judgment about cyber-incident disclosure," Steven Peikin, a codirector of the SEC's Enforcement Division, said in a statement. Also consider the action that the SEC took against Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes and the company's president "Sunny" Balwani, charging that they raised "more than $700 million from investors through an elaborate, years-long fraud in which they exaggerated or made false statements about the companys technology, business, and financial performance." Holmes's settlement with the SEC amounted to a $500,000 penalty and disbarment from serving as an officer or director of a public company for 10 years. She also had to return shares she obtained during the fraud and voting control of the company. Now, contrast all of this with the SEC's swift action against Elon Musk for tweeting on August 7 that he was taking his company, Tesla, private. The very next day, on August 8, the Wall Street Journal reported that the SEC was making inquiries into the truthfulness of Mr. Musk's statements. On September 27, 2018, the SEC filed suit against Elon Musk that sought civil penalties and asked the court to bar Mr. Musk from serving as an officer or director in a public company, noting the stock price fell 16% after he pulled back from his statement that he was taking the company private. Mr. Musk caved to the pressure and within two days reached a settlement with the SEC that required him to step down as chairman for 3 years, add two new independent directors to the board, put new controls in place, and he and Tesla would each pay a $20 million fine. That is a $40 million penalty contrasted with a $500,000 penalty against Holmes for massive fraud and a $35 million penalty against Altaba for the worst data breach in history and an attempt to defraud a $5 billion purchaser. Plus, as John Reed Stark, who has 20 years of experience in the SEC's Enforcement Division, noted so well in one of his own posts: The SEC does not typically file SEC enforcement actions like the one against Musk. Indeed, a close reading of the SECs complaint against the celebrated billionaire finds a litany of glaring absences within the SECs allegations, including: No alleged profits or other ill-gotten gain earned by Musk; No alleged scheme conducted by Musk; No alleged market manipulation orchestrated by Musk; No alleged pump and dump ploy executed by Musk; No alleged conspiracy between Musk and anyone else; No alleged evidence of scienter or intent by Musk; No alleged false filing or other false or inaccurate Tesla report to the SEC by Musk; No alleged violation of any sort of required SEC quiet period by Musk; and No concrete evidence of an alleged motive attested to Musk (though not required in SEC enforcement actions, motive is typically pled or implied in some way, shape or form). This week, we were greeted with the news that the SEC filed another court action against Musk, claiming that he had violated the terms of his settlement because he tweeted on February 19, 2019 (after the market closed), about planned production without getting the tweets approved by the SEC. Let this soak in...within one week the SEC rushed to court to hold Elon Musk in contempt, yet it has failed to take any action against Facebook, Zuckerberg, or Sandberg for 164 pages of alleged shenanigans, public statements, and $119 billion drop in market value. The agency is letting the shareholders do all of the heavy lifting, with a heavy burden of proof in pleading securities fraud. It is also important to note that the impact of Elon Musk's tweets on Tesla's stock was not long term or significant. In fact, the SEC's action may have harmed investors more than it helped them. A historical review of Tesla's stock price indicates the stock closed on August 6 at $341.99; on August 7 it (day of the tweet) it closed at $379.57 and on August 8 at $370.34. So, it spiked a little after the tweet-to-go-private, but then it dropped and on September 7 it closed at $263.24. On September 27 (the day SEC filed) it closed at $307.52, and the SEC and Musk settled on Saturday, September 29. On Monday, October 1, the stock closed at $264.77 and slid further to close on October 8 at $250.56. Prior to the SEC's second filing on February 25, 2019, Tesla's shares had been on a steady rise since February 21, but The Wall Street Journal reported that the shares "were off 4% after hours following the SEC filing." Nevertheless, the stock closed at $297.86, just slightly down from the prior day. He is the brain trust, force of innovation, and driver of that company. (Don't fool yourself...we don't have three clones waiting in the wings.) If, by SEC orders, he is forced to keep his companies private, we all lose because he will not have investor money to grow them and America -- including our economy -- won't get maximum benefit from his genius. He is a cowboy, but he is much less of a cowboy than Zuckerberg and much less of a fraudster than Holmes. The SEC is handling this all wrong. Either Elon Musk made some bureaucrat terribly mad at the SEC or their enforcement division is mismanaged and seemingly oblivious to its own erratic behavior and the message that it sends to the market. It can't justify these discrepancies as Celebrity Fines that set a precedent and send a message because that is laughable in the face of the Theranos fraud and Yahoo's attempt to hide the worst breach in history during a $4.8 billion bid for the company, which it later acknowledged was a breach of personal data on 3 billion accounts. We can't look to administrative solutions here. Congress needs to investigate what is going on at the SEC Enforcement Division and introduce legislation that reins in this erratic enforcement bureaucratic behavior. | The SEC is supposed to instill confidence in American markets. The SEC's enforcement is so inconsistent it is confusing. Take for example, the erratic nature of its fines and its complete lack of patience with Elon Musk. The SEC is the only entity that can rein in Mark Zuckerberg. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jodywestby/2019/02/26/why-is-the-sec-picking-on-elon-musk-instead-of-mark-zuckerberg/ | 0.114887 |
Where does fake movie money come from? | Jacopo Prisco , CNN Written by "I just got out of a meeting with the Secret Service. I'm still in the parking lot," said Rich "RJ" Rappaport at the beginning of our phone interview. Some discussion about fake money. Rappaport is the founder of Atlanta-based RJR Props , a movie prop company that specializes in faux cash for filming. His money was used in "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Fast and the Furious," the Netflix series "Ozark" and in 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar music videos. But printing money is a delicate business, which is why he stays in touch with the men in black. "I wanted clarity about laws and regulations. Most other companies that make prop money are actually producing illegal prop money, and that can get a show shut down and someone fined and jailed." Too good to be fake Technically, fake money in the US should adhere to strict federal rules (outlined in the Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 ) which include being printed on one side only and being significantly larger or smaller than actual currency. But not everyone is on board with the rules, and incidents do happen. This is not real money. Credit: rjrprops.com In 2001, during the filming of "Rush Hour 2" in Las Vegas, about $1 billion in convincing prop money was blown up during a scene, but some bills escaped destruction and ended up in circulation. That's when the Secret Service got involved . The event set a precedent for prop money makers. RJ said he speaks directly with the government to comply with federal rules while finding ways to create the best possible fake dollars. He makes two types: one for close-ups and one that will look real from about 15 inches away. He calls them high grade and standard grade. "Our standard grade prop money is printed on both sides, but has an optical illusion built into it. It looks realistic at an arm's length, but when you start bringing it closer, it actually changes over and it reveals itself as fake." The trick, he said, is to make it look real on camera but fake if somebody tries to spend it at a store. 1 / 10 Left: Standard grade. Right: high grade. Credit: rjrprops.com "We also have a high grade type, better known as close up money. That's the one you use for a close-up scene, or if somebody is counting money and putting it in someone else's hands. That looks fantastic. But since it looks so real, we can print it on one side only." Ima Not Real To comply with federal laws, reproduction money cannot be made by modifying the design of actual money, so RJR Props have created their own design. "We start from scratch. We start with blank paper. We get a paper that looks incredible. Some of our paper has a color change as you move across: pink-yellow-pink or green-yellow-green. We're the only company in the world that does this because it's very expensive, but we want our money to look right," said Rappaport. At a glance, the high-grade money looks just like the real thing. But once you zoom in, the differences become obvious. High grade prop money from RJR Props. Credit: rjrprops.com Instead of "United States Federal Reserve," the words under the "100" in the top left corner read "Unreal Fake Currency Reserve." The artwork of Franklin's face has been done from scratch, and doesn't have his name underneath it. The seal is a different design, and the two signatures actually read "Ima Not Real" and "Not Real Currency" instead of the names of the Treasurer of the United States (changed to "Treasurer of the Treasurer") and the Secretary of the Treasury (turned into "Secretary of the Secretary"). Nothing survives the scrutiny: even "United States" is spelled with a "W" instead of a "U." RJR sell theirs in stacks of 100 bills, with the standard grade going for $45 per stack, and the high grade for $65. They also make a special "distressed" type of money that looks like it's been in circulation. That costs an extra $20. The "distressed" prop money. Credit: rjrprops.com "It's very difficult to make, harder than people would imagine. It's made by hand. Every bill is wrinkled, creased, stained, cigarette-burned. Everything that you might find on money in circulation, that's what we do to it. It's a difficult process, usually requiring 15 or 20 people sitting around a table." One of the largest orders of prop money RJR has ever filled was for Neflix's "Ozark," in which a drug cartel lawyer, played by Jason Bateman, stashes large amounts of cash in the walls of his house and other locations. A scene from Ozark. Credit: Eliza Morse/Netflix "We didn't know what was going to happen and it turned out to be absolutely fantastic. It was absolutely iconic. You never know how these things are going to turn out. But that was a very very memorable moment," said Rappaport. Hollywood of the South The Atlanta area, where RJR is based, has recently become a huge filmmaking capital, thanks to attractive tax credits, and has earned the nickname "Hollywood of the South." It boasts the largest purpose-built studio outside of Hollywood, Pinewood Studios, where "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Spider-Man: Homecoming" were both filmed. To keep up with demand, RJR has about 30,000 different props other than money in stock, including everything from fake cocaine to space capsules (the latter used in the NASA drama "Hidden Figures.") "We have an operating room that you would see in a hospital. We've got doctors offices. We've done an entire computer laboratory with the latest, newest servers. We had to do what's called a server farm for the movie 'Ant Man.' We have airport props like walk-through metal detectors and baggage scanners and they're all fully operational. I think we have five or six aircraft, some of them are real and can be filmed from the inside or the outside. We've got cameras from some of the earliest American TV shows, like the 'Howdy Doody' show and 'Sesame Street.' We got vintage cameras from the original NBC, ABC and even CNN studios." Rich "RJ" Rappaport with some prop missiles. Credit: rjrprops.com A large part of the business is music videos, which fuel a lot of the demand for fake money. "We get music video artists probably 20 times a week, which is really quite, quite a bit if you think about it," said Rappaport. While most props are rented, money is almost always purchased (and occasionally flaunted on Instagram.) "Yes, actually there are a number of artists who use real money," Rappaport revealed. "But I can't say who uses real money and who uses fake money because it would be a security risk." Top image: A still from "Breaking Bad" | Atlanta-based RJR Props specializes in making fake cash for filming. | bart | 0 | https://www.cnn.com/style/article/rjr-props-fake-money/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_world+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+World%29 | 0.211928 |
Where does fake movie money come from? | Jacopo Prisco , CNN Written by "I just got out of a meeting with the Secret Service. I'm still in the parking lot," said Rich "RJ" Rappaport at the beginning of our phone interview. Some discussion about fake money. Rappaport is the founder of Atlanta-based RJR Props , a movie prop company that specializes in faux cash for filming. His money was used in "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Fast and the Furious," the Netflix series "Ozark" and in 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar music videos. But printing money is a delicate business, which is why he stays in touch with the men in black. "I wanted clarity about laws and regulations. Most other companies that make prop money are actually producing illegal prop money, and that can get a show shut down and someone fined and jailed." Too good to be fake Technically, fake money in the US should adhere to strict federal rules (outlined in the Counterfeit Detection Act of 1992 ) which include being printed on one side only and being significantly larger or smaller than actual currency. But not everyone is on board with the rules, and incidents do happen. This is not real money. Credit: rjrprops.com In 2001, during the filming of "Rush Hour 2" in Las Vegas, about $1 billion in convincing prop money was blown up during a scene, but some bills escaped destruction and ended up in circulation. That's when the Secret Service got involved . The event set a precedent for prop money makers. RJ said he speaks directly with the government to comply with federal rules while finding ways to create the best possible fake dollars. He makes two types: one for close-ups and one that will look real from about 15 inches away. He calls them high grade and standard grade. "Our standard grade prop money is printed on both sides, but has an optical illusion built into it. It looks realistic at an arm's length, but when you start bringing it closer, it actually changes over and it reveals itself as fake." The trick, he said, is to make it look real on camera but fake if somebody tries to spend it at a store. 1 / 10 Left: Standard grade. Right: high grade. Credit: rjrprops.com "We also have a high grade type, better known as close up money. That's the one you use for a close-up scene, or if somebody is counting money and putting it in someone else's hands. That looks fantastic. But since it looks so real, we can print it on one side only." Ima Not Real To comply with federal laws, reproduction money cannot be made by modifying the design of actual money, so RJR Props have created their own design. "We start from scratch. We start with blank paper. We get a paper that looks incredible. Some of our paper has a color change as you move across: pink-yellow-pink or green-yellow-green. We're the only company in the world that does this because it's very expensive, but we want our money to look right," said Rappaport. At a glance, the high-grade money looks just like the real thing. But once you zoom in, the differences become obvious. High grade prop money from RJR Props. Credit: rjrprops.com Instead of "United States Federal Reserve," the words under the "100" in the top left corner read "Unreal Fake Currency Reserve." The artwork of Franklin's face has been done from scratch, and doesn't have his name underneath it. The seal is a different design, and the two signatures actually read "Ima Not Real" and "Not Real Currency" instead of the names of the Treasurer of the United States (changed to "Treasurer of the Treasurer") and the Secretary of the Treasury (turned into "Secretary of the Secretary"). Nothing survives the scrutiny: even "United States" is spelled with a "W" instead of a "U." RJR sell theirs in stacks of 100 bills, with the standard grade going for $45 per stack, and the high grade for $65. They also make a special "distressed" type of money that looks like it's been in circulation. That costs an extra $20. The "distressed" prop money. Credit: rjrprops.com "It's very difficult to make, harder than people would imagine. It's made by hand. Every bill is wrinkled, creased, stained, cigarette-burned. Everything that you might find on money in circulation, that's what we do to it. It's a difficult process, usually requiring 15 or 20 people sitting around a table." One of the largest orders of prop money RJR has ever filled was for Neflix's "Ozark," in which a drug cartel lawyer, played by Jason Bateman, stashes large amounts of cash in the walls of his house and other locations. A scene from Ozark. Credit: Eliza Morse/Netflix "We didn't know what was going to happen and it turned out to be absolutely fantastic. It was absolutely iconic. You never know how these things are going to turn out. But that was a very very memorable moment," said Rappaport. Hollywood of the South The Atlanta area, where RJR is based, has recently become a huge filmmaking capital, thanks to attractive tax credits, and has earned the nickname "Hollywood of the South." It boasts the largest purpose-built studio outside of Hollywood, Pinewood Studios, where "Avengers: Infinity War," and "Spider-Man: Homecoming" were both filmed. To keep up with demand, RJR has about 30,000 different props other than money in stock, including everything from fake cocaine to space capsules (the latter used in the NASA drama "Hidden Figures.") "We have an operating room that you would see in a hospital. We've got doctors offices. We've done an entire computer laboratory with the latest, newest servers. We had to do what's called a server farm for the movie 'Ant Man.' We have airport props like walk-through metal detectors and baggage scanners and they're all fully operational. I think we have five or six aircraft, some of them are real and can be filmed from the inside or the outside. We've got cameras from some of the earliest American TV shows, like the 'Howdy Doody' show and 'Sesame Street.' We got vintage cameras from the original NBC, ABC and even CNN studios." Rich "RJ" Rappaport with some prop missiles. Credit: rjrprops.com A large part of the business is music videos, which fuel a lot of the demand for fake money. "We get music video artists probably 20 times a week, which is really quite, quite a bit if you think about it," said Rappaport. While most props are rented, money is almost always purchased (and occasionally flaunted on Instagram.) "Yes, actually there are a number of artists who use real money," Rappaport revealed. "But I can't say who uses real money and who uses fake money because it would be a security risk." Top image: A still from "Breaking Bad" | RJR Props is an Atlanta-based company that specializes in faux cash for filming. RJ said he speaks directly with the government to comply with federal rules. His money was used in "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Fast and the Furious," Netflix series "Ozark" and in 50 Cent and Kendrick Lamar music videos. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.cnn.com/style/article/rjr-props-fake-money/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_world+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+World%29 | 0.115601 |
What Was It Like When Our Solar System First Formed? | If you were to look at our Universe at the time our Solar System formed, nothing would look out of the ordinary. The Milky Way would appear relatively isolated: the second-largest member of a relatively small group of galaxies. Small, dwarf galaxies would be seen slowly merging and being acquired by larger ones, just like they would all over the Universe. And throughout the Milky Way, hundreds of billions of stars are already shining, with gas clumps occasionally contracting along its spiral arms to trigger new waves of star-formation. There are tens to hundreds of these regions active in our galaxy at any time. In one of those regions, 9.2 billion years after the Big Bang, our Sun, planets, and Solar System formed. Here's what it was like when the Universe made what would become us. Gas clouds have been contracting to form stars for over 99% of the Universe's history, but systems like ours weren't always possible. It took generations of stars living and dying, burning through their fuel, going supernova, blowing off their outer layers, and having white dwarf-white dwarf and neutron star-neutron star collisions occurring to fill our galaxy with the heavy elements we'd later need for life. It was only with these raw ingredients in place that our Solar System had the potential to give rise to us. But in order for us to exist with the properties that we had, a whole slew of other things had to line up just right. Spiral galaxies are shaped roughly like a pancake: the gas within them is in a thin disk that's denser towards the center and less dense at the outskirts. As they rotate, the inner parts spin around a greater number of times than the outer parts; galaxies rotate differentially, rather than like a spinning record. The heaviest elements preferentially wind up towards the central regions, while the lighter elements wind up at the outskirts. Our Solar System formed from a gas cloud about halfway towards the edge of the disk, about 25,000 light-years from the center, in the central part of the disk if you were to slice it length-wise. When our Solar System first formed, we were made out of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, and only about 2% of everything else combined. Still, this represents coming a long way since the Big Bang, where everything was 75% hydrogen, 25% helium, and practically nothing else. The way most stars form in galaxies like ours in evolved spiral galaxies that are relatively quiet is when clouds of gas in the disk pass through one of the spiral arms. Material gets funneled into these clouds, causing it to reach an even greater-than-average density than before, which can often trigger gravitational collapse. When the collapse happens, these clouds of gas, which can range from thousands to millions of times the mass of the Sun, begin to fragment into a myriad of tiny clumps. The largest clumps to first form begin attracting the most matter, and they grow into the largest stars. Smaller clumps grow more slowly, and clumps that merge together will see their growth accelerate. Inside these star-forming regions, a race begins to occur: between gravity, working to form and grow stars, and radiation, emitted by the hottest stars to newly form. Over time, it becomes clear who the big winners will be: the most massive stars can be tens or even hundreds of times as massive as our Sun, and can give off radiation thousands to millions of times as luminous as our own star. These are the behemoths that will destroy the active star-forming regions by evaporating the gas away. But gravity is a tenacious competitor. It draws gas into a large variety of regions. While a large, star-forming nebula might form tens or even hundreds of high-mass stars, it's going to form hundreds of times as many low-mass stars. While the brightest, hottest, bluest stars get all of the attention early on, they're mere flashes-in-the-pan on a cosmic scales. In a few million years, they'll all be gone. They say that the flame that burns twice as bright burns only half as long, but for stars, it's even worse than that. A star that's twice as massive as another burns through its fuel about eight times as quickly. Compared to a star like our Sun, which might last for 10-12 billion years, a star that's tens or even hundreds of times as massive will live for a few million years at most. While our early Solar System is still pulling in matter, growing, and working to collapse down to form a central star orbited by planets, the most massive stars around it are furiously burning through their fuel, going supernova, and putting an end to star-formation in the surrounding environments. The Universe is a violent place, and star-forming regions are some of the most violent places of all. But our Solar System isn't exactly on the low-end of things, either. The central clump of matter that will grow into our Sun started out larger, earlier, and grew faster than the vast majority of clumps that are present. If we were to take a look at our Sun, today, and compare it to all the other stars in the Universe, here's a surprising fact about it: it's more massive than 95% of all the stars out there. In fact, somewhere between 75% and 80% of all stars are red dwarf (M-class) stars: the lowest-mass, coolest, and smallest class of star out there. Of the rest of the stars, more than half of them are the next class up: K-class, which is still smaller, less massive, and cooler than our Sun. The amount of matter that clumped together to lead to us was above average in terms of mass, and typical in one very important fashion: we were alone. In most of the large star-forming regions we find in Milky Way-sized galaxies, thousands of new stars are born. Of these, many of them will be bound together in multi-star systems, while approximately half of them, total, will be single stars without another stellar companion. We learned this relatively recently, by looking at the nearby stars to Earth, thanks to a collaboration known as RECONS. 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. Pure chance. As the years ticked by, the fragment of the gas cloud that turned into our Solar System accrued matter largely onto a central clump. The molecules radiate heat away, allowing this cloud to grow into our Sun, while gravitational collapse simultaneously causes the temperature to rise and rise in the center. At some point, a critical threshold is reached: a temperature of 4 million K, which is the point at which individual protons can begin to fuse into heavier elements through the process of nuclear fusion. This is the moment that a star is officially considered alive. To the best of our knowledge, this moment happened 4.56 billion years ago, when the Universe was approximately 2/3rds of its current age. At that instant, our Solar System first officially formed. Over the past few years, we've finally been able to observe solar systems in these very early stages of formation, finding central stars and proto-stars shrouded by gas, dust, and protoplanetary disks with gaps in them. These are the seeds of what will become giant and rocky planets, leading to full-on solar systems like our own. Although most of the stars that form including, very likely our own will have formed amidst thousands of others in massive star clusters, there are a few outliers that form in relative isolation. Although the history of the Universe may subsequently separate us from all of our stellar and planetary siblings from the nebula that they formed in billions of years ago, scattering them across the galaxy, our shared history remains. The galaxy is likely full of them. Further reading on what the Universe was like when: | When our Solar System first formed, we were made out of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, and only about 2% of everything else combined. Here's what it was like when the Universe made what would become us. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/27/what-was-it-like-when-our-solar-system-first-formed/ | 0.333372 |
What Was It Like When Our Solar System First Formed? | If you were to look at our Universe at the time our Solar System formed, nothing would look out of the ordinary. The Milky Way would appear relatively isolated: the second-largest member of a relatively small group of galaxies. Small, dwarf galaxies would be seen slowly merging and being acquired by larger ones, just like they would all over the Universe. And throughout the Milky Way, hundreds of billions of stars are already shining, with gas clumps occasionally contracting along its spiral arms to trigger new waves of star-formation. There are tens to hundreds of these regions active in our galaxy at any time. In one of those regions, 9.2 billion years after the Big Bang, our Sun, planets, and Solar System formed. Here's what it was like when the Universe made what would become us. Gas clouds have been contracting to form stars for over 99% of the Universe's history, but systems like ours weren't always possible. It took generations of stars living and dying, burning through their fuel, going supernova, blowing off their outer layers, and having white dwarf-white dwarf and neutron star-neutron star collisions occurring to fill our galaxy with the heavy elements we'd later need for life. It was only with these raw ingredients in place that our Solar System had the potential to give rise to us. But in order for us to exist with the properties that we had, a whole slew of other things had to line up just right. Spiral galaxies are shaped roughly like a pancake: the gas within them is in a thin disk that's denser towards the center and less dense at the outskirts. As they rotate, the inner parts spin around a greater number of times than the outer parts; galaxies rotate differentially, rather than like a spinning record. The heaviest elements preferentially wind up towards the central regions, while the lighter elements wind up at the outskirts. Our Solar System formed from a gas cloud about halfway towards the edge of the disk, about 25,000 light-years from the center, in the central part of the disk if you were to slice it length-wise. When our Solar System first formed, we were made out of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, and only about 2% of everything else combined. Still, this represents coming a long way since the Big Bang, where everything was 75% hydrogen, 25% helium, and practically nothing else. The way most stars form in galaxies like ours in evolved spiral galaxies that are relatively quiet is when clouds of gas in the disk pass through one of the spiral arms. Material gets funneled into these clouds, causing it to reach an even greater-than-average density than before, which can often trigger gravitational collapse. When the collapse happens, these clouds of gas, which can range from thousands to millions of times the mass of the Sun, begin to fragment into a myriad of tiny clumps. The largest clumps to first form begin attracting the most matter, and they grow into the largest stars. Smaller clumps grow more slowly, and clumps that merge together will see their growth accelerate. Inside these star-forming regions, a race begins to occur: between gravity, working to form and grow stars, and radiation, emitted by the hottest stars to newly form. Over time, it becomes clear who the big winners will be: the most massive stars can be tens or even hundreds of times as massive as our Sun, and can give off radiation thousands to millions of times as luminous as our own star. These are the behemoths that will destroy the active star-forming regions by evaporating the gas away. But gravity is a tenacious competitor. It draws gas into a large variety of regions. While a large, star-forming nebula might form tens or even hundreds of high-mass stars, it's going to form hundreds of times as many low-mass stars. While the brightest, hottest, bluest stars get all of the attention early on, they're mere flashes-in-the-pan on a cosmic scales. In a few million years, they'll all be gone. They say that the flame that burns twice as bright burns only half as long, but for stars, it's even worse than that. A star that's twice as massive as another burns through its fuel about eight times as quickly. Compared to a star like our Sun, which might last for 10-12 billion years, a star that's tens or even hundreds of times as massive will live for a few million years at most. While our early Solar System is still pulling in matter, growing, and working to collapse down to form a central star orbited by planets, the most massive stars around it are furiously burning through their fuel, going supernova, and putting an end to star-formation in the surrounding environments. The Universe is a violent place, and star-forming regions are some of the most violent places of all. But our Solar System isn't exactly on the low-end of things, either. The central clump of matter that will grow into our Sun started out larger, earlier, and grew faster than the vast majority of clumps that are present. If we were to take a look at our Sun, today, and compare it to all the other stars in the Universe, here's a surprising fact about it: it's more massive than 95% of all the stars out there. In fact, somewhere between 75% and 80% of all stars are red dwarf (M-class) stars: the lowest-mass, coolest, and smallest class of star out there. Of the rest of the stars, more than half of them are the next class up: K-class, which is still smaller, less massive, and cooler than our Sun. The amount of matter that clumped together to lead to us was above average in terms of mass, and typical in one very important fashion: we were alone. In most of the large star-forming regions we find in Milky Way-sized galaxies, thousands of new stars are born. Of these, many of them will be bound together in multi-star systems, while approximately half of them, total, will be single stars without another stellar companion. We learned this relatively recently, by looking at the nearby stars to Earth, thanks to a collaboration known as RECONS. 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. Pure chance. As the years ticked by, the fragment of the gas cloud that turned into our Solar System accrued matter largely onto a central clump. The molecules radiate heat away, allowing this cloud to grow into our Sun, while gravitational collapse simultaneously causes the temperature to rise and rise in the center. At some point, a critical threshold is reached: a temperature of 4 million K, which is the point at which individual protons can begin to fuse into heavier elements through the process of nuclear fusion. This is the moment that a star is officially considered alive. To the best of our knowledge, this moment happened 4.56 billion years ago, when the Universe was approximately 2/3rds of its current age. At that instant, our Solar System first officially formed. Over the past few years, we've finally been able to observe solar systems in these very early stages of formation, finding central stars and proto-stars shrouded by gas, dust, and protoplanetary disks with gaps in them. These are the seeds of what will become giant and rocky planets, leading to full-on solar systems like our own. Although most of the stars that form including, very likely our own will have formed amidst thousands of others in massive star clusters, there are a few outliers that form in relative isolation. Although the history of the Universe may subsequently separate us from all of our stellar and planetary siblings from the nebula that they formed in billions of years ago, scattering them across the galaxy, our shared history remains. The galaxy is likely full of them. Further reading on what the Universe was like when: | When our Solar System first formed, we were made out of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, and only about 2% of everything else combined. Here's what it was like when the Universe made what would become us. The Sun, planets, and Solar System formed 9.2 billion years after the Big Bang. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/02/27/what-was-it-like-when-our-solar-system-first-formed/ | 0.447944 |
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