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Is JetBlue ready to launch flights to London? | Thats long been a source of speculation in the airline industry, and that seems only likely to increase after some of the most direct comments yet by the carriers executives. "Were actively looking at it now, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said about the possibility of London service in an interview with The Independent. What JetBlue has always done since we started nearly 20 years ago is bring low fares with a better service, and wed love to bring that to Europe, Hayes added to London newspaper. Hayes offered no specifics about when such service might begin, but he did offer some details as to what it might look like if it was added. London flights would operate from JetBlues two busiest hubs New York JFK and Boston and would be on Airbus A321LR narrowbody jets. The LR stands for long range, meaning the aircraft could easily handle trans-Atlantic routes between the U.S. Northeast and much of western Europe. JetBlue does not currently have any A321LRs in its fleet, but it is expected to begin receiving the first of more than 80 Airbus A321neos this year. JetBlues order with Airbus gives it the option convert some of those deliveries to the long-range variant. IN PHOTOS: Airbus delivers U.S.-made A321 to JetBlue Hayes told the Independent that business-class fares on competitors' routes like Boston-London have risen so much that theres a lot of room to come in and undercut those with JetBlues new Mint lie-flat seats. He pointed to whats happened on cross-country routes in the USA where JetBlue has rolled out those seats. Since we launched (Mint), transcontinental fares have approximately halved, he said to the Independent. The Independent noted the airline's staff has been alerted to an April 10 meeting in New York described as a chat about JetBlues vision and strategy. Hayes is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Aviation Club in London on April 11. Despite the attempt to connect the dots, JetBlue said its not ready to reveal anything definitive about the launch of London flights. As weve said previously, we plan to announce our decision on the Long Range version of the A321 in 2019, JetBlue spokesman Doug McGraw said in an email to USA TODAYs Today in the Sky blog. The transatlantic market especially in the premium category suffers from the same lack of competition and high fares that transcon routes in the U.S. saw before JetBlue introduced Mint. | JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes says the airline is "actively looking at it now" London flights would be on Airbus A321LR narrowbody jets. Hayes is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Aviation Club in London on April 11. | bart | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/jetblue-ready-launch-flights-london-181209412.html | 0.246051 |
Is JetBlue ready to launch flights to London? | Thats long been a source of speculation in the airline industry, and that seems only likely to increase after some of the most direct comments yet by the carriers executives. "Were actively looking at it now, JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes said about the possibility of London service in an interview with The Independent. What JetBlue has always done since we started nearly 20 years ago is bring low fares with a better service, and wed love to bring that to Europe, Hayes added to London newspaper. Hayes offered no specifics about when such service might begin, but he did offer some details as to what it might look like if it was added. London flights would operate from JetBlues two busiest hubs New York JFK and Boston and would be on Airbus A321LR narrowbody jets. The LR stands for long range, meaning the aircraft could easily handle trans-Atlantic routes between the U.S. Northeast and much of western Europe. JetBlue does not currently have any A321LRs in its fleet, but it is expected to begin receiving the first of more than 80 Airbus A321neos this year. JetBlues order with Airbus gives it the option convert some of those deliveries to the long-range variant. IN PHOTOS: Airbus delivers U.S.-made A321 to JetBlue Hayes told the Independent that business-class fares on competitors' routes like Boston-London have risen so much that theres a lot of room to come in and undercut those with JetBlues new Mint lie-flat seats. He pointed to whats happened on cross-country routes in the USA where JetBlue has rolled out those seats. Since we launched (Mint), transcontinental fares have approximately halved, he said to the Independent. The Independent noted the airline's staff has been alerted to an April 10 meeting in New York described as a chat about JetBlues vision and strategy. Hayes is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Aviation Club in London on April 11. Despite the attempt to connect the dots, JetBlue said its not ready to reveal anything definitive about the launch of London flights. As weve said previously, we plan to announce our decision on the Long Range version of the A321 in 2019, JetBlue spokesman Doug McGraw said in an email to USA TODAYs Today in the Sky blog. The transatlantic market especially in the premium category suffers from the same lack of competition and high fares that transcon routes in the U.S. saw before JetBlue introduced Mint. | JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes says the airline is "actively looking at it now" London flights would be on Airbus A321LR narrowbody jets. Hayes is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Aviation Club in London on April 11. JetBlue says it's not ready to reveal anything definitive about the launch of London flights. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/jetblue-ready-launch-flights-london-181209412.html | 0.277977 |
Is Jane Sanders the most powerful woman not running in 2020? | WASHINGTON Before Bernie Sanders took the stage to formally launch his 2020 presidential campaign this month, the candidates most influential adviser took the mic. To cheers, Jane Sanders introduced herself to the Brooklyn crowd as Bernies wife, then conceded that wasnt the most politically correct label. To be sure, identifying Jane Sanders as the wife hardly captures the scope of her influence on her husbands political career. Across 30 years and a dozen campaigns for federal office, she has served variously as her husbands media consultant, surrogate, fundraiser, chief of staff, campaign spokeswoman and top strategist. His political revolution has become her career. And her political and business activities have, at times, become his headache. As the Vermont senator undertakes his second presidential run and scrambles his inner circle, Jane Sanders remains his closest adviser, making her perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isnt a candidate. Bernies top adviser always has been and will continue to be Jane, said Jeff Weaver, a Sanders adviser. She has a voice in almost every major political decision her husband makes, travels with him for major events and is deeply involved in formulating policies, issues and campaign infrastructure. At every level, Weaver said, Jane is intimately involved. That involvement has drawn questions sometimes about her political judgment, family opportunism and flawed ethics from political foes, good government advocates and longtime Sanders-watchers in Vermont and in the progressive movement. Most recently, critics questioned the role played by the Sanders Institute, a non-profit co-founded by Jane Sanders and her son, for blending elements of fundraising, family and campaign policy development. Her dual roles at the institute and in her husbands campaign carried echoes of the Clinton Foundation, which Bernie Sanders criticized in 2016 as a possible ethics conflict and back door for foreign donors seeking to influence his then-rival Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016 criticizing her for the vast sums of money she raised and he seems to be following in some of her footsteps, said Lawrence R. Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Now hes raising vast sums of money and its being controlled and shaped by his family. Jane Sanders acted this past week to remove the think-tank as a possible campaign ethics target, telling The Associated Press that the institutes operations and fundraising would be suspended for the balance of her husbands 2020 presidential campaign. Since its creation in 2017, the group raised more than $700,000, but has not disclosed most of its donors. She said the decision to put the Sanders Institute on hiatus was a forward-looking way to deal with potential concerns. Sanders may prove an important surrogate for her husband, particularly in a race crowded with female candidates and potentially hinging on how women vote. She publicly defended her husband when he faced criticism for the way his 2016 campaign handled accusations of sexual harassment. Shes become an essential liaison to the progressive activists at the heart of the Sanders base, using the institute to host meetings of policymakers and activists. An affable, if low-key public speaker, she was the star of the December Gathering in Burlington, Vermont, a three-day policy gathering that featured progressive speakers including environmentalist Bill McKibben, actor Danny Glover and her husband. Steeped in years of involvement in progressive causes, Sanders comfortably slipped into the role as the events emcee. Before a crowd of more than 250 progressive activists, she stoked applause lines for favoured organizations and lavished compliments on institute fellows. Similarly, in videos posted on the institutes website, she has led numerous policy conversations with experts in a Brooklyn accent fainter than her husbands. Jane Sanders is not compensated for her role at the institute. Her son, David Driscoll, has been paid $100,000 a year as a co-founder and executive director, she confirmed. Driscoll previously worked for a Vermont snowboarding company and had no previous non-profit experience, according to his LinkedIn profile. Like her husband, Jane Sanders has learned not to trust a lot of people. Family is a lot more dependable than outsiders, said University of Vermont political science professor Garrison Nelson, an acquaintance and veteran Sanders-watcher. Jane Sanders expressed frustration about concerns that she and some of her children have at times benefited from their activities affiliated with Sanders expanding political apparatus. It just doesnt fit, she said. She added that the Sanders Institute has developed policy and the content that we get completely separate from her husbands campaign. Politics has long been a family project for the couple. Jane Sanders first worked with her future husband as director of the mayors youth Office in Burlington. They were both displaced New Yorker, Jane noted at the launch rally, stamped by childhood days on Brooklyns city streets. We had very similar experiences, she said. We spent a lot of time playing stickball, running races and just hanging out on the streets with the kids in our neighbourhoods. They wed in 1988 a second marriage for both two years before Sanders won his first election to Congress. Jane Sanders went to Capitol Hill as his volunteer deputy gaining experience in policy, legislation and as chief of staff. In the early 2000s, she took on a new role along with her daughter, Carina. Two women set up a consulting firm, paid more than $90,000 in consulting fees by Bernie Sanders House campaigns. In 2004, the year before Bernie Sanders launched his winning Senate campaign, his wife was named president of Burlington College, a local small liberal arts college. In 2010, she worked out a $10 million deal for the college to buy 32 acres of waterfront land on Lake Champlain and a 77,000-square-foot former orphanage and administrative offices of Vermonts Roman Catholic Church, which needed the money to settle a series of priest sex abuse cases. She promised at the time the deal would be paid for with increases in enrolment and about $2.7 million in donations. But her plans never took wing and under fire, she resigned from the college in 2011. The school closed in 2016, citing debt from the land deal as a major reason for its failure. Prompted by complaints filed by a Republican lawyer about her involvement in the land deal, federal investigators looked into Jane Sanders stewardship but informed her last November that she would not be charged. Weve learned were going to be attacked, she said during an interview, adding thats the fact of todays politics. But she said she was confident that the decision to put the think-tank on hiatus was best for the institute to not have the possibility of misinterpretation. The move, she said, will allow her to expand her campaign work freely for the Sanders campaign, including more solo stops on her husbands behalf. I will be more active throughout, she said. Ring reported from Montpelier, Vermont, and Peoples from New York. | Jane Sanders is perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isn't a candidate. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/is-jane-sanders-the-most-powerful-woman-not-running-in-2020 | 0.324953 |
Is Jane Sanders the most powerful woman not running in 2020? | WASHINGTON Before Bernie Sanders took the stage to formally launch his 2020 presidential campaign this month, the candidates most influential adviser took the mic. To cheers, Jane Sanders introduced herself to the Brooklyn crowd as Bernies wife, then conceded that wasnt the most politically correct label. To be sure, identifying Jane Sanders as the wife hardly captures the scope of her influence on her husbands political career. Across 30 years and a dozen campaigns for federal office, she has served variously as her husbands media consultant, surrogate, fundraiser, chief of staff, campaign spokeswoman and top strategist. His political revolution has become her career. And her political and business activities have, at times, become his headache. As the Vermont senator undertakes his second presidential run and scrambles his inner circle, Jane Sanders remains his closest adviser, making her perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isnt a candidate. Bernies top adviser always has been and will continue to be Jane, said Jeff Weaver, a Sanders adviser. She has a voice in almost every major political decision her husband makes, travels with him for major events and is deeply involved in formulating policies, issues and campaign infrastructure. At every level, Weaver said, Jane is intimately involved. That involvement has drawn questions sometimes about her political judgment, family opportunism and flawed ethics from political foes, good government advocates and longtime Sanders-watchers in Vermont and in the progressive movement. Most recently, critics questioned the role played by the Sanders Institute, a non-profit co-founded by Jane Sanders and her son, for blending elements of fundraising, family and campaign policy development. Her dual roles at the institute and in her husbands campaign carried echoes of the Clinton Foundation, which Bernie Sanders criticized in 2016 as a possible ethics conflict and back door for foreign donors seeking to influence his then-rival Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016 criticizing her for the vast sums of money she raised and he seems to be following in some of her footsteps, said Lawrence R. Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Now hes raising vast sums of money and its being controlled and shaped by his family. Jane Sanders acted this past week to remove the think-tank as a possible campaign ethics target, telling The Associated Press that the institutes operations and fundraising would be suspended for the balance of her husbands 2020 presidential campaign. Since its creation in 2017, the group raised more than $700,000, but has not disclosed most of its donors. She said the decision to put the Sanders Institute on hiatus was a forward-looking way to deal with potential concerns. Sanders may prove an important surrogate for her husband, particularly in a race crowded with female candidates and potentially hinging on how women vote. She publicly defended her husband when he faced criticism for the way his 2016 campaign handled accusations of sexual harassment. Shes become an essential liaison to the progressive activists at the heart of the Sanders base, using the institute to host meetings of policymakers and activists. An affable, if low-key public speaker, she was the star of the December Gathering in Burlington, Vermont, a three-day policy gathering that featured progressive speakers including environmentalist Bill McKibben, actor Danny Glover and her husband. Steeped in years of involvement in progressive causes, Sanders comfortably slipped into the role as the events emcee. Before a crowd of more than 250 progressive activists, she stoked applause lines for favoured organizations and lavished compliments on institute fellows. Similarly, in videos posted on the institutes website, she has led numerous policy conversations with experts in a Brooklyn accent fainter than her husbands. Jane Sanders is not compensated for her role at the institute. Her son, David Driscoll, has been paid $100,000 a year as a co-founder and executive director, she confirmed. Driscoll previously worked for a Vermont snowboarding company and had no previous non-profit experience, according to his LinkedIn profile. Like her husband, Jane Sanders has learned not to trust a lot of people. Family is a lot more dependable than outsiders, said University of Vermont political science professor Garrison Nelson, an acquaintance and veteran Sanders-watcher. Jane Sanders expressed frustration about concerns that she and some of her children have at times benefited from their activities affiliated with Sanders expanding political apparatus. It just doesnt fit, she said. She added that the Sanders Institute has developed policy and the content that we get completely separate from her husbands campaign. Politics has long been a family project for the couple. Jane Sanders first worked with her future husband as director of the mayors youth Office in Burlington. They were both displaced New Yorker, Jane noted at the launch rally, stamped by childhood days on Brooklyns city streets. We had very similar experiences, she said. We spent a lot of time playing stickball, running races and just hanging out on the streets with the kids in our neighbourhoods. They wed in 1988 a second marriage for both two years before Sanders won his first election to Congress. Jane Sanders went to Capitol Hill as his volunteer deputy gaining experience in policy, legislation and as chief of staff. In the early 2000s, she took on a new role along with her daughter, Carina. Two women set up a consulting firm, paid more than $90,000 in consulting fees by Bernie Sanders House campaigns. In 2004, the year before Bernie Sanders launched his winning Senate campaign, his wife was named president of Burlington College, a local small liberal arts college. In 2010, she worked out a $10 million deal for the college to buy 32 acres of waterfront land on Lake Champlain and a 77,000-square-foot former orphanage and administrative offices of Vermonts Roman Catholic Church, which needed the money to settle a series of priest sex abuse cases. She promised at the time the deal would be paid for with increases in enrolment and about $2.7 million in donations. But her plans never took wing and under fire, she resigned from the college in 2011. The school closed in 2016, citing debt from the land deal as a major reason for its failure. Prompted by complaints filed by a Republican lawyer about her involvement in the land deal, federal investigators looked into Jane Sanders stewardship but informed her last November that she would not be charged. Weve learned were going to be attacked, she said during an interview, adding thats the fact of todays politics. But she said she was confident that the decision to put the think-tank on hiatus was best for the institute to not have the possibility of misinterpretation. The move, she said, will allow her to expand her campaign work freely for the Sanders campaign, including more solo stops on her husbands behalf. I will be more active throughout, she said. Ring reported from Montpelier, Vermont, and Peoples from New York. | Jane Sanders is perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isn't a candidate. She has a voice in almost every major political decision her husband makes. Her political and business activities have, at times, become his headache. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/is-jane-sanders-the-most-powerful-woman-not-running-in-2020 | 0.430771 |
Is Jane Sanders the most powerful woman not running in 2020? | WASHINGTON Before Bernie Sanders took the stage to formally launch his 2020 presidential campaign this month, the candidates most influential adviser took the mic. To cheers, Jane Sanders introduced herself to the Brooklyn crowd as Bernies wife, then conceded that wasnt the most politically correct label. To be sure, identifying Jane Sanders as the wife hardly captures the scope of her influence on her husbands political career. Across 30 years and a dozen campaigns for federal office, she has served variously as her husbands media consultant, surrogate, fundraiser, chief of staff, campaign spokeswoman and top strategist. His political revolution has become her career. And her political and business activities have, at times, become his headache. As the Vermont senator undertakes his second presidential run and scrambles his inner circle, Jane Sanders remains his closest adviser, making her perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isnt a candidate. Bernies top adviser always has been and will continue to be Jane, said Jeff Weaver, a Sanders adviser. She has a voice in almost every major political decision her husband makes, travels with him for major events and is deeply involved in formulating policies, issues and campaign infrastructure. At every level, Weaver said, Jane is intimately involved. That involvement has drawn questions sometimes about her political judgment, family opportunism and flawed ethics from political foes, good government advocates and longtime Sanders-watchers in Vermont and in the progressive movement. Most recently, critics questioned the role played by the Sanders Institute, a non-profit co-founded by Jane Sanders and her son, for blending elements of fundraising, family and campaign policy development. Her dual roles at the institute and in her husbands campaign carried echoes of the Clinton Foundation, which Bernie Sanders criticized in 2016 as a possible ethics conflict and back door for foreign donors seeking to influence his then-rival Hillary Clinton. Bernie Sanders ran against Hillary Clinton in 2016 criticizing her for the vast sums of money she raised and he seems to be following in some of her footsteps, said Lawrence R. Jacobs, director of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the University of Minnesotas Humphrey School of Public Affairs. Now hes raising vast sums of money and its being controlled and shaped by his family. Jane Sanders acted this past week to remove the think-tank as a possible campaign ethics target, telling The Associated Press that the institutes operations and fundraising would be suspended for the balance of her husbands 2020 presidential campaign. Since its creation in 2017, the group raised more than $700,000, but has not disclosed most of its donors. She said the decision to put the Sanders Institute on hiatus was a forward-looking way to deal with potential concerns. Sanders may prove an important surrogate for her husband, particularly in a race crowded with female candidates and potentially hinging on how women vote. She publicly defended her husband when he faced criticism for the way his 2016 campaign handled accusations of sexual harassment. Shes become an essential liaison to the progressive activists at the heart of the Sanders base, using the institute to host meetings of policymakers and activists. An affable, if low-key public speaker, she was the star of the December Gathering in Burlington, Vermont, a three-day policy gathering that featured progressive speakers including environmentalist Bill McKibben, actor Danny Glover and her husband. Steeped in years of involvement in progressive causes, Sanders comfortably slipped into the role as the events emcee. Before a crowd of more than 250 progressive activists, she stoked applause lines for favoured organizations and lavished compliments on institute fellows. Similarly, in videos posted on the institutes website, she has led numerous policy conversations with experts in a Brooklyn accent fainter than her husbands. Jane Sanders is not compensated for her role at the institute. Her son, David Driscoll, has been paid $100,000 a year as a co-founder and executive director, she confirmed. Driscoll previously worked for a Vermont snowboarding company and had no previous non-profit experience, according to his LinkedIn profile. Like her husband, Jane Sanders has learned not to trust a lot of people. Family is a lot more dependable than outsiders, said University of Vermont political science professor Garrison Nelson, an acquaintance and veteran Sanders-watcher. Jane Sanders expressed frustration about concerns that she and some of her children have at times benefited from their activities affiliated with Sanders expanding political apparatus. It just doesnt fit, she said. She added that the Sanders Institute has developed policy and the content that we get completely separate from her husbands campaign. Politics has long been a family project for the couple. Jane Sanders first worked with her future husband as director of the mayors youth Office in Burlington. They were both displaced New Yorker, Jane noted at the launch rally, stamped by childhood days on Brooklyns city streets. We had very similar experiences, she said. We spent a lot of time playing stickball, running races and just hanging out on the streets with the kids in our neighbourhoods. They wed in 1988 a second marriage for both two years before Sanders won his first election to Congress. Jane Sanders went to Capitol Hill as his volunteer deputy gaining experience in policy, legislation and as chief of staff. In the early 2000s, she took on a new role along with her daughter, Carina. Two women set up a consulting firm, paid more than $90,000 in consulting fees by Bernie Sanders House campaigns. In 2004, the year before Bernie Sanders launched his winning Senate campaign, his wife was named president of Burlington College, a local small liberal arts college. In 2010, she worked out a $10 million deal for the college to buy 32 acres of waterfront land on Lake Champlain and a 77,000-square-foot former orphanage and administrative offices of Vermonts Roman Catholic Church, which needed the money to settle a series of priest sex abuse cases. She promised at the time the deal would be paid for with increases in enrolment and about $2.7 million in donations. But her plans never took wing and under fire, she resigned from the college in 2011. The school closed in 2016, citing debt from the land deal as a major reason for its failure. Prompted by complaints filed by a Republican lawyer about her involvement in the land deal, federal investigators looked into Jane Sanders stewardship but informed her last November that she would not be charged. Weve learned were going to be attacked, she said during an interview, adding thats the fact of todays politics. But she said she was confident that the decision to put the think-tank on hiatus was best for the institute to not have the possibility of misinterpretation. The move, she said, will allow her to expand her campaign work freely for the Sanders campaign, including more solo stops on her husbands behalf. I will be more active throughout, she said. Ring reported from Montpelier, Vermont, and Peoples from New York. | Jane Sanders is perhaps the most influential woman in the 2020 campaign who isn't a candidate. She has a voice in almost every major political decision her husband makes. She's become an essential liaison to the progressive activists at the heart of the Sanders' base, using the institute to host meetings of policymakers and activists. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/is-jane-sanders-the-most-powerful-woman-not-running-in-2020 | 0.477311 |
Who are Britain's best wine retailers? | Oddbins is in trouble again, having called in the administrators after a terrible Christmas trading period. Its sad news for those of us who retain a deep affection for the eclectic chain where they learned to love wine. All the more so since, in recent years under the supervision of master of wine Ana Sapungiu, the stores were once again full of a diverse range of interesting, well-priced wines. The news isnt all that surprising. The company has always seemed a bit rickety and never, under a succession of different owners, quite able to buck the long-term trend that has seen off its high street rivals, from Unwins to Victoria Wine, Threshers and Bottoms Up. According to administrators Duff & Phelps, the latest incarnations problems were down to brutal market conditions for bricks and mortar retailers: stagnant wages and rising living costs meaning a big drop in consumer spending, plus escalating business rates and rents (an average rise of 17.8% across the Oddbins estate). On top of all that, in the past year, wine retailers have also had to try to cope with the latest inflationary duty rise and a weak pound putting up the price of their stock. What makes this feel slightly different from previous Oddbins blowouts is that wine lovers have so many more alternatives. Its not quite true to say that this is a golden age of wine retail in the UK, not when the big three supermarkets (Tesco, Sainsburys, Asda), which collectively account for almost half of wine sold in the UKs off-trade, have arguably never been more dull. And Brexit could still change everything for a business so dependent on imports. But there are plenty of bright spots. A putative Observer best supermarket gong would probably go to Waitrose, narrowly pipping Marks & Spencer thanks to the breadth of its range and an injection of excitement in the past couple of years with improvements in its South American, South African and Australian selections. For value, the Co-op edges Aldi: while the German discounter has the odd fabulous bargain, the caring sharing convenience giant is more consistently good for those looking for change from a tenner. The best wine club, the Wine Society, has outstanding value and variety once youve paid your 40 lifetime membership fee. And then you get to the real excitement. According to trade magazine The Wine Merchant, the UK now has 913 specialist independent wine shops, a number which has grown hugely in the past 10 years. Hyper-local and personal by their very nature, its hard to single out just one for praise, so Ive highlighted a few personal favourites in the wine recommendationsbelow. Collectively these are the places to look if youre after the same kind of fun and originality so many of us loved in Oddbins. Six of the best bottles Facebook Twitter Pinterest Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer Umbrele Syrah, Romania 2016 (from 7.50, noblegreenwines.co.uk; symposium-finewine.co.uk; ampswinemerchants.co.uk) Independents dont just deal in expensive kit: this superb value, succulent, spicy Romanian syrah is sold by three of my favourite small merchants: Cambridgshires Amps Fine Wines, Lewess Symposium and Hampton Hills Noble Green. The Societys Exhibition Limar Chardonnay 2017 (10.50, thewinesociety.com) The Wine Societys non-profit mutual model translates into brilliant value and range, not least in its own-label wines, such as this wonderful new-wave cooler-climate Chilean with its star-bright acidity and freshness contrasting with luscious orchard fruit. Domaine de lldylle Cuve Orangerie, Savoie, France 2017 (11.95, yapp.co.uk) An old favourite Alpine white wine, in typically pretty, genteel and graceful form this vintage. From an old favourite independent, Dorsets Yapp Bros, which is celebrating 50 years of selling brilliant off-the-beaten track French wines. Remy Ferbras Ventoux, Rhne, France 2016 (6.99, reduced from 8.79 until 19 March, 2019, Waitrose) The bigger Waitrose and M&S stores are the only supermarkets Id choose to go to solely for wine. This is one of the best value bottles in the Waitrose line-up: a bright but savoury red blend that handles stews and sausages beautifully. Cullen Amber Wine, Margaret River, Australia 2017 (31, bottleapostle.com) From one of Western Australias best producers, this is an immaculate take on orange wine, with a nervy clarity, tanginess and floral prettiness. Its one of many delicious curiosities sold by the superb London indie mini-chain, Bottle Apostle. Cop de Ma Priorat, Spain 2017 (13, the Co-op) The Co-op has some real gems in its range. You wont find all of them in all 7,000 stores (some of which can be a bit disappointing wine-wise), so its worth hunting around for this gem of a deep plummy, gamey-savoury Catalan red. This article contains affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission if a reader clicks through and makes a purchase. All our journalism is independent and is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative. By clicking on an affiliate link, you accept that third-party cookies will be set. More information. | Oddbins has called in the administrators after a terrible Christmas trading period. There are now more than 913 specialist independent wine shops in the UK. The Co-op edges Aldi for value, while Waitrose narrowly pips Marks & Spencer. The Wine Society has outstanding value and variety. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/mar/17/britain-best-wine-retailers-indies-supermarkets | 0.21789 |
How good are Arizona schools, and what could make them better? | Opinion: Everyone agrees that Arizona schools need more funding. Let's talk about it. Math teacher Kori Hayles helps Angelina Parr, 12, and Raul Samano, 12, in the seventh grade math class at the NFL YET College Prep Academy, a seventh-12th grade charter school in south Phoenix, on Nov. 5, 2018. Ask that question to 10 parents in Arizona, and Id bet at least eight of them would say yes. But ask those same parents if the education system in Arizona is good, and Id bet at least six of them would say no. Partly because our schools arent as bad as we often paint them. Schools aren't horrible, but there's work to do Yes, there is wide agreement across the state that our schools are underfunded. There are far too many stories of classrooms without enough books, where roofs leak and teachers barely can pay their rent. There also is wide agreement that too many students in Arizona are falling behind. There are equally too many stories of kids failing to meet basic proficiency on standardized tests, failing to graduate high school and go on to college or a trade school. But we also are making healthy progress. Its often pooh-poohed, but our charter schools outscore even the highest-achieving states on a key standardized test. And lest you say thats because they only teach the best of the best, district school scores are improving faster than their peers in most other states. Were not where we need to be, by any means. But were improving, despite teacher shortages and funding challenges that should be tanking our performance. The real question Arizona should be asking And that leads to an important question, particularly now that the state has made significant commitments to restore funding to schools, with more on the way: NEWSLETTERS Get the Opinions Newsletter newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Our best and latest in commentary in daily digest form. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Opinions Newsletter Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. Because lets be honest: We havent exactly done that. Money won't solve everything, nor can we afford to do everything. But when we do have money, it tends to be thrown at the problem du jour teacher salaries, broken-down buses. Sure, we may plug a hole and fill a critical need. The first step toward answering that question is agreeing on what we mean by giving kids a good education. As a mom of a preschooler, my definition isnt just about how well schools do on standardized tests. A good education means my kids school: Prepares him to be successful in the real world, to excel in jobs that havent been created yet. Encourages him to think on his own and solve problems, not simply regurgitate facts. Focuses on more than just reading, science and math (though those are important). I want a school that offers adequate time for art and social studies and, yes, even recess. In other words, I want a school that can maximize my kids strengths. And not just my kids strengths. I want schools that can do this for every child in Arizona, because they are our future. How well we educate kids today has a direct relationship on how well we all live tomorrow. Let's talk about it So, thats my goal for the next few months to walk through the many answers and debunk some of the myths that surround this fundamental question of what could move the needle most for education. There are tons of ideas out there, everything from boosting teacher training to lowering class sizes and consolidating districts. Its time to dig into the research, glean whats most relevant and discuss how it could impact our kids. Not because I hope it will lead to some tidy little funding package that we can pass in a legislative session (and then forget about in the next), but because I think its about time we choose a few things we thought could work for schools and stick with them. Things that say it with me now could truly move the needle on the quality of education in Arizona. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On Twitter: @joannaallhands. This opinion series aims to find out. (Photo: Arizona Republic) Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/03/17/arizona-schools-education-funding-move-needle-quality/2671725002/ | Ruben Navarrette: Everyone agrees that Arizona schools need more funding. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/03/17/arizona-schools-education-funding-move-needle-quality/2671725002/ | 0.141128 |
How good are Arizona schools, and what could make them better? | Opinion: Everyone agrees that Arizona schools need more funding. Let's talk about it. Math teacher Kori Hayles helps Angelina Parr, 12, and Raul Samano, 12, in the seventh grade math class at the NFL YET College Prep Academy, a seventh-12th grade charter school in south Phoenix, on Nov. 5, 2018. Ask that question to 10 parents in Arizona, and Id bet at least eight of them would say yes. But ask those same parents if the education system in Arizona is good, and Id bet at least six of them would say no. Partly because our schools arent as bad as we often paint them. Schools aren't horrible, but there's work to do Yes, there is wide agreement across the state that our schools are underfunded. There are far too many stories of classrooms without enough books, where roofs leak and teachers barely can pay their rent. There also is wide agreement that too many students in Arizona are falling behind. There are equally too many stories of kids failing to meet basic proficiency on standardized tests, failing to graduate high school and go on to college or a trade school. But we also are making healthy progress. Its often pooh-poohed, but our charter schools outscore even the highest-achieving states on a key standardized test. And lest you say thats because they only teach the best of the best, district school scores are improving faster than their peers in most other states. Were not where we need to be, by any means. But were improving, despite teacher shortages and funding challenges that should be tanking our performance. The real question Arizona should be asking And that leads to an important question, particularly now that the state has made significant commitments to restore funding to schools, with more on the way: NEWSLETTERS Get the Opinions Newsletter newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Our best and latest in commentary in daily digest form. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Opinions Newsletter Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. Because lets be honest: We havent exactly done that. Money won't solve everything, nor can we afford to do everything. But when we do have money, it tends to be thrown at the problem du jour teacher salaries, broken-down buses. Sure, we may plug a hole and fill a critical need. The first step toward answering that question is agreeing on what we mean by giving kids a good education. As a mom of a preschooler, my definition isnt just about how well schools do on standardized tests. A good education means my kids school: Prepares him to be successful in the real world, to excel in jobs that havent been created yet. Encourages him to think on his own and solve problems, not simply regurgitate facts. Focuses on more than just reading, science and math (though those are important). I want a school that offers adequate time for art and social studies and, yes, even recess. In other words, I want a school that can maximize my kids strengths. And not just my kids strengths. I want schools that can do this for every child in Arizona, because they are our future. How well we educate kids today has a direct relationship on how well we all live tomorrow. Let's talk about it So, thats my goal for the next few months to walk through the many answers and debunk some of the myths that surround this fundamental question of what could move the needle most for education. There are tons of ideas out there, everything from boosting teacher training to lowering class sizes and consolidating districts. Its time to dig into the research, glean whats most relevant and discuss how it could impact our kids. Not because I hope it will lead to some tidy little funding package that we can pass in a legislative session (and then forget about in the next), but because I think its about time we choose a few things we thought could work for schools and stick with them. Things that say it with me now could truly move the needle on the quality of education in Arizona. Reach Allhands at joanna.allhands@arizonarepublic.com. On Twitter: @joannaallhands. This opinion series aims to find out. (Photo: Arizona Republic) Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/03/17/arizona-schools-education-funding-move-needle-quality/2671725002/ | Ruben Navarrette: Arizona's schools aren't as bad as we often paint them. He says they're underfunded, but they're making healthy progress. Navarette: A "good education" isn't just about how well schools do on standardized tests. It's about how they prepare kids for the real world, he says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/joannaallhands/2019/03/17/arizona-schools-education-funding-move-needle-quality/2671725002/ | 0.227223 |
Can a Dolphin Really Commit Rape? | These Shark Bay dolphins are also viciously violent. When breeding season comes around, there is fierce competition for access to females, as happens in many sexual species. In most cases in nature, that competition is between individual males. The bottlenose dolphins have a different tactic: They form gangs. Alliances are an essential part of the mating strategies of the males. First-order partnerships will single out a female, rush at her, and then herd her away to have sex, which is coercive (this is a general assumption, because it is rarely seen). During this aggressive corralling, the female repeatedly tries to escape, and does so in about one of every four attempts. The males restrict her attempts at freedom by charging in, and bashing her with their tails, head-butting, biting, and body-slamming her into submission. Read: If you insulted a dolphin 20 years ago, hes probably still bitter about it Second-order alliances do the same, but the team-up makes a ratio of five or six males to one female. The males are often closely related in these alliances, so as a means of transferring their genes into the future, this fits perfectly well within evolutionary theory. On occasion, they form looser super-alliances, where multiple second-order gangs will join forcesup to 14 individual malesto corral a single female. These gangs dont tend to be closely related. It should be noted that forced copulation has not been directly witnessed, as far as I am aware. The evidence comes from observations of the pre-copulatory behavior, and physical evidence of violence on the females. Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. There is no doubt that sexual coercion is part of their reproductive strategy, as it is in many organisms, and that the behavior is violent. But we must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior, whether it be cute, smart or horrid. Infanticide is another unpleasant behavior seen in dolphins. It often gets translated into murder in the popular press, but it should be noted that in plenty of other organisms, both males and females kill the young of others within their own species as a reproductive strategy. A female lion lactates for more than a year when she is nursing cubs, and during this time wont breed. Males acting alone or sometimes in packs will kill her young in order to bring her back to being fertile so they can then sire a pride. Mother-and-daughter teams of chimps in Tanzania have been seen killing and eating the babies of other parents for reasons that are not clear. Alpha-female meerkats will kill the litters of subordinate females so that they will be free to help nurture the alphas litter. Female cheetahs get around all these issues by copulating with multiple males. Their sperm mixes internally in the female, and she will give birth to offspring of several paternities in a single litter. | Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/03/animals-rape-murder-morality-humans/585049/?utm_source=feed | 0.146274 |
Can a Dolphin Really Commit Rape? | These Shark Bay dolphins are also viciously violent. When breeding season comes around, there is fierce competition for access to females, as happens in many sexual species. In most cases in nature, that competition is between individual males. The bottlenose dolphins have a different tactic: They form gangs. Alliances are an essential part of the mating strategies of the males. First-order partnerships will single out a female, rush at her, and then herd her away to have sex, which is coercive (this is a general assumption, because it is rarely seen). During this aggressive corralling, the female repeatedly tries to escape, and does so in about one of every four attempts. The males restrict her attempts at freedom by charging in, and bashing her with their tails, head-butting, biting, and body-slamming her into submission. Read: If you insulted a dolphin 20 years ago, hes probably still bitter about it Second-order alliances do the same, but the team-up makes a ratio of five or six males to one female. The males are often closely related in these alliances, so as a means of transferring their genes into the future, this fits perfectly well within evolutionary theory. On occasion, they form looser super-alliances, where multiple second-order gangs will join forcesup to 14 individual malesto corral a single female. These gangs dont tend to be closely related. It should be noted that forced copulation has not been directly witnessed, as far as I am aware. The evidence comes from observations of the pre-copulatory behavior, and physical evidence of violence on the females. Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. There is no doubt that sexual coercion is part of their reproductive strategy, as it is in many organisms, and that the behavior is violent. But we must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior, whether it be cute, smart or horrid. Infanticide is another unpleasant behavior seen in dolphins. It often gets translated into murder in the popular press, but it should be noted that in plenty of other organisms, both males and females kill the young of others within their own species as a reproductive strategy. A female lion lactates for more than a year when she is nursing cubs, and during this time wont breed. Males acting alone or sometimes in packs will kill her young in order to bring her back to being fertile so they can then sire a pride. Mother-and-daughter teams of chimps in Tanzania have been seen killing and eating the babies of other parents for reasons that are not clear. Alpha-female meerkats will kill the litters of subordinate females so that they will be free to help nurture the alphas litter. Female cheetahs get around all these issues by copulating with multiple males. Their sperm mixes internally in the female, and she will give birth to offspring of several paternities in a single litter. | Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. But we must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior, whether it be cute, smart or horrid. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/03/animals-rape-murder-morality-humans/585049/?utm_source=feed | 0.130573 |
Can a Dolphin Really Commit Rape? | These Shark Bay dolphins are also viciously violent. When breeding season comes around, there is fierce competition for access to females, as happens in many sexual species. In most cases in nature, that competition is between individual males. The bottlenose dolphins have a different tactic: They form gangs. Alliances are an essential part of the mating strategies of the males. First-order partnerships will single out a female, rush at her, and then herd her away to have sex, which is coercive (this is a general assumption, because it is rarely seen). During this aggressive corralling, the female repeatedly tries to escape, and does so in about one of every four attempts. The males restrict her attempts at freedom by charging in, and bashing her with their tails, head-butting, biting, and body-slamming her into submission. Read: If you insulted a dolphin 20 years ago, hes probably still bitter about it Second-order alliances do the same, but the team-up makes a ratio of five or six males to one female. The males are often closely related in these alliances, so as a means of transferring their genes into the future, this fits perfectly well within evolutionary theory. On occasion, they form looser super-alliances, where multiple second-order gangs will join forcesup to 14 individual malesto corral a single female. These gangs dont tend to be closely related. It should be noted that forced copulation has not been directly witnessed, as far as I am aware. The evidence comes from observations of the pre-copulatory behavior, and physical evidence of violence on the females. Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. There is no doubt that sexual coercion is part of their reproductive strategy, as it is in many organisms, and that the behavior is violent. But we must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior, whether it be cute, smart or horrid. Infanticide is another unpleasant behavior seen in dolphins. It often gets translated into murder in the popular press, but it should be noted that in plenty of other organisms, both males and females kill the young of others within their own species as a reproductive strategy. A female lion lactates for more than a year when she is nursing cubs, and during this time wont breed. Males acting alone or sometimes in packs will kill her young in order to bring her back to being fertile so they can then sire a pride. Mother-and-daughter teams of chimps in Tanzania have been seen killing and eating the babies of other parents for reasons that are not clear. Alpha-female meerkats will kill the litters of subordinate females so that they will be free to help nurture the alphas litter. Female cheetahs get around all these issues by copulating with multiple males. Their sperm mixes internally in the female, and she will give birth to offspring of several paternities in a single litter. | Many people say semi-jokingly that in contrast to their cute and smart image, dolphins rape. But we must be careful not to anthropomorphize their behavior, whether it be cute, smart or horrid. Infanticide is another unpleasant behavior seen in dolphins. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2019/03/animals-rape-murder-morality-humans/585049/?utm_source=feed | 0.17148 |
Is Johnny Manziel exactly what the Memphis Express need at quarterback? | CLOSE Memphis Express coach Mike Singletary called the midway point of the season a critical time but not of panic or desperation Evan Barnes, The Commercial Appeal MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Memphis Express have not been blessed with consistent quarterback play in the six games they have played so far in the Alliance of American Footballs inaugural season. So when 26-year-old Johnny Manziel a legendary college quarterback at Texas A&M who became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy became a ready-and-willing option for the AAF in early March, Memphis ears perked up. (Manziel had his contract terminated by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes after Manziel "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league.) The AAF employs a unique system that gives each of its eight teams rights to players within their allocation footprint. In Manziels instance, Texas A&M players are allocated to the San Antonio Commanders. But the Commanders waived their rights to Manziel, making him available to the team with the lowest winning percentage. Thats where the Express came in. The 1-5 team wasted no time claiming Manziel. Pretty well, at the moment. The Express are desperate for consistency at the quarterback position. Christian Hackenberg was a bust (277 passing yards and no touchdowns) through 10 quarters and found himself benched in Week 3 in favor of Zach Mettenberger. YOUR DAILY DOSE:Top sports headlines, delivered daily MORE AAF: Pro game being pushed where college is king "We have a guy (Manziel) we think can do some great things for us," Express president Kosha Irby told The Commercial Appeal late Saturday. "We pride ourselves on being a league of opportunity. Whether that's with people trying to ignite or reignite their careers. But we also want to put the best players on the field to help the Express. (Manziel) is a player with plenty of talent. We saw an opportunity and we think it'll be a reciprocal situation." Mettenberger started strong in one half against the Orlando Apollos (120 yards and two touchdowns), but saw mixed results in his next two starts. Then, against the Salt Lake Stallions Saturday, Mettenberger went down with an ankle injury. Brandon Silvers was called upon and was 23 of 37 for 242 yards and a score in a 22-9 loss. Part of the issue at quarterback has been an offensive line that head coach Mike Singletary admits is still in search of chemistry. Express quarterbacks have been sacked 10 times in the past two weeks. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. 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 Perhaps a more mobile quarterback, like Manziel, could help alleviate those troubles. The former Cleveland Brown and Allouette has 474 rushing yards on 75 carries (6.3 yards per) and one touchdown in 23 games as a pro quarterback. Aside from what Manziel can do on the field for the Express, he will almost certainly give the team a shot in the arm at the box office. In two home games, Memphis has announced crowds of 11,980 and 13,621 respectively. That ranks around the middle of the pack in the AAF. "It's gonna be a fun," Irby said. "(Manziel) coming to Memphis will create a lot of buzz. We see it as an opportunity to be a draw for us with a guy of his appeal. But, first and foremost, we want to figure out ways to win football games. And (coach Mike Singletary) will tell you this, we're going to put the best 11 people on the field at a time that allows us to accomplish our goals. "Everyone has to earn their spot and that can take time." The Express get back on the field at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Birmingham Iron, a team they lost to 26-0 on the road in the season opener with Hackenberg at quarterback. | The Memphis Express claimed Johnny Manziel off waivers from the San Antonio Commanders. The Express are winless after six games in the Alliance of American Football's inaugural season. Memphis is desperate for consistency at the quarterback position. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/17/aaf-football-johnny-manziel-memphis-express/3193647002/ | 0.220082 |
Is Johnny Manziel exactly what the Memphis Express need at quarterback? | CLOSE Memphis Express coach Mike Singletary called the midway point of the season a critical time but not of panic or desperation Evan Barnes, The Commercial Appeal MEMPHIS, Tenn. The Memphis Express have not been blessed with consistent quarterback play in the six games they have played so far in the Alliance of American Footballs inaugural season. So when 26-year-old Johnny Manziel a legendary college quarterback at Texas A&M who became the first freshman to ever win the Heisman Trophy became a ready-and-willing option for the AAF in early March, Memphis ears perked up. (Manziel had his contract terminated by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes after Manziel "contravened the agreement which made him eligible to play in the league.) The AAF employs a unique system that gives each of its eight teams rights to players within their allocation footprint. In Manziels instance, Texas A&M players are allocated to the San Antonio Commanders. But the Commanders waived their rights to Manziel, making him available to the team with the lowest winning percentage. Thats where the Express came in. The 1-5 team wasted no time claiming Manziel. Pretty well, at the moment. The Express are desperate for consistency at the quarterback position. Christian Hackenberg was a bust (277 passing yards and no touchdowns) through 10 quarters and found himself benched in Week 3 in favor of Zach Mettenberger. YOUR DAILY DOSE:Top sports headlines, delivered daily MORE AAF: Pro game being pushed where college is king "We have a guy (Manziel) we think can do some great things for us," Express president Kosha Irby told The Commercial Appeal late Saturday. "We pride ourselves on being a league of opportunity. Whether that's with people trying to ignite or reignite their careers. But we also want to put the best players on the field to help the Express. (Manziel) is a player with plenty of talent. We saw an opportunity and we think it'll be a reciprocal situation." Mettenberger started strong in one half against the Orlando Apollos (120 yards and two touchdowns), but saw mixed results in his next two starts. Then, against the Salt Lake Stallions Saturday, Mettenberger went down with an ankle injury. Brandon Silvers was called upon and was 23 of 37 for 242 yards and a score in a 22-9 loss. Part of the issue at quarterback has been an offensive line that head coach Mike Singletary admits is still in search of chemistry. Express quarterbacks have been sacked 10 times in the past two weeks. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. 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 Perhaps a more mobile quarterback, like Manziel, could help alleviate those troubles. The former Cleveland Brown and Allouette has 474 rushing yards on 75 carries (6.3 yards per) and one touchdown in 23 games as a pro quarterback. Aside from what Manziel can do on the field for the Express, he will almost certainly give the team a shot in the arm at the box office. In two home games, Memphis has announced crowds of 11,980 and 13,621 respectively. That ranks around the middle of the pack in the AAF. "It's gonna be a fun," Irby said. "(Manziel) coming to Memphis will create a lot of buzz. We see it as an opportunity to be a draw for us with a guy of his appeal. But, first and foremost, we want to figure out ways to win football games. And (coach Mike Singletary) will tell you this, we're going to put the best 11 people on the field at a time that allows us to accomplish our goals. "Everyone has to earn their spot and that can take time." The Express get back on the field at 7 p.m. Sunday against the Birmingham Iron, a team they lost to 26-0 on the road in the season opener with Hackenberg at quarterback. | The Memphis Express have not been blessed with consistent quarterback play in the AAF. The Express are 1-5 and need a quarterback who can run the ball and score. Manziel is a former Heisman Trophy winner who played for the Texas A&M Aggies. He was released by the CFL's Montreal Alouettes in March. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/17/aaf-football-johnny-manziel-memphis-express/3193647002/ | 0.22447 |
Should the U.S. lower the voting age to 16? | by Cait Bladt Nancy Pelosi has become one of the highest-ranking lawmakers to voice their support for lowering the voting age to 16. As youth activism in the country has increased in the wake of a series of deadly school shootings, many have argued these children deserve the right to vote for the lawmakers representing them. Several states, including Oregon and California, are currently considering bills which would lower the voting age from 18. Others say 16 is too young to make such important decisions. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed her support of lowering the voting age. According to the Hill, Pelosi believes high school kids are the most civically engaged and should be allowed to jump into politics while they are still enthusiastic about it. "I myself have always been for lowering the voting age to 16," Pelosi said. "I think it's really important to capture kids when they're in high school, when they're interested in all of this, when they're learning about government, to be able to vote." Pelosi's comments Thursday echoed those she has made previously, including in a 2015 New York Times interview in which the Speaker said she was "all for" lowering the voting age. Pelosi told the Times that she wanted to expand voter access to 16 and 17-year-olds because when kids are in school, theyre so interested, theyre so engaged. Pelosi says she backs lowering voting age to 16 https://t.co/AmFxC3HU3U pic.twitter.com/blsVuieNrF The Hill (@thehill) March 14, 2019 Laurence Steinberg, a psychology professor at Temple University, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that people who start voting earlier are more likely to continue voting. Because there is evidence that people who dont vote the first time they are eligible are less likely to vote regularly in the future. Considering that people between 18 and 24 have the lowest voter turnout of any age group in the United States (a country that has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout in the developed world), allowing people to begin voting at an age at which they are more likely to vote might increase future turnout at all ages. Rep. Ayanna Pressley recently presented a bill in Congress that would lower the voting age. Per Teen Vogue: Congresswoman Pressley has stood witness to deep and meaningful levels of engagement in policy and our political processes by 16- and 17-year-olds. Young people across the country have mobilized, marched, and protested in support of important issues like gun control, climate change, school safety, and social injustice, a fact sheet from Pressleys office reads. At 16 years old, young people can work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy. It is beyond appropriate that we extend an opportunity for young people to play a role in electing our Representatives both in the halls of Congress and the White House. Constitutional law expert Michael Morley told PBS the arguments used to lower the voting age to 18 do not translate to lowering it to 16. You had the notion that 18 was already adulthood in several other contexts, such as facing the draft, establishing households, and starting families. But Morley doesnt necessarily think those arguments apply to 16-year-olds, who in most cases are still legally required to attend school and generally depend on parental support. Other critics believe teens are not mature enough to be trusted with the right to vote as their brains are not yet fully developed. David Davenport wrote in a Forbes column: | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said she supports lowering the voting age to 16. | bart | 0 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/should-the-us-lower-the-voting-age-to-16.html | 0.159006 |
Should the U.S. lower the voting age to 16? | by Cait Bladt Nancy Pelosi has become one of the highest-ranking lawmakers to voice their support for lowering the voting age to 16. As youth activism in the country has increased in the wake of a series of deadly school shootings, many have argued these children deserve the right to vote for the lawmakers representing them. Several states, including Oregon and California, are currently considering bills which would lower the voting age from 18. Others say 16 is too young to make such important decisions. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed her support of lowering the voting age. According to the Hill, Pelosi believes high school kids are the most civically engaged and should be allowed to jump into politics while they are still enthusiastic about it. "I myself have always been for lowering the voting age to 16," Pelosi said. "I think it's really important to capture kids when they're in high school, when they're interested in all of this, when they're learning about government, to be able to vote." Pelosi's comments Thursday echoed those she has made previously, including in a 2015 New York Times interview in which the Speaker said she was "all for" lowering the voting age. Pelosi told the Times that she wanted to expand voter access to 16 and 17-year-olds because when kids are in school, theyre so interested, theyre so engaged. Pelosi says she backs lowering voting age to 16 https://t.co/AmFxC3HU3U pic.twitter.com/blsVuieNrF The Hill (@thehill) March 14, 2019 Laurence Steinberg, a psychology professor at Temple University, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that people who start voting earlier are more likely to continue voting. Because there is evidence that people who dont vote the first time they are eligible are less likely to vote regularly in the future. Considering that people between 18 and 24 have the lowest voter turnout of any age group in the United States (a country that has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout in the developed world), allowing people to begin voting at an age at which they are more likely to vote might increase future turnout at all ages. Rep. Ayanna Pressley recently presented a bill in Congress that would lower the voting age. Per Teen Vogue: Congresswoman Pressley has stood witness to deep and meaningful levels of engagement in policy and our political processes by 16- and 17-year-olds. Young people across the country have mobilized, marched, and protested in support of important issues like gun control, climate change, school safety, and social injustice, a fact sheet from Pressleys office reads. At 16 years old, young people can work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy. It is beyond appropriate that we extend an opportunity for young people to play a role in electing our Representatives both in the halls of Congress and the White House. Constitutional law expert Michael Morley told PBS the arguments used to lower the voting age to 18 do not translate to lowering it to 16. You had the notion that 18 was already adulthood in several other contexts, such as facing the draft, establishing households, and starting families. But Morley doesnt necessarily think those arguments apply to 16-year-olds, who in most cases are still legally required to attend school and generally depend on parental support. Other critics believe teens are not mature enough to be trusted with the right to vote as their brains are not yet fully developed. David Davenport wrote in a Forbes column: | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said she supports lowering the voting age to 16. Pelosi believes high school kids are the most civically engaged and should be allowed to jump into politics while they are still enthusiastic about it. | bart | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/should-the-us-lower-the-voting-age-to-16.html | 0.203069 |
Should the U.S. lower the voting age to 16? | by Cait Bladt Nancy Pelosi has become one of the highest-ranking lawmakers to voice their support for lowering the voting age to 16. As youth activism in the country has increased in the wake of a series of deadly school shootings, many have argued these children deserve the right to vote for the lawmakers representing them. Several states, including Oregon and California, are currently considering bills which would lower the voting age from 18. Others say 16 is too young to make such important decisions. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi reaffirmed her support of lowering the voting age. According to the Hill, Pelosi believes high school kids are the most civically engaged and should be allowed to jump into politics while they are still enthusiastic about it. "I myself have always been for lowering the voting age to 16," Pelosi said. "I think it's really important to capture kids when they're in high school, when they're interested in all of this, when they're learning about government, to be able to vote." Pelosi's comments Thursday echoed those she has made previously, including in a 2015 New York Times interview in which the Speaker said she was "all for" lowering the voting age. Pelosi told the Times that she wanted to expand voter access to 16 and 17-year-olds because when kids are in school, theyre so interested, theyre so engaged. Pelosi says she backs lowering voting age to 16 https://t.co/AmFxC3HU3U pic.twitter.com/blsVuieNrF The Hill (@thehill) March 14, 2019 Laurence Steinberg, a psychology professor at Temple University, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that people who start voting earlier are more likely to continue voting. Because there is evidence that people who dont vote the first time they are eligible are less likely to vote regularly in the future. Considering that people between 18 and 24 have the lowest voter turnout of any age group in the United States (a country that has one of the lowest rates of voter turnout in the developed world), allowing people to begin voting at an age at which they are more likely to vote might increase future turnout at all ages. Rep. Ayanna Pressley recently presented a bill in Congress that would lower the voting age. Per Teen Vogue: Congresswoman Pressley has stood witness to deep and meaningful levels of engagement in policy and our political processes by 16- and 17-year-olds. Young people across the country have mobilized, marched, and protested in support of important issues like gun control, climate change, school safety, and social injustice, a fact sheet from Pressleys office reads. At 16 years old, young people can work, pay taxes and contribute to the economy. It is beyond appropriate that we extend an opportunity for young people to play a role in electing our Representatives both in the halls of Congress and the White House. Constitutional law expert Michael Morley told PBS the arguments used to lower the voting age to 18 do not translate to lowering it to 16. You had the notion that 18 was already adulthood in several other contexts, such as facing the draft, establishing households, and starting families. But Morley doesnt necessarily think those arguments apply to 16-year-olds, who in most cases are still legally required to attend school and generally depend on parental support. Other critics believe teens are not mature enough to be trusted with the right to vote as their brains are not yet fully developed. David Davenport wrote in a Forbes column: | Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has said she supports lowering the voting age to 16. Pelosi believes high school kids are the most civically engaged and should be allowed to jump into politics while they are still enthusiastic about it. Several states, including Oregon and California, are currently considering bills which would lower the age from 18. | bart | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/should-the-us-lower-the-voting-age-to-16.html | 0.205104 |
Should media avoid naming the gunmen in mass shootings? | A few months after teen shooters killed 12 classmates and her father at Columbine High School, Coni Sanders was standing in line at a grocery store with her young daughter when they came face to face with the magazine cover. It showed the two gunmen who had carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Sanders realized that few people knew much about her father, who saved countless lives. But virtually everyone knew the names and the tiniest of details about the attackers who carried out the carnage. In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings and to cease the steady drumbeat of biographical information about them. Critics say giving the assailants notoriety offers little to help understand the attacks and instead fuels celebrity-style coverage that only encourages future attacks. The 1999 Colorado attack continues to motivate mass shooters, including the two men who this week stormed their former school in Brazil, killing seven people. The gunman who attacked two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, killing at least 49 people, was said to have been inspired by the man who in 2015 killed nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Adam Lankford, a criminologist at the University of Alabama, who has studied the influence of media coverage on future shooters, said its vitally important to avoid excessive coverage of gunmen. A lot of these shooters want to be treated like celebrities. They want to be famous. So the key is to not give them that treatment, he said. The notion hit close to home for Sanders. Seemingly everywhere she turned - the grocery store, a restaurant, a newspaper or magazine - she would see the faces of the Columbine attackers and hear or read about them. Even in her own home, she was bombarded with their deeds on TV. Everybody knew (Dylan) Klebold. Everybody knew (Eric) Harris. And if you said the two together, they automatically knew it was Columbine, Sanders said. The media was so fascinated - and so was our country and the world - that they really grasped onto this every detail. Time and time again, we couldnt escape it. Criminologists who study mass shootings say the vast majority of shooters are seeking infamy and soak up the coverage as a guide. Just four days after the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, which stands as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Lankford published a paper urging journalists to refrain from using shooters names or going into exhaustive detail about their crimes. These attackers, he argued, are trying to outdo previous shooters with higher death tolls. Media coverage serves only to encourage copycats. Late last year, the Trump administrations federal Commission on School Safety called on the media to refrain from reporting the names and photos of mass shooters. It was one of the rare moments when gun-rights advocates and gun-control activists agreed. To suggest that the media alone is to blame or is primarily at fault for this epidemic of mass shootings would vastly oversimply this issue, said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel for the Giffords Law Center, which works to curb gun violence. Skaggs said he is somewhat sympathetic to journalists impulse to cover clearly important and newsworthy events and to get at the truth. But theres a balance that can be struck between ensuring the public has enough information and not giving undue attention to perpetrators of heinous acts. Studies show a contagion effect from coverage of both homicides and suicides. The Columbine shooters, in particular, have an almost cult-like status, with some followers seeking to emulate their trench-coat attire and expressing admiration for their crime, which some have attributed to bullying. The gunman in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting kept a detailed journal of decades worth of mass shootings. James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied mass shootings, said naming shooters is not the problem. Instead, he blamed over-the-top coverage that includes irrelevant details about the killers, such as their writings and their backgrounds, that unnecessarily humanizes them. We sometimes come to know more about them - their interests and their disappointments - than we do about our next-door neighbors, Fox said. Law enforcement agencies have taken a lead, most recently with the Aurora, Illinois, police chief, who uttered just once the name of the gunman who killed five co-workers and wounded five officers last month. I said his name one time for the media, and I will never let it cross my lips again, Chief Kristen Ziman said in a Facebook post. Some media, most notably CNNs Anderson Cooper, have made a point of avoiding using the name of these gunmen. For Caren and Tom Teves, the cause is personal. Their son Alex was among those killed in an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. They were both traveling out of state when the shooting happened, and it took 15 hours for them to learn the fate of their son. During those hours, they heard repeatedly about the shooter but virtually nothing about the victims. Not long after, they created the No Notoriety movement, encouraging media to stick to reporting relevant facts rather than the smallest of biographical details. They also recommend publishing images of the shooter in places that are not prominent, steering clear of hero poses or images showing them holding weapons, and not publishing any manifestos. We never say dont use the name. What we say is use the name responsibly and dont turn them into anti-heroes, Tom Teves said. Lets portray them for what they are: Theyre horrible human beings that are completely skewed in their perception of reality, and their one claim to fortune is sneaking up behind you and shooting you. Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. | In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/17/growing-movement-calls-on-media-to-avoid-naming-sh/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Front-TheWashingtonTimesAmericasNewspaper+%28Front+Page+-+The+Washington+Times%29 | 0.190463 |
Should media avoid naming the gunmen in mass shootings? | A few months after teen shooters killed 12 classmates and her father at Columbine High School, Coni Sanders was standing in line at a grocery store with her young daughter when they came face to face with the magazine cover. It showed the two gunmen who had carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Sanders realized that few people knew much about her father, who saved countless lives. But virtually everyone knew the names and the tiniest of details about the attackers who carried out the carnage. In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings and to cease the steady drumbeat of biographical information about them. Critics say giving the assailants notoriety offers little to help understand the attacks and instead fuels celebrity-style coverage that only encourages future attacks. The 1999 Colorado attack continues to motivate mass shooters, including the two men who this week stormed their former school in Brazil, killing seven people. The gunman who attacked two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, killing at least 49 people, was said to have been inspired by the man who in 2015 killed nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Adam Lankford, a criminologist at the University of Alabama, who has studied the influence of media coverage on future shooters, said its vitally important to avoid excessive coverage of gunmen. A lot of these shooters want to be treated like celebrities. They want to be famous. So the key is to not give them that treatment, he said. The notion hit close to home for Sanders. Seemingly everywhere she turned - the grocery store, a restaurant, a newspaper or magazine - she would see the faces of the Columbine attackers and hear or read about them. Even in her own home, she was bombarded with their deeds on TV. Everybody knew (Dylan) Klebold. Everybody knew (Eric) Harris. And if you said the two together, they automatically knew it was Columbine, Sanders said. The media was so fascinated - and so was our country and the world - that they really grasped onto this every detail. Time and time again, we couldnt escape it. Criminologists who study mass shootings say the vast majority of shooters are seeking infamy and soak up the coverage as a guide. Just four days after the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, which stands as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Lankford published a paper urging journalists to refrain from using shooters names or going into exhaustive detail about their crimes. These attackers, he argued, are trying to outdo previous shooters with higher death tolls. Media coverage serves only to encourage copycats. Late last year, the Trump administrations federal Commission on School Safety called on the media to refrain from reporting the names and photos of mass shooters. It was one of the rare moments when gun-rights advocates and gun-control activists agreed. To suggest that the media alone is to blame or is primarily at fault for this epidemic of mass shootings would vastly oversimply this issue, said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel for the Giffords Law Center, which works to curb gun violence. Skaggs said he is somewhat sympathetic to journalists impulse to cover clearly important and newsworthy events and to get at the truth. But theres a balance that can be struck between ensuring the public has enough information and not giving undue attention to perpetrators of heinous acts. Studies show a contagion effect from coverage of both homicides and suicides. The Columbine shooters, in particular, have an almost cult-like status, with some followers seeking to emulate their trench-coat attire and expressing admiration for their crime, which some have attributed to bullying. The gunman in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting kept a detailed journal of decades worth of mass shootings. James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied mass shootings, said naming shooters is not the problem. Instead, he blamed over-the-top coverage that includes irrelevant details about the killers, such as their writings and their backgrounds, that unnecessarily humanizes them. We sometimes come to know more about them - their interests and their disappointments - than we do about our next-door neighbors, Fox said. Law enforcement agencies have taken a lead, most recently with the Aurora, Illinois, police chief, who uttered just once the name of the gunman who killed five co-workers and wounded five officers last month. I said his name one time for the media, and I will never let it cross my lips again, Chief Kristen Ziman said in a Facebook post. Some media, most notably CNNs Anderson Cooper, have made a point of avoiding using the name of these gunmen. For Caren and Tom Teves, the cause is personal. Their son Alex was among those killed in an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. They were both traveling out of state when the shooting happened, and it took 15 hours for them to learn the fate of their son. During those hours, they heard repeatedly about the shooter but virtually nothing about the victims. Not long after, they created the No Notoriety movement, encouraging media to stick to reporting relevant facts rather than the smallest of biographical details. They also recommend publishing images of the shooter in places that are not prominent, steering clear of hero poses or images showing them holding weapons, and not publishing any manifestos. We never say dont use the name. What we say is use the name responsibly and dont turn them into anti-heroes, Tom Teves said. Lets portray them for what they are: Theyre horrible human beings that are completely skewed in their perception of reality, and their one claim to fortune is sneaking up behind you and shooting you. Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. | In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings. Critics say giving the assailants notoriety offers little to help understand the attacks. | bart | 1 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/17/growing-movement-calls-on-media-to-avoid-naming-sh/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Front-TheWashingtonTimesAmericasNewspaper+%28Front+Page+-+The+Washington+Times%29 | 0.225578 |
Should media avoid naming the gunmen in mass shootings? | A few months after teen shooters killed 12 classmates and her father at Columbine High School, Coni Sanders was standing in line at a grocery store with her young daughter when they came face to face with the magazine cover. It showed the two gunmen who had carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Sanders realized that few people knew much about her father, who saved countless lives. But virtually everyone knew the names and the tiniest of details about the attackers who carried out the carnage. In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings and to cease the steady drumbeat of biographical information about them. Critics say giving the assailants notoriety offers little to help understand the attacks and instead fuels celebrity-style coverage that only encourages future attacks. The 1999 Colorado attack continues to motivate mass shooters, including the two men who this week stormed their former school in Brazil, killing seven people. The gunman who attacked two mosques in New Zealand on Friday, killing at least 49 people, was said to have been inspired by the man who in 2015 killed nine black worshippers at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. Adam Lankford, a criminologist at the University of Alabama, who has studied the influence of media coverage on future shooters, said its vitally important to avoid excessive coverage of gunmen. A lot of these shooters want to be treated like celebrities. They want to be famous. So the key is to not give them that treatment, he said. The notion hit close to home for Sanders. Seemingly everywhere she turned - the grocery store, a restaurant, a newspaper or magazine - she would see the faces of the Columbine attackers and hear or read about them. Even in her own home, she was bombarded with their deeds on TV. Everybody knew (Dylan) Klebold. Everybody knew (Eric) Harris. And if you said the two together, they automatically knew it was Columbine, Sanders said. The media was so fascinated - and so was our country and the world - that they really grasped onto this every detail. Time and time again, we couldnt escape it. Criminologists who study mass shootings say the vast majority of shooters are seeking infamy and soak up the coverage as a guide. Just four days after the 2017 Las Vegas concert shooting, which stands as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Lankford published a paper urging journalists to refrain from using shooters names or going into exhaustive detail about their crimes. These attackers, he argued, are trying to outdo previous shooters with higher death tolls. Media coverage serves only to encourage copycats. Late last year, the Trump administrations federal Commission on School Safety called on the media to refrain from reporting the names and photos of mass shooters. It was one of the rare moments when gun-rights advocates and gun-control activists agreed. To suggest that the media alone is to blame or is primarily at fault for this epidemic of mass shootings would vastly oversimply this issue, said Adam Skaggs, chief counsel for the Giffords Law Center, which works to curb gun violence. Skaggs said he is somewhat sympathetic to journalists impulse to cover clearly important and newsworthy events and to get at the truth. But theres a balance that can be struck between ensuring the public has enough information and not giving undue attention to perpetrators of heinous acts. Studies show a contagion effect from coverage of both homicides and suicides. The Columbine shooters, in particular, have an almost cult-like status, with some followers seeking to emulate their trench-coat attire and expressing admiration for their crime, which some have attributed to bullying. The gunman in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting kept a detailed journal of decades worth of mass shootings. James Alan Fox, a professor at Northeastern University who has studied mass shootings, said naming shooters is not the problem. Instead, he blamed over-the-top coverage that includes irrelevant details about the killers, such as their writings and their backgrounds, that unnecessarily humanizes them. We sometimes come to know more about them - their interests and their disappointments - than we do about our next-door neighbors, Fox said. Law enforcement agencies have taken a lead, most recently with the Aurora, Illinois, police chief, who uttered just once the name of the gunman who killed five co-workers and wounded five officers last month. I said his name one time for the media, and I will never let it cross my lips again, Chief Kristen Ziman said in a Facebook post. Some media, most notably CNNs Anderson Cooper, have made a point of avoiding using the name of these gunmen. For Caren and Tom Teves, the cause is personal. Their son Alex was among those killed in an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012. They were both traveling out of state when the shooting happened, and it took 15 hours for them to learn the fate of their son. During those hours, they heard repeatedly about the shooter but virtually nothing about the victims. Not long after, they created the No Notoriety movement, encouraging media to stick to reporting relevant facts rather than the smallest of biographical details. They also recommend publishing images of the shooter in places that are not prominent, steering clear of hero poses or images showing them holding weapons, and not publishing any manifestos. We never say dont use the name. What we say is use the name responsibly and dont turn them into anti-heroes, Tom Teves said. Lets portray them for what they are: Theyre horrible human beings that are completely skewed in their perception of reality, and their one claim to fortune is sneaking up behind you and shooting you. Copyright 2019 The Washington Times, LLC. | In the decades since Columbine, a growing movement has urged news organizations to refrain from naming the shooters in mass slayings. Critics say giving the assailants notoriety offers little to help understand the attacks and instead fuels celebrity-style coverage. Criminologists who study mass shootings say the vast majority of shooters are seeking infamy. | bart | 2 | https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/mar/17/growing-movement-calls-on-media-to-avoid-naming-sh/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Front-TheWashingtonTimesAmericasNewspaper+%28Front+Page+-+The+Washington+Times%29 | 0.278105 |
Could more intelligence sharing prevent attacks like the Christchurch shootings? | The United States and its closest allies have spent nearly two decades building an elaborate system to share intelligence about international terrorist groups, and it has become a key pillar of a global effort to thwart attacks. But theres no comparable arrangement for sharing intelligence about domestic terrorist organizations, including right-wing extremists like the one suspected in the killing of 49 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, according to current and former national security officials and counterterrorism experts. Governments generally see nationalist extremist groups as a problem for domestic law enforcement and security agencies to confront. In the United States, that responsibility falls principally to the FBI. But increasingly, nationalist groups in different countries are drawing inspiration from each other, uniting in common cause via social media, experts said. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the 28-year-old suspected gunman in Christchurch, posted a manifesto full of rage on Twitter in which he cited other right-wing extremists as his inspiration, among them Dylann Roof, who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. Tarrant also had white supremacist slogans scrawled on weapons, according to video he took. The intelligence services of New Zealand and the United States along with those in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia enjoy a close working relationship. The so-called Five Eyes routinely share highly classified intelligence about al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, gleaned from their respective networks of surveillance systems and human spies. Some experts say the allies need to think about how they can turn their resources toward threats that may reside within their borders but arguably threaten their common security. With its mix of global inspiration and local action, far-right extremism has inspired killings inside the U.S. and every one of the Five Eyes, ranging from mass shootings and bombings to assassinations of political leaders, said P.W. Singer, a counterterrorism researcher and strategist at New America, a think tank in Washington. The sad events in New Zealand illustrate why we have to have the political bravery to stop ignoring what is a real terrorist threat that has killed more Americans than even ISIS. Current and former officials said that if the U.S. had intelligence about an imminent attack by domestic radicals in another country, it would quickly alert authorities there. But as a routine matter, the countries intelligence services are not exchanging information. Officials in the Five Eyes countries do discuss the rise of nationalist groups, but the topic doesnt feature nearly as prominently as threats from transnational organizations, said Nicholas J. Rasmussen, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. We talked about it in terms of how the process of radicalization in various forms of extremist groups compares to each other but not in the context of specific cases or intelligence exchanges, he said. The Christchurch shooting may lead officials to reconsider that approach. In my own view, it is worth exploring whether and how much overseas collaboration and cooperation takes place between individuals and groups involved in domestic extremism and terrorism activities in each of our countries, because there is clearly an alignment of ideological views and agendas between at least some of these subjects, Rasmussen said. At least in the United States, sharing information about individual suspects would be complicated by privacy law and regulations that restrict what U.S. intelligence agencies can collect about citizens and permanent residents in the country. But the Five Eyes countries are collecting information that speaks to trends, including how nationalists are becoming radicalized, the common grievances they share and the methods theyre using to communicate when they do try to forge alliances. That information, experts said, could be shared more easily among nations with an eye toward improving their efforts to prevent attacks and, in the long run, counter radical ideologies and stop susceptible people from joining the ranks of militant groups. These groups are obviously learning from each other, said Joshua Geltzer, who served as the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council staff during the Obama administration. He said that the U.S. is not likely to know as much about domestic radical groups in New Zealand as the island countrys security services do, so on a practical level there may not be much tactical intelligence to share. But countries talk to each other about the broader trends theyre seeing, including how domestic radicals are learning from each other, who they cite as their inspiration and where they are congregating online, Geltzer said. That effort may face resistance from President Donald Trump, who has downplayed the threat from white nationalism in the U.S. and abroad. I think its a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. Its certainly a terrible thing, Trump said during an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. The president said he hadnt seen the suspected shooters manifesto, which named Trump as inspiration for white identity ideology. Former U.S. officials said the Trump administration should prioritize restoring positions and task forces that were trying to address the domestic terrorism threat until they were sidelined after he took office. This attack should have us asking ourselves whether or not we have a sufficient whole-of-government approach to this evolving terrorism threat, said Lisa Monaco, who served as the homeland security adviser to President Barack Obama. In the Trump White House, that official no longer reports directly to the president. We dont have a clear domestic lead in our federal government for these issues, Monaco said. Rasmussen said concerns about violating Americans privacy should not be a permanent obstacle to increasing collaboration among the Five Eyes countries. We may need to address this constraint, much as we over the years became more comfortable sharing such information on U.S. persons who were the subjects of international terrorism concern, he said. We probably dont know what we dont know in terms of some of these international connections among domestic groups, Rasmussen added. And we wont know until we share more information with our trusted partners in order to see what they know. | There's no comparable arrangement for sharing intelligence about domestic terrorist organizations. The Christchurch shooting may lead officials to reconsider that approach. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://nationalpost.com/news/world/could-more-intelligence-sharing-prevent-attacks-like-the-christchurch-shootings | 0.129013 |
Could more intelligence sharing prevent attacks like the Christchurch shootings? | The United States and its closest allies have spent nearly two decades building an elaborate system to share intelligence about international terrorist groups, and it has become a key pillar of a global effort to thwart attacks. But theres no comparable arrangement for sharing intelligence about domestic terrorist organizations, including right-wing extremists like the one suspected in the killing of 49 worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, according to current and former national security officials and counterterrorism experts. Governments generally see nationalist extremist groups as a problem for domestic law enforcement and security agencies to confront. In the United States, that responsibility falls principally to the FBI. But increasingly, nationalist groups in different countries are drawing inspiration from each other, uniting in common cause via social media, experts said. Brenton Harrison Tarrant, the 28-year-old suspected gunman in Christchurch, posted a manifesto full of rage on Twitter in which he cited other right-wing extremists as his inspiration, among them Dylann Roof, who killed nine black churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina, in 2015. Tarrant also had white supremacist slogans scrawled on weapons, according to video he took. The intelligence services of New Zealand and the United States along with those in the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia enjoy a close working relationship. The so-called Five Eyes routinely share highly classified intelligence about al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, gleaned from their respective networks of surveillance systems and human spies. Some experts say the allies need to think about how they can turn their resources toward threats that may reside within their borders but arguably threaten their common security. With its mix of global inspiration and local action, far-right extremism has inspired killings inside the U.S. and every one of the Five Eyes, ranging from mass shootings and bombings to assassinations of political leaders, said P.W. Singer, a counterterrorism researcher and strategist at New America, a think tank in Washington. The sad events in New Zealand illustrate why we have to have the political bravery to stop ignoring what is a real terrorist threat that has killed more Americans than even ISIS. Current and former officials said that if the U.S. had intelligence about an imminent attack by domestic radicals in another country, it would quickly alert authorities there. But as a routine matter, the countries intelligence services are not exchanging information. Officials in the Five Eyes countries do discuss the rise of nationalist groups, but the topic doesnt feature nearly as prominently as threats from transnational organizations, said Nicholas J. Rasmussen, the former director of the National Counterterrorism Center. We talked about it in terms of how the process of radicalization in various forms of extremist groups compares to each other but not in the context of specific cases or intelligence exchanges, he said. The Christchurch shooting may lead officials to reconsider that approach. In my own view, it is worth exploring whether and how much overseas collaboration and cooperation takes place between individuals and groups involved in domestic extremism and terrorism activities in each of our countries, because there is clearly an alignment of ideological views and agendas between at least some of these subjects, Rasmussen said. At least in the United States, sharing information about individual suspects would be complicated by privacy law and regulations that restrict what U.S. intelligence agencies can collect about citizens and permanent residents in the country. But the Five Eyes countries are collecting information that speaks to trends, including how nationalists are becoming radicalized, the common grievances they share and the methods theyre using to communicate when they do try to forge alliances. That information, experts said, could be shared more easily among nations with an eye toward improving their efforts to prevent attacks and, in the long run, counter radical ideologies and stop susceptible people from joining the ranks of militant groups. These groups are obviously learning from each other, said Joshua Geltzer, who served as the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council staff during the Obama administration. He said that the U.S. is not likely to know as much about domestic radical groups in New Zealand as the island countrys security services do, so on a practical level there may not be much tactical intelligence to share. But countries talk to each other about the broader trends theyre seeing, including how domestic radicals are learning from each other, who they cite as their inspiration and where they are congregating online, Geltzer said. That effort may face resistance from President Donald Trump, who has downplayed the threat from white nationalism in the U.S. and abroad. I think its a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. Its certainly a terrible thing, Trump said during an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Friday. The president said he hadnt seen the suspected shooters manifesto, which named Trump as inspiration for white identity ideology. Former U.S. officials said the Trump administration should prioritize restoring positions and task forces that were trying to address the domestic terrorism threat until they were sidelined after he took office. This attack should have us asking ourselves whether or not we have a sufficient whole-of-government approach to this evolving terrorism threat, said Lisa Monaco, who served as the homeland security adviser to President Barack Obama. In the Trump White House, that official no longer reports directly to the president. We dont have a clear domestic lead in our federal government for these issues, Monaco said. Rasmussen said concerns about violating Americans privacy should not be a permanent obstacle to increasing collaboration among the Five Eyes countries. We may need to address this constraint, much as we over the years became more comfortable sharing such information on U.S. persons who were the subjects of international terrorism concern, he said. We probably dont know what we dont know in terms of some of these international connections among domestic groups, Rasmussen added. And we wont know until we share more information with our trusted partners in order to see what they know. | There's no comparable arrangement for sharing intelligence about domestic terrorist organizations. The Christchurch shooting may lead officials to reconsider that approach. Some experts say the allies need to think about how they can turn their resources toward threats that may reside within their borders but arguably threaten their common security. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/news/world/could-more-intelligence-sharing-prevent-attacks-like-the-christchurch-shootings | 0.153641 |
Is President Trump right about the effects of the Democrats' Green New Deal? | CLOSE President Trump has said that the progressive initiative called the Green New Deal will eliminate cars, air travel and ... cows. William Flannigan and Annalee Monroe, Arizona Republic MEDIA: Speech WHO SAID IT: President Donald Trump THE COMMENT: "Their plan would remove every gas-powered car from American roads. Oh, that's not so bad. So tell people, no more cars. No more cars. I think the auto industry is not going to do too well under this plan. ... It would end air travel. But you'll get on a train, don't worry about it. You just have to cross off about 95 percent of the world." "I really don't like their policy of taking away your car, of taking away your airplane rights, of 'Let's hop a train to California,' of 'You're not allowed to own cows anymore'!" FORUM: March 2 speech at Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., and Feb. 11 campaign rally in El Paso, Texas. OUR FINDING: Two stars, Somewhat true/somewhat false The Green New Deal has stirred a national debate with its far-reaching climate and social proposals. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D- Mass., unveiled the 14-page non-binding resolution in February. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 2, President Donald Trump said the resolution would take away certain privileges and property, including non-electric cars and travel by airplane. At an earlier campaign rally in El Paso on Feb. 11 he also claimed the Green New Deal outlaw ownership of cows. CLOSE President Donald Trump is ripping a proposal that some Democrats have embraced to curb global warming. Trump, at a rally in El Paso, Texas, claimed that the "Green New Deal" would shut down American energy and air travel. (Feb. 12) AP Climate change worries The primary focus of the Green New Deal resolution is climate change. The text cites an October 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a research group within the United Nations, which found: Human activity is the dominant cause of climate change in the past century, and A global temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius or more will cause "severe impacts" to global communities and the environment. The UN report said that global temperatures must be kept under a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase. It recommended two things: global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 percent to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and net-zero global emissions by 2050. The resolution argues that because the United States emitted 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions through 2014, "the United States must take a leading role in reducing emissions through economic transformation." Goal: net-zero emissions One of the Green New Deal's five primary goals is "to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions" within 10 years. Net-zero means that total pollution released is balanced out by pollution removed or sequestered each year. To reach the goal, the text lists a variety of things that would change the electricity, transportation, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors in the United States. One section states the Green New Deal hopes "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible." It states the government would invest in "zero-emission vehicles, clean and affordable public transit," and high-speed rail as part of this goal. Another section requires working with farmers and ranchers "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible" while also supporting family farming, investing in sustainable land use practices, and "building a more sustainable food system." The resolution text does not explicitly call for the elimination of cows, airplanes, or cars. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters An FAQ document stirs controversy His ideas likely come from a different document published and later retracted by Ocasio-Cortez's office. The document was a Frequently Asked Questions paper. It was circulated to media outlets and published on the congresswoman's website on Feb. 7, the same day Ocasio-Cortez introduced the resolution. Passages taken from the document raised eyebrows (emphasis added): " We set a goal to net-zero, rather than zero emissions, in 10 years because we aren't sure that we'll be able to fully get rid of farting cows and airplanes that fast, but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." Under infrastructure and industrial projects: "Totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary, create affordable public transit, with a goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle. These policy ideas were not found in the official resolution, leading to debate about what exactly the Green New Deal proposed. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, right, announce the Green New Deal legislation on Feb. 7, 2019. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) 'Mistakes happen' The congresswoman and her staff were forced to clarify the document after intense criticism. "It's literally clearly irony," Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent told the Washington Post, referring to the sentence about cow flatulence and airplanes. Her staff eventually walked back on the FAQ. They claimed there were multiple draft versions that were circulated and cited an unorganized process. "There is an early draft of a FAQ that was clearly unfinished and that doesn't represent the GND resolution (that) got published to the website by mistake." Saikat Chakrbarti, chief-of-staff to Ocasio-Cortez, wrote on Twitter. "There were multiple iterations, brainstorming docs, FAQs etc. that we shared. Some of these early drafts got leaked. Mistakes happen when doing time (sic) launches like this coordinating multiple groups and collaborators," Chakrabarti said. The continuing backlash over the document eventually led staff to remove the FAQ altogether from the congresswoman's website. Ocasio-Cortez later emphasized on Twitter that the official text is what the public should analyze. "The real one is our submitted resolution, H.Res 109," she wrote. "When I talk about the GND, this is what I'm referring to nothing else." After the public relations tumble, some Democratic members distanced themselves from the FAQ. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., stands by the official resolution text, according to a spokesperson. Grijalva is one of 89 co-sponsors of the Green New Deal in the House. "Rep. Grijalva has always derived his support from the text in the official resolution," the spokesperson wrote in an email. He also pointed to the colloquial language of the FAQ. "(They) seemed pretty sarcastic in their mentions of 'getting rid of farting cows," he wrote. Republicans pounce Nonetheless, some critics say that the FAQ, despite its retraction, should receive public scrutiny. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R- Ark., said he believed the document was too quickly disregarded. "I understand the Democrats that proposed this immediately tried to retract that white paper that went along with their resolution," Cotton said on the Hugh Hewitt Show, a conservative radio program. "And too many people in the media have been complicit in the Stalin-like or '1984' technique of disappearing (the FAQ), sending it down the memory hole." "But this is where (the Democrats') heart lies," he said. "They believe that Americans driving around in trucks on farms, or commuting from the suburbs where they can have a decent home into the city to work are a fundamental threat to the world. They have to have the power and the control of those Americans' lives to implement their radical vision for humanity." Cotton also said he doesn't believe Ocasio-Cortez's disavowal of the FAQ. "Look, this is a classic example of a gaffe being when you say what you really mean," he said. Though Ocasio-Cortez has disowned the specifics of the FAQ, the document raises a question of what kind of policies the Green New Deal would usher in to address climate change. Data suggests that even lofty proposals such as eliminating cars and cow farts would only make a small dent in tackling emissions. According to the most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States released 6,510million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2016. Carbon dioxide made up the majority, with 5,310 million metric tons released. Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles emitted an average 1,549 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. So, if all combustion-engine vehicles were eliminated in the U.S, 3,761 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would still remain. Cattle farts and burps, on the other hand, release methane gas. The EPA reported that 657 million metric tons of methane were released in 2016. Of this, cow flatulence and burps accounted for 121 million metric tons. Consequently, if cows were eliminated in the U.S., 536 million metric tons of methane would still remain. Researchers and supporters are hopeful Regardless of the uphill battle, climate researchers have argued that lofty proposals are necessary to address global warming. Some believe the Green New Deal is a good start. "Because of the rapid rate of (climate) change from human activity, we must consider larger, transformative changes," said Dave White, professor at Arizona State University's School of Community Resources and Development. "Climate change represents a significant risk and it exacerbates other risks that are dangerous." White was a co-author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive study published annually by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a research group that studies the global environment and climate change. "We need solutions that match the scale of the problem," he said. "People underestimate the action needed, not only to reverse, but just to stop the increasing greenhouse gas emissions." White said the Green New Deal offers innovative ideas, but that he does not believe things like air travel, cows, and cars would have to be eliminated. "If we focus on the outcome, which is reducing emissions, we need to implement innovative projects to reach those goals," White said. No, it means making air travel with less pollution. It also doesn't mean getting rid of cars, but making cars with more green technology." "I personally see (the Green New Deal) as a goalpost," he said. "The coalition who wrote it has put out a goal post. They put out something that will spark debate, bring people on board and get people talking." Some supporters would agree; they have said the Green New Deal should be considered a framework. "We must discuss bold policy solutions. While a resolution does not take direct action, in this instance, it provides an important context to guide policy," resolution co-sponsor Grijalva said in an email statement. "(It) serves the purpose of starting the very serious conversation we need to have about how our country combats climate change," he said. Bottom line The Green New Deal resolution itself does not call for eliminating cows, cars, or air travel. Those ideas originated from Ocasio-Cortez's office and a document that contained language not found in the official resolution. However, some critics have said the FAQ reveals the real priorities of the Green New Deal. The official resolution does not specifically take away any rights, property or privilege, though it does outline broad goals to curb greenhouse gases and reach net-zero emissions. Reaching those goals would require significant changes to all the sectors of the national economy. Data shows that even eliminating cows and cars would make a small dent in total emissions released each year. Still, climate researchers have said that global warming poses a significant risk and that ambitious proposals are necessary. As for now, the Green New Deal is a non-binding resolution. SOURCES: Video, President Trump at Conservative Political Action Conference, March 2; Video, President Trump Rally in El Paso, Texas, Feb. 11; Text of H.Res.109, Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal; Green New Deal FAQ, published by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Feb. 7; Feb, 9 Twitter thread by @AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Feb. 9 Twitter thread by @saikatc, Saikat Chakrabarti; "What's actually in the Green New Deal from Democrats?" "; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer; EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2016; "United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius Special Report, October 2018; Feb. 11 Audio, Sen. Tom Cotton on the Hugh Hewitt Show; Phone interview with Prof. David White, Feb. 12; Email statement from Rep. Raul Grijalva, Feb. 11. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | President Donald Trump said the Green New Deal would eliminate cars, air travel and cows. | bart | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | 0.364374 |
Is President Trump right about the effects of the Democrats' Green New Deal? | CLOSE President Trump has said that the progressive initiative called the Green New Deal will eliminate cars, air travel and ... cows. William Flannigan and Annalee Monroe, Arizona Republic MEDIA: Speech WHO SAID IT: President Donald Trump THE COMMENT: "Their plan would remove every gas-powered car from American roads. Oh, that's not so bad. So tell people, no more cars. No more cars. I think the auto industry is not going to do too well under this plan. ... It would end air travel. But you'll get on a train, don't worry about it. You just have to cross off about 95 percent of the world." "I really don't like their policy of taking away your car, of taking away your airplane rights, of 'Let's hop a train to California,' of 'You're not allowed to own cows anymore'!" FORUM: March 2 speech at Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., and Feb. 11 campaign rally in El Paso, Texas. OUR FINDING: Two stars, Somewhat true/somewhat false The Green New Deal has stirred a national debate with its far-reaching climate and social proposals. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D- Mass., unveiled the 14-page non-binding resolution in February. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 2, President Donald Trump said the resolution would take away certain privileges and property, including non-electric cars and travel by airplane. At an earlier campaign rally in El Paso on Feb. 11 he also claimed the Green New Deal outlaw ownership of cows. CLOSE President Donald Trump is ripping a proposal that some Democrats have embraced to curb global warming. Trump, at a rally in El Paso, Texas, claimed that the "Green New Deal" would shut down American energy and air travel. (Feb. 12) AP Climate change worries The primary focus of the Green New Deal resolution is climate change. The text cites an October 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a research group within the United Nations, which found: Human activity is the dominant cause of climate change in the past century, and A global temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius or more will cause "severe impacts" to global communities and the environment. The UN report said that global temperatures must be kept under a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase. It recommended two things: global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 percent to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and net-zero global emissions by 2050. The resolution argues that because the United States emitted 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions through 2014, "the United States must take a leading role in reducing emissions through economic transformation." Goal: net-zero emissions One of the Green New Deal's five primary goals is "to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions" within 10 years. Net-zero means that total pollution released is balanced out by pollution removed or sequestered each year. To reach the goal, the text lists a variety of things that would change the electricity, transportation, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors in the United States. One section states the Green New Deal hopes "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible." It states the government would invest in "zero-emission vehicles, clean and affordable public transit," and high-speed rail as part of this goal. Another section requires working with farmers and ranchers "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible" while also supporting family farming, investing in sustainable land use practices, and "building a more sustainable food system." The resolution text does not explicitly call for the elimination of cows, airplanes, or cars. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters An FAQ document stirs controversy His ideas likely come from a different document published and later retracted by Ocasio-Cortez's office. The document was a Frequently Asked Questions paper. It was circulated to media outlets and published on the congresswoman's website on Feb. 7, the same day Ocasio-Cortez introduced the resolution. Passages taken from the document raised eyebrows (emphasis added): " We set a goal to net-zero, rather than zero emissions, in 10 years because we aren't sure that we'll be able to fully get rid of farting cows and airplanes that fast, but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." Under infrastructure and industrial projects: "Totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary, create affordable public transit, with a goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle. These policy ideas were not found in the official resolution, leading to debate about what exactly the Green New Deal proposed. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, right, announce the Green New Deal legislation on Feb. 7, 2019. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) 'Mistakes happen' The congresswoman and her staff were forced to clarify the document after intense criticism. "It's literally clearly irony," Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent told the Washington Post, referring to the sentence about cow flatulence and airplanes. Her staff eventually walked back on the FAQ. They claimed there were multiple draft versions that were circulated and cited an unorganized process. "There is an early draft of a FAQ that was clearly unfinished and that doesn't represent the GND resolution (that) got published to the website by mistake." Saikat Chakrbarti, chief-of-staff to Ocasio-Cortez, wrote on Twitter. "There were multiple iterations, brainstorming docs, FAQs etc. that we shared. Some of these early drafts got leaked. Mistakes happen when doing time (sic) launches like this coordinating multiple groups and collaborators," Chakrabarti said. The continuing backlash over the document eventually led staff to remove the FAQ altogether from the congresswoman's website. Ocasio-Cortez later emphasized on Twitter that the official text is what the public should analyze. "The real one is our submitted resolution, H.Res 109," she wrote. "When I talk about the GND, this is what I'm referring to nothing else." After the public relations tumble, some Democratic members distanced themselves from the FAQ. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., stands by the official resolution text, according to a spokesperson. Grijalva is one of 89 co-sponsors of the Green New Deal in the House. "Rep. Grijalva has always derived his support from the text in the official resolution," the spokesperson wrote in an email. He also pointed to the colloquial language of the FAQ. "(They) seemed pretty sarcastic in their mentions of 'getting rid of farting cows," he wrote. Republicans pounce Nonetheless, some critics say that the FAQ, despite its retraction, should receive public scrutiny. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R- Ark., said he believed the document was too quickly disregarded. "I understand the Democrats that proposed this immediately tried to retract that white paper that went along with their resolution," Cotton said on the Hugh Hewitt Show, a conservative radio program. "And too many people in the media have been complicit in the Stalin-like or '1984' technique of disappearing (the FAQ), sending it down the memory hole." "But this is where (the Democrats') heart lies," he said. "They believe that Americans driving around in trucks on farms, or commuting from the suburbs where they can have a decent home into the city to work are a fundamental threat to the world. They have to have the power and the control of those Americans' lives to implement their radical vision for humanity." Cotton also said he doesn't believe Ocasio-Cortez's disavowal of the FAQ. "Look, this is a classic example of a gaffe being when you say what you really mean," he said. Though Ocasio-Cortez has disowned the specifics of the FAQ, the document raises a question of what kind of policies the Green New Deal would usher in to address climate change. Data suggests that even lofty proposals such as eliminating cars and cow farts would only make a small dent in tackling emissions. According to the most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States released 6,510million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2016. Carbon dioxide made up the majority, with 5,310 million metric tons released. Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles emitted an average 1,549 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. So, if all combustion-engine vehicles were eliminated in the U.S, 3,761 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would still remain. Cattle farts and burps, on the other hand, release methane gas. The EPA reported that 657 million metric tons of methane were released in 2016. Of this, cow flatulence and burps accounted for 121 million metric tons. Consequently, if cows were eliminated in the U.S., 536 million metric tons of methane would still remain. Researchers and supporters are hopeful Regardless of the uphill battle, climate researchers have argued that lofty proposals are necessary to address global warming. Some believe the Green New Deal is a good start. "Because of the rapid rate of (climate) change from human activity, we must consider larger, transformative changes," said Dave White, professor at Arizona State University's School of Community Resources and Development. "Climate change represents a significant risk and it exacerbates other risks that are dangerous." White was a co-author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive study published annually by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a research group that studies the global environment and climate change. "We need solutions that match the scale of the problem," he said. "People underestimate the action needed, not only to reverse, but just to stop the increasing greenhouse gas emissions." White said the Green New Deal offers innovative ideas, but that he does not believe things like air travel, cows, and cars would have to be eliminated. "If we focus on the outcome, which is reducing emissions, we need to implement innovative projects to reach those goals," White said. No, it means making air travel with less pollution. It also doesn't mean getting rid of cars, but making cars with more green technology." "I personally see (the Green New Deal) as a goalpost," he said. "The coalition who wrote it has put out a goal post. They put out something that will spark debate, bring people on board and get people talking." Some supporters would agree; they have said the Green New Deal should be considered a framework. "We must discuss bold policy solutions. While a resolution does not take direct action, in this instance, it provides an important context to guide policy," resolution co-sponsor Grijalva said in an email statement. "(It) serves the purpose of starting the very serious conversation we need to have about how our country combats climate change," he said. Bottom line The Green New Deal resolution itself does not call for eliminating cows, cars, or air travel. Those ideas originated from Ocasio-Cortez's office and a document that contained language not found in the official resolution. However, some critics have said the FAQ reveals the real priorities of the Green New Deal. The official resolution does not specifically take away any rights, property or privilege, though it does outline broad goals to curb greenhouse gases and reach net-zero emissions. Reaching those goals would require significant changes to all the sectors of the national economy. Data shows that even eliminating cows and cars would make a small dent in total emissions released each year. Still, climate researchers have said that global warming poses a significant risk and that ambitious proposals are necessary. As for now, the Green New Deal is a non-binding resolution. SOURCES: Video, President Trump at Conservative Political Action Conference, March 2; Video, President Trump Rally in El Paso, Texas, Feb. 11; Text of H.Res.109, Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal; Green New Deal FAQ, published by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Feb. 7; Feb, 9 Twitter thread by @AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Feb. 9 Twitter thread by @saikatc, Saikat Chakrabarti; "What's actually in the Green New Deal from Democrats?" "; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer; EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2016; "United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius Special Report, October 2018; Feb. 11 Audio, Sen. Tom Cotton on the Hugh Hewitt Show; Phone interview with Prof. David White, Feb. 12; Email statement from Rep. Raul Grijalva, Feb. 11. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | President Donald Trump said the Green New Deal would eliminate cars, air travel and cows. The resolution has stirred a national debate with its far-reaching climate and social proposals. | bart | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | 0.38046 |
Is President Trump right about the effects of the Democrats' Green New Deal? | CLOSE President Trump has said that the progressive initiative called the Green New Deal will eliminate cars, air travel and ... cows. William Flannigan and Annalee Monroe, Arizona Republic MEDIA: Speech WHO SAID IT: President Donald Trump THE COMMENT: "Their plan would remove every gas-powered car from American roads. Oh, that's not so bad. So tell people, no more cars. No more cars. I think the auto industry is not going to do too well under this plan. ... It would end air travel. But you'll get on a train, don't worry about it. You just have to cross off about 95 percent of the world." "I really don't like their policy of taking away your car, of taking away your airplane rights, of 'Let's hop a train to California,' of 'You're not allowed to own cows anymore'!" FORUM: March 2 speech at Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., and Feb. 11 campaign rally in El Paso, Texas. OUR FINDING: Two stars, Somewhat true/somewhat false The Green New Deal has stirred a national debate with its far-reaching climate and social proposals. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and Sen. Ed Markey, D- Mass., unveiled the 14-page non-binding resolution in February. During a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 2, President Donald Trump said the resolution would take away certain privileges and property, including non-electric cars and travel by airplane. At an earlier campaign rally in El Paso on Feb. 11 he also claimed the Green New Deal outlaw ownership of cows. CLOSE President Donald Trump is ripping a proposal that some Democrats have embraced to curb global warming. Trump, at a rally in El Paso, Texas, claimed that the "Green New Deal" would shut down American energy and air travel. (Feb. 12) AP Climate change worries The primary focus of the Green New Deal resolution is climate change. The text cites an October 2018 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a research group within the United Nations, which found: Human activity is the dominant cause of climate change in the past century, and A global temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius or more will cause "severe impacts" to global communities and the environment. The UN report said that global temperatures must be kept under a 1.5 degrees Celsius increase. It recommended two things: global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions of 40 percent to 60 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, and net-zero global emissions by 2050. The resolution argues that because the United States emitted 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions through 2014, "the United States must take a leading role in reducing emissions through economic transformation." Goal: net-zero emissions One of the Green New Deal's five primary goals is "to achieve a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions" within 10 years. Net-zero means that total pollution released is balanced out by pollution removed or sequestered each year. To reach the goal, the text lists a variety of things that would change the electricity, transportation, manufacturing, and agricultural sectors in the United States. One section states the Green New Deal hopes "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector as much as is technologically feasible." It states the government would invest in "zero-emission vehicles, clean and affordable public transit," and high-speed rail as part of this goal. Another section requires working with farmers and ranchers "to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible" while also supporting family farming, investing in sustainable land use practices, and "building a more sustainable food system." The resolution text does not explicitly call for the elimination of cows, airplanes, or cars. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters An FAQ document stirs controversy His ideas likely come from a different document published and later retracted by Ocasio-Cortez's office. The document was a Frequently Asked Questions paper. It was circulated to media outlets and published on the congresswoman's website on Feb. 7, the same day Ocasio-Cortez introduced the resolution. Passages taken from the document raised eyebrows (emphasis added): " We set a goal to net-zero, rather than zero emissions, in 10 years because we aren't sure that we'll be able to fully get rid of farting cows and airplanes that fast, but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." but we think we can ramp up renewable manufacturing and power production, retrofit every building in America, build the smart grid, overhaul transportation and agriculture, plant lots of trees and restore our ecosystem to get to net zero." Under infrastructure and industrial projects: "Totally overhaul transportation by massively expanding electric vehicle manufacturing, build charging stations everywhere, build out high-speed rail at a scale where air travel stops becoming necessary, create affordable public transit, with a goal to replace every combustion-engine vehicle. These policy ideas were not found in the official resolution, leading to debate about what exactly the Green New Deal proposed. Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, right, announce the Green New Deal legislation on Feb. 7, 2019. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) 'Mistakes happen' The congresswoman and her staff were forced to clarify the document after intense criticism. "It's literally clearly irony," Ocasio-Cortez spokesman Corbin Trent told the Washington Post, referring to the sentence about cow flatulence and airplanes. Her staff eventually walked back on the FAQ. They claimed there were multiple draft versions that were circulated and cited an unorganized process. "There is an early draft of a FAQ that was clearly unfinished and that doesn't represent the GND resolution (that) got published to the website by mistake." Saikat Chakrbarti, chief-of-staff to Ocasio-Cortez, wrote on Twitter. "There were multiple iterations, brainstorming docs, FAQs etc. that we shared. Some of these early drafts got leaked. Mistakes happen when doing time (sic) launches like this coordinating multiple groups and collaborators," Chakrabarti said. The continuing backlash over the document eventually led staff to remove the FAQ altogether from the congresswoman's website. Ocasio-Cortez later emphasized on Twitter that the official text is what the public should analyze. "The real one is our submitted resolution, H.Res 109," she wrote. "When I talk about the GND, this is what I'm referring to nothing else." After the public relations tumble, some Democratic members distanced themselves from the FAQ. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., stands by the official resolution text, according to a spokesperson. Grijalva is one of 89 co-sponsors of the Green New Deal in the House. "Rep. Grijalva has always derived his support from the text in the official resolution," the spokesperson wrote in an email. He also pointed to the colloquial language of the FAQ. "(They) seemed pretty sarcastic in their mentions of 'getting rid of farting cows," he wrote. Republicans pounce Nonetheless, some critics say that the FAQ, despite its retraction, should receive public scrutiny. U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R- Ark., said he believed the document was too quickly disregarded. "I understand the Democrats that proposed this immediately tried to retract that white paper that went along with their resolution," Cotton said on the Hugh Hewitt Show, a conservative radio program. "And too many people in the media have been complicit in the Stalin-like or '1984' technique of disappearing (the FAQ), sending it down the memory hole." "But this is where (the Democrats') heart lies," he said. "They believe that Americans driving around in trucks on farms, or commuting from the suburbs where they can have a decent home into the city to work are a fundamental threat to the world. They have to have the power and the control of those Americans' lives to implement their radical vision for humanity." Cotton also said he doesn't believe Ocasio-Cortez's disavowal of the FAQ. "Look, this is a classic example of a gaffe being when you say what you really mean," he said. Though Ocasio-Cortez has disowned the specifics of the FAQ, the document raises a question of what kind of policies the Green New Deal would usher in to address climate change. Data suggests that even lofty proposals such as eliminating cars and cow farts would only make a small dent in tackling emissions. According to the most recent data from the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States released 6,510million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2016. Carbon dioxide made up the majority, with 5,310 million metric tons released. Meanwhile, gasoline and diesel fuel vehicles emitted an average 1,549 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. So, if all combustion-engine vehicles were eliminated in the U.S, 3,761 million metric tons of carbon dioxide would still remain. Cattle farts and burps, on the other hand, release methane gas. The EPA reported that 657 million metric tons of methane were released in 2016. Of this, cow flatulence and burps accounted for 121 million metric tons. Consequently, if cows were eliminated in the U.S., 536 million metric tons of methane would still remain. Researchers and supporters are hopeful Regardless of the uphill battle, climate researchers have argued that lofty proposals are necessary to address global warming. Some believe the Green New Deal is a good start. "Because of the rapid rate of (climate) change from human activity, we must consider larger, transformative changes," said Dave White, professor at Arizona State University's School of Community Resources and Development. "Climate change represents a significant risk and it exacerbates other risks that are dangerous." White was a co-author of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a comprehensive study published annually by the U.S. Global Change Research Program, a research group that studies the global environment and climate change. "We need solutions that match the scale of the problem," he said. "People underestimate the action needed, not only to reverse, but just to stop the increasing greenhouse gas emissions." White said the Green New Deal offers innovative ideas, but that he does not believe things like air travel, cows, and cars would have to be eliminated. "If we focus on the outcome, which is reducing emissions, we need to implement innovative projects to reach those goals," White said. No, it means making air travel with less pollution. It also doesn't mean getting rid of cars, but making cars with more green technology." "I personally see (the Green New Deal) as a goalpost," he said. "The coalition who wrote it has put out a goal post. They put out something that will spark debate, bring people on board and get people talking." Some supporters would agree; they have said the Green New Deal should be considered a framework. "We must discuss bold policy solutions. While a resolution does not take direct action, in this instance, it provides an important context to guide policy," resolution co-sponsor Grijalva said in an email statement. "(It) serves the purpose of starting the very serious conversation we need to have about how our country combats climate change," he said. Bottom line The Green New Deal resolution itself does not call for eliminating cows, cars, or air travel. Those ideas originated from Ocasio-Cortez's office and a document that contained language not found in the official resolution. However, some critics have said the FAQ reveals the real priorities of the Green New Deal. The official resolution does not specifically take away any rights, property or privilege, though it does outline broad goals to curb greenhouse gases and reach net-zero emissions. Reaching those goals would require significant changes to all the sectors of the national economy. Data shows that even eliminating cows and cars would make a small dent in total emissions released each year. Still, climate researchers have said that global warming poses a significant risk and that ambitious proposals are necessary. As for now, the Green New Deal is a non-binding resolution. SOURCES: Video, President Trump at Conservative Political Action Conference, March 2; Video, President Trump Rally in El Paso, Texas, Feb. 11; Text of H.Res.109, Recognizing the duty of the Federal Government to create a Green New Deal; Green New Deal FAQ, published by Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Feb. 7; Feb, 9 Twitter thread by @AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Feb. 9 Twitter thread by @saikatc, Saikat Chakrabarti; "What's actually in the Green New Deal from Democrats?" "; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer; EPA Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990-2016; "United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Global Warming of 1.5 Degrees Celsius Special Report, October 2018; Feb. 11 Audio, Sen. Tom Cotton on the Hugh Hewitt Show; Phone interview with Prof. David White, Feb. 12; Email statement from Rep. Raul Grijalva, Feb. 11. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | President Donald Trump said the Green New Deal would eliminate cars, air travel and cows. The resolution has stirred a national debate with its far-reaching climate and social proposals. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey unveiled the 14-page non-binding resolution in February. | bart | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/fact-check/2019/03/17/trump-green-new-deal-would-take-away-cars-and-airplanes-he-right/2865232002/ | 0.474151 |
Can I Deduct That As A Business Expense? | I work with many business owners and by far, the most commonly asked question I get is, Can I deduct that as a business expense? As with all good tax law questions, it depends on a lot of factors the type of expense, the type of business that you have and whether you can verify the purpose behind the expenses. Here are some guidelines to help you decide whether the type of expense you want to deduct may work for your business. Ordinary and necessary When thinking about any business expense, I like to start with two words ordinary and necessary. These two words are at the center of how the IRS defines a business expense. But they may not mean what you think they do. Ordinary in this context means the type of expense that a business like yours would normally take. For example, its common and accepted for tax preparers to have to pay for software, malpractice insurance and continuing education. Because these are common and accepted in the profession, they are considered ordinary expenses. However, this point can get very business specific. Its not ordinary for tax preparers to deduct breast implants as a business deduction. Its another story. Thus my tax preparation business wouldnt be able to deduct that expense, but a stripper at the club in the city might. The other part of the equation is necessary. Im still not sure why the IRS uses this particular word since in this case it means helpful and appropriate for your trade or business, rather than mandatory or required as one might normally think necessary means. In any case, as long as its helpful, you can consider it a business expense. If your expense fits these two criteria, you are 95% of the way to deduct that expense . However, there are a couple of caveats, which I will discuss later on. Some common expenses Industries aside, many businesses deduct a lot of the same type of expenses. Here are some of the common ones. Travel You can deduct expenses for traveling away from home for your business. That transportation includes airplanes, trains or automobiles. Additionally, you can expense taxies, Lyfts or Ubers to and from the airport or your hotel and work location. You can also claim baggage and shipping fees, lodging and meals and much more. (See Publication 463 for additional examples.) The key here is determining your tax home, which is different from your family home. In general, your tax home is your main place of business. If you don't have a regular or main place of business due to your type of work, then your tax home is the place where you regularly live. This can get a little complicated, so if youre at all unsure of your tax home, its best to check with your tax professional. This expense occurs often enough that I want to give it its own consideration. As with other travel expenses, you must be traveling for business. Additionally, you cant deduct ordinary commuting from your family home to your place of business. You can deduct your actual expenses (gas, repairs, maintenance) or take the standard deduction, which is based on the miles that you drive (which is 58 cents/mile for 2019). You can also include tolls, parking and also rental cars that are used for business. If youre taking this expense for the first time, note that if you take actual expenses your first year, youre stuck with taking actual expenses for the life of your vehicle. However, if you take the standard deduction your first year, youre allowed to switch back and forth. (Yet another weird intricacy in the world of the IRS.) Business use of home Deducting a home office is another area where a two-word phrase comes in handy exclusively and regularly. The space has to be used exclusively as a business space and regularly. Unlike ordinary and necessary, these words mean exactly you think they do. The space just has to be an office space and it has to be space that you use regularly. You can find more detail about this deduction here. Some other commons ones: Employee and contractor pay You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee s or independent contractor s . You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee or independent contractor . Insurance Y ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job , such as liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages . Thats a personal expense, not a business expense (more on this later). ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages a personal expense, not business (more on this later). Retirement plans Contributions to retirement plans like solo 401k s , SEP s or SIMPLE IRA s are deductible, whether youre contributing on your own behalf or for your employees. solo 401k , SEP or SIMPLE IRA Office expenses Save your receipts for software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. You can deduct any of these supplies from your bottom line. software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. your bottom line. Interest and fees I f youre paying interest and fees on money that you borrowed you can deduct that too. Those are just the most common business expenses. There are lots of others. If youre starting a business for the first time, I suggest looking over a Schedule C and reading the instructions to get a sense of what you can and cant take. Some pitfalls to avoid So far, youre probably thinking that deducting business expenses is easy. But there are some issues that can cause huge problems. Here are three important pitfalls to avoid when thinking about deducting business expenses. You have to have a business I know this may sound a bit obvious, but its not so far fetched for people to try to take business expenses while not having a business. In fact, before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you could deduct some work-related expenses even as an employee. That deduction is gone for the time being, but it may come back after 2025. For the most part, the IRS focuses on intent when considering whether something is a business venture. The IRS presumes that your activity is a hobby rather than a business if it hasnt made a profit in three of the last five years (this is known as the hobby-loss rule). The presumption can be overcome, but if its not, all of the losses of the hobby will be capped at the hobby income. You cant take personal expenses Even if you have a business, you still cant deduct any type of personal expense. These expenses include any type of personal, living or family expenses. For example, while childcare is likely common and helpful for any business, its considered a personal expense and non-deductible. The same goes with the premiums you pay for your disability and life insurance that I mentioned above. If you have an expense say travel or utilities that is both business and personal, the IRS asks that you divide the costs within personal and business parts. So if you are using your cell phone for business and personal calls, you can split it between what you reasonably think could be business use and personal use (say 70/30). Some expenses you cant deduct all at once There are some expenses that you cant deduct all at once because they are what the IRS considers capital expenses. Youre investing in your business when you buy furniture, computers, buildings or other large items. Youre also making a long-term investment when you cover start-up costs and improvements on your business facility. Because youll use them over multiple years, the IRS asks you to spread your deduction for them over multiple years as well. As a result, these expenses are taken over a specific amount of years, depending on the type of expense. Those had to be depreciated. If you have questions about this, make sure to ask your tax preparer to go over your depreciation schedule with you. I hope youve found this summary helpful. As always, its best to make sure to learn the fundamentals and then seek out trusted advisors to help you navigate the details. | A common question is, "Can I deduct that as a business expense?" The answer depends on the type of expense and the purpose behind the expenses. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianthompson1/2019/03/17/can-i-deduct-that-as-a-business-expense/ | 0.149638 |
Can I Deduct That As A Business Expense? | I work with many business owners and by far, the most commonly asked question I get is, Can I deduct that as a business expense? As with all good tax law questions, it depends on a lot of factors the type of expense, the type of business that you have and whether you can verify the purpose behind the expenses. Here are some guidelines to help you decide whether the type of expense you want to deduct may work for your business. Ordinary and necessary When thinking about any business expense, I like to start with two words ordinary and necessary. These two words are at the center of how the IRS defines a business expense. But they may not mean what you think they do. Ordinary in this context means the type of expense that a business like yours would normally take. For example, its common and accepted for tax preparers to have to pay for software, malpractice insurance and continuing education. Because these are common and accepted in the profession, they are considered ordinary expenses. However, this point can get very business specific. Its not ordinary for tax preparers to deduct breast implants as a business deduction. Its another story. Thus my tax preparation business wouldnt be able to deduct that expense, but a stripper at the club in the city might. The other part of the equation is necessary. Im still not sure why the IRS uses this particular word since in this case it means helpful and appropriate for your trade or business, rather than mandatory or required as one might normally think necessary means. In any case, as long as its helpful, you can consider it a business expense. If your expense fits these two criteria, you are 95% of the way to deduct that expense . However, there are a couple of caveats, which I will discuss later on. Some common expenses Industries aside, many businesses deduct a lot of the same type of expenses. Here are some of the common ones. Travel You can deduct expenses for traveling away from home for your business. That transportation includes airplanes, trains or automobiles. Additionally, you can expense taxies, Lyfts or Ubers to and from the airport or your hotel and work location. You can also claim baggage and shipping fees, lodging and meals and much more. (See Publication 463 for additional examples.) The key here is determining your tax home, which is different from your family home. In general, your tax home is your main place of business. If you don't have a regular or main place of business due to your type of work, then your tax home is the place where you regularly live. This can get a little complicated, so if youre at all unsure of your tax home, its best to check with your tax professional. This expense occurs often enough that I want to give it its own consideration. As with other travel expenses, you must be traveling for business. Additionally, you cant deduct ordinary commuting from your family home to your place of business. You can deduct your actual expenses (gas, repairs, maintenance) or take the standard deduction, which is based on the miles that you drive (which is 58 cents/mile for 2019). You can also include tolls, parking and also rental cars that are used for business. If youre taking this expense for the first time, note that if you take actual expenses your first year, youre stuck with taking actual expenses for the life of your vehicle. However, if you take the standard deduction your first year, youre allowed to switch back and forth. (Yet another weird intricacy in the world of the IRS.) Business use of home Deducting a home office is another area where a two-word phrase comes in handy exclusively and regularly. The space has to be used exclusively as a business space and regularly. Unlike ordinary and necessary, these words mean exactly you think they do. The space just has to be an office space and it has to be space that you use regularly. You can find more detail about this deduction here. Some other commons ones: Employee and contractor pay You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee s or independent contractor s . You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee or independent contractor . Insurance Y ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job , such as liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages . Thats a personal expense, not a business expense (more on this later). ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages a personal expense, not business (more on this later). Retirement plans Contributions to retirement plans like solo 401k s , SEP s or SIMPLE IRA s are deductible, whether youre contributing on your own behalf or for your employees. solo 401k , SEP or SIMPLE IRA Office expenses Save your receipts for software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. You can deduct any of these supplies from your bottom line. software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. your bottom line. Interest and fees I f youre paying interest and fees on money that you borrowed you can deduct that too. Those are just the most common business expenses. There are lots of others. If youre starting a business for the first time, I suggest looking over a Schedule C and reading the instructions to get a sense of what you can and cant take. Some pitfalls to avoid So far, youre probably thinking that deducting business expenses is easy. But there are some issues that can cause huge problems. Here are three important pitfalls to avoid when thinking about deducting business expenses. You have to have a business I know this may sound a bit obvious, but its not so far fetched for people to try to take business expenses while not having a business. In fact, before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you could deduct some work-related expenses even as an employee. That deduction is gone for the time being, but it may come back after 2025. For the most part, the IRS focuses on intent when considering whether something is a business venture. The IRS presumes that your activity is a hobby rather than a business if it hasnt made a profit in three of the last five years (this is known as the hobby-loss rule). The presumption can be overcome, but if its not, all of the losses of the hobby will be capped at the hobby income. You cant take personal expenses Even if you have a business, you still cant deduct any type of personal expense. These expenses include any type of personal, living or family expenses. For example, while childcare is likely common and helpful for any business, its considered a personal expense and non-deductible. The same goes with the premiums you pay for your disability and life insurance that I mentioned above. If you have an expense say travel or utilities that is both business and personal, the IRS asks that you divide the costs within personal and business parts. So if you are using your cell phone for business and personal calls, you can split it between what you reasonably think could be business use and personal use (say 70/30). Some expenses you cant deduct all at once There are some expenses that you cant deduct all at once because they are what the IRS considers capital expenses. Youre investing in your business when you buy furniture, computers, buildings or other large items. Youre also making a long-term investment when you cover start-up costs and improvements on your business facility. Because youll use them over multiple years, the IRS asks you to spread your deduction for them over multiple years as well. As a result, these expenses are taken over a specific amount of years, depending on the type of expense. Those had to be depreciated. If you have questions about this, make sure to ask your tax preparer to go over your depreciation schedule with you. I hope youve found this summary helpful. As always, its best to make sure to learn the fundamentals and then seek out trusted advisors to help you navigate the details. | The IRS defines a business expense as "ordinary" and "necessary" If your expense fits these two criteria, you are 95% of the way to deduct that expense. The key is determining your tax home, which is different from your family home. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianthompson1/2019/03/17/can-i-deduct-that-as-a-business-expense/ | 0.272215 |
Can I Deduct That As A Business Expense? | I work with many business owners and by far, the most commonly asked question I get is, Can I deduct that as a business expense? As with all good tax law questions, it depends on a lot of factors the type of expense, the type of business that you have and whether you can verify the purpose behind the expenses. Here are some guidelines to help you decide whether the type of expense you want to deduct may work for your business. Ordinary and necessary When thinking about any business expense, I like to start with two words ordinary and necessary. These two words are at the center of how the IRS defines a business expense. But they may not mean what you think they do. Ordinary in this context means the type of expense that a business like yours would normally take. For example, its common and accepted for tax preparers to have to pay for software, malpractice insurance and continuing education. Because these are common and accepted in the profession, they are considered ordinary expenses. However, this point can get very business specific. Its not ordinary for tax preparers to deduct breast implants as a business deduction. Its another story. Thus my tax preparation business wouldnt be able to deduct that expense, but a stripper at the club in the city might. The other part of the equation is necessary. Im still not sure why the IRS uses this particular word since in this case it means helpful and appropriate for your trade or business, rather than mandatory or required as one might normally think necessary means. In any case, as long as its helpful, you can consider it a business expense. If your expense fits these two criteria, you are 95% of the way to deduct that expense . However, there are a couple of caveats, which I will discuss later on. Some common expenses Industries aside, many businesses deduct a lot of the same type of expenses. Here are some of the common ones. Travel You can deduct expenses for traveling away from home for your business. That transportation includes airplanes, trains or automobiles. Additionally, you can expense taxies, Lyfts or Ubers to and from the airport or your hotel and work location. You can also claim baggage and shipping fees, lodging and meals and much more. (See Publication 463 for additional examples.) The key here is determining your tax home, which is different from your family home. In general, your tax home is your main place of business. If you don't have a regular or main place of business due to your type of work, then your tax home is the place where you regularly live. This can get a little complicated, so if youre at all unsure of your tax home, its best to check with your tax professional. This expense occurs often enough that I want to give it its own consideration. As with other travel expenses, you must be traveling for business. Additionally, you cant deduct ordinary commuting from your family home to your place of business. You can deduct your actual expenses (gas, repairs, maintenance) or take the standard deduction, which is based on the miles that you drive (which is 58 cents/mile for 2019). You can also include tolls, parking and also rental cars that are used for business. If youre taking this expense for the first time, note that if you take actual expenses your first year, youre stuck with taking actual expenses for the life of your vehicle. However, if you take the standard deduction your first year, youre allowed to switch back and forth. (Yet another weird intricacy in the world of the IRS.) Business use of home Deducting a home office is another area where a two-word phrase comes in handy exclusively and regularly. The space has to be used exclusively as a business space and regularly. Unlike ordinary and necessary, these words mean exactly you think they do. The space just has to be an office space and it has to be space that you use regularly. You can find more detail about this deduction here. Some other commons ones: Employee and contractor pay You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee s or independent contractor s . You can deduct what you pay for people that help you in your venture, whether they are a W-2 employee or independent contractor . Insurance Y ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job , such as liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages . Thats a personal expense, not a business expense (more on this later). ou can deduct insurance that is necessary for your job liability, E&O insurance or essential employee insurance. However, you cant deduct disability insurance for lost wages a personal expense, not business (more on this later). Retirement plans Contributions to retirement plans like solo 401k s , SEP s or SIMPLE IRA s are deductible, whether youre contributing on your own behalf or for your employees. solo 401k , SEP or SIMPLE IRA Office expenses Save your receipts for software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. You can deduct any of these supplies from your bottom line. software, pencils, paper, tissue etc. your bottom line. Interest and fees I f youre paying interest and fees on money that you borrowed you can deduct that too. Those are just the most common business expenses. There are lots of others. If youre starting a business for the first time, I suggest looking over a Schedule C and reading the instructions to get a sense of what you can and cant take. Some pitfalls to avoid So far, youre probably thinking that deducting business expenses is easy. But there are some issues that can cause huge problems. Here are three important pitfalls to avoid when thinking about deducting business expenses. You have to have a business I know this may sound a bit obvious, but its not so far fetched for people to try to take business expenses while not having a business. In fact, before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, you could deduct some work-related expenses even as an employee. That deduction is gone for the time being, but it may come back after 2025. For the most part, the IRS focuses on intent when considering whether something is a business venture. The IRS presumes that your activity is a hobby rather than a business if it hasnt made a profit in three of the last five years (this is known as the hobby-loss rule). The presumption can be overcome, but if its not, all of the losses of the hobby will be capped at the hobby income. You cant take personal expenses Even if you have a business, you still cant deduct any type of personal expense. These expenses include any type of personal, living or family expenses. For example, while childcare is likely common and helpful for any business, its considered a personal expense and non-deductible. The same goes with the premiums you pay for your disability and life insurance that I mentioned above. If you have an expense say travel or utilities that is both business and personal, the IRS asks that you divide the costs within personal and business parts. So if you are using your cell phone for business and personal calls, you can split it between what you reasonably think could be business use and personal use (say 70/30). Some expenses you cant deduct all at once There are some expenses that you cant deduct all at once because they are what the IRS considers capital expenses. Youre investing in your business when you buy furniture, computers, buildings or other large items. Youre also making a long-term investment when you cover start-up costs and improvements on your business facility. Because youll use them over multiple years, the IRS asks you to spread your deduction for them over multiple years as well. As a result, these expenses are taken over a specific amount of years, depending on the type of expense. Those had to be depreciated. If you have questions about this, make sure to ask your tax preparer to go over your depreciation schedule with you. I hope youve found this summary helpful. As always, its best to make sure to learn the fundamentals and then seek out trusted advisors to help you navigate the details. | A common question is, "Can I deduct that as a business expense?" The answer depends on the type of expense and the purpose behind the expenses. The IRS defines an expense as "helpful and appropriate" If your expense fits these two criteria, you are 95% of the way to deductions. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianthompson1/2019/03/17/can-i-deduct-that-as-a-business-expense/ | 0.424082 |
Have Sarri's Chelsea reached their mental limit? | Media playback is not supported on this device Second-half display 'worries' Blues boss Maurizio Sarri Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said after Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Everton that his team had reached a "limit" - and that could be true in more ways than one. The Italian was referring to the difference between his side's first-half performance, which he described as "probably the best 45 minutes of the season", and their second-half display, in which he suggested that a regularly occurring "mental block" occurred. But perhaps the limit could also apply to his managerial capabilities - after all this is not the first time the 60-year-old has referred to his team's temperament this season. And it may yet be the actual limit of Chelsea's Premier League top-four ambitions - which would mean they needed to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League. Faced with a crucial game in hand against Marco Silva's side, who had not beaten a top-six team since January 2017, the visitors capitulated in the second half at Goodison Park. It was a fourth away defeat in five games since the turn of the year - only Fulham have a worse record - and another example of Chelsea being unable to respond if they go behind. The loss leaves Sarri's side in sixth place in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, and facing difficult questions as to whether Sarri is the right man to snap them out of their funk. After a first half where Eden Hazard hit the post and Ross Barkley bossed midfield despite constant boos from his former team's supporters, Chelsea produced a second-half display that was inexplicable to Sarri, although Everton should be credited with a huge upturn in their performance. The worrying aspect for Chelsea fans is that, after seeing their side lose one of nine games over the course of 90 minutes since their 6-0 drubbing by Manchester City in February, their poor away form has come back to haunt them and Sarri seems incapable of turning it around. "It is difficult for the players to explain the change to me," the former Napoli manager said of the contrast in halves. "It is very difficult for me to explain the change to you. Probably it is a mental block, I think. "At the moment, this is our limit. If we are able to play like in the first half with consistency then we are in another position in the table. We have this problem because we lost a similar match at Wolverhampton [in December]. We lost again in this way, for us it is a big limit." Chelsea have been through 10 permanent managers since Roman Abramovich took over the club Sarri has previously been critical of his players' mentality this season, singling out Hazard at one point despite the Belgian having had a hand in 48% of Chelsea's Premier League goals. But the former investment banker rode out the headlines which said he was on the brink of getting sacked. And it seems he is likely to continue for the rest of the season, helped by a run to the Europa League quarter-finals, which, if they win the competition, would provide a backdoor route to the Champions League next season. In usual circumstances, Sarri would hope to get to the summer and then seek to add stronger characters to his squad to try to halt their mental slide in tougher matches. However, there is a huge stumbling block to that solution: Chelsea's two-year transfer ban, which the club are appealing against. Fortunately, he will have the services of 58m winger Christian Pulisic and 40 other players on loan to choose from. That is tempered by Hazard's potential departure to Real Madrid and the continuation of Bayern Munich's pursuit of teenage winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who handed in a transfer request in January over a lack of playing time. It all leads to the question of whether it may be simpler to try another manager, who might be able to galvanise a team in ways that Sarri cannot. Chelsea have been through 10 permanent managers since Roman Abramovich took over the club. Top four not impossible - Sarri For now, those dilemmas remain in the future and Sarri has not given up hope. Asked if he was worried about his side's top-four hopes, he said: "If you are speaking about the second half you are right. If we play like the second half in the last eight matches then we are in trouble to arrive in the top four. "We need to recover only three points [to reach the top four] so I think it's not impossible. I am worried about our mentality but if we play 90 minutes for eight matches like the first half then we can do everything." Sarri might be buoyed by Chelsea's first-half display, which was impressive, but the crucial aspect was they did not score. He preferred to start his January signing Gonzalo Higuain, who returned from illness, instead of Olivier Giroud, who scored a midweek Europa League hat-trick against Dynamo Kiev. As former Tottenham and England winger Chris Waddle said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Chelsea have only got themselves to blame. They play some wonderful football but they try to score the perfect goal at times instead of putting the ball in the net." Whether it is team selections, tactics, mentality or results, there are still plenty of conundrums and time is running out for Sarri to prove he can solve them before the end of the season. | Chelsea lost 2-0 to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. Blues boss Maurizio Sarri said his team had reached a 'limit' He was referring to the difference between the first and second half. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47605978 | 0.190658 |
Have Sarri's Chelsea reached their mental limit? | Media playback is not supported on this device Second-half display 'worries' Blues boss Maurizio Sarri Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri said after Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Everton that his team had reached a "limit" - and that could be true in more ways than one. The Italian was referring to the difference between his side's first-half performance, which he described as "probably the best 45 minutes of the season", and their second-half display, in which he suggested that a regularly occurring "mental block" occurred. But perhaps the limit could also apply to his managerial capabilities - after all this is not the first time the 60-year-old has referred to his team's temperament this season. And it may yet be the actual limit of Chelsea's Premier League top-four ambitions - which would mean they needed to win the Europa League to qualify for next season's Champions League. Faced with a crucial game in hand against Marco Silva's side, who had not beaten a top-six team since January 2017, the visitors capitulated in the second half at Goodison Park. It was a fourth away defeat in five games since the turn of the year - only Fulham have a worse record - and another example of Chelsea being unable to respond if they go behind. The loss leaves Sarri's side in sixth place in the Premier League, three points behind fourth-placed Arsenal, and facing difficult questions as to whether Sarri is the right man to snap them out of their funk. After a first half where Eden Hazard hit the post and Ross Barkley bossed midfield despite constant boos from his former team's supporters, Chelsea produced a second-half display that was inexplicable to Sarri, although Everton should be credited with a huge upturn in their performance. The worrying aspect for Chelsea fans is that, after seeing their side lose one of nine games over the course of 90 minutes since their 6-0 drubbing by Manchester City in February, their poor away form has come back to haunt them and Sarri seems incapable of turning it around. "It is difficult for the players to explain the change to me," the former Napoli manager said of the contrast in halves. "It is very difficult for me to explain the change to you. Probably it is a mental block, I think. "At the moment, this is our limit. If we are able to play like in the first half with consistency then we are in another position in the table. We have this problem because we lost a similar match at Wolverhampton [in December]. We lost again in this way, for us it is a big limit." Chelsea have been through 10 permanent managers since Roman Abramovich took over the club Sarri has previously been critical of his players' mentality this season, singling out Hazard at one point despite the Belgian having had a hand in 48% of Chelsea's Premier League goals. But the former investment banker rode out the headlines which said he was on the brink of getting sacked. And it seems he is likely to continue for the rest of the season, helped by a run to the Europa League quarter-finals, which, if they win the competition, would provide a backdoor route to the Champions League next season. In usual circumstances, Sarri would hope to get to the summer and then seek to add stronger characters to his squad to try to halt their mental slide in tougher matches. However, there is a huge stumbling block to that solution: Chelsea's two-year transfer ban, which the club are appealing against. Fortunately, he will have the services of 58m winger Christian Pulisic and 40 other players on loan to choose from. That is tempered by Hazard's potential departure to Real Madrid and the continuation of Bayern Munich's pursuit of teenage winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who handed in a transfer request in January over a lack of playing time. It all leads to the question of whether it may be simpler to try another manager, who might be able to galvanise a team in ways that Sarri cannot. Chelsea have been through 10 permanent managers since Roman Abramovich took over the club. Top four not impossible - Sarri For now, those dilemmas remain in the future and Sarri has not given up hope. Asked if he was worried about his side's top-four hopes, he said: "If you are speaking about the second half you are right. If we play like the second half in the last eight matches then we are in trouble to arrive in the top four. "We need to recover only three points [to reach the top four] so I think it's not impossible. I am worried about our mentality but if we play 90 minutes for eight matches like the first half then we can do everything." Sarri might be buoyed by Chelsea's first-half display, which was impressive, but the crucial aspect was they did not score. He preferred to start his January signing Gonzalo Higuain, who returned from illness, instead of Olivier Giroud, who scored a midweek Europa League hat-trick against Dynamo Kiev. As former Tottenham and England winger Chris Waddle said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Chelsea have only got themselves to blame. They play some wonderful football but they try to score the perfect goal at times instead of putting the ball in the net." Whether it is team selections, tactics, mentality or results, there are still plenty of conundrums and time is running out for Sarri to prove he can solve them before the end of the season. | Chelsea lost 2-0 to Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. Blues boss Maurizio Sarri said his team had reached a 'limit' He was referring to the difference between the first and second half. It may yet be the actual limit of Chelsea's top-four ambitions. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47605978 | 0.194677 |
What time, TV channel is Oregon basketballs first game of NCAA Tournament? | EUGENE The game time and television network are set for Oregon basketballs first-round game of the NCAA Tournament. No. 12 seed Oregon (23-12) will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-10) at approximately 1:30 p.m. PT Friday in San Jose, Calif. on TBS. Spero Dedes, Len Elmore, Steve Smith and Ros Gold-Onwude will be on the call for the game, which will begin roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the earlier game. If Oregon wins, it will face the winner of the No. 4 seed Kansas State (25-8) and No. 13 seed UC-Irvine (30-5), who play at 11 a.m. Friday, on Sunday. | No. 12 seed Oregon will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin at approximately 1:30 p.m. PT Friday in San Jose, Calif. on TBS. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/03/what-time-tv-channel-is-oregon-basketballs-first-game-of-ncaa-tournament.html | 0.161118 |
What time, TV channel is Oregon basketballs first game of NCAA Tournament? | EUGENE The game time and television network are set for Oregon basketballs first-round game of the NCAA Tournament. No. 12 seed Oregon (23-12) will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin (23-10) at approximately 1:30 p.m. PT Friday in San Jose, Calif. on TBS. Spero Dedes, Len Elmore, Steve Smith and Ros Gold-Onwude will be on the call for the game, which will begin roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the earlier game. If Oregon wins, it will face the winner of the No. 4 seed Kansas State (25-8) and No. 13 seed UC-Irvine (30-5), who play at 11 a.m. Friday, on Sunday. | No. 12 seed Oregon will play No. 5 seed Wisconsin at approximately 1:30 p.m. PT on TBS. If Oregon wins, it will face the winner of the No. 4 seed Kansas State and No. 13 seed UC-Irvine on Sunday. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/2019/03/what-time-tv-channel-is-oregon-basketballs-first-game-of-ncaa-tournament.html | 0.174855 |
Can legal weed ever beat the black market? | Even in Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor One big reason to legalize cannabis is to wrest the market away from criminal enterprises and tax the proceeds. But in Canada and the US states where weed is legal, the illegal market has proven to be a tenacious competitor and its likely to remain so for years. Take California, the largest and most complex of the legal US markets. Here underground sales can be divided into two broad categories: the illegal or black market includes everyone growing and manufacturing products for export out of state, which is always against the law. The so-called gray market refers to companies that continue to operate in California even though they either cant or dont want to go through the time and expense to acquire licenses. Weedmaps: why 'Yelp for pot' is under fire for its Silicon Valley attitude Read more For licensed businesses trying to follow the rules, Californias gray market presents the bigger problem. Because these companies dont adhere to the complex regulations covering everything from security to product testing, they can undersell their law-abiding counterparts by up to 50%, according to Bryce Berryessa, the president of the licensed California cannabis company La Vida Verde. In much of the state, gray-market companies operate in plain sight, and its not necessarily clear to customers whether a store is legal or not. Weedmaps, a popular online dispensary locator, doesnt distinguish between licensed and unlicensed dispensaries nor do mainstream sites like Google and Yelp. Gray market dispensaries and delivery services also stock counterfeit products, which are packaged to mimic the best known legal brands. (Consumers who want to be certain they are shopping at a legal dispensary can check on the state regulators website.) To combat the illegal market and foster legal businesses, Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, said last month he would be sending national guard troops into northern Californias cannabis-growing regions. There have been crackdowns on unlicensed dispensaries as well, though legal businesses have called for more. Lawmakers have also proposed lowering marijuana taxes so legal businesses can compete against the gray market. Facebook Twitter Pinterest On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Illustration: George Wylesol/The Guardian But neither of these proposals address what could be the most significant problem for legitimate businesses: while California has legalized marijuana sales to all adults, most jurisdictions in the state do not yet allow marijuana businesses. This in effect forces millions of customers to shop on the gray market. Hundreds if not thousands of companies who intend to shift into the legal market are forced to participate in the [gray market] infrastructure that has been in place for decades, Berryessa said. In January 2018, the month Californias adult market opened, he says, there were about 200 fully legal pot shops in California, compared with roughly 4,000 gray market dispensaries. Unlicensed businesses have continued to thrive in other markets as well. Canadas gray market has capitalized on rolling supply shortages. In Oregon, where there is a glut of product, growers offload their crop on to the illegal market, sometimes referred to as the traditional or free market. As legalization becomes more widespread and more corporatized, it seems likely that the black and gray markets will recede, though many law-abiding businesses are likely to go under in the meantime. Absent a mandate from the state capital in Sacramento, every city in California can legalize marijuana businesses on its own timeline. The resulting uncertainty nourishes the gray market. Read more In states currently figuring out how to regulate the drug, striking a balance to encourage consumers to shop at legal businesses has become a key priority. On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Two recent reports in New York warned that a high tax rate could hamstring the industry before even getting off the ground, according to Neil Willner, a lawyer with the firm Wilson Elser. The governors of New York and New Jersey want to legalize marijuana, but the debate in both states has hinged largely on taxing businesses at a level that wont end up empowering illegal businesses. Similar dynamics are likely to exist in many of the other nations which are flirting with legalization. But so far, theres no proven formula to support those businesses trying to follow the rules. | In Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/17/legal-weed-black-market-california-gavin-newsom | 0.145608 |
Can legal weed ever beat the black market? | Even in Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor One big reason to legalize cannabis is to wrest the market away from criminal enterprises and tax the proceeds. But in Canada and the US states where weed is legal, the illegal market has proven to be a tenacious competitor and its likely to remain so for years. Take California, the largest and most complex of the legal US markets. Here underground sales can be divided into two broad categories: the illegal or black market includes everyone growing and manufacturing products for export out of state, which is always against the law. The so-called gray market refers to companies that continue to operate in California even though they either cant or dont want to go through the time and expense to acquire licenses. Weedmaps: why 'Yelp for pot' is under fire for its Silicon Valley attitude Read more For licensed businesses trying to follow the rules, Californias gray market presents the bigger problem. Because these companies dont adhere to the complex regulations covering everything from security to product testing, they can undersell their law-abiding counterparts by up to 50%, according to Bryce Berryessa, the president of the licensed California cannabis company La Vida Verde. In much of the state, gray-market companies operate in plain sight, and its not necessarily clear to customers whether a store is legal or not. Weedmaps, a popular online dispensary locator, doesnt distinguish between licensed and unlicensed dispensaries nor do mainstream sites like Google and Yelp. Gray market dispensaries and delivery services also stock counterfeit products, which are packaged to mimic the best known legal brands. (Consumers who want to be certain they are shopping at a legal dispensary can check on the state regulators website.) To combat the illegal market and foster legal businesses, Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, said last month he would be sending national guard troops into northern Californias cannabis-growing regions. There have been crackdowns on unlicensed dispensaries as well, though legal businesses have called for more. Lawmakers have also proposed lowering marijuana taxes so legal businesses can compete against the gray market. Facebook Twitter Pinterest On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Illustration: George Wylesol/The Guardian But neither of these proposals address what could be the most significant problem for legitimate businesses: while California has legalized marijuana sales to all adults, most jurisdictions in the state do not yet allow marijuana businesses. This in effect forces millions of customers to shop on the gray market. Hundreds if not thousands of companies who intend to shift into the legal market are forced to participate in the [gray market] infrastructure that has been in place for decades, Berryessa said. In January 2018, the month Californias adult market opened, he says, there were about 200 fully legal pot shops in California, compared with roughly 4,000 gray market dispensaries. Unlicensed businesses have continued to thrive in other markets as well. Canadas gray market has capitalized on rolling supply shortages. In Oregon, where there is a glut of product, growers offload their crop on to the illegal market, sometimes referred to as the traditional or free market. As legalization becomes more widespread and more corporatized, it seems likely that the black and gray markets will recede, though many law-abiding businesses are likely to go under in the meantime. Absent a mandate from the state capital in Sacramento, every city in California can legalize marijuana businesses on its own timeline. The resulting uncertainty nourishes the gray market. Read more In states currently figuring out how to regulate the drug, striking a balance to encourage consumers to shop at legal businesses has become a key priority. On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Two recent reports in New York warned that a high tax rate could hamstring the industry before even getting off the ground, according to Neil Willner, a lawyer with the firm Wilson Elser. The governors of New York and New Jersey want to legalize marijuana, but the debate in both states has hinged largely on taxing businesses at a level that wont end up empowering illegal businesses. Similar dynamics are likely to exist in many of the other nations which are flirting with legalization. But so far, theres no proven formula to support those businesses trying to follow the rules. | Even in Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor. The black market includes everyone growing and manufacturing products for export out of state, which is always against the law. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/17/legal-weed-black-market-california-gavin-newsom | 0.21871 |
Can legal weed ever beat the black market? | Even in Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor One big reason to legalize cannabis is to wrest the market away from criminal enterprises and tax the proceeds. But in Canada and the US states where weed is legal, the illegal market has proven to be a tenacious competitor and its likely to remain so for years. Take California, the largest and most complex of the legal US markets. Here underground sales can be divided into two broad categories: the illegal or black market includes everyone growing and manufacturing products for export out of state, which is always against the law. The so-called gray market refers to companies that continue to operate in California even though they either cant or dont want to go through the time and expense to acquire licenses. Weedmaps: why 'Yelp for pot' is under fire for its Silicon Valley attitude Read more For licensed businesses trying to follow the rules, Californias gray market presents the bigger problem. Because these companies dont adhere to the complex regulations covering everything from security to product testing, they can undersell their law-abiding counterparts by up to 50%, according to Bryce Berryessa, the president of the licensed California cannabis company La Vida Verde. In much of the state, gray-market companies operate in plain sight, and its not necessarily clear to customers whether a store is legal or not. Weedmaps, a popular online dispensary locator, doesnt distinguish between licensed and unlicensed dispensaries nor do mainstream sites like Google and Yelp. Gray market dispensaries and delivery services also stock counterfeit products, which are packaged to mimic the best known legal brands. (Consumers who want to be certain they are shopping at a legal dispensary can check on the state regulators website.) To combat the illegal market and foster legal businesses, Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, said last month he would be sending national guard troops into northern Californias cannabis-growing regions. There have been crackdowns on unlicensed dispensaries as well, though legal businesses have called for more. Lawmakers have also proposed lowering marijuana taxes so legal businesses can compete against the gray market. Facebook Twitter Pinterest On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Illustration: George Wylesol/The Guardian But neither of these proposals address what could be the most significant problem for legitimate businesses: while California has legalized marijuana sales to all adults, most jurisdictions in the state do not yet allow marijuana businesses. This in effect forces millions of customers to shop on the gray market. Hundreds if not thousands of companies who intend to shift into the legal market are forced to participate in the [gray market] infrastructure that has been in place for decades, Berryessa said. In January 2018, the month Californias adult market opened, he says, there were about 200 fully legal pot shops in California, compared with roughly 4,000 gray market dispensaries. Unlicensed businesses have continued to thrive in other markets as well. Canadas gray market has capitalized on rolling supply shortages. In Oregon, where there is a glut of product, growers offload their crop on to the illegal market, sometimes referred to as the traditional or free market. As legalization becomes more widespread and more corporatized, it seems likely that the black and gray markets will recede, though many law-abiding businesses are likely to go under in the meantime. Absent a mandate from the state capital in Sacramento, every city in California can legalize marijuana businesses on its own timeline. The resulting uncertainty nourishes the gray market. Read more In states currently figuring out how to regulate the drug, striking a balance to encourage consumers to shop at legal businesses has become a key priority. On the east coast, where the gray market isnt as pervasive, states need to set taxes at a level that wont send users back to their dealers. Two recent reports in New York warned that a high tax rate could hamstring the industry before even getting off the ground, according to Neil Willner, a lawyer with the firm Wilson Elser. The governors of New York and New Jersey want to legalize marijuana, but the debate in both states has hinged largely on taxing businesses at a level that wont end up empowering illegal businesses. Similar dynamics are likely to exist in many of the other nations which are flirting with legalization. But so far, theres no proven formula to support those businesses trying to follow the rules. | Even in Canada and some US states where marijuana is legal, the illegal market remains a tenacious competitor. In California, the largest and most complex of the legal US markets, underground sales can be divided into two broad categories. The black market includes everyone growing and manufacturing products for export out of state, which is always against the law. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/mar/17/legal-weed-black-market-california-gavin-newsom | 0.248386 |
Can Hibernian be caught in gallop to Premiership top six? | With games running out before the Scottish Premiership split, there are arguably four teams still in the race for the final top-six spot. More prize money and extra visits by the country's bigger teams can positively impact budgets for the following season and help bolster the squad of the team who sneaks into the top half of the table. Hibernian are currently in the driving seat after beating Motherwell 2-0 on Saturday, but BBC Scotland examines the hopes of all the teams aiming for sixth spot. The favourites - Hibernian Remaining fixtures: Livingston (a), Kilmarnock (h), Heart of Midlothian (a) The Edinburgh side's impressive win over Motherwell means they are in the box seat for the final top-six berth. Their league form has been mightily impressive since Paul Heckingbottom replaced Neil Lennon as head coach last month. Further wins over Hamilton Academical, Dundee and St Johnstone - and a draw with Rangers - means the former Leeds United and Barnely manager is yet to taste defeat in the league. With a five-point cushion, one more win might just be enough to ensure a top-half finish. They face Livingston away, Kilmarnock at home and then city rivals Hearts at Tynecastle before the split. And, with striker Marc McNulty in fantastic form, it would take a collapse for Hibs to be knocked off their perch. Marc McNulty's form since joining Hibs on-loan from Reading in January has been impressive Best of the rest - Motherwell Remaining fixtures: St Johnstone (h), Aberdeen (a), Rangers (h) Motherwell teenagers David Turbull and Jake Hastie have been key to Motherwell's resurgence After the first half of the season, Motherwell looked more likely to be involved in a desperate relegation scrap rather than pushing for the top six. But a tactical shift from manager Stephen Robinson helped propel the Lanarkshire side to six games on the bounce to push them into contention for a finish in the top half. However, defeat at Easter Road at the weekend means they now trail the Easter Road side by five points. A trip to face Aberdeen and a home match against Rangers follows their next game with St Johnstone, though, which means it will take an enormous effort and a bit of luck to secure a first top-six finish under Robinson. The long shots - Livingston and St Johnstone Livingston remaining fixtures: Hibernian (h), Hamilton (h), Celtic (a) St Johnstone remaining fixtures: Motherwell (a), Dundee (h), Kilmarnock (a), St Mirren (h) (rearranged fixture) Nobody would have predicted Livingston would even be in with a sniff of top six on their return to the top flight. Relegation seemed far more likely. But, after an astonishing first four months of the season, that's exactly where they stood. A run of one win in 11 games from December, though, has harmed their top-half hopes and a seven-point gap looks too much to make up with three games left. Beat Hibs in their next match, though, and things are blown wide open. St Johnstone, meanwhile, have four games to play after the weekend's scheduled visit by St Mirren was postponed. Their form, though, is atrocious. Tommy Wright's men have taken just one point from the last 24 available but do have a habit of following dreadful runs with excellent ones, as demonstrated by their eight-match unbeaten streak with seven clean sheets from late October to December. Nonetheless, they would need to beat Motherwell, Dundee, Kilmarnock and St Mirren and hope for favours elsewhere. | Hibernian are in the box seat for the final top-six spot. Motherwell, St Johnstone, Livingston and Celtic are all in the hunt. Click here for all the latest Scottish Premiership news. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47604086 | 0.225184 |
Can Hibernian be caught in gallop to Premiership top six? | With games running out before the Scottish Premiership split, there are arguably four teams still in the race for the final top-six spot. More prize money and extra visits by the country's bigger teams can positively impact budgets for the following season and help bolster the squad of the team who sneaks into the top half of the table. Hibernian are currently in the driving seat after beating Motherwell 2-0 on Saturday, but BBC Scotland examines the hopes of all the teams aiming for sixth spot. The favourites - Hibernian Remaining fixtures: Livingston (a), Kilmarnock (h), Heart of Midlothian (a) The Edinburgh side's impressive win over Motherwell means they are in the box seat for the final top-six berth. Their league form has been mightily impressive since Paul Heckingbottom replaced Neil Lennon as head coach last month. Further wins over Hamilton Academical, Dundee and St Johnstone - and a draw with Rangers - means the former Leeds United and Barnely manager is yet to taste defeat in the league. With a five-point cushion, one more win might just be enough to ensure a top-half finish. They face Livingston away, Kilmarnock at home and then city rivals Hearts at Tynecastle before the split. And, with striker Marc McNulty in fantastic form, it would take a collapse for Hibs to be knocked off their perch. Marc McNulty's form since joining Hibs on-loan from Reading in January has been impressive Best of the rest - Motherwell Remaining fixtures: St Johnstone (h), Aberdeen (a), Rangers (h) Motherwell teenagers David Turbull and Jake Hastie have been key to Motherwell's resurgence After the first half of the season, Motherwell looked more likely to be involved in a desperate relegation scrap rather than pushing for the top six. But a tactical shift from manager Stephen Robinson helped propel the Lanarkshire side to six games on the bounce to push them into contention for a finish in the top half. However, defeat at Easter Road at the weekend means they now trail the Easter Road side by five points. A trip to face Aberdeen and a home match against Rangers follows their next game with St Johnstone, though, which means it will take an enormous effort and a bit of luck to secure a first top-six finish under Robinson. The long shots - Livingston and St Johnstone Livingston remaining fixtures: Hibernian (h), Hamilton (h), Celtic (a) St Johnstone remaining fixtures: Motherwell (a), Dundee (h), Kilmarnock (a), St Mirren (h) (rearranged fixture) Nobody would have predicted Livingston would even be in with a sniff of top six on their return to the top flight. Relegation seemed far more likely. But, after an astonishing first four months of the season, that's exactly where they stood. A run of one win in 11 games from December, though, has harmed their top-half hopes and a seven-point gap looks too much to make up with three games left. Beat Hibs in their next match, though, and things are blown wide open. St Johnstone, meanwhile, have four games to play after the weekend's scheduled visit by St Mirren was postponed. Their form, though, is atrocious. Tommy Wright's men have taken just one point from the last 24 available but do have a habit of following dreadful runs with excellent ones, as demonstrated by their eight-match unbeaten streak with seven clean sheets from late October to December. Nonetheless, they would need to beat Motherwell, Dundee, Kilmarnock and St Mirren and hope for favours elsewhere. | Hibernian are in the box seat for the final top-six spot. Motherwell, St Johnstone, Livingston and Celtic are all in the hunt. Click here for all the latest Scottish Premiership news. Click here to follow the Scottish Premiership season LIVE!.. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47604086 | 0.269231 |
Are Ryan Giggs' Wales squad ready for action? | Ryan Giggs was appointed Wales manager in January 2018 International friendly: Wales v Trinidad & Tobago Venue: Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham Date: Wednesday, 20 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary; also highlights on BBC One Wales Boss Ryan Giggs is determined to build a squad rather than a team as Wales prepare a bid to reach Euro 2020. The qualifying campaign begins against Slovakia in Cardiff on 24 March. Giggs told the latest Elis James podcast he is desperate to ensure Wales have depth so they can cope with the demands of international games. "I really want that competitiveness in the squad which perhaps has been missing in the past," the Wales manager told BBC Sport Wales. "When you have players not playing regularly, or playing under-23 football, they can get up for one game, but then the second game is difficult. "We found that against Denmark a little bit. If I feel the need to make three or four changes - I want to be able to freshen it up a bit." Giggs has handed out a number of debuts during his 14-month reign as he attempts to make sure Wales are not over-reliant on their frontline players. His ideal scenario is to have a squad made up of players who are getting first team football on a consistent basis. We take a look at the 31-man squad named by Giggs for Slovakia and the friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in Wrexham four days earlier to see if they are playing regularly. Goalkeepers WAYNE HENNESSEY The Crystal Palace man made his first Premier League appearance in seven weeks against Burnley earlier this month but was not even on the bench in their next game. Wales's No. 1 has played 20 club games this season. No. Wayne Hennessey has played 18 Premier League games this season DANNY WARD Ward has played five cup games for Leicester since joining the Foxes from Liverpool last summer. His most recent appearance was in the FA Cup loss to Newport County in early January. No. ADAM DAVIES The 26-year-old is firmly established as Barnsley's first-choice keeper, having made 40 appearances for the League One promotion hopefuls this season. Yes. CHRIS MAXWELL The former Wrexham man joined Charlton on loan in January after losing his place in the Preston side, but is yet to feature for the London club. Maxwell made 11 appearances for Preston earlier this season. No. Defenders ASHLEY WILLIAMS Williams has played 31 games for Stoke this season after joining on loan from Everton. Wales' skipper has not started a game since February 2, however. Not of late. CHRIS GUNTER Wales' most-capped player has only played once for Reading since the end of January. Gunter has made 17 Royals appearances this season. No. NEIL TAYLOR Former Swansea and Wrexham left-back has featured in Aston Villa's last four games. In all Taylor has played 26 times in 2018-19. Has been recently. Ben Davies has 43 Wales caps BEN DAVIES Ex-Swansea defender has returned to action in recent weeks after a spell out with a groin injury, featuring in three of Tottenham's last five games. He has played 29 games for Spurs this season. When fit yes. CONNOR ROBERTS The Swansea full-back has racked up 44 appearances already this season - including five for Wales - having established himself at first-team level. Yes. JAMES LAWRENCE The central defender, a shock call-up to the Wales squad in November, has played in 21 of Anderlecht's 37 matches this season, including the last eight. Recently yes. ETHAN AMPADU Amapdu, who can play in defence or midfield, has made five Chelsea appearances this season and four for Wales. His last outing was as a substitute in Chelsea's Europa League win over Malmo last month. No. TOM LOCKYER The Bristol Rovers captain is a regular for the League One club, and has racked up 40 appearances so far this season. Yes. CHRIS MEPHAM The centre-back is finding his feet at Bournemouth after joining the Premier League club from Brentford in January. Mepham, 21, has started the Cherries' last five games. Getting there. Bournemouth paid Brentford a reported 12m fee for Chris Mepham PAUL DUMMETT The Newcastle defender has had injury problems this season but has managed 19 club appearances and has featured in the last four games. Timely for Wales. Not a regular. DECLAN JOHN John has not played as much as he would have liked since joining Swansea from Rangers last August. His recent substitute appearance against Man City was his 11th in Swans colours. No. Midfielders: RYAN HEDGES The winger, 23, has made 19 appearances for Barnsley so far this season. No. JOE ALLEN The ex-Liverpool man has been a regular for Stoke this season, racking up 38 appearances to date. He has not missed a minute of league action since being substituted at Rotherham in September. Very much so. DAVID BROOKS Brooks returned to action at the beginning of March after a month out with an ankle injury. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said Brooks, who has made 28 club appearances this season, was fatigued after taking him off in the recent win at Huddersfield. When fit yes. BEN WOODBURN Woodburn joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan last August but was recalled by Liverpool in January having made only a handful of appearances for the Blades. He has been playing under-23 football for the Reds in recent weeks. No. HARRY WILSON The 21-year-old wideman has been a star performer for Derby this season having joined the Rams on loan from Liverpool, racking up 37 Derby appearances so far. Yes. Aaron Ramsey will join Juventus on a free transfer this summer AARON RAMSEY Ramsey may be heading to Juventus this summer, but he has played plenty of football for Arsenal this season. He played 90 minutes in the recent 2-0 win over Manchester United. Yes. MATT SMITH The Manchester City teenager is enjoying a positive loan spell with FC Twente. He has played 26 games for the Dutch second-tier club. Yes. LEE EVANS Ex-Newport midfielder Evans has played plenty of football for Wigan since joining from Sheffield United last August. He has made more than 30 appearances in total this term. Yes. DANIEL JAMES The 21-year-old wideman has announced himself at Swansea this season, making 29 appearances under Graham Potter. He has been a consistent starter in recent months. Yes. WILL VAULKS The new man in this Wales squad will hope for an international chance having enjoyed a strong season at Rotherham. The Millers skipper has made 37 appearances but is currently suspended. Yes. GEORGE THOMAS The on-loan Leicester youngster has enjoyed plenty of game time during his season-long spell at Scunthorpe, where he has made 35 appearances to date. Yes. Forwards: RABBI MATONDO Having left Manchester City in January without making a senior appearance, Matondo has already played a handful of times for German club Schalke. No. SAM VOKES Vokes has scored once in six appearances since joining Stoke from Burnley in January, but has missed three games with a groin problem. He returned for their draw with Reading at the weekend. Likely to be when fit. Sam Vokes joined Stoke from Burnley in January with Peter Crouch moving the other way TOM LAWRENCE Lawrence returned after a month out for Derby last week, but boss Frank Lampard said afterwards the forward was "not right". Lawrence, who has played 27 Rams games this season, has had an ankle problem. Yes. GARETH BALE Bale was back on the Real Madrid training ground last week after an ankle problem and scored in Zinedine Zidane's first game since retaking charge. The Wales talisman has played 35 Real games this season, scoring 14 goals. Yes. TYLER ROBERTS Roberts is enjoying life as part of a Leeds side chasing promotion to the Premier League. The 20-year-old has played 24 games under Marcelo Bielsa, scoring three goals. He is usually involved. | Ryan Giggs is determined to build a squad rather than a team as Wales prepare a bid to reach Euro 2020. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47575143 | 0.135121 |
Are Ryan Giggs' Wales squad ready for action? | Ryan Giggs was appointed Wales manager in January 2018 International friendly: Wales v Trinidad & Tobago Venue: Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham Date: Wednesday, 20 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary; also highlights on BBC One Wales Boss Ryan Giggs is determined to build a squad rather than a team as Wales prepare a bid to reach Euro 2020. The qualifying campaign begins against Slovakia in Cardiff on 24 March. Giggs told the latest Elis James podcast he is desperate to ensure Wales have depth so they can cope with the demands of international games. "I really want that competitiveness in the squad which perhaps has been missing in the past," the Wales manager told BBC Sport Wales. "When you have players not playing regularly, or playing under-23 football, they can get up for one game, but then the second game is difficult. "We found that against Denmark a little bit. If I feel the need to make three or four changes - I want to be able to freshen it up a bit." Giggs has handed out a number of debuts during his 14-month reign as he attempts to make sure Wales are not over-reliant on their frontline players. His ideal scenario is to have a squad made up of players who are getting first team football on a consistent basis. We take a look at the 31-man squad named by Giggs for Slovakia and the friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in Wrexham four days earlier to see if they are playing regularly. Goalkeepers WAYNE HENNESSEY The Crystal Palace man made his first Premier League appearance in seven weeks against Burnley earlier this month but was not even on the bench in their next game. Wales's No. 1 has played 20 club games this season. No. Wayne Hennessey has played 18 Premier League games this season DANNY WARD Ward has played five cup games for Leicester since joining the Foxes from Liverpool last summer. His most recent appearance was in the FA Cup loss to Newport County in early January. No. ADAM DAVIES The 26-year-old is firmly established as Barnsley's first-choice keeper, having made 40 appearances for the League One promotion hopefuls this season. Yes. CHRIS MAXWELL The former Wrexham man joined Charlton on loan in January after losing his place in the Preston side, but is yet to feature for the London club. Maxwell made 11 appearances for Preston earlier this season. No. Defenders ASHLEY WILLIAMS Williams has played 31 games for Stoke this season after joining on loan from Everton. Wales' skipper has not started a game since February 2, however. Not of late. CHRIS GUNTER Wales' most-capped player has only played once for Reading since the end of January. Gunter has made 17 Royals appearances this season. No. NEIL TAYLOR Former Swansea and Wrexham left-back has featured in Aston Villa's last four games. In all Taylor has played 26 times in 2018-19. Has been recently. Ben Davies has 43 Wales caps BEN DAVIES Ex-Swansea defender has returned to action in recent weeks after a spell out with a groin injury, featuring in three of Tottenham's last five games. He has played 29 games for Spurs this season. When fit yes. CONNOR ROBERTS The Swansea full-back has racked up 44 appearances already this season - including five for Wales - having established himself at first-team level. Yes. JAMES LAWRENCE The central defender, a shock call-up to the Wales squad in November, has played in 21 of Anderlecht's 37 matches this season, including the last eight. Recently yes. ETHAN AMPADU Amapdu, who can play in defence or midfield, has made five Chelsea appearances this season and four for Wales. His last outing was as a substitute in Chelsea's Europa League win over Malmo last month. No. TOM LOCKYER The Bristol Rovers captain is a regular for the League One club, and has racked up 40 appearances so far this season. Yes. CHRIS MEPHAM The centre-back is finding his feet at Bournemouth after joining the Premier League club from Brentford in January. Mepham, 21, has started the Cherries' last five games. Getting there. Bournemouth paid Brentford a reported 12m fee for Chris Mepham PAUL DUMMETT The Newcastle defender has had injury problems this season but has managed 19 club appearances and has featured in the last four games. Timely for Wales. Not a regular. DECLAN JOHN John has not played as much as he would have liked since joining Swansea from Rangers last August. His recent substitute appearance against Man City was his 11th in Swans colours. No. Midfielders: RYAN HEDGES The winger, 23, has made 19 appearances for Barnsley so far this season. No. JOE ALLEN The ex-Liverpool man has been a regular for Stoke this season, racking up 38 appearances to date. He has not missed a minute of league action since being substituted at Rotherham in September. Very much so. DAVID BROOKS Brooks returned to action at the beginning of March after a month out with an ankle injury. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said Brooks, who has made 28 club appearances this season, was fatigued after taking him off in the recent win at Huddersfield. When fit yes. BEN WOODBURN Woodburn joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan last August but was recalled by Liverpool in January having made only a handful of appearances for the Blades. He has been playing under-23 football for the Reds in recent weeks. No. HARRY WILSON The 21-year-old wideman has been a star performer for Derby this season having joined the Rams on loan from Liverpool, racking up 37 Derby appearances so far. Yes. Aaron Ramsey will join Juventus on a free transfer this summer AARON RAMSEY Ramsey may be heading to Juventus this summer, but he has played plenty of football for Arsenal this season. He played 90 minutes in the recent 2-0 win over Manchester United. Yes. MATT SMITH The Manchester City teenager is enjoying a positive loan spell with FC Twente. He has played 26 games for the Dutch second-tier club. Yes. LEE EVANS Ex-Newport midfielder Evans has played plenty of football for Wigan since joining from Sheffield United last August. He has made more than 30 appearances in total this term. Yes. DANIEL JAMES The 21-year-old wideman has announced himself at Swansea this season, making 29 appearances under Graham Potter. He has been a consistent starter in recent months. Yes. WILL VAULKS The new man in this Wales squad will hope for an international chance having enjoyed a strong season at Rotherham. The Millers skipper has made 37 appearances but is currently suspended. Yes. GEORGE THOMAS The on-loan Leicester youngster has enjoyed plenty of game time during his season-long spell at Scunthorpe, where he has made 35 appearances to date. Yes. Forwards: RABBI MATONDO Having left Manchester City in January without making a senior appearance, Matondo has already played a handful of times for German club Schalke. No. SAM VOKES Vokes has scored once in six appearances since joining Stoke from Burnley in January, but has missed three games with a groin problem. He returned for their draw with Reading at the weekend. Likely to be when fit. Sam Vokes joined Stoke from Burnley in January with Peter Crouch moving the other way TOM LAWRENCE Lawrence returned after a month out for Derby last week, but boss Frank Lampard said afterwards the forward was "not right". Lawrence, who has played 27 Rams games this season, has had an ankle problem. Yes. GARETH BALE Bale was back on the Real Madrid training ground last week after an ankle problem and scored in Zinedine Zidane's first game since retaking charge. The Wales talisman has played 35 Real games this season, scoring 14 goals. Yes. TYLER ROBERTS Roberts is enjoying life as part of a Leeds side chasing promotion to the Premier League. The 20-year-old has played 24 games under Marcelo Bielsa, scoring three goals. He is usually involved. | Wales face Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly in Wrexham on Wednesday, 20 March. Ryan Giggs' 31-man squad is made up of players who are playing regularly. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47575143 | 0.195827 |
Are Ryan Giggs' Wales squad ready for action? | Ryan Giggs was appointed Wales manager in January 2018 International friendly: Wales v Trinidad & Tobago Venue: Racecourse Stadium, Wrexham Date: Wednesday, 20 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sport website and BBC Sport app, plus live text commentary; also highlights on BBC One Wales Boss Ryan Giggs is determined to build a squad rather than a team as Wales prepare a bid to reach Euro 2020. The qualifying campaign begins against Slovakia in Cardiff on 24 March. Giggs told the latest Elis James podcast he is desperate to ensure Wales have depth so they can cope with the demands of international games. "I really want that competitiveness in the squad which perhaps has been missing in the past," the Wales manager told BBC Sport Wales. "When you have players not playing regularly, or playing under-23 football, they can get up for one game, but then the second game is difficult. "We found that against Denmark a little bit. If I feel the need to make three or four changes - I want to be able to freshen it up a bit." Giggs has handed out a number of debuts during his 14-month reign as he attempts to make sure Wales are not over-reliant on their frontline players. His ideal scenario is to have a squad made up of players who are getting first team football on a consistent basis. We take a look at the 31-man squad named by Giggs for Slovakia and the friendly with Trinidad and Tobago in Wrexham four days earlier to see if they are playing regularly. Goalkeepers WAYNE HENNESSEY The Crystal Palace man made his first Premier League appearance in seven weeks against Burnley earlier this month but was not even on the bench in their next game. Wales's No. 1 has played 20 club games this season. No. Wayne Hennessey has played 18 Premier League games this season DANNY WARD Ward has played five cup games for Leicester since joining the Foxes from Liverpool last summer. His most recent appearance was in the FA Cup loss to Newport County in early January. No. ADAM DAVIES The 26-year-old is firmly established as Barnsley's first-choice keeper, having made 40 appearances for the League One promotion hopefuls this season. Yes. CHRIS MAXWELL The former Wrexham man joined Charlton on loan in January after losing his place in the Preston side, but is yet to feature for the London club. Maxwell made 11 appearances for Preston earlier this season. No. Defenders ASHLEY WILLIAMS Williams has played 31 games for Stoke this season after joining on loan from Everton. Wales' skipper has not started a game since February 2, however. Not of late. CHRIS GUNTER Wales' most-capped player has only played once for Reading since the end of January. Gunter has made 17 Royals appearances this season. No. NEIL TAYLOR Former Swansea and Wrexham left-back has featured in Aston Villa's last four games. In all Taylor has played 26 times in 2018-19. Has been recently. Ben Davies has 43 Wales caps BEN DAVIES Ex-Swansea defender has returned to action in recent weeks after a spell out with a groin injury, featuring in three of Tottenham's last five games. He has played 29 games for Spurs this season. When fit yes. CONNOR ROBERTS The Swansea full-back has racked up 44 appearances already this season - including five for Wales - having established himself at first-team level. Yes. JAMES LAWRENCE The central defender, a shock call-up to the Wales squad in November, has played in 21 of Anderlecht's 37 matches this season, including the last eight. Recently yes. ETHAN AMPADU Amapdu, who can play in defence or midfield, has made five Chelsea appearances this season and four for Wales. His last outing was as a substitute in Chelsea's Europa League win over Malmo last month. No. TOM LOCKYER The Bristol Rovers captain is a regular for the League One club, and has racked up 40 appearances so far this season. Yes. CHRIS MEPHAM The centre-back is finding his feet at Bournemouth after joining the Premier League club from Brentford in January. Mepham, 21, has started the Cherries' last five games. Getting there. Bournemouth paid Brentford a reported 12m fee for Chris Mepham PAUL DUMMETT The Newcastle defender has had injury problems this season but has managed 19 club appearances and has featured in the last four games. Timely for Wales. Not a regular. DECLAN JOHN John has not played as much as he would have liked since joining Swansea from Rangers last August. His recent substitute appearance against Man City was his 11th in Swans colours. No. Midfielders: RYAN HEDGES The winger, 23, has made 19 appearances for Barnsley so far this season. No. JOE ALLEN The ex-Liverpool man has been a regular for Stoke this season, racking up 38 appearances to date. He has not missed a minute of league action since being substituted at Rotherham in September. Very much so. DAVID BROOKS Brooks returned to action at the beginning of March after a month out with an ankle injury. Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said Brooks, who has made 28 club appearances this season, was fatigued after taking him off in the recent win at Huddersfield. When fit yes. BEN WOODBURN Woodburn joined Sheffield United on a season-long loan last August but was recalled by Liverpool in January having made only a handful of appearances for the Blades. He has been playing under-23 football for the Reds in recent weeks. No. HARRY WILSON The 21-year-old wideman has been a star performer for Derby this season having joined the Rams on loan from Liverpool, racking up 37 Derby appearances so far. Yes. Aaron Ramsey will join Juventus on a free transfer this summer AARON RAMSEY Ramsey may be heading to Juventus this summer, but he has played plenty of football for Arsenal this season. He played 90 minutes in the recent 2-0 win over Manchester United. Yes. MATT SMITH The Manchester City teenager is enjoying a positive loan spell with FC Twente. He has played 26 games for the Dutch second-tier club. Yes. LEE EVANS Ex-Newport midfielder Evans has played plenty of football for Wigan since joining from Sheffield United last August. He has made more than 30 appearances in total this term. Yes. DANIEL JAMES The 21-year-old wideman has announced himself at Swansea this season, making 29 appearances under Graham Potter. He has been a consistent starter in recent months. Yes. WILL VAULKS The new man in this Wales squad will hope for an international chance having enjoyed a strong season at Rotherham. The Millers skipper has made 37 appearances but is currently suspended. Yes. GEORGE THOMAS The on-loan Leicester youngster has enjoyed plenty of game time during his season-long spell at Scunthorpe, where he has made 35 appearances to date. Yes. Forwards: RABBI MATONDO Having left Manchester City in January without making a senior appearance, Matondo has already played a handful of times for German club Schalke. No. SAM VOKES Vokes has scored once in six appearances since joining Stoke from Burnley in January, but has missed three games with a groin problem. He returned for their draw with Reading at the weekend. Likely to be when fit. Sam Vokes joined Stoke from Burnley in January with Peter Crouch moving the other way TOM LAWRENCE Lawrence returned after a month out for Derby last week, but boss Frank Lampard said afterwards the forward was "not right". Lawrence, who has played 27 Rams games this season, has had an ankle problem. Yes. GARETH BALE Bale was back on the Real Madrid training ground last week after an ankle problem and scored in Zinedine Zidane's first game since retaking charge. The Wales talisman has played 35 Real games this season, scoring 14 goals. Yes. TYLER ROBERTS Roberts is enjoying life as part of a Leeds side chasing promotion to the Premier League. The 20-year-old has played 24 games under Marcelo Bielsa, scoring three goals. He is usually involved. | Wales face Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly in Wrexham on Wednesday, 20 March. Ryan Giggs' 31-man squad is made up of players who are playing regularly. Giggs is determined to build a squad rather than a team as Wales prepare to reach Euro 2020. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47575143 | 0.236082 |
Is Helsinki the world's coolest city? | (CNN) When it snows, the flakes come at you like shards of ice. There's a biting wind that freezes your ears off. Daylight lasts only a few hours. And no one talks much. Helsinki in the middle of winter sounds like a place to avoid at all costs. A dark, brooding city that shivers under piles of snow. Maybe it was once, but not any more. Somehow, against the icy odds, Finland has established itself as one of the happiest nations on Earth and, appropriately given the chilling grip of its winters, Helsinki is now unequivocally one of the planet's coolest cities. Peace and quiet -- the Nuuksio National Park. Barry Neild/CNN First travel stop to find the answer to this is the Nuuksio National Park, a beautiful stretch of snowbound pine forest about 30 miles northwest of Helsinki that's home to reindeer, a Frisbee golf course and acres and acres of something Finnish people treasure. Silence. "Finnish people are quiet," says comedian Krisse Salminen, who has gained celebrity in Finland by behaving almost in the exact opposite way to most of her compatriots. No small talk Krisse Salminen: "We don't have small talk." Barry Neild/CNN After a brief snowshoe expedition around the Nuuksio, Salimen tries to explain the Finnish character while grilling traditional makkara sausages over a fire built inside a kota -- a yurtlike tent used by the nomadic Samis who inhabit the Arctic region of Lapland. As Salminen explains, it's perfectly acceptable for Finnish friends or family to meet up for drinks or meals and barely exchange a word. "If you are with relatives, you can sit on a table and nobody says anything," she says. "It's not weird. We just eat and then somebody says, 'Mmmhmm,' and then we eat some more. "We don't have small talk you know like in America," she adds. "We talk deeply or we just don't talk." Which is not to say that Finns have no sense of humor, hence the thriving comedy circuit that has seen Salminen to rise to fame. She's even made an appearance on Finland's most talked about TV event -- a bafflingly popular annual two-hour broadcast on the country's national day which mostly consists of the president shaking hands with a line of VIPs before everyone goes off to dance. Cooking traditional makkara sausages inside a kota tent. "Tinder!" jokes Salminen. Outside of the Internet dating scene, Finnish people nevertheless manage an impressive amount of socializing. In bad weather which would have most people hunkering down at home for warmth, they're heading for runs, swims, dances, saunas, skating and even legal graffiti art. Street artist and teacher Emilio takes CNN's Richard Quest to Suvilahti in Helsinki, a former industrial site now assigned to street art. Music too. For all the pleasure Finns take in being quiet, there's equal enthusiasm for cranking the volume up to ear-shredding extremes and letting loose. Today, heavy metal is one of the country's greatest musical exports -- which seems like a bit a musical leap from the days when composer Jean Sibelius's classical compositions soundtracked Finland's early 20th-century independence from Russia. Nordic melancholy Lauri Porra says there's a connection between Sibelius and Finnish heavy metal. Barry Neild/CNN Maybe not, says Sibelius's great-grandson, musician and composer Lauri Porra. Porra, who plays bass guitar in his own heavy metal band Stratovarius, says that while Sibelius's music was inspired by the nature and loneliness of Finnish forests, it shares an affinity with the country's contemporary hard rock. "I think there is a connection," he says, explaining that it lies at the heart of Finnish national characteristics. "The sun goes down very early, and the winters are bleak," he says. "And then in the summer we fall in love and the sun never sets. And I guess everybody knows a little bit about this Nordic melancholy, and sort of the way Finnish people express emotions." Finland's particular affinity with heavy metal music, according to Esa Lilja, a professor of music at the University of Helsinki who specializes in rock and roll at the darker end of the spectrum, is also partly down to a liberal government willing to invest in young headbangers. Heavy metal professor Esa Lilja. Barry Neild/CNN He says an education system established in the 1960s and '70s provides access for anyone in Finland to musical training regardless of their economic or social background. "And most of these guys now playing in famous heavy metal bands went to these music schools," he says. This level of support for the arts has also helped Helsinki gain a reputation as a hub of creativity, with a design district that, with cool shops and galleries, is on its own a major draw for international visitors. Lilja's less sold on the idea that the music reflects a particular Finnish temperament. A land apart Professor Esa Lijla of Helsinki University tells CNN's Richard Quest why he thinks Finns love heavy metal. "It's a bit like a myth that Finnish musicians or Finnish people in general, like to think that we are a strange country and strange people living in the woods who are sort of sad and not expressive," he says. "Partially, it's true. We are strange people living in the woods on the edge of the world, yes. And nobody speaks our language." Even if it's not your scene, it's worth checking out Finland's metal music output at one of numerous gigs or events in or around Helsinki. Despite its name, the Helsinki Must Be Destroyed festival held at the small Elmun Baari venue in a disused wharfside in the city's Nosturi district, has a friendly vibe, filled with denim-clad fans of the main act, Norwegian "deathpunk" band Turbonecro Related content How to take a sauna in Helsinki First up is local band Nuclear Omnicide , who set the tone with shredding guitars, long-haired headbanging and sweaty, guttural vocals. In the audience is Ida-Katharina Kiljander, who teaches heavy metal singing techniques in Oulu, about 370 miles north of Helsinki. For her, the music is an expression of the emotions that many Finns otherwise feel uncomfortable sharing. Ida-Katharina Kiljander teaches heavy metal singing techniques. Barry Neild/CNN "They had so much energy," Kiljander says after the performance. "I would say it's very typical, you can hear this almost every weekend in Helsinki." That primal release of energy is perhaps only matched in Finland by those indulging in another extreme and equally bracing activity -- ice swimming. Part of the popular sauna ritual for many locals, this involves exiting from the steamy heat indoors to jump into freezing water. At the chic Lyly sauna on Helsinki's waterfront, owned by " BlacKkKlansman " actor Jasper Pkknen, that means plunging into a hole cut in the iced-over Baltic Sea before racing back inside to warm up again. Grit and perseverance Richard Quest and Alexander Stubb go ice swimming. Barry Neild/CNN "It gets the blood flowing," says Alexander Stubb, a former Finnish prime minister, while enjoying a sauna with friends after a jog through the snowbound Helsinki streets. "It's tradition as well. We're doing it for centuries and we feel very much that sauna, that [it's] a Finnish invention. [It's] actually a Finnish word, the only Finnish international word that we have." Though essentially relaxing, sauna in Finland is governed by certain rigid protocols. Participants should preferably be naked. Men and women typically use separate facilities, although it's not uncommon for families to sit together. There are no sexual connotations. Related content Ice swimming embraced by people of happiest country in the world While ice swimming isn't as common as sauna, it does reflect a trait proudly displayed by many Finns -- a fortitude in the face of adversities such as surviving dark winter months or, in the centuries before declaring independence in 1917, being ruled by Sweden then Russia. CNN's Richard Quest experiences the true meaning of a Finnish sauna at Lyly, Helsinki. They even have a word for this stoicism: sisu. "It's grit and perseverance and you grind it and stick to it," says Stubb. "It's part of our national psyche and history." While not everyone expresses sisu in the same way, that connection with nature, the silent Finnish forests, wilderness and fresh, cold air is crucial -- as are a few more typically nocturnal activities. "Some of us hibernate, others do sports and then, I think, a lot of children are made over the wintertime ... and a lot of drinking as well," Stubb laughs. "It's a combo. I think you have to be outdoors a lot. | Finland's capital, Helsinki, is one of the world's coolest cities. Despite its cold winters, Finns are known for their love of silence. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/helsinki-coolest-city-finland/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_world+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+World%29 | 0.513227 |
Is Helsinki the world's coolest city? | (CNN) When it snows, the flakes come at you like shards of ice. There's a biting wind that freezes your ears off. Daylight lasts only a few hours. And no one talks much. Helsinki in the middle of winter sounds like a place to avoid at all costs. A dark, brooding city that shivers under piles of snow. Maybe it was once, but not any more. Somehow, against the icy odds, Finland has established itself as one of the happiest nations on Earth and, appropriately given the chilling grip of its winters, Helsinki is now unequivocally one of the planet's coolest cities. Peace and quiet -- the Nuuksio National Park. Barry Neild/CNN First travel stop to find the answer to this is the Nuuksio National Park, a beautiful stretch of snowbound pine forest about 30 miles northwest of Helsinki that's home to reindeer, a Frisbee golf course and acres and acres of something Finnish people treasure. Silence. "Finnish people are quiet," says comedian Krisse Salminen, who has gained celebrity in Finland by behaving almost in the exact opposite way to most of her compatriots. No small talk Krisse Salminen: "We don't have small talk." Barry Neild/CNN After a brief snowshoe expedition around the Nuuksio, Salimen tries to explain the Finnish character while grilling traditional makkara sausages over a fire built inside a kota -- a yurtlike tent used by the nomadic Samis who inhabit the Arctic region of Lapland. As Salminen explains, it's perfectly acceptable for Finnish friends or family to meet up for drinks or meals and barely exchange a word. "If you are with relatives, you can sit on a table and nobody says anything," she says. "It's not weird. We just eat and then somebody says, 'Mmmhmm,' and then we eat some more. "We don't have small talk you know like in America," she adds. "We talk deeply or we just don't talk." Which is not to say that Finns have no sense of humor, hence the thriving comedy circuit that has seen Salminen to rise to fame. She's even made an appearance on Finland's most talked about TV event -- a bafflingly popular annual two-hour broadcast on the country's national day which mostly consists of the president shaking hands with a line of VIPs before everyone goes off to dance. Cooking traditional makkara sausages inside a kota tent. "Tinder!" jokes Salminen. Outside of the Internet dating scene, Finnish people nevertheless manage an impressive amount of socializing. In bad weather which would have most people hunkering down at home for warmth, they're heading for runs, swims, dances, saunas, skating and even legal graffiti art. Street artist and teacher Emilio takes CNN's Richard Quest to Suvilahti in Helsinki, a former industrial site now assigned to street art. Music too. For all the pleasure Finns take in being quiet, there's equal enthusiasm for cranking the volume up to ear-shredding extremes and letting loose. Today, heavy metal is one of the country's greatest musical exports -- which seems like a bit a musical leap from the days when composer Jean Sibelius's classical compositions soundtracked Finland's early 20th-century independence from Russia. Nordic melancholy Lauri Porra says there's a connection between Sibelius and Finnish heavy metal. Barry Neild/CNN Maybe not, says Sibelius's great-grandson, musician and composer Lauri Porra. Porra, who plays bass guitar in his own heavy metal band Stratovarius, says that while Sibelius's music was inspired by the nature and loneliness of Finnish forests, it shares an affinity with the country's contemporary hard rock. "I think there is a connection," he says, explaining that it lies at the heart of Finnish national characteristics. "The sun goes down very early, and the winters are bleak," he says. "And then in the summer we fall in love and the sun never sets. And I guess everybody knows a little bit about this Nordic melancholy, and sort of the way Finnish people express emotions." Finland's particular affinity with heavy metal music, according to Esa Lilja, a professor of music at the University of Helsinki who specializes in rock and roll at the darker end of the spectrum, is also partly down to a liberal government willing to invest in young headbangers. Heavy metal professor Esa Lilja. Barry Neild/CNN He says an education system established in the 1960s and '70s provides access for anyone in Finland to musical training regardless of their economic or social background. "And most of these guys now playing in famous heavy metal bands went to these music schools," he says. This level of support for the arts has also helped Helsinki gain a reputation as a hub of creativity, with a design district that, with cool shops and galleries, is on its own a major draw for international visitors. Lilja's less sold on the idea that the music reflects a particular Finnish temperament. A land apart Professor Esa Lijla of Helsinki University tells CNN's Richard Quest why he thinks Finns love heavy metal. "It's a bit like a myth that Finnish musicians or Finnish people in general, like to think that we are a strange country and strange people living in the woods who are sort of sad and not expressive," he says. "Partially, it's true. We are strange people living in the woods on the edge of the world, yes. And nobody speaks our language." Even if it's not your scene, it's worth checking out Finland's metal music output at one of numerous gigs or events in or around Helsinki. Despite its name, the Helsinki Must Be Destroyed festival held at the small Elmun Baari venue in a disused wharfside in the city's Nosturi district, has a friendly vibe, filled with denim-clad fans of the main act, Norwegian "deathpunk" band Turbonecro Related content How to take a sauna in Helsinki First up is local band Nuclear Omnicide , who set the tone with shredding guitars, long-haired headbanging and sweaty, guttural vocals. In the audience is Ida-Katharina Kiljander, who teaches heavy metal singing techniques in Oulu, about 370 miles north of Helsinki. For her, the music is an expression of the emotions that many Finns otherwise feel uncomfortable sharing. Ida-Katharina Kiljander teaches heavy metal singing techniques. Barry Neild/CNN "They had so much energy," Kiljander says after the performance. "I would say it's very typical, you can hear this almost every weekend in Helsinki." That primal release of energy is perhaps only matched in Finland by those indulging in another extreme and equally bracing activity -- ice swimming. Part of the popular sauna ritual for many locals, this involves exiting from the steamy heat indoors to jump into freezing water. At the chic Lyly sauna on Helsinki's waterfront, owned by " BlacKkKlansman " actor Jasper Pkknen, that means plunging into a hole cut in the iced-over Baltic Sea before racing back inside to warm up again. Grit and perseverance Richard Quest and Alexander Stubb go ice swimming. Barry Neild/CNN "It gets the blood flowing," says Alexander Stubb, a former Finnish prime minister, while enjoying a sauna with friends after a jog through the snowbound Helsinki streets. "It's tradition as well. We're doing it for centuries and we feel very much that sauna, that [it's] a Finnish invention. [It's] actually a Finnish word, the only Finnish international word that we have." Though essentially relaxing, sauna in Finland is governed by certain rigid protocols. Participants should preferably be naked. Men and women typically use separate facilities, although it's not uncommon for families to sit together. There are no sexual connotations. Related content Ice swimming embraced by people of happiest country in the world While ice swimming isn't as common as sauna, it does reflect a trait proudly displayed by many Finns -- a fortitude in the face of adversities such as surviving dark winter months or, in the centuries before declaring independence in 1917, being ruled by Sweden then Russia. CNN's Richard Quest experiences the true meaning of a Finnish sauna at Lyly, Helsinki. They even have a word for this stoicism: sisu. "It's grit and perseverance and you grind it and stick to it," says Stubb. "It's part of our national psyche and history." While not everyone expresses sisu in the same way, that connection with nature, the silent Finnish forests, wilderness and fresh, cold air is crucial -- as are a few more typically nocturnal activities. "Some of us hibernate, others do sports and then, I think, a lot of children are made over the wintertime ... and a lot of drinking as well," Stubb laughs. "It's a combo. I think you have to be outdoors a lot. | Finland's capital, Helsinki, is one of the world's coolest cities. Despite its cold winters, Finns are known for their love of silence. The Nuuksio National Park is home to reindeer, a Frisbee golf course and acres and acres of land. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/helsinki-coolest-city-finland/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fedition_world+%28RSS%3A+CNNi+-+World%29 | 0.587056 |
Should Bush Meet With Cindy Sheehan? | This is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," August 11, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the "Radio Factor!" JOHN GIBSON, GUEST HOST: Continuing now with our lead story, the anti-war campaign of Cindy Sheehan (search), who has camped out in Crawford, Texas, demanding a second meeting with President Bush. Here is what he had to say about Ms. Sheehan earlier today. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Part of my duty as the president is to meet with those who have lost a loved one. And so, you know, listen, I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan. She feels strongly about her about her position. And I she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position. And I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country. (END VIDEO CLIP) GIBSON: Ms. Sheehan posted another message on Michael Moore's Web site today and is reportedly getting support from some other far left individuals and organizations. Joining us now from Boston, Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. MARY ANNE MARSH, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, the point is George Bush should meet with Cindy Sheehan. The fact is... GIBSON: But he did. MARSH: He isn't now. And the reason he's not is because he doesn't have any good answers for Cindy Sheehan and the questions she's asking about the war in Iraq. If he had those answers, his poll numbers wouldn't be so low, and she wouldn't be sitting outside of his house in Crawford, Texas. I mean, her son died in the war. It's a terrible thing. He thinks the war has to be fought. He thinks it's important for national security. At least at the time it was launched, so did a lot of other Americans. At this point, what... MARSH: But no more. GIBSON: Maybe. MARSH: Well, that's the fact. Here's the problem, John. George Bush is the president of the United States. He owes everybody, not just Cindy Sheehan and the families of the 1,800 men and women who have given their lives for our country over there, but all Americans, because the majority of Americans now doubt his leadership about the war in Iraq. Those are the questions that Cindy Sheehan really wants answers to. GIBSON: But Mary Anne... MARSH: And so do millions of Americans. That have not been answered. GIBSON: ...those are questions that may not have answers. I... MARSH: Come on, John. GIBSON: ...what I think is going on - pardon me for - it's... MARSH: If they're... GIBSON: No, no, there is not an answer. It's when it's going to be over. You know that. MARSH: Oh, I... GIBSON: There is not an answer when we're coming home. You know that. That sounds like a really intelligent strategy. It may satisfy Cindy Sheehan, but please, if you're in the circles of power, you're not going to recommend that, Mary Anne. MARSH: Oh, John, two things. First of all, George Bush artfully today said I don't think it would be right to pull out today. Yet everybody in the Bush administration from Rumsfeld on, every TV station, newspaper, everyone's reporting we're pulling out troops sometime six months from now, next spring. MARSH: This is not the war we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: This is not the war... GIBSON: Wait a minute. MARSH: ...we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: I think all you had to do was watch "The Factor" earlier this week. And that's why I'm disappointed that Cindy Sheehan didn't come on the show and watch Colonel Dave Hunt and Bill Cowan give one of the most devastating analysis I've seen anywhere about how the war in Iraq's going, how tough things are for our troops, how the plan isn't there and the resources aren't there. That's what the American people want the answer to. GIBSON: All right, but Mary Anne Marsh, this thing going on in Crawford right now I mean, I've got a list of eight of these groups including Code Pink (search), MoveOn.org, Michael Moore (search), who seem to have swallowed Cindy Sheehan whole. Let me just ask you. MARSH: I think Cindy Sheehan was a woman who was looking for some help when she lost her son. These were probably the first, and at that time only people who were willing to help. Here's the difference between Cindy Sheehan and those folks now. They're fighting the last campaign. That campaign's over. It's not going to change the outcome. Cindy Sheehan's fighting for the truth for herself, for her son, and millions of Americans who want to know the truth about Iraq. There's the difference. She doesn't need them anymore. And I hope they're giving her better advice than perhaps they are at this moment about this network and other things. The fact is she needs the truth. She deserves the truth. And President Bush owes the truth to every American. GIBSON: OK, but what - let me just ask you. What is it let's separate out Code Pink and all the other groups that I've got listed here and just say Cindy Sheehan goes into a room with George Bush right now. And she asks all these questions, the questions that are open-ended, and in my mind, don't have answers right now. What and he sits there and takes it. He takes her abuse. She's angry and he takes it. MARSH: Then it's over. I mean, really. I mean, think about it, John. If this were a Republican voter in New Hampshire, he would sit down with her, even though we all know most of his events, even during his first campaign, were by invitation only. I think most people feel at this point she deserves that meeting. And if then she keeps complaining, then to a degree, people may see her as someone who can't be answered and can't get the situation resolved. But Cindy Sheehan and millions of Americans deserve those answers from George Bush. GIBSON: Mary Anne Marsh, thank you very much. Content and Programming Copyright 2005 Fox News Network, L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2005 eMediaMillWorks, Inc. (f/k/a Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, L.L.C. 's and eMediaMillWorks, Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation. | Cindy Sheehan has camped out in Crawford, Texas, demanding a second meeting with President Bush. | bart | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/story/should-bush-meet-with-cindy-sheehan | 0.167183 |
Should Bush Meet With Cindy Sheehan? | This is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," August 11, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the "Radio Factor!" JOHN GIBSON, GUEST HOST: Continuing now with our lead story, the anti-war campaign of Cindy Sheehan (search), who has camped out in Crawford, Texas, demanding a second meeting with President Bush. Here is what he had to say about Ms. Sheehan earlier today. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Part of my duty as the president is to meet with those who have lost a loved one. And so, you know, listen, I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan. She feels strongly about her about her position. And I she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position. And I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country. (END VIDEO CLIP) GIBSON: Ms. Sheehan posted another message on Michael Moore's Web site today and is reportedly getting support from some other far left individuals and organizations. Joining us now from Boston, Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. MARY ANNE MARSH, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, the point is George Bush should meet with Cindy Sheehan. The fact is... GIBSON: But he did. MARSH: He isn't now. And the reason he's not is because he doesn't have any good answers for Cindy Sheehan and the questions she's asking about the war in Iraq. If he had those answers, his poll numbers wouldn't be so low, and she wouldn't be sitting outside of his house in Crawford, Texas. I mean, her son died in the war. It's a terrible thing. He thinks the war has to be fought. He thinks it's important for national security. At least at the time it was launched, so did a lot of other Americans. At this point, what... MARSH: But no more. GIBSON: Maybe. MARSH: Well, that's the fact. Here's the problem, John. George Bush is the president of the United States. He owes everybody, not just Cindy Sheehan and the families of the 1,800 men and women who have given their lives for our country over there, but all Americans, because the majority of Americans now doubt his leadership about the war in Iraq. Those are the questions that Cindy Sheehan really wants answers to. GIBSON: But Mary Anne... MARSH: And so do millions of Americans. That have not been answered. GIBSON: ...those are questions that may not have answers. I... MARSH: Come on, John. GIBSON: ...what I think is going on - pardon me for - it's... MARSH: If they're... GIBSON: No, no, there is not an answer. It's when it's going to be over. You know that. MARSH: Oh, I... GIBSON: There is not an answer when we're coming home. You know that. That sounds like a really intelligent strategy. It may satisfy Cindy Sheehan, but please, if you're in the circles of power, you're not going to recommend that, Mary Anne. MARSH: Oh, John, two things. First of all, George Bush artfully today said I don't think it would be right to pull out today. Yet everybody in the Bush administration from Rumsfeld on, every TV station, newspaper, everyone's reporting we're pulling out troops sometime six months from now, next spring. MARSH: This is not the war we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: This is not the war... GIBSON: Wait a minute. MARSH: ...we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: I think all you had to do was watch "The Factor" earlier this week. And that's why I'm disappointed that Cindy Sheehan didn't come on the show and watch Colonel Dave Hunt and Bill Cowan give one of the most devastating analysis I've seen anywhere about how the war in Iraq's going, how tough things are for our troops, how the plan isn't there and the resources aren't there. That's what the American people want the answer to. GIBSON: All right, but Mary Anne Marsh, this thing going on in Crawford right now I mean, I've got a list of eight of these groups including Code Pink (search), MoveOn.org, Michael Moore (search), who seem to have swallowed Cindy Sheehan whole. Let me just ask you. MARSH: I think Cindy Sheehan was a woman who was looking for some help when she lost her son. These were probably the first, and at that time only people who were willing to help. Here's the difference between Cindy Sheehan and those folks now. They're fighting the last campaign. That campaign's over. It's not going to change the outcome. Cindy Sheehan's fighting for the truth for herself, for her son, and millions of Americans who want to know the truth about Iraq. There's the difference. She doesn't need them anymore. And I hope they're giving her better advice than perhaps they are at this moment about this network and other things. The fact is she needs the truth. She deserves the truth. And President Bush owes the truth to every American. GIBSON: OK, but what - let me just ask you. What is it let's separate out Code Pink and all the other groups that I've got listed here and just say Cindy Sheehan goes into a room with George Bush right now. And she asks all these questions, the questions that are open-ended, and in my mind, don't have answers right now. What and he sits there and takes it. He takes her abuse. She's angry and he takes it. MARSH: Then it's over. I mean, really. I mean, think about it, John. If this were a Republican voter in New Hampshire, he would sit down with her, even though we all know most of his events, even during his first campaign, were by invitation only. I think most people feel at this point she deserves that meeting. And if then she keeps complaining, then to a degree, people may see her as someone who can't be answered and can't get the situation resolved. But Cindy Sheehan and millions of Americans deserve those answers from George Bush. GIBSON: Mary Anne Marsh, thank you very much. Content and Programming Copyright 2005 Fox News Network, L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2005 eMediaMillWorks, Inc. (f/k/a Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, L.L.C. 's and eMediaMillWorks, Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation. | Cindy Sheehan has camped out in Crawford, Texas, demanding a second meeting with President Bush. Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh says President Bush should meet with her. | bart | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/story/should-bush-meet-with-cindy-sheehan | 0.169507 |
Should Bush Meet With Cindy Sheehan? | This is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," August 11, 2005, that has been edited for clarity. Watch "The O'Reilly Factor" weeknights at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. ET and listen to the "Radio Factor!" JOHN GIBSON, GUEST HOST: Continuing now with our lead story, the anti-war campaign of Cindy Sheehan (search), who has camped out in Crawford, Texas, demanding a second meeting with President Bush. Here is what he had to say about Ms. Sheehan earlier today. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Part of my duty as the president is to meet with those who have lost a loved one. And so, you know, listen, I sympathize with Mrs. Sheehan. She feels strongly about her about her position. And I she has every right in the world to say what she believes. This is America. She has a right to her position. And I thought long and hard about her position. I've heard her position from others, which is get out of Iraq now. And it would be a mistake for the security of this country. (END VIDEO CLIP) GIBSON: Ms. Sheehan posted another message on Michael Moore's Web site today and is reportedly getting support from some other far left individuals and organizations. Joining us now from Boston, Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. MARY ANNE MARSH, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, the point is George Bush should meet with Cindy Sheehan. The fact is... GIBSON: But he did. MARSH: He isn't now. And the reason he's not is because he doesn't have any good answers for Cindy Sheehan and the questions she's asking about the war in Iraq. If he had those answers, his poll numbers wouldn't be so low, and she wouldn't be sitting outside of his house in Crawford, Texas. I mean, her son died in the war. It's a terrible thing. He thinks the war has to be fought. He thinks it's important for national security. At least at the time it was launched, so did a lot of other Americans. At this point, what... MARSH: But no more. GIBSON: Maybe. MARSH: Well, that's the fact. Here's the problem, John. George Bush is the president of the United States. He owes everybody, not just Cindy Sheehan and the families of the 1,800 men and women who have given their lives for our country over there, but all Americans, because the majority of Americans now doubt his leadership about the war in Iraq. Those are the questions that Cindy Sheehan really wants answers to. GIBSON: But Mary Anne... MARSH: And so do millions of Americans. That have not been answered. GIBSON: ...those are questions that may not have answers. I... MARSH: Come on, John. GIBSON: ...what I think is going on - pardon me for - it's... MARSH: If they're... GIBSON: No, no, there is not an answer. It's when it's going to be over. You know that. MARSH: Oh, I... GIBSON: There is not an answer when we're coming home. You know that. That sounds like a really intelligent strategy. It may satisfy Cindy Sheehan, but please, if you're in the circles of power, you're not going to recommend that, Mary Anne. MARSH: Oh, John, two things. First of all, George Bush artfully today said I don't think it would be right to pull out today. Yet everybody in the Bush administration from Rumsfeld on, every TV station, newspaper, everyone's reporting we're pulling out troops sometime six months from now, next spring. MARSH: This is not the war we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: This is not the war... GIBSON: Wait a minute. MARSH: ...we all thought we were getting into. MARSH: I think all you had to do was watch "The Factor" earlier this week. And that's why I'm disappointed that Cindy Sheehan didn't come on the show and watch Colonel Dave Hunt and Bill Cowan give one of the most devastating analysis I've seen anywhere about how the war in Iraq's going, how tough things are for our troops, how the plan isn't there and the resources aren't there. That's what the American people want the answer to. GIBSON: All right, but Mary Anne Marsh, this thing going on in Crawford right now I mean, I've got a list of eight of these groups including Code Pink (search), MoveOn.org, Michael Moore (search), who seem to have swallowed Cindy Sheehan whole. Let me just ask you. MARSH: I think Cindy Sheehan was a woman who was looking for some help when she lost her son. These were probably the first, and at that time only people who were willing to help. Here's the difference between Cindy Sheehan and those folks now. They're fighting the last campaign. That campaign's over. It's not going to change the outcome. Cindy Sheehan's fighting for the truth for herself, for her son, and millions of Americans who want to know the truth about Iraq. There's the difference. She doesn't need them anymore. And I hope they're giving her better advice than perhaps they are at this moment about this network and other things. The fact is she needs the truth. She deserves the truth. And President Bush owes the truth to every American. GIBSON: OK, but what - let me just ask you. What is it let's separate out Code Pink and all the other groups that I've got listed here and just say Cindy Sheehan goes into a room with George Bush right now. And she asks all these questions, the questions that are open-ended, and in my mind, don't have answers right now. What and he sits there and takes it. He takes her abuse. She's angry and he takes it. MARSH: Then it's over. I mean, really. I mean, think about it, John. If this were a Republican voter in New Hampshire, he would sit down with her, even though we all know most of his events, even during his first campaign, were by invitation only. I think most people feel at this point she deserves that meeting. And if then she keeps complaining, then to a degree, people may see her as someone who can't be answered and can't get the situation resolved. But Cindy Sheehan and millions of Americans deserve those answers from George Bush. GIBSON: Mary Anne Marsh, thank you very much. Content and Programming Copyright 2005 Fox News Network, L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2005 eMediaMillWorks, Inc. (f/k/a Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, L.L.C. 's and eMediaMillWorks, Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation. | Anti-war protester Cindy Sheehan demands second meeting with President Bush. Bush: She has every right in the world to say what she believes. Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh says Bush doesn't have answers. She says majority of Americans doubt president's leadership on Iraq war. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/story/should-bush-meet-with-cindy-sheehan | 0.175722 |
Would the Green New Deal Survive the Supreme Court? | The plan was soon challenged in court, and in 2016 the Supreme Court blocked it from going into effect until the legal questions were resolved. Justice Antonin Scalias death a few days later effectively tied the plans long-term fate to the outcome of the presidential election later that year. After Donald Trump too office, his first EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, began the process of repealing the Clean Power Plan. The agencys proposed replacement, unveiled last August, would shift much of the discretion to regulate coal-plant emissions to the states. (The legal challenges to the plan are on hold until the replacement process is complete.) Data for Progresss proposal would revive the plan, as well the legal challenges to it. The think tanks Green New Deal draws from other policy ideas developed under the Obama administration. Their paper recommends that the government fully enforce the strengthened National Ambient Air Quality Standards Act of 2015; that it strengthen and enforce Obama-era rules on methane leakage; that it reinstate and implement the Obama-era Clean Water Rule to limit pollution in a variety of streams, tributaries, and wetlands. Conservative critics have warned that the Green New Deal would turn America into Cuba or Venezuela, but the end goal looks more like what the EPA was already doing before Trump took over. The Roberts Court isnt completely hostile to efforts to combat climate change, as environmentalists have won some key victories there over the past decade. During the George W. Bush administration, top EPA officials claimed they didnt have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. A coalition of states and environmental groups challenged that finding in federal courts. In the landmark 2007 case Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases fell under the acts broad definition of air pollutants, and that lawsuits against the EPA could go forward if the agency refused to regulate them. The justices later signed off on the Obama EPAs first effort to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the courts swing vote from 2005 to 2018, sided with the majority in both cases. But the rest of the courts conservatives generally resisted those rulings. In Massachusetts v. EPA, Roberts questioned whether the states had standing to bring the case at all, arguing that Massachusetts claimed injurythe loss of coastal land from rising sea levelscouldnt be directly tied to the EPAs actions. And in the 2014 case, justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas challenged the courts earlier determination that the Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases at all. Brett Kavanaughs confirmation to replace Kennedy last year raises the peril. Before joining the high court, Kavanaugh spent twelve years on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where he weighed in on multiple high-profile cases involving the EPA. In a survey of those decisions last year, The Atlantics Robinson Meyer found that the newest justice occasionally sided with the agency on major environmental cases. But Kavanaugh also often resisted the EPAs efforts to break new regulatory ground when it came to curbing carbon emissions to fight climate change. | Data for Progress has proposed a Green New Deal that would revive the Clean Power Plan. The plan was challenged in court, and in 2016 the Supreme Court blocked it from going into effect until the legal questions were resolved. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://newrepublic.com/article/153334/green-new-deal-survive-supreme-court | 0.272292 |
Would the Green New Deal Survive the Supreme Court? | The plan was soon challenged in court, and in 2016 the Supreme Court blocked it from going into effect until the legal questions were resolved. Justice Antonin Scalias death a few days later effectively tied the plans long-term fate to the outcome of the presidential election later that year. After Donald Trump too office, his first EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, began the process of repealing the Clean Power Plan. The agencys proposed replacement, unveiled last August, would shift much of the discretion to regulate coal-plant emissions to the states. (The legal challenges to the plan are on hold until the replacement process is complete.) Data for Progresss proposal would revive the plan, as well the legal challenges to it. The think tanks Green New Deal draws from other policy ideas developed under the Obama administration. Their paper recommends that the government fully enforce the strengthened National Ambient Air Quality Standards Act of 2015; that it strengthen and enforce Obama-era rules on methane leakage; that it reinstate and implement the Obama-era Clean Water Rule to limit pollution in a variety of streams, tributaries, and wetlands. Conservative critics have warned that the Green New Deal would turn America into Cuba or Venezuela, but the end goal looks more like what the EPA was already doing before Trump took over. The Roberts Court isnt completely hostile to efforts to combat climate change, as environmentalists have won some key victories there over the past decade. During the George W. Bush administration, top EPA officials claimed they didnt have the authority to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants under the Clean Air Act. A coalition of states and environmental groups challenged that finding in federal courts. In the landmark 2007 case Massachusetts v. EPA, the Supreme Court ruled that greenhouse gases fell under the acts broad definition of air pollutants, and that lawsuits against the EPA could go forward if the agency refused to regulate them. The justices later signed off on the Obama EPAs first effort to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. Justice Anthony Kennedy, the courts swing vote from 2005 to 2018, sided with the majority in both cases. But the rest of the courts conservatives generally resisted those rulings. In Massachusetts v. EPA, Roberts questioned whether the states had standing to bring the case at all, arguing that Massachusetts claimed injurythe loss of coastal land from rising sea levelscouldnt be directly tied to the EPAs actions. And in the 2014 case, justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas challenged the courts earlier determination that the Clean Air Act authorized the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases at all. Brett Kavanaughs confirmation to replace Kennedy last year raises the peril. Before joining the high court, Kavanaugh spent twelve years on the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, where he weighed in on multiple high-profile cases involving the EPA. In a survey of those decisions last year, The Atlantics Robinson Meyer found that the newest justice occasionally sided with the agency on major environmental cases. But Kavanaugh also often resisted the EPAs efforts to break new regulatory ground when it came to curbing carbon emissions to fight climate change. | Data for Progress has proposed a Green New Deal that would revive the Clean Power Plan. The plan was challenged in court, and in 2016 the Supreme Court blocked it from going into effect until the legal questions were resolved. The court's new justice, Brett Kavanaugh, has been a thorn in the side of environmentalists. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://newrepublic.com/article/153334/green-new-deal-survive-supreme-court | 0.298435 |
Did Trump Executive Orders Further Weaken FAA Oversight? | The Ethiopian Airlines crash has raised questions over the degree of oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Boeings development of the flight control system for the 737 MAX. While these questions are valid, its important to note that the FAA has been mandated to give more control over to aviation organizations, including manufacturers, over the years. Two Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump, that require the FAA to cut regulations further, may have tipped the balance by diminishing FAA authority and focusing the agency on working against its principal aim. In 1991, the Secretary of Transportation chartered FAA ARAC (Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committees) as a way for aviation organizations to take an active role in the drafting of major regulatory issues. ARAC is a cross-functional group that includes aviation companies, organizations, and representatives of the flying public. There are ARAC committee members representing all sectors of industry, from manufacturers to maintenance providers, flyers rights groups to airline groups, pilots unions, and flight attendants unions. While the core participants in the FAA ARAC are U.S.-based companies and organizations, there is also ad-hoc participation by representatives from partner authorities in Canada and Europe as well as certain manufacturers from outside of the U.S. The goal of ARAC was to maintain an active dialogue on regulation which would consider the needs of the industry and the requirements of safety, in an effort to make regulations work more effectively. Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13771 Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs required that the USDOT actively identify and cut back on regulations deemed cumbersome or costly to business, and required the elimination of two or more regulations for every new regulation added. The mandate of Executive Order 13777 Enforcing Regulatory Reform Agenda was to start this effort immediately and to engage industry stakeholders and manufacturers entities significantly affected by its regulations. For the FAA, these new EOs created a challenge. Regulations are an entanglement of dependenciesone regulation may reference several others. Deciding which thread to pull, without tearing the fabric, is complex and tedious. Still, the US DOT mandated that the FAA begin the process of review to reduce regulations. The FAA assigned this task to ARAC, effectively putting the question of what rules to cut and which to eliminate before creating new ones in the hands of a body that includes representatives from manufacturers and airlines. This move may have tipped the balance, with the FAA forced to put the interests of business ahead of aviation safety. It also sent a message that the FAAs scope of authority to ensure aviation safety was limited. ARACs efforts to comply with the new EOs issued by President Trump began in April of 2017. By June of 2017, the group had compiled 150 pages with over 300 suggestions of potential regulations that could be pulled from the books for meeting one or more of the criteria: that they were no longer necessary, that they were too cumbersome, or that they were too costly for the aviation industry. Even among the core U.S. contingent of ARAC, the lists of regulations facing the ax caused confusion and varying degrees of dissent. Christopher J. Witkowski, Director, Air Safety, Health and Security Department, Association of Flight AttendantsCWA, AFL-CIO issued the strongest dissent in a June 2017 letter to ARAC: The reason for AFA opposition to this EO, and the tasks emanating from it, is that the legislative power of the United States is vested in Congress. The deregulatory requirements and their terms in Executive Order 13771 have not been authorized by Congress. We have not found any statute that authorizes the FAA to condition promulgation of a new rule upon repeal of existing rules to offset the costs of the new one. The FAA may be reluctant to suspend activity on an executive order, even one that is outside of the law, but there is no good reason beyond administrative convenience that the ARAC should be pressed to approve elimination of a list of regulatory provisions, given the terms of EO 13771. Witkowski also objected to the methodology used to compile the recommendations, pointing to an imbalance in powers represented and the need for transparency on potential conflicts of interest. Regardless of the number of majority votes, ARAC generally operates on a consensus-based approach. Even if a simple majority of ARAC members vote in favor of sending the second Report to the FAA, it should not be sent unless there is wider consensus. Due to the significance of this vote on aviation safety deregulation, note should be made in the recordation and all descriptions of this vote as to each voting members organizational affiliation, such as whether they represent operators, manufacturers, contractors, airports, crew and other airline workers, or passengers. David Supplee, President Directing General Chair, IAMAW, expressed a similar concern succinctly, I dont believe it is our duty, as members of this ARAC team, to overturn regulations that were driven by legislation. Despite these objections, the work of ARAC in cutting regulations has continued apace. As minutes of a September 2018 meeting reveal, the list of potential regulations to be removed tallies around 90. The FAA has gone through the list of 90-ish items and separated them in four categories, which it is discussing with the DOT Regulatory Reform Task Force (RRTF), which meets on a monthly basis. Ms. [Lirio] Liu [Executive Director of the Office of Rulemaking in the Aviation Safety Organization] noted those four categories are: (1) suggestions of deregulatory items that were already in rulemaking; (2) items that would be a good candidates for rulemaking; (3) items that would be a good candidate for ARAC; and (4) items that present a challenge (statutory requirements, political considerations, safety concerns, etc.). Ms. Liu stated there are not many on the list in the last category items that present a challenge. Ms. Liu said FAA is working with the RRTF regularly to identify items off the list that FAA is going to start rolling into its rulemaking planMs. Liu said the FAA will be working through the list as needed the for the 2-for-1 offsets to balance its regulatory budget over the next few years. She noted it is an active and continuous program. | Two Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump may have tipped the balance by diminishing FAA authority. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2019/03/18/did-trump-executive-orders-further-weaken-faa-oversight/ | 0.193414 |
Did Trump Executive Orders Further Weaken FAA Oversight? | The Ethiopian Airlines crash has raised questions over the degree of oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Boeings development of the flight control system for the 737 MAX. While these questions are valid, its important to note that the FAA has been mandated to give more control over to aviation organizations, including manufacturers, over the years. Two Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump, that require the FAA to cut regulations further, may have tipped the balance by diminishing FAA authority and focusing the agency on working against its principal aim. In 1991, the Secretary of Transportation chartered FAA ARAC (Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committees) as a way for aviation organizations to take an active role in the drafting of major regulatory issues. ARAC is a cross-functional group that includes aviation companies, organizations, and representatives of the flying public. There are ARAC committee members representing all sectors of industry, from manufacturers to maintenance providers, flyers rights groups to airline groups, pilots unions, and flight attendants unions. While the core participants in the FAA ARAC are U.S.-based companies and organizations, there is also ad-hoc participation by representatives from partner authorities in Canada and Europe as well as certain manufacturers from outside of the U.S. The goal of ARAC was to maintain an active dialogue on regulation which would consider the needs of the industry and the requirements of safety, in an effort to make regulations work more effectively. Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13771 Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs required that the USDOT actively identify and cut back on regulations deemed cumbersome or costly to business, and required the elimination of two or more regulations for every new regulation added. The mandate of Executive Order 13777 Enforcing Regulatory Reform Agenda was to start this effort immediately and to engage industry stakeholders and manufacturers entities significantly affected by its regulations. For the FAA, these new EOs created a challenge. Regulations are an entanglement of dependenciesone regulation may reference several others. Deciding which thread to pull, without tearing the fabric, is complex and tedious. Still, the US DOT mandated that the FAA begin the process of review to reduce regulations. The FAA assigned this task to ARAC, effectively putting the question of what rules to cut and which to eliminate before creating new ones in the hands of a body that includes representatives from manufacturers and airlines. This move may have tipped the balance, with the FAA forced to put the interests of business ahead of aviation safety. It also sent a message that the FAAs scope of authority to ensure aviation safety was limited. ARACs efforts to comply with the new EOs issued by President Trump began in April of 2017. By June of 2017, the group had compiled 150 pages with over 300 suggestions of potential regulations that could be pulled from the books for meeting one or more of the criteria: that they were no longer necessary, that they were too cumbersome, or that they were too costly for the aviation industry. Even among the core U.S. contingent of ARAC, the lists of regulations facing the ax caused confusion and varying degrees of dissent. Christopher J. Witkowski, Director, Air Safety, Health and Security Department, Association of Flight AttendantsCWA, AFL-CIO issued the strongest dissent in a June 2017 letter to ARAC: The reason for AFA opposition to this EO, and the tasks emanating from it, is that the legislative power of the United States is vested in Congress. The deregulatory requirements and their terms in Executive Order 13771 have not been authorized by Congress. We have not found any statute that authorizes the FAA to condition promulgation of a new rule upon repeal of existing rules to offset the costs of the new one. The FAA may be reluctant to suspend activity on an executive order, even one that is outside of the law, but there is no good reason beyond administrative convenience that the ARAC should be pressed to approve elimination of a list of regulatory provisions, given the terms of EO 13771. Witkowski also objected to the methodology used to compile the recommendations, pointing to an imbalance in powers represented and the need for transparency on potential conflicts of interest. Regardless of the number of majority votes, ARAC generally operates on a consensus-based approach. Even if a simple majority of ARAC members vote in favor of sending the second Report to the FAA, it should not be sent unless there is wider consensus. Due to the significance of this vote on aviation safety deregulation, note should be made in the recordation and all descriptions of this vote as to each voting members organizational affiliation, such as whether they represent operators, manufacturers, contractors, airports, crew and other airline workers, or passengers. David Supplee, President Directing General Chair, IAMAW, expressed a similar concern succinctly, I dont believe it is our duty, as members of this ARAC team, to overturn regulations that were driven by legislation. Despite these objections, the work of ARAC in cutting regulations has continued apace. As minutes of a September 2018 meeting reveal, the list of potential regulations to be removed tallies around 90. The FAA has gone through the list of 90-ish items and separated them in four categories, which it is discussing with the DOT Regulatory Reform Task Force (RRTF), which meets on a monthly basis. Ms. [Lirio] Liu [Executive Director of the Office of Rulemaking in the Aviation Safety Organization] noted those four categories are: (1) suggestions of deregulatory items that were already in rulemaking; (2) items that would be a good candidates for rulemaking; (3) items that would be a good candidate for ARAC; and (4) items that present a challenge (statutory requirements, political considerations, safety concerns, etc.). Ms. Liu stated there are not many on the list in the last category items that present a challenge. Ms. Liu said FAA is working with the RRTF regularly to identify items off the list that FAA is going to start rolling into its rulemaking planMs. Liu said the FAA will be working through the list as needed the for the 2-for-1 offsets to balance its regulatory budget over the next few years. She noted it is an active and continuous program. | The Ethiopian Airlines crash has raised questions over the degree of oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) The FAA has been mandated to give more control over to aviation organizations, including manufacturers, over the years. Two Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump, that require the FAA to cut regulations further, may have tipped the balance. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisagarcia/2019/03/18/did-trump-executive-orders-further-weaken-faa-oversight/ | 0.307682 |
Which Double-Digit Seeds Have A Chance To Pull A First-Round NCAA Tournament Upset? | Murray State guard Ja Morant, left, will lead one of the top Cinderella candidates in the first round of the NCAA tournament against No. 5 seed Marquette. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) ASSOCIATED PRESS Nothing makes the opening weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament more fun for casual fans than watching small-conference underdogs advance. Think Loyola-Chicago and its legendary Sister Jean last year or the shocking win by UMBC over Virginia, the first time in tournament history that a No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1. Successfully picking upsets is also a favorite pastime of the millions of fans who fill out a bracket, but there is an art to that hobby. Youve got to be smart about picking the early upsets and the mid-major teams capable of making a deep run. Among double-digit seeds, it should come as no surprise that No. 10 seeds have the best shot at winning their first game. But if youre picking a team to make it as far as the Elite Eight or Final Four, your chances are better by going with a No. 11. And those No. 12s that get all the attention in the first round largely because at least one No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 in 75% of all NCAA tournaments have almost never made it past the Sweet 16. No. 11 seeds, though, have won 43% of the time once they reached the second round, 36% of the time in the Sweet 16 (better odds than No. 5, 6 and 10 seeds in that round) and 50% of the times they have advanced as far as the Elite Eight. With that in mind, lets look at the likely most popular upset specials in the tournament, which begins Thursday, including the opening betting lines from BetOnline.ag for the 4-13, 5-12, 6-11 and 7-10 games: NO. 4 VS. NO. 13 Kansas State (25-8) vs. UC-Irvine (30-5) BetOnline odds: Kansas State -6.5 This will be one of the most popular upset picks in the opening round, and the early odds reflect that. UC-Irvine comes streaking into the tournament (16 straight wins, including a rout of Cal State Fullerton in the Big West tournament final) against a Kansas State team that could be without All-Big 12 star Dean Wade. The senior missed the entire Big 12 tournament with a foot injury and was shown wearing a walking boot on television when the team gathered to learn of its first-round matchup. Coach Buzz Williams has been linked to the opening at Texas A&M after Billy Kennedys firing on Friday. Virginia Tech will get point guard Justin Robinson the Hokies career leader in assists back from a foot injury that kept him out of the ACC tournament. The Hokies beat ZionWilliamson-less Duke 77-72 on Feb. 26. However, Virginia Tech has not won an NCAA tournament game since 2007. St. Louis got an automatic bid by winning the Atlantic 10 conference tournament as the No. 6 seed. Florida State (27-7) vs. Vermont (27-6) BetOnline odds: Florida State -11.5 Vermont likes to slow things down and bang inside, relying heavily on the talents of junior forward Anthony Lamb (21.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), the America East Player of the Year. If the Catamounts can get the Seminoles into foul trouble, they shoot 75% from the foul line. Florida State is the biggest favorite among the No. 4 seeds after winning 14 of its last 16 games, with the only losses coming against No. 1 overall seed Duke (73-63) in the ACC tournament final and at No. 3 overall seed North Carolina (77-59) on Feb. 23. Kansas (25-9) vs. Northeastern (23-10) BetOnline odds: Kansas -8 This is an unusual position for a Kansas program that is accustomed to entering as Big 12 champion it lost a streak of consecutive conference titles that dated back to 2004 and with a high seed. The Jayhawks had been a No. 1 or 2 in nine straight years. They were last as low as a No. 3 seed in 2009 and a No. 4 seed in 2006. They lost center Udoka Azubuikie to a knee injury in January and had guard Lagerald Vick leave the team in February, leaving them short-handed for the postseason. Probably not in this game. Northeastern upset CAA regular-season champion Hofstra in the leagues tournament final to steal the automatic bid. The Huskies could make it interesting if they heat up from 3-point range, where they shoot 38.8%. Should the Jayhawks advance, theyll be on upset watch against the Auburn-New Mexico State winner. Oregon players celebrate after beating Washington 68-48 in the Pac-12 tournament finals, the Ducks' eighth victory in a row. Oregon will be a No. 12 seed when it faces fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (AP Photo/John ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 5 VS. NO. 12 Wisconsin (23-10) vs. Oregon (23-12) BetOnline odds: Wisconsin -1.5 Oregon will probably be the most popular upset choice among No. 12 seeds, as the Ducks may be one of the hottest teams in the nation entering the tournament. They smashed top-seeded Washington 68-48 in Saturdays Pac-12 tournament final and have won eight in a row after going through a February lull. Wisconsin is 6-4 in its last 10, although three of those losses were to high-seeded tournament teams (twice to Michigan State in the regular season and in the Big Ten semifinals and at Michigan) and the other was in double overtime at Indiana. However, five of the six wins were by six points or less. This one might very well come down to a shot at the buzzer. Marquette (24-9) vs. Murray State (27-4) BetOnline odds: Marquette -4 Tournament organizers had to be thrilled when Murray State beat Belmont in the OVC finals since that meant that likely NBA first-round pick Ja Morant would be in the field. The sophomore (24.6 ppg, 10 apg) is the only player in the country averaging at least 20 points and eight assists per game. Marquette was on pace to get a higher seed than this at midseason thanks to wins over Louisville, Kansas State, Villanova, Buffalo and Wisconsin all seeded seventh or better in this tournament but faded badly as the calendar switched to March. The Golden Eagles have lost five of their last six games, all of which came by single digits. Murray State has won 11 in a row. Mississippi State (23-10) vs. Liberty (28-6) BetOnline odds: Mississippi State -7 Mississippi State doesnt exactly enter the tournament with a ton of momentum. After winning 12 of its first 13 games including wins over Clemson and Cincinnati the Bulldogs slid to the middle of the pack in a challenging SEC. This is Mississippi States first tournament appearance in a decade, and it comes against a Liberty squad that grinds games to a slow pace and shoots a high percentage from the floor (56.1%). The Flames played two SEC teams that did not make the tournament field, losing 79-70 at Vanderbilt when Commodores star Darius Garland (33 points in that game) was still healthy and 84-75 against Alabama. They have won five in a row after beating top-seeded Lipscomb 74-68 in the Atlantic Sun finals. Auburn (26-9) vs. New Mexico State (30-4) BetOnline odds: Auburn -7.5 All of the 12 seeds will be popular upset picks after all, No. 12 seeds are a highly respectable 16-24 against No. 5 seeds in the last decade but this one features the longest odds to start. Both teams come in hot, as Auburn just ripped through Tennessee to win the SEC tournament and has won 10 of its last 11. Meanwhile, New Mexico State has won 19 in a row since dropping its WAC opener against Cal Baptist. Included in NMSUs four losses is a 63-60 loss to fourth-seeded Kansas, which the winner of this game could face in the second round. St. Mary's Jordan Ford, center, and teammates celebrate after defeating Gonzaga 60-47 for the West Coast Conference tournament title. (AP Photo/John Locher) ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 6 VS. NO. 11 Iowa State (23-11) vs. Ohio State (19-14) BetOnline odds: Iowa State -6 Iowa State dropped its last three games of the regular season, but it reversed face by sweeping through the Big 12 tournament, including a 78-66 win over Kansas in the tournament final. The Cyclones went 6-3 against ranked opponents this season, including wins in four of the last five such opportunities. They are one of the tournaments feel-good stories after finishing last in their conference a year ago. Ohio State has been highly mediocre since mid-February. Starting with a home loss to Illinois on Valentines Day, the Buckeyes have dropped seven of their last 10 games. However, Kaleb Wessons return will help the Buckeyes chances of advancing. Villanova (25-9) vs. St. Marys (22-11) BetOnline odds: Villanova -5 Prior to its shocking win over No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference finals, St. Marys might not have done enough to be in this field at all. After all, the Gaels lost 94-46 to Gonzaga just over a month ago. But here they are, facing a program that St. Marys victimized in its last major shocker, a 2010 win over Villanova in the second round of the 2010 NCAA tournament. Defending national champion Villanova now features four freshmen and a graduate transfer who werent around to cut down the nets a year ago. They didnt look like championship material when they went 4-4 in February, but the Wildcats have since won four of their last five, including a 74-72 win over Seton Hall on Saturday to claim their third straight Big East tournament title. A stat to watch: St. Marys plays excellent perimeter defense, holding opponents to 31.8% shooting from 3-point range. Nearly 43% of Villanovas scoring comes from beyond the 3-point line, as the Wildcats have hit 35.3% of their 361 attempts. Maryland (22-10) vs. Belmont/Temple BetOnline odds: TBA This could be a scary matchup for Maryland, especially if Belmont advances out of Tuesdays First Four game against Temple (Belmont is favored by 3). Belmont had won 14 in a row before losing to Murray State in the OVC championship game, with the Bruins featuring an high-scoring offense (87.4 ppg, second in the nation) led by double-double machine Dylan Windler (21.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg). Maryland has lost three of its last four, including a flat showing against Nebraska in its first game in the Big Ten tournament. Buffalo (31-3) vs. Arizona State/St. Johns BetOnline odds: TBA Arizona State is a 1-point favorite to advance into the full bracket, where it would meet a fellow run-and-gun offense. It could be a high-scoring affair, since Buffalo ranks fifth nationally in scoring at 85 ppg and Arizona State is 58th at 77.7. Buffalo has been ranked for much of the season and claimed the highest seed ever for a MAC squad since the field expanded. The Bulls have won 12 in a row, but they will not be as battle-tested as Arizona State. The Sun Devils two losses in their last eight games both came against red-hot Oregon, including an overtime defeat in the Pac-12 semifinals. Wofford guard Fletcher Magee (3) has hit 151 3-pointers and is averaging 20.5 ppg entering a first-round matchup against Seton Hall in the NCAA tournament. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 7 VS. NO. 10 Wofford (29-4) vs. Seton Hall (20-13) BetOnline odds: Wofford -3 Wofford will be a popular Cinderella choice thanks to its ability to shoot the 3 (41.6%), put points on the board (83 ppg) and take care of the basketball (1.4 assist-turnover ratio). The Terriers cracked the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time ever earlier this season. Fletcher Magee has hit 151 3-pointers by himself and leads the Terriers with 20.5 ppg. The Terriers have won 20 in a row dating back to their 98-87 loss at Mississippi State on Dec. 19. Seton Hall comes in having won just four of its last eight. However, that stretch includes two wins over Marquette, a narrow win over Villanova and a 74-72 loss to Villanova in the Big East finals. This is Seton Halls fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance, leaning on a tough defense and a talented scorer in Myles Powell (22.9 ppg), who has scored 20 points or more in his last seven games. The winner of this one could give Kentucky a difficult time in the second round. Cincinnati (28-6) vs. Iowa (22-11) BetOnline odds: Cincinnati -4 Cincinnati just won the AAC tournament title and might as well be playing this game on its home court. The selection committee did the Bearcats a solid by putting Fridays game in Columbus, Ohio, just up the road from campus. Mick Cronins team is outstanding on defense, having surrendered more than 70 points in just five games this season. Meanwhile, Iowa has been a total mess down the stretch. The Hawkeyes have lost six of their last eight games, and three of those losses were by 20 points or more. Honestly, its surprising that the Bearcats arent favored by more against the Big Ten also-rans. Nevada (29-4) vs. Florida (19-15) BetOnline odds: Florida -2 The seedings say one thing here, but the betting odds say another. Florida is actually favored to advance into a likely second-round matchup with Michigan. This is the only game where a double-digit seed is the early betting favorite. However, Nevada was a No. 7 seed last year and it won twice to reach the Sweet 16. The Wolf Pack lost in the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament, but won a share of the conferences regular-season title and was virtually guaranteed a spot in the field. Florida was a borderline tournament entrant, although its strength of schedule probably pushed the Gators into the Big Dance. They played the nations 21st-toughest schedule according to CBS analyst Jerry Palm. They have lost four of their last six games, although three of the losses were to NCAA tournament teams (LSU, Kentucky and Auburn). Louisville (20-13) vs. Minnesota (21-13) BetOnline odds: Louisville -4.5 The obvious storyline here is Minnesotas Richard Pitino coaching against his dad Ricks old program. Thats more interesting than evaluating it as a matchup between somewhat mediocre teams. They both have wins against highly seeded opponents (Louisville beat Big Ten champ Michigan State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, while Minnesota has beaten Washington and Purdue twice). Louisville has the more impressive resume, having smashed UNC by 21 points in Chapel Hill and taken a huge lead over No. 1 overall seed Duke before blowing it. The Cardinals are 53-11 all-time in the NCAA tournament as the higher-seeded team, but have lost seven of their last 10. Minnesota is 5-8 since losing 73-63 at Purdue on Feb. 3 and just lost 76-49 to Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals on Saturday. NUMBERS OF NOTE 1: Three teams from the ACC (Duke, Virginia and North Carolina) received No. 1 seeds. The only other time one conference got three No. 1 seeds in the same year was the Big East in 2009 with UConn, Pittsburgh and Louisville. In 2009, the final No. 1 seed (North Carolina) won the national title, which may be a good omen for this years other No. 1, Gonzaga. 4: The last four in: Belmont, Temple, Arizona State, St. Johns. That left out borderline tournament candidates like UNC-Greensboro, Alabama, Indiana and TCU. 7: There are seven at-large teams in the field that are not members of a Power 6 conference (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC). Thats two more than last year and the most since there were seven in 2015. There were 10 non-Power 6, at-large teams in 2014. 8: The conference with the most teams in the field is the Big Ten with eight. The ACC and SEC both had seven and the Big 12 had six. 8 again: The lowest seed ever to reach the championship game is a No. 8 seed. That has happened four times: UCLA (1980), Villanova (1985), Butler (2011) and Kentucky (2014). 11: The lowest-seeded teams to reach the Final Four were No. 11 seeds. It has happened four times: LSU (1986), George Mason (2006), VCU (2011) and Loyola-Chicago (2018). .500: In the first-round games between No. 8 and 9 seeds, the results are incredibly even. Both seeds have won exactly 68 games in the first round over the last 34 years. ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (FIRST ROUND) No. 10: 52-84 (38.2%) No. 11: 50-86 (36.8%) No. 12: 47-89 (34.6%) No. 13: 28-108 (20.6%) No. 14: 21-115 (15.4%) No. 15: 8-128 (5.9%) No. 16: 1-135 (0.7%) ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (SECOND ROUND) No. 10: 23-29 (44.2%) No. 11: 22-29 (43.1%) No. 12: 20-27 (42.6%) No. 13: 6-22 (21.4%) No. 14: 2-19 (9.5%) No. 15: 1-7 (12.5%) No. 16: 0-1 (0%) ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (SWEET 16) | There is an art to picking upsets in the NCAA basketball tournament. Among double-digit seeds, it should come as no surprise that No. 10 seeds have the best shot at winning their first game. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidching/2019/03/18/evaluating-top-double-digit-seeds-chances-of-pulling-a-first-round-ncaa-tournament-upset/ | 0.371269 |
Which Double-Digit Seeds Have A Chance To Pull A First-Round NCAA Tournament Upset? | Murray State guard Ja Morant, left, will lead one of the top Cinderella candidates in the first round of the NCAA tournament against No. 5 seed Marquette. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) ASSOCIATED PRESS Nothing makes the opening weekend of the NCAA basketball tournament more fun for casual fans than watching small-conference underdogs advance. Think Loyola-Chicago and its legendary Sister Jean last year or the shocking win by UMBC over Virginia, the first time in tournament history that a No. 16 seed has defeated a No. 1. Successfully picking upsets is also a favorite pastime of the millions of fans who fill out a bracket, but there is an art to that hobby. Youve got to be smart about picking the early upsets and the mid-major teams capable of making a deep run. Among double-digit seeds, it should come as no surprise that No. 10 seeds have the best shot at winning their first game. But if youre picking a team to make it as far as the Elite Eight or Final Four, your chances are better by going with a No. 11. And those No. 12s that get all the attention in the first round largely because at least one No. 12 seed has defeated a No. 5 in 75% of all NCAA tournaments have almost never made it past the Sweet 16. No. 11 seeds, though, have won 43% of the time once they reached the second round, 36% of the time in the Sweet 16 (better odds than No. 5, 6 and 10 seeds in that round) and 50% of the times they have advanced as far as the Elite Eight. With that in mind, lets look at the likely most popular upset specials in the tournament, which begins Thursday, including the opening betting lines from BetOnline.ag for the 4-13, 5-12, 6-11 and 7-10 games: NO. 4 VS. NO. 13 Kansas State (25-8) vs. UC-Irvine (30-5) BetOnline odds: Kansas State -6.5 This will be one of the most popular upset picks in the opening round, and the early odds reflect that. UC-Irvine comes streaking into the tournament (16 straight wins, including a rout of Cal State Fullerton in the Big West tournament final) against a Kansas State team that could be without All-Big 12 star Dean Wade. The senior missed the entire Big 12 tournament with a foot injury and was shown wearing a walking boot on television when the team gathered to learn of its first-round matchup. Coach Buzz Williams has been linked to the opening at Texas A&M after Billy Kennedys firing on Friday. Virginia Tech will get point guard Justin Robinson the Hokies career leader in assists back from a foot injury that kept him out of the ACC tournament. The Hokies beat ZionWilliamson-less Duke 77-72 on Feb. 26. However, Virginia Tech has not won an NCAA tournament game since 2007. St. Louis got an automatic bid by winning the Atlantic 10 conference tournament as the No. 6 seed. Florida State (27-7) vs. Vermont (27-6) BetOnline odds: Florida State -11.5 Vermont likes to slow things down and bang inside, relying heavily on the talents of junior forward Anthony Lamb (21.4 ppg, 7.8 rpg), the America East Player of the Year. If the Catamounts can get the Seminoles into foul trouble, they shoot 75% from the foul line. Florida State is the biggest favorite among the No. 4 seeds after winning 14 of its last 16 games, with the only losses coming against No. 1 overall seed Duke (73-63) in the ACC tournament final and at No. 3 overall seed North Carolina (77-59) on Feb. 23. Kansas (25-9) vs. Northeastern (23-10) BetOnline odds: Kansas -8 This is an unusual position for a Kansas program that is accustomed to entering as Big 12 champion it lost a streak of consecutive conference titles that dated back to 2004 and with a high seed. The Jayhawks had been a No. 1 or 2 in nine straight years. They were last as low as a No. 3 seed in 2009 and a No. 4 seed in 2006. They lost center Udoka Azubuikie to a knee injury in January and had guard Lagerald Vick leave the team in February, leaving them short-handed for the postseason. Probably not in this game. Northeastern upset CAA regular-season champion Hofstra in the leagues tournament final to steal the automatic bid. The Huskies could make it interesting if they heat up from 3-point range, where they shoot 38.8%. Should the Jayhawks advance, theyll be on upset watch against the Auburn-New Mexico State winner. Oregon players celebrate after beating Washington 68-48 in the Pac-12 tournament finals, the Ducks' eighth victory in a row. Oregon will be a No. 12 seed when it faces fifth-seeded Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. (AP Photo/John ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 5 VS. NO. 12 Wisconsin (23-10) vs. Oregon (23-12) BetOnline odds: Wisconsin -1.5 Oregon will probably be the most popular upset choice among No. 12 seeds, as the Ducks may be one of the hottest teams in the nation entering the tournament. They smashed top-seeded Washington 68-48 in Saturdays Pac-12 tournament final and have won eight in a row after going through a February lull. Wisconsin is 6-4 in its last 10, although three of those losses were to high-seeded tournament teams (twice to Michigan State in the regular season and in the Big Ten semifinals and at Michigan) and the other was in double overtime at Indiana. However, five of the six wins were by six points or less. This one might very well come down to a shot at the buzzer. Marquette (24-9) vs. Murray State (27-4) BetOnline odds: Marquette -4 Tournament organizers had to be thrilled when Murray State beat Belmont in the OVC finals since that meant that likely NBA first-round pick Ja Morant would be in the field. The sophomore (24.6 ppg, 10 apg) is the only player in the country averaging at least 20 points and eight assists per game. Marquette was on pace to get a higher seed than this at midseason thanks to wins over Louisville, Kansas State, Villanova, Buffalo and Wisconsin all seeded seventh or better in this tournament but faded badly as the calendar switched to March. The Golden Eagles have lost five of their last six games, all of which came by single digits. Murray State has won 11 in a row. Mississippi State (23-10) vs. Liberty (28-6) BetOnline odds: Mississippi State -7 Mississippi State doesnt exactly enter the tournament with a ton of momentum. After winning 12 of its first 13 games including wins over Clemson and Cincinnati the Bulldogs slid to the middle of the pack in a challenging SEC. This is Mississippi States first tournament appearance in a decade, and it comes against a Liberty squad that grinds games to a slow pace and shoots a high percentage from the floor (56.1%). The Flames played two SEC teams that did not make the tournament field, losing 79-70 at Vanderbilt when Commodores star Darius Garland (33 points in that game) was still healthy and 84-75 against Alabama. They have won five in a row after beating top-seeded Lipscomb 74-68 in the Atlantic Sun finals. Auburn (26-9) vs. New Mexico State (30-4) BetOnline odds: Auburn -7.5 All of the 12 seeds will be popular upset picks after all, No. 12 seeds are a highly respectable 16-24 against No. 5 seeds in the last decade but this one features the longest odds to start. Both teams come in hot, as Auburn just ripped through Tennessee to win the SEC tournament and has won 10 of its last 11. Meanwhile, New Mexico State has won 19 in a row since dropping its WAC opener against Cal Baptist. Included in NMSUs four losses is a 63-60 loss to fourth-seeded Kansas, which the winner of this game could face in the second round. St. Mary's Jordan Ford, center, and teammates celebrate after defeating Gonzaga 60-47 for the West Coast Conference tournament title. (AP Photo/John Locher) ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 6 VS. NO. 11 Iowa State (23-11) vs. Ohio State (19-14) BetOnline odds: Iowa State -6 Iowa State dropped its last three games of the regular season, but it reversed face by sweeping through the Big 12 tournament, including a 78-66 win over Kansas in the tournament final. The Cyclones went 6-3 against ranked opponents this season, including wins in four of the last five such opportunities. They are one of the tournaments feel-good stories after finishing last in their conference a year ago. Ohio State has been highly mediocre since mid-February. Starting with a home loss to Illinois on Valentines Day, the Buckeyes have dropped seven of their last 10 games. However, Kaleb Wessons return will help the Buckeyes chances of advancing. Villanova (25-9) vs. St. Marys (22-11) BetOnline odds: Villanova -5 Prior to its shocking win over No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the West Coast Conference finals, St. Marys might not have done enough to be in this field at all. After all, the Gaels lost 94-46 to Gonzaga just over a month ago. But here they are, facing a program that St. Marys victimized in its last major shocker, a 2010 win over Villanova in the second round of the 2010 NCAA tournament. Defending national champion Villanova now features four freshmen and a graduate transfer who werent around to cut down the nets a year ago. They didnt look like championship material when they went 4-4 in February, but the Wildcats have since won four of their last five, including a 74-72 win over Seton Hall on Saturday to claim their third straight Big East tournament title. A stat to watch: St. Marys plays excellent perimeter defense, holding opponents to 31.8% shooting from 3-point range. Nearly 43% of Villanovas scoring comes from beyond the 3-point line, as the Wildcats have hit 35.3% of their 361 attempts. Maryland (22-10) vs. Belmont/Temple BetOnline odds: TBA This could be a scary matchup for Maryland, especially if Belmont advances out of Tuesdays First Four game against Temple (Belmont is favored by 3). Belmont had won 14 in a row before losing to Murray State in the OVC championship game, with the Bruins featuring an high-scoring offense (87.4 ppg, second in the nation) led by double-double machine Dylan Windler (21.4 ppg, 10.7 rpg). Maryland has lost three of its last four, including a flat showing against Nebraska in its first game in the Big Ten tournament. Buffalo (31-3) vs. Arizona State/St. Johns BetOnline odds: TBA Arizona State is a 1-point favorite to advance into the full bracket, where it would meet a fellow run-and-gun offense. It could be a high-scoring affair, since Buffalo ranks fifth nationally in scoring at 85 ppg and Arizona State is 58th at 77.7. Buffalo has been ranked for much of the season and claimed the highest seed ever for a MAC squad since the field expanded. The Bulls have won 12 in a row, but they will not be as battle-tested as Arizona State. The Sun Devils two losses in their last eight games both came against red-hot Oregon, including an overtime defeat in the Pac-12 semifinals. Wofford guard Fletcher Magee (3) has hit 151 3-pointers and is averaging 20.5 ppg entering a first-round matchup against Seton Hall in the NCAA tournament. (AP Photo/Wade Payne) ASSOCIATED PRESS NO. 7 VS. NO. 10 Wofford (29-4) vs. Seton Hall (20-13) BetOnline odds: Wofford -3 Wofford will be a popular Cinderella choice thanks to its ability to shoot the 3 (41.6%), put points on the board (83 ppg) and take care of the basketball (1.4 assist-turnover ratio). The Terriers cracked the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time ever earlier this season. Fletcher Magee has hit 151 3-pointers by himself and leads the Terriers with 20.5 ppg. The Terriers have won 20 in a row dating back to their 98-87 loss at Mississippi State on Dec. 19. Seton Hall comes in having won just four of its last eight. However, that stretch includes two wins over Marquette, a narrow win over Villanova and a 74-72 loss to Villanova in the Big East finals. This is Seton Halls fourth straight NCAA tournament appearance, leaning on a tough defense and a talented scorer in Myles Powell (22.9 ppg), who has scored 20 points or more in his last seven games. The winner of this one could give Kentucky a difficult time in the second round. Cincinnati (28-6) vs. Iowa (22-11) BetOnline odds: Cincinnati -4 Cincinnati just won the AAC tournament title and might as well be playing this game on its home court. The selection committee did the Bearcats a solid by putting Fridays game in Columbus, Ohio, just up the road from campus. Mick Cronins team is outstanding on defense, having surrendered more than 70 points in just five games this season. Meanwhile, Iowa has been a total mess down the stretch. The Hawkeyes have lost six of their last eight games, and three of those losses were by 20 points or more. Honestly, its surprising that the Bearcats arent favored by more against the Big Ten also-rans. Nevada (29-4) vs. Florida (19-15) BetOnline odds: Florida -2 The seedings say one thing here, but the betting odds say another. Florida is actually favored to advance into a likely second-round matchup with Michigan. This is the only game where a double-digit seed is the early betting favorite. However, Nevada was a No. 7 seed last year and it won twice to reach the Sweet 16. The Wolf Pack lost in the semifinals of the Mountain West tournament, but won a share of the conferences regular-season title and was virtually guaranteed a spot in the field. Florida was a borderline tournament entrant, although its strength of schedule probably pushed the Gators into the Big Dance. They played the nations 21st-toughest schedule according to CBS analyst Jerry Palm. They have lost four of their last six games, although three of the losses were to NCAA tournament teams (LSU, Kentucky and Auburn). Louisville (20-13) vs. Minnesota (21-13) BetOnline odds: Louisville -4.5 The obvious storyline here is Minnesotas Richard Pitino coaching against his dad Ricks old program. Thats more interesting than evaluating it as a matchup between somewhat mediocre teams. They both have wins against highly seeded opponents (Louisville beat Big Ten champ Michigan State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech, while Minnesota has beaten Washington and Purdue twice). Louisville has the more impressive resume, having smashed UNC by 21 points in Chapel Hill and taken a huge lead over No. 1 overall seed Duke before blowing it. The Cardinals are 53-11 all-time in the NCAA tournament as the higher-seeded team, but have lost seven of their last 10. Minnesota is 5-8 since losing 73-63 at Purdue on Feb. 3 and just lost 76-49 to Michigan in the Big Ten semifinals on Saturday. NUMBERS OF NOTE 1: Three teams from the ACC (Duke, Virginia and North Carolina) received No. 1 seeds. The only other time one conference got three No. 1 seeds in the same year was the Big East in 2009 with UConn, Pittsburgh and Louisville. In 2009, the final No. 1 seed (North Carolina) won the national title, which may be a good omen for this years other No. 1, Gonzaga. 4: The last four in: Belmont, Temple, Arizona State, St. Johns. That left out borderline tournament candidates like UNC-Greensboro, Alabama, Indiana and TCU. 7: There are seven at-large teams in the field that are not members of a Power 6 conference (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, Pac-12, SEC). Thats two more than last year and the most since there were seven in 2015. There were 10 non-Power 6, at-large teams in 2014. 8: The conference with the most teams in the field is the Big Ten with eight. The ACC and SEC both had seven and the Big 12 had six. 8 again: The lowest seed ever to reach the championship game is a No. 8 seed. That has happened four times: UCLA (1980), Villanova (1985), Butler (2011) and Kentucky (2014). 11: The lowest-seeded teams to reach the Final Four were No. 11 seeds. It has happened four times: LSU (1986), George Mason (2006), VCU (2011) and Loyola-Chicago (2018). .500: In the first-round games between No. 8 and 9 seeds, the results are incredibly even. Both seeds have won exactly 68 games in the first round over the last 34 years. ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (FIRST ROUND) No. 10: 52-84 (38.2%) No. 11: 50-86 (36.8%) No. 12: 47-89 (34.6%) No. 13: 28-108 (20.6%) No. 14: 21-115 (15.4%) No. 15: 8-128 (5.9%) No. 16: 1-135 (0.7%) ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (SECOND ROUND) No. 10: 23-29 (44.2%) No. 11: 22-29 (43.1%) No. 12: 20-27 (42.6%) No. 13: 6-22 (21.4%) No. 14: 2-19 (9.5%) No. 15: 1-7 (12.5%) No. 16: 0-1 (0%) ALL-TIME RECORDS BY DOUBLE-DIGIT SEEDS (SWEET 16) | Murray State guard Ja Morant will lead one of the top Cinderella candidates in the first round of the NCAA tournament against No. 5 seed Marquette. Among double-digit seeds, it should come as no surprise that No. 10 seeds have the best shot at winning their first game. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidching/2019/03/18/evaluating-top-double-digit-seeds-chances-of-pulling-a-first-round-ncaa-tournament-upset/ | 0.285245 |
What is Britain's next move on Brexit? | LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal at the third time of asking, before heading to Brussels to request a short delay to the withdrawal process. FILE PHOTO: A person walks over a bridge with the Houses of Parliament in the background, in London, Britain January 29, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls In three days of high-stakes voting in parliament last week, lawmakers determined that they did not support Mays exit deal, did not want to leave the European Union without any deal, and wanted a delay to the March 29 exit day to resolve the impasse. May has told lawmakers they have two choices: back my deal and face a short delay, or reject it and face a much longer one. Heres what is expected to happen in the coming days: BREXIT VOTE: TAKE THREE May has said her preference is for short delay to Brexit. This means, according to her own assessment, that she needs to hold a third vote in Britains 650-seat parliament on her deal before an EU summit on March 21-22. That gives her until Wednesday to overturn the 149-vote defeat she suffered on March 12. On Sunday, trade minister Liam Fox said it would be difficult to justify holding a third vote if the government knew if was going to lose. Some have suggested the vote could yet take place after the EU summit. EU COUNCIL When EU heads of government meet in Brussels on Thursday, May will use the summit to request an extension to the two-year Brexit negotiating period that is due to end on March 29. The outcome of these talks will be determined by whether or not parliament has approved Mays deal, and what conditions the EU attaches to a delay. Any delay requires agreement of all other 27 EU members. If Mays deal is rejected again, ministers have warned that the EU is only likely to agree to a longer delay, and that an alternative approach to Brexit would need to be found. In this scenario, her government has said it is willing to find a way to allow parliament to seek a majority for an alternative path. The government has not yet been specific about how this would work, but a sizeable contingent of lawmakers wants it to involve holding a series of indicative votes on different options in order to determine which, if any, could command majority support in the House of Commons. | British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal at the third time of asking. | bart | 0 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-future-factbox/what-is-britains-next-move-on-brexit-idUSKCN1QZ18X?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.120067 |
What is Britain's next move on Brexit? | LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal at the third time of asking, before heading to Brussels to request a short delay to the withdrawal process. FILE PHOTO: A person walks over a bridge with the Houses of Parliament in the background, in London, Britain January 29, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls In three days of high-stakes voting in parliament last week, lawmakers determined that they did not support Mays exit deal, did not want to leave the European Union without any deal, and wanted a delay to the March 29 exit day to resolve the impasse. May has told lawmakers they have two choices: back my deal and face a short delay, or reject it and face a much longer one. Heres what is expected to happen in the coming days: BREXIT VOTE: TAKE THREE May has said her preference is for short delay to Brexit. This means, according to her own assessment, that she needs to hold a third vote in Britains 650-seat parliament on her deal before an EU summit on March 21-22. That gives her until Wednesday to overturn the 149-vote defeat she suffered on March 12. On Sunday, trade minister Liam Fox said it would be difficult to justify holding a third vote if the government knew if was going to lose. Some have suggested the vote could yet take place after the EU summit. EU COUNCIL When EU heads of government meet in Brussels on Thursday, May will use the summit to request an extension to the two-year Brexit negotiating period that is due to end on March 29. The outcome of these talks will be determined by whether or not parliament has approved Mays deal, and what conditions the EU attaches to a delay. Any delay requires agreement of all other 27 EU members. If Mays deal is rejected again, ministers have warned that the EU is only likely to agree to a longer delay, and that an alternative approach to Brexit would need to be found. In this scenario, her government has said it is willing to find a way to allow parliament to seek a majority for an alternative path. The government has not yet been specific about how this would work, but a sizeable contingent of lawmakers wants it to involve holding a series of indicative votes on different options in order to determine which, if any, could command majority support in the House of Commons. | British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal. In three days of high-stakes voting last week, lawmakers determined that they did not support Mays exit deal. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-future-factbox/what-is-britains-next-move-on-brexit-idUSKCN1QZ18X?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.141786 |
What is Britain's next move on Brexit? | LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal at the third time of asking, before heading to Brussels to request a short delay to the withdrawal process. FILE PHOTO: A person walks over a bridge with the Houses of Parliament in the background, in London, Britain January 29, 2019. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls In three days of high-stakes voting in parliament last week, lawmakers determined that they did not support Mays exit deal, did not want to leave the European Union without any deal, and wanted a delay to the March 29 exit day to resolve the impasse. May has told lawmakers they have two choices: back my deal and face a short delay, or reject it and face a much longer one. Heres what is expected to happen in the coming days: BREXIT VOTE: TAKE THREE May has said her preference is for short delay to Brexit. This means, according to her own assessment, that she needs to hold a third vote in Britains 650-seat parliament on her deal before an EU summit on March 21-22. That gives her until Wednesday to overturn the 149-vote defeat she suffered on March 12. On Sunday, trade minister Liam Fox said it would be difficult to justify holding a third vote if the government knew if was going to lose. Some have suggested the vote could yet take place after the EU summit. EU COUNCIL When EU heads of government meet in Brussels on Thursday, May will use the summit to request an extension to the two-year Brexit negotiating period that is due to end on March 29. The outcome of these talks will be determined by whether or not parliament has approved Mays deal, and what conditions the EU attaches to a delay. Any delay requires agreement of all other 27 EU members. If Mays deal is rejected again, ministers have warned that the EU is only likely to agree to a longer delay, and that an alternative approach to Brexit would need to be found. In this scenario, her government has said it is willing to find a way to allow parliament to seek a majority for an alternative path. The government has not yet been specific about how this would work, but a sizeable contingent of lawmakers wants it to involve holding a series of indicative votes on different options in order to determine which, if any, could command majority support in the House of Commons. | British Prime Minister Theresa May is expected this week to try to persuade parliament to approve her Brexit deal at the third time of asking. In three days of high-stakes voting in parliament last week, lawmakers determined that they did not support Mays exit deal. May will then head to Brussels to request a short delay to the withdrawal process. | bart | 2 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-future-factbox/what-is-britains-next-move-on-brexit-idUSKCN1QZ18X?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.199052 |
Should we change the primary calendar to de-emphasize Iowa? | As the 2020 primary season kicks into full force, many are questioning why, yet again, Iowa and New Hampshire have the honor of casting the first votes in the presidential nomination process. For decades the states, two of the smallest and least racially diverse in the nation, have put their seal of approval or condemnation on candidates. Some say these states, with their emphasis on retail politics, help candidates with less money and name recognition have a chance. FiveThirtyEight recently weighed in on potentially re-ordering the primary calendar, putting more of an emphasis on states with demographics that represent the nation as a whole. Iowa and New Hampshire are very white and lean more evangelical Christian than the rest of the nation, changing who they throw their support behind in these early contests. The early states play a key role in winnowing the candidate field, and a state electorate that looks more like the party as a whole may vote in a way that better reflects the opinion of Democrats across the country. ...Illinois is the state whose population comes closest to being a cross section of Democratic voters.So under this hypothetical where Democrats prioritize states that best reflect their party, Illinois would go first in the nominating process, and Iowa and New Hampshire would move toward the back of the line. Now, if this calendar followed the current setup where four carve-out states vote by themselves at the start of the primary process, the three states after Illinois would be New Jersey, New York and Florida. Just after the first four would be Nevada, which currently goes third, reflecting the fact that there has been some effort to increase diversity at the start of the real presidential primary calendar. We Re-Ordered The Entire Democratic Primary Calendar To Better Represent The Partys Voters Some larger states have already begun pushing back against Iowa and New Hampshires primacy in the presidential race. California and Texas have both opened up early voting in their states, beginning at the same time as Iowans are caucusing for their candidates. Per NBC News: The explosion of early voting and reshuffling of the primary calendar in 2020 could transform the Democratic presidential nominating contest, potentially diminishing the power of the traditional, tiny and homogeneous early states in favor of much larger and more diverse battlegrounds. That would be a boon to the best-known candidates with warchests sizable enough to compete in big states early. And it would empower black and Hispanic voters in large, multiracial states like California, which was a virtual afterthought at the back of the primary calendar in 2016. Criticism has mounted for years about the primacy of New Hampshire and Iowa, which are both around 90 percent white. "Candidates will not be able to ignore the largest, most diverse state in the nation," California Secretary of State Alex Padilla said when the state moved its primary last year. 2020 Democratic primary: California and Texas look to become the new Iowa and New Hampshire Residents of Iowa and New Hampshire, however, vehemently argue they deserve their First In The Nation status. They claim their smallness allows voters to get to know candidates in a way they would not be able to in other, larger states. Per NPR: Iowa's smallness is in some ways a feature, not a bug, in that it allows less well funded candidates a fair shot (see: Rick Santorum, 2012, and Mike Huckabee, 2008). The state's caucus "ensures that there is at least one place where a candidate with a compelling message has a shot at winning, regardless of money or national fame," as the Des Moines Register's Kathy O'Bradovich argued in October. ...There's also more to being representative than race and ethnicity. A 2009 paper by the University of Iowa's Michael Lewis-Beck and Missouri's Peverill Squire found that Iowa was the most representative state economically at the time, as well as relatively representative (12th out of 50 states) when a broad range of social, demographic and economic factors were included. Here Are 6 Other Ways To Do It Voters in these states also argue they are able to better tune out the noise that comes with large political campaigns in this social media-driven era. Their emphasis on retail politics gives them an opportunity to get to know candidates better than in other states. As a result, even in this new, more chaotic political environment, New Hampshire still has the kind of intimate, civically minded electorate, as well as deep grassroots tradition of participation needed to make this state an ideal place to thoroughly test the mettle of our future presidents. And despite the money being spent on the campaigns -- and the changing way we communicate with each other -- New Hampshire voters will this Tuesday once again demonstrate that they have a special role to play in the presidential selection process. The tradition of retail politics in the Granite State isn't going anywhere. Voters here just might have to get more comfortable with the idea that we are increasingly sharing the process with a much bigger audience than our little corner of New England. (Opinion) The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. | Iowa and New Hampshire are two of the smallest and least racially diverse in the nation. FiveThirtyEight recently weighed in on potentially re-ordering the primary calendar, putting more of an emphasis on states with demographics that represent the nation as a whole. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/should-we-change-the-primary-calendar-to-de-emphasize-iowa.html | 0.131284 |
What is the difference between a meteor, a meteorite, an asteroid and a comet? | Every day the Earth is bombarded with more than 100 tons of space dust and tiny objects no bigger than a grain of sand. Around once a year, an asteroid the size of a small car enters the Earth's atmosphere - creating an impressive fireball - and burns up before reaching the surface. So, we thought we'd take a closer look at some of the objects streaking through our skies at night, to find out a little bit more about them! ESA/HO Asteroids are usually lots of different shapes and are quite craggy - This one is called the Lutetia asteroid. Asteroids are big chunks of rock which float though space and orbit the Sun. They are much smaller than planets, and can vary in size. The biggest called Ceres is around 940 km wide - that's twice as big as the Grand Canyon! - some of the smaller asteroids can be around six metres in size. This map of our solar system shows where the main asteroid belt sits, in space. There are lots of asteroids in our solar system, and most of them are in the main asteroid belt, which floats between Mars and Jupiter. Sometimes asteroids can bump into each other in space, and this can mean small pieces break off. These smaller pieces of rock are called meteoroids. Meteoroids can be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a metre across. Meteoroids can break off from asteroids. If a meteoroid gets close enough to the Earth that it enters our atmosphere, it begins to burn up and fall to the ground. This burning trail is known as a meteor. They are usually bright in colour and leave beautiful trails of light in the sky. To enjoy the CBBC Newsround website at its best you will need to have JavaScript turned on. Watch this meteor shoot through the sky above America and Canada Some people call them shooting stars, but they are aren't really stars, just tiny chunks of rock burning up in the Earth's atmosphere! If a meteoroid rock doesn't completely burn up as it falls to Earth - the rock that is left behind is called a meteorite. Although meteors and comets both create bright trails through our night sky, they are very different. Like asteroids, comets also float through space orbiting the Sun. However, comets are made up of ice and dust, not rock - like a giant dirty snowball! Some comets take a few years to travel around the Sun. However some take much longer and others only ever appear once. As the comet moves towards the sun, the heat begins to melt the ice and dust - turning it from a solid to a gas. This creates a beautiful, bright tail. You can see a comet travelling through the sky when it is very far away from the Earth, however you can only see a meteor when it burns up in our atmosphere. In 2014 the Rosetta spacecraft made history by being the first to land on a moving comet. Information from Nasa and ESA | Asteroids are big chunks of rock which float though space and orbit the Sun. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/38892255 | 0.135819 |
Can Democrats And Republicans Strike A Deal On Health Care? | It seems almost inconceivable. The only talk on the left at the moment is Medicare for all. On the right there is not much talk about any aspect of health care. But when pressed, Republicans would still like to abolish Obamacare. Neither party is going to get its wish any time soon. Still, desperate times call for new thinking. As voters get tired of hearing promises that are never met and never will be met, politicians will feel increasing pressure to accomplish something. To see how some innovative thinking might produce major reform, lets stop to consider why both parties might feel pressure to act. The Democrats Dilemma. Nancy Pelosi says the Democrats won the House of Representatives because of health care. She may be right. By one estimate, Democrats spent $90 million on health care ads in the last election. Almost all of that was focused on pre-existing conditions. Heres the problem. Although polls show that most people with Obamacare insurance are satisfied with their coverage, most of them are highly subsidized and paying only a fraction of their premium out of their own pockets. Also, most were previously uninsured. Unfortunately for Democrats, this group generally doesnt vote. Among middle-income folks (a person doesnt qualify for a subsidy if he or she earns $50,000 or more), things are different. These people are used to being insured and they tend to vote. Their premiums have doubled under Obamacare and their access to care has plummeted. Most plans in the individual market these days dont include the best doctors or the best hospitals in their networks, unlike the insurance these people used to have. The biggest problem for middle-income voters with health conditions is that the only insurance they can buy looks like Medicaid with a high deductible. And its over-priced at that. Democrats have yet to say what they would do about this problem. In fact, they havent even addressed it. The Republicans Dilemma. People who are dissatisfied with their Obamacare insurance are potential Republican voters. But for anyone with a health problem, the Republican message has been muddled to say the least. Before there was Obamacare, most states had risk pools, which provided insurance for people who were denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. They are now gone. Their enrollees and other high-cost patients have entered the Obamacare exchanges instead. Thats one of the reasons premiums in the individual market have soared. To make matters worse for the GOP, the individual market is the market of last resort for just about everyone even those who have employer coverage today. Anyone who becomes too sick to work will eventually end up in the individual market and everyone knows that. When Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare without proposing any alternative way for people with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance they created uncertainty and apprehension among millions of ordinary people. Recent moves by the Trump administration to lower the cost of health insurance for healthy people may have made these anxieties even worse. In the last election, Republicans not only didnt have an answer for this problem, they ran away from health care altogether. A Bipartisan Solution. To solve the political problems of both parties, two major reforms are needed. As a practical matter, they can only be implemented properly by state governments, which will need the full freedom to innovate, experiment and find the best way to get the job done. First, we must stop the group market (primarily employer plans) from dumping costs on the individual market. If people become too sick to work and need individual insurance this is a social problem created by a health insurance system largely created by the federal tax law. The individual market is only about 5% of private health insurance. If we force this tiny market to bear the full cost of the social problems created in the other 95%, individual insurance will inevitably become prohibitively expensive. The right solution is to spread the social cost of the pre-existing conditions problem over society as a whole. States should be free to decide how to do that. Traditionally, risk pools were funded by a premium tax on all insurance. Thats an option that makes a lot of sense. Accordingly, states should be free to impose a small premium tax on all group insurance. (In order to collect from self-insured plans that cover more than half of all workers, this requires a change in federal law). The revenue should be used exclusively to pay the cost of above-average health care costs that migrate from the group to the individual market. This could be done through risk pools, risk reinsurance and other devices. Economic theory teaches us that the cost of the premium tax will fall on workers, just like the cost of their health insurance. However, they get a benefit in return. The small increase in premium paid during their working years will insure that they will be able to buy insurance that is comparable in cost, quality and access to care should they cease working and turn to the individual market. Also, group plans could be exempted from the tax if they solve the social problem on their own say, by purchasing employee-owned, portable insurance or by funding post-employment health care benefits. Second, we need radical reform of risk adjustment. It is clear from their behavior that health plans in the exchanges are trying to attract the healthy (with low premiums) and avoid the sick (with narrow networks). This happens because the plans are uncertain about whether they will be fully compensated when they enroll a high-cost patient. This is in contrast to the Medicare Advantage program, where high-cost seniors are actually sought after by special needs plans because the plans know they will get a fair premium reflecting the expected health care costs of each enrollee. To achieve the best result, this reform will also require a change in federal law allowing the exchanges to do things that are now prohibited. For example, states should have broad authority to: Allow health plans to specialize in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions and exclude people who do not have these conditions. Allow a market to develop in which plans can bid for the right to treat high-cost health conditions. Allow medical records to automatically travel with patients from plan to plan. Allow health plans to ask health questions and conduct medical exams at the time of enrollment. Allow a market for risk adjustment in which plans compensate other plans when high-cost patients transfer enrollment. These are the two most important reforms. But if Congress really wants the market to work well, it should also free the states to: Allow people to have flexible Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) without regard to deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Allow patients to use their HSAs to take advantage of phone and email consultations, contract with concierge doctors, pay for home visits, self-manage their chronic disease and take advantage of other market-based innovations in medical care. Remove some essential health benefits or make them optional, provided the state sets aside public money to cover those costs in some other way. Impose additional costs on people who try to game the system by waiting until they get sick to enroll or upgrading to more comprehensive coverage after they get sick (following the examples of Medicare and Medigap). Conditions. Congress should give the states broad authority to make these changes, subject to three conditions. First, the state must have a credible plan to make insurance better for people with chronic health conditions. Better means, lower premiums, lower deductibles and wider networks. Second, the state must show progress toward the ultimate goal of a world in which people who leave the group market and buy their own coverage can find insurance that is comparable in price, quality and access to care. Third, whatever the states do must be revenue neutral for the federal government. That means taxpayers in any one state should not be on the hook to pay for the health care experimentation in any other state. Resolve. Solving the problems of Obamacare is really not that difficult. It requires congressional representatives who really want to solve problems instead of scoring political points with their base. | John Avlon: Democrats and Republicans are in a bind when it comes to health care. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2019/03/18/can-democrats-and-republicans-strike-a-deal-on-health-care/ | 0.102731 |
Can Democrats And Republicans Strike A Deal On Health Care? | It seems almost inconceivable. The only talk on the left at the moment is Medicare for all. On the right there is not much talk about any aspect of health care. But when pressed, Republicans would still like to abolish Obamacare. Neither party is going to get its wish any time soon. Still, desperate times call for new thinking. As voters get tired of hearing promises that are never met and never will be met, politicians will feel increasing pressure to accomplish something. To see how some innovative thinking might produce major reform, lets stop to consider why both parties might feel pressure to act. The Democrats Dilemma. Nancy Pelosi says the Democrats won the House of Representatives because of health care. She may be right. By one estimate, Democrats spent $90 million on health care ads in the last election. Almost all of that was focused on pre-existing conditions. Heres the problem. Although polls show that most people with Obamacare insurance are satisfied with their coverage, most of them are highly subsidized and paying only a fraction of their premium out of their own pockets. Also, most were previously uninsured. Unfortunately for Democrats, this group generally doesnt vote. Among middle-income folks (a person doesnt qualify for a subsidy if he or she earns $50,000 or more), things are different. These people are used to being insured and they tend to vote. Their premiums have doubled under Obamacare and their access to care has plummeted. Most plans in the individual market these days dont include the best doctors or the best hospitals in their networks, unlike the insurance these people used to have. The biggest problem for middle-income voters with health conditions is that the only insurance they can buy looks like Medicaid with a high deductible. And its over-priced at that. Democrats have yet to say what they would do about this problem. In fact, they havent even addressed it. The Republicans Dilemma. People who are dissatisfied with their Obamacare insurance are potential Republican voters. But for anyone with a health problem, the Republican message has been muddled to say the least. Before there was Obamacare, most states had risk pools, which provided insurance for people who were denied coverage for a pre-existing condition. They are now gone. Their enrollees and other high-cost patients have entered the Obamacare exchanges instead. Thats one of the reasons premiums in the individual market have soared. To make matters worse for the GOP, the individual market is the market of last resort for just about everyone even those who have employer coverage today. Anyone who becomes too sick to work will eventually end up in the individual market and everyone knows that. When Republicans voted to repeal Obamacare without proposing any alternative way for people with pre-existing conditions to get health insurance they created uncertainty and apprehension among millions of ordinary people. Recent moves by the Trump administration to lower the cost of health insurance for healthy people may have made these anxieties even worse. In the last election, Republicans not only didnt have an answer for this problem, they ran away from health care altogether. A Bipartisan Solution. To solve the political problems of both parties, two major reforms are needed. As a practical matter, they can only be implemented properly by state governments, which will need the full freedom to innovate, experiment and find the best way to get the job done. First, we must stop the group market (primarily employer plans) from dumping costs on the individual market. If people become too sick to work and need individual insurance this is a social problem created by a health insurance system largely created by the federal tax law. The individual market is only about 5% of private health insurance. If we force this tiny market to bear the full cost of the social problems created in the other 95%, individual insurance will inevitably become prohibitively expensive. The right solution is to spread the social cost of the pre-existing conditions problem over society as a whole. States should be free to decide how to do that. Traditionally, risk pools were funded by a premium tax on all insurance. Thats an option that makes a lot of sense. Accordingly, states should be free to impose a small premium tax on all group insurance. (In order to collect from self-insured plans that cover more than half of all workers, this requires a change in federal law). The revenue should be used exclusively to pay the cost of above-average health care costs that migrate from the group to the individual market. This could be done through risk pools, risk reinsurance and other devices. Economic theory teaches us that the cost of the premium tax will fall on workers, just like the cost of their health insurance. However, they get a benefit in return. The small increase in premium paid during their working years will insure that they will be able to buy insurance that is comparable in cost, quality and access to care should they cease working and turn to the individual market. Also, group plans could be exempted from the tax if they solve the social problem on their own say, by purchasing employee-owned, portable insurance or by funding post-employment health care benefits. Second, we need radical reform of risk adjustment. It is clear from their behavior that health plans in the exchanges are trying to attract the healthy (with low premiums) and avoid the sick (with narrow networks). This happens because the plans are uncertain about whether they will be fully compensated when they enroll a high-cost patient. This is in contrast to the Medicare Advantage program, where high-cost seniors are actually sought after by special needs plans because the plans know they will get a fair premium reflecting the expected health care costs of each enrollee. To achieve the best result, this reform will also require a change in federal law allowing the exchanges to do things that are now prohibited. For example, states should have broad authority to: Allow health plans to specialize in the treatment of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions and exclude people who do not have these conditions. Allow a market to develop in which plans can bid for the right to treat high-cost health conditions. Allow medical records to automatically travel with patients from plan to plan. Allow health plans to ask health questions and conduct medical exams at the time of enrollment. Allow a market for risk adjustment in which plans compensate other plans when high-cost patients transfer enrollment. These are the two most important reforms. But if Congress really wants the market to work well, it should also free the states to: Allow people to have flexible Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) without regard to deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. Allow patients to use their HSAs to take advantage of phone and email consultations, contract with concierge doctors, pay for home visits, self-manage their chronic disease and take advantage of other market-based innovations in medical care. Remove some essential health benefits or make them optional, provided the state sets aside public money to cover those costs in some other way. Impose additional costs on people who try to game the system by waiting until they get sick to enroll or upgrading to more comprehensive coverage after they get sick (following the examples of Medicare and Medigap). Conditions. Congress should give the states broad authority to make these changes, subject to three conditions. First, the state must have a credible plan to make insurance better for people with chronic health conditions. Better means, lower premiums, lower deductibles and wider networks. Second, the state must show progress toward the ultimate goal of a world in which people who leave the group market and buy their own coverage can find insurance that is comparable in price, quality and access to care. Third, whatever the states do must be revenue neutral for the federal government. That means taxpayers in any one state should not be on the hook to pay for the health care experimentation in any other state. Resolve. Solving the problems of Obamacare is really not that difficult. It requires congressional representatives who really want to solve problems instead of scoring political points with their base. | John Avlon: Democrats and Republicans are in a bind when it comes to health care reform. Avlon says both parties need to find a way to make a deal on health care. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/johngoodman/2019/03/18/can-democrats-and-republicans-strike-a-deal-on-health-care/ | 0.259228 |
Is Agile Killing QA? | In this agile world, quality assurance (QA) has changed from test everything to test as fast as you can. The increasing adoption of agile and DevOps is minimizing the importance of QA for many teams because these ideologies focus on speed, and quality can become secondary. Even though the agile methodology calls for QA to be part of the sprint team, it poses a unique challenge because proper testing and validation take time. In many instances, organizations with large customer bases forgo QA altogether. Or, as is often the case, testing is only done on the outputs of each sprint team or piece of work. This approach doesnt test products in the context in which they will be used and doesnt even test the product as a whole, just a portion. In its current form -- with traditional lab and outsourced testing -- QA is indeed being killed by agile. Thats because traditional lab and outsourced testing are too slow to keep up with agile sprint and release cadences. Traditional Testing Methods Are Failing I've seen firsthand why this is the case, having spent my career in engineering and currently serving in an executive role at a company that has succeeded in moving away from traditional testing methods toward a crowdsourced testing model. First, there is a perception in many companies that QA is just a pitstop on the journey to a more glamorous job, such as scrum master, developer or product manager. This leads to a talent shortage where small QA teams arent able to test at the speed and scale of software being developed. In Capgeminis World Quality Report, 42% of survey respondents list a lack of professional test expertise in agile teams as a challenge in applying testing to agile development. With limited resources, internal QA teams cant achieve the test coverage necessary to ensure bugs dont make their way into production. The diversification of platforms -- browsers, mobile devices and operating systems (Android, Windows, iOS, etc.) -- and new devices like voice assistants pose significant challenges for internal QA teams. These experiences require dedicated teams with broad skills and bigger budgets -- things few internal QA teams have to spare. Offshore models havent had much more luck keeping up with the demands of an agile environment. Though they can be a cheaper alternative to traditional labs, they cant account for real-world use cases. They can also take a while to get started and dont fit well in the SDLC. Overall, they provide only a sliver of the test coverage enterprises need. QA Can Make A Comeback Agile is killing traditional QA. But that doesnt mean all QA is dying. Many companies have evolved their strategies, blending in-house and outsourced testing with automated, real-world and beta testing. Automated testing: Test automation has quickly become a popular option for companies. In fact, its use grew 85% from 2015 to 2017 across all industry domains, according to KPMG. Automation is not a complete replacement of internal testing, but it does augment the strategy by taking on lower-priority tests (smoke and regression testing, for example) that dont require a human touch. Smaller teams are usually better off starting with an off-the-shelf enterprise solution so they can get up and running quickly and have the support to handle software bugs along the way. More mature testing teams may benefit more from an open source automation framework. This approach provides increased flexibility and customization, but it requires advanced technical expertise and a longer runway to build the solution as even mature teams can have trouble managing an automation solution at scale. When that human touch is required, real-world and beta testing can help fill in the gaps. Real-world testing: Real-world testing tests with real users on personally owned devices in their home environments, enabling brands to uncover edge use cases and functional problems that only exist in the real world. Testers can be segmented by demographic (age, location, device, etc.) and expertise (QA, security, usability, etc.). This testing can be started quickly and scale at a moments notice, helping agile teams add more testers on-demand to account for peak periods. Real-world testing is a valuable solution for brands looking to expand test coverage or those that dont have the resources to replicate real-world scenarios themselves. The key to getting started is finding a fully managed partner with the scale to match desired customer personas, devices, locations, languages and even payment instruments in order to take the pressure off internal teams and augment existing processes. Beta testing: Beta testing releases a product to a subset of users prior to the full launch and is a common practice for many companies. This approach gives companies a large test base with which to work. The big drawback is that it can be inconsistent and disorganized because testers arent vetted and duplicate bugs are shown. All brands can benefit from beta testing, but those with more loyal users will get more feedback and therefore better results. Brands can implement beta testing by dedicating internal resources to the task of setting up the tests and managing responses or by working with a partner to manage the process. By giving agile teams additional outside resources that easily scale, each of these testing approaches keeps developers moving quickly and able to adjust to the high demands of customers. Each method works best when managed by a dedicated resource who can integrate testing into the team and ensure bugs are handled correctly, allowing testing to shift further left in the SDLC and become a true part of the agile process. QA is still critical in delivering the best experiences possible to todays demanding customers. Consumers expect their digital products to improve over time, and with each new update, their expectations rise. If they are disappointed, the cost of switching software is basically zero. With no space for error, brands can turn to automated, real-world and beta testing to ensure they can keep quality high even as development moves faster. | QA is indeed being killed by agile. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/18/is-agile-killing-qa/ | 0.508378 |
Is Agile Killing QA? | In this agile world, quality assurance (QA) has changed from test everything to test as fast as you can. The increasing adoption of agile and DevOps is minimizing the importance of QA for many teams because these ideologies focus on speed, and quality can become secondary. Even though the agile methodology calls for QA to be part of the sprint team, it poses a unique challenge because proper testing and validation take time. In many instances, organizations with large customer bases forgo QA altogether. Or, as is often the case, testing is only done on the outputs of each sprint team or piece of work. This approach doesnt test products in the context in which they will be used and doesnt even test the product as a whole, just a portion. In its current form -- with traditional lab and outsourced testing -- QA is indeed being killed by agile. Thats because traditional lab and outsourced testing are too slow to keep up with agile sprint and release cadences. Traditional Testing Methods Are Failing I've seen firsthand why this is the case, having spent my career in engineering and currently serving in an executive role at a company that has succeeded in moving away from traditional testing methods toward a crowdsourced testing model. First, there is a perception in many companies that QA is just a pitstop on the journey to a more glamorous job, such as scrum master, developer or product manager. This leads to a talent shortage where small QA teams arent able to test at the speed and scale of software being developed. In Capgeminis World Quality Report, 42% of survey respondents list a lack of professional test expertise in agile teams as a challenge in applying testing to agile development. With limited resources, internal QA teams cant achieve the test coverage necessary to ensure bugs dont make their way into production. The diversification of platforms -- browsers, mobile devices and operating systems (Android, Windows, iOS, etc.) -- and new devices like voice assistants pose significant challenges for internal QA teams. These experiences require dedicated teams with broad skills and bigger budgets -- things few internal QA teams have to spare. Offshore models havent had much more luck keeping up with the demands of an agile environment. Though they can be a cheaper alternative to traditional labs, they cant account for real-world use cases. They can also take a while to get started and dont fit well in the SDLC. Overall, they provide only a sliver of the test coverage enterprises need. QA Can Make A Comeback Agile is killing traditional QA. But that doesnt mean all QA is dying. Many companies have evolved their strategies, blending in-house and outsourced testing with automated, real-world and beta testing. Automated testing: Test automation has quickly become a popular option for companies. In fact, its use grew 85% from 2015 to 2017 across all industry domains, according to KPMG. Automation is not a complete replacement of internal testing, but it does augment the strategy by taking on lower-priority tests (smoke and regression testing, for example) that dont require a human touch. Smaller teams are usually better off starting with an off-the-shelf enterprise solution so they can get up and running quickly and have the support to handle software bugs along the way. More mature testing teams may benefit more from an open source automation framework. This approach provides increased flexibility and customization, but it requires advanced technical expertise and a longer runway to build the solution as even mature teams can have trouble managing an automation solution at scale. When that human touch is required, real-world and beta testing can help fill in the gaps. Real-world testing: Real-world testing tests with real users on personally owned devices in their home environments, enabling brands to uncover edge use cases and functional problems that only exist in the real world. Testers can be segmented by demographic (age, location, device, etc.) and expertise (QA, security, usability, etc.). This testing can be started quickly and scale at a moments notice, helping agile teams add more testers on-demand to account for peak periods. Real-world testing is a valuable solution for brands looking to expand test coverage or those that dont have the resources to replicate real-world scenarios themselves. The key to getting started is finding a fully managed partner with the scale to match desired customer personas, devices, locations, languages and even payment instruments in order to take the pressure off internal teams and augment existing processes. Beta testing: Beta testing releases a product to a subset of users prior to the full launch and is a common practice for many companies. This approach gives companies a large test base with which to work. The big drawback is that it can be inconsistent and disorganized because testers arent vetted and duplicate bugs are shown. All brands can benefit from beta testing, but those with more loyal users will get more feedback and therefore better results. Brands can implement beta testing by dedicating internal resources to the task of setting up the tests and managing responses or by working with a partner to manage the process. By giving agile teams additional outside resources that easily scale, each of these testing approaches keeps developers moving quickly and able to adjust to the high demands of customers. Each method works best when managed by a dedicated resource who can integrate testing into the team and ensure bugs are handled correctly, allowing testing to shift further left in the SDLC and become a true part of the agile process. QA is still critical in delivering the best experiences possible to todays demanding customers. Consumers expect their digital products to improve over time, and with each new update, their expectations rise. If they are disappointed, the cost of switching software is basically zero. With no space for error, brands can turn to automated, real-world and beta testing to ensure they can keep quality high even as development moves faster. | The increasing adoption of agile and DevOps is minimizing the importance of QA. Traditional lab and outsourced testing are too slow to keep up with agile sprint and release cadences. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/18/is-agile-killing-qa/ | 0.408118 |
Is Agile Killing QA? | In this agile world, quality assurance (QA) has changed from test everything to test as fast as you can. The increasing adoption of agile and DevOps is minimizing the importance of QA for many teams because these ideologies focus on speed, and quality can become secondary. Even though the agile methodology calls for QA to be part of the sprint team, it poses a unique challenge because proper testing and validation take time. In many instances, organizations with large customer bases forgo QA altogether. Or, as is often the case, testing is only done on the outputs of each sprint team or piece of work. This approach doesnt test products in the context in which they will be used and doesnt even test the product as a whole, just a portion. In its current form -- with traditional lab and outsourced testing -- QA is indeed being killed by agile. Thats because traditional lab and outsourced testing are too slow to keep up with agile sprint and release cadences. Traditional Testing Methods Are Failing I've seen firsthand why this is the case, having spent my career in engineering and currently serving in an executive role at a company that has succeeded in moving away from traditional testing methods toward a crowdsourced testing model. First, there is a perception in many companies that QA is just a pitstop on the journey to a more glamorous job, such as scrum master, developer or product manager. This leads to a talent shortage where small QA teams arent able to test at the speed and scale of software being developed. In Capgeminis World Quality Report, 42% of survey respondents list a lack of professional test expertise in agile teams as a challenge in applying testing to agile development. With limited resources, internal QA teams cant achieve the test coverage necessary to ensure bugs dont make their way into production. The diversification of platforms -- browsers, mobile devices and operating systems (Android, Windows, iOS, etc.) -- and new devices like voice assistants pose significant challenges for internal QA teams. These experiences require dedicated teams with broad skills and bigger budgets -- things few internal QA teams have to spare. Offshore models havent had much more luck keeping up with the demands of an agile environment. Though they can be a cheaper alternative to traditional labs, they cant account for real-world use cases. They can also take a while to get started and dont fit well in the SDLC. Overall, they provide only a sliver of the test coverage enterprises need. QA Can Make A Comeback Agile is killing traditional QA. But that doesnt mean all QA is dying. Many companies have evolved their strategies, blending in-house and outsourced testing with automated, real-world and beta testing. Automated testing: Test automation has quickly become a popular option for companies. In fact, its use grew 85% from 2015 to 2017 across all industry domains, according to KPMG. Automation is not a complete replacement of internal testing, but it does augment the strategy by taking on lower-priority tests (smoke and regression testing, for example) that dont require a human touch. Smaller teams are usually better off starting with an off-the-shelf enterprise solution so they can get up and running quickly and have the support to handle software bugs along the way. More mature testing teams may benefit more from an open source automation framework. This approach provides increased flexibility and customization, but it requires advanced technical expertise and a longer runway to build the solution as even mature teams can have trouble managing an automation solution at scale. When that human touch is required, real-world and beta testing can help fill in the gaps. Real-world testing: Real-world testing tests with real users on personally owned devices in their home environments, enabling brands to uncover edge use cases and functional problems that only exist in the real world. Testers can be segmented by demographic (age, location, device, etc.) and expertise (QA, security, usability, etc.). This testing can be started quickly and scale at a moments notice, helping agile teams add more testers on-demand to account for peak periods. Real-world testing is a valuable solution for brands looking to expand test coverage or those that dont have the resources to replicate real-world scenarios themselves. The key to getting started is finding a fully managed partner with the scale to match desired customer personas, devices, locations, languages and even payment instruments in order to take the pressure off internal teams and augment existing processes. Beta testing: Beta testing releases a product to a subset of users prior to the full launch and is a common practice for many companies. This approach gives companies a large test base with which to work. The big drawback is that it can be inconsistent and disorganized because testers arent vetted and duplicate bugs are shown. All brands can benefit from beta testing, but those with more loyal users will get more feedback and therefore better results. Brands can implement beta testing by dedicating internal resources to the task of setting up the tests and managing responses or by working with a partner to manage the process. By giving agile teams additional outside resources that easily scale, each of these testing approaches keeps developers moving quickly and able to adjust to the high demands of customers. Each method works best when managed by a dedicated resource who can integrate testing into the team and ensure bugs are handled correctly, allowing testing to shift further left in the SDLC and become a true part of the agile process. QA is still critical in delivering the best experiences possible to todays demanding customers. Consumers expect their digital products to improve over time, and with each new update, their expectations rise. If they are disappointed, the cost of switching software is basically zero. With no space for error, brands can turn to automated, real-world and beta testing to ensure they can keep quality high even as development moves faster. | In an agile world, quality assurance (QA) has changed from "test everything" to "test as fast as you can" Traditional lab and outsourced testing are too slow to keep up with agile sprint and release cadences. With limited resources, internal QA teams cant achieve the test coverage necessary. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/18/is-agile-killing-qa/ | 0.246381 |
What are the most common reasons people are homeless in Seattle? | The answer isn't simple. Every year in the weeks after the One Night Count of homelessness, surveyors head into King Countys shelters, camps and streets with clipboards and sleeves of socks to persuade a representative sample of homeless people to talk. They ask such things as where theyre from and their sexual orientation. They also ask homeless people to diagnose their houseless state, choosing from a range of causes, from eviction to mental illness to an argument with a family member. Years ago, this was a check all that apply question, said Peter Connery, vice president of Applied Survey Research, the California-based company that administers the survey for King County. But that produced a muddle of answers, so they changed the question to, What do you think is the primary event or condition that led to your homelessness? The final bits of data are just now trickling in from this years survey, whose results will be released in May, Connery said. Its also a question Seattle Times readers frequently ask. Continuing our Ask Project homeless series, we picked one such question What is the estimated breakdown of people who are primarily homeless because of economic reasons, drugs and alcohol, mental health, or other reasons? Its a hard question even for homeless people to answer, but its also one researchers are exploring. That survey Connery oversees provides a simple but incomplete answer to that question, because no one is ever homeless for one reason. But when asked to pick, the biggest reasons people cited last year were losing a job, alcohol or drug addiction, and eviction. The common denominator This question is often on students minds at Seattle Pacific University, where a local tent city is hosted on and off. Karen Snedker, a sociologist at SPU who studies homeless camps, tries her best to answer it. What I often tell my students is, there are different pathways economics, housing, mental health, substance abuse but the common denominator is poverty, Snedker said. Adults who are homeless report higher rates of being homeless as a child, studies show. Its not impossible for richer people to fall into homelessness, although wealth can help people weather these storms or move in with family. But poverty is just the starting point for homelessness. Its always poverty and something else, argues Thomas Main, a political scientist and author of Homelessness in New York City: Policymaking from Koch to de Blasio. Its tricky to say things like, Oh, this person became homeless because of mental illness or alcoholism but somebody else became homeless because they couldnt afford the rent. You can be alcoholic or mentally ill and housed, right? Main said. Its a mistake to say either the problem is caused by individual disabilities or its caused by structural problems. Its always a mix. In Seattle, for instance, people with mental illness and drug dependency used to have somewhere to stay, in ultracheap places like the famous Ozark Hotel, a single-room-occupancy hotel on Westlake Avenue. Today, many of those rooming houses are gone. The Ozark burned down in 1970, and other hotels like it were deemed fire hazards and shut down. Combined with gentrification, an estimated 15,622 housing units disappeared in the downtown area between 1960 and 1980. They and other cheap housing were replaced over the next decades with much more expensive places to live in downtown. But the homeless people stayed. Researchers often look at homelessness more like a condition with risk factors, many of which go back to childhood. One study from Seattle released in 2002 found roughly half of homeless youth had been physically abused and almost a third had been sexually abused. Researchers can even predict homelessness by looking at some of these risk factors. Los Angeles Economic Roundtable looked at records of more than a million homeless people nearly everyone who was homeless in L.A. County over 15 years and tried to predict homelessness in an upcoming report. They found that risk of becoming consistently homeless is worse for single men, African-Americans, and workers in low-wage or inconsistent jobs with high turnover. Workers at temp agencies were the most at risk. The chance of becoming homeless gets worse if people lose a job when theyre older, at least up to 55. Around 8 percent of the working poor who lose a job in L.A. become persistently homeless, said Daniel Flaming, president of Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit think-tank. These are people whove maybe been working-class people throughout their lives, and the economy leaves them behind, Flaming said. When King Countys new homelessness survey comes out in May, systemic issues like poverty and childhood abuse wont explicitly show up in the results. Homeless people, Snedker said, dont often talk about those issues when they talk about homelessness; they usually talk about their own personal failings. It gives them agency, Snedker said. If I got myself into this, I can get myself out. Because thats what youre deprived of when youre homeless. | What is the estimated breakdown of people who are primarily homeless because of economic reasons, drugs and alcohol, mental health, or other reasons? No one is ever homeless for one reason, but the biggest reasons people cited last year were losing a job, alcohol or drug addiction, and eviction. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/why-are-people-in-seattle-homeless/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 0.150029 |
Does anyone care about Arrested Development anymore? | CLOSE 10 new shows are coming to TV this spring including "The Act" on Hulu and "Turn Up Charlie" on Netflix. USA TODAY "Arrested Development" has made a huge mistake. You probably missed Netflix's debut Friday of the second half of the comedy's fifth season. Previous returns of "Arrested," a longtime critical and cult hit, have been greeted with loud fanfare, but this time around, its more a resigned whimper. Its not uncommon for enthusiasm to wane for aging series, but theres never been another show with quite the same path that Arrested has taken: Cancellation by Fox in 2006, after three seasons, a 2013 Netflix revival, and another season five years later. Its unconventional path has landed it in the unenviable position of seeming to have lasted too long, and not long enough. And as the second half of the fifth season limps onto Netflix, its time for the show to be put out of its misery. Jessica Walter and Jeffrey Tambor on "Arrested Development." (Photo: Netflix) The new episodes arrive 16 years after the series premiered in 2003 as a scrappy, offbeat sitcom about the vapid, and formerly rich Bluth family. It was weird and brilliant, but perhaps too weird for broadcast TV, despite an Emmy Award as best comedy for that first season. But the revival was disappointing and the improved fifth season still couldn't match the series at its peak. It also drew controversy because Jeffrey Tambor, who stars as patriarch George Bluth (and his twin brother Oscar) was accused of sexual harassment on the set of another series, Amazon's Transparent. (He was also verbally abusive to his "Arrested" co-star Jessica Walter, she said, breaking into tears about the incident in front of Tambor and the cast during an interview.) Tambor and his alleged misconduct make loving Arrested difficult, especially given that he and Walter play a frequently bickering married couple. But even if you can put aside the controversy, "Arrested" has lost its panache at the same time it's lost relevancy. The new episodes revolve around the same tired plots introduced in Season 4: George and Lucille (Walter) are still trying to build a Mexican border wall; Gob (Will Arnett) is still maybe sort of gay; Tobias (David Cross) is still trying to get in with the Bluths while holding onto his girlfriend (Maria Bamford) and son (Kyle Mooney); and Michael (Jason Bateman) tries to save his son George Michael (Michael Cera) from his own fraudulent software company, Fake Block, and restore the Bluth name and fortune. It's all very familiar, and worse, painfully dull. There are a few lines here or there in these eight episodes that elicit a chuckle, but this isn't the hilarity you have seen before. "Arrested" has always been weird and irreverent, but that side of the series now seems less character driven and more performative. The series' satire of the wealthy was already starting to lose its bite last season. And in our current climate, stranger-than-fiction stories about the rich and privileged (like the recent college admissions scandal) make "Arrested" seem even more woefully out of date. The Bluths are stuck in the past, and not in a funny way. In Season 4, there was a bit of an excuse for the problems, given that stars like Bateman and Cera had seen their careers take off since 2006, and reassembling the cast proved difficult. Through a combination of plot gymnastics and trickery, Season 4 was cobbled from separate shoots (the entire cast spent only one day together on the set). Creator Mitch Hurwitz has made a concerted effort to right those wrongs (Netflix even tried to fix Season 4 itself, allowing Hurwitz to re-edit episodes to make their structure more like the first three seasons). But putting the Bluths back together in Season 5 didn't solve much. "Arrested" was, at one point, one of the best sitcoms on TV and beloved by a legion of fans and critics. Before dozens of shows were being revived regularly, Netflix's 2013 rescue seemed miraculous. But the moment when "Arrested" was a pop-culture force has long passed, and the more Hurwitz and the cast push to recapture that glory, the more sullied its legacy becomes. As Michael Bluth might say, sometimes its best just to sail away and leave the mess behind. No matter how much you once loved it. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/03/18/arrested-development-season-5-does-anyone-care-anymore-netflix-jeffrey-tambor/3165601002/ | "Arrested Development" returned to Netflix on Friday with the second half of its fifth season. The series has been canceled by Fox, revived by Netflix and canceled again. It's time for the show to be put out of its misery. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/03/18/arrested-development-season-5-does-anyone-care-anymore-netflix-jeffrey-tambor/3165601002/ | 0.10182 |
Does anyone care about Arrested Development anymore? | CLOSE 10 new shows are coming to TV this spring including "The Act" on Hulu and "Turn Up Charlie" on Netflix. USA TODAY "Arrested Development" has made a huge mistake. You probably missed Netflix's debut Friday of the second half of the comedy's fifth season. Previous returns of "Arrested," a longtime critical and cult hit, have been greeted with loud fanfare, but this time around, its more a resigned whimper. Its not uncommon for enthusiasm to wane for aging series, but theres never been another show with quite the same path that Arrested has taken: Cancellation by Fox in 2006, after three seasons, a 2013 Netflix revival, and another season five years later. Its unconventional path has landed it in the unenviable position of seeming to have lasted too long, and not long enough. And as the second half of the fifth season limps onto Netflix, its time for the show to be put out of its misery. Jessica Walter and Jeffrey Tambor on "Arrested Development." (Photo: Netflix) The new episodes arrive 16 years after the series premiered in 2003 as a scrappy, offbeat sitcom about the vapid, and formerly rich Bluth family. It was weird and brilliant, but perhaps too weird for broadcast TV, despite an Emmy Award as best comedy for that first season. But the revival was disappointing and the improved fifth season still couldn't match the series at its peak. It also drew controversy because Jeffrey Tambor, who stars as patriarch George Bluth (and his twin brother Oscar) was accused of sexual harassment on the set of another series, Amazon's Transparent. (He was also verbally abusive to his "Arrested" co-star Jessica Walter, she said, breaking into tears about the incident in front of Tambor and the cast during an interview.) Tambor and his alleged misconduct make loving Arrested difficult, especially given that he and Walter play a frequently bickering married couple. But even if you can put aside the controversy, "Arrested" has lost its panache at the same time it's lost relevancy. The new episodes revolve around the same tired plots introduced in Season 4: George and Lucille (Walter) are still trying to build a Mexican border wall; Gob (Will Arnett) is still maybe sort of gay; Tobias (David Cross) is still trying to get in with the Bluths while holding onto his girlfriend (Maria Bamford) and son (Kyle Mooney); and Michael (Jason Bateman) tries to save his son George Michael (Michael Cera) from his own fraudulent software company, Fake Block, and restore the Bluth name and fortune. It's all very familiar, and worse, painfully dull. There are a few lines here or there in these eight episodes that elicit a chuckle, but this isn't the hilarity you have seen before. "Arrested" has always been weird and irreverent, but that side of the series now seems less character driven and more performative. The series' satire of the wealthy was already starting to lose its bite last season. And in our current climate, stranger-than-fiction stories about the rich and privileged (like the recent college admissions scandal) make "Arrested" seem even more woefully out of date. The Bluths are stuck in the past, and not in a funny way. In Season 4, there was a bit of an excuse for the problems, given that stars like Bateman and Cera had seen their careers take off since 2006, and reassembling the cast proved difficult. Through a combination of plot gymnastics and trickery, Season 4 was cobbled from separate shoots (the entire cast spent only one day together on the set). Creator Mitch Hurwitz has made a concerted effort to right those wrongs (Netflix even tried to fix Season 4 itself, allowing Hurwitz to re-edit episodes to make their structure more like the first three seasons). But putting the Bluths back together in Season 5 didn't solve much. "Arrested" was, at one point, one of the best sitcoms on TV and beloved by a legion of fans and critics. Before dozens of shows were being revived regularly, Netflix's 2013 rescue seemed miraculous. But the moment when "Arrested" was a pop-culture force has long passed, and the more Hurwitz and the cast push to recapture that glory, the more sullied its legacy becomes. As Michael Bluth might say, sometimes its best just to sail away and leave the mess behind. No matter how much you once loved it. Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/03/18/arrested-development-season-5-does-anyone-care-anymore-netflix-jeffrey-tambor/3165601002/ | "Arrested Development" returned to Netflix on Friday with the second half of its fifth season. The series has been canceled by Fox, revived by Netflix and canceled again. The show has lost its panache at the same time it's lost relevancy, critic says. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2019/03/18/arrested-development-season-5-does-anyone-care-anymore-netflix-jeffrey-tambor/3165601002/ | 0.132466 |
What Habits Can We Adopt To Maintain Good Mental Health? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Andrew Chapin, Founder & CEO of Basis, on Quora: Dr. Trent is best equipped to answer this, but here are some common themes that arise during Basis sessions (and that I personally have found useful). Note: these are habits to maintain general mental wellness, not to treat a diagnosed mental illness. Talk about it: We live in a culture that puts pressure on people to just deal with it when challenging emotions arise. Talking things out, whether with a friend or Basis Specialist or therapist, is critical to processing and regulating your own emotions. Its not a sign of weakness. Its very easy to suffer from cognitive distortions when the only way you are processing emotions is in your own head. We live in a culture that puts pressure on people to just deal with it when challenging emotions arise. Talking things out, whether with a friend or Basis Specialist or therapist, is critical to processing and regulating your own emotions. Its a sign of weakness. Its very easy to suffer from cognitive distortions when the only way you are processing emotions is in your own head. Exercise: Many studies have shown a correlation between maintaining cardiovascular health and positive mental health. Endorphins are a thing. Many studies have shown a correlation between maintaining cardiovascular health and positive mental health. Endorphins are a thing. Sleep: Your mind functions better and can problem solve through adversity much better when youre well-rested. Everything is harder when youre tired. Sleep hygiene deserves a Quora session all to itself, but some places to start include having a regular routine/bedtime, not using devices for one hour prior to bedtime, not charging your phone next to your bed and not consuming caffeine too late in the afternoon. Your mind functions better and can problem solve through adversity much better when youre well-rested. Everything is harder when youre tired. Sleep hygiene deserves a Quora session all to itself, but some places to start include having a regular routine/bedtime, not using devices for one hour prior to bedtime, not charging your phone next to your bed and not consuming caffeine too late in the afternoon. Reduce Phone Usage: Its becoming clear that constant connectedness can exacerbate feelings of anxiety. If so, it might be time to make a change here. Basis will soon offer a product experience focused on helping people take control of their phone habits, stay tuned. Its becoming clear that constant connectedness can exacerbate feelings of anxiety. If so, it might be time to make a change here. Basis will soon offer a product experience focused on helping people take control of their phone habits, stay tuned. Journal: Writing down thoughts can be a great way to process emotions and reflect on what youre grateful for. Gratitude goes a long way in improving your overall happiness, but can be easy to overlook as part of a broader set of mental wellness habits. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | Talk about it, write down thoughts, exercise, reduce phone usage and journal. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/03/18/what-habits-can-we-adopt-to-maintain-good-mental-health/ | 0.221683 |
How Do We Feel About Working Next To Robots? | Recent estimates suggest that expenditure on robotics is set to reach $115 billion this year, before rising to over $210 billion by 2022. Whereas traditionally industrial robots would be complex and heavyweight bits of equipment that worked largely in isolation from their human colleagues, its increasingly common to see man and machine working together. This is resulting in a growing interest in the psychology and practicality of these interactions. For instance, a few years ago researchers explored how people feel about having robots for colleagues. The researchers set out to examine whether there may exist cultural differences in the acceptance of robotic colleagues between German and American workers. They didnt find much in the way of national differences, but they did reveal some interesting thoughts on life with a robotic colleague. For instance, over 60% of respondents could easily imagine being supported by a robotic colleague, with 21% even suggesting such a change would be an improvement, with this largely due to the belief that a robot would be less error prone and more predictable in their behavior. Only so good A recent study from Cornell University suggests this is not quite so clear cut however. It explored how people feel when they're working alongside robots, and the robot turns out to be better at their job than them. It emerged that being beaten by a machine tends to make people feel bad about themselves and their abilities, which in turn makes them resent the machines. "Think about a cashier working side-by-side with an automatic check-out machine, or someone operating a forklift in a warehouse which also employs delivery robots driving right next to them," the researchers say. "While it may be tempting to design such robots for optimal productivity, engineers and managers need to take into consideration how the robots' performance may affect the human workers' effort and attitudes toward the robot and even toward themselves. Our research is the first that specifically sheds light on these effects." The authors believe that their findings tap into the kind of loss aversion previously identified by behavioral economists. In this theory, people often reduce their effort level when their competitors are performing better. A second study, from researchers at Aix-Marseille University highlights the neurological action triggered by working with a robot. It found that the area of the brain that manages social rewards are triggered far less frequently when working alongside machines than they are when we work with fellow humans. When recording the brain activity of volunteers in a fMRI machine, the researchers observed clear differences in the amygdalae, basal ganglia and hypothalamus, with activity in all three areas rising when the volunteers talked with a fellow human, and falling when conversing with a robot. The German research at the start of this article highlighted the difficulties many people have bonding with machines. There was a strong appreciation of the so called uncanny valley among participants in their research, with the volunteers revealing that they dont want robots to start displaying emotions. This is further reflected in the belief that whilst robots are great at routine tasks, more complex endeavors are beyond them. This is especially true of things such as leadership, with very few respondents willing to consider a robot boss. A robot has no empathy for my family situation or other concerns that radiate into the job they would say. A machine cannot judge a man and cannot serve as role model, they continue. Emotional responses It seems almost perverse to suggest, but there is a notion that it is the perfection of robots that prevents us from creating an emotional bond with our robot colleagues. Research from the University of Lincoln found that when robots were made with similar flaws and foibles as us, volunteers were better able to bond and form an emotional attachment to them. Perhaps not, with research published in Nature highlighting the compassion and empathy people can feel for robots. After wiring volunteers up to an EEG to monitor their brain activity, they were able to show that people exposed to images of a robotic hand in a painful situation exhibited empathy towards the robot. Granted, the empathy wasn't on the same level as they showed to humans, but it was there nonetheless. At the moment, we are still at an early stage in our understanding of how man and machine function alongside one another, and so findings such as these remain novel and exciting. As man and machine begin to work increasingly in unison, its vital that we gain a greater understanding of the nature of the interactions between them. Considerable time and energy have been devoted to ensuring that human employees work effectively together, but perhaps now the time has come for similar energy to be devoted to ensuring man and machine can do likewise. We naturally project to and expect from robots human qualities such as personality, gender, ethnicity, and competence, Sangseok You, assistant professor of information systems at HEC Paris, told me recently. In the past, research on teamwork and collaboration has focused on enhancing the outcomes and making teams more viable between people. It is now vital that we expand our effort to unpacking human minds toward robotic colleagues and managing sustainable human-robot teamwork. Successful organizations have always been able to successfully integrate new technologies into the workplace, but its perhaps fair to say that the introduction of intelligent robots presents a challenge like no other. As our understanding grows, its a challenge we will increasingly be equipped to tackle head on. | Recent studies have explored how people feel about working with robots. Cornell University found that being beaten by a machine makes people feel bad about themselves and their abilities, which in turn makes them resent the machines. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2019/03/18/how-we-feel-about-working-next-to-robots/ | 0.346784 |
How Do We Feel About Working Next To Robots? | Recent estimates suggest that expenditure on robotics is set to reach $115 billion this year, before rising to over $210 billion by 2022. Whereas traditionally industrial robots would be complex and heavyweight bits of equipment that worked largely in isolation from their human colleagues, its increasingly common to see man and machine working together. This is resulting in a growing interest in the psychology and practicality of these interactions. For instance, a few years ago researchers explored how people feel about having robots for colleagues. The researchers set out to examine whether there may exist cultural differences in the acceptance of robotic colleagues between German and American workers. They didnt find much in the way of national differences, but they did reveal some interesting thoughts on life with a robotic colleague. For instance, over 60% of respondents could easily imagine being supported by a robotic colleague, with 21% even suggesting such a change would be an improvement, with this largely due to the belief that a robot would be less error prone and more predictable in their behavior. Only so good A recent study from Cornell University suggests this is not quite so clear cut however. It explored how people feel when they're working alongside robots, and the robot turns out to be better at their job than them. It emerged that being beaten by a machine tends to make people feel bad about themselves and their abilities, which in turn makes them resent the machines. "Think about a cashier working side-by-side with an automatic check-out machine, or someone operating a forklift in a warehouse which also employs delivery robots driving right next to them," the researchers say. "While it may be tempting to design such robots for optimal productivity, engineers and managers need to take into consideration how the robots' performance may affect the human workers' effort and attitudes toward the robot and even toward themselves. Our research is the first that specifically sheds light on these effects." The authors believe that their findings tap into the kind of loss aversion previously identified by behavioral economists. In this theory, people often reduce their effort level when their competitors are performing better. A second study, from researchers at Aix-Marseille University highlights the neurological action triggered by working with a robot. It found that the area of the brain that manages social rewards are triggered far less frequently when working alongside machines than they are when we work with fellow humans. When recording the brain activity of volunteers in a fMRI machine, the researchers observed clear differences in the amygdalae, basal ganglia and hypothalamus, with activity in all three areas rising when the volunteers talked with a fellow human, and falling when conversing with a robot. The German research at the start of this article highlighted the difficulties many people have bonding with machines. There was a strong appreciation of the so called uncanny valley among participants in their research, with the volunteers revealing that they dont want robots to start displaying emotions. This is further reflected in the belief that whilst robots are great at routine tasks, more complex endeavors are beyond them. This is especially true of things such as leadership, with very few respondents willing to consider a robot boss. A robot has no empathy for my family situation or other concerns that radiate into the job they would say. A machine cannot judge a man and cannot serve as role model, they continue. Emotional responses It seems almost perverse to suggest, but there is a notion that it is the perfection of robots that prevents us from creating an emotional bond with our robot colleagues. Research from the University of Lincoln found that when robots were made with similar flaws and foibles as us, volunteers were better able to bond and form an emotional attachment to them. Perhaps not, with research published in Nature highlighting the compassion and empathy people can feel for robots. After wiring volunteers up to an EEG to monitor their brain activity, they were able to show that people exposed to images of a robotic hand in a painful situation exhibited empathy towards the robot. Granted, the empathy wasn't on the same level as they showed to humans, but it was there nonetheless. At the moment, we are still at an early stage in our understanding of how man and machine function alongside one another, and so findings such as these remain novel and exciting. As man and machine begin to work increasingly in unison, its vital that we gain a greater understanding of the nature of the interactions between them. Considerable time and energy have been devoted to ensuring that human employees work effectively together, but perhaps now the time has come for similar energy to be devoted to ensuring man and machine can do likewise. We naturally project to and expect from robots human qualities such as personality, gender, ethnicity, and competence, Sangseok You, assistant professor of information systems at HEC Paris, told me recently. In the past, research on teamwork and collaboration has focused on enhancing the outcomes and making teams more viable between people. It is now vital that we expand our effort to unpacking human minds toward robotic colleagues and managing sustainable human-robot teamwork. Successful organizations have always been able to successfully integrate new technologies into the workplace, but its perhaps fair to say that the introduction of intelligent robots presents a challenge like no other. As our understanding grows, its a challenge we will increasingly be equipped to tackle head on. | Recent studies have explored how people feel about working with robots. Cornell University found that being beaten by a machine makes people feel bad about themselves and their abilities, which in turn makes them resent the machines. Aix-Marseille University highlights the neurological action triggered by working with a robot. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2019/03/18/how-we-feel-about-working-next-to-robots/ | 0.432285 |
Is There A Corporate 'Caste System'? | Companies benefit when all voices are truly valued, but thats far from reality in many corporate workplaces. Having worked in or around corporate America for more than 25 years, I cant help but ask if theres a tacit corporate caste system of sorts. Many professionals have experienced dysfunctional corporate cultures emblematic of that Animal Farm mantra All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. During my years in corporate America, I had difficulty reconciling lofty value statements and diversity pledges dripping with promises of equity with the obvious disparate treatment I noticed in how different employees seemed to be valued, listened to, and/or supported. The tragic and costly impact all too often is a resulting anti-collaborative, authoritarian-leaning, toxic organizational culture that doesnt produce its best results or fully leverage its talent. In many ways, I think the corporate caste system is a byproduct of the broader tacit societal caste system. Of course, American society steeped in democratic and capitalistic principles outwardly rejects the caste system concept, but most of us are fully aware that glaring inequities in treatment and opportunities often persist. Arguably, the caste system includes 5 levels with celebrities and the wealthy at the top and those with little access to power or wealth at the bottom most of us falling somewhere in between, actively scrambling to climb up to the next level. Some might consider the overwhelming public outrage at the recent college admissions cheating scandal as a rebuke of this societal caste system phenomenon. While many commentators acknowledged this as just another example of the fact that our society is indeed rigged to favor celebrities and the wealthy, this scandal seemed particularly egregious. CNNs Don Lemon was just one of many journalists exploring the broader societal implications of the scandal. President Trumps meteoric rise from a political neophyte (barely taken seriously during the early primary season) to the eventual victor seemed to be another prime example of the overwhelming impact of celebrity over other more rational factors like experience, intellect, judgment, and ability. Furthermore, our celebrity and wealth-obsessed culture often seems to require so much less of some and so much more of others to achieve even reasonably comparable levels of success. This same mentality, unfortunately, seems embedded in the DNA of many corporate hierarchies. These levels seem to be defined based on a variety of potential factors like gender, race, age, alma mater, proclivity towards technology, academic background, and of course level, title, and hierarchical position all translating into wildly different levels of power, influence, and even respect. Most professionals have experienced the caste system culture at some point in their career. While I can recall many personal experiences, one example is most prominent. As an MBA candidate in my 20s, I worked for a major telecommunications company during the notorious long distance price wars of the mid-1990s. One day I substituted for my manager during a key meeting. As the discussion roared on about our companys strategic decision to maintain a pricier business model (and a higher price point) against lower-priced competitors during the height of the long distance rate wars, I couldnt help but ask why we felt the need to hold on to more expensive, complicated switching technology when we likely couldnt charge more for the final product. When you pick up the phone either it works or it doesnt. Customers arent going to pay more for our branded dial tone are they? While that might seem like a perfectly logical point of view now since pay per minute landline long distance service seems almost anachronistic, I promise at that moment it was a very unpopular opinion - particularly unpopular coming from me a 20 something non-technical, southern, black female employee with only a couple years of service. In that moment as I fielded angry eye rolls and frustrated sighs, I couldnt help but think that if I had held a different station in the corporate caste system that my comments would have instead been received as a brilliant, innovative perspective. While it might be tempting to dismiss this caste system phenomenon as a tangential diversity issue, the dynamic that it creates is powerful, pervasive, and consequential. Too often I find leaders making questionable or ill-informed decisions because lower level employees are hesitant to speak up, share information, or dare question/push back on a senior leaders idea. In the project management community, we often ask the question Who is willing to tell the boss they have an ugly baby? as a bit of a check on the organizations level of candor. Virtually anyone who has participated in business meetings or conference calls knows that oftentimes participants dont have the opportunity for equal influence or contribution some comments, suggestions, and ideas are taken seriously and drive the teams focus and subsequent decisions while others are often ignored, devalued, or even mocked. In my experience, the difference is oftentimes not just the efficacy of the idea but also (sometimes moreso) the power station of the messenger. While it might seem like this is another kumbaya treat everyone nice morale issue, this important disparate treatment element is just the tip of the iceberg when assessing the overall impact. Some would argue that the more substantial impact is diminished business results, organizational ineffectiveness, and process inefficiencies. Furthermore, this disparate treatment can significantly impact how an organization identifies, develops, and promotes its high potential professionals which in turn has a systemic ongoing impact on business performance. In my case as a young professional, I distinctly remember hearing through the grapevine about the promotable list. When I asked whether I was on it, I was met with a condescending glare and perfunctory response If you dont know youre on it, youre not! Indeed, organizations suffer missed improvement opportunities, lost ideas, and decreased innovation when those at the bottom of the corporate food chain clam up instead of speaking up and sharing their brilliant ideas for fear of overstepping, saying the wrong thing, or upstaging a senior leader. While the disparate treatment often disadvantages and undervalues those at the bottom of the food chain, it can similarly overvalue and inordinately advantage those at the top of the food chain. Some might consider this a Trumpian like effect where those in higher power stations seem to reap the benefits of their perch atop the food chain - whether its their significant influence during discussions, accolades and rewards that may not seem deserved or the achievement of a role for which they may not be qualified. While there are many executives who have earned their positions and are quite deserving of their senior roles, many others are woefully inept and their buffoonery and poor decision making is often dismissed or ignored if not rewarded. Lawrence ODonnell recently highlighted freshman congresswoman Katie Porters tense interaction with Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Kathy Kraninger where she seemed to expose this top officials inability to calculate an APR (annual percentage rate) during a House Financial Services Committee meeting. Embarrassingly, Representative Porter later tweeted about the exchange including an explanation of APR calculation. This phenomenon of questionably qualified individuals being promoted to senior levels within an organization can lead to a dangerous Emperor Has No Clothes type culture which doesnt just create an insufferable work environment in many cases but also often yields disastrous business results. Let me be clear -- I am NOT demonizing hierarchy or organizational reporting structures overall. In most cases theyre a necessary tool for structuring and defining roles and responsibilities within a complex corporate ecosystem. However, when those valid hierarchical structures (intended to provide needed clarity around roles/responsibilities, functional distinctions, and reporting relationships) encourage a mentality that those at the top of the food chain are all knowing, perfect decision makers who should be valued, lauded (and sometimes easily excused) while those at the bottom should be quiet and passive while simply waiting to follow directions, the work environment oftentimes becomes toxic and dysfunctional. Indeed, the most successful organizations have found a way to equally value thoughts and ideas and embrace true collaboration. They insist that different doesnt mean better (or worse). They reject the caste system mentality and replace it with a much more collaborative one. They know that success requires managing up, down, and sideways and seek to promote the best ideas from everyone. Stay tuned for my next article Defining Five Levels Of The Corporate Caste System: Where Are You?. Understanding these five levels equips professionals to better understand where they might fit on the influence scale and then use that knowledge to inform their career planning and strategizing. | Companies benefit when all voices are truly valued, but thats far from reality in many corporate workplaces. The caste system includes 5 levels with celebrities and the wealthy at the top and those with little access to power or wealth at the bottom. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/danabrownlee/2019/03/18/is-there-a-corporate-caste-system/ | 0.109116 |
Is Puerto Rico Providing a Blueprint to Reinvent the Overall US Power Grid? | By: Peter Asmus In the past, government support for microgrids has been fragmented, often hodge-podge collections of regulations, standards, and public policy. With the extreme weather events hitting the US over the past 8 years, statesas well as Puerto Ricohave enacted new programs designed to bolster grid resilience through microgrids. Puerto Rico as a Case Study Lets zero in on Puerto Rico, which has suffered more severe power outages than any other part of the US, with the average citizen going 84 days without electricity following Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Though California led the US with the number of power outages annually over the last decade, Hurricane Maria brought nationwide attention to the shortfalls of grid infrastructure in Puerto Rico, a US territory. In 2017 the US equaled the highest number (16) of billion-dollar disasters ever in one year (tied with 2011). The cumulative damage of these events was $306.2 billion, shattering the previous US annual record of $214.8 billion experienced in 2005. With crisis comes opportunity. For many, Puerto Rico is a test case to validate the notion that the future of the grid (as we move forward with the vision of an Energy Cloud) can revolve around microgrids incorporating renewable energy. Consider the recently released Integrated Resource Plan in Puerto Rico, where Siemens (and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) proposed that the island be sectionalized into eight minigrids. These eight islandable minigrids would be further subdivided into smaller microgrids designed to deliver increased resiliency to critical infrastructure facilities and communities. Specifics of Puerto Rico Microgrid Innovations Perhaps the most far-reaching of proposed reforms for Puerto Rico is the planned privatization of the islands power supply. According to PowerGen Renewable Energy, private sector remote microgrids typically cost half as much as similar systems developed by governmental agencies and nationalized utilities. If Puerto Rico continues down the privatization path, its success (or failure) will carry broad lessons throughout the globe, and just may be a benchmark for a modern, more resilient, sustainable, and reliable power system for both island and mainland communities. While the debate over larger infrastructure upgrades to enhance resiliency in Puerto Rico continues, smaller vendorssuch as Blue Planet Energy, which is deploying a number of its non-toxic Blue Ion lithium ion batteries in smaller microgridsare validating many use cases with broad application across the globe. For example, the company installed a microgrid at a cancer center on the island of Vieques, which suffers from severe toxic contamination due to decades of military bombing, resulting in a cancer rate 27% higher than the rest of Puerto Rico. With the help of the advanced Blue Ion batteries, the facility has become a resiliency hub for the community. Blue Planet Energy, presenting at the Microgrid Innovation Forum on March 19 in Washington, DC, has also installed solar plus battery microgrids at numerous remote water-pumping facilities with non-profit partner Water Mission. Of such projects, four are supplying 1,200 people with clean water, a necessity to sustain life in areas the public utility decided not to restore electrical service. Extended power outages threaten clean water supplies in many parts of Puerto Rico, as well as other remote locations worldwide. | Puerto Rico has suffered more severe power outages than any other part of the US. Puerto Rico is a test case to validate the notion that the future of the grid can revolve around microgrids incorporating renewable energy. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/pikeresearch/2019/03/18/is-puerto-rico-providing-a-blueprint-to-reinvent-the-overall-us-power-grid/ | 0.237318 |
Is Puerto Rico Providing a Blueprint to Reinvent the Overall US Power Grid? | By: Peter Asmus In the past, government support for microgrids has been fragmented, often hodge-podge collections of regulations, standards, and public policy. With the extreme weather events hitting the US over the past 8 years, statesas well as Puerto Ricohave enacted new programs designed to bolster grid resilience through microgrids. Puerto Rico as a Case Study Lets zero in on Puerto Rico, which has suffered more severe power outages than any other part of the US, with the average citizen going 84 days without electricity following Hurricane Maria in September 2017. Though California led the US with the number of power outages annually over the last decade, Hurricane Maria brought nationwide attention to the shortfalls of grid infrastructure in Puerto Rico, a US territory. In 2017 the US equaled the highest number (16) of billion-dollar disasters ever in one year (tied with 2011). The cumulative damage of these events was $306.2 billion, shattering the previous US annual record of $214.8 billion experienced in 2005. With crisis comes opportunity. For many, Puerto Rico is a test case to validate the notion that the future of the grid (as we move forward with the vision of an Energy Cloud) can revolve around microgrids incorporating renewable energy. Consider the recently released Integrated Resource Plan in Puerto Rico, where Siemens (and the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority) proposed that the island be sectionalized into eight minigrids. These eight islandable minigrids would be further subdivided into smaller microgrids designed to deliver increased resiliency to critical infrastructure facilities and communities. Specifics of Puerto Rico Microgrid Innovations Perhaps the most far-reaching of proposed reforms for Puerto Rico is the planned privatization of the islands power supply. According to PowerGen Renewable Energy, private sector remote microgrids typically cost half as much as similar systems developed by governmental agencies and nationalized utilities. If Puerto Rico continues down the privatization path, its success (or failure) will carry broad lessons throughout the globe, and just may be a benchmark for a modern, more resilient, sustainable, and reliable power system for both island and mainland communities. While the debate over larger infrastructure upgrades to enhance resiliency in Puerto Rico continues, smaller vendorssuch as Blue Planet Energy, which is deploying a number of its non-toxic Blue Ion lithium ion batteries in smaller microgridsare validating many use cases with broad application across the globe. For example, the company installed a microgrid at a cancer center on the island of Vieques, which suffers from severe toxic contamination due to decades of military bombing, resulting in a cancer rate 27% higher than the rest of Puerto Rico. With the help of the advanced Blue Ion batteries, the facility has become a resiliency hub for the community. Blue Planet Energy, presenting at the Microgrid Innovation Forum on March 19 in Washington, DC, has also installed solar plus battery microgrids at numerous remote water-pumping facilities with non-profit partner Water Mission. Of such projects, four are supplying 1,200 people with clean water, a necessity to sustain life in areas the public utility decided not to restore electrical service. Extended power outages threaten clean water supplies in many parts of Puerto Rico, as well as other remote locations worldwide. | Puerto Rico has suffered more severe power outages than any other part of the US. Puerto Rico is a test case to validate the notion that the future of the grid can revolve around microgrids incorporating renewable energy, says Peter Asmus, CEO of PowerGen Renewable Energy. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/pikeresearch/2019/03/18/is-puerto-rico-providing-a-blueprint-to-reinvent-the-overall-us-power-grid/ | 0.255912 |
What Makes the 2019 Honda Civic Si So Ex-Si-ting? | Easily the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market today, Honda's Civic Si coupe (and its mechanically identical four-door sedan sibling) is a performance bargain. It is quick, thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it is fun to drive, thanks to its six-speed manual transmission and well-sorted chassis. The Si model exists between the mainstream Civic lineup and the bonkers, 306-hp Civic Type R, and shares a 10Best Cars award from us with the latter. We've also run the Si at our annual Lightning Lap track test in 2017, where it was the only car that year to gain speed through Virginia International Raceway's treacherous high-speed uphill ess-curves. To see what sets it apart from the regular Civic, swipe on! | The 2019 Honda Civic Si is the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market today. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/makes-2019-honda-civic-si-135500172.html | 0.321046 |
What Makes the 2019 Honda Civic Si So Ex-Si-ting? | Easily the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market today, Honda's Civic Si coupe (and its mechanically identical four-door sedan sibling) is a performance bargain. It is quick, thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it is fun to drive, thanks to its six-speed manual transmission and well-sorted chassis. The Si model exists between the mainstream Civic lineup and the bonkers, 306-hp Civic Type R, and shares a 10Best Cars award from us with the latter. We've also run the Si at our annual Lightning Lap track test in 2017, where it was the only car that year to gain speed through Virginia International Raceway's treacherous high-speed uphill ess-curves. To see what sets it apart from the regular Civic, swipe on! | The 2019 Honda Civic Si coupe is the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market. The Si model exists between the mainstream Civic lineup and the bonkers, 306-hp Civic Type R. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/makes-2019-honda-civic-si-135500172.html | 0.3513 |
What Makes the 2019 Honda Civic Si So Ex-Si-ting? | Easily the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market today, Honda's Civic Si coupe (and its mechanically identical four-door sedan sibling) is a performance bargain. It is quick, thanks to its turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it is fun to drive, thanks to its six-speed manual transmission and well-sorted chassis. The Si model exists between the mainstream Civic lineup and the bonkers, 306-hp Civic Type R, and shares a 10Best Cars award from us with the latter. We've also run the Si at our annual Lightning Lap track test in 2017, where it was the only car that year to gain speed through Virginia International Raceway's treacherous high-speed uphill ess-curves. To see what sets it apart from the regular Civic, swipe on! | The 2019 Honda Civic Si coupe is the best-handling front-wheel-drive car on the market. The Si model exists between the mainstream Civic lineup and the bonkers, 306-hp Civic Type R, and shares a 10Best Cars award from us with the latter. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/makes-2019-honda-civic-si-135500172.html | 0.398923 |
Are superheroes actually more violent than villains? | by Deron Dalton Superheroes are more popular than ever, but CNN recently revealed in a surprising movie study that our favorite derring-doers actually cause more damage than you might think. Heroes are known to commit violent acts in order to take down villains. These violent acts cause collateral damage that may actually endanger civilians. But heroes are self-aware and typically try to ensure civilians are safe and away from the danger. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains, according to CNN: "We actually found the protagonists were performing a greater amount of violence per hour than the antagonists. Protagonists were performing 22.7 violent events per hour, while the antagonists, or bad guys, were performing 17.5 events per hour," said John Muller, a medical student at Penn State College of Medicine and lead researcher of the project. The findings have not been published or peer-reviewed. The research looks at 10 superhero films from 2015 and 2016: "Suicide Squad," "Batman: The Killing Joke," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Captain America: Civil War," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Deadpool," "Fantastic Four," "Ant-Man" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron." To work out who was committing the violent act, "each major film character was classified as either a protagonist ('good guy') or antagonist ('bad guy')," the research says. But on the flip side, superheroes go up against violent villains all the time, and the difference is that heroes typically think about the safety of civilians, even while committing collateral damage. Also, in the Marvel Universe, there's Damage Control, a construction company that cleans up after fights between heroes and villains. Damage Control is a representation of realistically acknowledging that superheroes must perform violent acts to get the job done, and beyond ensuring that civilians are safe, they help to repair collateral damage they might cause. The self-awareness and significance of Damage Control has been highlighted by Marvel in the animated series "Ultimate Spider-Man." DC devoted an entire show called "Powerless," focused on an insurance company that deals with repercussions of civilians being hurt in violent acts between heroes and villains. Unfortunately, the comedy was canceled too soon after just one season. Check out a clip of Damage Control on Ultimate Spider-Man below, and let us know what you think by voting on if you think superheroes are just as guilty, or worse, than the villains in regards to creating collateral damage. Superheroes cause so much damage that it was the premise of two superhero blockbusters in 2016: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Captain America: Civil War." Both films focused on holding heroes accountable for their violent actions, and the civilian impact of collateral damage caused by superheroes. Below is the synopsis of BvS, per Rotten Tomatoes. Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane Lane return as Lois Lane and Martha Kent, respectively. Check out a clip from BvS where Batman decides Superman is a powerful force who is a menace to society. Below is the synopsis of Captain America: Civil War, per Rotten Tomatoes. Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps-one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. The heroes in the film were split on if they should have to answer to government forces in response to their power. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition's study, maybe superheroes should have to answer to the government. In the film's opening scene, Scarlett Witch accidentally blows up civilians. In response to the vast collateral damage, violence and civilian harm over the yearsthe government enacts superhero regulation called the Sokovia Accords. Watch the clip below. But true heroes know the power they hold with immense superpowers and enhanced abilities. They also know that they must kick villain butt and that may cause collateral damage. Hence, they do their best in making sure civilians are out of harm's way. It's like Superhero 101. Spider-Man is a perfect example of a hero who, yes, causes collateral damage. But he also has saved civilians numerous times from villainous collateral damage. In "Spider-Man 2," the web-slinger stops a train from going off the rails and crashing, completely exhausting himself in the process. New York civilians carried the hero into a subway car and tried to protect him from Dr. Octopus. Forget this talk of superhero collateral damage. That's called civilian gratitude because a superhero saved the day! Watch the clip of Spider-Man saving the day in Spider-Man 2 below. And have we forgotten about the sacrifices heroes make like with their lives?! Some heroes die in order to help others. Then, we appreciate them after they are gone! Again, Spider-Man is not only a hero who puts his life on the line, but he's also a hero who saves the day regardless of not always getting the recognition he deserves. Just watch this scene of Spidey trying to keep a split-in-half ferry together, saving civilians in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Okay, it's with the help of Iron Man, but still... Watch the clip below. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. | A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains. | bart | 0 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/are-superheroes-actually-more-violent-than-villains.html | 0.143921 |
Are superheroes actually more violent than villains? | by Deron Dalton Superheroes are more popular than ever, but CNN recently revealed in a surprising movie study that our favorite derring-doers actually cause more damage than you might think. Heroes are known to commit violent acts in order to take down villains. These violent acts cause collateral damage that may actually endanger civilians. But heroes are self-aware and typically try to ensure civilians are safe and away from the danger. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains, according to CNN: "We actually found the protagonists were performing a greater amount of violence per hour than the antagonists. Protagonists were performing 22.7 violent events per hour, while the antagonists, or bad guys, were performing 17.5 events per hour," said John Muller, a medical student at Penn State College of Medicine and lead researcher of the project. The findings have not been published or peer-reviewed. The research looks at 10 superhero films from 2015 and 2016: "Suicide Squad," "Batman: The Killing Joke," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Captain America: Civil War," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Deadpool," "Fantastic Four," "Ant-Man" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron." To work out who was committing the violent act, "each major film character was classified as either a protagonist ('good guy') or antagonist ('bad guy')," the research says. But on the flip side, superheroes go up against violent villains all the time, and the difference is that heroes typically think about the safety of civilians, even while committing collateral damage. Also, in the Marvel Universe, there's Damage Control, a construction company that cleans up after fights between heroes and villains. Damage Control is a representation of realistically acknowledging that superheroes must perform violent acts to get the job done, and beyond ensuring that civilians are safe, they help to repair collateral damage they might cause. The self-awareness and significance of Damage Control has been highlighted by Marvel in the animated series "Ultimate Spider-Man." DC devoted an entire show called "Powerless," focused on an insurance company that deals with repercussions of civilians being hurt in violent acts between heroes and villains. Unfortunately, the comedy was canceled too soon after just one season. Check out a clip of Damage Control on Ultimate Spider-Man below, and let us know what you think by voting on if you think superheroes are just as guilty, or worse, than the villains in regards to creating collateral damage. Superheroes cause so much damage that it was the premise of two superhero blockbusters in 2016: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Captain America: Civil War." Both films focused on holding heroes accountable for their violent actions, and the civilian impact of collateral damage caused by superheroes. Below is the synopsis of BvS, per Rotten Tomatoes. Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane Lane return as Lois Lane and Martha Kent, respectively. Check out a clip from BvS where Batman decides Superman is a powerful force who is a menace to society. Below is the synopsis of Captain America: Civil War, per Rotten Tomatoes. Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps-one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. The heroes in the film were split on if they should have to answer to government forces in response to their power. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition's study, maybe superheroes should have to answer to the government. In the film's opening scene, Scarlett Witch accidentally blows up civilians. In response to the vast collateral damage, violence and civilian harm over the yearsthe government enacts superhero regulation called the Sokovia Accords. Watch the clip below. But true heroes know the power they hold with immense superpowers and enhanced abilities. They also know that they must kick villain butt and that may cause collateral damage. Hence, they do their best in making sure civilians are out of harm's way. It's like Superhero 101. Spider-Man is a perfect example of a hero who, yes, causes collateral damage. But he also has saved civilians numerous times from villainous collateral damage. In "Spider-Man 2," the web-slinger stops a train from going off the rails and crashing, completely exhausting himself in the process. New York civilians carried the hero into a subway car and tried to protect him from Dr. Octopus. Forget this talk of superhero collateral damage. That's called civilian gratitude because a superhero saved the day! Watch the clip of Spider-Man saving the day in Spider-Man 2 below. And have we forgotten about the sacrifices heroes make like with their lives?! Some heroes die in order to help others. Then, we appreciate them after they are gone! Again, Spider-Man is not only a hero who puts his life on the line, but he's also a hero who saves the day regardless of not always getting the recognition he deserves. Just watch this scene of Spidey trying to keep a split-in-half ferry together, saving civilians in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Okay, it's with the help of Iron Man, but still... Watch the clip below. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. | A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains. But on the flip side, superheroes go up against violent villains all the time. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/are-superheroes-actually-more-violent-than-villains.html | 0.206576 |
Are superheroes actually more violent than villains? | by Deron Dalton Superheroes are more popular than ever, but CNN recently revealed in a surprising movie study that our favorite derring-doers actually cause more damage than you might think. Heroes are known to commit violent acts in order to take down villains. These violent acts cause collateral damage that may actually endanger civilians. But heroes are self-aware and typically try to ensure civilians are safe and away from the danger. A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains, according to CNN: "We actually found the protagonists were performing a greater amount of violence per hour than the antagonists. Protagonists were performing 22.7 violent events per hour, while the antagonists, or bad guys, were performing 17.5 events per hour," said John Muller, a medical student at Penn State College of Medicine and lead researcher of the project. The findings have not been published or peer-reviewed. The research looks at 10 superhero films from 2015 and 2016: "Suicide Squad," "Batman: The Killing Joke," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Captain America: Civil War," "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice," "Deadpool," "Fantastic Four," "Ant-Man" and "Avengers: Age of Ultron." To work out who was committing the violent act, "each major film character was classified as either a protagonist ('good guy') or antagonist ('bad guy')," the research says. But on the flip side, superheroes go up against violent villains all the time, and the difference is that heroes typically think about the safety of civilians, even while committing collateral damage. Also, in the Marvel Universe, there's Damage Control, a construction company that cleans up after fights between heroes and villains. Damage Control is a representation of realistically acknowledging that superheroes must perform violent acts to get the job done, and beyond ensuring that civilians are safe, they help to repair collateral damage they might cause. The self-awareness and significance of Damage Control has been highlighted by Marvel in the animated series "Ultimate Spider-Man." DC devoted an entire show called "Powerless," focused on an insurance company that deals with repercussions of civilians being hurt in violent acts between heroes and villains. Unfortunately, the comedy was canceled too soon after just one season. Check out a clip of Damage Control on Ultimate Spider-Man below, and let us know what you think by voting on if you think superheroes are just as guilty, or worse, than the villains in regards to creating collateral damage. Superheroes cause so much damage that it was the premise of two superhero blockbusters in 2016: "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and "Captain America: Civil War." Both films focused on holding heroes accountable for their violent actions, and the civilian impact of collateral damage caused by superheroes. Below is the synopsis of BvS, per Rotten Tomatoes. Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) share the screen in this Warner Bros./DC Entertainment co-production penned by David S. Goyer and Chris Terrio, and directed by Zack Snyder. Amy Adams and Diane Lane return as Lois Lane and Martha Kent, respectively. Check out a clip from BvS where Batman decides Superman is a powerful force who is a menace to society. Below is the synopsis of Captain America: Civil War, per Rotten Tomatoes. Marvel's "Captain America: Civil War" finds Steve Rogers leading the newly formed team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. But after another incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, political pressure mounts to install a system of accountability, headed by a governing body to oversee and direct the team. The new status quo fractures the Avengers, resulting in two camps-one led by Steve Rogers and his desire for the Avengers to remain free to defend humanity without government interference, and the other following Tony Stark's surprising decision to support government oversight and accountability. The heroes in the film were split on if they should have to answer to government forces in response to their power. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition's study, maybe superheroes should have to answer to the government. In the film's opening scene, Scarlett Witch accidentally blows up civilians. In response to the vast collateral damage, violence and civilian harm over the yearsthe government enacts superhero regulation called the Sokovia Accords. Watch the clip below. But true heroes know the power they hold with immense superpowers and enhanced abilities. They also know that they must kick villain butt and that may cause collateral damage. Hence, they do their best in making sure civilians are out of harm's way. It's like Superhero 101. Spider-Man is a perfect example of a hero who, yes, causes collateral damage. But he also has saved civilians numerous times from villainous collateral damage. In "Spider-Man 2," the web-slinger stops a train from going off the rails and crashing, completely exhausting himself in the process. New York civilians carried the hero into a subway car and tried to protect him from Dr. Octopus. Forget this talk of superhero collateral damage. That's called civilian gratitude because a superhero saved the day! Watch the clip of Spider-Man saving the day in Spider-Man 2 below. And have we forgotten about the sacrifices heroes make like with their lives?! Some heroes die in order to help others. Then, we appreciate them after they are gone! Again, Spider-Man is not only a hero who puts his life on the line, but he's also a hero who saves the day regardless of not always getting the recognition he deserves. Just watch this scene of Spidey trying to keep a split-in-half ferry together, saving civilians in "Spider-Man: Homecoming." Okay, it's with the help of Iron Man, but still... Watch the clip below. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say. | A study from the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition revealed superheroes actually cause more damage than villains. But on the flip side, superheroes go up against violent villains all the time, and the difference is that heroes typically think about the safety of civilians, even while committing collateral damage. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/are-superheroes-actually-more-violent-than-villains.html | 0.291663 |
What is a St. Josephs Day altar, and where can I find one in New Orleans? | St. Joseph Day altars are ubiquitous in New Orleans. You find them in churches, community centers, bars, hotels -- even grocery stores. For many of us who grew up in the heavily Catholic New Orleans area, the altars are an annual custom. Many of the altars, which are built near or on the saints feast day, March 19, are rich displays of culinary artistry and deep faith. Find one near you by clicking on this link: St. Joseph Day altars 2019 -- More than 75 to visit in New Orleans area. For the uninitiated, here is the background on this practice that is rich in cultural and spiritual tradition. Dozens of St. Joseph Day volunteers began working at St. Cletus in Gretna on Jan. 17, 2017. This biblical figure is described in Scripture, including the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, as a carpenter and the husband of the Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. He is considered the earthly father of Christ on earth. He figures prominently in the story of the birth of Christ. In a custom called "tupa tupa" or "knock knock," children dress as the Holy Family to re-enact knocking on doors seeking shelter, as the holy family did before Christ's birth until, finally, they are welcomed to a special table set with small portions of food from the altar. St. Joseph's Day altar at St. Joseph Church in Gretna. In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared him Holy Patriarch Joseph, patron of the Catholic Church, and set his feast day as March 19. The tradition of building an altar, laden with seafood, breads, pastries and citrus to honor San Giuseppe, the father of Jesus, began in Sicily. In the Middle Ages, residents there prayed to St. Joseph, the island nation's patron saint, to provide for them during famine. On the saint's feast day, March 19, they built altars in thanks. People line up to view the St. Joseph's altar at St. Joseph Church and Shrine on the West Bank on Saturday, March 19, 2016 in Gretna. In the 19th century, many Sicilians immigrated to New Orleans, with many settling in the French Quarter, which was even given the nickname "Little Palermo." With these immigrants, came the tradition St. Joseph altars. Some say that the tradition grew more popular during World War II when many Italian-Americans went to war and their families back home made altars to pray for their safe-keeping. In New Orleans, altars were once more commonly held in private homes. Now, the altars are found in many public places as well. Hundreds of volunteers spend hours making the foods and building the displays. Visitors go to give thanks for answered prayers or to ask for healing or other petitions. St. Joseph Day altars 2019: More than 75 to visit in New Orleans area St. Joseph's Day is March 19, but a smattering of the altars in the New Orleans area will open over the weekend. As is natural, the Sicilian altar tradition has blended with other parts of New Orleans culture. New Orleans population includes many of Irish descent, so St. Patricks Day observances may overlap with St. Joseph Day. Mardi Gras Indian tribes parade for the last time of the season on St. Josephs Day, or Chiefs Day. St. Lucy's eye pies are common on St. Joseph day altars: St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and visually impaired and also came from Sicily. Some of the foods and objects on St. Joseph day altars have obvious ties to faith and tradition. The altars feature displays of candles, fruit, flowers, vegetables as well as sweet and savory dishes. The altars, traditionally, do not feature meat, but will have seafood dishes and vegetarian dishes, such as stuffed artichokes. Many dishes would be right at home on any Italian supper table, such as baked fish or fig cookies. Some are whimsical, such as the sweet little coconut lamb cakes, and others, can be a bit startling. Consider the St. Lucy's eye pie (pictured above). St. Lucy hailed from Sicily and is the patron saint of the blind and visually impaired. Breads are baked shaped into carpenter's tools, crosses and fish. Cuccidata, or pastries with fig filling, are made in the shape of chalices, wreaths, hearts or other Christian symbols. Also, on many altars, expect to find elaborate cakes and displays that serve as memorials to family members who have died. Read more about the symbolism in this feature story -- "Religious symbols behind St. Joseph altars reflect faith and tradition" -- from food writer, Judy Walker. Everybody is welcome to visit St. Joseph Day altars. Just before and, especially on the feast day itself - March 19 -- the faithful make pilgrimages, visiting altars at churches, schools and in homes. These altars welcome all. Many people pray at the altars. You don't have to be a Christian, but most altar celebrations do feature blessings, Masses and praying the rosary, so attendees are expected to be respectful of these practices. Most organizations ask for a small donation and give out goodie bags that contain a holy card, a dried fava bean and Sicilian treats, such as fig and sesame cookies. Many serve meals. Look for slips of paper, if you wish to write and leave a petition to St. Joseph. Most donations collected at altars go to the organizer's charities, the poor or to support those in religious life. Many bags given to visitors also contain a small piece of blessed bread. Tradition holds that you put that small piece of bread in your freezer and when a hurricane threatens the city, you toss it into your yard to send the storm way. | St. Joseph Day altars are ubiquitous in New Orleans. The tradition of building an altar, laden with seafood, breads, pastries and citrus to honor San Giuseppe, the father of Jesus, began in Sicily. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/food/2017/03/what_is_a_st_josephs_day_altar.html | 0.231602 |
What is a St. Josephs Day altar, and where can I find one in New Orleans? | St. Joseph Day altars are ubiquitous in New Orleans. You find them in churches, community centers, bars, hotels -- even grocery stores. For many of us who grew up in the heavily Catholic New Orleans area, the altars are an annual custom. Many of the altars, which are built near or on the saints feast day, March 19, are rich displays of culinary artistry and deep faith. Find one near you by clicking on this link: St. Joseph Day altars 2019 -- More than 75 to visit in New Orleans area. For the uninitiated, here is the background on this practice that is rich in cultural and spiritual tradition. Dozens of St. Joseph Day volunteers began working at St. Cletus in Gretna on Jan. 17, 2017. This biblical figure is described in Scripture, including the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, as a carpenter and the husband of the Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. He is considered the earthly father of Christ on earth. He figures prominently in the story of the birth of Christ. In a custom called "tupa tupa" or "knock knock," children dress as the Holy Family to re-enact knocking on doors seeking shelter, as the holy family did before Christ's birth until, finally, they are welcomed to a special table set with small portions of food from the altar. St. Joseph's Day altar at St. Joseph Church in Gretna. In 1870, Pope Pius IX declared him Holy Patriarch Joseph, patron of the Catholic Church, and set his feast day as March 19. The tradition of building an altar, laden with seafood, breads, pastries and citrus to honor San Giuseppe, the father of Jesus, began in Sicily. In the Middle Ages, residents there prayed to St. Joseph, the island nation's patron saint, to provide for them during famine. On the saint's feast day, March 19, they built altars in thanks. People line up to view the St. Joseph's altar at St. Joseph Church and Shrine on the West Bank on Saturday, March 19, 2016 in Gretna. In the 19th century, many Sicilians immigrated to New Orleans, with many settling in the French Quarter, which was even given the nickname "Little Palermo." With these immigrants, came the tradition St. Joseph altars. Some say that the tradition grew more popular during World War II when many Italian-Americans went to war and their families back home made altars to pray for their safe-keeping. In New Orleans, altars were once more commonly held in private homes. Now, the altars are found in many public places as well. Hundreds of volunteers spend hours making the foods and building the displays. Visitors go to give thanks for answered prayers or to ask for healing or other petitions. St. Joseph Day altars 2019: More than 75 to visit in New Orleans area St. Joseph's Day is March 19, but a smattering of the altars in the New Orleans area will open over the weekend. As is natural, the Sicilian altar tradition has blended with other parts of New Orleans culture. New Orleans population includes many of Irish descent, so St. Patricks Day observances may overlap with St. Joseph Day. Mardi Gras Indian tribes parade for the last time of the season on St. Josephs Day, or Chiefs Day. St. Lucy's eye pies are common on St. Joseph day altars: St. Lucy is the patron saint of the blind and visually impaired and also came from Sicily. Some of the foods and objects on St. Joseph day altars have obvious ties to faith and tradition. The altars feature displays of candles, fruit, flowers, vegetables as well as sweet and savory dishes. The altars, traditionally, do not feature meat, but will have seafood dishes and vegetarian dishes, such as stuffed artichokes. Many dishes would be right at home on any Italian supper table, such as baked fish or fig cookies. Some are whimsical, such as the sweet little coconut lamb cakes, and others, can be a bit startling. Consider the St. Lucy's eye pie (pictured above). St. Lucy hailed from Sicily and is the patron saint of the blind and visually impaired. Breads are baked shaped into carpenter's tools, crosses and fish. Cuccidata, or pastries with fig filling, are made in the shape of chalices, wreaths, hearts or other Christian symbols. Also, on many altars, expect to find elaborate cakes and displays that serve as memorials to family members who have died. Read more about the symbolism in this feature story -- "Religious symbols behind St. Joseph altars reflect faith and tradition" -- from food writer, Judy Walker. Everybody is welcome to visit St. Joseph Day altars. Just before and, especially on the feast day itself - March 19 -- the faithful make pilgrimages, visiting altars at churches, schools and in homes. These altars welcome all. Many people pray at the altars. You don't have to be a Christian, but most altar celebrations do feature blessings, Masses and praying the rosary, so attendees are expected to be respectful of these practices. Most organizations ask for a small donation and give out goodie bags that contain a holy card, a dried fava bean and Sicilian treats, such as fig and sesame cookies. Many serve meals. Look for slips of paper, if you wish to write and leave a petition to St. Joseph. Most donations collected at altars go to the organizer's charities, the poor or to support those in religious life. Many bags given to visitors also contain a small piece of blessed bread. Tradition holds that you put that small piece of bread in your freezer and when a hurricane threatens the city, you toss it into your yard to send the storm way. | St. Joseph Day altars are ubiquitous in New Orleans. The tradition of building an altar to honor San Giuseppe, the father of Jesus, began in Sicily. In the 19th century, many Sicilians immigrated to New Orleans, with many settling in the French Quarter. | bart | 2 | https://www.nola.com/food/2017/03/what_is_a_st_josephs_day_altar.html | 0.340853 |
Can UW, which struggled to score in the Big Ten tournament, solve Oregon's defense? | Oregon's Kenny Wooten (14) and Francis Okoro converge on Washington's Noah Dickerson in the Pacific-12 championship game. The Ducks' defense has been stellar during an eight-game winning streak. (Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images) MADISON Wisconsin enters the NCAA Tournament struggling to score efficiently and consistently. Oregon enters the tournament having smothered shooters in its last eight games. On the surface, that appears to be a less-than-desirable matchup for the fifth-seeded Badgers (23-10), who face the 12th-seeded Ducks (23-12) in the first round of the South Region at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday in San Jose, California. Defensively you can tell they are pretty good, UW coach Greg Gard said. And obviously theyre coming in hot, having won the Pac-12 tournament. Oregon brings an eight-game winning streak into the tournament and is 12th nationally in three-point field-goal defense (29.6 percent) and 26th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (40.6 percent). RELATED: NCAA Tournament bracket The winning streak began after a 90-83 loss to UCLA on Feb. 23, a game in which the Bruins shot 63.6 percent from three-point range and 50.9 percent overall. They wiped out a 16-point halftime deficit by scoring 62 points in the final 20 minutes. In the eight games since that debacle, Oregon opponents have shot 23.1 percent from three-point range (42 of 182) and 35.2 percent overall (127 of 361) and averaged 54.3 points per game. I really appreciate the way the guys have responded, knowing that we needed to change some things, knowing that we needed to get more focused, communicate a lot better, Oregon coach Dana Altman said. The guys really did a great job making some adjustments and we are playing our best ball. The No. 1 adjustment, with two freshmen and one sophomore in the starting lineup, has been better communication within the teams defensive structure. In watching film, through so many of the games you could just tell they werent talking because wed have two guys going to make the same play and leaving somebody wide open, Altman said. It really made for us giving up some uncontested shots inside and out. Uncontested shots were killing us. NEWSLETTERS Get the Packers Update newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Daily updates on the Packers during the season Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-844-900-7103. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Packers Update Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters That hasnt been the case late in the season, and with Altman starting one guard and four mobile forwards who are 6-foot-9 the Ducks have been able to run shooters off the three-point line and challenge shots near the basket. Sophomore forward Kenny Wooten leads the team in blocks with 62. He had four in a 68-48 victory over Washington in the title game of the Pacific-12 tournament. Washington hit just 5 of 23 three-pointers and 18 of 54 shots overall in the 20-point loss. I thought Oregon did a really good job, Washington coach Mike Hopkins said after the loss. The three or four times we got the ball around the basket, the Kenny Wooten factor came out. UW shot 23.7 percent from three-point range (9 of 38) and 40.7 percent overall (48 of 118) in two Big Ten tournament games. Senior Khalil Iverson, who hit 9 of 15 shots for a 60 percent clip, was the lone starter over 50 percent. Ethan Happ was at 50 percent (12 of 24), with too many misses at the rim. Nate Reuvers shot 37.5 percent (6 of 16). Guard Brad Davison hit 10 percent from three-point range (1 of 10) and 21.1 percent overall (4 of 19), and guard DMitrik Trice shot 30 percent from three-point range (3 of 10) and 33.3 percent overall (5 of 15). If we have those opportunities again I think wed shoot the same shots," Trice said. "Hopefully hit a couple more. We wont miss many more of those. I think we have the talent to get the job done. The numbers were particularly troublesome in the 67-55 loss to Michigan State in the semifinals. UW hit 2 of 19 three-pointers and just 20 of 40 shots in the lane area. Trice hit 1 of 6 three-pointers and Davison missed all five of his attempts. Happ, Reuvers and Iverson struggled against the Spartans size and length. The 19 threes, youd probably take 16 of them any day of the week, Gard said. We understood we had good looks. We did some good things to get good looks. But weve got to convert both inside and out. | Oregon brings an eight-game winning streak into the NCAA Tournament. Wisconsin has struggled to score efficiently and consistently. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2019/03/18/wisconsins-struggling-offense-meets-oregons-smothering-defense/3199020002/ | 0.139229 |
Can UW, which struggled to score in the Big Ten tournament, solve Oregon's defense? | Oregon's Kenny Wooten (14) and Francis Okoro converge on Washington's Noah Dickerson in the Pacific-12 championship game. The Ducks' defense has been stellar during an eight-game winning streak. (Photo: Ethan Miller / Getty Images) MADISON Wisconsin enters the NCAA Tournament struggling to score efficiently and consistently. Oregon enters the tournament having smothered shooters in its last eight games. On the surface, that appears to be a less-than-desirable matchup for the fifth-seeded Badgers (23-10), who face the 12th-seeded Ducks (23-12) in the first round of the South Region at approximately 3:30 p.m. Friday in San Jose, California. Defensively you can tell they are pretty good, UW coach Greg Gard said. And obviously theyre coming in hot, having won the Pac-12 tournament. Oregon brings an eight-game winning streak into the tournament and is 12th nationally in three-point field-goal defense (29.6 percent) and 26th nationally in field-goal percentage defense (40.6 percent). RELATED: NCAA Tournament bracket The winning streak began after a 90-83 loss to UCLA on Feb. 23, a game in which the Bruins shot 63.6 percent from three-point range and 50.9 percent overall. They wiped out a 16-point halftime deficit by scoring 62 points in the final 20 minutes. In the eight games since that debacle, Oregon opponents have shot 23.1 percent from three-point range (42 of 182) and 35.2 percent overall (127 of 361) and averaged 54.3 points per game. I really appreciate the way the guys have responded, knowing that we needed to change some things, knowing that we needed to get more focused, communicate a lot better, Oregon coach Dana Altman said. The guys really did a great job making some adjustments and we are playing our best ball. The No. 1 adjustment, with two freshmen and one sophomore in the starting lineup, has been better communication within the teams defensive structure. In watching film, through so many of the games you could just tell they werent talking because wed have two guys going to make the same play and leaving somebody wide open, Altman said. It really made for us giving up some uncontested shots inside and out. Uncontested shots were killing us. NEWSLETTERS Get the Packers Update newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Daily updates on the Packers during the season Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-844-900-7103. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Packers Update Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters That hasnt been the case late in the season, and with Altman starting one guard and four mobile forwards who are 6-foot-9 the Ducks have been able to run shooters off the three-point line and challenge shots near the basket. Sophomore forward Kenny Wooten leads the team in blocks with 62. He had four in a 68-48 victory over Washington in the title game of the Pacific-12 tournament. Washington hit just 5 of 23 three-pointers and 18 of 54 shots overall in the 20-point loss. I thought Oregon did a really good job, Washington coach Mike Hopkins said after the loss. The three or four times we got the ball around the basket, the Kenny Wooten factor came out. UW shot 23.7 percent from three-point range (9 of 38) and 40.7 percent overall (48 of 118) in two Big Ten tournament games. Senior Khalil Iverson, who hit 9 of 15 shots for a 60 percent clip, was the lone starter over 50 percent. Ethan Happ was at 50 percent (12 of 24), with too many misses at the rim. Nate Reuvers shot 37.5 percent (6 of 16). Guard Brad Davison hit 10 percent from three-point range (1 of 10) and 21.1 percent overall (4 of 19), and guard DMitrik Trice shot 30 percent from three-point range (3 of 10) and 33.3 percent overall (5 of 15). If we have those opportunities again I think wed shoot the same shots," Trice said. "Hopefully hit a couple more. We wont miss many more of those. I think we have the talent to get the job done. The numbers were particularly troublesome in the 67-55 loss to Michigan State in the semifinals. UW hit 2 of 19 three-pointers and just 20 of 40 shots in the lane area. Trice hit 1 of 6 three-pointers and Davison missed all five of his attempts. Happ, Reuvers and Iverson struggled against the Spartans size and length. The 19 threes, youd probably take 16 of them any day of the week, Gard said. We understood we had good looks. We did some good things to get good looks. But weve got to convert both inside and out. | Oregon enters the NCAA Tournament having smothered shooters in its last eight games. Oregon brings an eight-game winning streak into the tournament and is 12th nationally in three-point field-goal defense. Sophomore forward Kenny Wooten leads the team in blocks with 62. He had four in a 68-48 victory over Washington in the title game. | bart | 2 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2019/03/18/wisconsins-struggling-offense-meets-oregons-smothering-defense/3199020002/ | 0.105763 |
Have Pitino's Gophers overachieved, underachieved or properly achieved? | Welcome to the Monday edition of The Cooler, where at a certain point they just have to play the games. Lets get to it: *The achievements of a team within a season stand on their own as a cumulative body of work, complete with ebbs and flows some that we see, some that are invisible except to a team that combine to tell a story. But within that story, there is sometimes the desire to quantify not just how a team performed relative to other teams but how it performed relative to what should have been expected of that team itself. The Gophers mens basketball team this season offers an interesting test case for that set of questions and perhaps a case where perception doesnt quite match reality. In a couple of ways Richard Pitinos Gophers can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. Big Ten media members voted on the order of finish for teams in October. Minnesota was picked to finish ninth, so the Gophers topped that by two spots when they finished seventh. I dare say a ninth-place pick wasnt accompanied by much confidence the Gophers would reach the NCAA tournament, either. Maybe its not a huge difference from where they were picked to where they wound up, but a little better than expected is a lot better than the alternative. Minnesota was also one of the luckiest teams in this years field, according to data from KenPom.com (which I wrote about in more detail here). Basically, by winning a lot of close games, the Gophers finished with a better won-loss record than their overall performance through the season would indicate. Pulling out an extra win or two above expectations was probably the difference between an NCAA bid and an NIT bid and can be viewed as overachieving or at least getting a lot out of what the Gophers had to give. Then again, if you think the Gophers could have been even better that they didnt take enough advantage of their close wins or their talent you might argue they underachieved. But overall, Id say projections and performance suggest Pitinos Gophers overachieved some this year enough to make the difference of getting an NCAA bid and perhaps saving the coachs job. In a Twitter poll usual disclaimer: unscientific but useful you tended to think more of the season-to-date as about right. Theres a pretty even split between those who thought the Gophers overachieved vs. underachieved, but about two-thirds of you said they properly achieved. I wont argue with you, even if the numbers might. *The Twins enter Monday with 42 home runs this spring, No. 2 in all of MLB and just one behind the Yankees. Theyre also second in team slugging percentage at .505. That probably doesnt mean a ton, but it could be a sign of things to come. *If youre a Wild fan, youre hoping Tampa Bay comes up with a strong home performance Monday night against Arizona and keeps the Coyotes just one point ahead of the Wild for the last playoff spot. After tonight, both of those teams will have just nine games remaining including a huge one March 31 against each other in Arizona. | The Gophers can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. | ctrlsum | 0 | http://www.startribune.com/have-pitinos-gophers-overachieved-underachieved-or-properly-achieved/507302692/ | 0.177165 |
Have Pitino's Gophers overachieved, underachieved or properly achieved? | Welcome to the Monday edition of The Cooler, where at a certain point they just have to play the games. Lets get to it: *The achievements of a team within a season stand on their own as a cumulative body of work, complete with ebbs and flows some that we see, some that are invisible except to a team that combine to tell a story. But within that story, there is sometimes the desire to quantify not just how a team performed relative to other teams but how it performed relative to what should have been expected of that team itself. The Gophers mens basketball team this season offers an interesting test case for that set of questions and perhaps a case where perception doesnt quite match reality. In a couple of ways Richard Pitinos Gophers can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. Big Ten media members voted on the order of finish for teams in October. Minnesota was picked to finish ninth, so the Gophers topped that by two spots when they finished seventh. I dare say a ninth-place pick wasnt accompanied by much confidence the Gophers would reach the NCAA tournament, either. Maybe its not a huge difference from where they were picked to where they wound up, but a little better than expected is a lot better than the alternative. Minnesota was also one of the luckiest teams in this years field, according to data from KenPom.com (which I wrote about in more detail here). Basically, by winning a lot of close games, the Gophers finished with a better won-loss record than their overall performance through the season would indicate. Pulling out an extra win or two above expectations was probably the difference between an NCAA bid and an NIT bid and can be viewed as overachieving or at least getting a lot out of what the Gophers had to give. Then again, if you think the Gophers could have been even better that they didnt take enough advantage of their close wins or their talent you might argue they underachieved. But overall, Id say projections and performance suggest Pitinos Gophers overachieved some this year enough to make the difference of getting an NCAA bid and perhaps saving the coachs job. In a Twitter poll usual disclaimer: unscientific but useful you tended to think more of the season-to-date as about right. Theres a pretty even split between those who thought the Gophers overachieved vs. underachieved, but about two-thirds of you said they properly achieved. I wont argue with you, even if the numbers might. *The Twins enter Monday with 42 home runs this spring, No. 2 in all of MLB and just one behind the Yankees. Theyre also second in team slugging percentage at .505. That probably doesnt mean a ton, but it could be a sign of things to come. *If youre a Wild fan, youre hoping Tampa Bay comes up with a strong home performance Monday night against Arizona and keeps the Coyotes just one point ahead of the Wild for the last playoff spot. After tonight, both of those teams will have just nine games remaining including a huge one March 31 against each other in Arizona. | The Gophers mens basketball team can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. Minnesota was picked to finish ninth, so the Gophers topped that by two spots when they finished seventh. | bart | 1 | http://www.startribune.com/have-pitinos-gophers-overachieved-underachieved-or-properly-achieved/507302692/ | 0.183483 |
Have Pitino's Gophers overachieved, underachieved or properly achieved? | Welcome to the Monday edition of The Cooler, where at a certain point they just have to play the games. Lets get to it: *The achievements of a team within a season stand on their own as a cumulative body of work, complete with ebbs and flows some that we see, some that are invisible except to a team that combine to tell a story. But within that story, there is sometimes the desire to quantify not just how a team performed relative to other teams but how it performed relative to what should have been expected of that team itself. The Gophers mens basketball team this season offers an interesting test case for that set of questions and perhaps a case where perception doesnt quite match reality. In a couple of ways Richard Pitinos Gophers can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. Big Ten media members voted on the order of finish for teams in October. Minnesota was picked to finish ninth, so the Gophers topped that by two spots when they finished seventh. I dare say a ninth-place pick wasnt accompanied by much confidence the Gophers would reach the NCAA tournament, either. Maybe its not a huge difference from where they were picked to where they wound up, but a little better than expected is a lot better than the alternative. Minnesota was also one of the luckiest teams in this years field, according to data from KenPom.com (which I wrote about in more detail here). Basically, by winning a lot of close games, the Gophers finished with a better won-loss record than their overall performance through the season would indicate. Pulling out an extra win or two above expectations was probably the difference between an NCAA bid and an NIT bid and can be viewed as overachieving or at least getting a lot out of what the Gophers had to give. Then again, if you think the Gophers could have been even better that they didnt take enough advantage of their close wins or their talent you might argue they underachieved. But overall, Id say projections and performance suggest Pitinos Gophers overachieved some this year enough to make the difference of getting an NCAA bid and perhaps saving the coachs job. In a Twitter poll usual disclaimer: unscientific but useful you tended to think more of the season-to-date as about right. Theres a pretty even split between those who thought the Gophers overachieved vs. underachieved, but about two-thirds of you said they properly achieved. I wont argue with you, even if the numbers might. *The Twins enter Monday with 42 home runs this spring, No. 2 in all of MLB and just one behind the Yankees. Theyre also second in team slugging percentage at .505. That probably doesnt mean a ton, but it could be a sign of things to come. *If youre a Wild fan, youre hoping Tampa Bay comes up with a strong home performance Monday night against Arizona and keeps the Coyotes just one point ahead of the Wild for the last playoff spot. After tonight, both of those teams will have just nine games remaining including a huge one March 31 against each other in Arizona. | The Gophers mens basketball team can be seen to have outpaced expectations and overachieved. Minnesota was picked to finish ninth, so the Gophers topped that by two spots when they finished seventh. Pulling out an extra win or two above expectations was probably the difference between an NCAA bid and an NIT bid. | bart | 2 | http://www.startribune.com/have-pitinos-gophers-overachieved-underachieved-or-properly-achieved/507302692/ | 0.22852 |
Why Won't Elizabeth Warren Reveal Her Foreign Policy Positions? | The media's response to Warren's remarks is telling: They were glad to finally have something, anything, to chew on. To an extent, that's the media's problem, not Warren's. The press treats her (almost hopefully) as a presidential candidate. Unless she declares for 2016, she shouldn't be expected to have a detailed opinion on every single foreign-policy issue facing America. Warren is as aware of this as anyone, and that's why her silence on almost everything except Israel is the most convincing evidence yet that Warren has no immediate designs on the White House. In February, Warren gave the 2014 Whittington Lecture at Georgetown University in front of a supportive, yet quiet crowd. It was her first and so far only speech on foreign policy and she emphasized the moral and strategic costs of civilian casualties. Every Afghan civilian death diminishes our cause, she said. If we use excessive force or operate contrary to our counterinsurgency principles, tactical victories may prove to be strategic setbacks. She called for training programs that directly address civilian casualties and greater transparency when they happen, including efforts to better track them. It was a pragmatic and realistic address, almost Obama-like. But to no one's surprise, she didn't mention Obamas favored counterterrorism tool: drone strikes. Warren, who had three brothers who served in the military, has long avoided the topic. Its not the only issue that the freshman senator has been quiet on. She has said little about U.S. policy toward Russia, for instanceor Africa or Latin America for the matter. On Asia, shes been equally quiet. Shes one of only a few senators not to have taken an overseas trip while in office. (She has a trip to Israel planned for after the midterms.) She has always supported President Obamas timetable for withdrawing American forces from Afghanistan, but has not said whether she supports leaving residual troops there. In 2012, MassLive posed 10 questions to her and then-Senator Scott Brown on different foreign policy issues. Her responses were full of generic platitudes, offering almost no insight into her positions. The United States must continue to stand up for the universal values this country was founded on, including free speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of movement, Warren answered when asked about Chinas human rights abuses. I support the U.S. governments efforts to connect with the Chinese government on these issues, and I hope that both governments will continue to build those connections in the future. Her website is no less illuminative. On Iran, she takes the radical position that United States must take the necessary steps to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Even her one clear foreign policy position, on Israel, doesn't shed much light on her broader worldview. Some liberals may be dismayed that her moderate stance, but as Paul Waldman points out at The American Prospect, her position is similar to that of almost every other politician on Capitol Hill. Its boilerplate language from a senator who doesnt spend much time thinking about foreign policy. [Y]ou can call these comments conservative, in that they justify the Israeli government's actions without questioning the resulting civilian deaths, Waldman writes. But the stance she articulates is essentially that of the entire American political elite, both Democratic and Republican. As for the $225 million in aid she supported, the measure passed unanimously in the Senate and 395-8 in the House. Its not like her position sets her apart from the Democratic Party. As a senator, though, Warren must vote on legislation that betrays her views. In September, she made her most consequential vote on foreign policy since taking office when she voted against the continuing resolution to fund the government because it authorized military aid to the moderate Syrian rebels. Even if we could guarantee that our support goes to the right people, I remain unconvinced that training and equipping these forces will be effective in pushing back ISIS, she said. It was her first significant break from the White House on the issue, and set herself apart from Hillary Clinton, who has long supported giving military aid to the Syrian rebels. The media noticed this was well. Warren uses Syria measure to draw contrast with Clinton, The Hill reported. MSNBCs The Daily Rundown ran a segment on it as well. | In February, Sen. Elizabeth Warren gave her first and so far only speech on foreign policy. She emphasized the moral and strategic costs of civilian casualties. Warren, who had three brothers who served in the military, has long avoided the topic. Even her one clear foreign policy position, on Israel, doesn't shed much light on her broader worldview. | bart | 2 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119965/elizabeth-warrens-foreign-policy-positions-are-mystery | 0.140955 |
Does The Fate of the Navajo Nation Depend on Its Language? | EPY: I havent heard him speak. I met him once, but because there were non-Navajos in the room, he spoke in English. He greeted me in Navajo, and his greeting was nice. I didnt detect any sign of an accent. A lot of people, when theyre just beginning to pick up the language, they have an accent in their Navajo. I didnt detect that at all. Had I known he was going to be challenged in this way, I would have chatted with him. Hes a very respectful young man. He has a really wonderful command of the English language, which is what we also need. We need new ideas, new blood coming into the Navajo Nation. ET: He seems very qualified, having been in the Marines and the Arizona State House of Representatives. Other than the language requirement, he seems like a very good candidate. EPY: I believe he is, and I hope that the Navajo youth and the non-fluent Navajos challenge this and say that we want him as a write-in candidate, and show the people: We want to be represented, too. Were Navajos as well. I think a lot of young people who are willing to take a political stance for their people are really confused right now because we didnt count on two very important issues. They [the Navajo Nation Council] didnt listen to our wishes, and now theyre pushing us out even more, so our voices dont mean anything. We need somebody who can interface at the state and national level, and you dont need Navajo fluency for that. These people who created the dispute are not looking down the road. Theyre looking right before their noses, and thats it. And its just so, so sad. EPY: Its still being spoken at home quite a bit. If you travel across the reservation, you can hear parents speaking to their children, elders speaking to children, and you hear children speaking past as well. Its taught in the schools quite extensively across the reservation. The youth themselves are creating a new dialect, which is pleasing. A dying language is one that stays completely the same. A language that is still alive is constantly changing, so thats encouraging. EPY: More people are moving off the reservation for economic reasons. Theyve applied for jobs and theyve been told, Sorry, you dont speak Navajo. Youre highly qualified, but were going to hire this less qualified person [because they speak Navajo], so sorry. Ive taught twenty-four years. The youth want to come back, but they go back to the university to work on a masters degree because they were not wanted on their own reservation because they couldnt speak. Were really doing a disservice to ourselves, to our wholeness as a people, and to our own economic system. We chase the youth away just for the sake of understanding. I feel for Mr. Deschene, but on the other hand I feel for the elders who have that expectation that he needs to communicate with us. Because they are the majority of the voters. The median age was 21 in the 2000 Census, I believe. We are an extremely young nation. The people who brought about this dispute are discriminating against the majority of the population, and thats scary. The language needs to be protected, but it shouldnt be used to discriminate against people. This interview has been edited and condensed. | The Navajo Nation Council is discriminating against the majority of the population, she says. The Navajo language is still spoken at home and in the schools, but it's in danger of dying out. She says the council is pushing Navajos out of the reservation because they can't speak Navajo. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119795/qa-navajo-identity-amid-chris-deschene-language-dispute | 0.131089 |
Are Political Beliefs Predetermined at Birth? | Some researchers have focused on single genes, but the leading researchers have increasingly rejected that. Certainly, there is not a gene for liberalism or any political trait, political scientists Peter K. Hatemi, and Rose McDermott write. They have endorsed Alford, Funk and Hibbings contention that different combinations of genes can create broad but distinct political phenotypes that entail specific attitudes toward specific political questions. These phenotypes consist of a suite or cluster or package of political attitudes that can also be handed down genetically from parent to child and perpetuated over generations, as people choose husbands and wives who have a similar genetic makeup and similar social and political attitudes. The political scientists dont deny that the environmentwhich includes parents, school, work, campaign debates, and the mediainfluences peoples political judgment, but according to Hibbing, Smith, and Alford, the embodied predispositions constitute inertial psychological and physiological set points that serve as baselines for behaviors and attitudes. According to Alford, Funk, and Hibbing, only genetics can account for the durability of the liberal-conservative spectrum in the United States. In other words, one cannot understand contemporary politics without understanding its genetic foundations. There are two kinds of questions that have been raised about genopolitics. One kind is scientific, and has to do with its methodology, particularly its use of twin studies, and with the assumptions it makes about genetics. The most notable responses have been by Duke political scientist Evan Charney, with whom I consulted on this piece, Harvard political scientist William English, Harvard geneticists Corey Morris and Jon Beckwith, and Tel Aviv Medical School professor Doron Shultziner. The other kind of question concerns the social scientists assumptions about politics and political history. Researchers have been using twin studies for over 80 years to prove that certain beliefs or behaviors are inherited. In using these studies, social scientists have to assume that identical and fraternal twins are raised in similar environments, and to the extent there are differences, they dont affect the prevalence of the trait in question. This is termed the equal environment assumption. If the identical twins were more likely than the fraternal twins to have been raised in the same environment (same friends, experiences, treated the same way by parents and others), then it is possible that their greater political agreement is the result of their experiencing more similar environments rather than of their having more similar genes. Critics of the twin studies point out that it is likely that identical twins were raised in a more equal environment, and that these more equal environments led to greater similarities in behavior. Morris and Beckwith write of identical twins that because of their identical appearance [they] are treated and interacted with by parents and the outside world much more similarly than are [fraternal] twins or ordinary siblings. They also share closer bonds. These factors, they write, could well influence the behavioral development of the children in the direction of great similarity. Some researchers have demonstrated that twin studies can lead to perverse results that undermine the equal environment assumption. Mimicking the methodology of the advocates of genopolitics, they have shown that identical twin teenagers spend more time texting on a cell phone than fraternal twins or that identical twins are more likely to adhere to the same religious faiths. If you follow the methodological assumptions of genopolitics, you would have to conclude that these traits are the products of genetic inheritance. The social scientists also make assumptions about the relationship between genetic and environmental causes. They assume that they can isolate genetic from environmental influence, and assign genetic influence a specific quantitative effect on peoples political beliefs. But geneticists do not believe that genes act in a single determined way. Instead, they think genes interact with other genes and with innumerable environmental influences. A person, for instance, might be genetically predisposed to incur an illness, but will only do so if exposed to a certain virus. It is implausible to assume that a gene, or set of genes, taken by themselves, can dictate a certain attitude or belief. The social scientists acknowledge that genes function interactively with the environment, but in their theories, they treat them as independent variables and assign certain percentages to genetic and environmental influence. They also believe that the combination of genes will produce a consistent political view. But that flies in the face of genetic theory as well as political history, which is a record of constant change. Shultziner writes, When the environment changes, as is often the case, the expression and content (e.g. political preference) of the trait in question could easily change as well. Finally, the proponents of genopolitics assume that there is a dichotomy in American politics today between conservatives and liberals that can be projected backwards and globally and that can be explained genetically. The package of attitudes, Alford, Funk, and Hibbing write, held, for example, by conservatives in the modern United States is remarkably similar to that held by conservative in other culture and at earlier times in American history. That assumption is highly questionable. The current division between liberals and conservatives can be overstated. While the proponents of genopolitics might try to divide Americans into liberals and conservatives, the electorate is much more complicated. Pew has recently divided the electorate into eight different categories. At a minimum, one can conjure up leftwing and rightwing populists, libertarians, and moderates, as well as liberals and conservatives. And these questions only bear on the present. The political scientists might respond that they are seeking a deeper divide between mindsets that isnt necessarily reflected in current or past terminology. In this sense, their theory depends on defining a conservative or liberal phenotypean underlying attitudethat entails specific positions that conservatives and liberals are supposed to take, but is not defined by them. The defined attitude itself would entail specific liberal or conservative positions on issues that fall unambiguously on one side or another of the great dichotomy. But they fail to do that. In specifying what absolutist or traditionalist or contextualist attitudes are, the advocates of genopolitics offer definitions that are far from unambiguous politically. For instance, the researchers say that the conservative phenotype includes a yearning for in-group unity. But for this formulation to work, this group cant be a union, and must be something like a church congregation. But the church congregation cant be that of black Pentecostal church whose members are loyal Democrats, but a white evangelical megachurch. Similarly, if the suspicion of outgroups is to define a conservative phenotype, it must apply to suspicions of immigrants, but not of corporate CEOs, rightwing thinktanks, or billionaire oil barons. To get around these objections, Hibbing, Smith, and Alford have recently introduced a new underlying essence that distinguishes the conservative from the liberal mindset, which they call a negativity bias, which characterizes conservatives, and which they claim goes back at least to Sparta and Athens. A negativity bias, they write, is the principle that negative events are more alien, potent, dominant in combinations, and generally efficacious than positive events. They speculate that this negativity bias could have arisen in the Pleistocene epochevidence, perhaps, that many conservatives are really cavemen in modern garb. But as Evan Charney points out, what is perceived as negative depends on the eye of the beholder. Liberals regard conceal and carry gun laws as a threat; conservatives do not. Liberals regard global warming as a threat; conservatives do not. Some of the most contentious debate in political life, Charney writes, are over whether the very same things are negative or positive. One could, of course, make a case that certain kinds of attitudes such as a fear of death or of the unknown can be found across cultures, and one could argue, as I have, that these kind of attitudes can have an unconscious influence over peoples political opinions. But that is a different point from saying that there are specific attitudes or mindsets that are genetic or that yield, depending upon their predominance, liberal or conservative (or for that matter socialist, anarchist, libertarian, fascist, and monarchist) political outlooks and judgments. How attitudes, fears, and hopes play out in politics depends on the objects of fears or hope; and the objects themselves are given by the environment not by genetic inheritance. One reason may be strictly professional. Academics in the social sciences are always on the look out for ways in which they can ground their squishy subjective speculations in the hard terrain of science. The more mathematical symbols and complicated flow-charts or arcane graphs a journal article contains the better. Even literature professors have looked toward obscurantist continental philosophers to turn novels and poems into texts that can be analyzed and charted. Twentieth century philosophy is littered with attempts to reduce language to mathematic formulations. The drive to reduce human behavior to neurons and genes is only the latest expression of this drive to turn social scientists into real scientists. The other reason may have to do with contemporary politics. Political scientists have been understandably puzzled by the polarization and paralysis that has afflicted American politics since the 1990s. They dont understand why in the late 20th and early 21st century, a conservative movement has gained traction, particularly among working class voters who would appear to have an economic interest in siding with liberals. Conservative success in the 2004 election seems to have been particularly puzzling and prompted several attempts at geopolitical speculation, including an essay, Two Genes Predict Voter Turnout, by political scientists James Fowler and Christopher Dawes. Like Thomas Frank, the political scientists want to answer the question, Whats the matter with Kansas? Frank found it in the deceptive practices of the Republican right. The political scientists have looked for it in neuroscience and genetics. But this recent attempt to answer difficult questions of political history by means of biology has led these political scientists down an ideological rabbit hole once populated by phrenologists and racial theorists. They need to come up for air and to recognize that history, with all its complicated and unexpected plot lines, still offers the best clue to what the past means and the future may hold. | John Avlon: Political beliefs are not determined at birth, but by genetic predispositions. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119794/genopolitics-social-science-and-origin-political-beliefs | 0.526656 |
Are Political Beliefs Predetermined at Birth? | Some researchers have focused on single genes, but the leading researchers have increasingly rejected that. Certainly, there is not a gene for liberalism or any political trait, political scientists Peter K. Hatemi, and Rose McDermott write. They have endorsed Alford, Funk and Hibbings contention that different combinations of genes can create broad but distinct political phenotypes that entail specific attitudes toward specific political questions. These phenotypes consist of a suite or cluster or package of political attitudes that can also be handed down genetically from parent to child and perpetuated over generations, as people choose husbands and wives who have a similar genetic makeup and similar social and political attitudes. The political scientists dont deny that the environmentwhich includes parents, school, work, campaign debates, and the mediainfluences peoples political judgment, but according to Hibbing, Smith, and Alford, the embodied predispositions constitute inertial psychological and physiological set points that serve as baselines for behaviors and attitudes. According to Alford, Funk, and Hibbing, only genetics can account for the durability of the liberal-conservative spectrum in the United States. In other words, one cannot understand contemporary politics without understanding its genetic foundations. There are two kinds of questions that have been raised about genopolitics. One kind is scientific, and has to do with its methodology, particularly its use of twin studies, and with the assumptions it makes about genetics. The most notable responses have been by Duke political scientist Evan Charney, with whom I consulted on this piece, Harvard political scientist William English, Harvard geneticists Corey Morris and Jon Beckwith, and Tel Aviv Medical School professor Doron Shultziner. The other kind of question concerns the social scientists assumptions about politics and political history. Researchers have been using twin studies for over 80 years to prove that certain beliefs or behaviors are inherited. In using these studies, social scientists have to assume that identical and fraternal twins are raised in similar environments, and to the extent there are differences, they dont affect the prevalence of the trait in question. This is termed the equal environment assumption. If the identical twins were more likely than the fraternal twins to have been raised in the same environment (same friends, experiences, treated the same way by parents and others), then it is possible that their greater political agreement is the result of their experiencing more similar environments rather than of their having more similar genes. Critics of the twin studies point out that it is likely that identical twins were raised in a more equal environment, and that these more equal environments led to greater similarities in behavior. Morris and Beckwith write of identical twins that because of their identical appearance [they] are treated and interacted with by parents and the outside world much more similarly than are [fraternal] twins or ordinary siblings. They also share closer bonds. These factors, they write, could well influence the behavioral development of the children in the direction of great similarity. Some researchers have demonstrated that twin studies can lead to perverse results that undermine the equal environment assumption. Mimicking the methodology of the advocates of genopolitics, they have shown that identical twin teenagers spend more time texting on a cell phone than fraternal twins or that identical twins are more likely to adhere to the same religious faiths. If you follow the methodological assumptions of genopolitics, you would have to conclude that these traits are the products of genetic inheritance. The social scientists also make assumptions about the relationship between genetic and environmental causes. They assume that they can isolate genetic from environmental influence, and assign genetic influence a specific quantitative effect on peoples political beliefs. But geneticists do not believe that genes act in a single determined way. Instead, they think genes interact with other genes and with innumerable environmental influences. A person, for instance, might be genetically predisposed to incur an illness, but will only do so if exposed to a certain virus. It is implausible to assume that a gene, or set of genes, taken by themselves, can dictate a certain attitude or belief. The social scientists acknowledge that genes function interactively with the environment, but in their theories, they treat them as independent variables and assign certain percentages to genetic and environmental influence. They also believe that the combination of genes will produce a consistent political view. But that flies in the face of genetic theory as well as political history, which is a record of constant change. Shultziner writes, When the environment changes, as is often the case, the expression and content (e.g. political preference) of the trait in question could easily change as well. Finally, the proponents of genopolitics assume that there is a dichotomy in American politics today between conservatives and liberals that can be projected backwards and globally and that can be explained genetically. The package of attitudes, Alford, Funk, and Hibbing write, held, for example, by conservatives in the modern United States is remarkably similar to that held by conservative in other culture and at earlier times in American history. That assumption is highly questionable. The current division between liberals and conservatives can be overstated. While the proponents of genopolitics might try to divide Americans into liberals and conservatives, the electorate is much more complicated. Pew has recently divided the electorate into eight different categories. At a minimum, one can conjure up leftwing and rightwing populists, libertarians, and moderates, as well as liberals and conservatives. And these questions only bear on the present. The political scientists might respond that they are seeking a deeper divide between mindsets that isnt necessarily reflected in current or past terminology. In this sense, their theory depends on defining a conservative or liberal phenotypean underlying attitudethat entails specific positions that conservatives and liberals are supposed to take, but is not defined by them. The defined attitude itself would entail specific liberal or conservative positions on issues that fall unambiguously on one side or another of the great dichotomy. But they fail to do that. In specifying what absolutist or traditionalist or contextualist attitudes are, the advocates of genopolitics offer definitions that are far from unambiguous politically. For instance, the researchers say that the conservative phenotype includes a yearning for in-group unity. But for this formulation to work, this group cant be a union, and must be something like a church congregation. But the church congregation cant be that of black Pentecostal church whose members are loyal Democrats, but a white evangelical megachurch. Similarly, if the suspicion of outgroups is to define a conservative phenotype, it must apply to suspicions of immigrants, but not of corporate CEOs, rightwing thinktanks, or billionaire oil barons. To get around these objections, Hibbing, Smith, and Alford have recently introduced a new underlying essence that distinguishes the conservative from the liberal mindset, which they call a negativity bias, which characterizes conservatives, and which they claim goes back at least to Sparta and Athens. A negativity bias, they write, is the principle that negative events are more alien, potent, dominant in combinations, and generally efficacious than positive events. They speculate that this negativity bias could have arisen in the Pleistocene epochevidence, perhaps, that many conservatives are really cavemen in modern garb. But as Evan Charney points out, what is perceived as negative depends on the eye of the beholder. Liberals regard conceal and carry gun laws as a threat; conservatives do not. Liberals regard global warming as a threat; conservatives do not. Some of the most contentious debate in political life, Charney writes, are over whether the very same things are negative or positive. One could, of course, make a case that certain kinds of attitudes such as a fear of death or of the unknown can be found across cultures, and one could argue, as I have, that these kind of attitudes can have an unconscious influence over peoples political opinions. But that is a different point from saying that there are specific attitudes or mindsets that are genetic or that yield, depending upon their predominance, liberal or conservative (or for that matter socialist, anarchist, libertarian, fascist, and monarchist) political outlooks and judgments. How attitudes, fears, and hopes play out in politics depends on the objects of fears or hope; and the objects themselves are given by the environment not by genetic inheritance. One reason may be strictly professional. Academics in the social sciences are always on the look out for ways in which they can ground their squishy subjective speculations in the hard terrain of science. The more mathematical symbols and complicated flow-charts or arcane graphs a journal article contains the better. Even literature professors have looked toward obscurantist continental philosophers to turn novels and poems into texts that can be analyzed and charted. Twentieth century philosophy is littered with attempts to reduce language to mathematic formulations. The drive to reduce human behavior to neurons and genes is only the latest expression of this drive to turn social scientists into real scientists. The other reason may have to do with contemporary politics. Political scientists have been understandably puzzled by the polarization and paralysis that has afflicted American politics since the 1990s. They dont understand why in the late 20th and early 21st century, a conservative movement has gained traction, particularly among working class voters who would appear to have an economic interest in siding with liberals. Conservative success in the 2004 election seems to have been particularly puzzling and prompted several attempts at geopolitical speculation, including an essay, Two Genes Predict Voter Turnout, by political scientists James Fowler and Christopher Dawes. Like Thomas Frank, the political scientists want to answer the question, Whats the matter with Kansas? Frank found it in the deceptive practices of the Republican right. The political scientists have looked for it in neuroscience and genetics. But this recent attempt to answer difficult questions of political history by means of biology has led these political scientists down an ideological rabbit hole once populated by phrenologists and racial theorists. They need to come up for air and to recognize that history, with all its complicated and unexpected plot lines, still offers the best clue to what the past means and the future may hold. | John Avlon: Political beliefs are not determined at birth, but by genetic predispositions. He says twin studies have been used for 80 years to prove that certain beliefs or behaviors are inherited. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119794/genopolitics-social-science-and-origin-political-beliefs | 0.642015 |
Can Science Fiction Writers Predict Technologys Future? | Future trends are even more important to the money markets. There, chance is squeezed out of the equation as much as is humanly possible. Statistics rule. Its not just banks that have departments of analysts, there are whole companies who employ nothing but analysts pouring over every detail released by companies in their annual reports and profit warnings. What all of them want is a method that will get them one, or preferably ten, steps ahead of the opposition. State intelligence agencies, NHS managers, transport authorities, insurance companies. All of them live by scrutinizing evidence from different sources and putting it together to try and gain that glimpse which clairvoyants have been claiming for centuries. With one interesting omission. In 1939, Robert Heinlein, published his first short story, called Life-Line. It was about a man, Professor Piner, who builds a machine that will determine how long a person will live, by sending a signal along the temporal line of that person and detecting the echo from the far endsort of like a psychic radar. It was infallible, and even knowing the outcome there was no avoiding it. But it's the rest of the future with its quirks, inventions, wars, and triumphs, that we are obsessed with. As science fiction writers, we design our future fictional worlds by extrapolation. It doesnt matter what kind of book were writing, satire, military, space opera, dystopia, the fundamentals of the society have to be in some way believable. To do this we take what we see around us today, and run with it. The advantage I have over Heinlein and others of his era is that the twentieth century saw a huge acceleration in technological and social development. For us that change has become the norm, we understand and accept our lives are in a constant fluxcertainly towards shinier consumer gadgets, and hopefully aiming at a better society. Pre-1940, because valves were the heart of all electrical devices, people assumed valves would remain at the heart. They didnt have the looking-ahead reflex we seem to have acquired. | As science fiction writers, we design our future fictional worlds by extrapolation. The advantage I have over Heinlein and others of his era is that the twentieth century saw a huge acceleration in technological and social development. | pegasus | 1 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119880/can-science-fiction-predict-technologys-future | 0.193451 |
Can Science Fiction Writers Predict Technologys Future? | Future trends are even more important to the money markets. There, chance is squeezed out of the equation as much as is humanly possible. Statistics rule. Its not just banks that have departments of analysts, there are whole companies who employ nothing but analysts pouring over every detail released by companies in their annual reports and profit warnings. What all of them want is a method that will get them one, or preferably ten, steps ahead of the opposition. State intelligence agencies, NHS managers, transport authorities, insurance companies. All of them live by scrutinizing evidence from different sources and putting it together to try and gain that glimpse which clairvoyants have been claiming for centuries. With one interesting omission. In 1939, Robert Heinlein, published his first short story, called Life-Line. It was about a man, Professor Piner, who builds a machine that will determine how long a person will live, by sending a signal along the temporal line of that person and detecting the echo from the far endsort of like a psychic radar. It was infallible, and even knowing the outcome there was no avoiding it. But it's the rest of the future with its quirks, inventions, wars, and triumphs, that we are obsessed with. As science fiction writers, we design our future fictional worlds by extrapolation. It doesnt matter what kind of book were writing, satire, military, space opera, dystopia, the fundamentals of the society have to be in some way believable. To do this we take what we see around us today, and run with it. The advantage I have over Heinlein and others of his era is that the twentieth century saw a huge acceleration in technological and social development. For us that change has become the norm, we understand and accept our lives are in a constant fluxcertainly towards shinier consumer gadgets, and hopefully aiming at a better society. Pre-1940, because valves were the heart of all electrical devices, people assumed valves would remain at the heart. They didnt have the looking-ahead reflex we seem to have acquired. | As science fiction writers, we design our future fictional worlds by extrapolation. The advantage I have over Heinlein and others of his era is that the twentieth century saw a huge acceleration in technological and social development. For us that change has become the norm, we understand and accept our lives are in a constant flux. | pegasus | 2 | https://newrepublic.com/article/119880/can-science-fiction-predict-technologys-future | 0.235903 |
Will eating CBD-infused foods cause me to fail a drug test? | Jelly beans infused with a marijuana chemical are just the last food to be laced with cannabidiol, known as CBD. Theres already cannabis-infused soda on the market, and a craft beer brewery in Colorado has federal approval for CBD-infused beer. Thats in addition to ice cream sandwiches with CBD oil and cannabis-infused smoothies. The CBD-infused jelly beans were just launched by Jelly Belly inventor David Klein through his new company called Spectrum Confections, Business Insider reported. The cannabis-infused beans come in 38 flavors, including strawberry cheesecake and roasted marshmallow, Klein told Cannabis Aficionado. Spectrum Confections says you must be 18 to buy the jelly beans that are currently sold out, and each bean has 10mg of CBD. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to the Star-Telegram The jelly bean is perfect for the proper dosage (of CBD), Klein said, according to Cannabis Aficionado. All jelly beans have added sweetness to the outside to enhance flavor to mask the CBD, the company website says. CBD is a marijuana chemical that wont make you high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thats because CBD acts on different parts of the nervous system than THC, the CDC says. THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is an active, mild-altering component in marijuana. CBD oil is made when cannabidiol is dissolved into an oil made from hemp or coconut, Time Magazine reported. CBD products should not make you fail a drug test as long as the product is completely free of THC, Forbes reports. VeryWellHealth says that if there is any cross contamination with THC, or if the CBD is mixed with THC, the consumer could fail a drug test. To ensure you do not flunk the drug test, the health website recommends that you do thorough research to ensure the CBD product youre using is pure and that the company is legitimate. Spectrum Confections CBD candies are not made to include THC, Klein said, according to Cannabis Aficionado. Scientists think this chemical might help children who have a lot of seizures (when your body starts twitching and jerking uncontrollably) that cant be controlled with other medicines, the CDC said. Some studies have started to see whether it can help. CBD is also being marketed as a way to relieve pain and anxiety symptoms, CNBC reported. Its also in early clinical trials for treating post-traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia, according to Time. | Cannabidiol, known as CBD, is a marijuana chemical that won't make you high. The jelly beans come in 38 flavors, including strawberry cheesecake and roasted marshmallow. CBD products should not make you fail a drug test as long as the product is completely free of THC. | bart | 2 | https://www.star-telegram.com/news/nation-world/national/article228079559.html | 0.475554 |
Where are the New Orleans Pelicans in the race for the No. 1 pick? | The eyes of many New Orleans Pelicans fans have drifted away from the court in the final month of the season and onto the standings. For many of those same fans, its time to embrace the tank. With the Pelicans out of the playoff race and Anthony Davis looming trade in the summer, the next date circled on the calendar is May 14 the date of the NBA lottery. Every Pelicans loss puts New Orleans closer to possibly getting the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Its not a likely scenario for the Pelicans to win the lottery, but the NBA has improved the odds for teams no longer in the top three. This is the first season of the NBAs new lottery odds where the top three teams each have a 14 percent chance at the top pick instead of the 25 percent chance for the team with the worst record, 19.9 percent chance for the team with the second-worst record and the 15.6 percent chance for the team with the third-worst record from last years lottery. That means the New York Knicks, Phoenix Suns and Cleveland Cavaliers all have the same 14 percent chance of winning the lottery and earning the right to draft Dukes Zion Williamson. The Pelicans currently have the eighth-worst record in the NBA this season. Last year, that meant a 2.8 percent chance at the No. 1 overall pick. Its jumps up to 6.0 percent. Alvin Gentry cant survive after Pelicans mind-boggling meltdown against Suns Stunning last-second loss to Phoenix Suns will seal the fate of Pelicans head coach's fate. Also, previously, the lottery not only decided the No. 1 overall pick but also the top three picks. That will change to the top four picks this season and at the No. 8 spot, the Pelicans have a 26.3 percent chance of landing a top-four selection. Of course, with 10 games to go, theres a chance the Pelicans wont finish where they are now. The Pelicans cant finish with one of the worst four records and its highly unlikely they catch Atlanta for the fifth-worst record. The Hawks are 24-47, 5.5 games ahead of the Pelicans in the lottery race. There is a chance the Pelicans could get to the sixth-worst record currently held by Memphis at 28-42. That would improve New Orleans odds at the No. 1 pick to 9.0 percent and the odds of a top-four pick to 37.2 percent. The Pelicans are a game behind Memphis and a half-game behind Dallas at No. 7. On the other side of the Pelicans are Washington (No. 9, 30-40), the Los Angeles Lakers (No. 10, 31-39), Charlotte (No. 11, 31-38), Minnesota (No. 12, 32-38), Orlando (No. 13, 33-38) and Sacramento (No. 14, 34-35). The Sacramento pick is likely to confer to Boston. However, if the 0.5 percent chance of that pick winning the lottery hits, it goes to Philadelphia. That pick could be critical as Boston is one of the teams to make a major play for Davis in the offseason. | Every Pelicans' loss puts New Orleans closer to possibly getting the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. This is the first season of the NBAs new lottery odds. The top three teams each have a 14 percent chance at the top pick instead of the 25 percent chance for the team with the worst record. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/pelicans/2019/03/where-are-the-new-orleans-pelicans-in-the-race-for-the-no-1-pick.html | 0.112526 |
How far did LSU drop in the polls after its upset loss to Florida? | The LSU Tigers fell three spots to No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top-25 after it lost a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The USA Today Coaches poll will be released later. The No. 12 ranking is the highest finish in the AP poll for the Tigers since 2000. LSU went 28-6 under John Brady that year, finishing the season at No. 10 in the final poll. Since 2000, LSU has now been ranked four times in the final AP poll as ranked in the final AP poll. The Tigers were No. 19 in 2006 before their Final Four run. LSU finished the 2009 season at No. 21. LSU (26-6) was No. 9 in the both AP Top 25 and the coaches poll last week. The Tigers have now been ranked in the AP poll for 12 weeks this season, starting off in the rankings at the beginning of the year and then coming back into the polls after their hot start in league play. The 12 weeks in the rankings are tied for the the most for the program history achieving the same feat as the 2006-07 team. LSU is one of four SEC teams ranked in the final AP poll. Tennessee came in at No. 6, Kentucky was No. 7 and Auburn skyrocketed to No. 14. Mississippi State also received votes. No. 3 seed LSU will play its first game of the NCAA Tournament at 11:40 a.m. Thursday against No. 14 seed Yale in in Jacksonville, Florida. | The LSU Tigers fell three spots to No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top-25 after it lost a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The Tigers have now been ranked in the AP poll for 12 weeks this season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/03/how-far-did-lsu-drop-in-the-polls-after-its-upset-loss-to-florida.html | 0.445752 |
How far did LSU drop in the polls after its upset loss to Florida? | The LSU Tigers fell three spots to No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top-25 after it lost a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The USA Today Coaches poll will be released later. The No. 12 ranking is the highest finish in the AP poll for the Tigers since 2000. LSU went 28-6 under John Brady that year, finishing the season at No. 10 in the final poll. Since 2000, LSU has now been ranked four times in the final AP poll as ranked in the final AP poll. The Tigers were No. 19 in 2006 before their Final Four run. LSU finished the 2009 season at No. 21. LSU (26-6) was No. 9 in the both AP Top 25 and the coaches poll last week. The Tigers have now been ranked in the AP poll for 12 weeks this season, starting off in the rankings at the beginning of the year and then coming back into the polls after their hot start in league play. The 12 weeks in the rankings are tied for the the most for the program history achieving the same feat as the 2006-07 team. LSU is one of four SEC teams ranked in the final AP poll. Tennessee came in at No. 6, Kentucky was No. 7 and Auburn skyrocketed to No. 14. Mississippi State also received votes. No. 3 seed LSU will play its first game of the NCAA Tournament at 11:40 a.m. Thursday against No. 14 seed Yale in in Jacksonville, Florida. | The LSU Tigers fell three spots to No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top-25 after it lost a heartbreaker to Florida in the SEC Tournament quarterfinals. The Tigers have now been ranked in the AP poll for 12 weeks this season, tying for the the most for the program history. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/03/how-far-did-lsu-drop-in-the-polls-after-its-upset-loss-to-florida.html | 0.479853 |
How did Mecklenburg County, NC change its bond policy? | He had been accused of misusing a relatives credit card, spending a few dollars on a minor purchase. She had broken her agreement with a judge to avoid prosecution a way to keep her record clean of a small larceny charge. Both of them spent two weeks in jail awaiting trial. For Kevin Tully, Mecklenburg Countys chief public defender, they are both examples of how some defendants usually poor, often charged with minor offenses have been locked up in Charlotte because they were unable to post bail. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer Under the countys new bail policy, though, Tully hopes that might be changing. Since it went into place earlier this month, judges are required to explicitly decide whether they want to release someone and cash bail can only be used if they dont. Its a policy, criminal justice officials say, that aligns the county with a longstanding but unenforced state law: Any defendants charged with non-capital offenses must be released while they await trial unless theres a reasonable chance they might flee, destroy evidence, or put someone in danger. This tries to make sure that we as a county are aligning ourselves with what the statute says, Khalif Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said. In doing so, it also makes Mecklenburg County one of many jurisdictions across the nation taking steps to reform its criminal justice system one that critics say has long been racially unjust and stacked toward defendants who can pay their way to freedom. The countys answer is a data-informed matrix that gives defendants two scores: one representing the probability they will show up to court, and the other for the probability that they will re-offend before their trial. If a judge wants to release a defendant, that matrix uses both scores to suggest a condition to do so none of which require money to be paid up-front. There are a lot of people who sit in our jail awaiting trial simply because they cannot pay the money bail and not because they actually pose a public safety risk, said District Judge Elizabeth Trosch, who served on a committee of criminal justice officials to write the new policy. We now have this tool that helps give judges really reliable information: Will you show up and will you harm the community? A broken system Under Mecklenburg Countys previous policy, a defendant who had just been arrested would go before a judge or magistrate, who would use a bond schedule that suggested bail amounts for possible charges. A judge could also choose to issue less restrictive options: a written promise to appear in court; an unsecured bond, where defendants only pay if they fail to come to court; or pre-trial supervision from the county. But most defendants had to pay in cash or through a bail bondsman to be released before trial. In 2017, that was true for 64 percent of all Mecklenburg cases including 55 percent of all those involving only misdemeanors, according to a News and Observer data analysis. If you pay that, whatever I was concerned about is going to be OK? After receiving a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, a Houston nonprofit that works on criminal justice reform, officials pulled a sample of 10,000 Mecklenburg cases that had gone from arrest to case closure. They found that Mecklenburgs system in fact did little to accurately tell whether someone would appear in court or commit another offense after they were released. Instead of keeping the riskiest people in jail before trial, it locked up the defendants who could afford the bail amount being set: If they could pay, they could get out. If not, they were stuck behind bars which sometimes meant losing their homes, jobs, or custody of their children. After defendants are charged, they are taken before a judge or magistrate, who must consider nine factors in choosing whether to release or detain them before their trial including the nature of the offense, strength of the evidence, time living in community, and the results of the public safety assessment itself. Kristie Puckett-Williams, a regional field organizer for the ACLUs Smart Justice campaign, said that even those metrics which include questions such about family ties, mental conditions and character can be stacked against the most marginalized defendants in court. How do you measure stable community? she asked. Does living in a housing project count as a stable community? Under the new policy, judges are supposed to issue a secure bond, which requires paying in order to be released, only when they want to detain a defendant. Magistrates must explain why in writing. If judges want to release the defendant, they must look to a matrix developed by Mecklenburg County as part of the new policy: Each score on the risk assessment suggests a condition for release from a written promise to appear in court to intensive supervision that does not involve paying money up-front. In circumstances with limited risk, supervision has proven to get the job done. About 96 percent of people who are released into pretrial services appeared for court, according to Trosch, and less than one-fifth got arrested again in fiscal year 2017. Sonya Harper, the countys director of criminal justice services, said the public safety assessment is a proprietary tool that belongs to the Arnold Foundation. Factors such as the defendants age, prior convictions, and past failures to appear in court are entered into an algorithm, which assigns them the score. But those algorithms which are used in several dozen counties across the country, as well as all of Arizona, Kentucky and New Jersey have also come under fire for what critics say is a baked-in racial bias. Because African-Americans and other people of color are already disproportionately targeted by police, Puckett-Williams said, relying on factors like past convictions only keeps skewing the system against them. Likewise, she said, one missed court date should be considered a failure to appear because extenuating circumstances such as a lack of transportation, or an emergency-room visit could have kept someone from making it to court. David Hebert, a spokesperson for the Arnold Foundation, said in an email that unlike similar algorithms, the public safety assessment does not rely on demographic information. And in a preliminary study in Yakima County, Wash., it was found to have reduced racial disparities between black and white defendants. You have to be very careful Others, ranging from bail bondsmen to sheriffs, say that relying so much on an algorithm to make decisions as well as so rapidly encouraging release may pose a threat to public safety. Nationwide, police and prosecutors have blasted the algorithm for releasing people charged with gun crimes, domestic violence and repeat offenders. In New Jersey, one mother sued the Arnold Foundation after her son was killed by a man who had been released under the foundations algorithm. And locally, public safety watchdogs are quick to point out when defendants commit crimes after being released: In 2016, a man was involved in a Charlotte shootout after being let go by the county before his trial. For Tony Underwood, a spokesperson for the Union County Sheriffs Office, it represents the risk that comes with releasing someone before trial. If youre talking about your more violent offenders, you have to be very careful before you can consider some low bond or a written promise type of thing, he said. As part of Mecklenburgs policy, individuals charged with capital offenses do not qualify for unsecured bonds, while those who have been charged with other serious crimes from rape and other sex crimes to manslaughter and murder cannot be put into pretrial supervision by the county. And Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said he takes the possibility of defendants committing further crimes seriously. Every time I set a condition for release, I have to contemplate that something could happen, he said. Like most of the other criminal justice leaders behind Mecklenburgs policy, he pointed out that cash bail and other forms of secured bonds allow dangerous criminals to get out of jail before their trial if they can afford to post bail. Money is a false proxy for public safety and for likelihood of appearance, Trosch said. Somebody who is actually violent is not any less of a danger to the community because they can afford to post bail. Looking forward Two weeks into the policys implementation, most say its too soon to evaluate how well it is working. Merriweather, the district attorney, said that the new bail policy alone cannot bring more equity or safety to the criminal justice system. Its not just a matter of sticking this thing into a matrix or machine and being thoughtful, he said. You have to make sure youre intentional about what you present to the court. On a domestic violence case, for instance, the algorithms score may not reflect just how grave a threat is. And Tully, the public defender, said he has not been shy about letting his staff know that the score assigned by the algorithm to a defendant can be contested by lawyers in court. Puckett-Williams of the ACLU, meanwhile, wants to see an end to cash bail entirely. Money should not be a consideration for someone to receive justice, she said. | Mecklenburg County judges are now required to explicitly decide whether they want to release someone. They can only use cash bail if they don't. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article227109254.html | 0.118649 |
How did Mecklenburg County, NC change its bond policy? | He had been accused of misusing a relatives credit card, spending a few dollars on a minor purchase. She had broken her agreement with a judge to avoid prosecution a way to keep her record clean of a small larceny charge. Both of them spent two weeks in jail awaiting trial. For Kevin Tully, Mecklenburg Countys chief public defender, they are both examples of how some defendants usually poor, often charged with minor offenses have been locked up in Charlotte because they were unable to post bail. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer Under the countys new bail policy, though, Tully hopes that might be changing. Since it went into place earlier this month, judges are required to explicitly decide whether they want to release someone and cash bail can only be used if they dont. Its a policy, criminal justice officials say, that aligns the county with a longstanding but unenforced state law: Any defendants charged with non-capital offenses must be released while they await trial unless theres a reasonable chance they might flee, destroy evidence, or put someone in danger. This tries to make sure that we as a county are aligning ourselves with what the statute says, Khalif Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said. In doing so, it also makes Mecklenburg County one of many jurisdictions across the nation taking steps to reform its criminal justice system one that critics say has long been racially unjust and stacked toward defendants who can pay their way to freedom. The countys answer is a data-informed matrix that gives defendants two scores: one representing the probability they will show up to court, and the other for the probability that they will re-offend before their trial. If a judge wants to release a defendant, that matrix uses both scores to suggest a condition to do so none of which require money to be paid up-front. There are a lot of people who sit in our jail awaiting trial simply because they cannot pay the money bail and not because they actually pose a public safety risk, said District Judge Elizabeth Trosch, who served on a committee of criminal justice officials to write the new policy. We now have this tool that helps give judges really reliable information: Will you show up and will you harm the community? A broken system Under Mecklenburg Countys previous policy, a defendant who had just been arrested would go before a judge or magistrate, who would use a bond schedule that suggested bail amounts for possible charges. A judge could also choose to issue less restrictive options: a written promise to appear in court; an unsecured bond, where defendants only pay if they fail to come to court; or pre-trial supervision from the county. But most defendants had to pay in cash or through a bail bondsman to be released before trial. In 2017, that was true for 64 percent of all Mecklenburg cases including 55 percent of all those involving only misdemeanors, according to a News and Observer data analysis. If you pay that, whatever I was concerned about is going to be OK? After receiving a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, a Houston nonprofit that works on criminal justice reform, officials pulled a sample of 10,000 Mecklenburg cases that had gone from arrest to case closure. They found that Mecklenburgs system in fact did little to accurately tell whether someone would appear in court or commit another offense after they were released. Instead of keeping the riskiest people in jail before trial, it locked up the defendants who could afford the bail amount being set: If they could pay, they could get out. If not, they were stuck behind bars which sometimes meant losing their homes, jobs, or custody of their children. After defendants are charged, they are taken before a judge or magistrate, who must consider nine factors in choosing whether to release or detain them before their trial including the nature of the offense, strength of the evidence, time living in community, and the results of the public safety assessment itself. Kristie Puckett-Williams, a regional field organizer for the ACLUs Smart Justice campaign, said that even those metrics which include questions such about family ties, mental conditions and character can be stacked against the most marginalized defendants in court. How do you measure stable community? she asked. Does living in a housing project count as a stable community? Under the new policy, judges are supposed to issue a secure bond, which requires paying in order to be released, only when they want to detain a defendant. Magistrates must explain why in writing. If judges want to release the defendant, they must look to a matrix developed by Mecklenburg County as part of the new policy: Each score on the risk assessment suggests a condition for release from a written promise to appear in court to intensive supervision that does not involve paying money up-front. In circumstances with limited risk, supervision has proven to get the job done. About 96 percent of people who are released into pretrial services appeared for court, according to Trosch, and less than one-fifth got arrested again in fiscal year 2017. Sonya Harper, the countys director of criminal justice services, said the public safety assessment is a proprietary tool that belongs to the Arnold Foundation. Factors such as the defendants age, prior convictions, and past failures to appear in court are entered into an algorithm, which assigns them the score. But those algorithms which are used in several dozen counties across the country, as well as all of Arizona, Kentucky and New Jersey have also come under fire for what critics say is a baked-in racial bias. Because African-Americans and other people of color are already disproportionately targeted by police, Puckett-Williams said, relying on factors like past convictions only keeps skewing the system against them. Likewise, she said, one missed court date should be considered a failure to appear because extenuating circumstances such as a lack of transportation, or an emergency-room visit could have kept someone from making it to court. David Hebert, a spokesperson for the Arnold Foundation, said in an email that unlike similar algorithms, the public safety assessment does not rely on demographic information. And in a preliminary study in Yakima County, Wash., it was found to have reduced racial disparities between black and white defendants. You have to be very careful Others, ranging from bail bondsmen to sheriffs, say that relying so much on an algorithm to make decisions as well as so rapidly encouraging release may pose a threat to public safety. Nationwide, police and prosecutors have blasted the algorithm for releasing people charged with gun crimes, domestic violence and repeat offenders. In New Jersey, one mother sued the Arnold Foundation after her son was killed by a man who had been released under the foundations algorithm. And locally, public safety watchdogs are quick to point out when defendants commit crimes after being released: In 2016, a man was involved in a Charlotte shootout after being let go by the county before his trial. For Tony Underwood, a spokesperson for the Union County Sheriffs Office, it represents the risk that comes with releasing someone before trial. If youre talking about your more violent offenders, you have to be very careful before you can consider some low bond or a written promise type of thing, he said. As part of Mecklenburgs policy, individuals charged with capital offenses do not qualify for unsecured bonds, while those who have been charged with other serious crimes from rape and other sex crimes to manslaughter and murder cannot be put into pretrial supervision by the county. And Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said he takes the possibility of defendants committing further crimes seriously. Every time I set a condition for release, I have to contemplate that something could happen, he said. Like most of the other criminal justice leaders behind Mecklenburgs policy, he pointed out that cash bail and other forms of secured bonds allow dangerous criminals to get out of jail before their trial if they can afford to post bail. Money is a false proxy for public safety and for likelihood of appearance, Trosch said. Somebody who is actually violent is not any less of a danger to the community because they can afford to post bail. Looking forward Two weeks into the policys implementation, most say its too soon to evaluate how well it is working. Merriweather, the district attorney, said that the new bail policy alone cannot bring more equity or safety to the criminal justice system. Its not just a matter of sticking this thing into a matrix or machine and being thoughtful, he said. You have to make sure youre intentional about what you present to the court. On a domestic violence case, for instance, the algorithms score may not reflect just how grave a threat is. And Tully, the public defender, said he has not been shy about letting his staff know that the score assigned by the algorithm to a defendant can be contested by lawyers in court. Puckett-Williams of the ACLU, meanwhile, wants to see an end to cash bail entirely. Money should not be a consideration for someone to receive justice, she said. | Mecklenburg County has implemented a new bail policy. Judges are required to explicitly decide whether they want to release someone. Cash bail can only be used if they don't. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article227109254.html | 0.167942 |
How did Mecklenburg County, NC change its bond policy? | He had been accused of misusing a relatives credit card, spending a few dollars on a minor purchase. She had broken her agreement with a judge to avoid prosecution a way to keep her record clean of a small larceny charge. Both of them spent two weeks in jail awaiting trial. For Kevin Tully, Mecklenburg Countys chief public defender, they are both examples of how some defendants usually poor, often charged with minor offenses have been locked up in Charlotte because they were unable to post bail. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Charlotte Observer Under the countys new bail policy, though, Tully hopes that might be changing. Since it went into place earlier this month, judges are required to explicitly decide whether they want to release someone and cash bail can only be used if they dont. Its a policy, criminal justice officials say, that aligns the county with a longstanding but unenforced state law: Any defendants charged with non-capital offenses must be released while they await trial unless theres a reasonable chance they might flee, destroy evidence, or put someone in danger. This tries to make sure that we as a county are aligning ourselves with what the statute says, Khalif Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said. In doing so, it also makes Mecklenburg County one of many jurisdictions across the nation taking steps to reform its criminal justice system one that critics say has long been racially unjust and stacked toward defendants who can pay their way to freedom. The countys answer is a data-informed matrix that gives defendants two scores: one representing the probability they will show up to court, and the other for the probability that they will re-offend before their trial. If a judge wants to release a defendant, that matrix uses both scores to suggest a condition to do so none of which require money to be paid up-front. There are a lot of people who sit in our jail awaiting trial simply because they cannot pay the money bail and not because they actually pose a public safety risk, said District Judge Elizabeth Trosch, who served on a committee of criminal justice officials to write the new policy. We now have this tool that helps give judges really reliable information: Will you show up and will you harm the community? A broken system Under Mecklenburg Countys previous policy, a defendant who had just been arrested would go before a judge or magistrate, who would use a bond schedule that suggested bail amounts for possible charges. A judge could also choose to issue less restrictive options: a written promise to appear in court; an unsecured bond, where defendants only pay if they fail to come to court; or pre-trial supervision from the county. But most defendants had to pay in cash or through a bail bondsman to be released before trial. In 2017, that was true for 64 percent of all Mecklenburg cases including 55 percent of all those involving only misdemeanors, according to a News and Observer data analysis. If you pay that, whatever I was concerned about is going to be OK? After receiving a grant from the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, a Houston nonprofit that works on criminal justice reform, officials pulled a sample of 10,000 Mecklenburg cases that had gone from arrest to case closure. They found that Mecklenburgs system in fact did little to accurately tell whether someone would appear in court or commit another offense after they were released. Instead of keeping the riskiest people in jail before trial, it locked up the defendants who could afford the bail amount being set: If they could pay, they could get out. If not, they were stuck behind bars which sometimes meant losing their homes, jobs, or custody of their children. After defendants are charged, they are taken before a judge or magistrate, who must consider nine factors in choosing whether to release or detain them before their trial including the nature of the offense, strength of the evidence, time living in community, and the results of the public safety assessment itself. Kristie Puckett-Williams, a regional field organizer for the ACLUs Smart Justice campaign, said that even those metrics which include questions such about family ties, mental conditions and character can be stacked against the most marginalized defendants in court. How do you measure stable community? she asked. Does living in a housing project count as a stable community? Under the new policy, judges are supposed to issue a secure bond, which requires paying in order to be released, only when they want to detain a defendant. Magistrates must explain why in writing. If judges want to release the defendant, they must look to a matrix developed by Mecklenburg County as part of the new policy: Each score on the risk assessment suggests a condition for release from a written promise to appear in court to intensive supervision that does not involve paying money up-front. In circumstances with limited risk, supervision has proven to get the job done. About 96 percent of people who are released into pretrial services appeared for court, according to Trosch, and less than one-fifth got arrested again in fiscal year 2017. Sonya Harper, the countys director of criminal justice services, said the public safety assessment is a proprietary tool that belongs to the Arnold Foundation. Factors such as the defendants age, prior convictions, and past failures to appear in court are entered into an algorithm, which assigns them the score. But those algorithms which are used in several dozen counties across the country, as well as all of Arizona, Kentucky and New Jersey have also come under fire for what critics say is a baked-in racial bias. Because African-Americans and other people of color are already disproportionately targeted by police, Puckett-Williams said, relying on factors like past convictions only keeps skewing the system against them. Likewise, she said, one missed court date should be considered a failure to appear because extenuating circumstances such as a lack of transportation, or an emergency-room visit could have kept someone from making it to court. David Hebert, a spokesperson for the Arnold Foundation, said in an email that unlike similar algorithms, the public safety assessment does not rely on demographic information. And in a preliminary study in Yakima County, Wash., it was found to have reduced racial disparities between black and white defendants. You have to be very careful Others, ranging from bail bondsmen to sheriffs, say that relying so much on an algorithm to make decisions as well as so rapidly encouraging release may pose a threat to public safety. Nationwide, police and prosecutors have blasted the algorithm for releasing people charged with gun crimes, domestic violence and repeat offenders. In New Jersey, one mother sued the Arnold Foundation after her son was killed by a man who had been released under the foundations algorithm. And locally, public safety watchdogs are quick to point out when defendants commit crimes after being released: In 2016, a man was involved in a Charlotte shootout after being let go by the county before his trial. For Tony Underwood, a spokesperson for the Union County Sheriffs Office, it represents the risk that comes with releasing someone before trial. If youre talking about your more violent offenders, you have to be very careful before you can consider some low bond or a written promise type of thing, he said. As part of Mecklenburgs policy, individuals charged with capital offenses do not qualify for unsecured bonds, while those who have been charged with other serious crimes from rape and other sex crimes to manslaughter and murder cannot be put into pretrial supervision by the county. And Rhodes, the countys chief magistrate, said he takes the possibility of defendants committing further crimes seriously. Every time I set a condition for release, I have to contemplate that something could happen, he said. Like most of the other criminal justice leaders behind Mecklenburgs policy, he pointed out that cash bail and other forms of secured bonds allow dangerous criminals to get out of jail before their trial if they can afford to post bail. Money is a false proxy for public safety and for likelihood of appearance, Trosch said. Somebody who is actually violent is not any less of a danger to the community because they can afford to post bail. Looking forward Two weeks into the policys implementation, most say its too soon to evaluate how well it is working. Merriweather, the district attorney, said that the new bail policy alone cannot bring more equity or safety to the criminal justice system. Its not just a matter of sticking this thing into a matrix or machine and being thoughtful, he said. You have to make sure youre intentional about what you present to the court. On a domestic violence case, for instance, the algorithms score may not reflect just how grave a threat is. And Tully, the public defender, said he has not been shy about letting his staff know that the score assigned by the algorithm to a defendant can be contested by lawyers in court. Puckett-Williams of the ACLU, meanwhile, wants to see an end to cash bail entirely. Money should not be a consideration for someone to receive justice, she said. | Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, changed its bail policy earlier this month. Under the new policy, judges must explicitly decide whether they want to release someone. It's a policy that aligns the county with a longstanding but unenforced state law, officials say. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/crime/article227109254.html | 0.213841 |
Why Has The College Admissions Scandal Touched Such A Nerve? | This past Sunday morning, anyone reading the venerable Sunday New York Times could choose from any of at least six separate full-length pieces on the college admissions scandal. If they tuned into the popular comedy news quiz on NPR Wait, Wait, Dont Tell Me, the first subject covered, at quite some length (and admittedly pretty hilariously) was the college admissions scandal. The featured opinion piece on Fox News website was What Lori Laughlin could have learned from Aunt Becky. (Is there really any need to explain here that Laughlin is one of the parents charged in the scandal?) Examples of the breathless coverage could go on and on. This exhaustive coverage is happening at the end of a week with a major terrorist attack, a tragic airplane crash, and the announcements from Beto ORourke and Kirsten Gillibrand that they running for President. There is probably no single explanation, but the scandal seems to strike at the intersection of some of Americans worst tendencies. One such tendency is deep anti-intellectualism in American culture. This is not a new phenomenon. Richard Hofstadter wrote about it in his 1964 Pulitzer-prize winning book, Anti-Intellectualism in American Life. One of the consequences of this anti-intellectualism is a distrust, even hostility, towards institutions of higher education. America is a society in which the phrase its academic is literally a synonym of its irrelevant. Public opinion of higher education is increasingly negative. As The New York Times Frank Bruni has written: A Gallup poll found that only 44 percent of all Americans had a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the countrys colleges and universities, while 56 percent had only some or very little. College once a great aspiration was now a polarizing question mark. Thats not so surprising, given Americans intensifying resentment of anything that smacks of elitism and given Republicans attacks on science and intellectuals. As Ron Daniels, the president of Johns Hopkins University, recently told me, Even if we were completely unblemished in the way in which we pursued our mission, it would be hard to imagine that in Trumps America, we wouldnt be targets for scorn. Given this climate, it isnt surprising that the public is lapping up a story about how the smarties at elite colleges were duped by cheap schemes like photoshopping applicants faces onto athletes bodies. This may be why so much of the coverage has been critical of the elite institutions who, after all, are among the victims of the scandal. Another reason for the saturation coverage has been Americans love of takedowns of celebrities. The appetite for this sort of thing is visible in everything from the continued success of supermarket tabloids to the ratings for Celebrity Apprentice. Especially during the first several days after the scandal broke, it was near impossible to read or view coverage that didnt highlight the fact that two fairly well-known actresses were among those charged. In fairness, there has also been plenty of substantive coverage to go along with the shallow moralizing and finger-pointing. Some have connected the scandal to the legal means that the super-wealthy use to help their children get into schools. Others have reasonably questioned whether Americans really benefit from the existence of elite universities. Hopefully, as the temperature of criticism lowers, but the issue remains in the public eye, we can have a more empirically based public discussion on making the college admission process fairer and more accessible to non-elites. Educational mobility (defined as the probability that kids with parents from the bottom half of the education ranks will out-learn their parents and reach the top education quartile) is in serious decline in this country. There are many reasons for this including, of course, the high cost of college. But at least on this front elite colleges are moving in the right direction. At Harvard, for example, families earning less than $65,000 per year are not expected to contribute any money towards their childrens higher education. As discussed in a previous post, many elite colleges are working towards a goal of increasing enrollment of lower-income students by 50,000 over the next several years. More money, while great, isnt enough. Ironically, a lot of colleges are terrible communicators about the financial aid they offer students. A study by the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation found: letters often use acronyms and abbreviations, and they may lump together scholarships and loans in ways that are difficult for students and families to understand. Variation in financial aid letters from school to school can make it difficult for students and families to compare offers. Moreover, colleges have many challenges besides financial aid if they want to be truly open to deserving students across the economic spectrum. To begin with, they must end their emphasis on Advanced Placement exams. These exams are far less available to students in poorer and more rural areas, and even when schools in those areas have them, they often dont adequately prepare their students for those tests leading to counter-productive results. Further, the evidence is far from clear that AP exams actually do anything to accurately predict future success in college. Colleges should also re-think the way they evaluate extra-curricular activities. Volunteering at a non-profit, or summer study abroad may indeed be enriching activities, but many less well-off students are too busy babysitting younger siblings while their parents work the night shift or working part-time jobs to help parents pay the rent. A recent report from the Harvard School of Educations suggests that College admissions officers should value contributions to ones family, such as caring for younger siblings, taking on major household duties or working outside the home to provide needed income. This is an excellent suggestion. In conclusion, the saturation coverage of the admissions scandal provides a much-needed opportunity for a constructive public discussion on how to make elite institutions more genuinely open to talented children of the non-rich. We need to move past the schadenfraude and look to the future. Elite colleges are not the villains of the admissions scandal, and, as discussed above, they are taking some major steps to be fairer. But, of course, they need to do better. The suggestions for a better process discussed above are not onerous to implement. If elite colleges want to gain more trust and move past this scandal, they should see this moment as an opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to a fair process for applicants from middle and lower class families. | There is probably no single explanation, but the scandal seems to strike at the intersection of some of Americans' worst tendencies. One such tendency is deep anti-intellectualism in American culture. Public opinion of higher education is increasingly negative. College once a great aspiration was now a polarizing question mark. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/evangerstmann/2019/03/18/why-has-the-college-admissions-scandal-touched-such-a-nerve/ | 0.120176 |
What To Expect From Seagate In Fiscal 2019? | Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. This can be attributed to higher demand for the high capacity HDD product portfolio. However, price erosion adversely impacted the overall sales growth. There is a slowdown in overall HDD demand, and this will likely impact the companys near term growth. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings and price estimate. In addition, here is more Information Technology data. Expect Revenues To Decline In Mid-Single-Digits In Fiscal 2019 Seagates revenue growth in the first half of fiscal 2019 was primarily led by its client non-compute group, which was up in the high teens. The segment includes revenues generated by sales of hard drives for consumer electronics, including gaming consoles, along with the sales of branded external hard drives sold via the retail channels. Demand for increased capacity in gaming is aiding the segment growth. However, the overall softness in HDD demand could result in a slower growth rate for the full year. Client compute group, which includes sales of hard drives for laptops and desktops, saw sales down in mid-single-digits in H1 FY19. The overall PC market saw a low single-digit decline in shipments in calendar year 2018, marking it to be the seventh consecutive year to witness a decline in shipments. However, looking at calendar year 2019, the PC market is expected to see modest growth. Looking at the enterprise business, revenues were down in high single-digits in H1 FY19. However, the transition to higher capacity storage should drive the demand for the enterprise business. The current slowdown is likely to be more of a near-term issue, with the longer-term fundamentals of the storage market remaining strong. The near term headwinds can be attributed to the trends in NAND memory pricing, which have seen significant declines over the last year, as major vendors largely completed the transition from planar NAND to 3D NAND, boosting supply. Moreover, prices for DRAM have been trending lower, and they are expected to correct further. This has resulted in an overall reduction in pricing, but at the same time many customers are now willing to upgrade their storage capacity. For Seagate, the contribution of flash-based storage to its overall revenues is minimal, and it has thus not seen any significant impact on its top and bottom line, unlike its peers, such as Western Digital (See ~ What To Expect From Western Digital In Fiscal 2019?). Also, the foreign tariffs imposed primarily on China have resulted in weaker demand, and the economy is seeing slower growth. Chinas growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 6.6% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2019. Note that Asia Pacific accounts for half of the companys revenues, and a slowdown in China will have an impact on Seagates performance as well. The company has guided for a slight decline in its adjusted margins, amid weaker demand. We forecast the adjusted earnings to be $4.48 per share in fiscal 2019, reflecting a decline in the high teens. Our price estimate of $52 for Seagate is based on a 12x forward price to earnings multiple. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Seagate Technology saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/18/what-to-expect-from-seagate-in-fiscal-2019/ | 0.185646 |
What To Expect From Seagate In Fiscal 2019? | Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. This can be attributed to higher demand for the high capacity HDD product portfolio. However, price erosion adversely impacted the overall sales growth. There is a slowdown in overall HDD demand, and this will likely impact the companys near term growth. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings and price estimate. In addition, here is more Information Technology data. Expect Revenues To Decline In Mid-Single-Digits In Fiscal 2019 Seagates revenue growth in the first half of fiscal 2019 was primarily led by its client non-compute group, which was up in the high teens. The segment includes revenues generated by sales of hard drives for consumer electronics, including gaming consoles, along with the sales of branded external hard drives sold via the retail channels. Demand for increased capacity in gaming is aiding the segment growth. However, the overall softness in HDD demand could result in a slower growth rate for the full year. Client compute group, which includes sales of hard drives for laptops and desktops, saw sales down in mid-single-digits in H1 FY19. The overall PC market saw a low single-digit decline in shipments in calendar year 2018, marking it to be the seventh consecutive year to witness a decline in shipments. However, looking at calendar year 2019, the PC market is expected to see modest growth. Looking at the enterprise business, revenues were down in high single-digits in H1 FY19. However, the transition to higher capacity storage should drive the demand for the enterprise business. The current slowdown is likely to be more of a near-term issue, with the longer-term fundamentals of the storage market remaining strong. The near term headwinds can be attributed to the trends in NAND memory pricing, which have seen significant declines over the last year, as major vendors largely completed the transition from planar NAND to 3D NAND, boosting supply. Moreover, prices for DRAM have been trending lower, and they are expected to correct further. This has resulted in an overall reduction in pricing, but at the same time many customers are now willing to upgrade their storage capacity. For Seagate, the contribution of flash-based storage to its overall revenues is minimal, and it has thus not seen any significant impact on its top and bottom line, unlike its peers, such as Western Digital (See ~ What To Expect From Western Digital In Fiscal 2019?). Also, the foreign tariffs imposed primarily on China have resulted in weaker demand, and the economy is seeing slower growth. Chinas growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 6.6% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2019. Note that Asia Pacific accounts for half of the companys revenues, and a slowdown in China will have an impact on Seagates performance as well. The company has guided for a slight decline in its adjusted margins, amid weaker demand. We forecast the adjusted earnings to be $4.48 per share in fiscal 2019, reflecting a decline in the high teens. Our price estimate of $52 for Seagate is based on a 12x forward price to earnings multiple. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/18/what-to-expect-from-seagate-in-fiscal-2019/ | 0.165413 |
What To Expect From Seagate In Fiscal 2019? | Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. This can be attributed to higher demand for the high capacity HDD product portfolio. However, price erosion adversely impacted the overall sales growth. There is a slowdown in overall HDD demand, and this will likely impact the companys near term growth. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings and price estimate. In addition, here is more Information Technology data. Expect Revenues To Decline In Mid-Single-Digits In Fiscal 2019 Seagates revenue growth in the first half of fiscal 2019 was primarily led by its client non-compute group, which was up in the high teens. The segment includes revenues generated by sales of hard drives for consumer electronics, including gaming consoles, along with the sales of branded external hard drives sold via the retail channels. Demand for increased capacity in gaming is aiding the segment growth. However, the overall softness in HDD demand could result in a slower growth rate for the full year. Client compute group, which includes sales of hard drives for laptops and desktops, saw sales down in mid-single-digits in H1 FY19. The overall PC market saw a low single-digit decline in shipments in calendar year 2018, marking it to be the seventh consecutive year to witness a decline in shipments. However, looking at calendar year 2019, the PC market is expected to see modest growth. Looking at the enterprise business, revenues were down in high single-digits in H1 FY19. However, the transition to higher capacity storage should drive the demand for the enterprise business. The current slowdown is likely to be more of a near-term issue, with the longer-term fundamentals of the storage market remaining strong. The near term headwinds can be attributed to the trends in NAND memory pricing, which have seen significant declines over the last year, as major vendors largely completed the transition from planar NAND to 3D NAND, boosting supply. Moreover, prices for DRAM have been trending lower, and they are expected to correct further. This has resulted in an overall reduction in pricing, but at the same time many customers are now willing to upgrade their storage capacity. For Seagate, the contribution of flash-based storage to its overall revenues is minimal, and it has thus not seen any significant impact on its top and bottom line, unlike its peers, such as Western Digital (See ~ What To Expect From Western Digital In Fiscal 2019?). Also, the foreign tariffs imposed primarily on China have resulted in weaker demand, and the economy is seeing slower growth. Chinas growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 6.6% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2019. Note that Asia Pacific accounts for half of the companys revenues, and a slowdown in China will have an impact on Seagates performance as well. The company has guided for a slight decline in its adjusted margins, amid weaker demand. We forecast the adjusted earnings to be $4.48 per share in fiscal 2019, reflecting a decline in the high teens. Our price estimate of $52 for Seagate is based on a 12x forward price to earnings multiple. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Seagate Technology (NASDAQ: STX) saw low single-digit top line growth while its adjusted earnings were up in the high twenties percent for the first half of fiscal 2019. There is a slowdown in overall HDD demand, and this will likely impact the companys near term growth. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/18/what-to-expect-from-seagate-in-fiscal-2019/ | 0.236224 |
What has John Bercow done now? | He has told the government that it cannot send Theresa Mays Brexit deal back for a third vote in parliament immediately unless there have been substantial changes made to it. He has based his decision on Erskine May, the officialparliamentary rulebook. This work was begun by Thomas Erskine May, a constitutional expert who in 1844 published a work on the proceedings of parliament. He later became clerk of the Commons and regularly updated the work, as did others in later years. It is now into its 24th edition. Page 397 of the document states that a motion or amendment which is the same, in substance as something already voted on should not be brought forward again in a session of parliament. No. The Speaker said he was responding to questions on the issue from MPs, among them Labours Chris Bryant, who last week tabled an amendment to the second meaningful vote on Mays deal making such a point. It was withdrawn without a vote, but the point was made. The Speaker said the general principle, as outlined by Erskine May, dates back to 1604. In his speech last Tuesday about his amendment, Bryant gave a series of examples where Speakers had refused MPs permission to raise issues which had already been decided that session, including about extra funding to nursery schools in 1864, limiting rail workers hours in 1891, and on womens suffrage in 1912. Yes according to parliamentary rules, as Speaker he is the highest authority of the House of Commons, and has final say over how the business is conducted, as well as other key choices, for example: which tabled amendments are selected for votes. In theory, yes. Amid a series of points of order by MPs to Bercow after his announcement, Conservative Alex Burghart asked if the Commons could simply suspend the standing orders which prevent repeat votes. This was, the Speaker replied, up to the house. Whether or not MPs would vote to pass such a measure is another matter. Yes and this is one raised as a possibility by the solicitor general, Robert Buckland. It would be the idea of circumventing the rules around not repeating a vote in the same session of parliament by simply calling a new session of parliament. This would mean the government would prorogue parliament the technical term for ending its session and then call it to sit again. There is a part-precedence for this in the passage of the 1949 Parliament Act, which reduced the powers of the House of Lords in delaying certain legislation. The law was blocked by the Lords twice, over two parliamentary sessions. Since the existing law which the new act was replacing the 1911 Parliament Act required three parliamentary sessions to pass before the Commons could overturn the Lords, the Attlee government prorogued parliament ending the session and began a new special session lasting from 14 to 26 September 1948, complete with its own Kings speech. Asked by MPs if this could happen, Bercow said it would be an unusual step but confirmed it was possible. You cant at least not yet. Currently Erskine May, all 1,097 pages of it, will cost you 439.99 for a hard copy from the parliament bookshop. However, change is afoot. it is already digitised and available on the parliamentary intranet. In December the leaders of the Commons, Andrea Leadsom, said it would soon be available to all for free. This is expected to happen with the upcoming 25th edition. | Bercow has told government it cannot send deal back for third vote immediately. He has based decision on officialparliamentary rulebook, Erskine May. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/18/what-has-john-bercow-done-now | 0.199455 |
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