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Who is William Rick Singer, the college admissions cheating scandal's alleged ringleader? | William Rick Singer, founder of for-profit college prep business Edge College & Career Network also known as "The Key," is allegedly the mastermind behind one of the largest college admissions scams to ever hit the U.S. and went to great lengths which included pricey fees to ensure his clients' demands were met. Singer, 58, has been called the "ringleader" behind the scheme, purportedly collecting roughly $25 million from dozens of individuals including actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin over the course of nearly a decade to bribe school coaches and administrators into pretending their children were athletic recruits to ensure their admission into top tier colleges, prosecutors say. The Newport Beach, Calif., businessman agreed to plead guilty in Boston federal court Tuesday to charges including racketeering conspiracy and obstruction of justice. As a part of his guilty plea, Singer said he would pay at least $3.4 million to the feds, The Boston Globe reports. 3 OF THE MOST BIZARRE DETAILS OF THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CHEATING SCANDAL On his website for The Key, Singer describes himself as a dedicated father and coach who understands the pressure put on families surrounding college acceptances. The Key calls itself "the nations largest private life coaching and college counseling company." "As founder of The Key, I have spent the past 25 years helping students discover their life passion, and guiding them along with their families through the complex college admissions maze. Using The Key method, our coaches help unlock the full potential of your son or daughter, and set them on a course to excel in life," Singer stated online, providing biographies for seven other "coaches." Andrew Lelling, U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, reportedly claimed Singer's clients paid him "anywhere between $200,000 and $6.5 million" for his unique services. FELICITY HUFFMAN, LORI LOUGHLIN AMONG 50 SNARED IN ELITE COLLEGE CHEATING SCAM, AUTHORITIES SAY Parents of prospective students conspired with a college entrance consultant to beat the system and ensure their students were admitted or had a better chance to be admitted to certain colleges or universities, including Yale, Stanford, Texas, UCLA, USC, Wake Forest and others. "According to the charging documents, Singer facilitated cheating on the SAT and ACT exams for his clients by instructing them to seek extended time for their children on college entrance exams, which included having the children purport to have learning disabilities in order to obtain the required medical documentation," the U.S. Justice Department explained, in part, in an online statement. "Singer would accommodate what parents wanted to do." Andrew Lelling However, that was just one of many ways Singer ensured the students got accepted to elite schools such as Yale, Stanford, Texas, UCLA, USC, Wake Forest and others. "Singer would accommodate what parents wanted to do," Lelling said, adding that it "appears that the schools are not involved." Prosecutors say the consultant represented to parents that the scheme had worked successfully more than 800 times. Singer also served as CEO of the Key Worldwide Foundation (KWF), a non-profit he claimed was a charity. Bribery payments were disguised as donations to KWF in sums up to $75,000 per SAT or ACT exam, the Justice Department said, noting that many students didn't realize their parents had staged anything. "This is a case where [the parents] flaunted their wealth, sparing no expense to cheat the system so they could set their children up for success with the best money can buy, Joseph Bonavolonta from the FBI Boston Field Office said in a Tuesday news conference. In total, 50 people including more than 30 parents and nine coaches were charged Tuesday in the scheme. Fox News' Katherine Lam,Travis Fedschun and The Assocaited Press contributed to this report. | William Rick Singer, 58, has been called the "ringleader" behind the scheme, purportedly collecting roughly $25 million from dozens of individuals over the course of nearly a decade. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/who-is-william-rick-singer-college-admissions-cheating-scandals-alleged-ringleader?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29 | 0.149247 |
Why was Zulu a no-show at a forum to discuss blackface? | There was no expectation that Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club members would show up to a forum to discuss blackface and agree with activists on their contention that their masking tradition is bygone, even a symbol of white supremacy. The group Take Em Down NOLA, which led the call to remove Confederate monuments in New Orleans, has pushed for the organization to move on from the facial paint the group finds reminiscent of denigrating minstrel shows. The black makeup" Zulu members use was never intended to insult or degrade African-Americans," the club had said in a statement three weeks before they applied the black and white colors to their face for their Mardi Gras parade. Club members seemed intent on leaving it at that. What organizers with the NOLA Black Owned Media Collaborative had expected, however, was that Zulu members would show up to a forum they hosted Monday night (March 11) at Carver Theater and listen to the community. Organizers saw the forum as an opportunity for the public to weigh in, and Take Em Down NOLA explain its position. The problem was, Zulu never showed up. After confirming to organizers he would represent Zulu, club President Elroy James was a no-show, saying in an interview that he ultimately decided that he did not think the forum would serve a useful purpose. Zulus statement, James added, was out there and we arent changing it." James also said he had a schedule conflict. WBOK general manager Susan Henry, one of the forum organizers, said she had numerous conversations with James and secured his commitment. The event would not have taken place without his participation, she said in a statement. That didnt mean the forum didnt feature someone defending Zulu. David Belfield, a former King Zulu and club president, took the stage with a folder packed with Zulu materials. He spent 90 minutes explaining the clubs traditions and members reticence about changing its ways, and he insisted Zulu never intended mock black people. Belfield made it clear that he was in no position to speak for Zulu; the clubs constitution only allows its president or the archivist to speak on its behalf. But Belfields status with the club also wasnt clear. In 2013, according to Belfield, he was expelled from the club after being accused of theft, a charge he denies and says was really about a rivalry with then-Zulu President Naaman Stewart. Those facts didnt emerge until the next day. It was a bizarre turn of events after a mostly civil forum that some seemed to think had yielded some understanding, even if it didnt move Zulu or Take Em Down NOLA closer to a resolution. However, forum organizers were challenged to explain why Belfield took part in the discussion. He was courageous and shared his opinion passionately," said forum moderator Jeffrey Thomas, who publishes the website Think504.com. I had no knowledge that he was expelled," adding that Belfield made it clear he was not speaking officially for Zulu. Belfield said in an interview that he was not prepared to take part in the panel discussion when he arrived at the theater. He said he was approached by WBOKs Henry after it became clear Zulu might be a no-show. Belfield said he informed Thomas he was no longer a member of Zulu before agreeing to take part. Told that Thomas had no memory of discussing his membership status, Belfield said, There had to be a misunderstanding. Belfield, who was a Zulu member for 40 years, said he never intended for the audience to think he was a stand-in for the organization. But he added that, had he been president, he would have attended the forum. I wouldve tried to fill up the auditorium with Zulu members, Belfield said. Were part of the community, we get our sustenance from the community. We dont run from the issue. Take Em Down Nola calls for Zulu to stop having riders use black makeup. This was Zulus response. pic.twitter.com/d9o3lVcilt Danny Monteverde (@DCMonteverde) February 22, 2019 During the discussion, Take Em Down NOLA members provided Belfield with ideas for updating Zulus makeup. Angela Kinlaw gave Belfield images artists had created of what the new design could look like, noting that Zulu members paraded without makeup briefly in the 1960s after the NAACP raised concerns. Its not about the paint. Its about the configuration of the paint on the face, Kinlaw said. This blackface theme you did let go in 65, 66. After adopting a 'new look' in 1965 and '66, Zulu pushed back at those trying to fancy them up. Belfield rejected the notion that Zulus makeup is inappropriate. He also stressed the amount of money Zulu donates to various causes around the city, saying that critics dont give the group enough credit. To us we dont see an issue, Belfield said. It seemed like what you were looking for was a confrontation rather than a conversation. Belfield accused Take Em Down NOLA of trying to force Zulu to do something it doesnt want to do. TEDNs Malcolm Suber pushed back on that, saying the group is not trying to force anyone to do anything except come to their senses. We know as social revolutionaries that the only thing constant is change," Suber said. Zulu has the possibility of change. Quit beating people over the head with tradition, tradition, tradition. Zulu explained: The club, the costumes, the coconuts 'Originally painted silver, gold or black the Zulu Coconut was meant to depict a chunk of silver, gold or coal.' Panelist John Slade, a host on radio station WBOK, said he thought Zulu should explore alternatives, such as making its floats more satirical about issues affecting the black community. While he acknowledged Zulus makeup goes back to a time when the club was making fun of more formal krewes that excluded black people, Slade said he thinks the joke may be lost on modern audiences. I dont see any mocking now. I dont see a Black Lives Matter float, Slade said, or a float mocking gentrification. "Maybe make it controversial. While he stressed that he did not speak for Zulu, Belfield said he thought it was possible current leaders might be at least open to discussing alternative face paint designs. I think the suggestion of an alternative design on the facial makeup, it might work, he said. | Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club members didn't show up to a forum on blackface. The group Take Em Down NOLA has pushed for the organization to move on from the facial paint. | bart | 1 | https://www.nola.com/politics/2019/03/why-was-zulu-a-no-show-at-a-forum-to-discuss-blackface.html | 0.117835 |
Why was Zulu a no-show at a forum to discuss blackface? | There was no expectation that Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club members would show up to a forum to discuss blackface and agree with activists on their contention that their masking tradition is bygone, even a symbol of white supremacy. The group Take Em Down NOLA, which led the call to remove Confederate monuments in New Orleans, has pushed for the organization to move on from the facial paint the group finds reminiscent of denigrating minstrel shows. The black makeup" Zulu members use was never intended to insult or degrade African-Americans," the club had said in a statement three weeks before they applied the black and white colors to their face for their Mardi Gras parade. Club members seemed intent on leaving it at that. What organizers with the NOLA Black Owned Media Collaborative had expected, however, was that Zulu members would show up to a forum they hosted Monday night (March 11) at Carver Theater and listen to the community. Organizers saw the forum as an opportunity for the public to weigh in, and Take Em Down NOLA explain its position. The problem was, Zulu never showed up. After confirming to organizers he would represent Zulu, club President Elroy James was a no-show, saying in an interview that he ultimately decided that he did not think the forum would serve a useful purpose. Zulus statement, James added, was out there and we arent changing it." James also said he had a schedule conflict. WBOK general manager Susan Henry, one of the forum organizers, said she had numerous conversations with James and secured his commitment. The event would not have taken place without his participation, she said in a statement. That didnt mean the forum didnt feature someone defending Zulu. David Belfield, a former King Zulu and club president, took the stage with a folder packed with Zulu materials. He spent 90 minutes explaining the clubs traditions and members reticence about changing its ways, and he insisted Zulu never intended mock black people. Belfield made it clear that he was in no position to speak for Zulu; the clubs constitution only allows its president or the archivist to speak on its behalf. But Belfields status with the club also wasnt clear. In 2013, according to Belfield, he was expelled from the club after being accused of theft, a charge he denies and says was really about a rivalry with then-Zulu President Naaman Stewart. Those facts didnt emerge until the next day. It was a bizarre turn of events after a mostly civil forum that some seemed to think had yielded some understanding, even if it didnt move Zulu or Take Em Down NOLA closer to a resolution. However, forum organizers were challenged to explain why Belfield took part in the discussion. He was courageous and shared his opinion passionately," said forum moderator Jeffrey Thomas, who publishes the website Think504.com. I had no knowledge that he was expelled," adding that Belfield made it clear he was not speaking officially for Zulu. Belfield said in an interview that he was not prepared to take part in the panel discussion when he arrived at the theater. He said he was approached by WBOKs Henry after it became clear Zulu might be a no-show. Belfield said he informed Thomas he was no longer a member of Zulu before agreeing to take part. Told that Thomas had no memory of discussing his membership status, Belfield said, There had to be a misunderstanding. Belfield, who was a Zulu member for 40 years, said he never intended for the audience to think he was a stand-in for the organization. But he added that, had he been president, he would have attended the forum. I wouldve tried to fill up the auditorium with Zulu members, Belfield said. Were part of the community, we get our sustenance from the community. We dont run from the issue. Take Em Down Nola calls for Zulu to stop having riders use black makeup. This was Zulus response. pic.twitter.com/d9o3lVcilt Danny Monteverde (@DCMonteverde) February 22, 2019 During the discussion, Take Em Down NOLA members provided Belfield with ideas for updating Zulus makeup. Angela Kinlaw gave Belfield images artists had created of what the new design could look like, noting that Zulu members paraded without makeup briefly in the 1960s after the NAACP raised concerns. Its not about the paint. Its about the configuration of the paint on the face, Kinlaw said. This blackface theme you did let go in 65, 66. After adopting a 'new look' in 1965 and '66, Zulu pushed back at those trying to fancy them up. Belfield rejected the notion that Zulus makeup is inappropriate. He also stressed the amount of money Zulu donates to various causes around the city, saying that critics dont give the group enough credit. To us we dont see an issue, Belfield said. It seemed like what you were looking for was a confrontation rather than a conversation. Belfield accused Take Em Down NOLA of trying to force Zulu to do something it doesnt want to do. TEDNs Malcolm Suber pushed back on that, saying the group is not trying to force anyone to do anything except come to their senses. We know as social revolutionaries that the only thing constant is change," Suber said. Zulu has the possibility of change. Quit beating people over the head with tradition, tradition, tradition. Zulu explained: The club, the costumes, the coconuts 'Originally painted silver, gold or black the Zulu Coconut was meant to depict a chunk of silver, gold or coal.' Panelist John Slade, a host on radio station WBOK, said he thought Zulu should explore alternatives, such as making its floats more satirical about issues affecting the black community. While he acknowledged Zulus makeup goes back to a time when the club was making fun of more formal krewes that excluded black people, Slade said he thinks the joke may be lost on modern audiences. I dont see any mocking now. I dont see a Black Lives Matter float, Slade said, or a float mocking gentrification. "Maybe make it controversial. While he stressed that he did not speak for Zulu, Belfield said he thought it was possible current leaders might be at least open to discussing alternative face paint designs. I think the suggestion of an alternative design on the facial makeup, it might work, he said. | Take Em Down NOLA has pushed for the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club to move on from the facial paint. The group found the paint reminiscent of denigrating minstrel shows. Club President Elroy James was a no-show, saying he didn't think the forum would serve a useful purpose. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/politics/2019/03/why-was-zulu-a-no-show-at-a-forum-to-discuss-blackface.html | 0.178698 |
What did the Trail Blazers learn about themselves with Evan Turner out? | originally appeared on nbcsportsnorthwest.com Evan Turner has been out of the lineup for the Portland Trail Blazers since mid-February, only recently playing sporadically thanks to left knee soreness. He's the leader of that second unit, so him missing time was slated to be a big deal. Scroll to continue with content Ad But the Blazers have largely been winners over this recent stretch with Turner out, and that's perhaps raised some eyebrows about his value in the face of new additions in Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter. What's really been happening is an interesting adaptation by Terry Stotts when it comes to his lineups, one that could have an effect on the team once Turner returns to full strength. Turner was typically checking into games with around four minutes left in the first quarter, and he would typically take a larger role in handling the ball with Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum still on the court. The difference lately has come in the lack of staggering for Lillard and McCollum in the first quarter. That's been coupled with a platooning of Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter, and Jake Layman, who in recent games have come in as a group around that four minute mark to play with Portland's star guards. The result is that Portland is now giving opponents a smaller, better-shooting lineup earlier in the game than they were with Turner. His role as a strict bench player has helped our eye test, one that tells us that he is a better fit this year on this Blazers team despite his limitations in the modern NBA Story continues The takeaway from these past couple of weeks is that we now know that the Blazers have options for some dynamism heading into the playoffs they didn't have before. Add a hungry Moe Harkless and solid minutes from Jake Layman, and I'm definitely going to be interested in seeing the kinds of looks Portland throws at opponents come playoff time. | Evan Turner has been out with knee soreness since mid-February. The Trail Blazers have learned a lot from Turner's absence. Turner's role as a strict bench player has helped our eye test. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-trail-blazers-learn-themselves-032733997.html?src=rss | 0.203115 |
What did the Trail Blazers learn about themselves with Evan Turner out? | originally appeared on nbcsportsnorthwest.com Evan Turner has been out of the lineup for the Portland Trail Blazers since mid-February, only recently playing sporadically thanks to left knee soreness. He's the leader of that second unit, so him missing time was slated to be a big deal. Scroll to continue with content Ad But the Blazers have largely been winners over this recent stretch with Turner out, and that's perhaps raised some eyebrows about his value in the face of new additions in Rodney Hood and Enes Kanter. What's really been happening is an interesting adaptation by Terry Stotts when it comes to his lineups, one that could have an effect on the team once Turner returns to full strength. Turner was typically checking into games with around four minutes left in the first quarter, and he would typically take a larger role in handling the ball with Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum still on the court. The difference lately has come in the lack of staggering for Lillard and McCollum in the first quarter. That's been coupled with a platooning of Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter, and Jake Layman, who in recent games have come in as a group around that four minute mark to play with Portland's star guards. The result is that Portland is now giving opponents a smaller, better-shooting lineup earlier in the game than they were with Turner. His role as a strict bench player has helped our eye test, one that tells us that he is a better fit this year on this Blazers team despite his limitations in the modern NBA Story continues The takeaway from these past couple of weeks is that we now know that the Blazers have options for some dynamism heading into the playoffs they didn't have before. Add a hungry Moe Harkless and solid minutes from Jake Layman, and I'm definitely going to be interested in seeing the kinds of looks Portland throws at opponents come playoff time. | Evan Turner has been out of the Portland Trail Blazers' lineup since mid-February. Terry Stotts has started Rodney Hood, Enes Kanter, and Jake Layman in Turner's place. The result is a smaller, better-shooting lineup earlier in the game than they were with Turner. | pegasus | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-trail-blazers-learn-themselves-032733997.html?src=rss | 0.580384 |
Are Doctors Overpaid? | Enlarge this image picture alliance/Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance/Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images NOTE: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here. Every year, medical students apply for residencies at hospitals around the country through the National Resident Matching Program. It's like a dating app for med students and hospitals, and it culminates this Friday, which is Match Day, when more than 30,000 students find out who they've got a really long date with. Enlarge this image Constanza Gallardo/Creative Commons/NPR Constanza Gallardo/Creative Commons/NPR Some people view Match Week as a beautifully engineered dance between supply and demand that ensures the best and brightest learn how to be good doctors at top hospitals. Others, like Dean Baker, Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, say this residency system makes health care dramatically more expensive for Americans. A 2011 study in Health Affairs found American doctors, who make an average salary of almost $300,000, are paid around twice as much as doctors in other rich countries. Baker says "doctors are seriously overpaid" and a big reason is rules that restrict the number of people who can get residencies. He calls these rules the work of "a cartel," and in economics, those are fighting words. A cartel limits the supply of something in order to increase the amount of money they can charge. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, is a classic example. The residency bottleneck Baker argues that the U.S. residency system turns away thousands of perfectly qualified students every year. These include many foreign doctors, who are barred from practicing here unless they complete a residency within the country. While the number of residencies has increased about 26% over the last decade, Baker (and the Association of American Medical Colleges) argues it's a bottleneck preventing an adequate supply of doctors. Most of the funding for residencies comes from the Medicare program, and Congress capped the number of residencies the program funds in 1997. "It was originally frozen as a response to lobbying from doctors who were complaining that there were too many doctors," Baker says. Trade groups for doctors have also been lobbying against allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical professionals to play a larger role in treating patients. The result of policies like these, Baker argues, is a market with less competition, driving up prices for everyone. Baker estimates that the salaries of the roughly one million doctors in the U.S. account for about eight percent of total healthcare spending. He estimates that allowing an increased supply of doctors to lower their salaries to competitive levels would save Americans $100 billion a year or roughly $300 per person. A second opinion There are strong arguments that doctors aren't overpaid. They are highly skilled professionals who save lives and have the brains and work ethic to make lots of money in other sectors, like law or finance. On top of that, many work long hours and are saddled with lots of student debt after years of education. The American Medical Association, one of the main organizations representing U.S. doctors, says the total number of doctors has more than quadrupled since 1965, greatly outpacing population growth. The association says it's "actively working to alleviate a maldistribution of physicians that is responsible for [a doctor] shortage in many states." This includes increasing the size and number of med schools and funding for residencies. It currently supports the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019, which would increase the number of Medicare-funded residency slots by 15,000 over five years. But, Baker argues, just because the AMA now supports expanding the number of residencies doesn't mean they and other doctor organizations don't have their fingers on the scale. "OPEC sometimes votes to increase the supply of oil," Baker says. "That doesn't mean that OPEC isn't restricting the supply of oil and pushing up the price." But what about economists... Awkwardly, it did occur to us that there might be another cartel of professionals limiting their supply in order to increase their incomes. It's a group we talk a lot about at Planet Money: economists. "It is somewhat of a cartel," Baker says about his profession. "So, yeah, there's a natural tendency for any profession to try to limit its supply and push up wages for its members, but really none have been as successful as doctors." Well, it looks even better in your inbox! You can sign up here. | American doctors are paid around twice as much as doctors in other rich countries. Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research says "doctors are seriously overpaid" Congress capped the number of residencies the program funds in 1997. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2019/03/12/702500408/are-doctors-overpaid?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=healthcare | 0.349887 |
Are Doctors Overpaid? | Enlarge this image picture alliance/Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images picture alliance/Julian Stratenschulte/picture alliance via Getty Images NOTE: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here. Every year, medical students apply for residencies at hospitals around the country through the National Resident Matching Program. It's like a dating app for med students and hospitals, and it culminates this Friday, which is Match Day, when more than 30,000 students find out who they've got a really long date with. Enlarge this image Constanza Gallardo/Creative Commons/NPR Constanza Gallardo/Creative Commons/NPR Some people view Match Week as a beautifully engineered dance between supply and demand that ensures the best and brightest learn how to be good doctors at top hospitals. Others, like Dean Baker, Senior Economist at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, say this residency system makes health care dramatically more expensive for Americans. A 2011 study in Health Affairs found American doctors, who make an average salary of almost $300,000, are paid around twice as much as doctors in other rich countries. Baker says "doctors are seriously overpaid" and a big reason is rules that restrict the number of people who can get residencies. He calls these rules the work of "a cartel," and in economics, those are fighting words. A cartel limits the supply of something in order to increase the amount of money they can charge. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC, is a classic example. The residency bottleneck Baker argues that the U.S. residency system turns away thousands of perfectly qualified students every year. These include many foreign doctors, who are barred from practicing here unless they complete a residency within the country. While the number of residencies has increased about 26% over the last decade, Baker (and the Association of American Medical Colleges) argues it's a bottleneck preventing an adequate supply of doctors. Most of the funding for residencies comes from the Medicare program, and Congress capped the number of residencies the program funds in 1997. "It was originally frozen as a response to lobbying from doctors who were complaining that there were too many doctors," Baker says. Trade groups for doctors have also been lobbying against allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical professionals to play a larger role in treating patients. The result of policies like these, Baker argues, is a market with less competition, driving up prices for everyone. Baker estimates that the salaries of the roughly one million doctors in the U.S. account for about eight percent of total healthcare spending. He estimates that allowing an increased supply of doctors to lower their salaries to competitive levels would save Americans $100 billion a year or roughly $300 per person. A second opinion There are strong arguments that doctors aren't overpaid. They are highly skilled professionals who save lives and have the brains and work ethic to make lots of money in other sectors, like law or finance. On top of that, many work long hours and are saddled with lots of student debt after years of education. The American Medical Association, one of the main organizations representing U.S. doctors, says the total number of doctors has more than quadrupled since 1965, greatly outpacing population growth. The association says it's "actively working to alleviate a maldistribution of physicians that is responsible for [a doctor] shortage in many states." This includes increasing the size and number of med schools and funding for residencies. It currently supports the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2019, which would increase the number of Medicare-funded residency slots by 15,000 over five years. But, Baker argues, just because the AMA now supports expanding the number of residencies doesn't mean they and other doctor organizations don't have their fingers on the scale. "OPEC sometimes votes to increase the supply of oil," Baker says. "That doesn't mean that OPEC isn't restricting the supply of oil and pushing up the price." But what about economists... Awkwardly, it did occur to us that there might be another cartel of professionals limiting their supply in order to increase their incomes. It's a group we talk a lot about at Planet Money: economists. "It is somewhat of a cartel," Baker says about his profession. "So, yeah, there's a natural tendency for any profession to try to limit its supply and push up wages for its members, but really none have been as successful as doctors." Well, it looks even better in your inbox! You can sign up here. | The National Resident Matching Program is like a dating app for med students. There are strong arguments that doctors aren't overpaid, but there are also strong arguments they are overpaid. Some argue that the residency system is a bottleneck that prevents an adequate supply of doctors. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2019/03/12/702500408/are-doctors-overpaid?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=healthcare | 0.17762 |
Is shale in late innings as Big Oil comes to bat? | The long-term viability of the U.S. shale boom is uncertain, but the worlds biggest oil companies are making big bets on its success as smaller firms struggle with debt and the lack of scale needed to operate more efficiently. Chevron and Exxon Mobil are emerging as top players in the booming Permian Basin, while European majors such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell are growing in West Texas as well. They have size, economic diversity and the finances to theoretically produce oil and gas with fewer emissions as the world transitions to a lower-carbon future. These companies discussed the importance of growing in American shale oil while pushing for environmental sustainability on Tuesday at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. Last week, California-based Chevron and its Texas rival Exxon Mobil made waves when they said they each plan to produce almost 1 million barrels of oil equivalent a day from the Permian within five years roughly triple their current output. Chevron holds more than 2 million net acres in the Permian. Chief Executive Michael Wirth said Tuesday that Chevron watched and waited as smaller companies eventually found success in the Permian with horizontal drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing, called fracking. Now, Chevron is using its size and technology to rapidly ramp up production, employing a factory-model in which many wells are drilled, fracked and completed in a standardized, repeatable way. Trial and error may not be our wheelhouse, but it's technology and scale, Wirth said. In a factory-drilling operation, you do the same thing many times, and quickly you learn better ways to do things. Climate always there Royal Dutch Shell has a more modest Permian position, but is looking to grow there even as it begins to link its carbon emission targets to its executive pay compensation. On Tuesday, Gretchen Watkins, president of Shells U.S. subsidiary, Shell Oil of Houston, called on the White House to tighten the rules on methane leaks from oil and gas production, rather than roll them back as proposed. We need to do more, Watkins said. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas that traps considerably more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, helping to accelerate climate change. Likewise, BP last year vowed to hold greenhouse gas emissions from its operations at or below its 2015 levels in the years ahead. That includes keeping its methane emissions down to 0.2 percent of the gas produced. At the same time, BP paid $10.5 billion to buy the Texas shale assets, including in the Permian, of Australias BHP Billiton. That was the largest energy deal of the year in 2018. BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley said Tuesday that the British energy giant must be progressive for society and pragmatic for investors, and nimble enough to shift as the market changes. At the beginning of this century, BP invested heavily in renewable energy, perhaps before it was economically viable. The company lost money then. Now, its strategically investing again on a smaller scale. We have to move from being pure-play oil and gas companies into broader energy businesses, Dudley said. Our focus has to be on developing an energy system that is cleaner, better and kinder to the planet. But some environmental groups, including Greenpeace, are calling BP hypocritical for lobbying the White House to roll back some methane emissions regulations. BP responded that it doesnt oppose methane regulations per se. Rather, it prefers one set of rules, instead of having to follow the different ones put in place by different agencies, in this case the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department. Late innings A lot, however, will depend on the health of the U.S. shale sector. The nation is producing a record 12 million barrels a day, with about one-third of those volumes coming from the Permian. More that 10 percent, of almost 1.5 million barrels, is produced in South Texas Eagle Ford shale. Using a baseball analogy, shale pioneer Mark Papa, now the chief executive of Centennial Resource Development, argued that the boom is closer to its end. Id say were probably in the seventh inning of a nine-inning game, said Papa, who previously founded Houstons EOG Resources as a spinoff from Enron. He said shale developments are beginning to reach the limit on the lengths of horizontal wells. Theyre also reaching the peak of the volumes of sand and water that can optimally be pumped into the wells to unlock the oil and gas from the shale rock. Chevrons Wirth and others disagreed, contending the technology is constantly advancing and that the Permian acreage has more oil-rich layers than initially believed. The longer horizontal wells are proving more successful than previously expected. The resource in the Permian Basin is much larger than we appreciated in the beginning, Wirth said. jordan.blum@chron.com twitter.com/jdblum23 | The world's biggest oil companies are making big bets on the U.S. shale boom. Chevron and Exxon Mobil are emerging as top players in the booming Permian Basin. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Is-shale-in-late-innings-as-Big-Oil-comes-to-bat-13683677.php | 0.117486 |
Is shale in late innings as Big Oil comes to bat? | The long-term viability of the U.S. shale boom is uncertain, but the worlds biggest oil companies are making big bets on its success as smaller firms struggle with debt and the lack of scale needed to operate more efficiently. Chevron and Exxon Mobil are emerging as top players in the booming Permian Basin, while European majors such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell are growing in West Texas as well. They have size, economic diversity and the finances to theoretically produce oil and gas with fewer emissions as the world transitions to a lower-carbon future. These companies discussed the importance of growing in American shale oil while pushing for environmental sustainability on Tuesday at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston. Last week, California-based Chevron and its Texas rival Exxon Mobil made waves when they said they each plan to produce almost 1 million barrels of oil equivalent a day from the Permian within five years roughly triple their current output. Chevron holds more than 2 million net acres in the Permian. Chief Executive Michael Wirth said Tuesday that Chevron watched and waited as smaller companies eventually found success in the Permian with horizontal drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing, called fracking. Now, Chevron is using its size and technology to rapidly ramp up production, employing a factory-model in which many wells are drilled, fracked and completed in a standardized, repeatable way. Trial and error may not be our wheelhouse, but it's technology and scale, Wirth said. In a factory-drilling operation, you do the same thing many times, and quickly you learn better ways to do things. Climate always there Royal Dutch Shell has a more modest Permian position, but is looking to grow there even as it begins to link its carbon emission targets to its executive pay compensation. On Tuesday, Gretchen Watkins, president of Shells U.S. subsidiary, Shell Oil of Houston, called on the White House to tighten the rules on methane leaks from oil and gas production, rather than roll them back as proposed. We need to do more, Watkins said. Methane, the main component of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas that traps considerably more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide, helping to accelerate climate change. Likewise, BP last year vowed to hold greenhouse gas emissions from its operations at or below its 2015 levels in the years ahead. That includes keeping its methane emissions down to 0.2 percent of the gas produced. At the same time, BP paid $10.5 billion to buy the Texas shale assets, including in the Permian, of Australias BHP Billiton. That was the largest energy deal of the year in 2018. BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley said Tuesday that the British energy giant must be progressive for society and pragmatic for investors, and nimble enough to shift as the market changes. At the beginning of this century, BP invested heavily in renewable energy, perhaps before it was economically viable. The company lost money then. Now, its strategically investing again on a smaller scale. We have to move from being pure-play oil and gas companies into broader energy businesses, Dudley said. Our focus has to be on developing an energy system that is cleaner, better and kinder to the planet. But some environmental groups, including Greenpeace, are calling BP hypocritical for lobbying the White House to roll back some methane emissions regulations. BP responded that it doesnt oppose methane regulations per se. Rather, it prefers one set of rules, instead of having to follow the different ones put in place by different agencies, in this case the Environmental Protection Agency and the Interior Department. Late innings A lot, however, will depend on the health of the U.S. shale sector. The nation is producing a record 12 million barrels a day, with about one-third of those volumes coming from the Permian. More that 10 percent, of almost 1.5 million barrels, is produced in South Texas Eagle Ford shale. Using a baseball analogy, shale pioneer Mark Papa, now the chief executive of Centennial Resource Development, argued that the boom is closer to its end. Id say were probably in the seventh inning of a nine-inning game, said Papa, who previously founded Houstons EOG Resources as a spinoff from Enron. He said shale developments are beginning to reach the limit on the lengths of horizontal wells. Theyre also reaching the peak of the volumes of sand and water that can optimally be pumped into the wells to unlock the oil and gas from the shale rock. Chevrons Wirth and others disagreed, contending the technology is constantly advancing and that the Permian acreage has more oil-rich layers than initially believed. The longer horizontal wells are proving more successful than previously expected. The resource in the Permian Basin is much larger than we appreciated in the beginning, Wirth said. jordan.blum@chron.com twitter.com/jdblum23 | The world's biggest oil companies are making big bets on the U.S. shale boom. Chevron and Exxon Mobil are emerging as top players in the booming Permian Basin. European majors such as BP and Royal Dutch Shell are growing in West Texas as well. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/Is-shale-in-late-innings-as-Big-Oil-comes-to-bat-13683677.php | 0.13895 |
Who was the last man executed on Californias death row? | Its been 13 years since California last executed an inmate on death row. Now, Clarence Ray Allen killed at 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2006, at the age of 76 could be the last person to be executed in the Golden State. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he would place a moratorium on executions during his administration. Newsoms moratorium withdraws California from its lethal injection protocol, closes the execution chamber in San Quentin State Prison and issues a reprieve, though not a pardon, for all 737 inmates currently on death row. Allen spent more than 22 years on death row before dying from a lethal injection, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee A judge sentenced Allen to die after he was convicted on three counts of first degree murder with special circumstances and one count of conspiracy for the deaths of Bryon William Schletewitz, Douglas Scott White and Josephine Linda Rocha. Allen was serving life in prison for the 1974 murder of Mary Sue Kitts, an accomplice in a burglary of Frans Market in Fresno, when he ordered the deaths of Schletewitz, White and Rocha, who had informed on him and gotten him prison time in 1978. They were killed in 1980 by Billie Ray Hamilton, whom Allen met while in prison. Hamilton killed the victims in an after-hours robbery of Frans Market. The Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks capital punishments nationwide, reports that at the time of his death, Allen was legally blind, diabetic and used a wheelchair. Allen holds the distinction of being the oldest person ever put to death in California, according to The Intercept. Allens last meal included buffalo steak, Kentucky Fried Chicken, fried bread, sugar-free pecan pie and black walnut ice cream and whole milk. My last words will be, Hoka Hey, its a good day to die. Thank you very much. I love you all. Goodbye, he said in his final statement. | Clarence Ray Allen could be the last person to be executed in California. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227491659.html | 0.295517 |
Who was the last man executed on Californias death row? | Its been 13 years since California last executed an inmate on death row. Now, Clarence Ray Allen killed at 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2006, at the age of 76 could be the last person to be executed in the Golden State. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he would place a moratorium on executions during his administration. Newsoms moratorium withdraws California from its lethal injection protocol, closes the execution chamber in San Quentin State Prison and issues a reprieve, though not a pardon, for all 737 inmates currently on death row. Allen spent more than 22 years on death row before dying from a lethal injection, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee A judge sentenced Allen to die after he was convicted on three counts of first degree murder with special circumstances and one count of conspiracy for the deaths of Bryon William Schletewitz, Douglas Scott White and Josephine Linda Rocha. Allen was serving life in prison for the 1974 murder of Mary Sue Kitts, an accomplice in a burglary of Frans Market in Fresno, when he ordered the deaths of Schletewitz, White and Rocha, who had informed on him and gotten him prison time in 1978. They were killed in 1980 by Billie Ray Hamilton, whom Allen met while in prison. Hamilton killed the victims in an after-hours robbery of Frans Market. The Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks capital punishments nationwide, reports that at the time of his death, Allen was legally blind, diabetic and used a wheelchair. Allen holds the distinction of being the oldest person ever put to death in California, according to The Intercept. Allens last meal included buffalo steak, Kentucky Fried Chicken, fried bread, sugar-free pecan pie and black walnut ice cream and whole milk. My last words will be, Hoka Hey, its a good day to die. Thank you very much. I love you all. Goodbye, he said in his final statement. | Clarence Ray Allen could be the last person to be executed in the Golden State. Allen was sentenced to die after he was convicted on three counts of first degree murder with special circumstances. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227491659.html | 0.100486 |
Who was the last man executed on Californias death row? | Its been 13 years since California last executed an inmate on death row. Now, Clarence Ray Allen killed at 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 17, 2006, at the age of 76 could be the last person to be executed in the Golden State. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that he would place a moratorium on executions during his administration. Newsoms moratorium withdraws California from its lethal injection protocol, closes the execution chamber in San Quentin State Prison and issues a reprieve, though not a pardon, for all 737 inmates currently on death row. Allen spent more than 22 years on death row before dying from a lethal injection, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee A judge sentenced Allen to die after he was convicted on three counts of first degree murder with special circumstances and one count of conspiracy for the deaths of Bryon William Schletewitz, Douglas Scott White and Josephine Linda Rocha. Allen was serving life in prison for the 1974 murder of Mary Sue Kitts, an accomplice in a burglary of Frans Market in Fresno, when he ordered the deaths of Schletewitz, White and Rocha, who had informed on him and gotten him prison time in 1978. They were killed in 1980 by Billie Ray Hamilton, whom Allen met while in prison. Hamilton killed the victims in an after-hours robbery of Frans Market. The Death Penalty Information Center, a nonprofit organization that tracks capital punishments nationwide, reports that at the time of his death, Allen was legally blind, diabetic and used a wheelchair. Allen holds the distinction of being the oldest person ever put to death in California, according to The Intercept. Allens last meal included buffalo steak, Kentucky Fried Chicken, fried bread, sugar-free pecan pie and black walnut ice cream and whole milk. My last words will be, Hoka Hey, its a good day to die. Thank you very much. I love you all. Goodbye, he said in his final statement. | Clarence Ray Allen could be the last person to be executed in the Golden State. Allen was sentenced to die after he was convicted on three counts of first degree murder with special circumstances and one count of conspiracy for the deaths of Bryon William Schletewitz, Douglas Scott White and Josephine Linda Rocha. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227491659.html | 0.129821 |
Which European city is the most affordable to visit? | More likely than not, you'll also prioritize price when you're considering where to jet off to for a weekend getaway. The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer , comparing what visitors paying in pound sterling will cough up for a weekend enjoying all that every European city has to offer -- from the cost of a cup of coffee to entry fees to the city's top gallery to two nights in three-star accommodation for two adults. It's Vilnius, in Lithuania, which you may recall from that infamous tourism campaign ... Lithuania's capital is also known for its picturesque medieval old town, baroque architecture, hip street art and varied history. The Post Office reports that in Lithuania that you can travel to and from the city's airport for just 1.75 ($2.28), plus two nights' accommodation in a three-star hotel for two adults will set you back just 70 ($91). The total cost, the Post Office reports, is 147.35 ($191.85). At the other end of the spectrum, Reykjavik, Iceland 's capital, is Europe's most expensive city. That'll be little surprise to anyone who's visited. Iceland's known for being pricey -- all in all, you'll spend roughly 462.61 ($602.33) for a weekend in the land of ice and snow. Comparing costs Belgrade, Serbia is number two on the list. Pixabay / Creative Commons Other budget options are Belgrade, Serbia -- where Soviet architecture sits adjacent to Art Nouveau buildings, and a bottle of the local beer will cost you just 1.89 ($2.46). Eastern Europe is one of the cheapest regions in Europe, the barometer suggests -- a trip to Warsaw in Poland, number three on the list, will cost 160.35, while Bucharest in Romania, listed as number five, will cost an approximate total of 167.74. Bratislavia in Slovakia, Moscow in Russia and Prague in the Czech Republic round out the top 10, while Budapest in Hungary slides in at number 11. If you're after some sun and sea, Porto, in Portugal , is number six and the country's capital, Lisbon, is number 14. Eastern European cities -- including Moscow, Russia -- make up the bulk of the top 10. Shutterstock The barometer also lets you know entry prices for the city's top tourist attraction, top museum and top art gallery. Related content This city now has more UNESCO Heritage sites than anywhere in the world Meal costs in Greece are the lowest in Europe for the second year running, so you can opt for the hummus platter and have enough left over for a glass of the local wine, without your budget taking a hit. The River Douro, viewed from Porto's Dom Lus I Bridge. Porto is the sixth cheapest European citybreak destination. Paul Ames/CNN Interestingly, prices have fallen across the board since last year. Costs in Venice, Italy -- which keeps making headlines for its overtourism problems -- fell over 23% in the last 12 months. It's now at number 35 on the list. "Canny travelers can save hundreds of pounds by comparing the cost of accommodation and picking a city where hotel prices are low and where meals, drinks and sightseeing prices are also cheap," says Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, in a statement. "This applies to most cities in Eastern Europe but also to Porto, Athens and Lisbon." Brown also advises travelers departing to and from Britain to keep a close eye on currency fluctuations as Britain prepares to leave the European Union at the end of March. Here are the top 10 cheapest cities for a weekend break, according to the Post Office* 1. Vilnius, Lithuania -- 147.35 ($191.92) 2. Belgrade, Serbia -- 151.57 ($197.41) 3. Warsaw, Poland -- 160.35 ($208.85) 4. Istanbul, Turkey -- 166.83 ($217.29) 5. Bucharest, Romania -- 167.74 ($218.47) 6. Porto, Portugal -- 172.60 ($224.80) 7. Riga, Latvia -- 178.60 ($232.62) 8. Bratislava, Slovakia -- 182.02 ($237.07) 9. Moscow, Russia -- 186.87 ($243.39) 10. Prague, Czech Republic -- 190.19 ($247.71) | The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer. Vilnius, in Lithuania, is the most affordable city to visit. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-affordable-city-break-europe-2019/index.html | 0.486202 |
Which European city is the most affordable to visit? | More likely than not, you'll also prioritize price when you're considering where to jet off to for a weekend getaway. The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer , comparing what visitors paying in pound sterling will cough up for a weekend enjoying all that every European city has to offer -- from the cost of a cup of coffee to entry fees to the city's top gallery to two nights in three-star accommodation for two adults. It's Vilnius, in Lithuania, which you may recall from that infamous tourism campaign ... Lithuania's capital is also known for its picturesque medieval old town, baroque architecture, hip street art and varied history. The Post Office reports that in Lithuania that you can travel to and from the city's airport for just 1.75 ($2.28), plus two nights' accommodation in a three-star hotel for two adults will set you back just 70 ($91). The total cost, the Post Office reports, is 147.35 ($191.85). At the other end of the spectrum, Reykjavik, Iceland 's capital, is Europe's most expensive city. That'll be little surprise to anyone who's visited. Iceland's known for being pricey -- all in all, you'll spend roughly 462.61 ($602.33) for a weekend in the land of ice and snow. Comparing costs Belgrade, Serbia is number two on the list. Pixabay / Creative Commons Other budget options are Belgrade, Serbia -- where Soviet architecture sits adjacent to Art Nouveau buildings, and a bottle of the local beer will cost you just 1.89 ($2.46). Eastern Europe is one of the cheapest regions in Europe, the barometer suggests -- a trip to Warsaw in Poland, number three on the list, will cost 160.35, while Bucharest in Romania, listed as number five, will cost an approximate total of 167.74. Bratislavia in Slovakia, Moscow in Russia and Prague in the Czech Republic round out the top 10, while Budapest in Hungary slides in at number 11. If you're after some sun and sea, Porto, in Portugal , is number six and the country's capital, Lisbon, is number 14. Eastern European cities -- including Moscow, Russia -- make up the bulk of the top 10. Shutterstock The barometer also lets you know entry prices for the city's top tourist attraction, top museum and top art gallery. Related content This city now has more UNESCO Heritage sites than anywhere in the world Meal costs in Greece are the lowest in Europe for the second year running, so you can opt for the hummus platter and have enough left over for a glass of the local wine, without your budget taking a hit. The River Douro, viewed from Porto's Dom Lus I Bridge. Porto is the sixth cheapest European citybreak destination. Paul Ames/CNN Interestingly, prices have fallen across the board since last year. Costs in Venice, Italy -- which keeps making headlines for its overtourism problems -- fell over 23% in the last 12 months. It's now at number 35 on the list. "Canny travelers can save hundreds of pounds by comparing the cost of accommodation and picking a city where hotel prices are low and where meals, drinks and sightseeing prices are also cheap," says Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, in a statement. "This applies to most cities in Eastern Europe but also to Porto, Athens and Lisbon." Brown also advises travelers departing to and from Britain to keep a close eye on currency fluctuations as Britain prepares to leave the European Union at the end of March. Here are the top 10 cheapest cities for a weekend break, according to the Post Office* 1. Vilnius, Lithuania -- 147.35 ($191.92) 2. Belgrade, Serbia -- 151.57 ($197.41) 3. Warsaw, Poland -- 160.35 ($208.85) 4. Istanbul, Turkey -- 166.83 ($217.29) 5. Bucharest, Romania -- 167.74 ($218.47) 6. Porto, Portugal -- 172.60 ($224.80) 7. Riga, Latvia -- 178.60 ($232.62) 8. Bratislava, Slovakia -- 182.02 ($237.07) 9. Moscow, Russia -- 186.87 ($243.39) 10. Prague, Czech Republic -- 190.19 ($247.71) | The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer. Vilnius, in Lithuania, is the most affordable city to visit, followed by Belgrade, Serbia. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-affordable-city-break-europe-2019/index.html | 0.56729 |
Which European city is the most affordable to visit? | More likely than not, you'll also prioritize price when you're considering where to jet off to for a weekend getaway. The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer , comparing what visitors paying in pound sterling will cough up for a weekend enjoying all that every European city has to offer -- from the cost of a cup of coffee to entry fees to the city's top gallery to two nights in three-star accommodation for two adults. It's Vilnius, in Lithuania, which you may recall from that infamous tourism campaign ... Lithuania's capital is also known for its picturesque medieval old town, baroque architecture, hip street art and varied history. The Post Office reports that in Lithuania that you can travel to and from the city's airport for just 1.75 ($2.28), plus two nights' accommodation in a three-star hotel for two adults will set you back just 70 ($91). The total cost, the Post Office reports, is 147.35 ($191.85). At the other end of the spectrum, Reykjavik, Iceland 's capital, is Europe's most expensive city. That'll be little surprise to anyone who's visited. Iceland's known for being pricey -- all in all, you'll spend roughly 462.61 ($602.33) for a weekend in the land of ice and snow. Comparing costs Belgrade, Serbia is number two on the list. Pixabay / Creative Commons Other budget options are Belgrade, Serbia -- where Soviet architecture sits adjacent to Art Nouveau buildings, and a bottle of the local beer will cost you just 1.89 ($2.46). Eastern Europe is one of the cheapest regions in Europe, the barometer suggests -- a trip to Warsaw in Poland, number three on the list, will cost 160.35, while Bucharest in Romania, listed as number five, will cost an approximate total of 167.74. Bratislavia in Slovakia, Moscow in Russia and Prague in the Czech Republic round out the top 10, while Budapest in Hungary slides in at number 11. If you're after some sun and sea, Porto, in Portugal , is number six and the country's capital, Lisbon, is number 14. Eastern European cities -- including Moscow, Russia -- make up the bulk of the top 10. Shutterstock The barometer also lets you know entry prices for the city's top tourist attraction, top museum and top art gallery. Related content This city now has more UNESCO Heritage sites than anywhere in the world Meal costs in Greece are the lowest in Europe for the second year running, so you can opt for the hummus platter and have enough left over for a glass of the local wine, without your budget taking a hit. The River Douro, viewed from Porto's Dom Lus I Bridge. Porto is the sixth cheapest European citybreak destination. Paul Ames/CNN Interestingly, prices have fallen across the board since last year. Costs in Venice, Italy -- which keeps making headlines for its overtourism problems -- fell over 23% in the last 12 months. It's now at number 35 on the list. "Canny travelers can save hundreds of pounds by comparing the cost of accommodation and picking a city where hotel prices are low and where meals, drinks and sightseeing prices are also cheap," says Andrew Brown of Post Office Travel Money, in a statement. "This applies to most cities in Eastern Europe but also to Porto, Athens and Lisbon." Brown also advises travelers departing to and from Britain to keep a close eye on currency fluctuations as Britain prepares to leave the European Union at the end of March. Here are the top 10 cheapest cities for a weekend break, according to the Post Office* 1. Vilnius, Lithuania -- 147.35 ($191.92) 2. Belgrade, Serbia -- 151.57 ($197.41) 3. Warsaw, Poland -- 160.35 ($208.85) 4. Istanbul, Turkey -- 166.83 ($217.29) 5. Bucharest, Romania -- 167.74 ($218.47) 6. Porto, Portugal -- 172.60 ($224.80) 7. Riga, Latvia -- 178.60 ($232.62) 8. Bratislava, Slovakia -- 182.02 ($237.07) 9. Moscow, Russia -- 186.87 ($243.39) 10. Prague, Czech Republic -- 190.19 ($247.71) | The UK's Post Office has posted its annual City Costs Barometer. Vilnius, in Lithuania, is the most affordable city to visit, while Reykjavik is Europe's most expensive. Eastern Europe is one of the cheapest regions in Europe, the barometer suggests. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/most-affordable-city-break-europe-2019/index.html | 0.640035 |
What can we expect from Hammond's spring statement? | Philip Hammond is poised to deliver the spring statement on Wednesday against a backdrop of mounting political turmoil over Brexit, with increasing risks to the UK economy from a no-deal exit. No major tax and spending changes are expected, as the main budget is now held in the autumn rather than the spring, but there will be a key update on the state of the economy from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Here are four things to watch out for. Brexit Britains departure from the EU will undoubtedly cast a long shadow over the spring statement. Following the vote on Mays deal, the economic health check will provide Hammond an opportunity to argue that leaving without a transitional agreement would damage growth and shatter the public finances. The Bank of England has already said the worst-case no-deal scenario could spark an immediate recession worse than the financial crisis, while the government has warned growth could be as much as 9% lower in the long run. Dean Turner, UK economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: The chancellor is unlikely to pull any rabbits out of the hat this time round, but we are likely to see a mix of positive news, caution on the outlook and a warning to MPs about the risks of a no-deal Brexit. Growth The bad news on Wednesday is likely to come from a downgrade in the OBRs growth figures compared with the estimates made in October, following a weaker conclusion to the year for the UK economy and disappointing start to 2019. Mounting Brexit uncertainty has weighed on the economy, while slowing global demand has also had an impact. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.6% for 2019, however the Bank of England has since said that growth could drop to 1.2% given the weaker levels of output seen over recent months. Conditional on a smooth Brexit, the GDP growth forecasts for next year may however be revised much higher. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.4% for 2020, although City economists believe it could be revised as high as 1.6%. Hammond is likely however to point to stronger growth readings, including a better than expected monthly GDP growth figure for January. He is also likely to outline other bright spots, including record levels of employment and the lowest rate of unemployment since the mid 1970s. Wages are also rising the fastest in a decade. Public finances Another bright spot for the chancellor is expected to be the stronger performance in the public finances over recent months. The budget deficit the difference between government spending and tax income for 2018-19 so far has dropped to the lowest level since 2001. A stronger than expected rise in self-assessed income tax receipts in January helped bring down government borrowing to 21.2bn for the financial year to date, with the year so far the best since 2001. The latest snapshot means the government is set to meet the 25.5bn target given by the OBR in October. Economists believe the tax and spending watchdog could cut its borrowing targets again on Wednesday, handing the chancellor greater room to raise spending in future. Brexit would however probably reverse some of the progress, while changes to the way student loans are accounted for could further damage the public finances when they are made later this year. Hammond has previously said 15.4bn has been held in reserve to fight an economic slump sparked by Brexit, which could be spent on public services instead if a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. He will likely provide an update on these funds. Ending austerity Hammond will come under growing pressure this year to meet Theresa Mays pledge to bring austerity to an end. The spring statement is unlikely to provide the platform for that promise to be delivered in full but he may attempt to signal the direction of travel. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk A full spending review is scheduled for the summer to outline the funds available for government departments from 2020 onwards, although the chancellor will likely say that much depends on the Brexit outcome. Observers are sceptical that the chancellor will end austerity. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said he must find an extra 5bn a year to achieve the aim. The government was also criticised for setting aside only 1.6bn to spend on poorer local communities under the stronger towns fund, the details of which may also feature on Wednesday. Some previously announced changes due to take effect from 1 April will mean no end to austerity in the short-term, barring any last-minute changes. The benefit freeze is set to continue for a fourth year, while tax cuts that will help richer households most are due to come into effect. | Philip Hammond will deliver the spring statement on Wednesday. No major tax and spending changes are expected. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/13/what-can-we-expect-from-hammonds-spring-statement | 0.138475 |
What can we expect from Hammond's spring statement? | Philip Hammond is poised to deliver the spring statement on Wednesday against a backdrop of mounting political turmoil over Brexit, with increasing risks to the UK economy from a no-deal exit. No major tax and spending changes are expected, as the main budget is now held in the autumn rather than the spring, but there will be a key update on the state of the economy from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Here are four things to watch out for. Brexit Britains departure from the EU will undoubtedly cast a long shadow over the spring statement. Following the vote on Mays deal, the economic health check will provide Hammond an opportunity to argue that leaving without a transitional agreement would damage growth and shatter the public finances. The Bank of England has already said the worst-case no-deal scenario could spark an immediate recession worse than the financial crisis, while the government has warned growth could be as much as 9% lower in the long run. Dean Turner, UK economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: The chancellor is unlikely to pull any rabbits out of the hat this time round, but we are likely to see a mix of positive news, caution on the outlook and a warning to MPs about the risks of a no-deal Brexit. Growth The bad news on Wednesday is likely to come from a downgrade in the OBRs growth figures compared with the estimates made in October, following a weaker conclusion to the year for the UK economy and disappointing start to 2019. Mounting Brexit uncertainty has weighed on the economy, while slowing global demand has also had an impact. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.6% for 2019, however the Bank of England has since said that growth could drop to 1.2% given the weaker levels of output seen over recent months. Conditional on a smooth Brexit, the GDP growth forecasts for next year may however be revised much higher. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.4% for 2020, although City economists believe it could be revised as high as 1.6%. Hammond is likely however to point to stronger growth readings, including a better than expected monthly GDP growth figure for January. He is also likely to outline other bright spots, including record levels of employment and the lowest rate of unemployment since the mid 1970s. Wages are also rising the fastest in a decade. Public finances Another bright spot for the chancellor is expected to be the stronger performance in the public finances over recent months. The budget deficit the difference between government spending and tax income for 2018-19 so far has dropped to the lowest level since 2001. A stronger than expected rise in self-assessed income tax receipts in January helped bring down government borrowing to 21.2bn for the financial year to date, with the year so far the best since 2001. The latest snapshot means the government is set to meet the 25.5bn target given by the OBR in October. Economists believe the tax and spending watchdog could cut its borrowing targets again on Wednesday, handing the chancellor greater room to raise spending in future. Brexit would however probably reverse some of the progress, while changes to the way student loans are accounted for could further damage the public finances when they are made later this year. Hammond has previously said 15.4bn has been held in reserve to fight an economic slump sparked by Brexit, which could be spent on public services instead if a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. He will likely provide an update on these funds. Ending austerity Hammond will come under growing pressure this year to meet Theresa Mays pledge to bring austerity to an end. The spring statement is unlikely to provide the platform for that promise to be delivered in full but he may attempt to signal the direction of travel. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk A full spending review is scheduled for the summer to outline the funds available for government departments from 2020 onwards, although the chancellor will likely say that much depends on the Brexit outcome. Observers are sceptical that the chancellor will end austerity. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said he must find an extra 5bn a year to achieve the aim. The government was also criticised for setting aside only 1.6bn to spend on poorer local communities under the stronger towns fund, the details of which may also feature on Wednesday. Some previously announced changes due to take effect from 1 April will mean no end to austerity in the short-term, barring any last-minute changes. The benefit freeze is set to continue for a fourth year, while tax cuts that will help richer households most are due to come into effect. | Philip Hammond will deliver the spring statement on Wednesday. No major tax and spending changes are expected. There will be a key update on the state of the economy from the OBR. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/13/what-can-we-expect-from-hammonds-spring-statement | 0.283781 |
What can we expect from Hammond's spring statement? | Philip Hammond is poised to deliver the spring statement on Wednesday against a backdrop of mounting political turmoil over Brexit, with increasing risks to the UK economy from a no-deal exit. No major tax and spending changes are expected, as the main budget is now held in the autumn rather than the spring, but there will be a key update on the state of the economy from the Office for Budget Responsibility. Here are four things to watch out for. Brexit Britains departure from the EU will undoubtedly cast a long shadow over the spring statement. Following the vote on Mays deal, the economic health check will provide Hammond an opportunity to argue that leaving without a transitional agreement would damage growth and shatter the public finances. The Bank of England has already said the worst-case no-deal scenario could spark an immediate recession worse than the financial crisis, while the government has warned growth could be as much as 9% lower in the long run. Dean Turner, UK economist at UBS Wealth Management, said: The chancellor is unlikely to pull any rabbits out of the hat this time round, but we are likely to see a mix of positive news, caution on the outlook and a warning to MPs about the risks of a no-deal Brexit. Growth The bad news on Wednesday is likely to come from a downgrade in the OBRs growth figures compared with the estimates made in October, following a weaker conclusion to the year for the UK economy and disappointing start to 2019. Mounting Brexit uncertainty has weighed on the economy, while slowing global demand has also had an impact. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.6% for 2019, however the Bank of England has since said that growth could drop to 1.2% given the weaker levels of output seen over recent months. Conditional on a smooth Brexit, the GDP growth forecasts for next year may however be revised much higher. The OBR had forecast growth of 1.4% for 2020, although City economists believe it could be revised as high as 1.6%. Hammond is likely however to point to stronger growth readings, including a better than expected monthly GDP growth figure for January. He is also likely to outline other bright spots, including record levels of employment and the lowest rate of unemployment since the mid 1970s. Wages are also rising the fastest in a decade. Public finances Another bright spot for the chancellor is expected to be the stronger performance in the public finances over recent months. The budget deficit the difference between government spending and tax income for 2018-19 so far has dropped to the lowest level since 2001. A stronger than expected rise in self-assessed income tax receipts in January helped bring down government borrowing to 21.2bn for the financial year to date, with the year so far the best since 2001. The latest snapshot means the government is set to meet the 25.5bn target given by the OBR in October. Economists believe the tax and spending watchdog could cut its borrowing targets again on Wednesday, handing the chancellor greater room to raise spending in future. Brexit would however probably reverse some of the progress, while changes to the way student loans are accounted for could further damage the public finances when they are made later this year. Hammond has previously said 15.4bn has been held in reserve to fight an economic slump sparked by Brexit, which could be spent on public services instead if a no-deal Brexit can be avoided. He will likely provide an update on these funds. Ending austerity Hammond will come under growing pressure this year to meet Theresa Mays pledge to bring austerity to an end. The spring statement is unlikely to provide the platform for that promise to be delivered in full but he may attempt to signal the direction of travel. Sign up to the daily Business Today email or follow Guardian Business on Twitter at @BusinessDesk A full spending review is scheduled for the summer to outline the funds available for government departments from 2020 onwards, although the chancellor will likely say that much depends on the Brexit outcome. Observers are sceptical that the chancellor will end austerity. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has said he must find an extra 5bn a year to achieve the aim. The government was also criticised for setting aside only 1.6bn to spend on poorer local communities under the stronger towns fund, the details of which may also feature on Wednesday. Some previously announced changes due to take effect from 1 April will mean no end to austerity in the short-term, barring any last-minute changes. The benefit freeze is set to continue for a fourth year, while tax cuts that will help richer households most are due to come into effect. | Philip Hammond is poised to deliver the spring statement on Wednesday. No major tax and spending changes are expected in the Autumn Statement. But there will be a key update on the state of the economy from the OBR. The bad news on Wednesday is likely to come from a downgrade in the OBRs growth figures. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/13/what-can-we-expect-from-hammonds-spring-statement | 0.14248 |
Are Machines Conscious? | Even though neuroscience has made amazing advances, the origin of consciousness in humans -- and its nature and processes -- still remain largely unknown; the underlying physiological mechanisms of generating conscious beings are still not clearly understood. However, with the advances in brain mapping and neuroscience, we are perhaps much closer to finally understanding the fundamentals of consciousness in humans than ever before. It is said that what we cannot create we do not understand. While the very nature of human consciousness is difficult to understand, there is an intense effort going on to build a conscious computer mind out of computer chips (now neuromorphic chips). Understandably, there are growing concerns and questions about building a conscious mind using neuromorphic chips when there is so little clarity about the human mind and the very nature of human consciousness. Now, we can perhaps understand the human brain as a functional computer and compare it with functional computer systems/machines. The answer to these questions perhaps raises only more questions, as comparing consciousness in functional machines to consciousness in functional humans is more difficult than expected. Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. It seems the properties of consciousness are perhaps not biological. They are functional. The relationship between input, output and the state of the computer system (machine) is a causal relation to the state of a computer system (machine). It is this functionality, ability to know about one's inner workings and external surroundings that make machines functional, intelligent, aware and conscious. Although definitions and understanding differ, self-awareness is an evaluative process, involving data gathering and processing skills. Now consciousness in machines may be seen as the awareness of their existence and the world around them: about things like perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts, memories and so on. Since consciousness is in the psychology of awareness, perhaps we can say that machines have awareness. Machine Awareness Researchers at Columbia University claim to have built a robot arm that can construct a self-image from scratch--taking a definitive step towards self-awareness. Let us evaluate the reality today. Each computer/machine that is connected to the internet has its identity in the form of an IP address, just like we humans have a home address and digital address. The fact that any machine has knowledge about its ecosystem, IP address, location, etc. is a sign of awareness. From knowledge about location, time, temperature, weather and more, computers/machines have an awareness of their surroundings. As we see, the evolving voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google can have simple conversations with humans. The answers we ask digital assistants are responded to in an intelligent manner. That certainly makes a compelling case for machines/computers being self-aware and functional. Just like humans need to be aware of their emotions and behavior, machines also need to be aware of their behavior. Since consciousness is the awareness of internal and external environments, and since computers and machines are aware of their environment, self-awareness is recognition of that consciousness. Since self-awareness does not require a biological origin, today's machines can be categorized as self-aware. Moreover, consciousness is about the ability to think, and self-awareness is about realizing we are thinking. Now, computers/machines also have a better memory than humans because we humans neither always recall everything, nor do we remember all our actions or encounters. The answer to these questions depends entirely on how we understand thinking, self-awareness and consciousness in machines. However, since there is no agreed central definition of consciousness for man or machine, it is perhaps time to begin a discussion and agree on a definition to understand and evaluate the fundamentals of consciousness. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on Machine Consciousness with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), the University of Athens, Greece on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses Consciousness in Computer Systems with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), University of Athens, Greece. As discussed previously, there is no central definition of consciousness. While neuroscience hypothesizes that consciousness in humans is generated by the interoperation of various parts of the brain, in addition to functionality, similar structural interoperation of machines/computer parts can perhaps also be used to hypothesize consciousness in machines. NEVER MISS ANY OF DR. PANDYAS POSTS Simply join here for a weekly update | Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/13/are-machines-conscious/ | 0.267534 |
Are Machines Conscious? | Even though neuroscience has made amazing advances, the origin of consciousness in humans -- and its nature and processes -- still remain largely unknown; the underlying physiological mechanisms of generating conscious beings are still not clearly understood. However, with the advances in brain mapping and neuroscience, we are perhaps much closer to finally understanding the fundamentals of consciousness in humans than ever before. It is said that what we cannot create we do not understand. While the very nature of human consciousness is difficult to understand, there is an intense effort going on to build a conscious computer mind out of computer chips (now neuromorphic chips). Understandably, there are growing concerns and questions about building a conscious mind using neuromorphic chips when there is so little clarity about the human mind and the very nature of human consciousness. Now, we can perhaps understand the human brain as a functional computer and compare it with functional computer systems/machines. The answer to these questions perhaps raises only more questions, as comparing consciousness in functional machines to consciousness in functional humans is more difficult than expected. Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. It seems the properties of consciousness are perhaps not biological. They are functional. The relationship between input, output and the state of the computer system (machine) is a causal relation to the state of a computer system (machine). It is this functionality, ability to know about one's inner workings and external surroundings that make machines functional, intelligent, aware and conscious. Although definitions and understanding differ, self-awareness is an evaluative process, involving data gathering and processing skills. Now consciousness in machines may be seen as the awareness of their existence and the world around them: about things like perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts, memories and so on. Since consciousness is in the psychology of awareness, perhaps we can say that machines have awareness. Machine Awareness Researchers at Columbia University claim to have built a robot arm that can construct a self-image from scratch--taking a definitive step towards self-awareness. Let us evaluate the reality today. Each computer/machine that is connected to the internet has its identity in the form of an IP address, just like we humans have a home address and digital address. The fact that any machine has knowledge about its ecosystem, IP address, location, etc. is a sign of awareness. From knowledge about location, time, temperature, weather and more, computers/machines have an awareness of their surroundings. As we see, the evolving voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google can have simple conversations with humans. The answers we ask digital assistants are responded to in an intelligent manner. That certainly makes a compelling case for machines/computers being self-aware and functional. Just like humans need to be aware of their emotions and behavior, machines also need to be aware of their behavior. Since consciousness is the awareness of internal and external environments, and since computers and machines are aware of their environment, self-awareness is recognition of that consciousness. Since self-awareness does not require a biological origin, today's machines can be categorized as self-aware. Moreover, consciousness is about the ability to think, and self-awareness is about realizing we are thinking. Now, computers/machines also have a better memory than humans because we humans neither always recall everything, nor do we remember all our actions or encounters. The answer to these questions depends entirely on how we understand thinking, self-awareness and consciousness in machines. However, since there is no agreed central definition of consciousness for man or machine, it is perhaps time to begin a discussion and agree on a definition to understand and evaluate the fundamentals of consciousness. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on Machine Consciousness with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), the University of Athens, Greece on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses Consciousness in Computer Systems with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), University of Athens, Greece. As discussed previously, there is no central definition of consciousness. While neuroscience hypothesizes that consciousness in humans is generated by the interoperation of various parts of the brain, in addition to functionality, similar structural interoperation of machines/computer parts can perhaps also be used to hypothesize consciousness in machines. NEVER MISS ANY OF DR. PANDYAS POSTS Simply join here for a weekly update | Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. Since consciousness is in the psychology of awareness, perhaps we can say that machines have awareness. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/13/are-machines-conscious/ | 0.298964 |
Are Machines Conscious? | Even though neuroscience has made amazing advances, the origin of consciousness in humans -- and its nature and processes -- still remain largely unknown; the underlying physiological mechanisms of generating conscious beings are still not clearly understood. However, with the advances in brain mapping and neuroscience, we are perhaps much closer to finally understanding the fundamentals of consciousness in humans than ever before. It is said that what we cannot create we do not understand. While the very nature of human consciousness is difficult to understand, there is an intense effort going on to build a conscious computer mind out of computer chips (now neuromorphic chips). Understandably, there are growing concerns and questions about building a conscious mind using neuromorphic chips when there is so little clarity about the human mind and the very nature of human consciousness. Now, we can perhaps understand the human brain as a functional computer and compare it with functional computer systems/machines. The answer to these questions perhaps raises only more questions, as comparing consciousness in functional machines to consciousness in functional humans is more difficult than expected. Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. It seems the properties of consciousness are perhaps not biological. They are functional. The relationship between input, output and the state of the computer system (machine) is a causal relation to the state of a computer system (machine). It is this functionality, ability to know about one's inner workings and external surroundings that make machines functional, intelligent, aware and conscious. Although definitions and understanding differ, self-awareness is an evaluative process, involving data gathering and processing skills. Now consciousness in machines may be seen as the awareness of their existence and the world around them: about things like perceptions, sensations, feelings, thoughts, memories and so on. Since consciousness is in the psychology of awareness, perhaps we can say that machines have awareness. Machine Awareness Researchers at Columbia University claim to have built a robot arm that can construct a self-image from scratch--taking a definitive step towards self-awareness. Let us evaluate the reality today. Each computer/machine that is connected to the internet has its identity in the form of an IP address, just like we humans have a home address and digital address. The fact that any machine has knowledge about its ecosystem, IP address, location, etc. is a sign of awareness. From knowledge about location, time, temperature, weather and more, computers/machines have an awareness of their surroundings. As we see, the evolving voice assistants like Siri, Alexa and Google can have simple conversations with humans. The answers we ask digital assistants are responded to in an intelligent manner. That certainly makes a compelling case for machines/computers being self-aware and functional. Just like humans need to be aware of their emotions and behavior, machines also need to be aware of their behavior. Since consciousness is the awareness of internal and external environments, and since computers and machines are aware of their environment, self-awareness is recognition of that consciousness. Since self-awareness does not require a biological origin, today's machines can be categorized as self-aware. Moreover, consciousness is about the ability to think, and self-awareness is about realizing we are thinking. Now, computers/machines also have a better memory than humans because we humans neither always recall everything, nor do we remember all our actions or encounters. The answer to these questions depends entirely on how we understand thinking, self-awareness and consciousness in machines. However, since there is no agreed central definition of consciousness for man or machine, it is perhaps time to begin a discussion and agree on a definition to understand and evaluate the fundamentals of consciousness. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on Machine Consciousness with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), the University of Athens, Greece on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses Consciousness in Computer Systems with Prof. John Kontos, a Research Scientist and Professor from the Department of Sciences of Cognition and Thinking (SCT), University of Athens, Greece. As discussed previously, there is no central definition of consciousness. While neuroscience hypothesizes that consciousness in humans is generated by the interoperation of various parts of the brain, in addition to functionality, similar structural interoperation of machines/computer parts can perhaps also be used to hypothesize consciousness in machines. NEVER MISS ANY OF DR. PANDYAS POSTS Simply join here for a weekly update | Consciousness in machines is commonly understood to be the knowledge or situation of a fact. It seems the properties of consciousness are perhaps not biological. Since consciousness is in the psychology of awareness, perhaps we can say that machines have awareness. Since self-awareness does not require a biological origin, today's machines can be categorized as self-aware. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/13/are-machines-conscious/ | 0.415395 |
What Was It Like When Life Began On Earth? | If you came to our Solar System right after it formed, you would have seen a completely foreign-looking sight. Our Sun would have been about the same mass it is today, but only about 80% as luminous, as stars heat up as they age. The four inner, rocky worlds would still be there, but three of them would look extremely similar. Venus, Earth, and Mars all had thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surface, and the organic ingredients that could give rise to life. While we still don't know whether life ever took hold on Venus or Mars, we know that by the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. After billions of years of cosmic evolution gave rise to the elements, molecules, and conditions from which life could exist, our planet became the one where it not only did, but where it thrived. To the best of our scientific knowledge, here's what those first steps were like. Life as we know it has a few properties that everyone agrees on. While life on Earth involves carbon-based chemistry (requiring carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other elements like phosphorous, copper, iron, sulfur, and so on) and relies on liquid water, other combinations of elements and molecules may be possible. The four general properties that all life shares, however, are as follows: Life has a metabolism, where it harvests energy/resources from an external source for its own use. Life responds to external stimuli from its environment, and alters its behavior accordingly. Life can grow, adapt to its environment, or can otherwise evolve from its present form into a different one. And life can reproduce, creating viable offspring that arise from its own internal processes. All four of these must be in place, simultaneously, for a population of organisms to be considered alive. Snowflakes and crystals may be able to grow and reproduce, but their lack of a metabolism prevents them from being classified as alive. Proteins may have a metabolism and be able to reproduce, but they do not respond to external stimuli or alter behavior based on what they encounter. Even viruses, which are the most debatable organism on the line between life and non-life, can only reproduce by infecting other successfully living cells, casting doubt on whether they're classified as living or non-living. Many organic materials chemical compounds like sugars, amino acids, ethyl formate, and even complex ones like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are found in interstellar space, in asteroids, and were abundant on early Earth. But we do not have evidence that life began prior to Earth's formation. Instead, the leading thought is that the Earth was formed with these raw ingredients on it, and perhaps many more. Perhaps nucleotides were common; perhaps proteins and protein fragments came pre-assembled; perhaps lipid layers and bilayers could spontaneously arise in an aqueous environment. In order to go from precursors to life to actual life, however, it's believed that we needed the right environment. These three favorable planets Venus, Earth, and Mars all likely had a reasonable level of surface gravity, thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surfaces, and these biochemical precursor molecules. The one thing Earth had that the other two planets likely didn't, however, was a Moon. While all three worlds likely had a chance to form life for the first time, our Moon helped give us chances that the other worlds may not have had. The amount of water present on these early planets was very likely enough to create oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, but not enough to completely cover them in liquid water. This means they all had continents and oceans, and at the interface of the two, there were tidepools: regions where water can stably exist on dry land and be subject to all sorts of energy gradients. Sunlight, shadow and night, cycles of evaporation and concentration, porous fluid flow in the presence of minerals, and gradients of water activity could all provide opportunities for molecules to bind together in novel and interesting ways. The effects of tides may be enhanced by the Moon, but all these worlds possess tides due to the Sun. However, there's an additional energy source that the Earth possesses that likely contributed to life's origin, that may not have been as spectacular on Venus or Mars. That latter factor is thermal activity from the interior of the planet. At the bottom of the oceans, hydrothermal vents are geological hotspots that are excellent candidate locations for life to arise. Even today, they are home to organisms known as extremophiles: bacteria and other lifeforms that can withstand the temperatures that typically break the molecular bonds associated with life processes. These vents contain enormous energy gradients as well as chemical gradients, where extremely alkaline vent water mixes with the acidic, carbonic-acid-rich ocean water. Finally, these vents contain both sodium and potassium ions, as well as calcium carbonate structures that could serve as a template for the first cells. The fact that life exists in environments like this points to worlds like Europa or Enceladus as potential homes for life elsewhere in the Solar System today. But perhaps the most likely location for life to begin on Earth is the best of all worlds: hydrothermal fields. Volcanic activity doesn't solely occur beneath the oceans, but also on land. Beneath areas of fresh water, these volcanically-active areas provide an additional heat and energy source that can stabilize temperatures and provide an energy gradient. All the while, these locations still allow evaporation/concentration cycles, provide a confined environment that enables the right ingredients to accumulate, and allow a sunlight/night cycle of exposure. On Earth, we can be confident that tidepools, hydrothermal vents, and hydrothermal fields were all common. While the precursor molecules certainly originated beyond Earth, it was likely here on our planet that the transformation of non-life into life spontaneously occurred. Over time, the Earth has changed tremendously, as have the living organisms on our planet. We do not know if life arose once, more than once, or in disparate locations. What we do know, however, is that if we reconstruct the evolutionary tree of every extant organism found on Earth today, they all share the same ancestor. By studying the genomes of the extant organisms found on our world today, biologists can reconstruct the timescale of what's known as LUCA: the Last Universal Common Ancestor of life on Earth. By time the Earth was less than 1 billion years old, life already had the ability to transcribe and translate information between DNA, RNA, and proteins, and these mechanisms exist in all organisms today. Whether life arose multiple times is unknown, but it is generally accepted that life as we know it today descended from a single population. Despite the fact that geological processes can often obscure the fossil record beyond a few hundred million years, we have been able to trace back the origin of life extraordinarily far. Microbial fossils have been found in sandstone dating to 3.5 billion years ago. Graphite, found deposited in metamorphosed sedimentary rock, has been traced back to having biogenic origins, and dates back to 3.8 billion years ago. At even earlier, more extreme times, the deposits of certain crystals in rocks appear to originate from biological processes, suggesting that Earth was teeming with life as early as 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago: as soon as 100-200 million years after the Earth and Moon formed. To the best of our knowledge, life on Earth has existed almost as long as Earth itself has. At some point on our planet, in the very early stages, the molecules that are abundant and precursors to life, under the right energy and chemical conditions, began to simultaneously metabolize energy, respond to the environment, grow, adapt, evolve, and reproduce. Even if it would be unrecognizable to us today, that marks the origin of life. In a radically unbroken string of biological success, our planet has been a living world ever since. While Venus and Mars may have had similar chances, radical changes to Venus' atmosphere rendered it a searing hothouse world after just 200-300 million years, while the death of the Martian magnetic field caused its atmosphere to be stripped away, rendering it solid and frozen. While asteroid strikes may send Earth-based life off-world, throughout the Solar System and galaxy, all the evidence suggests that we are where it started. By 9.4 billion years after the Big Bang, Earth was teeming with life. We've never looked back. Further reading on what the Universe was like when: | By the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/13/what-was-it-like-when-life-began-on-earth/ | 0.102027 |
What Was It Like When Life Began On Earth? | If you came to our Solar System right after it formed, you would have seen a completely foreign-looking sight. Our Sun would have been about the same mass it is today, but only about 80% as luminous, as stars heat up as they age. The four inner, rocky worlds would still be there, but three of them would look extremely similar. Venus, Earth, and Mars all had thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surface, and the organic ingredients that could give rise to life. While we still don't know whether life ever took hold on Venus or Mars, we know that by the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. After billions of years of cosmic evolution gave rise to the elements, molecules, and conditions from which life could exist, our planet became the one where it not only did, but where it thrived. To the best of our scientific knowledge, here's what those first steps were like. Life as we know it has a few properties that everyone agrees on. While life on Earth involves carbon-based chemistry (requiring carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other elements like phosphorous, copper, iron, sulfur, and so on) and relies on liquid water, other combinations of elements and molecules may be possible. The four general properties that all life shares, however, are as follows: Life has a metabolism, where it harvests energy/resources from an external source for its own use. Life responds to external stimuli from its environment, and alters its behavior accordingly. Life can grow, adapt to its environment, or can otherwise evolve from its present form into a different one. And life can reproduce, creating viable offspring that arise from its own internal processes. All four of these must be in place, simultaneously, for a population of organisms to be considered alive. Snowflakes and crystals may be able to grow and reproduce, but their lack of a metabolism prevents them from being classified as alive. Proteins may have a metabolism and be able to reproduce, but they do not respond to external stimuli or alter behavior based on what they encounter. Even viruses, which are the most debatable organism on the line between life and non-life, can only reproduce by infecting other successfully living cells, casting doubt on whether they're classified as living or non-living. Many organic materials chemical compounds like sugars, amino acids, ethyl formate, and even complex ones like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are found in interstellar space, in asteroids, and were abundant on early Earth. But we do not have evidence that life began prior to Earth's formation. Instead, the leading thought is that the Earth was formed with these raw ingredients on it, and perhaps many more. Perhaps nucleotides were common; perhaps proteins and protein fragments came pre-assembled; perhaps lipid layers and bilayers could spontaneously arise in an aqueous environment. In order to go from precursors to life to actual life, however, it's believed that we needed the right environment. These three favorable planets Venus, Earth, and Mars all likely had a reasonable level of surface gravity, thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surfaces, and these biochemical precursor molecules. The one thing Earth had that the other two planets likely didn't, however, was a Moon. While all three worlds likely had a chance to form life for the first time, our Moon helped give us chances that the other worlds may not have had. The amount of water present on these early planets was very likely enough to create oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, but not enough to completely cover them in liquid water. This means they all had continents and oceans, and at the interface of the two, there were tidepools: regions where water can stably exist on dry land and be subject to all sorts of energy gradients. Sunlight, shadow and night, cycles of evaporation and concentration, porous fluid flow in the presence of minerals, and gradients of water activity could all provide opportunities for molecules to bind together in novel and interesting ways. The effects of tides may be enhanced by the Moon, but all these worlds possess tides due to the Sun. However, there's an additional energy source that the Earth possesses that likely contributed to life's origin, that may not have been as spectacular on Venus or Mars. That latter factor is thermal activity from the interior of the planet. At the bottom of the oceans, hydrothermal vents are geological hotspots that are excellent candidate locations for life to arise. Even today, they are home to organisms known as extremophiles: bacteria and other lifeforms that can withstand the temperatures that typically break the molecular bonds associated with life processes. These vents contain enormous energy gradients as well as chemical gradients, where extremely alkaline vent water mixes with the acidic, carbonic-acid-rich ocean water. Finally, these vents contain both sodium and potassium ions, as well as calcium carbonate structures that could serve as a template for the first cells. The fact that life exists in environments like this points to worlds like Europa or Enceladus as potential homes for life elsewhere in the Solar System today. But perhaps the most likely location for life to begin on Earth is the best of all worlds: hydrothermal fields. Volcanic activity doesn't solely occur beneath the oceans, but also on land. Beneath areas of fresh water, these volcanically-active areas provide an additional heat and energy source that can stabilize temperatures and provide an energy gradient. All the while, these locations still allow evaporation/concentration cycles, provide a confined environment that enables the right ingredients to accumulate, and allow a sunlight/night cycle of exposure. On Earth, we can be confident that tidepools, hydrothermal vents, and hydrothermal fields were all common. While the precursor molecules certainly originated beyond Earth, it was likely here on our planet that the transformation of non-life into life spontaneously occurred. Over time, the Earth has changed tremendously, as have the living organisms on our planet. We do not know if life arose once, more than once, or in disparate locations. What we do know, however, is that if we reconstruct the evolutionary tree of every extant organism found on Earth today, they all share the same ancestor. By studying the genomes of the extant organisms found on our world today, biologists can reconstruct the timescale of what's known as LUCA: the Last Universal Common Ancestor of life on Earth. By time the Earth was less than 1 billion years old, life already had the ability to transcribe and translate information between DNA, RNA, and proteins, and these mechanisms exist in all organisms today. Whether life arose multiple times is unknown, but it is generally accepted that life as we know it today descended from a single population. Despite the fact that geological processes can often obscure the fossil record beyond a few hundred million years, we have been able to trace back the origin of life extraordinarily far. Microbial fossils have been found in sandstone dating to 3.5 billion years ago. Graphite, found deposited in metamorphosed sedimentary rock, has been traced back to having biogenic origins, and dates back to 3.8 billion years ago. At even earlier, more extreme times, the deposits of certain crystals in rocks appear to originate from biological processes, suggesting that Earth was teeming with life as early as 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago: as soon as 100-200 million years after the Earth and Moon formed. To the best of our knowledge, life on Earth has existed almost as long as Earth itself has. At some point on our planet, in the very early stages, the molecules that are abundant and precursors to life, under the right energy and chemical conditions, began to simultaneously metabolize energy, respond to the environment, grow, adapt, evolve, and reproduce. Even if it would be unrecognizable to us today, that marks the origin of life. In a radically unbroken string of biological success, our planet has been a living world ever since. While Venus and Mars may have had similar chances, radical changes to Venus' atmosphere rendered it a searing hothouse world after just 200-300 million years, while the death of the Martian magnetic field caused its atmosphere to be stripped away, rendering it solid and frozen. While asteroid strikes may send Earth-based life off-world, throughout the Solar System and galaxy, all the evidence suggests that we are where it started. By 9.4 billion years after the Big Bang, Earth was teeming with life. We've never looked back. Further reading on what the Universe was like when: | By the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. Venus, Earth, and Mars all had thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surface, and the organic ingredients that could give rise to life. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/13/what-was-it-like-when-life-began-on-earth/ | 0.179743 |
What Was It Like When Life Began On Earth? | If you came to our Solar System right after it formed, you would have seen a completely foreign-looking sight. Our Sun would have been about the same mass it is today, but only about 80% as luminous, as stars heat up as they age. The four inner, rocky worlds would still be there, but three of them would look extremely similar. Venus, Earth, and Mars all had thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surface, and the organic ingredients that could give rise to life. While we still don't know whether life ever took hold on Venus or Mars, we know that by the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. After billions of years of cosmic evolution gave rise to the elements, molecules, and conditions from which life could exist, our planet became the one where it not only did, but where it thrived. To the best of our scientific knowledge, here's what those first steps were like. Life as we know it has a few properties that everyone agrees on. While life on Earth involves carbon-based chemistry (requiring carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other elements like phosphorous, copper, iron, sulfur, and so on) and relies on liquid water, other combinations of elements and molecules may be possible. The four general properties that all life shares, however, are as follows: Life has a metabolism, where it harvests energy/resources from an external source for its own use. Life responds to external stimuli from its environment, and alters its behavior accordingly. Life can grow, adapt to its environment, or can otherwise evolve from its present form into a different one. And life can reproduce, creating viable offspring that arise from its own internal processes. All four of these must be in place, simultaneously, for a population of organisms to be considered alive. Snowflakes and crystals may be able to grow and reproduce, but their lack of a metabolism prevents them from being classified as alive. Proteins may have a metabolism and be able to reproduce, but they do not respond to external stimuli or alter behavior based on what they encounter. Even viruses, which are the most debatable organism on the line between life and non-life, can only reproduce by infecting other successfully living cells, casting doubt on whether they're classified as living or non-living. Many organic materials chemical compounds like sugars, amino acids, ethyl formate, and even complex ones like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are found in interstellar space, in asteroids, and were abundant on early Earth. But we do not have evidence that life began prior to Earth's formation. Instead, the leading thought is that the Earth was formed with these raw ingredients on it, and perhaps many more. Perhaps nucleotides were common; perhaps proteins and protein fragments came pre-assembled; perhaps lipid layers and bilayers could spontaneously arise in an aqueous environment. In order to go from precursors to life to actual life, however, it's believed that we needed the right environment. These three favorable planets Venus, Earth, and Mars all likely had a reasonable level of surface gravity, thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surfaces, and these biochemical precursor molecules. The one thing Earth had that the other two planets likely didn't, however, was a Moon. While all three worlds likely had a chance to form life for the first time, our Moon helped give us chances that the other worlds may not have had. The amount of water present on these early planets was very likely enough to create oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers, but not enough to completely cover them in liquid water. This means they all had continents and oceans, and at the interface of the two, there were tidepools: regions where water can stably exist on dry land and be subject to all sorts of energy gradients. Sunlight, shadow and night, cycles of evaporation and concentration, porous fluid flow in the presence of minerals, and gradients of water activity could all provide opportunities for molecules to bind together in novel and interesting ways. The effects of tides may be enhanced by the Moon, but all these worlds possess tides due to the Sun. However, there's an additional energy source that the Earth possesses that likely contributed to life's origin, that may not have been as spectacular on Venus or Mars. That latter factor is thermal activity from the interior of the planet. At the bottom of the oceans, hydrothermal vents are geological hotspots that are excellent candidate locations for life to arise. Even today, they are home to organisms known as extremophiles: bacteria and other lifeforms that can withstand the temperatures that typically break the molecular bonds associated with life processes. These vents contain enormous energy gradients as well as chemical gradients, where extremely alkaline vent water mixes with the acidic, carbonic-acid-rich ocean water. Finally, these vents contain both sodium and potassium ions, as well as calcium carbonate structures that could serve as a template for the first cells. The fact that life exists in environments like this points to worlds like Europa or Enceladus as potential homes for life elsewhere in the Solar System today. But perhaps the most likely location for life to begin on Earth is the best of all worlds: hydrothermal fields. Volcanic activity doesn't solely occur beneath the oceans, but also on land. Beneath areas of fresh water, these volcanically-active areas provide an additional heat and energy source that can stabilize temperatures and provide an energy gradient. All the while, these locations still allow evaporation/concentration cycles, provide a confined environment that enables the right ingredients to accumulate, and allow a sunlight/night cycle of exposure. On Earth, we can be confident that tidepools, hydrothermal vents, and hydrothermal fields were all common. While the precursor molecules certainly originated beyond Earth, it was likely here on our planet that the transformation of non-life into life spontaneously occurred. Over time, the Earth has changed tremendously, as have the living organisms on our planet. We do not know if life arose once, more than once, or in disparate locations. What we do know, however, is that if we reconstruct the evolutionary tree of every extant organism found on Earth today, they all share the same ancestor. By studying the genomes of the extant organisms found on our world today, biologists can reconstruct the timescale of what's known as LUCA: the Last Universal Common Ancestor of life on Earth. By time the Earth was less than 1 billion years old, life already had the ability to transcribe and translate information between DNA, RNA, and proteins, and these mechanisms exist in all organisms today. Whether life arose multiple times is unknown, but it is generally accepted that life as we know it today descended from a single population. Despite the fact that geological processes can often obscure the fossil record beyond a few hundred million years, we have been able to trace back the origin of life extraordinarily far. Microbial fossils have been found in sandstone dating to 3.5 billion years ago. Graphite, found deposited in metamorphosed sedimentary rock, has been traced back to having biogenic origins, and dates back to 3.8 billion years ago. At even earlier, more extreme times, the deposits of certain crystals in rocks appear to originate from biological processes, suggesting that Earth was teeming with life as early as 4.3 to 4.4 billion years ago: as soon as 100-200 million years after the Earth and Moon formed. To the best of our knowledge, life on Earth has existed almost as long as Earth itself has. At some point on our planet, in the very early stages, the molecules that are abundant and precursors to life, under the right energy and chemical conditions, began to simultaneously metabolize energy, respond to the environment, grow, adapt, evolve, and reproduce. Even if it would be unrecognizable to us today, that marks the origin of life. In a radically unbroken string of biological success, our planet has been a living world ever since. While Venus and Mars may have had similar chances, radical changes to Venus' atmosphere rendered it a searing hothouse world after just 200-300 million years, while the death of the Martian magnetic field caused its atmosphere to be stripped away, rendering it solid and frozen. While asteroid strikes may send Earth-based life off-world, throughout the Solar System and galaxy, all the evidence suggests that we are where it started. By 9.4 billion years after the Big Bang, Earth was teeming with life. We've never looked back. Further reading on what the Universe was like when: | By the time Earth was only 100 million years old, there were organisms living on its surface. Venus, Earth, and Mars all had thin atmospheres, liquid water on their surface, and the organic ingredients that could give rise to life. The one thing Earth had that the other two planets likely didn't, however, was a Moon. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/13/what-was-it-like-when-life-began-on-earth/ | 0.234838 |
When Should Law Firms Opt For PPC Over SEO? | In this day and age, most lawyers understand that they need marketing to ensure the long-term stability of their firm. Where lawyers go wrong is when they dont exercise the same due diligence with their marketing as they do with their clients. Case in point: when attorneys pursue search engine optimization (SEO) when they should have gone with pay-per-click (PPC). Not all, but most agencies make substantially more revenue by providing SEO services. If an agency offers both SEO and PPC, and they recommend PPC over SEO, there is more than a good chance PPC is in your best interest. Below are a few examples of when PPC may offer more value than SEO. Your Law Firm Needs More Cases Now (At The Expense Of ROI) A new SEO campaign will take months, if not years, to produce consistent results. This video from Google suggests 6-12 months. The returns of PPC, on the other hand, are almost immediate. Because SEO historically produces a higher return on investment (ROI) and allows your firm to build up a competitive advantage, whereas PPC is pay-to-play. Many law firms get enamored with the opportunity for a higher return without considering how long it will take for the benefits of SEO to outweigh PPC. Our data suggests it takes two or three years before the long-term ROI of SEO produces more than the immediate returns PPC can deliver. Most law firms that have been running successful marketing campaigns for many years will pursue both an SEO and PPC campaign. Figuring out which one to start with is a crucial decision. The City You Are Located In Has Less Than 100,000 People At one point in time, ranking your law firm across a large geographic area was easily accomplished through SEO. While not impossible, recent algorithmic updates have made this strategy substantially more expensive. The cost vs. reward calculation must be carefully considered to determine if SEO is a viable strategy. In our experience, if your firm is in a city of fewer than 100,000 people, and the immediate surrounding area is rural, then you need to take the time to consider your options. If your city has less than 50,000 people, it is very likely that PPC is going to be a better option. However, the practice areas your firm wants to target can dramatically affect this decision. It would also be unwise to assume that just because your competitor is running an SEO campaign, that your firm can be successful too. Firms in rural areas that have been running an SEO campaign for many years will have a leg up, in that they dont have startup costs to consider when deciding whether to continue with SEO. PPC, on the other hand, can easily target a wide geography by merely changing a setting. It really is that simple. Rural markets are oftentimes underserved and the cost-per-click values are often at a discount. This volatility surfaces in marketing campaigns. In some areas, PPC can cost more than $5,000 per case. Since SEO traditionally has a better return than PPC, SEO can be a safer choice for these highly volatile practice areas provided the market potential is there. If your firm is wanting to target practice areas that arent as volatile, PPC is a great option. The return from PPC can be extremely predictable and reliable. Once you understand a handful of metrics that are unique to your firm, you can estimate what each case is going to cost with decent accuracy. Without a doubt, yes. While the cons of PPC are worth an entire article, the main issue has to do with website quality. If you do not invest in a high-quality website, then you run the risk of not converting clicks into inquiries. A few signs that your website is not PPC-worthy are: It's not mobile-friendly. It's overly generic and doesn't build an emotional connection to your firm. The design is dated and lags competitors. The content is sparse, does not offer solutions that include you being part of the solution, and provides no real value. As marketing pioneer John Wanamaker said, "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." This statement is, unfortunately, true for many law firms. But it doesnt have to be that way. Put a little elbow grease into understanding how various marketing campaigns work and you can dramatically improve your chances at implementing a successful marketing campaign. | Law firms often pursue search engine optimization (SEO) when they should have gone with pay-per-click (PPC) A new SEO campaign will take months, if not years, to produce consistent results. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/03/13/when-should-law-firms-opt-for-ppc-over-seo/ | 0.214644 |
When Should Law Firms Opt For PPC Over SEO? | In this day and age, most lawyers understand that they need marketing to ensure the long-term stability of their firm. Where lawyers go wrong is when they dont exercise the same due diligence with their marketing as they do with their clients. Case in point: when attorneys pursue search engine optimization (SEO) when they should have gone with pay-per-click (PPC). Not all, but most agencies make substantially more revenue by providing SEO services. If an agency offers both SEO and PPC, and they recommend PPC over SEO, there is more than a good chance PPC is in your best interest. Below are a few examples of when PPC may offer more value than SEO. Your Law Firm Needs More Cases Now (At The Expense Of ROI) A new SEO campaign will take months, if not years, to produce consistent results. This video from Google suggests 6-12 months. The returns of PPC, on the other hand, are almost immediate. Because SEO historically produces a higher return on investment (ROI) and allows your firm to build up a competitive advantage, whereas PPC is pay-to-play. Many law firms get enamored with the opportunity for a higher return without considering how long it will take for the benefits of SEO to outweigh PPC. Our data suggests it takes two or three years before the long-term ROI of SEO produces more than the immediate returns PPC can deliver. Most law firms that have been running successful marketing campaigns for many years will pursue both an SEO and PPC campaign. Figuring out which one to start with is a crucial decision. The City You Are Located In Has Less Than 100,000 People At one point in time, ranking your law firm across a large geographic area was easily accomplished through SEO. While not impossible, recent algorithmic updates have made this strategy substantially more expensive. The cost vs. reward calculation must be carefully considered to determine if SEO is a viable strategy. In our experience, if your firm is in a city of fewer than 100,000 people, and the immediate surrounding area is rural, then you need to take the time to consider your options. If your city has less than 50,000 people, it is very likely that PPC is going to be a better option. However, the practice areas your firm wants to target can dramatically affect this decision. It would also be unwise to assume that just because your competitor is running an SEO campaign, that your firm can be successful too. Firms in rural areas that have been running an SEO campaign for many years will have a leg up, in that they dont have startup costs to consider when deciding whether to continue with SEO. PPC, on the other hand, can easily target a wide geography by merely changing a setting. It really is that simple. Rural markets are oftentimes underserved and the cost-per-click values are often at a discount. This volatility surfaces in marketing campaigns. In some areas, PPC can cost more than $5,000 per case. Since SEO traditionally has a better return than PPC, SEO can be a safer choice for these highly volatile practice areas provided the market potential is there. If your firm is wanting to target practice areas that arent as volatile, PPC is a great option. The return from PPC can be extremely predictable and reliable. Once you understand a handful of metrics that are unique to your firm, you can estimate what each case is going to cost with decent accuracy. Without a doubt, yes. While the cons of PPC are worth an entire article, the main issue has to do with website quality. If you do not invest in a high-quality website, then you run the risk of not converting clicks into inquiries. A few signs that your website is not PPC-worthy are: It's not mobile-friendly. It's overly generic and doesn't build an emotional connection to your firm. The design is dated and lags competitors. The content is sparse, does not offer solutions that include you being part of the solution, and provides no real value. As marketing pioneer John Wanamaker said, "Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half." This statement is, unfortunately, true for many law firms. But it doesnt have to be that way. Put a little elbow grease into understanding how various marketing campaigns work and you can dramatically improve your chances at implementing a successful marketing campaign. | When should law firms opt for pay-per-click (PPC) over search engine optimization (SEO)? Here are a few examples of when PPC may offer more value than SEO. The city you are located in has less than 100,000 people, and the immediate surrounding area is rural. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2019/03/13/when-should-law-firms-opt-for-ppc-over-seo/ | 0.181071 |
What was going on in America the last time LeBron James missed the playoffs? | LeBron James reached the playoffs 13 consecutive times with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He averaged 30.8 points in his first run through the postseason in 2006 and led the Cavs through a seven-game conference finals matchup with the Boston Celtics in 2018, reaching the NBA Finals for the eighth consecutive year. Now, in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers (who are in 11th place in the Western Conference), James is more than likely going to miss the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. Cleveland Cavaliers' Lebron James and Drew Gooden sit on the bench. (Photo: Matt Sayles, AP) One last hurrah The Seattle SuperSonics made it to the playoffs for the final time before moving to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder. They finished the season with 52 wins and lost in the Western Conference semifinals to San Antonio. Saying goodbye to Reggie Miller Miller, who spent his entire NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, played his final game. The future Hall of Famer made his last playoff appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Detroit Pistons, and the Pacers lost in six games. Reggie Miller is hugged by Tayshaun Prince. (Photo: Tom Strattman, AP) Maroon 5 was "new" Maroon 5 took home the Grammy for best new artist, beating out Kanye West and country singer Gretchen Wilson. New year, same Pats The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four seasons, taking down Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles. It was Brady's fourth season as the Patriots' starter. The best fictional paper company hits the airwaves The American version of "The Office" aired its pilot episode. Dunder Mifflin Paper Company brought laughs and tears to fans in nearly every episode, and the mockumentary series lasted nine seasons. Pictured: Steve Carell as Michael Scott in "The Office" (Photo: Justin Lubin, NBC Universal) "Million Dollar Baby" dominates the Oscars The drama about an amateur boxer and her trainer, starring Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood, won four Academy Awards, including best picture. Condoleezza Rice makes history Rice became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. Forbes ranked Rice first on its list of the world's 100 most powerful women for the second year in a row. A year without the ice Sports fans missed the entire 2004-05 NHL season due to a lockout over a failure to secure a collective bargaining agreement. It was the first time a major pro sports league in North America lost an entire season due to a labor dispute. | The last time LeBron James missed the playoffs, there was a lot going on in America. The SuperSonics made it to the playoffs for the final time before moving to Oklahoma City. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/03/13/lebron-james-nba-playoffs/3084957002/ | 0.596353 |
What was going on in America the last time LeBron James missed the playoffs? | LeBron James reached the playoffs 13 consecutive times with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He averaged 30.8 points in his first run through the postseason in 2006 and led the Cavs through a seven-game conference finals matchup with the Boston Celtics in 2018, reaching the NBA Finals for the eighth consecutive year. Now, in his first year with the Los Angeles Lakers (who are in 11th place in the Western Conference), James is more than likely going to miss the playoffs for the first time in what seems like forever. Cleveland Cavaliers' Lebron James and Drew Gooden sit on the bench. (Photo: Matt Sayles, AP) One last hurrah The Seattle SuperSonics made it to the playoffs for the final time before moving to Oklahoma City and becoming the Thunder. They finished the season with 52 wins and lost in the Western Conference semifinals to San Antonio. Saying goodbye to Reggie Miller Miller, who spent his entire NBA career with the Indiana Pacers, played his final game. The future Hall of Famer made his last playoff appearance in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Detroit Pistons, and the Pacers lost in six games. Reggie Miller is hugged by Tayshaun Prince. (Photo: Tom Strattman, AP) Maroon 5 was "new" Maroon 5 took home the Grammy for best new artist, beating out Kanye West and country singer Gretchen Wilson. New year, same Pats The New England Patriots won their third Super Bowl in four seasons, taking down Donovan McNabb, Terrell Owens and the Philadelphia Eagles. It was Brady's fourth season as the Patriots' starter. The best fictional paper company hits the airwaves The American version of "The Office" aired its pilot episode. Dunder Mifflin Paper Company brought laughs and tears to fans in nearly every episode, and the mockumentary series lasted nine seasons. Pictured: Steve Carell as Michael Scott in "The Office" (Photo: Justin Lubin, NBC Universal) "Million Dollar Baby" dominates the Oscars The drama about an amateur boxer and her trainer, starring Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood, won four Academy Awards, including best picture. Condoleezza Rice makes history Rice became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. Forbes ranked Rice first on its list of the world's 100 most powerful women for the second year in a row. A year without the ice Sports fans missed the entire 2004-05 NHL season due to a lockout over a failure to secure a collective bargaining agreement. It was the first time a major pro sports league in North America lost an entire season due to a labor dispute. | The last time LeBron James missed the playoffs, there was a lot going on in America. The SuperSonics made it to the playoffs for the final time before moving to Oklahoma City. Condoleezza Rice became the first African-American woman to serve as U.S. secretary of state. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/03/13/lebron-james-nba-playoffs/3084957002/ | 0.729945 |
Will more pipelines stop oil trains and the growing risk of derailments? | This month, the Transportation Safety Board confirmed that more than one million liters of oil were spilled when an eastbound oil train tipped onto a ranch near St. Lazare, Manitoba in mid-February. It is frequently argued in Alberta that if Canadians dont want oil trains tipping into their streams and reservoirs, they should probably start approving some pipelines. We can ship our energy products safely or we can ship them by rail, wrote Alberta premier Rachel Notley in a 2018 op-ed. Sure enough, her government is now buying up rail cars to ship oil in spite of stonewalled construction on new export pipelines. Below, a quick primer on whether pipelines really can keep oil trains off the rails. There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full In December, 2018 the last month for which data is available 1.7 billion litres of oil were exported from Canada on trains. Thats more than 23 Olympic swimming pools worth of oil every day, not including oil trains making their deliveries with Canada. There is now more than twice as much oil being moved on Canadian rails as at the time of the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster. The reason is simple: Alberta is producing more oil than can be moved out of the province by pipeline. In mid-2018, Alberta was producing about 4.30 million barrels of oil per day. Albertas existing pipelines, meanwhile, can only pump away 3.95 million barrels per day. The result was an extra 350,000 barrels of oil piling up in storage tanks every day. Just like anything else that piles up without anybody to buy it, meanwhile, the glut drove Canadian oil prices shockingly low as compared to those in the U.S. (a phenomenon referred to as the discount). If theres a port or an empty pipeline nearby, shipping oil by train is too inefficient to make economic sense. But when theres an ocean of cheap oil languishing in Northern Canada with no way to siphon it out, it suddenly makes sense to pony up the extra costs of renting a train in order to flip that cheap oil at U.S. rates. Rail is much more prone to mishap than pipelines Look at the carpet around any office water cooler, and youll likely see water stains. Not so if your office is hydrated with a water fountain connected to fixed plumbing: Without having to clunkily maneuver a 19 kg water jug into place, the chances of spillage are lessened. The same basic math holds true for moving oil: A fixed network of pipes is going to spill oil less often than a chain of wheeled tanks being pulled through the Rockies. A 2017 report by the Manhattan Institute cited U.S. accident data to determine that oil trains were three times more likely to suffer an accident than a pipeline, even if both were tasked with carrying the same amount of petroleum. A similar report by the right-leaning Fraser Institute pulled Canadian data to determine that oil-by-rail is 4.5 times more likely to go wrong than a pipeline used to carry the same volume. Canadian trains are crashing more Just as Canadian railroads contain more oil than ever before, the rate of crashes and derailments is on the upswing. Last year there were 1,170 major accidents on Canadian railways, a 13-per-cent increase over the average of the previous five years. The year before there were 1091 rail accidents, a 21 per cent rise over the previous years 900. These accident rates arent dramatically off the average, but Canada is nevertheless packing trains with oil cars at the same time that those trains are having trouble staying upright. In Western Canada alone the previous two months alone have seen a battery of serious incidents in sensitive wilderness areas. Three workers were killed in February when up to 60 cars plummeted off a mountain near Golden, B.C. Last week, a freight train derailed and spilled part of it load into Banff National Park. In early January, 15 cars derailed in Yoho National Park. Fortunately, in all three cases the derailments did not involve hazardous materials. Pipelines arent perfect; between 2016 and 2017 Canadas 17,500 km oil pipeline network recorded six incidents in which product was released. But keep in mind that pipelines are moving 3.95 million barrels per day compared to the 350,000 barrels being moved by rail. But when pipelines do rupture, they can spill more oil Over the period 1996-2007, railroads consistently spilled less crude oil per ton-mile than trucks or pipelines, reads a 2014 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The U.S. Department came to a similar conclusion in its final environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline. Rail transport has more reported releases of crude oil per ton-mile than pipeline or marine transport but, overall, pipeline transport has the highest number of barrels released per ton-mile, it wrote. Granted, those conclusions are all based on data that preclude a massive increase in U.S. oil trains brought about by the shale oil boom. While oil-by-rail transport used to be limited to a few tankers on a mixed-car train, both Canada and the United States are now running miles-long trains that are exclusively petroleum. In 2013 alone, there was more oil spilled by U.S. railroads than in the previous 37 years. Nevertheless, even a substantial oil train is carrying a fraction of the oil carried by other means. The total amount spilled from even a major derailment is likely to be small compared to the 260,000 barrels discharged in the 1989 grounding of the Exxon Valdez or the approximately 40,000 barrels discharged in the largest U.S. pipeline oil spill (we) can document, wrote the Congressional Research Service in 2014. A major point in pipelines favour, however, is that they have never once killed anybody, at least in Canada. Oil trains are not only at greater risk of city-gutting catastrophes like Lac-Megantic, but Canadian level crossing accidents also kill more than 100 per year. Add more pipelines, and it will almost certainly undercut oil-by-rail Earlier this year, the Alberta government intentionally curtailed the production of oil. The idea was to slow down the rate of oil piling up in storage tanks, and bring down prices relative to the Americans. The plan worked, and one of the immediate results was that Imperial Oil, one of the oil sands primary producers, had to cancel almost all of its crude-by-rail shipments. Its uneconomic to move crude by rail at this point in time, said CEO Rich Kruger. Building more pipelines would have a similar effect to curtailing oil production. If all the Alberta oil can be pumped out by pipeline, its price never has a chance to drop as a result of being stranded in Alberta. And if prices arent low as compared to the U.S., it no longer profitable to use trains to get it to market. This was the conclusion of a 2017 study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research. By analyzing the Dakota Access pipeline, researchers determined that if protesters had been successful in shutting it down, the only real effect would have been to prompt a boom in oil trains. Regulatory foreclosure of pipeline investment will primarily lead to increases in rail flows rather than a decrease in overall oil production and transportation, it read. However, all bets are off if oil prices suddenly soar through the roof. If Canada woke up tomorrow to $200/barrel oil, no amount of Trans Mountain Expansions could make it unprofitable to run oil trains. All the pipelines in the world arent going to completely eliminate oil by rail Even if Alberta was given all the oil infrastructure it could ever desire, oil trains would persist as long as the petroleum economy is around. Completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion could generally be expected to slash the number of oil trains heading over the Rockies. Similarly, Energy East could have undercut most of the oil trains heading to the Atlantic. However, rail tankers still carry the advantage that they can move faster and to more places. The North American pipeline network is pretty big and comprehensive, but it doesnt necessarily service all locations, Jennifer Winter, an energy economist at the University of Calgary, told the National Post in a note. Even if the pipeline fairy gave Alberta enough pipeline export capacity, there might still be bottlenecks in other places (in the US) which necessitates rail use. Twitter: TristinHopper | Email: thopper@nationalpost.com | There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full. | bart | 0 | https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/will-more-pipelines-stop-oil-trains-and-the-growing-risk-of-derailments | 0.211147 |
Will more pipelines stop oil trains and the growing risk of derailments? | This month, the Transportation Safety Board confirmed that more than one million liters of oil were spilled when an eastbound oil train tipped onto a ranch near St. Lazare, Manitoba in mid-February. It is frequently argued in Alberta that if Canadians dont want oil trains tipping into their streams and reservoirs, they should probably start approving some pipelines. We can ship our energy products safely or we can ship them by rail, wrote Alberta premier Rachel Notley in a 2018 op-ed. Sure enough, her government is now buying up rail cars to ship oil in spite of stonewalled construction on new export pipelines. Below, a quick primer on whether pipelines really can keep oil trains off the rails. There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full In December, 2018 the last month for which data is available 1.7 billion litres of oil were exported from Canada on trains. Thats more than 23 Olympic swimming pools worth of oil every day, not including oil trains making their deliveries with Canada. There is now more than twice as much oil being moved on Canadian rails as at the time of the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster. The reason is simple: Alberta is producing more oil than can be moved out of the province by pipeline. In mid-2018, Alberta was producing about 4.30 million barrels of oil per day. Albertas existing pipelines, meanwhile, can only pump away 3.95 million barrels per day. The result was an extra 350,000 barrels of oil piling up in storage tanks every day. Just like anything else that piles up without anybody to buy it, meanwhile, the glut drove Canadian oil prices shockingly low as compared to those in the U.S. (a phenomenon referred to as the discount). If theres a port or an empty pipeline nearby, shipping oil by train is too inefficient to make economic sense. But when theres an ocean of cheap oil languishing in Northern Canada with no way to siphon it out, it suddenly makes sense to pony up the extra costs of renting a train in order to flip that cheap oil at U.S. rates. Rail is much more prone to mishap than pipelines Look at the carpet around any office water cooler, and youll likely see water stains. Not so if your office is hydrated with a water fountain connected to fixed plumbing: Without having to clunkily maneuver a 19 kg water jug into place, the chances of spillage are lessened. The same basic math holds true for moving oil: A fixed network of pipes is going to spill oil less often than a chain of wheeled tanks being pulled through the Rockies. A 2017 report by the Manhattan Institute cited U.S. accident data to determine that oil trains were three times more likely to suffer an accident than a pipeline, even if both were tasked with carrying the same amount of petroleum. A similar report by the right-leaning Fraser Institute pulled Canadian data to determine that oil-by-rail is 4.5 times more likely to go wrong than a pipeline used to carry the same volume. Canadian trains are crashing more Just as Canadian railroads contain more oil than ever before, the rate of crashes and derailments is on the upswing. Last year there were 1,170 major accidents on Canadian railways, a 13-per-cent increase over the average of the previous five years. The year before there were 1091 rail accidents, a 21 per cent rise over the previous years 900. These accident rates arent dramatically off the average, but Canada is nevertheless packing trains with oil cars at the same time that those trains are having trouble staying upright. In Western Canada alone the previous two months alone have seen a battery of serious incidents in sensitive wilderness areas. Three workers were killed in February when up to 60 cars plummeted off a mountain near Golden, B.C. Last week, a freight train derailed and spilled part of it load into Banff National Park. In early January, 15 cars derailed in Yoho National Park. Fortunately, in all three cases the derailments did not involve hazardous materials. Pipelines arent perfect; between 2016 and 2017 Canadas 17,500 km oil pipeline network recorded six incidents in which product was released. But keep in mind that pipelines are moving 3.95 million barrels per day compared to the 350,000 barrels being moved by rail. But when pipelines do rupture, they can spill more oil Over the period 1996-2007, railroads consistently spilled less crude oil per ton-mile than trucks or pipelines, reads a 2014 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The U.S. Department came to a similar conclusion in its final environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline. Rail transport has more reported releases of crude oil per ton-mile than pipeline or marine transport but, overall, pipeline transport has the highest number of barrels released per ton-mile, it wrote. Granted, those conclusions are all based on data that preclude a massive increase in U.S. oil trains brought about by the shale oil boom. While oil-by-rail transport used to be limited to a few tankers on a mixed-car train, both Canada and the United States are now running miles-long trains that are exclusively petroleum. In 2013 alone, there was more oil spilled by U.S. railroads than in the previous 37 years. Nevertheless, even a substantial oil train is carrying a fraction of the oil carried by other means. The total amount spilled from even a major derailment is likely to be small compared to the 260,000 barrels discharged in the 1989 grounding of the Exxon Valdez or the approximately 40,000 barrels discharged in the largest U.S. pipeline oil spill (we) can document, wrote the Congressional Research Service in 2014. A major point in pipelines favour, however, is that they have never once killed anybody, at least in Canada. Oil trains are not only at greater risk of city-gutting catastrophes like Lac-Megantic, but Canadian level crossing accidents also kill more than 100 per year. Add more pipelines, and it will almost certainly undercut oil-by-rail Earlier this year, the Alberta government intentionally curtailed the production of oil. The idea was to slow down the rate of oil piling up in storage tanks, and bring down prices relative to the Americans. The plan worked, and one of the immediate results was that Imperial Oil, one of the oil sands primary producers, had to cancel almost all of its crude-by-rail shipments. Its uneconomic to move crude by rail at this point in time, said CEO Rich Kruger. Building more pipelines would have a similar effect to curtailing oil production. If all the Alberta oil can be pumped out by pipeline, its price never has a chance to drop as a result of being stranded in Alberta. And if prices arent low as compared to the U.S., it no longer profitable to use trains to get it to market. This was the conclusion of a 2017 study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research. By analyzing the Dakota Access pipeline, researchers determined that if protesters had been successful in shutting it down, the only real effect would have been to prompt a boom in oil trains. Regulatory foreclosure of pipeline investment will primarily lead to increases in rail flows rather than a decrease in overall oil production and transportation, it read. However, all bets are off if oil prices suddenly soar through the roof. If Canada woke up tomorrow to $200/barrel oil, no amount of Trans Mountain Expansions could make it unprofitable to run oil trains. All the pipelines in the world arent going to completely eliminate oil by rail Even if Alberta was given all the oil infrastructure it could ever desire, oil trains would persist as long as the petroleum economy is around. Completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion could generally be expected to slash the number of oil trains heading over the Rockies. Similarly, Energy East could have undercut most of the oil trains heading to the Atlantic. However, rail tankers still carry the advantage that they can move faster and to more places. The North American pipeline network is pretty big and comprehensive, but it doesnt necessarily service all locations, Jennifer Winter, an energy economist at the University of Calgary, told the National Post in a note. Even if the pipeline fairy gave Alberta enough pipeline export capacity, there might still be bottlenecks in other places (in the US) which necessitates rail use. Twitter: TristinHopper | Email: thopper@nationalpost.com | There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full. There is now more than twice as much oil being moved on Canadian rails as at the time of the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster. | pegasus | 1 | https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/will-more-pipelines-stop-oil-trains-and-the-growing-risk-of-derailments | 0.249362 |
Will more pipelines stop oil trains and the growing risk of derailments? | This month, the Transportation Safety Board confirmed that more than one million liters of oil were spilled when an eastbound oil train tipped onto a ranch near St. Lazare, Manitoba in mid-February. It is frequently argued in Alberta that if Canadians dont want oil trains tipping into their streams and reservoirs, they should probably start approving some pipelines. We can ship our energy products safely or we can ship them by rail, wrote Alberta premier Rachel Notley in a 2018 op-ed. Sure enough, her government is now buying up rail cars to ship oil in spite of stonewalled construction on new export pipelines. Below, a quick primer on whether pipelines really can keep oil trains off the rails. There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full In December, 2018 the last month for which data is available 1.7 billion litres of oil were exported from Canada on trains. Thats more than 23 Olympic swimming pools worth of oil every day, not including oil trains making their deliveries with Canada. There is now more than twice as much oil being moved on Canadian rails as at the time of the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster. The reason is simple: Alberta is producing more oil than can be moved out of the province by pipeline. In mid-2018, Alberta was producing about 4.30 million barrels of oil per day. Albertas existing pipelines, meanwhile, can only pump away 3.95 million barrels per day. The result was an extra 350,000 barrels of oil piling up in storage tanks every day. Just like anything else that piles up without anybody to buy it, meanwhile, the glut drove Canadian oil prices shockingly low as compared to those in the U.S. (a phenomenon referred to as the discount). If theres a port or an empty pipeline nearby, shipping oil by train is too inefficient to make economic sense. But when theres an ocean of cheap oil languishing in Northern Canada with no way to siphon it out, it suddenly makes sense to pony up the extra costs of renting a train in order to flip that cheap oil at U.S. rates. Rail is much more prone to mishap than pipelines Look at the carpet around any office water cooler, and youll likely see water stains. Not so if your office is hydrated with a water fountain connected to fixed plumbing: Without having to clunkily maneuver a 19 kg water jug into place, the chances of spillage are lessened. The same basic math holds true for moving oil: A fixed network of pipes is going to spill oil less often than a chain of wheeled tanks being pulled through the Rockies. A 2017 report by the Manhattan Institute cited U.S. accident data to determine that oil trains were three times more likely to suffer an accident than a pipeline, even if both were tasked with carrying the same amount of petroleum. A similar report by the right-leaning Fraser Institute pulled Canadian data to determine that oil-by-rail is 4.5 times more likely to go wrong than a pipeline used to carry the same volume. Canadian trains are crashing more Just as Canadian railroads contain more oil than ever before, the rate of crashes and derailments is on the upswing. Last year there were 1,170 major accidents on Canadian railways, a 13-per-cent increase over the average of the previous five years. The year before there were 1091 rail accidents, a 21 per cent rise over the previous years 900. These accident rates arent dramatically off the average, but Canada is nevertheless packing trains with oil cars at the same time that those trains are having trouble staying upright. In Western Canada alone the previous two months alone have seen a battery of serious incidents in sensitive wilderness areas. Three workers were killed in February when up to 60 cars plummeted off a mountain near Golden, B.C. Last week, a freight train derailed and spilled part of it load into Banff National Park. In early January, 15 cars derailed in Yoho National Park. Fortunately, in all three cases the derailments did not involve hazardous materials. Pipelines arent perfect; between 2016 and 2017 Canadas 17,500 km oil pipeline network recorded six incidents in which product was released. But keep in mind that pipelines are moving 3.95 million barrels per day compared to the 350,000 barrels being moved by rail. But when pipelines do rupture, they can spill more oil Over the period 1996-2007, railroads consistently spilled less crude oil per ton-mile than trucks or pipelines, reads a 2014 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service. The U.S. Department came to a similar conclusion in its final environmental assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline. Rail transport has more reported releases of crude oil per ton-mile than pipeline or marine transport but, overall, pipeline transport has the highest number of barrels released per ton-mile, it wrote. Granted, those conclusions are all based on data that preclude a massive increase in U.S. oil trains brought about by the shale oil boom. While oil-by-rail transport used to be limited to a few tankers on a mixed-car train, both Canada and the United States are now running miles-long trains that are exclusively petroleum. In 2013 alone, there was more oil spilled by U.S. railroads than in the previous 37 years. Nevertheless, even a substantial oil train is carrying a fraction of the oil carried by other means. The total amount spilled from even a major derailment is likely to be small compared to the 260,000 barrels discharged in the 1989 grounding of the Exxon Valdez or the approximately 40,000 barrels discharged in the largest U.S. pipeline oil spill (we) can document, wrote the Congressional Research Service in 2014. A major point in pipelines favour, however, is that they have never once killed anybody, at least in Canada. Oil trains are not only at greater risk of city-gutting catastrophes like Lac-Megantic, but Canadian level crossing accidents also kill more than 100 per year. Add more pipelines, and it will almost certainly undercut oil-by-rail Earlier this year, the Alberta government intentionally curtailed the production of oil. The idea was to slow down the rate of oil piling up in storage tanks, and bring down prices relative to the Americans. The plan worked, and one of the immediate results was that Imperial Oil, one of the oil sands primary producers, had to cancel almost all of its crude-by-rail shipments. Its uneconomic to move crude by rail at this point in time, said CEO Rich Kruger. Building more pipelines would have a similar effect to curtailing oil production. If all the Alberta oil can be pumped out by pipeline, its price never has a chance to drop as a result of being stranded in Alberta. And if prices arent low as compared to the U.S., it no longer profitable to use trains to get it to market. This was the conclusion of a 2017 study by the U.S. National Bureau of Economic Research. By analyzing the Dakota Access pipeline, researchers determined that if protesters had been successful in shutting it down, the only real effect would have been to prompt a boom in oil trains. Regulatory foreclosure of pipeline investment will primarily lead to increases in rail flows rather than a decrease in overall oil production and transportation, it read. However, all bets are off if oil prices suddenly soar through the roof. If Canada woke up tomorrow to $200/barrel oil, no amount of Trans Mountain Expansions could make it unprofitable to run oil trains. All the pipelines in the world arent going to completely eliminate oil by rail Even if Alberta was given all the oil infrastructure it could ever desire, oil trains would persist as long as the petroleum economy is around. Completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion could generally be expected to slash the number of oil trains heading over the Rockies. Similarly, Energy East could have undercut most of the oil trains heading to the Atlantic. However, rail tankers still carry the advantage that they can move faster and to more places. The North American pipeline network is pretty big and comprehensive, but it doesnt necessarily service all locations, Jennifer Winter, an energy economist at the University of Calgary, told the National Post in a note. Even if the pipeline fairy gave Alberta enough pipeline export capacity, there might still be bottlenecks in other places (in the US) which necessitates rail use. Twitter: TristinHopper | Email: thopper@nationalpost.com | There are more oil trains than ever before, and its because pipelines are full. There is now more than twice as much oil being moved on Canadian rails as at the time of the Lac-Mgantic rail disaster. Rail is much more prone to mishap than pipelines. | pegasus | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/will-more-pipelines-stop-oil-trains-and-the-growing-risk-of-derailments | 0.276911 |
When does a winter storm become a bomb cyclone? | (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Russ Schumacher, Colorado State University (THE CONVERSATION) Blizzards in March, when our thoughts start turning to spring, are never good news. But warnings of bomb cyclones take the intensity to a new level. Lets begin with the easy part: A cyclone specifically, an extratropical cyclone, to distinguish from its tropical counterpart is a large weather system with low pressure at the center and precipitation along cold and warm fronts. These storms are very common in autumn, winter and spring in the middle latitudes. The central and eastern United States typically see several over the course of a cool season. The term was coined by famed meteorologists Fred Sanders and John Gyakum in a 1980 paper, and was inspired by the work of the Swedish meteorological pioneer Tor Bergeron. It describes a cyclone in which the central pressure drops very rapidly an average of 24 millibars in 24 hours, at Bergerons latitude of 60 degrees north (the value becomes a bit smaller at lower latitudes). This is a lot when considering that variations of 10 or 15 millibars are typical over the course of any given week. Given their explosive development, it was an easy path to take to just call these systems bombs, Gyakum said in an interview last year. Wind speed is a function of the "pressure gradient the magnitude of the change from higher atmospheric pressure outside the cyclone to low pressure at its center, as well as how quickly the pressure changes over time. This means that a storm that rapidly develops an intense low-pressure region will have persistent strong winds. Bomb cyclones are quite common over warm ocean currents, such as the Gulf Stream off the east coast of North America or the Kuroshio east of Japan. In both regions they draw energy from both the typical north-to-south variation in temperature and the warm water. Over land, although cyclones are common, it is very unusual to see them intensify so rapidly. This weeks storm over the central U.S. appears likely to approach or even exceed the criterion for a bomb. It may also be among the lowest pressures on record for the Great Plains. But whether or not these specific standards end up being met is really only relevant for meteorological studies. What is important is that the storm will develop quickly, and that it will produce a powerful combination of snow and wind over the Plains of Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and the Dakotas a true blizzard. Conditions will change rapidly from warm and calm to heavy snow with intense wind gusts In the southern Plains, rain and thunderstorms also with strong winds are the main threat. People in the storms path can expect major travel disruptions, potential power outages and risks to livestock. On the positive side, the attention that storms like this now receive, several days before they even develop, shows how much progress has been made in weather forecasting in recent decades, and how people can now be much better prepared for their impacts. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: http://theconversation.com/when-does-a-winter-storm-become-a-bomb-cyclone-113452. | Russ Schumacher: "Bomb cyclones" are very common in autumn, winter and spring. | bart | 0 | https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/When-does-a-winter-storm-become-a-bomb-cyclone-13684526.php | 0.132372 |
Is it okay to microwave fish? | No matter how much you love a good tuna or tilapia for lunch, some see microwaving fish as a mortal sin, especially if youre eating in an office. According to this camp, the smell lingers for hoursif not daysruining the appetites of everyone else around you. Others say its no big deal to microwave fish. Every food leaves some sort of stench, and fish shouldnt be discriminated against. No one really wants to microwave fish, but sometimes leftovers are leftovers and you have no choice. According to DomesticitysTom Scocca, as long as you microwave the fish the day after its cooked, itll still be good to eat. No. Absolutely. Here is Scoccas advice: Microwave it for 20 seconds, with the power on 30 or 40 percent. No more. Check it. It will be indistinguishable from how it was when you took it out of the fridge. Rearrange it in the dish a little. Microwave it again, maybe only 15 seconds, again at no more than 40 percent. Check it, repeat. Keep going. It will be slow. But at some point, after you've done this several times, the fish will be just warm when you check it. The texture will be more or less what it was when it came out of the fridge. You're done. Its a process, but that process can save you money and limit any fishy smells for your neighbors. As Ace Rimmer nearly said - Microwave me a kipper, Ill be back for breakfast #fish https://t.co/2SOqq7nhUn pic.twitter.com/CfdPYfk0qR David Campbell (@Davidcee) March 8, 2019 But for some, theres no compromising. No one wants the break room or communal area of any sort filled with a gross, fishy smell. There are too many people in the world who hate fish altogether to commit such an atrocity without thought in an office space. Play it safe, and just leave the microwaving to your home turf. THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR PEOPLE WHO MICROWAVE FISH!! #sweetmotherofgod #vomit Bradley Serata (@hotbrad81) March 11, 2019 Forget reheating fish, some say you can cook fish in a microwave. Apparently, everyone has been missing a key life-hack according to Eating Well: Cook a steak in the microwave and youll end up with shoe leather. Fish, on the other hand, can be cooked perfectly in the microwave. Simply wrap your fish in microwave-safe plastic with a little seasoning (salt and pepper and some lemon, perhaps) and cook for about 2 minutes on high. Bon apptit! 7 Unexpected Uses for Your Microwave Ironically, according to Bon Apptit itself, putting fish in the microwave is a gamble. Alyse Whitney advises: If someone's desk is right next to the kitchen, they're going to need to stock up on air fresheners, but even people a few rows away will probably have to smell it forever. Putting fish in the microwave reflects a lack of courtesy for those near you. Dont be that personyour coworkers beg of you! 7 Office Microwave Etiquette Rules to Follow So Your Co-Workers Dont Hate You 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. | Some see microwaving fish as a mortal sin, especially if youre eating in an office. Others say its no big deal to microwave fish. Putting fish in the microwave reflects a lack of courtesy for those near you. | bart | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/tylt/2019/03/is-it-okay-to-microwave-fish.html | 0.119461 |
Is it okay to microwave fish? | No matter how much you love a good tuna or tilapia for lunch, some see microwaving fish as a mortal sin, especially if youre eating in an office. According to this camp, the smell lingers for hoursif not daysruining the appetites of everyone else around you. Others say its no big deal to microwave fish. Every food leaves some sort of stench, and fish shouldnt be discriminated against. No one really wants to microwave fish, but sometimes leftovers are leftovers and you have no choice. According to DomesticitysTom Scocca, as long as you microwave the fish the day after its cooked, itll still be good to eat. No. Absolutely. Here is Scoccas advice: Microwave it for 20 seconds, with the power on 30 or 40 percent. No more. Check it. It will be indistinguishable from how it was when you took it out of the fridge. Rearrange it in the dish a little. Microwave it again, maybe only 15 seconds, again at no more than 40 percent. Check it, repeat. Keep going. It will be slow. But at some point, after you've done this several times, the fish will be just warm when you check it. The texture will be more or less what it was when it came out of the fridge. You're done. Its a process, but that process can save you money and limit any fishy smells for your neighbors. As Ace Rimmer nearly said - Microwave me a kipper, Ill be back for breakfast #fish https://t.co/2SOqq7nhUn pic.twitter.com/CfdPYfk0qR David Campbell (@Davidcee) March 8, 2019 But for some, theres no compromising. No one wants the break room or communal area of any sort filled with a gross, fishy smell. There are too many people in the world who hate fish altogether to commit such an atrocity without thought in an office space. Play it safe, and just leave the microwaving to your home turf. THERE IS A SPECIAL PLACE IN HELL FOR PEOPLE WHO MICROWAVE FISH!! #sweetmotherofgod #vomit Bradley Serata (@hotbrad81) March 11, 2019 Forget reheating fish, some say you can cook fish in a microwave. Apparently, everyone has been missing a key life-hack according to Eating Well: Cook a steak in the microwave and youll end up with shoe leather. Fish, on the other hand, can be cooked perfectly in the microwave. Simply wrap your fish in microwave-safe plastic with a little seasoning (salt and pepper and some lemon, perhaps) and cook for about 2 minutes on high. Bon apptit! 7 Unexpected Uses for Your Microwave Ironically, according to Bon Apptit itself, putting fish in the microwave is a gamble. Alyse Whitney advises: If someone's desk is right next to the kitchen, they're going to need to stock up on air fresheners, but even people a few rows away will probably have to smell it forever. Putting fish in the microwave reflects a lack of courtesy for those near you. Dont be that personyour coworkers beg of you! 7 Office Microwave Etiquette Rules to Follow So Your Co-Workers Dont Hate You 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. | Some say microwaving fish in an office is a sin. Others say it's OK to microwave fish in the office. Some people say there is a special place in hell for people who microwave fish. Some say you can cook fish perfectly in the microwave. If you have any questions, please email us at tips@thetylt.com. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/tylt/2019/03/is-it-okay-to-microwave-fish.html | 0.15211 |
Why has Aberdeen's big-game record improved? | Media playback is not supported on this device Highlights as Aberdeen stun Rangers at Ibrox to progress into Scottish Cup semis Big games have rarely ended well for Aberdeen in recent times. Be it cup finals against Celtic, league games against both sides of the Old Firm, or apparently winnable cup ties against the likes of Motherwell and St Johnstone. However, the Pittodrie side's 2-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final replay win at Ibrox on Tuesday was a third success against Rangers for Derek McInnes' men this season. They have not managed three wins in a campaign against Rangers since their last title triumph in 1984-85. Breakthrough wins Winning at Celtic Park on the final day of last season not only secured second place in the Scottish Premiership, but also ended a 10-game losing streak against the champions and heralded a first win of the season against the Old Firm. Since then, Aberdeen's win ratio against Celtic and Rangers has improved staggeringly from 13% last term to 30% in all competitions since August. However, those gains have only come against one of those two Glasgow teams. Aberdeen's record in four games against Celtic this campaign is worse than in the same number of games last season, with McInnes' men claiming just one draw after their campaign-defining win last term. Against Rangers, though, there have unquestionably been huge gains. Last season, Aberdeen lost three of their four meetings; this time, they have won three of six and lost just once. However, the Ibrox side are currently eight points clear in the Premiership with nine games to play, so a fourth consecutive second-place finish looks unlikely for the Pittodrie men. Less defensive, but more resolute Perhaps the most obvious reason for Aberdeen's improved record is that they have been more resolute in these games than before. Previously, they concentrated on trying to stop the opposition, with McInnes cluttering his XI with defenders. That strategy met with limited success. But this term, Aberdeen have adopted a more attacking approach and that, curiously, has improved their defensive record against the Old Firm. For example, Brendan Rodgers' Celtic averaged 1.75 goals per game against Aberdeen last season. And, even though results have not improved, that figure has dropped to 0.75. Similarly, Aberdeen conceded an average of 1.4 goals every time they faced Rangers last season. This term, its down to just one goal per game. Couple that with their goals scored per game jumping from one to 1.3 per game, and the reason for the improvement in results becomes clear. 'It's a huge statement' - pundits on Aberdeen's win Media playback is not supported on this device 'Aberdeen were absolutely deserved winners' Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on Sportscene Absolutely deserved winners. Back-to-back clean sheets against the Old Firm teams. For me, their organisation, their desire, their professionalism to carry out their individual roles that Derek McInnes had set them within the team was so impressive. Aberdeen had three Scottish teenagers in their starting line-up. It's sometimes easy to forget that Lewis Ferguson is still 19. Scotland assistant coach James McFadden on Sportscene It's a huge statement when you consider that Gary Mackay-Steven, Sam Cosgrove and Shay Logan are missing. Mackay-Steven and Cosgrove have been in excellent form. To bring in three youngsters in their place really sends a massive statement out. Because not only are they in the semi-final but they're also pushing for a second place as well. So psychologically it's a huge blow to Rangers. | Aberdeen stun Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox to progress into Scottish Cup semis. Aberdeen's win ratio against Celtic and Rangers has improved dramatically. Derek McInnes' side have been more resolute in these games than before. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47547689 | 0.120164 |
Why has Aberdeen's big-game record improved? | Media playback is not supported on this device Highlights as Aberdeen stun Rangers at Ibrox to progress into Scottish Cup semis Big games have rarely ended well for Aberdeen in recent times. Be it cup finals against Celtic, league games against both sides of the Old Firm, or apparently winnable cup ties against the likes of Motherwell and St Johnstone. However, the Pittodrie side's 2-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final replay win at Ibrox on Tuesday was a third success against Rangers for Derek McInnes' men this season. They have not managed three wins in a campaign against Rangers since their last title triumph in 1984-85. Breakthrough wins Winning at Celtic Park on the final day of last season not only secured second place in the Scottish Premiership, but also ended a 10-game losing streak against the champions and heralded a first win of the season against the Old Firm. Since then, Aberdeen's win ratio against Celtic and Rangers has improved staggeringly from 13% last term to 30% in all competitions since August. However, those gains have only come against one of those two Glasgow teams. Aberdeen's record in four games against Celtic this campaign is worse than in the same number of games last season, with McInnes' men claiming just one draw after their campaign-defining win last term. Against Rangers, though, there have unquestionably been huge gains. Last season, Aberdeen lost three of their four meetings; this time, they have won three of six and lost just once. However, the Ibrox side are currently eight points clear in the Premiership with nine games to play, so a fourth consecutive second-place finish looks unlikely for the Pittodrie men. Less defensive, but more resolute Perhaps the most obvious reason for Aberdeen's improved record is that they have been more resolute in these games than before. Previously, they concentrated on trying to stop the opposition, with McInnes cluttering his XI with defenders. That strategy met with limited success. But this term, Aberdeen have adopted a more attacking approach and that, curiously, has improved their defensive record against the Old Firm. For example, Brendan Rodgers' Celtic averaged 1.75 goals per game against Aberdeen last season. And, even though results have not improved, that figure has dropped to 0.75. Similarly, Aberdeen conceded an average of 1.4 goals every time they faced Rangers last season. This term, its down to just one goal per game. Couple that with their goals scored per game jumping from one to 1.3 per game, and the reason for the improvement in results becomes clear. 'It's a huge statement' - pundits on Aberdeen's win Media playback is not supported on this device 'Aberdeen were absolutely deserved winners' Former Rangers striker Steven Thompson on Sportscene Absolutely deserved winners. Back-to-back clean sheets against the Old Firm teams. For me, their organisation, their desire, their professionalism to carry out their individual roles that Derek McInnes had set them within the team was so impressive. Aberdeen had three Scottish teenagers in their starting line-up. It's sometimes easy to forget that Lewis Ferguson is still 19. Scotland assistant coach James McFadden on Sportscene It's a huge statement when you consider that Gary Mackay-Steven, Sam Cosgrove and Shay Logan are missing. Mackay-Steven and Cosgrove have been in excellent form. To bring in three youngsters in their place really sends a massive statement out. Because not only are they in the semi-final but they're also pushing for a second place as well. So psychologically it's a huge blow to Rangers. | Aberdeen stun Rangers 2-0 at Ibrox to progress into Scottish Cup semis. Aberdeen's win ratio against Celtic and Rangers has improved dramatically. Derek McInnes' side have been more resolute in these games than before. They have adopted a more attacking approach and that, curiously, has improved their defensive record against the Old Firm. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47547689 | 0.402672 |
What happened at North Korea's embassy in Spain? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police were called after a woman reportedly escaped through a second-floor window and screamed for help Spanish investigators are probing an alleged attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid. On 22 February, a group of 10 assailants reportedly broke into the building, tying up, beating and interrogating eight people inside. The incident took place just days before a key summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And now there are reports US intelligence services were involved. With the US and North Korea striving to improve relations after nearly 70 years of hostility, such allegations could be explosive. The BBC contacted police in Madrid for comment, but has yet to receive a response. Local media reports that on the afternoon of 22 February, a group of 10 people broke into North Korea's embassy, north-west of the Spanish capital's centre. According to El Confidencial (in Spanish), the assailants gagged and tied up staff members, and took a number of computers. One woman managed to get free, escaping through a second floor window and screaming for help. Concerned neighbours quickly called the police. But when officers arrived they were greeted by an Asian man at the door who reassured them that all was well and nothing had happened. Minutes later, the man and the other attackers sped away from the embassy at full speed in two North Korean diplomatic vehicles. Image copyright Google Maps Image caption The two-storey embassy has a swimming pool and lies to the north-west of central Madrid Inside, the police reportedly found eight people tied up with bags over their heads. They had been bound for about four hours, and two needed medical help after the assault. Both cars were found abandoned nearby shortly afterwards. Authorities have dismissed the idea that common criminals are behind the alleged attack. Sources close to the investigation reportedly told El Pas that the operation was planned perfectly, as if by a "military cell". And the attackers seemed to know what they were looking for, grabbing mobile phones and computers. Both El Pas and El Confidencial report that the Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and their allies could have been involved in the attack. Victims of the alleged assault have reportedly told investigators the attackers spoke in Korean, and could have been from South Korea. El Pas even reports that two of the group of 10 have been identified, and have links to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Reports say the attackers could have been looking for information on North Korea's former ambassador to Madrid, Kim Hyok-chol. The diplomat was expelled from Spain in September 2017 over North Korea's nuclear-testing programme. But Mr Kim is now serving as a key envoy in North Korean talks with the US, and helped organise the recent summit in Vietnam. Image copyright EPA/Yonhap Image caption Kim Hyok-chol helped organise the most recent summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, in Hanoi He also travelled to Washington DC with Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, in January. However, it is unclear precisely why the embassy attack took place, or who was involved. Spanish investigators are staying tight-lipped, and the New York Times reports neither the employee who escaped nor the embassy has filed a formal police complaint. If there is however a proven link with intelligence services, it could cause uproar both in North Korea and internationally. Spain would not be pleased foreign agencies had worked on its soil without permission. And breaking into another country's embassy would be a huge breach of international protocol. The nation's High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, will hear the investigation and could order the arrest of any identified assailants. However, government sources reportedly say proving the involvement of US intelligence agencies could be difficult. The only thing that's clear so far is that this story is just beginning. | Group of 10 people reportedly broke into North Korea's embassy in Madrid. They reportedly tied up, beat and interrogated eight people inside. | bart | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47553804 | 0.2511 |
What happened at North Korea's embassy in Spain? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police were called after a woman reportedly escaped through a second-floor window and screamed for help Spanish investigators are probing an alleged attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid. On 22 February, a group of 10 assailants reportedly broke into the building, tying up, beating and interrogating eight people inside. The incident took place just days before a key summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And now there are reports US intelligence services were involved. With the US and North Korea striving to improve relations after nearly 70 years of hostility, such allegations could be explosive. The BBC contacted police in Madrid for comment, but has yet to receive a response. Local media reports that on the afternoon of 22 February, a group of 10 people broke into North Korea's embassy, north-west of the Spanish capital's centre. According to El Confidencial (in Spanish), the assailants gagged and tied up staff members, and took a number of computers. One woman managed to get free, escaping through a second floor window and screaming for help. Concerned neighbours quickly called the police. But when officers arrived they were greeted by an Asian man at the door who reassured them that all was well and nothing had happened. Minutes later, the man and the other attackers sped away from the embassy at full speed in two North Korean diplomatic vehicles. Image copyright Google Maps Image caption The two-storey embassy has a swimming pool and lies to the north-west of central Madrid Inside, the police reportedly found eight people tied up with bags over their heads. They had been bound for about four hours, and two needed medical help after the assault. Both cars were found abandoned nearby shortly afterwards. Authorities have dismissed the idea that common criminals are behind the alleged attack. Sources close to the investigation reportedly told El Pas that the operation was planned perfectly, as if by a "military cell". And the attackers seemed to know what they were looking for, grabbing mobile phones and computers. Both El Pas and El Confidencial report that the Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and their allies could have been involved in the attack. Victims of the alleged assault have reportedly told investigators the attackers spoke in Korean, and could have been from South Korea. El Pas even reports that two of the group of 10 have been identified, and have links to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Reports say the attackers could have been looking for information on North Korea's former ambassador to Madrid, Kim Hyok-chol. The diplomat was expelled from Spain in September 2017 over North Korea's nuclear-testing programme. But Mr Kim is now serving as a key envoy in North Korean talks with the US, and helped organise the recent summit in Vietnam. Image copyright EPA/Yonhap Image caption Kim Hyok-chol helped organise the most recent summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, in Hanoi He also travelled to Washington DC with Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, in January. However, it is unclear precisely why the embassy attack took place, or who was involved. Spanish investigators are staying tight-lipped, and the New York Times reports neither the employee who escaped nor the embassy has filed a formal police complaint. If there is however a proven link with intelligence services, it could cause uproar both in North Korea and internationally. Spain would not be pleased foreign agencies had worked on its soil without permission. And breaking into another country's embassy would be a huge breach of international protocol. The nation's High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, will hear the investigation and could order the arrest of any identified assailants. However, government sources reportedly say proving the involvement of US intelligence agencies could be difficult. The only thing that's clear so far is that this story is just beginning. | Group of 10 assailants reportedly broke into North Korea's embassy in Madrid. One woman managed to escape through a second-floor window and screamed for help. Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and allies could have been involved in the attack. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47553804 | 0.28764 |
What happened at North Korea's embassy in Spain? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Police were called after a woman reportedly escaped through a second-floor window and screamed for help Spanish investigators are probing an alleged attack on the North Korean embassy in Madrid. On 22 February, a group of 10 assailants reportedly broke into the building, tying up, beating and interrogating eight people inside. The incident took place just days before a key summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. And now there are reports US intelligence services were involved. With the US and North Korea striving to improve relations after nearly 70 years of hostility, such allegations could be explosive. The BBC contacted police in Madrid for comment, but has yet to receive a response. Local media reports that on the afternoon of 22 February, a group of 10 people broke into North Korea's embassy, north-west of the Spanish capital's centre. According to El Confidencial (in Spanish), the assailants gagged and tied up staff members, and took a number of computers. One woman managed to get free, escaping through a second floor window and screaming for help. Concerned neighbours quickly called the police. But when officers arrived they were greeted by an Asian man at the door who reassured them that all was well and nothing had happened. Minutes later, the man and the other attackers sped away from the embassy at full speed in two North Korean diplomatic vehicles. Image copyright Google Maps Image caption The two-storey embassy has a swimming pool and lies to the north-west of central Madrid Inside, the police reportedly found eight people tied up with bags over their heads. They had been bound for about four hours, and two needed medical help after the assault. Both cars were found abandoned nearby shortly afterwards. Authorities have dismissed the idea that common criminals are behind the alleged attack. Sources close to the investigation reportedly told El Pas that the operation was planned perfectly, as if by a "military cell". And the attackers seemed to know what they were looking for, grabbing mobile phones and computers. Both El Pas and El Confidencial report that the Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and their allies could have been involved in the attack. Victims of the alleged assault have reportedly told investigators the attackers spoke in Korean, and could have been from South Korea. El Pas even reports that two of the group of 10 have been identified, and have links to the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Reports say the attackers could have been looking for information on North Korea's former ambassador to Madrid, Kim Hyok-chol. The diplomat was expelled from Spain in September 2017 over North Korea's nuclear-testing programme. But Mr Kim is now serving as a key envoy in North Korean talks with the US, and helped organise the recent summit in Vietnam. Image copyright EPA/Yonhap Image caption Kim Hyok-chol helped organise the most recent summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un, in Hanoi He also travelled to Washington DC with Kim Jong-un's right-hand man, Kim Yong-chol, in January. However, it is unclear precisely why the embassy attack took place, or who was involved. Spanish investigators are staying tight-lipped, and the New York Times reports neither the employee who escaped nor the embassy has filed a formal police complaint. If there is however a proven link with intelligence services, it could cause uproar both in North Korea and internationally. Spain would not be pleased foreign agencies had worked on its soil without permission. And breaking into another country's embassy would be a huge breach of international protocol. The nation's High Court, the Audiencia Nacional, will hear the investigation and could order the arrest of any identified assailants. However, government sources reportedly say proving the involvement of US intelligence agencies could be difficult. The only thing that's clear so far is that this story is just beginning. | Group of 10 assailants reportedly broke into North Korea's embassy in Madrid. One woman managed to escape through a second-floor window and screamed for help. Spanish authorities suspect US intelligence agencies and their allies could have been involved in the attack, which took place just days before a key summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47553804 | 0.289825 |
What are tariffs and how do they affect the prices consumers pay? | The government has announced that tariffs would be slashed to zero on 87% of imports should Britain crash out of the EU without a deal, while keeping higher border taxes on some sensitive products. Here is how the plan might work. Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports. Importers pay them upon entry to the customs agency of the country or bloc imposing them in Britains case HM Revenue & Customs. UK firms react with fury to 'cack-handed' no-deal Brexit plan Read more Tariffs raise money for governments, but are primarily used to raise the price of foreign goods, protecting domestic producers from global competition. Countries signed up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) must impose tariffs at the same level for all other WTO-member trading partners under the organisations most favoured nation rule unless they secure alternative deals with particular countries or trading blocs. The UK currently collects tariffs on goods arriving in Britain from outside the EU at rates set by Brussels. The money is passed on to the EU, minus a share to cover the cost of the collection. The UK is poised to become an independent member of the WTO upon exiting the EU, which represents Britain at the WTO. Ministers have reached agreement only with a handful of countries including the Faroe Islands, Switzerland and Israel to continue with the same trade deals the UK currently has access to under EU membership. As a member, the UK benefits from tariff-free trade with the EU , which would end under a no-deal scenario. Ministers unilaterally dropping tariffs to 0% should help to mitigate this. UK will cut most tariffs to zero in event of no-deal Brexit Read more The government has said it will set the majority of import duties at 0% for as long as 12 months after a no-deal Brexit. During that time, the government will consult on setting a longer-term policy. The measures would apply on imports from 11pm on 29 March 2019, if the UK leaves without a deal. A reduced or zero rate of duty could may apply on a specific quota of goods, after which goods would attract a higher tariff. For the 13% of goods imported to the UK where tariffs will apply, the government said there would be a mixture of tariffs and quotas designed to protect UK producers, mainly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Beef, lamb, pork, poultry and some dairy products will incur tariffs at or near the rates set by the EU. Among the rates are tariffs on beef at 53% of the EU rate, poultry at 60% and butter at 32%. Tariffs will also be imposed on manufactured products at or near the EU rates to protect UK industry. Finished car tariffs will be set at 10.6% similar to the 11.3% rate set by the EU. The tariffs will not apply to goods from the Republic of Ireland crossing into Northern Ireland, with no new border checks and controls, raising the risk of smuggling. Higher tariffs drive up the cost of goods for consumers, as importers typically pass on these higher costs. Zero tariffs should mean consumers see EU goods stay at the same price. The price of some goods from abroad may also fall, in a boost to British consumers and potentially the UK economy an argument that has been promoted repeatedly by Brexiters. The government said imposing tariffs on sensitive products would help safeguard Britains strategic interests in agriculture and manufacturing. Zero tariffs will also help protect developing nations selling goods to Britain. Countries usually take much longer to draw up tariff schedules and dont usually make wholesale changes. With only days before a potential no-deal scenario, time to prepare for the changes is tight, while the CBI has warned that businesses have not been consulted. The chance of unintended negative consequences is therefore heightened. Economists warn that setting high tariffs can drive up consumer prices and stifle innovation that could benefit the economy, although they also caution that low tariffs could put jobs at risk as cheaper foreign goods become available. Although the car industry has protections, other areas of manufacturing could be hit hard. Business groups also warn that there is no policy on tariffs that would likely come close to averting the damage caused by a no-deal Brexit. | Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports. Importers pay them upon entry to the country or bloc imposing them. | bart | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/what-are-tariffs-and-how-do-they-affect-the-prices-consumers-pay | 0.449745 |
What are tariffs and how do they affect the prices consumers pay? | The government has announced that tariffs would be slashed to zero on 87% of imports should Britain crash out of the EU without a deal, while keeping higher border taxes on some sensitive products. Here is how the plan might work. Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports. Importers pay them upon entry to the customs agency of the country or bloc imposing them in Britains case HM Revenue & Customs. UK firms react with fury to 'cack-handed' no-deal Brexit plan Read more Tariffs raise money for governments, but are primarily used to raise the price of foreign goods, protecting domestic producers from global competition. Countries signed up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) must impose tariffs at the same level for all other WTO-member trading partners under the organisations most favoured nation rule unless they secure alternative deals with particular countries or trading blocs. The UK currently collects tariffs on goods arriving in Britain from outside the EU at rates set by Brussels. The money is passed on to the EU, minus a share to cover the cost of the collection. The UK is poised to become an independent member of the WTO upon exiting the EU, which represents Britain at the WTO. Ministers have reached agreement only with a handful of countries including the Faroe Islands, Switzerland and Israel to continue with the same trade deals the UK currently has access to under EU membership. As a member, the UK benefits from tariff-free trade with the EU , which would end under a no-deal scenario. Ministers unilaterally dropping tariffs to 0% should help to mitigate this. UK will cut most tariffs to zero in event of no-deal Brexit Read more The government has said it will set the majority of import duties at 0% for as long as 12 months after a no-deal Brexit. During that time, the government will consult on setting a longer-term policy. The measures would apply on imports from 11pm on 29 March 2019, if the UK leaves without a deal. A reduced or zero rate of duty could may apply on a specific quota of goods, after which goods would attract a higher tariff. For the 13% of goods imported to the UK where tariffs will apply, the government said there would be a mixture of tariffs and quotas designed to protect UK producers, mainly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Beef, lamb, pork, poultry and some dairy products will incur tariffs at or near the rates set by the EU. Among the rates are tariffs on beef at 53% of the EU rate, poultry at 60% and butter at 32%. Tariffs will also be imposed on manufactured products at or near the EU rates to protect UK industry. Finished car tariffs will be set at 10.6% similar to the 11.3% rate set by the EU. The tariffs will not apply to goods from the Republic of Ireland crossing into Northern Ireland, with no new border checks and controls, raising the risk of smuggling. Higher tariffs drive up the cost of goods for consumers, as importers typically pass on these higher costs. Zero tariffs should mean consumers see EU goods stay at the same price. The price of some goods from abroad may also fall, in a boost to British consumers and potentially the UK economy an argument that has been promoted repeatedly by Brexiters. The government said imposing tariffs on sensitive products would help safeguard Britains strategic interests in agriculture and manufacturing. Zero tariffs will also help protect developing nations selling goods to Britain. Countries usually take much longer to draw up tariff schedules and dont usually make wholesale changes. With only days before a potential no-deal scenario, time to prepare for the changes is tight, while the CBI has warned that businesses have not been consulted. The chance of unintended negative consequences is therefore heightened. Economists warn that setting high tariffs can drive up consumer prices and stifle innovation that could benefit the economy, although they also caution that low tariffs could put jobs at risk as cheaper foreign goods become available. Although the car industry has protections, other areas of manufacturing could be hit hard. Business groups also warn that there is no policy on tariffs that would likely come close to averting the damage caused by a no-deal Brexit. | Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports. They raise money for governments, but are primarily used to raise the price of foreign goods, protecting domestic producers from global competition. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/what-are-tariffs-and-how-do-they-affect-the-prices-consumers-pay | 0.5344 |
What are tariffs and how do they affect the prices consumers pay? | The government has announced that tariffs would be slashed to zero on 87% of imports should Britain crash out of the EU without a deal, while keeping higher border taxes on some sensitive products. Here is how the plan might work. Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports. Importers pay them upon entry to the customs agency of the country or bloc imposing them in Britains case HM Revenue & Customs. UK firms react with fury to 'cack-handed' no-deal Brexit plan Read more Tariffs raise money for governments, but are primarily used to raise the price of foreign goods, protecting domestic producers from global competition. Countries signed up to the World Trade Organization (WTO) must impose tariffs at the same level for all other WTO-member trading partners under the organisations most favoured nation rule unless they secure alternative deals with particular countries or trading blocs. The UK currently collects tariffs on goods arriving in Britain from outside the EU at rates set by Brussels. The money is passed on to the EU, minus a share to cover the cost of the collection. The UK is poised to become an independent member of the WTO upon exiting the EU, which represents Britain at the WTO. Ministers have reached agreement only with a handful of countries including the Faroe Islands, Switzerland and Israel to continue with the same trade deals the UK currently has access to under EU membership. As a member, the UK benefits from tariff-free trade with the EU , which would end under a no-deal scenario. Ministers unilaterally dropping tariffs to 0% should help to mitigate this. UK will cut most tariffs to zero in event of no-deal Brexit Read more The government has said it will set the majority of import duties at 0% for as long as 12 months after a no-deal Brexit. During that time, the government will consult on setting a longer-term policy. The measures would apply on imports from 11pm on 29 March 2019, if the UK leaves without a deal. A reduced or zero rate of duty could may apply on a specific quota of goods, after which goods would attract a higher tariff. For the 13% of goods imported to the UK where tariffs will apply, the government said there would be a mixture of tariffs and quotas designed to protect UK producers, mainly in the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. Beef, lamb, pork, poultry and some dairy products will incur tariffs at or near the rates set by the EU. Among the rates are tariffs on beef at 53% of the EU rate, poultry at 60% and butter at 32%. Tariffs will also be imposed on manufactured products at or near the EU rates to protect UK industry. Finished car tariffs will be set at 10.6% similar to the 11.3% rate set by the EU. The tariffs will not apply to goods from the Republic of Ireland crossing into Northern Ireland, with no new border checks and controls, raising the risk of smuggling. Higher tariffs drive up the cost of goods for consumers, as importers typically pass on these higher costs. Zero tariffs should mean consumers see EU goods stay at the same price. The price of some goods from abroad may also fall, in a boost to British consumers and potentially the UK economy an argument that has been promoted repeatedly by Brexiters. The government said imposing tariffs on sensitive products would help safeguard Britains strategic interests in agriculture and manufacturing. Zero tariffs will also help protect developing nations selling goods to Britain. Countries usually take much longer to draw up tariff schedules and dont usually make wholesale changes. With only days before a potential no-deal scenario, time to prepare for the changes is tight, while the CBI has warned that businesses have not been consulted. The chance of unintended negative consequences is therefore heightened. Economists warn that setting high tariffs can drive up consumer prices and stifle innovation that could benefit the economy, although they also caution that low tariffs could put jobs at risk as cheaper foreign goods become available. Although the car industry has protections, other areas of manufacturing could be hit hard. Business groups also warn that there is no policy on tariffs that would likely come close to averting the damage caused by a no-deal Brexit. | The government has announced that tariffs would be slashed to zero on 87% of imports if the UK crashes out of the EU without a deal. Tariffs are border taxes charged on foreign imports and are primarily used to raise the price of foreign goods, protecting domestic producers from global competition. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/mar/13/what-are-tariffs-and-how-do-they-affect-the-prices-consumers-pay | 0.504486 |
What's Different About Generation Z Tech Talent? | It wasn't too long ago that my generation, millennials, was the focal point. Now, though, in my mid-30s, I've started working with the up-and-coming tech talent who are part of Generation Z. Here's what I've learned about how working with Gen Z is different and how I've adapted my work style to think and act in a way that increases collaboration and productivity with this younger group. Generation Z generally includes all those born after 1996, which Statista estimated (paywall) to be 86.43 million people as of 2017. By 2020, Millennial Marketing and Barkley expect them to represent 40% of all consumers. Right now, many Gen Z members are in high school or college, or are new to the workforce. Because they are true digital natives, many think Gen Z is the most tech-savvy generation of workers. This is likely because they've only ever known a world with mobile devices, which has changed their perspective -- even compared to millennials, who didn't grow up with smartphones in their hands. They may skip college. Due to the mounting U.S. student debt (data documented by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and compiled by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation), Generation Z appears to be hesitant to jump into the debt pool. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, projected college enrollment for 2018 was about 1.1 million students lower than 2010 enrollment. That means many may be heading straight into the workforce and looking to get started in tech jobs without degrees. Instead, they are self-educating through online courses and hands-on projects. For example, one 2017 study by the Center for Generational Kinetics found that 85% of Generation Z respondents had viewed "at least one online video in the past week to learn a new skill." What this has meant for me and other tech executives is thinking beyond a college degree as a requirement for hiring. In addition to Gen Z's apparent changing perspective on where to acquire additional learning and skills, combined with the widely observed demand for tech talent, it's been an evolution in thinking about how we approach the hiring process. Just because a Gen Zer doesn't have a college degree doesn't mean they are any less qualified; if anything, with all their online studies, they may be more prepared to jump into the workforce. I've focused less on promotions and paperwork and more on on-the-job learning and training, skills that fill gaps we currently have and personality traits that indicate they are passionate and ready to work hard. Tap their innovative sides. In the short time that I've worked with Gen Z talent around the world, I've found them to be some of the most creative and innovative I've met. They are also generally resourceful and look to find what they need instead of expecting someone else to do it for them. Gen Z talent I've worked with is also not afraid to step up and question anyone who has been working longer than they have if they have the information to back it up. With these traits, I believe it's important to let tech talent from this generation have their own projects and work rather than micromanaging their efforts. Provide them with the tools and space they need to ignite this creativity. I've done well giving them the room to set their hours and parameters with only basic instructions and time frames, which has produced exceptional progress. It just took me becoming comfortable with taking a step back in how I manage them. Speak their way. It's been challenging for me to think I'm the older person at work and that I now have to learn to speak like Gen Z. However, some of the generation's communication style is not that much different, as I already use text and instant messaging to get a lot of work done. Although using emojis and GIFs felt somewhat unprofessional at first, I've found that many Gen Z tech staff prefer that as a way to chat or share their feelings without spending too much time typing sentences. It's been an adjustment, but the more I've used their communication methods, the better our working relationships have been. Be prepared for them to leave. I've noticed that young people are also entrepreneurial, which means they may not stick around as long as youd like. Instead, your startup or business may be seen as a testing ground for their own. According to 2016 Gallup data (download required), 41% of surveyed students in grades five through 12 planned to start their own businesses in 2016. Again, I've had to plan for this evolution, and I've had to either convince them to stay by giving them even more challenging work or accept that there will be turnover every one to three years. Making work more meaningful to Gen Z, including by focusing on projects and products that align with their own need to do something that changes the world, has helped my company keep talent longer. I've also promoted the idea of reverse mentoring, where they are teaching co-workers certain tech skills they have or ways to work. This has also given our Gen Z tech talent a reason to stay. They see it as a way to develop the leadership and communication skills they'll eventually need when they leave and start their own businesses. Likewise, we've also been able to mentor and coach them, which has been valuable for tech talent retention. Motivate them with money. Even with the need for meaningful work, I've found that Gen Z tech talent is still motivated by money and eager to earn a competitive salary. They seem to know their skill sets are in high demand. They may be willing to start as interns, but they'll put their talent to work and then expect an equivalent salary. I've found they are looking to put this money in the bank so they do not become "slaves" to their jobs and can maintain their competitive advantage. As a startup business, we've used outsourced talent and interns so that both types of workers have grown with us until we can pay that salary. | Gen Z tech talent may skip college to get started in tech jobs without degrees. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/13/whats-different-about-generation-z-tech-talent/ | 0.291027 |
What's Different About Generation Z Tech Talent? | It wasn't too long ago that my generation, millennials, was the focal point. Now, though, in my mid-30s, I've started working with the up-and-coming tech talent who are part of Generation Z. Here's what I've learned about how working with Gen Z is different and how I've adapted my work style to think and act in a way that increases collaboration and productivity with this younger group. Generation Z generally includes all those born after 1996, which Statista estimated (paywall) to be 86.43 million people as of 2017. By 2020, Millennial Marketing and Barkley expect them to represent 40% of all consumers. Right now, many Gen Z members are in high school or college, or are new to the workforce. Because they are true digital natives, many think Gen Z is the most tech-savvy generation of workers. This is likely because they've only ever known a world with mobile devices, which has changed their perspective -- even compared to millennials, who didn't grow up with smartphones in their hands. They may skip college. Due to the mounting U.S. student debt (data documented by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and compiled by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation), Generation Z appears to be hesitant to jump into the debt pool. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, projected college enrollment for 2018 was about 1.1 million students lower than 2010 enrollment. That means many may be heading straight into the workforce and looking to get started in tech jobs without degrees. Instead, they are self-educating through online courses and hands-on projects. For example, one 2017 study by the Center for Generational Kinetics found that 85% of Generation Z respondents had viewed "at least one online video in the past week to learn a new skill." What this has meant for me and other tech executives is thinking beyond a college degree as a requirement for hiring. In addition to Gen Z's apparent changing perspective on where to acquire additional learning and skills, combined with the widely observed demand for tech talent, it's been an evolution in thinking about how we approach the hiring process. Just because a Gen Zer doesn't have a college degree doesn't mean they are any less qualified; if anything, with all their online studies, they may be more prepared to jump into the workforce. I've focused less on promotions and paperwork and more on on-the-job learning and training, skills that fill gaps we currently have and personality traits that indicate they are passionate and ready to work hard. Tap their innovative sides. In the short time that I've worked with Gen Z talent around the world, I've found them to be some of the most creative and innovative I've met. They are also generally resourceful and look to find what they need instead of expecting someone else to do it for them. Gen Z talent I've worked with is also not afraid to step up and question anyone who has been working longer than they have if they have the information to back it up. With these traits, I believe it's important to let tech talent from this generation have their own projects and work rather than micromanaging their efforts. Provide them with the tools and space they need to ignite this creativity. I've done well giving them the room to set their hours and parameters with only basic instructions and time frames, which has produced exceptional progress. It just took me becoming comfortable with taking a step back in how I manage them. Speak their way. It's been challenging for me to think I'm the older person at work and that I now have to learn to speak like Gen Z. However, some of the generation's communication style is not that much different, as I already use text and instant messaging to get a lot of work done. Although using emojis and GIFs felt somewhat unprofessional at first, I've found that many Gen Z tech staff prefer that as a way to chat or share their feelings without spending too much time typing sentences. It's been an adjustment, but the more I've used their communication methods, the better our working relationships have been. Be prepared for them to leave. I've noticed that young people are also entrepreneurial, which means they may not stick around as long as youd like. Instead, your startup or business may be seen as a testing ground for their own. According to 2016 Gallup data (download required), 41% of surveyed students in grades five through 12 planned to start their own businesses in 2016. Again, I've had to plan for this evolution, and I've had to either convince them to stay by giving them even more challenging work or accept that there will be turnover every one to three years. Making work more meaningful to Gen Z, including by focusing on projects and products that align with their own need to do something that changes the world, has helped my company keep talent longer. I've also promoted the idea of reverse mentoring, where they are teaching co-workers certain tech skills they have or ways to work. This has also given our Gen Z tech talent a reason to stay. They see it as a way to develop the leadership and communication skills they'll eventually need when they leave and start their own businesses. Likewise, we've also been able to mentor and coach them, which has been valuable for tech talent retention. Motivate them with money. Even with the need for meaningful work, I've found that Gen Z tech talent is still motivated by money and eager to earn a competitive salary. They seem to know their skill sets are in high demand. They may be willing to start as interns, but they'll put their talent to work and then expect an equivalent salary. I've found they are looking to put this money in the bank so they do not become "slaves" to their jobs and can maintain their competitive advantage. As a startup business, we've used outsourced talent and interns so that both types of workers have grown with us until we can pay that salary. | Gen Z tech talent may skip college. They are self-educating through online courses and hands-on projects. It's important to let them have their own projects and work rather than micromanaging. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/13/whats-different-about-generation-z-tech-talent/ | 0.36247 |
What's Different About Generation Z Tech Talent? | It wasn't too long ago that my generation, millennials, was the focal point. Now, though, in my mid-30s, I've started working with the up-and-coming tech talent who are part of Generation Z. Here's what I've learned about how working with Gen Z is different and how I've adapted my work style to think and act in a way that increases collaboration and productivity with this younger group. Generation Z generally includes all those born after 1996, which Statista estimated (paywall) to be 86.43 million people as of 2017. By 2020, Millennial Marketing and Barkley expect them to represent 40% of all consumers. Right now, many Gen Z members are in high school or college, or are new to the workforce. Because they are true digital natives, many think Gen Z is the most tech-savvy generation of workers. This is likely because they've only ever known a world with mobile devices, which has changed their perspective -- even compared to millennials, who didn't grow up with smartphones in their hands. They may skip college. Due to the mounting U.S. student debt (data documented by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and compiled by the Peter G. Peterson Foundation), Generation Z appears to be hesitant to jump into the debt pool. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, projected college enrollment for 2018 was about 1.1 million students lower than 2010 enrollment. That means many may be heading straight into the workforce and looking to get started in tech jobs without degrees. Instead, they are self-educating through online courses and hands-on projects. For example, one 2017 study by the Center for Generational Kinetics found that 85% of Generation Z respondents had viewed "at least one online video in the past week to learn a new skill." What this has meant for me and other tech executives is thinking beyond a college degree as a requirement for hiring. In addition to Gen Z's apparent changing perspective on where to acquire additional learning and skills, combined with the widely observed demand for tech talent, it's been an evolution in thinking about how we approach the hiring process. Just because a Gen Zer doesn't have a college degree doesn't mean they are any less qualified; if anything, with all their online studies, they may be more prepared to jump into the workforce. I've focused less on promotions and paperwork and more on on-the-job learning and training, skills that fill gaps we currently have and personality traits that indicate they are passionate and ready to work hard. Tap their innovative sides. In the short time that I've worked with Gen Z talent around the world, I've found them to be some of the most creative and innovative I've met. They are also generally resourceful and look to find what they need instead of expecting someone else to do it for them. Gen Z talent I've worked with is also not afraid to step up and question anyone who has been working longer than they have if they have the information to back it up. With these traits, I believe it's important to let tech talent from this generation have their own projects and work rather than micromanaging their efforts. Provide them with the tools and space they need to ignite this creativity. I've done well giving them the room to set their hours and parameters with only basic instructions and time frames, which has produced exceptional progress. It just took me becoming comfortable with taking a step back in how I manage them. Speak their way. It's been challenging for me to think I'm the older person at work and that I now have to learn to speak like Gen Z. However, some of the generation's communication style is not that much different, as I already use text and instant messaging to get a lot of work done. Although using emojis and GIFs felt somewhat unprofessional at first, I've found that many Gen Z tech staff prefer that as a way to chat or share their feelings without spending too much time typing sentences. It's been an adjustment, but the more I've used their communication methods, the better our working relationships have been. Be prepared for them to leave. I've noticed that young people are also entrepreneurial, which means they may not stick around as long as youd like. Instead, your startup or business may be seen as a testing ground for their own. According to 2016 Gallup data (download required), 41% of surveyed students in grades five through 12 planned to start their own businesses in 2016. Again, I've had to plan for this evolution, and I've had to either convince them to stay by giving them even more challenging work or accept that there will be turnover every one to three years. Making work more meaningful to Gen Z, including by focusing on projects and products that align with their own need to do something that changes the world, has helped my company keep talent longer. I've also promoted the idea of reverse mentoring, where they are teaching co-workers certain tech skills they have or ways to work. This has also given our Gen Z tech talent a reason to stay. They see it as a way to develop the leadership and communication skills they'll eventually need when they leave and start their own businesses. Likewise, we've also been able to mentor and coach them, which has been valuable for tech talent retention. Motivate them with money. Even with the need for meaningful work, I've found that Gen Z tech talent is still motivated by money and eager to earn a competitive salary. They seem to know their skill sets are in high demand. They may be willing to start as interns, but they'll put their talent to work and then expect an equivalent salary. I've found they are looking to put this money in the bank so they do not become "slaves" to their jobs and can maintain their competitive advantage. As a startup business, we've used outsourced talent and interns so that both types of workers have grown with us until we can pay that salary. | Gen Z tech talent may skip college. They are self-educating through online courses and hands-on projects. It's important to let them have their own projects and work rather than micromanaging their efforts, says Mark Barkley, CEO of Millennial Marketing and Barkley. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/13/whats-different-about-generation-z-tech-talent/ | 0.368473 |
What went wrong for LeBron James, Lakers in Year 1? | CLOSE SportsPulse: It's no secret that Lebron James and the Lakers are trending in the wrong direction this year and Jeff Zillgitt tells us why this might just be the most underwhelming season of his career. USA TODAY Next season has arrived early for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers. While no one expected the Lakers to compete for a championship in James first year, a playoff berth this season was attainable. The picture was especially rosy after a 20-14 start that put them in fourth place after a Christmas Day win against Golden State. With 15 games remaining, thats not the case. While not yet mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, the Lakers are virtually done and probably will miss the postseason - a place they haven't been since 2013 - again. Los Angeles is in 11th place and 6 1/2 games out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference. James, who has made 13 consecutive postseason appearances and eight straight NBA Finals, likely will see those streaks end. The 2018-19 season has been several mini-seasons for the Lakers ownership, front office, coaching staff and players. So much has happened from the time the Lakers landed James until the team shut down Lonzo Ball for the season with an ankle injury. The season has taken so many turns, ESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy suggested everything should be on the table for the Lakers in the offseason, including trading James. USA TODAY NBA reporters Jeff Zillgitt and Martin Rogers analyze how the Lakers' season unfolded, evolved an`d finally, crumpled. LeBron James, who announced July 1 he would sign with the Lakers, has had an up-and-down first year in L.A. (Photo: Matt Marton, USA TODAY Sports) The celebration In a 36-word statement from James representation on July 1, it was announced that James planned to sign a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers. Finally, the Lakers landed a superstar in free agency after seasons of striking out on big names. And not only did they get a superstar, they got one of the games all-time greatest players. The Lakers had the guy they believed could and would lead them back to championship contention. In 2017-18, James, who was 33 when he signed with the Lakers, had one of his best seasons. There was no reason to believe his production would suffer a precipitous decline any time soon. He still has great years remaining. From owner Jeanie Buss to president of basketball operations Magic Johnson to general manager Rob Pelinka to coach Luke Walton, the Lakers had reason to smile. But smiles dont last forever. Not even a season. The roster construction The start of free agency was much better than the rest of free agency for Los Angeles. After James, the Lakers began signing players to one-year deals that resulted in a flawed, head-strong roster with not much reliable three-point shooting: Lance Stephenson, Rajon Rondo, JaVale McGee, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Michael Beasley. James has had outstanding three-point shooters on his roster in making the Finals Mike Miller, Ray Allen, Shane Battier, Kyle Korver, Channing Frye, Kyrie Irving. This Lakers team is lacking that kind of shooter, and it turned out to be a glaring problem as the season unfolded. Remember 2005, last NBA postseason without star CLICK & ROLL: Be first to get exclusive NBA content in your inbox The roster construction was the first sign that 2018-19 could be a lost season for the Lakers as they tried to figure out who among the young players (Ball, Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma and Josh Hart) and veterans would be with the team long-term. All this, while preserving salary cap space for free agents in the summer of 2019. It also was a roster that did not scream playoff appearance in a deep Western Conference despite James presence. Johnson and Pelinka put this roster together and shoulder that burden. The early fight It didnt take long for the Lakers to realize that putting together a cohesive and productive line-up was going to be one heck of a fight. And there was even an actual fight, in only the second game of the season, as James friend Chris Paul and Rondo let their fists fly during the home opener against Houston. 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 Even with James, Los Angeles didnt look much better than its miserable recent past in the opening weeks, losing the first three games and going 2-5 before things began to trend upwards. By then, talk already had begun about what moves would need to be made for the Lakers to become competitive, with Anthony Davis name at the top of the list. But during this phase James firmly was committed to getting the younger core of the team involved, even in late-game scenarios. It may have cost them some early victories, but there was evidence to suggest better times lay ahead. Story continues below gallery Getting it together Into December, James efforts were starting to pay dividends and the Lakers were starting to get into a comfortable and confident rhythm. Kevin Durant had plenty to say, describing the atmosphere around James as toxic and suggesting the media fawning over him would hurt the teams chances of signing big free agents. But in truth, it appeared Durants comments already were outdated. On Dec. 5, James poured in 42 points in a rousing victory over the San Antonio Spurs to push the record to 15-9. Preseason predictions, which almost uniformly hovered around the 48-win mark, began to seem too cautious. Given how much the Lakers had improved in such a short time, plus how well Ball, Ingram and Hart were starting to play, there was a sense that the Lakers might end up with a very respectable position in the playoff seedings, and do some damage when they got there. LeBron James suffered a groin injury during the Christmas Day game against Golden State. The Lakers went 6-11 during his absence. (Photo: Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports) The injury After the injury, came the Tweet. You remember, the one where, after going down hurt against the Golden State Warriors on Christmas Day, James celebrated having dodged a bullet. But it was no simple flesh wound to the Lakers. The reports were sketchy Walton never lent clarity to whether James was likely to return in a day or a month after suffering the groin injury. Maybe he didnt know himself. James eventually sat for 17 games. With him out, the Lakers went 6-11. ZILLGITT: Read my lips - Warriors are fine, even with drama ROGERS:Lakers may not be tanking, but it feels like it During that time the Davis saga reached its peak, as the trade deadline came and went as the Lakers' front office and that of the Pelicans indulged in a phony war that helped no one. Meanwhile, the Lakers game was falling apart. With acrimony swirling, the team drifted down the playoff pecking order. Up until the trade rumors made it seem like virtually the whole roster might be shipped out, morale still was relatively high. But when it fell, it did so drastically and the season started to lose its shape. The collapse James came bouncing out of the All-Star break with enthusiasm, claiming his playoff mode had been activated. Instead, the decline was immediate and extraordinary. A defeat to the motivated Pelicans in the second game back after the break sparked a dismal 1-7 run, and turned the season into a punchline. James colleagues, slighted by the perceived snub of being mere trade bait for Davis, walked around with slumped shoulders and the group played like a team devoid of confidence. James started sniping, with thinly veiled criticisms through the media becoming a consistent norm and, when things didnt change, his body language became that of a frustrated, defeated, and fractious superstar. In rapid order, the Lakers went from having a genuine shot at a low playoff seed to having none. Some of the losses were expected. Others, like against the Phoenix Suns and the dire Memphis Grizzlies, were not. Balls injury didnt help, but it was already too far gone by then. By early March, Ball and Ingram (blood clot) were shut down for the season, and the Lakers announced James would be put on a minutes restriction. The Lakers will be making offseason changes and many believe coach Luke Walton will not return. If acquiring James was necessary last season for the Lakers future, this summer doubles down on what was at stake a year ago. And the Lakers cant afford to lose. They need to add All-Star(s) and quality role players, including the kind of shooting necessary to let James be at his best. They have salary cap space to add a max player and the ability to make a trade to acquire another All-Star perhaps re-engage with New Orleans for Davis. ESPN front-office insider and former Brooklyn Nets executive Bobby Marks echoed Van Gundy, saying no player on the roster, James included, should be off-limits as the Lakers remake the team. In theory, the point makes sense. But the Lakers wanted James and to give up on him one year in based off one poor season with a flawed roster doesnt make sense. And if the Lakers struggled to acquire high-profile free agents before James, jettisoning one of the games all-time greats wouldnt be a good look. Again, Johnson and Pelinka are on the clock. "I would love for the team to be in the postseason," James said Tuesday night. "... But right now, it's not the hand I was dealt, so you play the hand that you were dealt until the dealer shuffles the cards and you're dealt another hand and can do that." Follow Jeff Zillgitt on Twitter @JeffZillgitt and Martin Rogers @RogersJourno | The Los Angeles Lakers are in danger of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. LeBron James has had an up-and-down first year in L.A. The roster construction was the first sign that this could be a lost season. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2019/03/13/lebron-james-lakers-nba-postseason-what-went-wrong/3099129002/ | 0.178688 |
Will Giants finally acknowledge they're rebuilding after Odell Beckham Jr. trade? | CLOSE Art Stapleton discusses the stunning trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. from the NY Giants to the Cleveland Browns for Jabrill Peppers and draft picks. North Jersey Record The hardest sell for the New York Giants right now will be convincing their fans really anyone, for that matter that they are playing to win in 2019 after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. It's OK for Big Blue to admit they are rebuilding. Because that's where we're at in assessing how the Giants move forward without one of the most dynamic players in the NFL following Tuesday night's stunning deal with the Browns in which they got in return a first-round pick, a third-round pick and hometown favorite Jabrill Peppers. They also received the fourth-round pick back from the Browns that they flipped for a fifth-rounder last week in the Olivier Vernon-for-Kevin Zeitler swap. From the outside, the Giants appear to be a team without direction. Ownership and general manager Dave Gettleman are taking heat and in some ways, deservedly so for essentially gutting the current roster of its best players. BECKHAM: Trade gives Browns the offseason championship. MORE: Odell Beckham Jr. trade should have Browns feeling dangerous as NFL playoff contender Damon Harrison. Landon Collins. Vernon. All gone from the defense that is woefully undermanned, even with promising young players like Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, Lorenzo Carter and the newly-acquired Peppers. Then the one that left mouths agape Tuesday, shipping Beckham off to Cleveland in a move that appears to be a preemptive strike against a player whose burning desire to win could ultimately prove to be a distraction during an obvious reclamation project. The Giants were afraid Beckham would let his frustration with Eli Manning and another year of losing get in the way of the big picture. Problem is, that big picture is cloudy at the moment, and fear is not the best way to build a contender. Sep 30, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) reacts during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) There's no question managing Beckham's personality is a challenge, and the beginning of the end of Beckham's tenure with the Giants was the interview he did on ESPN with Lil Wayne seated beside him. Everything changed between Giants coach Pat Shurmur and Beckham then, even if neither allowed the divide to surface publicly. So after living by the old Ernie Accorsi mantra of not giving up on talent, Gettleman gave up Beckham for a player who has yet to reach his potential in Peppers, a first and a third round pick. The haul was far greater than what the Steelers were forced to accept in their divorce from Antonio Brown, but seemingly far less than anticipated for a star like Beckham. The Giants are confident they have made the right move, believing Gettleman will take the group of 12 draft picks he has garnered for this year and methodically fill the holes created by the previous regime of Jerry Reese, Marc Ross, Ben McAdoo and company. At the moment, I'd lean toward Gettleman finding his starting right tackle - maybe Oklahoma's Cody Ford - with the No. 17 pick from the Browns, taking a defensive playmaker at No. 6. But, as we've seen, that could change in a blink. But co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch are responsible with where the Giants find themselves more than anyone. They signed off on all these moves, including the decision to give up on a talent in Beckham Mara himself compared in the past to Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. The Giants are caught between trying to compete with the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins in the NFC East while finding the next quarterback to replace Manning and lead them into the next decade. And let's be honest: they've failed in both of those quests. 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. They're going to pay a 38-year-old franchise legend to hand off to Saquon Barkley 25 times a game, all the while making $23 million, a number that prevents team brass from using $17 million to improve this roster now. That's not what a rebuilding team should do. Let's not forget what Archie Manning told ESPN's Ian O'Connor on the night the miserable 2018 season ended: "If Eli is done playing, I'm fine with it. But if he comes back, the Giants have got to win. They can't go through another season like this." Gettleman scoffed at the sentiment in his post-season news conference, saying he'd heard nothing directly from Eli and Peyton's father. It's pretty evident that, football-wise, the Giants see Manning as their best option on the current roster to be the quarterback, especially from the perspective of a team desperate to turn the corner on five losing seasons in the past six years. If this is truly about the long game here with the Giants, however, and Gettleman is committed to whatever is in the best interests of the franchise and his promise to "build sustained success," there needs to be serious discussion about where Manning fits. You can't build sustained success by not being bold. Forget sentimentality. Don't worry about what the fans or media may think about the decisions that need to be made. Win everyone over by winning again. That's what the Giants believe are positioned to do. Beckham's gone, and with him goes another player whose problems of an entire organization were blamed. You bet. With Beckham gone, the Giants have taken yet another step toward a new future. That future is as uncertain for the Giants today as it has been for decades. What comes next defines the franchise for years to come. Team brass can only hope the unknown with Barkley leading the way and little else around him turns out far better than what the empty reality appears to be right now. Email: stapleton@northjersey.com | It's OK for the Giants to admit they are rebuilding after Odell Beckham Jr. trade. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2019/03/13/odell-beckham-jr-trade-giants-rebuild-eli-manning/3150229002/ | 0.241628 |
Will Giants finally acknowledge they're rebuilding after Odell Beckham Jr. trade? | CLOSE Art Stapleton discusses the stunning trade that sent Odell Beckham Jr. from the NY Giants to the Cleveland Browns for Jabrill Peppers and draft picks. North Jersey Record The hardest sell for the New York Giants right now will be convincing their fans really anyone, for that matter that they are playing to win in 2019 after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. It's OK for Big Blue to admit they are rebuilding. Because that's where we're at in assessing how the Giants move forward without one of the most dynamic players in the NFL following Tuesday night's stunning deal with the Browns in which they got in return a first-round pick, a third-round pick and hometown favorite Jabrill Peppers. They also received the fourth-round pick back from the Browns that they flipped for a fifth-rounder last week in the Olivier Vernon-for-Kevin Zeitler swap. From the outside, the Giants appear to be a team without direction. Ownership and general manager Dave Gettleman are taking heat and in some ways, deservedly so for essentially gutting the current roster of its best players. BECKHAM: Trade gives Browns the offseason championship. MORE: Odell Beckham Jr. trade should have Browns feeling dangerous as NFL playoff contender Damon Harrison. Landon Collins. Vernon. All gone from the defense that is woefully undermanned, even with promising young players like Dalvin Tomlinson, B.J. Hill, Lorenzo Carter and the newly-acquired Peppers. Then the one that left mouths agape Tuesday, shipping Beckham off to Cleveland in a move that appears to be a preemptive strike against a player whose burning desire to win could ultimately prove to be a distraction during an obvious reclamation project. The Giants were afraid Beckham would let his frustration with Eli Manning and another year of losing get in the way of the big picture. Problem is, that big picture is cloudy at the moment, and fear is not the best way to build a contender. Sep 30, 2018; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. (13) reacts during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports (Photo: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports) There's no question managing Beckham's personality is a challenge, and the beginning of the end of Beckham's tenure with the Giants was the interview he did on ESPN with Lil Wayne seated beside him. Everything changed between Giants coach Pat Shurmur and Beckham then, even if neither allowed the divide to surface publicly. So after living by the old Ernie Accorsi mantra of not giving up on talent, Gettleman gave up Beckham for a player who has yet to reach his potential in Peppers, a first and a third round pick. The haul was far greater than what the Steelers were forced to accept in their divorce from Antonio Brown, but seemingly far less than anticipated for a star like Beckham. The Giants are confident they have made the right move, believing Gettleman will take the group of 12 draft picks he has garnered for this year and methodically fill the holes created by the previous regime of Jerry Reese, Marc Ross, Ben McAdoo and company. At the moment, I'd lean toward Gettleman finding his starting right tackle - maybe Oklahoma's Cody Ford - with the No. 17 pick from the Browns, taking a defensive playmaker at No. 6. But, as we've seen, that could change in a blink. But co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch are responsible with where the Giants find themselves more than anyone. They signed off on all these moves, including the decision to give up on a talent in Beckham Mara himself compared in the past to Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor. The Giants are caught between trying to compete with the Eagles, Cowboys and Redskins in the NFC East while finding the next quarterback to replace Manning and lead them into the next decade. And let's be honest: they've failed in both of those quests. 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. They're going to pay a 38-year-old franchise legend to hand off to Saquon Barkley 25 times a game, all the while making $23 million, a number that prevents team brass from using $17 million to improve this roster now. That's not what a rebuilding team should do. Let's not forget what Archie Manning told ESPN's Ian O'Connor on the night the miserable 2018 season ended: "If Eli is done playing, I'm fine with it. But if he comes back, the Giants have got to win. They can't go through another season like this." Gettleman scoffed at the sentiment in his post-season news conference, saying he'd heard nothing directly from Eli and Peyton's father. It's pretty evident that, football-wise, the Giants see Manning as their best option on the current roster to be the quarterback, especially from the perspective of a team desperate to turn the corner on five losing seasons in the past six years. If this is truly about the long game here with the Giants, however, and Gettleman is committed to whatever is in the best interests of the franchise and his promise to "build sustained success," there needs to be serious discussion about where Manning fits. You can't build sustained success by not being bold. Forget sentimentality. Don't worry about what the fans or media may think about the decisions that need to be made. Win everyone over by winning again. That's what the Giants believe are positioned to do. Beckham's gone, and with him goes another player whose problems of an entire organization were blamed. You bet. With Beckham gone, the Giants have taken yet another step toward a new future. That future is as uncertain for the Giants today as it has been for decades. What comes next defines the franchise for years to come. Team brass can only hope the unknown with Barkley leading the way and little else around him turns out far better than what the empty reality appears to be right now. Email: stapleton@northjersey.com | It's OK for the New York Giants to admit they are rebuilding after the Odell Beckham Jr. trade. The Giants are confident they have made the right move, believing Gettleman will take the group of 12 draft picks he has garnered for this year and methodically fill the holes. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/giants/2019/03/13/odell-beckham-jr-trade-giants-rebuild-eli-manning/3150229002/ | 0.557395 |
What will Latavius Murrays rushing total be with Saints? | The New Orleans Saints for the last two seasons had Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara share rushing duties from out of the backfield. Now, with Ingram on the way out as an unrestricted free agent, the Saints are set to put Minnesota Vikings free agent running back Latavius Murray in his place. The big question now is if Murray can fill the void left by the former first-round drafted running back out Alabama. Last season, Murray rushed 140 times for 578 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games with a yards-per-carry average of 4.1. Ingram, who missed four games due to a PED suspension at the start of the season, rushed 138 times for 645 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. That amounted to an average of 11.5 carries per game and 4.7 yards per attempt. Provided the Saints use Murray at the same rate they used Ingram, and if Murray continues to rush for 4.1 yards per carry like he did with the Vikings, his season rushing total would amount to 754.4 yards. Thats a higher rushing total than the over/under projection at betonline.ag that has Murray at 725.5 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the season. That rushing total does not include whatever yards Murray gains on passes. The 29-year-old has 128 career receptions for 883 yards. His career-high reception total of 41 came in his 2015 Pro Bowl season in which he posted the only 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. Playing in a Saints offense that frequently turned to Ingram for pass-catching chances, it seems reasonable to think Murray will also be asked to fulfill that duty. | Latavius Murray will replace Mark Ingram as the New Orleans Saints' running back. Murray rushed for 578 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games with a yards-per-carry average of 4.1. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/03/what-will-latavius-murrays-rushing-total-be-with-saints.html | 0.440169 |
What will Latavius Murrays rushing total be with Saints? | The New Orleans Saints for the last two seasons had Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara share rushing duties from out of the backfield. Now, with Ingram on the way out as an unrestricted free agent, the Saints are set to put Minnesota Vikings free agent running back Latavius Murray in his place. The big question now is if Murray can fill the void left by the former first-round drafted running back out Alabama. Last season, Murray rushed 140 times for 578 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games with a yards-per-carry average of 4.1. Ingram, who missed four games due to a PED suspension at the start of the season, rushed 138 times for 645 yards and six touchdowns in 12 games. That amounted to an average of 11.5 carries per game and 4.7 yards per attempt. Provided the Saints use Murray at the same rate they used Ingram, and if Murray continues to rush for 4.1 yards per carry like he did with the Vikings, his season rushing total would amount to 754.4 yards. Thats a higher rushing total than the over/under projection at betonline.ag that has Murray at 725.5 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the season. That rushing total does not include whatever yards Murray gains on passes. The 29-year-old has 128 career receptions for 883 yards. His career-high reception total of 41 came in his 2015 Pro Bowl season in which he posted the only 1,000-yard rushing season of his career. Playing in a Saints offense that frequently turned to Ingram for pass-catching chances, it seems reasonable to think Murray will also be asked to fulfill that duty. | Latavius Murray will replace Mark Ingram as the New Orleans Saints' running back. Murray rushed for 578 yards and six touchdowns in 16 games last season with a yards-per-carry average of 4.1. The 29-year-old has 128 career receptions for 883 yards. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/saints/2019/03/what-will-latavius-murrays-rushing-total-be-with-saints.html | 0.43288 |
Are the Jaguars going to the Super Bowl with Nick Foles? | Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles has found a new home. The quarterback-starved Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly giving him $88 million over four years for his services. With Foles at the helm, a top running back and one of the best defenses in the NFL, many fans think the team is Super Bowl bound. Others think the team wont live up to expectations and Foles isnt the man to save the team. They call him Saint Nick for a reason. Nick Foles is a legend in Philadelphia after guiding the Eagles to a Super Bowl win two seasons. A year ago, he replaced Carson Wentz with five games left in the season and went 4-1. He is the steady hand the Jaguars need in order to take that next step. Jacksonville already has Leonard Fournette and a top-five defense. All that was missing was a quarterback who could make plays. Foles is that guy. Jags Super Bowl. Book it. Lauren Joffe (@thespinzone) March 11, 2019 Winning a Super Bowl is well and good, but people don't seem to realize that was just one incredible game. Take away that game and you have a pretty mediocre quarterback with an elite offense that carried the team to a Super Bowl. Foles might be more accurate, but he still doesn't have a big arman attribute Bortles was routinely criticized for. Last season, Foles threw for 7.2 yards per attempt. Bortles threw for 6.8. Hes not going to be the savior everyone thinks he is. Opinion: By signing Nick Foles, Jaguars making same mistake all over again 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. | The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles. The team is giving him $88 million over four years, according to reports. He replaced Carson Wentz in Philadelphia and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/are-the-jaguars-going-to-the-super-bowl-with-nick-foles.html | 0.215177 |
Are the Jaguars going to the Super Bowl with Nick Foles? | Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles has found a new home. The quarterback-starved Jacksonville Jaguars are reportedly giving him $88 million over four years for his services. With Foles at the helm, a top running back and one of the best defenses in the NFL, many fans think the team is Super Bowl bound. Others think the team wont live up to expectations and Foles isnt the man to save the team. They call him Saint Nick for a reason. Nick Foles is a legend in Philadelphia after guiding the Eagles to a Super Bowl win two seasons. A year ago, he replaced Carson Wentz with five games left in the season and went 4-1. He is the steady hand the Jaguars need in order to take that next step. Jacksonville already has Leonard Fournette and a top-five defense. All that was missing was a quarterback who could make plays. Foles is that guy. Jags Super Bowl. Book it. Lauren Joffe (@thespinzone) March 11, 2019 Winning a Super Bowl is well and good, but people don't seem to realize that was just one incredible game. Take away that game and you have a pretty mediocre quarterback with an elite offense that carried the team to a Super Bowl. Foles might be more accurate, but he still doesn't have a big arman attribute Bortles was routinely criticized for. Last season, Foles threw for 7.2 yards per attempt. Bortles threw for 6.8. Hes not going to be the savior everyone thinks he is. Opinion: By signing Nick Foles, Jaguars making same mistake all over again 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. | The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed Super Bowl-winning quarterback Nick Foles. The team is giving him $88 million over four years, according to reports. He replaced Carson Wentz in Philadelphia and led the Eagles to a Super Bowl win. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/are-the-jaguars-going-to-the-super-bowl-with-nick-foles.html | 0.283722 |
What will be decided in UK parliament's latest Brexit votes? | LONDON (Reuters) - Britains parliament will later on Wednesday decide whether parliament wants to rule out leaving the European Union without an exit deal on March 29, or if a so-called no-deal Brexit should become government policy. FILE PHOTO: Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters stand outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo The vote comes a day after Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal was voted down for a second time in parliament, and could open the door to a vote on Thursday on whether or not to delay Britains EU departure. Lawmakers have submitted alternative proposals - known as amendments - for the next steps on Brexit, which could also be voted upon later. Voting is expected to begin around 1900 GMT (3 p.m. ET). Any amendments which are selected by the speaker will be voted upon one by one. If any amendments pass, they will either alter the wording of the government plan, or replace it entirely with an alternative. If all the amendments fail, the government proposal will be voted upon last. Below are details of the key votes: GOVERNMENT MOTION The government statement, which will be the basis of the debate, says two things: 1) That parliament rejects leaving the EU without a deal on March 29 2) notes that leaving without a deal remains the legal default unless a deal is agreed. May told her party that they would be able to vote according to their conscience on this motion, instead of imposing a party instruction to vote for or against it. MANAGED NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment is supported by lawmakers from across the spectrum of views within Mays Conservative party, and also has support of the deputy leader of the Northern Irish party that helps keep her minority government in power. It is a plan to try to mitigate the consequences of leaving without a deal by: 1) Seeking to agree with the EU to delay Brexit until 2259 GMT on May 22 this year in order to allow businesses to prepare for a new tariff regime. 2) Seeking a series of standstill agreements with the EU to effectively create a transition period in which little would change. This period would be used to negotiate a permanent future relationship with the EU. The standstill would not extend beyond the end of Dec. 2021, and Britain would agree to make payments to the EU during this time. 3) Calling on the government to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU citizens resident in Britain. The EU has already said the only way Britain can have a transition period is through a negotiated withdrawal agreement, and has rejected the idea of other case-by-case deals to have the same effect. Nevertheless, the idea is popular within Mays party as a way to unify the pro-EU and euroskeptic wings of her party. The government has previously engaged with the idea, which is part of a plan known previously as the Malthouse Compromise, but it has not become official policy. Conservative lawmakers will be allowed to vote according to their conscience on this amendment. NO MORE NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment has support from lawmakers in several parties, including Mays Conservatives, and simplifies the government motion in an attempt to rule out a no-deal exit under any scenario. | UK parliament to vote on whether to rule out a no-deal exit from the EU. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-amendments-factbox/what-will-be-decided-in-uk-parliaments-latest-brexit-votes-idUSKBN1QU25A?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.18555 |
What will be decided in UK parliament's latest Brexit votes? | LONDON (Reuters) - Britains parliament will later on Wednesday decide whether parliament wants to rule out leaving the European Union without an exit deal on March 29, or if a so-called no-deal Brexit should become government policy. FILE PHOTO: Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters stand outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo The vote comes a day after Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal was voted down for a second time in parliament, and could open the door to a vote on Thursday on whether or not to delay Britains EU departure. Lawmakers have submitted alternative proposals - known as amendments - for the next steps on Brexit, which could also be voted upon later. Voting is expected to begin around 1900 GMT (3 p.m. ET). Any amendments which are selected by the speaker will be voted upon one by one. If any amendments pass, they will either alter the wording of the government plan, or replace it entirely with an alternative. If all the amendments fail, the government proposal will be voted upon last. Below are details of the key votes: GOVERNMENT MOTION The government statement, which will be the basis of the debate, says two things: 1) That parliament rejects leaving the EU without a deal on March 29 2) notes that leaving without a deal remains the legal default unless a deal is agreed. May told her party that they would be able to vote according to their conscience on this motion, instead of imposing a party instruction to vote for or against it. MANAGED NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment is supported by lawmakers from across the spectrum of views within Mays Conservative party, and also has support of the deputy leader of the Northern Irish party that helps keep her minority government in power. It is a plan to try to mitigate the consequences of leaving without a deal by: 1) Seeking to agree with the EU to delay Brexit until 2259 GMT on May 22 this year in order to allow businesses to prepare for a new tariff regime. 2) Seeking a series of standstill agreements with the EU to effectively create a transition period in which little would change. This period would be used to negotiate a permanent future relationship with the EU. The standstill would not extend beyond the end of Dec. 2021, and Britain would agree to make payments to the EU during this time. 3) Calling on the government to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU citizens resident in Britain. The EU has already said the only way Britain can have a transition period is through a negotiated withdrawal agreement, and has rejected the idea of other case-by-case deals to have the same effect. Nevertheless, the idea is popular within Mays party as a way to unify the pro-EU and euroskeptic wings of her party. The government has previously engaged with the idea, which is part of a plan known previously as the Malthouse Compromise, but it has not become official policy. Conservative lawmakers will be allowed to vote according to their conscience on this amendment. NO MORE NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment has support from lawmakers in several parties, including Mays Conservatives, and simplifies the government motion in an attempt to rule out a no-deal exit under any scenario. | UK parliament to vote on whether to rule out a no-deal exit from the EU. Vote comes a day after PM Theresa Mays Brexit deal was voted down for a second time. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-amendments-factbox/what-will-be-decided-in-uk-parliaments-latest-brexit-votes-idUSKBN1QU25A?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.205334 |
What will be decided in UK parliament's latest Brexit votes? | LONDON (Reuters) - Britains parliament will later on Wednesday decide whether parliament wants to rule out leaving the European Union without an exit deal on March 29, or if a so-called no-deal Brexit should become government policy. FILE PHOTO: Pro-Brexit and anti-Brexit protesters stand outside of the Houses of Parliament in London, Britain, February 27, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo The vote comes a day after Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal was voted down for a second time in parliament, and could open the door to a vote on Thursday on whether or not to delay Britains EU departure. Lawmakers have submitted alternative proposals - known as amendments - for the next steps on Brexit, which could also be voted upon later. Voting is expected to begin around 1900 GMT (3 p.m. ET). Any amendments which are selected by the speaker will be voted upon one by one. If any amendments pass, they will either alter the wording of the government plan, or replace it entirely with an alternative. If all the amendments fail, the government proposal will be voted upon last. Below are details of the key votes: GOVERNMENT MOTION The government statement, which will be the basis of the debate, says two things: 1) That parliament rejects leaving the EU without a deal on March 29 2) notes that leaving without a deal remains the legal default unless a deal is agreed. May told her party that they would be able to vote according to their conscience on this motion, instead of imposing a party instruction to vote for or against it. MANAGED NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment is supported by lawmakers from across the spectrum of views within Mays Conservative party, and also has support of the deputy leader of the Northern Irish party that helps keep her minority government in power. It is a plan to try to mitigate the consequences of leaving without a deal by: 1) Seeking to agree with the EU to delay Brexit until 2259 GMT on May 22 this year in order to allow businesses to prepare for a new tariff regime. 2) Seeking a series of standstill agreements with the EU to effectively create a transition period in which little would change. This period would be used to negotiate a permanent future relationship with the EU. The standstill would not extend beyond the end of Dec. 2021, and Britain would agree to make payments to the EU during this time. 3) Calling on the government to unilaterally guarantee the rights of EU citizens resident in Britain. The EU has already said the only way Britain can have a transition period is through a negotiated withdrawal agreement, and has rejected the idea of other case-by-case deals to have the same effect. Nevertheless, the idea is popular within Mays party as a way to unify the pro-EU and euroskeptic wings of her party. The government has previously engaged with the idea, which is part of a plan known previously as the Malthouse Compromise, but it has not become official policy. Conservative lawmakers will be allowed to vote according to their conscience on this amendment. NO MORE NO-DEAL BREXIT This amendment has support from lawmakers in several parties, including Mays Conservatives, and simplifies the government motion in an attempt to rule out a no-deal exit under any scenario. | Britains parliament will later on Wednesday decide whether parliament wants to rule out leaving the European Union without an exit deal. The vote comes a day after Prime Minister Theresa Mays deal was voted down for a second time in parliament. It could open the door to a vote on Thursday on whether or not to delay Britains EU departure. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-eu-amendments-factbox/what-will-be-decided-in-uk-parliaments-latest-brexit-votes-idUSKBN1QU25A?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuters+World+News%29 | 0.249291 |
Can grandchildren get Social Security benefits? | Simply Moneys Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner (Photo: Provided by Simply Money Advisors) This spring, Simply Money Advisors is becoming Allworth Financial. As we expand our services to better meet your retirement planning needs, we needed a name that encompasses all that we are. Dont worry. Well still deliver our same no-nonsense money advice every week in the Simply Money column, presented by Allworth Financial. C.S. in Clermont County: Im 63, claiming Social Security ($1,000 a month), and have legal custody of my granddaughter (who is 5 years old). Answer: One type of Social Security benefit is called a survivor benefit, and while this usually refers to a surviving spouse, there are circumstances in which a grandchild can receive this money. But certain criteria must be met. The first criteria, according to the Social Security Administration, is that the grandchilds biological parents must be deceased or disabled, or the grandparent must have legally adopted the grandchild. The second is that the grandchild also must have started living with the grandparent before age 18. The third criteria revolves around timing (like so many things related to Social Security), so were going to quote this directly from the Social Securitys website: The grandchild must have [] received at least one half of his or her support from the grandparent for the year before the month the grandparent became entitled to retirement or disability insurance benefits, or died. And finally, the biological parents cant be making any regular financial contributions to the child. If all these qualifications are met, a grandchild can usually collect the survivor benefit until either age 18 or 19. This is typically about 75 percent of the grandparents full benefit (though restrictions can apply). If not, youll have to legally adopt your granddaughter for her to claim a survivor benefit once youve passed (assuming you meet all the other qualifications as well). Heres The Simply Money Point: Given your unique situation, we highly recommend consulting with the Social Security Administration (theyll be able to go into more detail with you). Visit ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. CLOSE Simply Money Advisors discuss the disappearance of credit card perks Simply Money, Cincinnati Enquirer Jeremy from Cincinnati: My wife is a stay-at-home mom. Answer: Yes. Your wife can contribute to something called a spousal IRA, though its technically not an actual type of account. What were referring to is a regular, old IRA (either a traditional IRA or Roth IRA) that would be opened in your wifes name (it is not a joint account). Then, as long as the two of you file your taxes jointly, you can contribute to her IRA up to the annual contribution limit ($6,000 for 2019 if youre younger than 50). You can still contribute to your own IRA as well. Just make sure you have earned income that is at least equal to the total amount youre contributing to both IRAs. In your case, if youre looking to lower your taxable income, youll want to set up a traditional IRA in your wifes name. However, understand that traditional IRAs come with rules that can impact how much of your contributions can actually be deducted. For instance, if you (as the working spouse) dont participate in an employer-sponsored plan (such as a 401(k)), your full spousal IRA contribution is deductible. If you do participate, the deduction could be reduced, phased out, or eliminated completely. Plus, there are income eligibility rules. Properly navigating these rules is why working with a credentialed financial advisor can be beneficial. NEWSLETTERS Get the Business Report newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get top business headlines at the start of each day and be alerted of important business news as it happens. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-876-4500. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Business Report Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters The Simply Money Point is that opening a spousal IRA is a great way to help increase the amount of money the two of you set aside for retirement. And every little bit helps. Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendation in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, financial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney. Nathan Bachrach and his team offer financial planning services through Simply Money Advisors, a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Call (513) 469-7500 or email simplymoney@simplymoneyadvisors.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/03/13/can-grandchildren-get-social-security-benefits/3149821002/ | There are circumstances in which a grandchild can receive a Social Security benefit. The Social Security Administration says certain criteria must be met. | bart | 0 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/03/13/can-grandchildren-get-social-security-benefits/3149821002/ | 0.297399 |
Can grandchildren get Social Security benefits? | Simply Moneys Nathan Bachrach and Amy Wagner (Photo: Provided by Simply Money Advisors) This spring, Simply Money Advisors is becoming Allworth Financial. As we expand our services to better meet your retirement planning needs, we needed a name that encompasses all that we are. Dont worry. Well still deliver our same no-nonsense money advice every week in the Simply Money column, presented by Allworth Financial. C.S. in Clermont County: Im 63, claiming Social Security ($1,000 a month), and have legal custody of my granddaughter (who is 5 years old). Answer: One type of Social Security benefit is called a survivor benefit, and while this usually refers to a surviving spouse, there are circumstances in which a grandchild can receive this money. But certain criteria must be met. The first criteria, according to the Social Security Administration, is that the grandchilds biological parents must be deceased or disabled, or the grandparent must have legally adopted the grandchild. The second is that the grandchild also must have started living with the grandparent before age 18. The third criteria revolves around timing (like so many things related to Social Security), so were going to quote this directly from the Social Securitys website: The grandchild must have [] received at least one half of his or her support from the grandparent for the year before the month the grandparent became entitled to retirement or disability insurance benefits, or died. And finally, the biological parents cant be making any regular financial contributions to the child. If all these qualifications are met, a grandchild can usually collect the survivor benefit until either age 18 or 19. This is typically about 75 percent of the grandparents full benefit (though restrictions can apply). If not, youll have to legally adopt your granddaughter for her to claim a survivor benefit once youve passed (assuming you meet all the other qualifications as well). Heres The Simply Money Point: Given your unique situation, we highly recommend consulting with the Social Security Administration (theyll be able to go into more detail with you). Visit ssa.gov or call 1-800-772-1213. CLOSE Simply Money Advisors discuss the disappearance of credit card perks Simply Money, Cincinnati Enquirer Jeremy from Cincinnati: My wife is a stay-at-home mom. Answer: Yes. Your wife can contribute to something called a spousal IRA, though its technically not an actual type of account. What were referring to is a regular, old IRA (either a traditional IRA or Roth IRA) that would be opened in your wifes name (it is not a joint account). Then, as long as the two of you file your taxes jointly, you can contribute to her IRA up to the annual contribution limit ($6,000 for 2019 if youre younger than 50). You can still contribute to your own IRA as well. Just make sure you have earned income that is at least equal to the total amount youre contributing to both IRAs. In your case, if youre looking to lower your taxable income, youll want to set up a traditional IRA in your wifes name. However, understand that traditional IRAs come with rules that can impact how much of your contributions can actually be deducted. For instance, if you (as the working spouse) dont participate in an employer-sponsored plan (such as a 401(k)), your full spousal IRA contribution is deductible. If you do participate, the deduction could be reduced, phased out, or eliminated completely. Plus, there are income eligibility rules. Properly navigating these rules is why working with a credentialed financial advisor can be beneficial. NEWSLETTERS Get the Business Report newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get top business headlines at the start of each day and be alerted of important business news as it happens. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-876-4500. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Business Report Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters The Simply Money Point is that opening a spousal IRA is a great way to help increase the amount of money the two of you set aside for retirement. And every little bit helps. Responses are for informational purposes only and individuals should consider whether any general recommendation in these responses are suitable for their particular circumstances based on investment objectives, financial situation and needs. To the extent that a reader has any questions regarding the applicability of any specific issue discussed above to his/her individual situation, he/she is encouraged to consult with the professional advisor of his/her choosing, including a tax advisor and/or attorney. Nathan Bachrach and his team offer financial planning services through Simply Money Advisors, a SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Call (513) 469-7500 or email simplymoney@simplymoneyadvisors.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/03/13/can-grandchildren-get-social-security-benefits/3149821002/ | There are circumstances in which a grandchild can receive a Social Security benefit. The Social Security Administration says certain criteria must be met. Your wife can contribute to something called a spousal IRA, though its technically not an actual type of account. | bart | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/money/2019/03/13/can-grandchildren-get-social-security-benefits/3149821002/ | 0.350967 |
Which airlines are still flying the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (and which aren't)? | Boeings 737 MAX 8 remains in the news this week following the crash of one of the jets in Ethiopia on Sunday. American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8 version that was involved in two recent crashes. United also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, though it has only the the larger MAX 9 version. The latest came around midday Wednesday, when Canada moved to ground the 737 MAX from its airspace. "This safety notice restricts commercial passenger flights from any air operator, both domestic and foreign, of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft from arriving, departing, or overflying Canadian airspace," Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement to the CBC Wednesday. With that, the only carriers still flying the jet are now in the U.S., where the Federal Aviation Administration continues to say it has no conclusive evidence to ground the jet. Heres a rundown of whos flying the 737 MAX 8 and whos not, plus who is flying the similar MAX 9. Only carriers that currently have 737 MAX jets in their fleets are listed. The data was gathered from a combination of government announcements, airline announcements, local press reports and information from the aviation site ch-aviation.com that specializes in aviation schedules and data. (Data accurate as of March 13, 2019). North America Grounded: Air Canada, Aeromexico, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines of Panama (MAX 9s only), Sunwing Airlines of Canada and WestJet of Canada. In use: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines (MAX 9s only) Europe Grounded: Air Italy, Enter Air, Icelandair, LOT, Norwegian, Smartwings, S7, TUI fly, Turkish Airlines. In use: None. South America Grounded: Aerolineas Argentina, GOL Airlines In use: None. Asia Grounded: 9 Air, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Corendon Airlines, Eastar Jet, FlyDubai, Fuzhou Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kunming Airlines, Lion Air, Lucky Air, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Okay Airways, Oman Air, SCAT Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzen Airlines, Silk Air, SpiceJet, Thai Lion Air*, Xiamen Airlines. In use: None. *Thai Lion Air suspension effective March 14 through March 20, according to ch-aviation.com. Australia/New Zealand/Oceania Grounded:Fiji Airways. In use: None. Africa Grounded: Comair (flies under British Airways brand), Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc. In use: None. TBD: Mauritania Airlines has one Max 8, but ch.aviation.com says it has been inactive since March 12. An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 takes off from Miami International Airport on Feb. 23, 2019. (Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY) Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8. United Airlines also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | 0.59175 |
Which airlines are still flying the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (and which aren't)? | Boeings 737 MAX 8 remains in the news this week following the crash of one of the jets in Ethiopia on Sunday. American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8 version that was involved in two recent crashes. United also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, though it has only the the larger MAX 9 version. The latest came around midday Wednesday, when Canada moved to ground the 737 MAX from its airspace. "This safety notice restricts commercial passenger flights from any air operator, both domestic and foreign, of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft from arriving, departing, or overflying Canadian airspace," Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement to the CBC Wednesday. With that, the only carriers still flying the jet are now in the U.S., where the Federal Aviation Administration continues to say it has no conclusive evidence to ground the jet. Heres a rundown of whos flying the 737 MAX 8 and whos not, plus who is flying the similar MAX 9. Only carriers that currently have 737 MAX jets in their fleets are listed. The data was gathered from a combination of government announcements, airline announcements, local press reports and information from the aviation site ch-aviation.com that specializes in aviation schedules and data. (Data accurate as of March 13, 2019). North America Grounded: Air Canada, Aeromexico, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines of Panama (MAX 9s only), Sunwing Airlines of Canada and WestJet of Canada. In use: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines (MAX 9s only) Europe Grounded: Air Italy, Enter Air, Icelandair, LOT, Norwegian, Smartwings, S7, TUI fly, Turkish Airlines. In use: None. South America Grounded: Aerolineas Argentina, GOL Airlines In use: None. Asia Grounded: 9 Air, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Corendon Airlines, Eastar Jet, FlyDubai, Fuzhou Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kunming Airlines, Lion Air, Lucky Air, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Okay Airways, Oman Air, SCAT Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzen Airlines, Silk Air, SpiceJet, Thai Lion Air*, Xiamen Airlines. In use: None. *Thai Lion Air suspension effective March 14 through March 20, according to ch-aviation.com. Australia/New Zealand/Oceania Grounded:Fiji Airways. In use: None. Africa Grounded: Comair (flies under British Airways brand), Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc. In use: None. TBD: Mauritania Airlines has one Max 8, but ch.aviation.com says it has been inactive since March 12. An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 takes off from Miami International Airport on Feb. 23, 2019. (Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY) Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8. United Airlines also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, though it has only the the larger MAX 9 version. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | 0.617117 |
Which airlines are still flying the Boeing 737 MAX 8 (and which aren't)? | Boeings 737 MAX 8 remains in the news this week following the crash of one of the jets in Ethiopia on Sunday. American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8 version that was involved in two recent crashes. United also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, though it has only the the larger MAX 9 version. The latest came around midday Wednesday, when Canada moved to ground the 737 MAX from its airspace. "This safety notice restricts commercial passenger flights from any air operator, both domestic and foreign, of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 9 aircraft from arriving, departing, or overflying Canadian airspace," Transport Minister Marc Garneau said in a statement to the CBC Wednesday. With that, the only carriers still flying the jet are now in the U.S., where the Federal Aviation Administration continues to say it has no conclusive evidence to ground the jet. Heres a rundown of whos flying the 737 MAX 8 and whos not, plus who is flying the similar MAX 9. Only carriers that currently have 737 MAX jets in their fleets are listed. The data was gathered from a combination of government announcements, airline announcements, local press reports and information from the aviation site ch-aviation.com that specializes in aviation schedules and data. (Data accurate as of March 13, 2019). North America Grounded: Air Canada, Aeromexico, Cayman Airways, Copa Airlines of Panama (MAX 9s only), Sunwing Airlines of Canada and WestJet of Canada. In use: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines (MAX 9s only) Europe Grounded: Air Italy, Enter Air, Icelandair, LOT, Norwegian, Smartwings, S7, TUI fly, Turkish Airlines. In use: None. South America Grounded: Aerolineas Argentina, GOL Airlines In use: None. Asia Grounded: 9 Air, Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, Corendon Airlines, Eastar Jet, FlyDubai, Fuzhou Airlines, Garuda Indonesia, Hainan Airlines, Jet Airways, Kunming Airlines, Lion Air, Lucky Air, MIAT Mongolian Airlines, Okay Airways, Oman Air, SCAT Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Shenzen Airlines, Silk Air, SpiceJet, Thai Lion Air*, Xiamen Airlines. In use: None. *Thai Lion Air suspension effective March 14 through March 20, according to ch-aviation.com. Australia/New Zealand/Oceania Grounded:Fiji Airways. In use: None. Africa Grounded: Comair (flies under British Airways brand), Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc. In use: None. TBD: Mauritania Airlines has one Max 8, but ch.aviation.com says it has been inactive since March 12. An American Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 takes off from Miami International Airport on Feb. 23, 2019. (Photo: Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY) Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | American Airlines and Southwest are now the world's only carriers flying the 737 MAX 8. United Airlines also has Boeing 737 MAX jets in its fleet, though it has only the the larger MAX 9 version. The FAA continues to say it has no conclusive evidence to ground the jet. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2019/03/13/boeing-737-max-8-southwest-american-airlines-flying-jet/3150296002/ | 0.656015 |
Can Shawn Robinson replace Kelly Bryant as Mizzou QB in 2020? | Barry Odom and Shawn Robinson never thought the two would wind up on the same sidelines. When Robinson, the former TCU quarterback, announced he was transferring in fall 2018, Missouri wasnt a school he expected to look at. In Odoms case, he was more concerned with landing a successor to Drew Lock than a player who would have to sit out a year as a transfer. Then the Tigers landed Kelly Bryant in early December and captured Robinsons attention. Woah, I wonder what theyre doing, Robinson said of Bryants commitment to MU. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Kansas City Star Suddenly, Robinson found himself taking in an MU bowl practice a few days after Bryants commitment and was sold on offensive coordinator Derek Dooleys vision for the offense and his position. Now Missouri appears set at quarterback for years to come. Robinson will have to sit out the upcoming season because of NCAA transfer rules, which is when Bryant will be under center. Hell have two years of eligibility remaining. A four-star recruit and Army All-American out of high school, Odom said Robinson fell into their lap and was too good of a recruit for MU to pass on in December. The 6-foot-1 signal-caller played high school ball at DeSoto in Texas, a national powerhouse that has produced former MU running back Marcus Murphy, and more recently, offensive tackle Hyrin White. White was Robinsons right tackle at DeSoto and said he feels like hes back in high school since he started blocking for him in practice. DeSoto ran a similar offense to MUs. Robinson said Whites presence has been a huge relief for him because he came to Columbia with a friend already in town. He can do anything, White said. From throwing to running the ball, hes very efficient. As a sophomore, Robinson threw for 1,334 yards and nine touchdowns with eight interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes. Robinsons addition made for a logjam at quarterback because MU already had Micah Wilson, Jack Lowary, Taylor Powell and Lindsey Scott Jr. in the room before taking Robinson and Bryant. Missouri also signed Ohio quarterback Connor Bazelak. Wilson has since switched to wide receiver and Lowary is now a student assistant. Odom praised Dooley for his handling of the quarterback attrition during Bryant and Robinsons recruitments. Were always going to try and improve our roster, Dooley said. We tell our players that. In doing so the quarterback position is always a sensitive deal because theres only one that can play at a time. Its rare you see three five-star quarterbacks sign with a school. Robinson wont see the field until 2020 and will still have to beat out Bazelak before being named the successor to Bryant. He plans to use the year off rehabbing his shoulder, which he recently had surgery on, and learning MUs offense. Dooley considers a transfer year a time to look back and learn from past mistakes, so Robinson can put all his time into running the team and not worrying about his mechanics. Its a good developmental year to catch his breath, he said. And reflect on some things that he could have done a better job at. | Shawn Robinson will have to sit out the upcoming season because of NCAA transfer rules. He'll have to beat out Ohio quarterback Connor Bazelak before being named the successor to Kelly Bryant. Robinson won't see the field until 2020 and will still have to beat out Bazelak before being named the successor to Bryant. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/sec/university-of-missouri/article227494144.html | 0.274035 |
Does Elizabeth Warren Have A Point About Technology Oligarchies? | First, if at all possible, try to neutralize your feelings about Elizabeth Warren (or any politician, for that matter), and concentrate on the data that supports or undermines the argument shes making. Note also that shes not the first to call attention to the growing technology oligarchy and its effect on innovation, pricing, access and a host of outcomes that economists and even politicians have described for well over a hundred years. Heres what the landscape looks like: Most of us learned in school that the best capitalist systems protect the right of everyone to compete on level playing fields because the competition is good for markets and therefore society. According to Elizabeth Warren, "when someone gets market dominance, they destroy competition. The world that gave them birth, to get the opportunity to go and grow and do something, [the company] has grown big enough to destroy everything around it." She goes on to say that "Amazon, Facebook, and Google are referred to by venture capitalists as the kill zone if you try to step a small business into that one of two things happens: it gets bought out before it can show its worth, or it gets wiped out." that its good. It stimulates innovation, competitive pricing, access and a whole list of activities that define a competitive economic system. Maurice Stucke writing in the Journal of Antitrust Enforcement lists the benefits of competition: Lower costs and prices for goods and services Better quality More choices and variety More innovation Greater efficiency and productivity Economic development and growth Greater wealth equality A stronger democracy by dispersing economic power Greater wellbeing by promoting individual initiative, liberty, and free association The US Federal Trade Commission provides additional thoughts about the benefits of competition: Competition in the marketplace is good for consumers and good for business. Competition from many different companies and individuals through free enterprise and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. When firms compete with each other, consumers get the best possible prices, quantity, and quality of goods and services. Antitrust laws encourage companies to compete so that both consumers and businesses benefit. One important benefit of competition is a boost to innovation. Competition among companies can spur the invention of new or better products or more efficient processes. Firms may race to be the first to market a new or different technology. Innovation also benefits consumers with new and better products, helps drive economic growth and increases standards of living. Products that are commonplace today once were technological breakthroughs: cars, planes, phones, televisions, the personal computer, and modern medicines all show how innovation can change your life, and increase prosperity. Competition can lead companies to invent lower-cost manufacturing processes, which can increase their profits and help them competeand then, pass those savings on to the consumer. Because of market dominance, competition in the technology world is shrinking. The power of especially consumer data drives this dominance. A few companies are able to leverage this data to widen and deepen their competitive reach. Its hard to compete with oligarchies with decades-long leads. Many argue that the US is suffering from too little competition, especially in the technology marketplace. David Wessel writing in the Harvard Business Review is straightforward: Despite their undeniable popularity, Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook are drawing increasing scrutiny from economists, legal scholars, politicians, and policy wonks, who accuse these firms of using their size and strength to crush potential competitors. (Their clout caught the attention of European regulators long ago.) The tech giants pose unique challenges, but they also represent just one piece of a broader story: a troubling phenomenon of too little competition throughout the U.S. economy. Writing in RealClear Markets, Jay Shambaugh and Ryan Nunn note that the US needs more competition and more new businesses: In 1979, between 11 percent and 18 percent of firms were new in any given industry; by 2014 only 4 percent to 9 percent were. This decline occurred even in high-tech. Firms aged 10 and younger employ a considerably smaller share of the labor force (19 percent) than they did a few decades ago (33 percent). This is due both to the declining share of new firms and their declining size relative to older firms. One of the features of corporate governance and market accessibility is its variability over time. Antitrust enforcement was quite different when AT&T, Kodak, Alcoa and Standard Oil were broken up. Russell Brandom lays out the possible cases against Google, Amazon, Uber and Facebook. Adi Robertson describes how the antitrust cases in the 1990s lay some groundwork for possible cases today. Lest we forget, there were real reasons why companies were sued by the government for collusion, price fixing and anti-competitive behavior. There are lots and lots of cases, just not too many recent ones. Which leads to the why question. (Democrats and Republicans both approve mega-mergers, so theres no reason to attack one party versus the other.) Poor Liz. Shes on the wrong side of history: the Financial Times reports that US antitrust enforcement has fallen to its slowest rate since the 1970s. | Elizabeth Warren says tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Google are destroying competition. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveandriole/2019/03/13/does-elizabeth-warren-have-a-point-about-technology-oligarchies/ | 0.210313 |
Does Elizabeth Warren Have A Point About Technology Oligarchies? | First, if at all possible, try to neutralize your feelings about Elizabeth Warren (or any politician, for that matter), and concentrate on the data that supports or undermines the argument shes making. Note also that shes not the first to call attention to the growing technology oligarchy and its effect on innovation, pricing, access and a host of outcomes that economists and even politicians have described for well over a hundred years. Heres what the landscape looks like: Most of us learned in school that the best capitalist systems protect the right of everyone to compete on level playing fields because the competition is good for markets and therefore society. According to Elizabeth Warren, "when someone gets market dominance, they destroy competition. The world that gave them birth, to get the opportunity to go and grow and do something, [the company] has grown big enough to destroy everything around it." She goes on to say that "Amazon, Facebook, and Google are referred to by venture capitalists as the kill zone if you try to step a small business into that one of two things happens: it gets bought out before it can show its worth, or it gets wiped out." that its good. It stimulates innovation, competitive pricing, access and a whole list of activities that define a competitive economic system. Maurice Stucke writing in the Journal of Antitrust Enforcement lists the benefits of competition: Lower costs and prices for goods and services Better quality More choices and variety More innovation Greater efficiency and productivity Economic development and growth Greater wealth equality A stronger democracy by dispersing economic power Greater wellbeing by promoting individual initiative, liberty, and free association The US Federal Trade Commission provides additional thoughts about the benefits of competition: Competition in the marketplace is good for consumers and good for business. Competition from many different companies and individuals through free enterprise and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. When firms compete with each other, consumers get the best possible prices, quantity, and quality of goods and services. Antitrust laws encourage companies to compete so that both consumers and businesses benefit. One important benefit of competition is a boost to innovation. Competition among companies can spur the invention of new or better products or more efficient processes. Firms may race to be the first to market a new or different technology. Innovation also benefits consumers with new and better products, helps drive economic growth and increases standards of living. Products that are commonplace today once were technological breakthroughs: cars, planes, phones, televisions, the personal computer, and modern medicines all show how innovation can change your life, and increase prosperity. Competition can lead companies to invent lower-cost manufacturing processes, which can increase their profits and help them competeand then, pass those savings on to the consumer. Because of market dominance, competition in the technology world is shrinking. The power of especially consumer data drives this dominance. A few companies are able to leverage this data to widen and deepen their competitive reach. Its hard to compete with oligarchies with decades-long leads. Many argue that the US is suffering from too little competition, especially in the technology marketplace. David Wessel writing in the Harvard Business Review is straightforward: Despite their undeniable popularity, Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook are drawing increasing scrutiny from economists, legal scholars, politicians, and policy wonks, who accuse these firms of using their size and strength to crush potential competitors. (Their clout caught the attention of European regulators long ago.) The tech giants pose unique challenges, but they also represent just one piece of a broader story: a troubling phenomenon of too little competition throughout the U.S. economy. Writing in RealClear Markets, Jay Shambaugh and Ryan Nunn note that the US needs more competition and more new businesses: In 1979, between 11 percent and 18 percent of firms were new in any given industry; by 2014 only 4 percent to 9 percent were. This decline occurred even in high-tech. Firms aged 10 and younger employ a considerably smaller share of the labor force (19 percent) than they did a few decades ago (33 percent). This is due both to the declining share of new firms and their declining size relative to older firms. One of the features of corporate governance and market accessibility is its variability over time. Antitrust enforcement was quite different when AT&T, Kodak, Alcoa and Standard Oil were broken up. Russell Brandom lays out the possible cases against Google, Amazon, Uber and Facebook. Adi Robertson describes how the antitrust cases in the 1990s lay some groundwork for possible cases today. Lest we forget, there were real reasons why companies were sued by the government for collusion, price fixing and anti-competitive behavior. There are lots and lots of cases, just not too many recent ones. Which leads to the why question. (Democrats and Republicans both approve mega-mergers, so theres no reason to attack one party versus the other.) Poor Liz. Shes on the wrong side of history: the Financial Times reports that US antitrust enforcement has fallen to its slowest rate since the 1970s. | Elizabeth Warren says tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Google are destroying competition. Peter Bergen says the best capitalist systems protect the right of everyone to compete on level playing fields. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveandriole/2019/03/13/does-elizabeth-warren-have-a-point-about-technology-oligarchies/ | 0.331248 |
Does Elizabeth Warren Have A Point About Technology Oligarchies? | First, if at all possible, try to neutralize your feelings about Elizabeth Warren (or any politician, for that matter), and concentrate on the data that supports or undermines the argument shes making. Note also that shes not the first to call attention to the growing technology oligarchy and its effect on innovation, pricing, access and a host of outcomes that economists and even politicians have described for well over a hundred years. Heres what the landscape looks like: Most of us learned in school that the best capitalist systems protect the right of everyone to compete on level playing fields because the competition is good for markets and therefore society. According to Elizabeth Warren, "when someone gets market dominance, they destroy competition. The world that gave them birth, to get the opportunity to go and grow and do something, [the company] has grown big enough to destroy everything around it." She goes on to say that "Amazon, Facebook, and Google are referred to by venture capitalists as the kill zone if you try to step a small business into that one of two things happens: it gets bought out before it can show its worth, or it gets wiped out." that its good. It stimulates innovation, competitive pricing, access and a whole list of activities that define a competitive economic system. Maurice Stucke writing in the Journal of Antitrust Enforcement lists the benefits of competition: Lower costs and prices for goods and services Better quality More choices and variety More innovation Greater efficiency and productivity Economic development and growth Greater wealth equality A stronger democracy by dispersing economic power Greater wellbeing by promoting individual initiative, liberty, and free association The US Federal Trade Commission provides additional thoughts about the benefits of competition: Competition in the marketplace is good for consumers and good for business. Competition from many different companies and individuals through free enterprise and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. and open markets is the basis of the U.S. economy. When firms compete with each other, consumers get the best possible prices, quantity, and quality of goods and services. Antitrust laws encourage companies to compete so that both consumers and businesses benefit. One important benefit of competition is a boost to innovation. Competition among companies can spur the invention of new or better products or more efficient processes. Firms may race to be the first to market a new or different technology. Innovation also benefits consumers with new and better products, helps drive economic growth and increases standards of living. Products that are commonplace today once were technological breakthroughs: cars, planes, phones, televisions, the personal computer, and modern medicines all show how innovation can change your life, and increase prosperity. Competition can lead companies to invent lower-cost manufacturing processes, which can increase their profits and help them competeand then, pass those savings on to the consumer. Because of market dominance, competition in the technology world is shrinking. The power of especially consumer data drives this dominance. A few companies are able to leverage this data to widen and deepen their competitive reach. Its hard to compete with oligarchies with decades-long leads. Many argue that the US is suffering from too little competition, especially in the technology marketplace. David Wessel writing in the Harvard Business Review is straightforward: Despite their undeniable popularity, Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook are drawing increasing scrutiny from economists, legal scholars, politicians, and policy wonks, who accuse these firms of using their size and strength to crush potential competitors. (Their clout caught the attention of European regulators long ago.) The tech giants pose unique challenges, but they also represent just one piece of a broader story: a troubling phenomenon of too little competition throughout the U.S. economy. Writing in RealClear Markets, Jay Shambaugh and Ryan Nunn note that the US needs more competition and more new businesses: In 1979, between 11 percent and 18 percent of firms were new in any given industry; by 2014 only 4 percent to 9 percent were. This decline occurred even in high-tech. Firms aged 10 and younger employ a considerably smaller share of the labor force (19 percent) than they did a few decades ago (33 percent). This is due both to the declining share of new firms and their declining size relative to older firms. One of the features of corporate governance and market accessibility is its variability over time. Antitrust enforcement was quite different when AT&T, Kodak, Alcoa and Standard Oil were broken up. Russell Brandom lays out the possible cases against Google, Amazon, Uber and Facebook. Adi Robertson describes how the antitrust cases in the 1990s lay some groundwork for possible cases today. Lest we forget, there were real reasons why companies were sued by the government for collusion, price fixing and anti-competitive behavior. There are lots and lots of cases, just not too many recent ones. Which leads to the why question. (Democrats and Republicans both approve mega-mergers, so theres no reason to attack one party versus the other.) Poor Liz. Shes on the wrong side of history: the Financial Times reports that US antitrust enforcement has fallen to its slowest rate since the 1970s. | Elizabeth Warren says tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Google are destroying competition. Peter Bergen says the best capitalist systems protect the right of everyone to compete on level playing fields. Competition stimulates innovation, competitive pricing, access and a whole list of activities that define a competitive economic system, he says. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveandriole/2019/03/13/does-elizabeth-warren-have-a-point-about-technology-oligarchies/ | 0.40847 |
Are Work Friendships Really Worth It? | Investing in work friendships can not only improve your workday, but it can also help you advance in your career. According to LinkedIn, the overwhelming majority of working professionals (95%) think it is a good idea to be friends with their coworkers. The main reasons being the feeling of camaraderie and not being alone (75%), having support when challenges arise (58%), opportunities to learn from one another (67%), and the mutual understanding of the stress level (67%). Your current workplace is a free network of people to tap into: Start with your colleagues Your current colleagues could be your biggest allies; they are professional relationships you don't always need extra meetings to connect with since you see them at the office every day. Make it a point to check in with them every day by offering help, asking questions about their jobs and getting their insights on their respective industries. You can also invite them to join your LinkedIn network or any private social media groups you are part of, to share trending news and engage in more meaningful conversations. If they are facing a challenge, find ways to help. Perhaps you know someone with the expertise that will overcome the problems. Be friendly, take genuine interest, ask questions, try to be helpful, and most importantly, be intentional about it all. If you start looking for a job, tap into your colleagues for that all-important referral and make sure you are willing to return the favor. Although the line between what's personal and professional can become blurry with work relationships, the benefits seem to outweigh the cons. Sixty-one percent of the professionals surveyed have made connections that have helped them throughout their careers. With more than 70% of people getting hired at a company where they have a connection, lasting work friendships could give you a competitive edge in the job market. Your professional community is your most valuable resource when you are looking for a job, so its important to be open to everyone you meet. | LinkedIn: 95% of working professionals think it is a good idea to be friends with their coworkers. The benefits of work friendships outweigh the cons, according to the survey. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelcyvjoseph/2019/03/13/are-work-friendships-really-worth-it/ | 0.11361 |
Are Work Friendships Really Worth It? | Investing in work friendships can not only improve your workday, but it can also help you advance in your career. According to LinkedIn, the overwhelming majority of working professionals (95%) think it is a good idea to be friends with their coworkers. The main reasons being the feeling of camaraderie and not being alone (75%), having support when challenges arise (58%), opportunities to learn from one another (67%), and the mutual understanding of the stress level (67%). Your current workplace is a free network of people to tap into: Start with your colleagues Your current colleagues could be your biggest allies; they are professional relationships you don't always need extra meetings to connect with since you see them at the office every day. Make it a point to check in with them every day by offering help, asking questions about their jobs and getting their insights on their respective industries. You can also invite them to join your LinkedIn network or any private social media groups you are part of, to share trending news and engage in more meaningful conversations. If they are facing a challenge, find ways to help. Perhaps you know someone with the expertise that will overcome the problems. Be friendly, take genuine interest, ask questions, try to be helpful, and most importantly, be intentional about it all. If you start looking for a job, tap into your colleagues for that all-important referral and make sure you are willing to return the favor. Although the line between what's personal and professional can become blurry with work relationships, the benefits seem to outweigh the cons. Sixty-one percent of the professionals surveyed have made connections that have helped them throughout their careers. With more than 70% of people getting hired at a company where they have a connection, lasting work friendships could give you a competitive edge in the job market. Your professional community is your most valuable resource when you are looking for a job, so its important to be open to everyone you meet. | LinkedIn: 95% of working professionals think it is a good idea to be friends with their coworkers. The benefits of work friendships outweigh the cons, according to the company's survey of 1,000 people. If you are looking for a job, tap into your colleagues for that all-important referral. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/shelcyvjoseph/2019/03/13/are-work-friendships-really-worth-it/ | 0.131865 |
Whats Amy Schumer doing in New Orleans, anyway? | Amy Schumer loves New Orleans. That much is clear by the stream of social media posts the pregnant comic has been making from town over the past several weeks. There she is, powdered sugar all over her face, chowing down on beignets at Caf du Monde and hailing New Orleans as the best city in the world to satisfy a craving. There she is again, photobombing the engagement photo of a happy couple at Audubon Park. She's tagged along with a Mardi Gras marching club practicing their moves. She's performed a surprise comedy set at a fundraiser for Lyce Franais de Nouvelle-Orlans. She's popped up at Pascale's Manale and at New Orleans Pelicans games. Val Kilmer bringing Cinema Twain back to New Orleans The event will include a Q-and-A with the actor. Repeated inquiries to her publicist have gone unanswered, but it's clearly not for work. During her pregnancy, Schumer has been open about her struggles with a condition called hyperemesis that has essentially left her permanently nauseated. It's especially bad when she's traveling, she has said. During the recording of the first episode of the third season of her Spotify podcast 3 Girls, 1 Keith, which debuted Tuesday (March 12), Schumer had a nurse on hand to administer intravenous fluids, because I cant keep any liquids down. She pukes at the 14-minute mark anyway. Her condition prompted her on Feb. 22 to announce the cancellation of a series of upcoming comedy shows. "I vomit mostly every time I ride in a car even 5 minutes," she said in a social media message, although she added: "The baby and I are healthy and everything looks good." (It's a boy!) On Wednesday, however, we finally got an answer as to the reason behind her New Orleans residence. In a story published Wednesday (March 13) by The New York Times, it was revealed that Schumer -- a longtime appreciator of the Crescent City -- is spending two months in New Orleans while her apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan undergoes renovations in preparation for the baby. Our home is kind of stupid, she told writer Jason Zinoman for the Times piece. It looks like Tom Hanks in Big -- karaoke machine, jukebox. So, assuming she arrived in town around Feb. 5, when that Audubon Park photobombing launched her recent series of New Orleans posts, we've still got another couple of weeks of Schumer's local shenanigans to look forward to. In fact, she already shared one, an image on Instagram posted Wednesday and taken for that New York Times story. It shows Schumer chasing ducks in Audubon Park. She's also entirely naked, except for shoes. She looks happy. She looks beautiful. She looks at home. Mike Scott is the movie and TV critic for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached via email at mscott@nola.com or on Twitter at @moviegoermike. | Amy Schumer is spending two months in New Orleans while her Manhattan apartment undergoes renovations. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.nola.com/entertainment/2019/03/whats-amy-schumer-doing-in-new-orleans-anyway.html | 0.39735 |
Whats Amy Schumer doing in New Orleans, anyway? | Amy Schumer loves New Orleans. That much is clear by the stream of social media posts the pregnant comic has been making from town over the past several weeks. There she is, powdered sugar all over her face, chowing down on beignets at Caf du Monde and hailing New Orleans as the best city in the world to satisfy a craving. There she is again, photobombing the engagement photo of a happy couple at Audubon Park. She's tagged along with a Mardi Gras marching club practicing their moves. She's performed a surprise comedy set at a fundraiser for Lyce Franais de Nouvelle-Orlans. She's popped up at Pascale's Manale and at New Orleans Pelicans games. Val Kilmer bringing Cinema Twain back to New Orleans The event will include a Q-and-A with the actor. Repeated inquiries to her publicist have gone unanswered, but it's clearly not for work. During her pregnancy, Schumer has been open about her struggles with a condition called hyperemesis that has essentially left her permanently nauseated. It's especially bad when she's traveling, she has said. During the recording of the first episode of the third season of her Spotify podcast 3 Girls, 1 Keith, which debuted Tuesday (March 12), Schumer had a nurse on hand to administer intravenous fluids, because I cant keep any liquids down. She pukes at the 14-minute mark anyway. Her condition prompted her on Feb. 22 to announce the cancellation of a series of upcoming comedy shows. "I vomit mostly every time I ride in a car even 5 minutes," she said in a social media message, although she added: "The baby and I are healthy and everything looks good." (It's a boy!) On Wednesday, however, we finally got an answer as to the reason behind her New Orleans residence. In a story published Wednesday (March 13) by The New York Times, it was revealed that Schumer -- a longtime appreciator of the Crescent City -- is spending two months in New Orleans while her apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan undergoes renovations in preparation for the baby. Our home is kind of stupid, she told writer Jason Zinoman for the Times piece. It looks like Tom Hanks in Big -- karaoke machine, jukebox. So, assuming she arrived in town around Feb. 5, when that Audubon Park photobombing launched her recent series of New Orleans posts, we've still got another couple of weeks of Schumer's local shenanigans to look forward to. In fact, she already shared one, an image on Instagram posted Wednesday and taken for that New York Times story. It shows Schumer chasing ducks in Audubon Park. She's also entirely naked, except for shoes. She looks happy. She looks beautiful. She looks at home. Mike Scott is the movie and TV critic for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached via email at mscott@nola.com or on Twitter at @moviegoermike. | Amy Schumer is spending two months in New Orleans while her Manhattan apartment undergoes renovations. The comic has been open about her struggles with hyperemesis, which has essentially left her permanently nauseated. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nola.com/entertainment/2019/03/whats-amy-schumer-doing-in-new-orleans-anyway.html | 0.387814 |
Whats Amy Schumer doing in New Orleans, anyway? | Amy Schumer loves New Orleans. That much is clear by the stream of social media posts the pregnant comic has been making from town over the past several weeks. There she is, powdered sugar all over her face, chowing down on beignets at Caf du Monde and hailing New Orleans as the best city in the world to satisfy a craving. There she is again, photobombing the engagement photo of a happy couple at Audubon Park. She's tagged along with a Mardi Gras marching club practicing their moves. She's performed a surprise comedy set at a fundraiser for Lyce Franais de Nouvelle-Orlans. She's popped up at Pascale's Manale and at New Orleans Pelicans games. Val Kilmer bringing Cinema Twain back to New Orleans The event will include a Q-and-A with the actor. Repeated inquiries to her publicist have gone unanswered, but it's clearly not for work. During her pregnancy, Schumer has been open about her struggles with a condition called hyperemesis that has essentially left her permanently nauseated. It's especially bad when she's traveling, she has said. During the recording of the first episode of the third season of her Spotify podcast 3 Girls, 1 Keith, which debuted Tuesday (March 12), Schumer had a nurse on hand to administer intravenous fluids, because I cant keep any liquids down. She pukes at the 14-minute mark anyway. Her condition prompted her on Feb. 22 to announce the cancellation of a series of upcoming comedy shows. "I vomit mostly every time I ride in a car even 5 minutes," she said in a social media message, although she added: "The baby and I are healthy and everything looks good." (It's a boy!) On Wednesday, however, we finally got an answer as to the reason behind her New Orleans residence. In a story published Wednesday (March 13) by The New York Times, it was revealed that Schumer -- a longtime appreciator of the Crescent City -- is spending two months in New Orleans while her apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan undergoes renovations in preparation for the baby. Our home is kind of stupid, she told writer Jason Zinoman for the Times piece. It looks like Tom Hanks in Big -- karaoke machine, jukebox. So, assuming she arrived in town around Feb. 5, when that Audubon Park photobombing launched her recent series of New Orleans posts, we've still got another couple of weeks of Schumer's local shenanigans to look forward to. In fact, she already shared one, an image on Instagram posted Wednesday and taken for that New York Times story. It shows Schumer chasing ducks in Audubon Park. She's also entirely naked, except for shoes. She looks happy. She looks beautiful. She looks at home. Mike Scott is the movie and TV critic for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached via email at mscott@nola.com or on Twitter at @moviegoermike. | Amy Schumer is spending two months in New Orleans while her Manhattan apartment undergoes renovations. The comic has been open about her struggles with a condition called hyperemesis that has essentially left her permanently nauseated. During the recording of the first episode of her Spotify podcast, Schumer had a nurse on hand to administer intravenous fluids. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nola.com/entertainment/2019/03/whats-amy-schumer-doing-in-new-orleans-anyway.html | 0.509067 |
What is a 'bomb cyclone'? | A powerful storm system expected to turn into a "bomb cyclone" is forecast to slam the central U.S. Wednesday with hurricane-force winds and heavy precipitation. But don't let the intense name cause you to panic while powerful, bomb cyclones arent as terrifying of a weather phenomenon as its name would suggest. If a winter storm is dubbed a bomb cyclone or bombogenesis by meteorologists, it means it is expected to rapidly intensify, dropping 24 millibars (or atmospheric pressure) over a 24-hour span, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A typical range in millibars is around 10 to 15. Read on for a look at these storms, and how often they can occur. The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure, Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean reports. The central pressure of an area of low pressure [winter storm] must drop at least 24 millibars in 24 hours to qualify, Dean explained. Several major impacts will include strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding especially with high tide. A decrease in pressure intensifies the power of the storm, Chris Bianchi is a meteorologist for WeatherNation TV, explained to the Denver Post. A bombogenesis storm can be tropical or non-tropical, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a blog post. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Alex Sosnowski The term bombogenesis comes from the merging of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. All storms are cyclones, and genesis means the creation or beginning, Sosnowski said. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Bianchi said proximity to a large body of water, particularly an ocean, during cold months contributes to the creation of a bomb cyclone. "The difference in temperature between the normally warmer ocean (particularly in the Atlantic, with the Gulf Stream pumping up warmer water from the south) and the cold landmass often creates the fuel source for powerful East Coast lows," he stated in a blog post. If youre caught in the path of a bomb cyclone, you could expect to see intense wind gusts or large amounts of snow. The intensity of a bomb cyclone oftentimes peaks once the storm reaches New England, according to Wired. "The name isnt an exaggeration these storms develop explosively and quickly. They can produce destructive winds, coastal flooding and erosion, and, of course, very heavy precipitation. If the term conveys the importance and the danger associated with them, then I think thats a good thing," John Gyakum, a professor of atmospheric science at McGill University in Montreal who says he helped coin the weather nickname, previously told The Washington Post. Its not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, previously told Fox News. Bombogenesis Nor'easters actually occur most winters, WNYW-TV reported. At least U.S. two storms were considered "bomb cyclones" in 2018, but Gyakum believes there may be even more in the future due to warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels. "These storms feed off the temperature gradient between the mild Gulf Stream and cold air over the land. Climate change could also periodically cause cold air to spill farther south, and when the two meet, theres an increased risk for these extreme storms," he told the Post. | The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29 | 0.186907 |
What is a 'bomb cyclone'? | A powerful storm system expected to turn into a "bomb cyclone" is forecast to slam the central U.S. Wednesday with hurricane-force winds and heavy precipitation. But don't let the intense name cause you to panic while powerful, bomb cyclones arent as terrifying of a weather phenomenon as its name would suggest. If a winter storm is dubbed a bomb cyclone or bombogenesis by meteorologists, it means it is expected to rapidly intensify, dropping 24 millibars (or atmospheric pressure) over a 24-hour span, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A typical range in millibars is around 10 to 15. Read on for a look at these storms, and how often they can occur. The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure, Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean reports. The central pressure of an area of low pressure [winter storm] must drop at least 24 millibars in 24 hours to qualify, Dean explained. Several major impacts will include strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding especially with high tide. A decrease in pressure intensifies the power of the storm, Chris Bianchi is a meteorologist for WeatherNation TV, explained to the Denver Post. A bombogenesis storm can be tropical or non-tropical, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a blog post. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Alex Sosnowski The term bombogenesis comes from the merging of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. All storms are cyclones, and genesis means the creation or beginning, Sosnowski said. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Bianchi said proximity to a large body of water, particularly an ocean, during cold months contributes to the creation of a bomb cyclone. "The difference in temperature between the normally warmer ocean (particularly in the Atlantic, with the Gulf Stream pumping up warmer water from the south) and the cold landmass often creates the fuel source for powerful East Coast lows," he stated in a blog post. If youre caught in the path of a bomb cyclone, you could expect to see intense wind gusts or large amounts of snow. The intensity of a bomb cyclone oftentimes peaks once the storm reaches New England, according to Wired. "The name isnt an exaggeration these storms develop explosively and quickly. They can produce destructive winds, coastal flooding and erosion, and, of course, very heavy precipitation. If the term conveys the importance and the danger associated with them, then I think thats a good thing," John Gyakum, a professor of atmospheric science at McGill University in Montreal who says he helped coin the weather nickname, previously told The Washington Post. Its not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, previously told Fox News. Bombogenesis Nor'easters actually occur most winters, WNYW-TV reported. At least U.S. two storms were considered "bomb cyclones" in 2018, but Gyakum believes there may be even more in the future due to warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels. "These storms feed off the temperature gradient between the mild Gulf Stream and cold air over the land. Climate change could also periodically cause cold air to spill farther south, and when the two meet, theres an increased risk for these extreme storms," he told the Post. | The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure. It's not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29 | 0.200429 |
What is a 'bomb cyclone'? | A powerful storm system expected to turn into a "bomb cyclone" is forecast to slam the central U.S. Wednesday with hurricane-force winds and heavy precipitation. But don't let the intense name cause you to panic while powerful, bomb cyclones arent as terrifying of a weather phenomenon as its name would suggest. If a winter storm is dubbed a bomb cyclone or bombogenesis by meteorologists, it means it is expected to rapidly intensify, dropping 24 millibars (or atmospheric pressure) over a 24-hour span, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A typical range in millibars is around 10 to 15. Read on for a look at these storms, and how often they can occur. The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure, Fox News Senior Meteorologist Janice Dean reports. The central pressure of an area of low pressure [winter storm] must drop at least 24 millibars in 24 hours to qualify, Dean explained. Several major impacts will include strong winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding especially with high tide. A decrease in pressure intensifies the power of the storm, Chris Bianchi is a meteorologist for WeatherNation TV, explained to the Denver Post. A bombogenesis storm can be tropical or non-tropical, AccuWeather senior meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in a blog post. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Alex Sosnowski The term bombogenesis comes from the merging of two words: bomb and cyclogenesis. All storms are cyclones, and genesis means the creation or beginning, Sosnowski said. In this case, bomb refers to explosive development. Altogether the term means explosive storm strengthening. Bianchi said proximity to a large body of water, particularly an ocean, during cold months contributes to the creation of a bomb cyclone. "The difference in temperature between the normally warmer ocean (particularly in the Atlantic, with the Gulf Stream pumping up warmer water from the south) and the cold landmass often creates the fuel source for powerful East Coast lows," he stated in a blog post. If youre caught in the path of a bomb cyclone, you could expect to see intense wind gusts or large amounts of snow. The intensity of a bomb cyclone oftentimes peaks once the storm reaches New England, according to Wired. "The name isnt an exaggeration these storms develop explosively and quickly. They can produce destructive winds, coastal flooding and erosion, and, of course, very heavy precipitation. If the term conveys the importance and the danger associated with them, then I think thats a good thing," John Gyakum, a professor of atmospheric science at McGill University in Montreal who says he helped coin the weather nickname, previously told The Washington Post. Its not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year, Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with NOAA's Weather Prediction Center, previously told Fox News. Bombogenesis Nor'easters actually occur most winters, WNYW-TV reported. At least U.S. two storms were considered "bomb cyclones" in 2018, but Gyakum believes there may be even more in the future due to warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels. "These storms feed off the temperature gradient between the mild Gulf Stream and cold air over the land. Climate change could also periodically cause cold air to spill farther south, and when the two meet, theres an increased risk for these extreme storms," he told the Post. | The term bombogenesis is a popular term used by meteorologists to refer to a rapidly intensifying area of low pressure. It's not unusual to get at least one storm that is classified as a bomb cyclone a year, a meteorologist said. The term conveys the importance and the danger associated with them, an expert said. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.foxnews.com/us/what-is-a-bomb-cyclone?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29 | 0.201288 |
What happened to Raiders' and Jets' rebuilding plans? | FILE- In this Jan. 3, 2016, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) reacts after a first down catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland. Brown has caught a lot of criticism for orchestrating his departure from Pittsburgh, and landing a hefty pay raise as part of the deal. Maybe, if the contracts were fully guaranteed, stars such as Brown wouldn't have to go to such lengths to make sure they're compensated fairly. (AP Photo/David Richard, File) For all those fans of the Raiders and Jets who believed in that rebuilding-program message, their teams have handed them a big ''never mind'' this week. For fans of the Giants and Steelers, well, maybe that rebuilding tag should be placed on them. During the frenzied two days of ''legal tampering'' before the NFL's 2019 business year begins - and even beforehand in Oakland's case - the future became now for Jon Gruden and Adam Gase. A lot of it was just talk. Scroll to continue with content Ad Gruden's first season in his return as Oakland's coach was lowlighted by dealing away perhaps his two best players, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. The word was that having three first-round draft choices this April would provide a strong base for the franchise when it arrives in Las Vegas next year. The magic word now for the Raiders is spend. They are bringing in pro football's best receiver of the last decade, Antonio Brown, and giving him more than $50 million over the next three years, with $30 million guaranteed. They agreed to a $66 million contract ($36.75 million guaranteed) with left tackle Trent Brown, whose blocking not only filled a void in New England but helped the Patriots to another championship. And the Raiders will be paying $42 million over four years for safety Lamarcus Joyner . These are not negative moves. If Trent Brown plays the way he did protecting Tom Brady, Derek Carr will do a lot more smiling. Having Antonio Brown as a target - until the wideout begins complaining he isn't getting enough action - also will bring a wide grin to Carr's face. And Joyner is better than nearly all of Oakland's defenders. At least the Jets were more transparent in their approach . They believe they found their franchise quarterback last spring when they drafted Sam Darnold, and they had been pointing to the 2019 offseason - and more than $82 million of cap space - to fill in holes. Still, their spending spree also indicates they've become impatient in pursuit of a turnaround in a division where, frankly, combining the rosters of the Jets, Bills and Dolphins might not provide a team capable of knocking the Patriots from their throne. New York's additions should help lift the Jets from the depths of the AFC, though. C.J. Mosley is a quality linebacker who was overshadowed by Terrell Suggs and Eric Weddle in Baltimore. He gets a monstrous deal of $85 million over five years, with $51 guaranteed. Such money means the Jets expect to get an All-Pro caliber player. The Jets also dived into the receivers pool, but not like the Raiders and Browns did. Adding Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy bolsters a mediocre pass-catching corps, but not significantly. Where the Jets are making a huge step toward respectability is bringing in Le'Veon Bell , the best player in this crop and exactly the kind of weapon Darnold needs to help his development. Yes, there are concerns Bell could be rusty, and he's one wrong off-field move away from a lengthy league suspension. He's also the right fit for a club whose best recent successes came with high-quality running backs such as Hall of Famers Curtis Martin and LaDainian Tomlinson and the dependable Thomas Jones. With Bell in the Meadowlands and Brown in the Bay Area, the Steelers have taken some huge hits. Their streakiness won't disappear as they retool, and there are question marks throughout their roster. As for the Giants, the furor over the departures of two of their three best players, Beckham and Landon Collins - he went to division-rival Washington - already is intense. It will grow until the draft, when perhaps the team's fans will calm down should New York land its replacement for 38-year-old quarterback Eli Manning. Perhaps the Giants saw how Brown maneuvered his way out of Pittsburgh for less than equal value and feared a disgruntled Beckham would try the same. Regardless, it certainly seems off-kilter that the folks who wear green to MetLife Stadium are being praised, and those who wear blue are being excoriated. --- More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL | The Raiders and Jets have spent big on Antonio Brown and Lamarcus Joyner. Both teams are rebuilding their squads ahead of the 2019 NFL season. The Giants and Steelers are also rebuilding their teams ahead of next season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/happened-raiders-jets-rebuilding-plans-172419676--nfl.html?src=rss | 0.267826 |
What happened to Raiders' and Jets' rebuilding plans? | FILE- In this Jan. 3, 2016, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) reacts after a first down catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland. Brown has caught a lot of criticism for orchestrating his departure from Pittsburgh, and landing a hefty pay raise as part of the deal. Maybe, if the contracts were fully guaranteed, stars such as Brown wouldn't have to go to such lengths to make sure they're compensated fairly. (AP Photo/David Richard, File) For all those fans of the Raiders and Jets who believed in that rebuilding-program message, their teams have handed them a big ''never mind'' this week. For fans of the Giants and Steelers, well, maybe that rebuilding tag should be placed on them. During the frenzied two days of ''legal tampering'' before the NFL's 2019 business year begins - and even beforehand in Oakland's case - the future became now for Jon Gruden and Adam Gase. A lot of it was just talk. Scroll to continue with content Ad Gruden's first season in his return as Oakland's coach was lowlighted by dealing away perhaps his two best players, Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. The word was that having three first-round draft choices this April would provide a strong base for the franchise when it arrives in Las Vegas next year. The magic word now for the Raiders is spend. They are bringing in pro football's best receiver of the last decade, Antonio Brown, and giving him more than $50 million over the next three years, with $30 million guaranteed. They agreed to a $66 million contract ($36.75 million guaranteed) with left tackle Trent Brown, whose blocking not only filled a void in New England but helped the Patriots to another championship. And the Raiders will be paying $42 million over four years for safety Lamarcus Joyner . These are not negative moves. If Trent Brown plays the way he did protecting Tom Brady, Derek Carr will do a lot more smiling. Having Antonio Brown as a target - until the wideout begins complaining he isn't getting enough action - also will bring a wide grin to Carr's face. And Joyner is better than nearly all of Oakland's defenders. At least the Jets were more transparent in their approach . They believe they found their franchise quarterback last spring when they drafted Sam Darnold, and they had been pointing to the 2019 offseason - and more than $82 million of cap space - to fill in holes. Still, their spending spree also indicates they've become impatient in pursuit of a turnaround in a division where, frankly, combining the rosters of the Jets, Bills and Dolphins might not provide a team capable of knocking the Patriots from their throne. New York's additions should help lift the Jets from the depths of the AFC, though. C.J. Mosley is a quality linebacker who was overshadowed by Terrell Suggs and Eric Weddle in Baltimore. He gets a monstrous deal of $85 million over five years, with $51 guaranteed. Such money means the Jets expect to get an All-Pro caliber player. The Jets also dived into the receivers pool, but not like the Raiders and Browns did. Adding Jamison Crowder and Josh Bellamy bolsters a mediocre pass-catching corps, but not significantly. Where the Jets are making a huge step toward respectability is bringing in Le'Veon Bell , the best player in this crop and exactly the kind of weapon Darnold needs to help his development. Yes, there are concerns Bell could be rusty, and he's one wrong off-field move away from a lengthy league suspension. He's also the right fit for a club whose best recent successes came with high-quality running backs such as Hall of Famers Curtis Martin and LaDainian Tomlinson and the dependable Thomas Jones. With Bell in the Meadowlands and Brown in the Bay Area, the Steelers have taken some huge hits. Their streakiness won't disappear as they retool, and there are question marks throughout their roster. As for the Giants, the furor over the departures of two of their three best players, Beckham and Landon Collins - he went to division-rival Washington - already is intense. It will grow until the draft, when perhaps the team's fans will calm down should New York land its replacement for 38-year-old quarterback Eli Manning. Perhaps the Giants saw how Brown maneuvered his way out of Pittsburgh for less than equal value and feared a disgruntled Beckham would try the same. Regardless, it certainly seems off-kilter that the folks who wear green to MetLife Stadium are being praised, and those who wear blue are being excoriated. --- More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL | The Raiders and Jets have spent big on Antonio Brown and Lamarcus Joyner. Both teams are rebuilding their squads ahead of the 2019 NFL season. The Giants and Steelers are also rebuilding their teams ahead of next year's NFL season, which begins on October 17. The Jets and Raiders have both signed star players to long-term deals. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/happened-raiders-jets-rebuilding-plans-172419676--nfl.html?src=rss | 0.413256 |
What is the forecast for bomb cyclone in the Midwest? | A bomb cyclone complete with hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions is forecast to bring destruction to the Midwest and U.S. Central region, according to weather reports. A bomb cyclone (also known as Bombogenesis) happens when a cyclone develops so fast that it drops the atmospheric pressure by at least 24 millibars, according to NOAA. It can occur when cold air hits warm air. The greater difference in pressure over an area, the stronger the winds, according to The Weather Channel. You can see this typically with cyclones or other hurricane type events, meteorologist Kari Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Its just a rapid intensification of this (weather) system. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee The National Weather Service predicts it will be a highly impactful winter storm that tears through the region. Here is what the bomb cyclone is predicted to bring: Hurricane winds While this is not a tropical system thats expected to hit the heartland, meteorologist Ryan Maue says the winds will rival whats seen in a Category 1 hurricane, USA Today reported. CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said gusts of wind hitting 50 to 70 mph are forecast to hit Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, according to the station. The strongest winds with gusts hitting 100 mph could hit Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, according to USA Today. If those areas do get ferocious 100 mph wind gusts, the gusts would be equivalent to the wind speed of a Category 2 hurricane, CNN reported. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph are expected across New Mexico, western Texas, central to western Oklahoma, central to western Kansas and southeast Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds could lead to widespread power outages, USA Today reported. Blizzard conditions Blizzard warnings are in effect from northeast Colorado to northwest Minnesota, The Weather Channel reported. Travel may be impossible, CNN reports, and both flights and schools are being canceled in areas where the white-out blizzard may hit. Were going to see possibly near-zero visibility over the Eastern Plains, Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Lots of blowing snow, lots of high winds, drifting snow. So pretty hazardous conditions. That will lead to reduced visibility in the snowy side of the system, which is expected from Colorado to the Dakotas, according to AccuWeather. Thunderstorms Active thunderstorms are predicted for the south and southeast area of the central plains, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains...isolated flooding and severe weather will accompany these thunderstorms as they march fairly quickly eastward, the weather service predicts. Flood risk Heavy rain is expected Wednesday night through Thursday throughout the region, which may lead to flooding, AccuWeather says. The greatest risk of flooding will tend to be in urban and poor drainage areas where piles of snow are blocking storm drains, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. Flooding is a concern for central Nebraska to southern Minnesota and northern Michigan, she said. Flash flooding is possible if ice jams clog rivers and streams, the weather service noted, according to CNN. | A bomb cyclone is forecast to bring hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article227504429.html | 0.102609 |
What is the forecast for bomb cyclone in the Midwest? | A bomb cyclone complete with hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions is forecast to bring destruction to the Midwest and U.S. Central region, according to weather reports. A bomb cyclone (also known as Bombogenesis) happens when a cyclone develops so fast that it drops the atmospheric pressure by at least 24 millibars, according to NOAA. It can occur when cold air hits warm air. The greater difference in pressure over an area, the stronger the winds, according to The Weather Channel. You can see this typically with cyclones or other hurricane type events, meteorologist Kari Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Its just a rapid intensification of this (weather) system. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee The National Weather Service predicts it will be a highly impactful winter storm that tears through the region. Here is what the bomb cyclone is predicted to bring: Hurricane winds While this is not a tropical system thats expected to hit the heartland, meteorologist Ryan Maue says the winds will rival whats seen in a Category 1 hurricane, USA Today reported. CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said gusts of wind hitting 50 to 70 mph are forecast to hit Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, according to the station. The strongest winds with gusts hitting 100 mph could hit Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, according to USA Today. If those areas do get ferocious 100 mph wind gusts, the gusts would be equivalent to the wind speed of a Category 2 hurricane, CNN reported. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph are expected across New Mexico, western Texas, central to western Oklahoma, central to western Kansas and southeast Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds could lead to widespread power outages, USA Today reported. Blizzard conditions Blizzard warnings are in effect from northeast Colorado to northwest Minnesota, The Weather Channel reported. Travel may be impossible, CNN reports, and both flights and schools are being canceled in areas where the white-out blizzard may hit. Were going to see possibly near-zero visibility over the Eastern Plains, Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Lots of blowing snow, lots of high winds, drifting snow. So pretty hazardous conditions. That will lead to reduced visibility in the snowy side of the system, which is expected from Colorado to the Dakotas, according to AccuWeather. Thunderstorms Active thunderstorms are predicted for the south and southeast area of the central plains, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains...isolated flooding and severe weather will accompany these thunderstorms as they march fairly quickly eastward, the weather service predicts. Flood risk Heavy rain is expected Wednesday night through Thursday throughout the region, which may lead to flooding, AccuWeather says. The greatest risk of flooding will tend to be in urban and poor drainage areas where piles of snow are blocking storm drains, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. Flooding is a concern for central Nebraska to southern Minnesota and northern Michigan, she said. Flash flooding is possible if ice jams clog rivers and streams, the weather service noted, according to CNN. | A bomb cyclone is forecast to bring hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions to the Midwest and U.S. Central region. The strongest winds are expected to hit Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article227504429.html | 0.584565 |
What is the forecast for bomb cyclone in the Midwest? | A bomb cyclone complete with hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions is forecast to bring destruction to the Midwest and U.S. Central region, according to weather reports. A bomb cyclone (also known as Bombogenesis) happens when a cyclone develops so fast that it drops the atmospheric pressure by at least 24 millibars, according to NOAA. It can occur when cold air hits warm air. The greater difference in pressure over an area, the stronger the winds, according to The Weather Channel. You can see this typically with cyclones or other hurricane type events, meteorologist Kari Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Its just a rapid intensification of this (weather) system. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee The National Weather Service predicts it will be a highly impactful winter storm that tears through the region. Here is what the bomb cyclone is predicted to bring: Hurricane winds While this is not a tropical system thats expected to hit the heartland, meteorologist Ryan Maue says the winds will rival whats seen in a Category 1 hurricane, USA Today reported. CNN meteorologist Monica Garrett said gusts of wind hitting 50 to 70 mph are forecast to hit Wednesday afternoon through Thursday morning, according to the station. The strongest winds with gusts hitting 100 mph could hit Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, according to USA Today. If those areas do get ferocious 100 mph wind gusts, the gusts would be equivalent to the wind speed of a Category 2 hurricane, CNN reported. Sustained wind speeds of 30 to 40 mph are expected across New Mexico, western Texas, central to western Oklahoma, central to western Kansas and southeast Colorado, according to the National Weather Service. Strong winds could lead to widespread power outages, USA Today reported. Blizzard conditions Blizzard warnings are in effect from northeast Colorado to northwest Minnesota, The Weather Channel reported. Travel may be impossible, CNN reports, and both flights and schools are being canceled in areas where the white-out blizzard may hit. Were going to see possibly near-zero visibility over the Eastern Plains, Bowen said, according to Colorado Public Radio. Lots of blowing snow, lots of high winds, drifting snow. So pretty hazardous conditions. That will lead to reduced visibility in the snowy side of the system, which is expected from Colorado to the Dakotas, according to AccuWeather. Thunderstorms Active thunderstorms are predicted for the south and southeast area of the central plains, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rains...isolated flooding and severe weather will accompany these thunderstorms as they march fairly quickly eastward, the weather service predicts. Flood risk Heavy rain is expected Wednesday night through Thursday throughout the region, which may lead to flooding, AccuWeather says. The greatest risk of flooding will tend to be in urban and poor drainage areas where piles of snow are blocking storm drains, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski. Flooding is a concern for central Nebraska to southern Minnesota and northern Michigan, she said. Flash flooding is possible if ice jams clog rivers and streams, the weather service noted, according to CNN. | A bomb cyclone is forecast to bring hurricane-strength wind and dangerous storm conditions to the Midwest and U.S. Central region. The National Weather Service predicts it will be a highly impactful winter storm that tears through the region. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/article227504429.html | 0.630224 |
Should a Tucson legislator be able to override will of Tempe voters on dark money? | Opinion: A Tucson legislator is demanding that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate Tempe for requiring dark money disclosure in local elections. Butt out, Rep. Leach. Rep. Vince Leach. (Photo: Legislature) Ninety-one percent of Tempe voters have decreed that no longer shall "dark money" operators be able to secretly sneak into the city and buy its elections. One Arizona legislator a guy who lives 108 miles from Tempe disagrees and has commanded that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate. In the event of a conflict between a municipal ordinance and state law, state law controls, Leach wrote, in his complaint to the AGs office. Never mind, apparently, that that state law one Leach proposed, by the way was passed specifically to butt into Tempes business and to counter the overwhelming will of Tempes voters. Arizonas Republican-run Legislature has gotten waaaay too big for its britches. Its not the first time our leaders have stuck their big honkers into local affairs, forcing the states top law enforcement official to drop everything and investigate at the whim of a single legislator. Tucson was forced to stop destroying guns seized from gang bangers and other assorted criminals, ensuring that the weapons wont wind up back on the streets. This, at the request of Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley. Bisbee was forced to lift its ban on plastic bags that litter the landscape and clog up the citys waste disposal machinery, never mind that even the local business community supported the ban. This, at the request of Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. Various legislators also have tried to interfere, with varying results, in Patagonia, Mohave County, Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Somerton, Sedona and Snowflake. Now comes Leach, R-Tucson, out to override the will of Tempe voters about what information Tempe residents should have in Tempe elections. Brnovich has no choice but to comply CLOSE The cost of running a political campaign has skyrocketed. Let's examine contributions and "dark money." William Flannigan, azcentral A year ago, a whopping 91 percent of Tempe voters approved a city charter amendment requiring dark money disclosure in city elections. Well, you can imagine our leaders response. Just as the Legislature previously had passed a law to stop Tucson from protecting guns And passed a law to stop Bisbee from protecting the environment against plastic bags ... Our leaders sprung into action within weeks of that Tempe election and passed a law to stop Tempe from protecting voters by requiring disclosure of anyone who spends $1,000 or more trying to influence a city election. Now comes Leach, basically ordering the attorney general to investigate. Brnovich has no choice but to jump to do Leach's bidding. A couple of years ago, as part of its efforts to protect guns in Tucson, the Legislature passed another handy law one requiring the attorney general to drop everything and quickly investigate any time a single legislator complains that a city isnt following a law. If so and the city refuses to change its ways, the AG must file a special action with the Arizona Supreme Court, which in turn must set aside anything and everything it is working on to consider this pressing emergency. 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. More newsletters So now comes Leach, who apparently lays awake nights in his Tucson bed worrying about elections in Tempe. Tempe, however, may (read: should) have protection from Rep. Leach. The law requires Brnovoch to investigate any ordinance adopted or taken by the governing board of a city. In this case, the voters approved the citys Sunshine Ordinance. The City Council merely put it on the ballot. "This is new and uncharted territory because the Tempe ordinance contains a voter-approved component," AG spokesman Ryan Anderson told me. "Our office has consistently defended the will of Arizona voters, whether that be defending the minimum wage proposition or enforcing Proposition 300 when the universities were ignoring the law. The broader, complex legal question is, what happens if an elected body refers a ballot measure to the people for a vote that hypothetically violates the law?" Leach told Arizona Capitol Times Ben Giles it makes no difference that voters approved the ordinance. Whether they did it by themselves or whatever, the city took the action, and thats in violation, in my humble opinion, of the bill we passed, Leach said. What's astonishing here is that we even have to ask the question. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/03/13/should-tucson-legislator-able-undo-tempe-voters/3151808002/ | A Tucson legislator is demanding that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate Tempe for requiring dark money disclosure in local elections. A year ago, a whopping 91 percent of Tempe voters approved a city charter amendment requiring dark money disclosure in city elections. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/03/13/should-tucson-legislator-able-undo-tempe-voters/3151808002/ | 0.293409 |
Should a Tucson legislator be able to override will of Tempe voters on dark money? | Opinion: A Tucson legislator is demanding that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate Tempe for requiring dark money disclosure in local elections. Butt out, Rep. Leach. Rep. Vince Leach. (Photo: Legislature) Ninety-one percent of Tempe voters have decreed that no longer shall "dark money" operators be able to secretly sneak into the city and buy its elections. One Arizona legislator a guy who lives 108 miles from Tempe disagrees and has commanded that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate. In the event of a conflict between a municipal ordinance and state law, state law controls, Leach wrote, in his complaint to the AGs office. Never mind, apparently, that that state law one Leach proposed, by the way was passed specifically to butt into Tempes business and to counter the overwhelming will of Tempes voters. Arizonas Republican-run Legislature has gotten waaaay too big for its britches. Its not the first time our leaders have stuck their big honkers into local affairs, forcing the states top law enforcement official to drop everything and investigate at the whim of a single legislator. Tucson was forced to stop destroying guns seized from gang bangers and other assorted criminals, ensuring that the weapons wont wind up back on the streets. This, at the request of Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley. Bisbee was forced to lift its ban on plastic bags that litter the landscape and clog up the citys waste disposal machinery, never mind that even the local business community supported the ban. This, at the request of Rep. Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. Various legislators also have tried to interfere, with varying results, in Patagonia, Mohave County, Phoenix, Tucson, Sedona, Somerton, Sedona and Snowflake. Now comes Leach, R-Tucson, out to override the will of Tempe voters about what information Tempe residents should have in Tempe elections. Brnovich has no choice but to comply CLOSE The cost of running a political campaign has skyrocketed. Let's examine contributions and "dark money." William Flannigan, azcentral A year ago, a whopping 91 percent of Tempe voters approved a city charter amendment requiring dark money disclosure in city elections. Well, you can imagine our leaders response. Just as the Legislature previously had passed a law to stop Tucson from protecting guns And passed a law to stop Bisbee from protecting the environment against plastic bags ... Our leaders sprung into action within weeks of that Tempe election and passed a law to stop Tempe from protecting voters by requiring disclosure of anyone who spends $1,000 or more trying to influence a city election. Now comes Leach, basically ordering the attorney general to investigate. Brnovich has no choice but to jump to do Leach's bidding. A couple of years ago, as part of its efforts to protect guns in Tucson, the Legislature passed another handy law one requiring the attorney general to drop everything and quickly investigate any time a single legislator complains that a city isnt following a law. If so and the city refuses to change its ways, the AG must file a special action with the Arizona Supreme Court, which in turn must set aside anything and everything it is working on to consider this pressing emergency. 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. More newsletters So now comes Leach, who apparently lays awake nights in his Tucson bed worrying about elections in Tempe. Tempe, however, may (read: should) have protection from Rep. Leach. The law requires Brnovoch to investigate any ordinance adopted or taken by the governing board of a city. In this case, the voters approved the citys Sunshine Ordinance. The City Council merely put it on the ballot. "This is new and uncharted territory because the Tempe ordinance contains a voter-approved component," AG spokesman Ryan Anderson told me. "Our office has consistently defended the will of Arizona voters, whether that be defending the minimum wage proposition or enforcing Proposition 300 when the universities were ignoring the law. The broader, complex legal question is, what happens if an elected body refers a ballot measure to the people for a vote that hypothetically violates the law?" Leach told Arizona Capitol Times Ben Giles it makes no difference that voters approved the ordinance. Whether they did it by themselves or whatever, the city took the action, and thats in violation, in my humble opinion, of the bill we passed, Leach said. What's astonishing here is that we even have to ask the question. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Click here to subscribe to azcentral.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/03/13/should-tucson-legislator-able-undo-tempe-voters/3151808002/ | A Tucson legislator is demanding that Attorney General Mark Brnovich investigate Tempe for requiring dark money disclosure in local elections. A year ago, a whopping 91 percent of Tempe voters approved a city charter amendment requiring dark money disclosure in city elections. Brnovich has no choice but to comply. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/laurieroberts/2019/03/13/should-tucson-legislator-able-undo-tempe-voters/3151808002/ | 0.39819 |
What's The Giants' Plan Following The Beckham Trade? | Giants general manager Dave Gettleman wont say it. Head coach Pat Shurmur probably wont say it, and it might even be a stretch to get anyone in the organization to say it, but if there was any doubt before, the decision to move on from receiver Odell Beckham Jr. should confirm it. The Giants are rebuilding. Thats right, The Giants, who have made the playoffs once since 2011that coming in 2016 when they were a one-and-done team in the NFC Wild Card roundhave torn down what was left of a foundation that, through the years, was so badly decimated thanks to poor drafts compounded by overspending on free agent mulligans that this once mighty franchise has become a shell of its former self. The Giants, who tried to retain stability as their roster began to deteriorate by replacing parts of the football operations rather than making the clean sweep at general manager, coaching staff and quarterback that, in retrospect, should have been made in 2015. Unfortunately for Giants fans, theres no stuffing the toothpaste back into the tube on those decisions, as come 4:01 p.m. Wednesday, there will be no reversing the three major decisions made by Gettleman over the last week in which he let safety Landon Collins walk (hes headed to Washington) and traded Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland for guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Jabril Peppers and a couple of 2019 draft picks. Lets try to make some sense out of it. Regardless of what people think about Beckham, the fact remains that he is still a once-in-a-generation talent who, since arriving on the NFL scene, has been in the top 5 in every major receiving category and who is the only player in Super Bowl era with two seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards in 12 or fewer games, just to name a few of his many professional accomplishments. Its also worth noting that Beckham has never been arrested or been accused of engaging in any of the unsavory activities that his NFL peers many of lesser talent than himhave been accused of. The only logical answerand Im not saying I agree or disagreeis that Beckhams antics wore thin on the management. Forget about the over-exuberant celebrations or the antics in the locker room which a young man was trying to have fun. This situation might very well have come to a head due in part to Beckhams ESPN interview last October in which he honestly answered questions about his feelings about the east coast weather and, more importantly, the man throwing him his passes. While Beckham, who was said to have later regretted being so forthcoming, intended to or not, he created a multi-week distraction in which his teammates and coaches had to answer questions about what was said and the effect on the locker room. Given how hard Gettleman and Shurmur worked to rid the locker room of distractions, antics such as these likely didn't go over very well with the team's brass. Then there was the football aspect of things, as NFL Network's Mike Garafolo opined. Beckham is the type of talent who should be heavily involved in the game plan, but with the addition of running back Saquon Barkley and the emergence of Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, it was becoming more and more impossible for the coaching staff to feature Beckham in the passing offense. It also probably didnt sit well with the front office every timeright or wrongBeckham threw up his hands in disgust if a play didnt go according to script. Whether he was ticked at Manning or the play call itself, the point is that not too many organizations are going to put up with an employee who shows them up publicly and on a consistent basiseven if they are right. They dont, at least not right away and not with just one player. What the Giants will probably do is draft a receiver a lot earlier in the draft than initially thoughtand its all thanks to the extra draft capital they now have at their disposal. Theyll also likely look to a committee approach to help the passing game rather than making it strictly the Odell Show, and that could end up being a blessing in disguise. Last season, other than Beckham, the Giants really didnt have receivers who were able to separate on a consistent basis. Thus to no ones surprise, Beckham often became the focal point of the passing gamesand opposing defenses not only knew this, they were able to clamp down and limit what Beckham could do. While it would have been nice to add another receiver to complement Beckham and Shepard, the Giants are more likely to go with a committee approach moving forward at receiver where a different receiving target will be featured. This will hopefully result in the Giants being a little more challenging to game plan against. They do. We can all agree that the Giants need to start thinking about their next quarterback sooner than later. However, they also need a lot of help on the defense, especially at pass rusher, and they still need to shore up their offensive line. Prior to making the trade with the Browns, the Giants did not have a third round pick. In fact, the Giants had only two picks in the top 1000-not the best case scenario for a team with a lot of rebuilding to do. The Beckham trade yielded an extra first round pick (No. 17) and a third round pick to give the Giants four players in the top 100. What if they use No. 6 overall to get a pass rusher and then see if Dwayne Haskins slides down the board to No. How about using both first round picks for a pass rusher and offensive tackle in some order, then using the second round pick on a receiver who can help take some of Beckhams targets in 2019. Then use the third round pick to send to Arizona to acquire quarterback Josh Rosen (assuming hes on the block which would happen if Arizona drafts Kyler Murray). If that scenario plays out, the Giants will not only address four major needs on this roster, they also wont have to extend Manning one more season at what would likely be a premium cap hit. The Giants can then spend 2019 determining if Rosen can be their future; if not, then come 2020 when the Giants are expected to have another bounty of playersthey should get high comp picks for losing Collins and guard Jamon Brown (Atlanta)they have some capital in place should they need to pull off a Manning-like trade in which they surrender draft capital instead of players. As an added bonus, by not having to extend Manning into 2020, the Giants, as previously noted, will have a healthy cap situation in the final league year of the current CBA. This will allow them to, if they choose, use both the franchise and transition tags (the final year of the CBA will allow teams to do both on two separate players) on pending free agents such as receiver Sterling Shepard, while also securing the rights to Pro Bowl kicker Aldrick Rosas, who will be a restricted free agent next year. | The Giants are rebuilding after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. Beckham's antics wore thin on the management, as well as the football aspect of things. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciatraina/2019/03/13/whats-the-giants-plan-following-the-beckham-trade/ | 0.107126 |
What's The Giants' Plan Following The Beckham Trade? | Giants general manager Dave Gettleman wont say it. Head coach Pat Shurmur probably wont say it, and it might even be a stretch to get anyone in the organization to say it, but if there was any doubt before, the decision to move on from receiver Odell Beckham Jr. should confirm it. The Giants are rebuilding. Thats right, The Giants, who have made the playoffs once since 2011that coming in 2016 when they were a one-and-done team in the NFC Wild Card roundhave torn down what was left of a foundation that, through the years, was so badly decimated thanks to poor drafts compounded by overspending on free agent mulligans that this once mighty franchise has become a shell of its former self. The Giants, who tried to retain stability as their roster began to deteriorate by replacing parts of the football operations rather than making the clean sweep at general manager, coaching staff and quarterback that, in retrospect, should have been made in 2015. Unfortunately for Giants fans, theres no stuffing the toothpaste back into the tube on those decisions, as come 4:01 p.m. Wednesday, there will be no reversing the three major decisions made by Gettleman over the last week in which he let safety Landon Collins walk (hes headed to Washington) and traded Olivier Vernon and Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland for guard Kevin Zeitler, safety Jabril Peppers and a couple of 2019 draft picks. Lets try to make some sense out of it. Regardless of what people think about Beckham, the fact remains that he is still a once-in-a-generation talent who, since arriving on the NFL scene, has been in the top 5 in every major receiving category and who is the only player in Super Bowl era with two seasons of 1,000+ receiving yards in 12 or fewer games, just to name a few of his many professional accomplishments. Its also worth noting that Beckham has never been arrested or been accused of engaging in any of the unsavory activities that his NFL peers many of lesser talent than himhave been accused of. The only logical answerand Im not saying I agree or disagreeis that Beckhams antics wore thin on the management. Forget about the over-exuberant celebrations or the antics in the locker room which a young man was trying to have fun. This situation might very well have come to a head due in part to Beckhams ESPN interview last October in which he honestly answered questions about his feelings about the east coast weather and, more importantly, the man throwing him his passes. While Beckham, who was said to have later regretted being so forthcoming, intended to or not, he created a multi-week distraction in which his teammates and coaches had to answer questions about what was said and the effect on the locker room. Given how hard Gettleman and Shurmur worked to rid the locker room of distractions, antics such as these likely didn't go over very well with the team's brass. Then there was the football aspect of things, as NFL Network's Mike Garafolo opined. Beckham is the type of talent who should be heavily involved in the game plan, but with the addition of running back Saquon Barkley and the emergence of Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, it was becoming more and more impossible for the coaching staff to feature Beckham in the passing offense. It also probably didnt sit well with the front office every timeright or wrongBeckham threw up his hands in disgust if a play didnt go according to script. Whether he was ticked at Manning or the play call itself, the point is that not too many organizations are going to put up with an employee who shows them up publicly and on a consistent basiseven if they are right. They dont, at least not right away and not with just one player. What the Giants will probably do is draft a receiver a lot earlier in the draft than initially thoughtand its all thanks to the extra draft capital they now have at their disposal. Theyll also likely look to a committee approach to help the passing game rather than making it strictly the Odell Show, and that could end up being a blessing in disguise. Last season, other than Beckham, the Giants really didnt have receivers who were able to separate on a consistent basis. Thus to no ones surprise, Beckham often became the focal point of the passing gamesand opposing defenses not only knew this, they were able to clamp down and limit what Beckham could do. While it would have been nice to add another receiver to complement Beckham and Shepard, the Giants are more likely to go with a committee approach moving forward at receiver where a different receiving target will be featured. This will hopefully result in the Giants being a little more challenging to game plan against. They do. We can all agree that the Giants need to start thinking about their next quarterback sooner than later. However, they also need a lot of help on the defense, especially at pass rusher, and they still need to shore up their offensive line. Prior to making the trade with the Browns, the Giants did not have a third round pick. In fact, the Giants had only two picks in the top 1000-not the best case scenario for a team with a lot of rebuilding to do. The Beckham trade yielded an extra first round pick (No. 17) and a third round pick to give the Giants four players in the top 100. What if they use No. 6 overall to get a pass rusher and then see if Dwayne Haskins slides down the board to No. How about using both first round picks for a pass rusher and offensive tackle in some order, then using the second round pick on a receiver who can help take some of Beckhams targets in 2019. Then use the third round pick to send to Arizona to acquire quarterback Josh Rosen (assuming hes on the block which would happen if Arizona drafts Kyler Murray). If that scenario plays out, the Giants will not only address four major needs on this roster, they also wont have to extend Manning one more season at what would likely be a premium cap hit. The Giants can then spend 2019 determining if Rosen can be their future; if not, then come 2020 when the Giants are expected to have another bounty of playersthey should get high comp picks for losing Collins and guard Jamon Brown (Atlanta)they have some capital in place should they need to pull off a Manning-like trade in which they surrender draft capital instead of players. As an added bonus, by not having to extend Manning into 2020, the Giants, as previously noted, will have a healthy cap situation in the final league year of the current CBA. This will allow them to, if they choose, use both the franchise and transition tags (the final year of the CBA will allow teams to do both on two separate players) on pending free agents such as receiver Sterling Shepard, while also securing the rights to Pro Bowl kicker Aldrick Rosas, who will be a restricted free agent next year. | The Giants are rebuilding after trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns. Beckham's antics wore thin on the management, as well as his lack of involvement in the game plan. The Giants have made the playoffs once since 2011, and that came in 2016 when they were a one-and-done team. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patriciatraina/2019/03/13/whats-the-giants-plan-following-the-beckham-trade/ | 0.180976 |
How Much Can Roche's Share Price Grow If Ocrevus Doubles Its Share In Multiple Sclerosis Market? | Roche Holdings (NASDAQ:RHHBY) Ocrevus has been on a stellar run with sales exceeding $2.4 billion in 2018, reflecting a growth of 2.8x over the prior year. This can be attributed to its high efficacy and modest pricing. The drugs peak sales are estimated to be north of $4 billion. The drug is estimated to have a 13% share in the global multiple sclerosis market, based on its 2018 sales. In this note we discuss the potential upside to Roches earnings and share price if Ocrevus were to double its share by 2025. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings, and price estimate, based on Ocrevus sales. Also, heres more Healthcare Data. Ocrevus Current Market Share ~ 13% Ocrevus current market share of 13% is derived from its reported sales of $2.4 billion (CHF 2.35 billion), and an estimated global multiple sclerosis market size of a little over $18 billion in 2018. Ocrevus is used for the treatment of relapsing and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, which is a nervous system disease that affects brain and spinal cord. Global Multiple Sclerosis Market Size Is Estimated To Grow In Mid-Single-Digits The global multiple sclerosis market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% to $28 billion by 2025. This growth will likely be led by rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis. It is estimated that over 2.3 million people worldwide are affected by multiple sclerosis, and it is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young adults. If Ocrevus manages to double its market share by 2025, it will result in sales of over $7 billion, which appears to be very high, and above the peak sales estimate of $4 billion. Having said that, Ocrevus has several advantages over other drugs in the market. Most importantly, its modest pricing of $65,000 per year compares with an $80,000 to $90,000 range for Novartis Gilenya, Tevas Copaxone, Biogens Tecfidera and Avonex, among others. Apart from pricing, Ocrevus is the first drug to be approved for the treatment of both relapsing, as well as primary, progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. It also offers significant dosing advantage. For instance, Tecfidera, and Gilenya are dosed between one and three times daily, while Ocrevus is dosed just once every 6 months. Given these factors, Ocrevus will likely see continued strong growth in the coming years, and garner higher share in the global multiple sclerosis market. If Ocrevus manages to double its share in the multiple sclerosis market, it will result in $0.27 incremental earnings on an adjusted basis. We use 26.3% adjusted net income margin, similar to that for overall Roche in calculating the EPS impact. We use a price to earnings multiple of 16x to arrive at a $4 impact on Roches share price, or 13% of its current market price of $34. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Roche Holdings (NASDAQ:RHHBY) Ocrevus has been on a stellar run with sales exceeding $2.4 billion in 2018, reflecting a growth of 2.8x over the prior year. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/13/how-much-can-roches-share-price-grow-if-ocrevus-doubles-its-share-in-multiple-sclerosis-market/ | 0.126593 |
How Much Can Roche's Share Price Grow If Ocrevus Doubles Its Share In Multiple Sclerosis Market? | Roche Holdings (NASDAQ:RHHBY) Ocrevus has been on a stellar run with sales exceeding $2.4 billion in 2018, reflecting a growth of 2.8x over the prior year. This can be attributed to its high efficacy and modest pricing. The drugs peak sales are estimated to be north of $4 billion. The drug is estimated to have a 13% share in the global multiple sclerosis market, based on its 2018 sales. In this note we discuss the potential upside to Roches earnings and share price if Ocrevus were to double its share by 2025. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys earnings, and price estimate, based on Ocrevus sales. Also, heres more Healthcare Data. Ocrevus Current Market Share ~ 13% Ocrevus current market share of 13% is derived from its reported sales of $2.4 billion (CHF 2.35 billion), and an estimated global multiple sclerosis market size of a little over $18 billion in 2018. Ocrevus is used for the treatment of relapsing and primary progressive forms of multiple sclerosis, which is a nervous system disease that affects brain and spinal cord. Global Multiple Sclerosis Market Size Is Estimated To Grow In Mid-Single-Digits The global multiple sclerosis market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% to $28 billion by 2025. This growth will likely be led by rising prevalence of multiple sclerosis. It is estimated that over 2.3 million people worldwide are affected by multiple sclerosis, and it is one of the most common causes of neurological disability in young adults. If Ocrevus manages to double its market share by 2025, it will result in sales of over $7 billion, which appears to be very high, and above the peak sales estimate of $4 billion. Having said that, Ocrevus has several advantages over other drugs in the market. Most importantly, its modest pricing of $65,000 per year compares with an $80,000 to $90,000 range for Novartis Gilenya, Tevas Copaxone, Biogens Tecfidera and Avonex, among others. Apart from pricing, Ocrevus is the first drug to be approved for the treatment of both relapsing, as well as primary, progressive forms of multiple sclerosis. It also offers significant dosing advantage. For instance, Tecfidera, and Gilenya are dosed between one and three times daily, while Ocrevus is dosed just once every 6 months. Given these factors, Ocrevus will likely see continued strong growth in the coming years, and garner higher share in the global multiple sclerosis market. If Ocrevus manages to double its share in the multiple sclerosis market, it will result in $0.27 incremental earnings on an adjusted basis. We use 26.3% adjusted net income margin, similar to that for overall Roche in calculating the EPS impact. We use a price to earnings multiple of 16x to arrive at a $4 impact on Roches share price, or 13% of its current market price of $34. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Roche Holdings (NASDAQ:RHHBY) Ocrevus has been on a stellar run with sales exceeding $2.4 billion in 2018, reflecting a growth of 2.8x over the prior year. The drug is estimated to have a 13% share in the global multiple sclerosis market, based on its 2018 sales. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/13/how-much-can-roches-share-price-grow-if-ocrevus-doubles-its-share-in-multiple-sclerosis-market/ | 0.20665 |
Can Jackson, Freeman, Banderas And Hayek Make 'Hitman's Bodyguard 2' Into A Breakout Sequel? | In a world where IP and nostalgia rules, The Hitmans Bodyguard was one of the more surprising hits of summer 2017. Not only was it an entirely original and R-rated action comedy, but it was one of the only big summer releases (along with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) to be a hit despite majority-negative reviews. But when a straight-up original earns $75 million from a $17m debut and $176m worldwide on a $30m budget, and you can get the key players back again, you go for a sequel and hope for the best. And now, so sayeth Lionsgate, a sequel to The Hitmans Bodyguard has begun production. And it may have at least some elements for a potential breakout sequel. For those who dont keep up with the reading, a breakout sequel is when an original becomes a surprise hit, usually with a comparatively leggy run from a good-but-not-great debut, and then is slowly discovered both in theaters and then in post-theatrical (VOD, DVD, cable, etc.). The goodwill from that first installment pays off with a sequel that opens noticeably higher than its predecessor. On a smaller scale, think John Wick: Chapter 2. On a larger scale, think Pitch Perfect 2. While those films sprung from well-reviewed predecessors, the other elements (strong legs, an encouraging theatrical and post-theatrical run, an overall profit) are in place. And there are a few added value elements this time out. Released in August of 2017, Patrick Hughes The Hitmans Bodyguard starred Ryan Reynolds as a squeaky-clean bodyguard who ends up having to protect an infamous paid assassin (Samuel L. Jackson) who is attempting to survive long enough to testify against a genocidal politician (Gary Oldman). The film boasted decent-enough action and strong chemistry from straight-man Reynolds and firecracker Jackson. It was also Jacksons first outright leading role in a major studio feature (give-or-take The Hateful Eight, which was an ensemble) in nearly a decade, which made the picture something of a demographically-specific event. It was a rare new opportunity to see Jackson do his Sam Jackson: Movie Star shtick in an era defined by IP-driven tentpoles. Since then, weve seen Jackson reprise his role as Elijah Price in Universal and Walt Disney's M. Night Shyamalans Glass ($244 million worldwide) and take a co-starring turn as Nick Fury in Captain Marvel ($525m-and-counting). Hell also play modern-day cynical Nick Fury in Sony's Spider-Man: Far from Home in July along with a starring role in New Line and Netflix's new Shaft and (screen time to-be-determined) Fury again in Avengers: Endgame. Point being, Jackson is having a heck of a year and may (emphasis on may) end the year with $18 billion in global cumulative grosses. If seeing Jackson as a co-lead in an R-rated action comedy isnt as much of an event as it was two years ago, then Hughes and friends have a few aces up their sleeve. Maybe you didnt see or didnt like The Hitmans Bodyguard and you have little interest in a sequel. Oh, and Antonio Banderas is coming over to play as well. Throw in Frank Grillo and a returning Richard E. Grant, there is much to look forward to no matter what you think of Hitmans Bodyguard 2 (or whatever itll be called). That doesnt mean the movie will be any good (its not like Millennium Medias London Has Fallen, Expendables 3 or Criminal were big winners), but it does mean it probably wont be boring. I root for sequels like this to succeed because it encourages studios to take a chance on more non-IP or outright original genre fare. If Baby Driver is successful enough to spawn Baby Driver 2, that makes it easier for the next proverbial Baby Driver to get a green-light. Ditto Hitmans Bodyguard 2, which is a follow-up to an enjoyable three-star action romp that also features Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas (presumably in Expendables 3/The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water mode) and Salma Hayek in the same movie together. Whether or not it breaks out like John Wick: Chapter 2, merely plays about as well as the first film like Kingsman: The Golden Circle or proves that once was enough like The LEGO Movie 2, that cast alone has my attention and my interest. As always, well see. | A sequel to The Hitman's Bodyguard has begun production. It may have at least some elements for a potential breakout sequel. The film boasted decent-enough action and strong chemistry from Ryan Reynolds. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/03/13/hitmans-bodyguard-ryan-reynolds-samuel-l-jackson-morgan-freeman-antonio-banderas-salma-hayek/ | 0.171413 |
Can Jackson, Freeman, Banderas And Hayek Make 'Hitman's Bodyguard 2' Into A Breakout Sequel? | In a world where IP and nostalgia rules, The Hitmans Bodyguard was one of the more surprising hits of summer 2017. Not only was it an entirely original and R-rated action comedy, but it was one of the only big summer releases (along with Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) to be a hit despite majority-negative reviews. But when a straight-up original earns $75 million from a $17m debut and $176m worldwide on a $30m budget, and you can get the key players back again, you go for a sequel and hope for the best. And now, so sayeth Lionsgate, a sequel to The Hitmans Bodyguard has begun production. And it may have at least some elements for a potential breakout sequel. For those who dont keep up with the reading, a breakout sequel is when an original becomes a surprise hit, usually with a comparatively leggy run from a good-but-not-great debut, and then is slowly discovered both in theaters and then in post-theatrical (VOD, DVD, cable, etc.). The goodwill from that first installment pays off with a sequel that opens noticeably higher than its predecessor. On a smaller scale, think John Wick: Chapter 2. On a larger scale, think Pitch Perfect 2. While those films sprung from well-reviewed predecessors, the other elements (strong legs, an encouraging theatrical and post-theatrical run, an overall profit) are in place. And there are a few added value elements this time out. Released in August of 2017, Patrick Hughes The Hitmans Bodyguard starred Ryan Reynolds as a squeaky-clean bodyguard who ends up having to protect an infamous paid assassin (Samuel L. Jackson) who is attempting to survive long enough to testify against a genocidal politician (Gary Oldman). The film boasted decent-enough action and strong chemistry from straight-man Reynolds and firecracker Jackson. It was also Jacksons first outright leading role in a major studio feature (give-or-take The Hateful Eight, which was an ensemble) in nearly a decade, which made the picture something of a demographically-specific event. It was a rare new opportunity to see Jackson do his Sam Jackson: Movie Star shtick in an era defined by IP-driven tentpoles. Since then, weve seen Jackson reprise his role as Elijah Price in Universal and Walt Disney's M. Night Shyamalans Glass ($244 million worldwide) and take a co-starring turn as Nick Fury in Captain Marvel ($525m-and-counting). Hell also play modern-day cynical Nick Fury in Sony's Spider-Man: Far from Home in July along with a starring role in New Line and Netflix's new Shaft and (screen time to-be-determined) Fury again in Avengers: Endgame. Point being, Jackson is having a heck of a year and may (emphasis on may) end the year with $18 billion in global cumulative grosses. If seeing Jackson as a co-lead in an R-rated action comedy isnt as much of an event as it was two years ago, then Hughes and friends have a few aces up their sleeve. Maybe you didnt see or didnt like The Hitmans Bodyguard and you have little interest in a sequel. Oh, and Antonio Banderas is coming over to play as well. Throw in Frank Grillo and a returning Richard E. Grant, there is much to look forward to no matter what you think of Hitmans Bodyguard 2 (or whatever itll be called). That doesnt mean the movie will be any good (its not like Millennium Medias London Has Fallen, Expendables 3 or Criminal were big winners), but it does mean it probably wont be boring. I root for sequels like this to succeed because it encourages studios to take a chance on more non-IP or outright original genre fare. If Baby Driver is successful enough to spawn Baby Driver 2, that makes it easier for the next proverbial Baby Driver to get a green-light. Ditto Hitmans Bodyguard 2, which is a follow-up to an enjoyable three-star action romp that also features Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas (presumably in Expendables 3/The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water mode) and Salma Hayek in the same movie together. Whether or not it breaks out like John Wick: Chapter 2, merely plays about as well as the first film like Kingsman: The Golden Circle or proves that once was enough like The LEGO Movie 2, that cast alone has my attention and my interest. As always, well see. | A sequel to The Hitman's Bodyguard has begun production. It may have at least some elements for a potential breakout sequel. The film boasted decent-enough action and strong chemistry from straight-man Reynolds and firecracker Jackson. But there are a few added value elements this time out. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2019/03/13/hitmans-bodyguard-ryan-reynolds-samuel-l-jackson-morgan-freeman-antonio-banderas-salma-hayek/ | 0.283702 |
What Will Replace The Fading Hashtag? | One intriguing aspect of Twitters evolution over the last seven years is the growth and then decline of the venerated hashtag. Perhaps the most defining symbol of the social media era, the hashtag emerged as shorthand for bringing the legacy world of categorical metadata to the social age. The brief posts of Twitter offered an especially potent use case in which the paucity of verbiage meant it was hard to keyword search for relevant content. According to Google Trends, the English word hashtag first entered the public consciousness at the start of 2009 but really began to take off in early 2011. Google searches leveled off in mid-2013, intriguingly right around the time that the growth of Twitter itself leveled off. Search interest remained steady until early 2017 and has climbed steadily since. Over the last two years, the most common word associated with worldwide English language searches for hashtag has been Instagram. Twitter is the second most associated word, but with 60% fewer searches and Facebook is seventh with 86% fewer searches. It seems Instagram has revived interest in the venerable hashtag, replacing Twitter as the home of the hashtag. The timeline below shows the percentage of all tweets in the Twitter 1% stream that contained at least one hashtag from January 2012 to October 2018 (using the Twitter-provided entities field encoded in the tweets JSON record). Hashtags slowly gained in popularity through November 2013, at which point they suddenly began infusing rapidly into the Twitterverse. Somewhere in mid-2016 use of hashtags on Twitter leveled off and has steadily declined since mid-2017. From a starting point in January 2012 of around 12% of tweets having hashtags to a high of around 48% in September 2016 to just under 40% as of October of last year, the hashtag is in decline across Twitter. It is unclear what might be driving this decline. Looking back on Twitters evolution, the rapid growth period of hashtags in the latter half of 2013 corresponds with the platforms initial stagnation period where the daily tweet volume and unique tweeting user counts level off. Within a few months of Twitters growth leveling off, the hashtag explodes into popularity. This suggests it could be an emergent consensus behavior once Twitters user community stopped growing and began searching for better self-organizing behaviors. Interestingly, the mid-2013 entrance of the stagnation period of Twitter also marked a precipitous collapse in replies that coincided with the rise of hashtags on the platform. As the growth of hashtag use markedly slowed in mid-2015 so too did the decline in replies level off. This raises the interesting question of whether Twitters early years, defined by interactive conversation, had less need for the organizing metadata of the hashtag since users were conversing directly with one another. As Twitter evolved into a more traditional broadcast publishing medium, the hashtag rose supreme as a way of organizing it all. The decline of hashtag use on Twitter appears to closely coincide with the collapse of geotagged tweeting. The percentage of tweets with hashtags levels off precisely when the percentage of tweets geotagged with Place information begins to freefall, suggesting this may mark a broader transition point of the platform. However, the strongest connection of all appears to be with hyperlinking behavior. The density of tweets containing hashtags and those containing URLs (either in the form of external hyperlinks or embedded media) is highly correlated, rising at the same time and falling at the same time. A manual examination of more than 1,000 randomly selected tweets did not turn up any errors in Twitters metadata fields compared to the tweet text itself. Tweets with hashtags or links in the tweet text were correctly noted in the metadata field and vice-versa. This suggests that one possible explanation could be that the growth of the hashtag emerged as a way to describe shared hyperlinks on Twitter in which the shortened URLs of Twitter failed to convey sufficient information about the contents of the linked content, while users searched for easy ways of organizing those links, especially across linguistic differences. Putting this all together, the hashtag appears to have entered a period of decline on Twitter, raising the question of what might replace it. In the end, however, the rise of the hashtag in the first place reminds us how much our social platforms resemble the past systems they claim to have upended. | Hashtags emerged as shorthand for bringing the legacy world of categorical metadata to the social age. Instagram has revived interest in the venerable hashtag, replacing Twitter as the home of the hashtag. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/03/13/what-will-replace-the-fading-hashtag/ | 0.171268 |
What Will Replace The Fading Hashtag? | One intriguing aspect of Twitters evolution over the last seven years is the growth and then decline of the venerated hashtag. Perhaps the most defining symbol of the social media era, the hashtag emerged as shorthand for bringing the legacy world of categorical metadata to the social age. The brief posts of Twitter offered an especially potent use case in which the paucity of verbiage meant it was hard to keyword search for relevant content. According to Google Trends, the English word hashtag first entered the public consciousness at the start of 2009 but really began to take off in early 2011. Google searches leveled off in mid-2013, intriguingly right around the time that the growth of Twitter itself leveled off. Search interest remained steady until early 2017 and has climbed steadily since. Over the last two years, the most common word associated with worldwide English language searches for hashtag has been Instagram. Twitter is the second most associated word, but with 60% fewer searches and Facebook is seventh with 86% fewer searches. It seems Instagram has revived interest in the venerable hashtag, replacing Twitter as the home of the hashtag. The timeline below shows the percentage of all tweets in the Twitter 1% stream that contained at least one hashtag from January 2012 to October 2018 (using the Twitter-provided entities field encoded in the tweets JSON record). Hashtags slowly gained in popularity through November 2013, at which point they suddenly began infusing rapidly into the Twitterverse. Somewhere in mid-2016 use of hashtags on Twitter leveled off and has steadily declined since mid-2017. From a starting point in January 2012 of around 12% of tweets having hashtags to a high of around 48% in September 2016 to just under 40% as of October of last year, the hashtag is in decline across Twitter. It is unclear what might be driving this decline. Looking back on Twitters evolution, the rapid growth period of hashtags in the latter half of 2013 corresponds with the platforms initial stagnation period where the daily tweet volume and unique tweeting user counts level off. Within a few months of Twitters growth leveling off, the hashtag explodes into popularity. This suggests it could be an emergent consensus behavior once Twitters user community stopped growing and began searching for better self-organizing behaviors. Interestingly, the mid-2013 entrance of the stagnation period of Twitter also marked a precipitous collapse in replies that coincided with the rise of hashtags on the platform. As the growth of hashtag use markedly slowed in mid-2015 so too did the decline in replies level off. This raises the interesting question of whether Twitters early years, defined by interactive conversation, had less need for the organizing metadata of the hashtag since users were conversing directly with one another. As Twitter evolved into a more traditional broadcast publishing medium, the hashtag rose supreme as a way of organizing it all. The decline of hashtag use on Twitter appears to closely coincide with the collapse of geotagged tweeting. The percentage of tweets with hashtags levels off precisely when the percentage of tweets geotagged with Place information begins to freefall, suggesting this may mark a broader transition point of the platform. However, the strongest connection of all appears to be with hyperlinking behavior. The density of tweets containing hashtags and those containing URLs (either in the form of external hyperlinks or embedded media) is highly correlated, rising at the same time and falling at the same time. A manual examination of more than 1,000 randomly selected tweets did not turn up any errors in Twitters metadata fields compared to the tweet text itself. Tweets with hashtags or links in the tweet text were correctly noted in the metadata field and vice-versa. This suggests that one possible explanation could be that the growth of the hashtag emerged as a way to describe shared hyperlinks on Twitter in which the shortened URLs of Twitter failed to convey sufficient information about the contents of the linked content, while users searched for easy ways of organizing those links, especially across linguistic differences. Putting this all together, the hashtag appears to have entered a period of decline on Twitter, raising the question of what might replace it. In the end, however, the rise of the hashtag in the first place reminds us how much our social platforms resemble the past systems they claim to have upended. | Hashtags emerged as shorthand for bringing the legacy world of categorical metadata to the social age. Instagram has revived interest in the venerable hashtag, replacing Twitter as the home of the hashtag. As Twitter evolved into a more traditional broadcast publishing medium, the hashtag rose supreme as a way of organizing it all. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/kalevleetaru/2019/03/13/what-will-replace-the-fading-hashtag/ | 0.251617 |
What is a no-deal Brexit? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Dutch ports are preparing their customers for Brexit MPs are voting later on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal or not. This is not about whether Britain is leaving the European Union or not. It is written into law that the UK is leaving the EU on 29 March. The government has reached an agreement with the European Union that both sides say will keep Brexit disruption to a minimum. If the UK leaves under the terms of that agreement, very little will change, in the short term at least. A key part of the agreement is a 21 month "transition period", which kicks in the day the UK leaves. Trade will carry on roughly as it does now and citizens will continue to be able to move freely between countries as if the UK was still a member of the EU. The idea of the transition period is to allow the UK and EU to hammer out a permanent trading relationship - the prime minister has also agreed a statement on what that relationship might look like. They are worried about what will happen when the transition period comes to an end. Instead of breaking free from the EU, they fear the UK will be permanently tied to its rules, with no say in how they are made. That is because one section of the agreement - known as the Irish backstop - would keep the UK part of a customs union with the EU, if no trade deal has been agreed. The backstop is meant to prevent the return of physical checks at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which will be the land border between the UK and the EU after Brexit. The UK would sever all ties with the EU with immediate effect, with no transition period - and, therefore, no talks on a tailor-made trade deal between the UK and the EU. The UK would trade with the EU under World Trade Organisation rules, in the same way that it does with many non-EU countries. The government fears it would cause significant disruption to businesses in the short-term, with lengthy tailbacks of lorries at the channel ports, as drivers face new checks on their cargos. Food retailers have warned of shortages of fresh produce and the NHS is stockpiling medicines, in case supplies from EU countries are interrupted. Government ministers and multinational companies with factories in the UK have also warned about the long-term impact on the British economy. Most MPs are thought to be against a no-deal Brexit for these reasons. Many who campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 referendum believe the no-deal warnings have been exaggerated and that Britain will not only survive, but thrive, if it is allowed to make a totally clean break from the EU and what they see as its burdensome regulations. They fear the UK will never be allowed to make trade deals with other countries if it ends up trapped in a customs union with the EU. And the country would also save on the 39bn "divorce bill" it is set to pay to the EU under the terms of Mrs May's agreement. The 29 March exit date could slip if MPs vote to ask for an extension from the European Union, something that might happen on Thursday. The EU may decide not to grant an extension unless the UK has a reason for it, such as deciding to hold another EU referendum, with the option of staying in the EU on the ballot paper. And the UK government could cancel Brexit altogether if it wanted to. But as things currently stand Brexit is definitely happening. Having been comprehensively rejected twice by MPs, many think the prime minister's deal is now dead. So MPs are proposing different ideas for deals. Labour wants the UK to be in a customs union with the EU, and some Labour and Tory MPs want an even closer relationship, like the one Norway has with the EU. There are no votes today on these options. MPs will vote, however, on proposals from a group of Conservative MPs for a "managed no-deal", which would see the transition period extended by a year until December 2021 to allow more time to agree a new trading relationship. The backstop would be replaced by a free trade agreement with technological solutions to avoid customs checks at the Irish border. The EU has said this option is not possible and the deal it has reached with the PM is the only one that is on offer. | MPs will vote later on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal. A no-deal deal would see the UK sever all ties with the EU with no transition period. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47559490 | 0.150283 |
What is a no-deal Brexit? | Image copyright Reuters Image caption Dutch ports are preparing their customers for Brexit MPs are voting later on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal or not. This is not about whether Britain is leaving the European Union or not. It is written into law that the UK is leaving the EU on 29 March. The government has reached an agreement with the European Union that both sides say will keep Brexit disruption to a minimum. If the UK leaves under the terms of that agreement, very little will change, in the short term at least. A key part of the agreement is a 21 month "transition period", which kicks in the day the UK leaves. Trade will carry on roughly as it does now and citizens will continue to be able to move freely between countries as if the UK was still a member of the EU. The idea of the transition period is to allow the UK and EU to hammer out a permanent trading relationship - the prime minister has also agreed a statement on what that relationship might look like. They are worried about what will happen when the transition period comes to an end. Instead of breaking free from the EU, they fear the UK will be permanently tied to its rules, with no say in how they are made. That is because one section of the agreement - known as the Irish backstop - would keep the UK part of a customs union with the EU, if no trade deal has been agreed. The backstop is meant to prevent the return of physical checks at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland, which will be the land border between the UK and the EU after Brexit. The UK would sever all ties with the EU with immediate effect, with no transition period - and, therefore, no talks on a tailor-made trade deal between the UK and the EU. The UK would trade with the EU under World Trade Organisation rules, in the same way that it does with many non-EU countries. The government fears it would cause significant disruption to businesses in the short-term, with lengthy tailbacks of lorries at the channel ports, as drivers face new checks on their cargos. Food retailers have warned of shortages of fresh produce and the NHS is stockpiling medicines, in case supplies from EU countries are interrupted. Government ministers and multinational companies with factories in the UK have also warned about the long-term impact on the British economy. Most MPs are thought to be against a no-deal Brexit for these reasons. Many who campaigned for Brexit in the 2016 referendum believe the no-deal warnings have been exaggerated and that Britain will not only survive, but thrive, if it is allowed to make a totally clean break from the EU and what they see as its burdensome regulations. They fear the UK will never be allowed to make trade deals with other countries if it ends up trapped in a customs union with the EU. And the country would also save on the 39bn "divorce bill" it is set to pay to the EU under the terms of Mrs May's agreement. The 29 March exit date could slip if MPs vote to ask for an extension from the European Union, something that might happen on Thursday. The EU may decide not to grant an extension unless the UK has a reason for it, such as deciding to hold another EU referendum, with the option of staying in the EU on the ballot paper. And the UK government could cancel Brexit altogether if it wanted to. But as things currently stand Brexit is definitely happening. Having been comprehensively rejected twice by MPs, many think the prime minister's deal is now dead. So MPs are proposing different ideas for deals. Labour wants the UK to be in a customs union with the EU, and some Labour and Tory MPs want an even closer relationship, like the one Norway has with the EU. There are no votes today on these options. MPs will vote, however, on proposals from a group of Conservative MPs for a "managed no-deal", which would see the transition period extended by a year until December 2021 to allow more time to agree a new trading relationship. The backstop would be replaced by a free trade agreement with technological solutions to avoid customs checks at the Irish border. The EU has said this option is not possible and the deal it has reached with the PM is the only one that is on offer. | MPs will vote later on whether the UK should leave the EU without a deal. A no-deal deal would see the UK sever all ties with the EU with no transition period - and, therefore, no talks on a tailor-made trade deal between the UK and the EU. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-47559490 | 0.184272 |
What is so attractive about the terminal romance genre and its obsession with love and youth? | Ryan ONeal kneels beside Ali MacGraws deathbed toward the end of the romantic classic Love Story. Her silky smooth hair is perfectly splayed across her pillow and her skin is enviably rosy. Somehow in the shadow of death, MacGraw is even more beautiful than usual. Love means never having to say youre sorry. A lump builds at the back of my throat. The vulgarity of the clichd melodrama is overwhelming, but because a dying Ali MacGraw is so beautiful, young and in love, Im weeping. With the release this weekend of Five Feet Apart, a film about a pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses who meet in a hospital and fall in love, another film joins the long ranks of melodramas in which a perfect love affair is disrupted (and typically enhanced) by a terminal prognosis. The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. Alexander Dumass semi-autobiographical novel, Camille, about his love affair with a dying courtesan was adapted no fewer than six times in the first half of the 20th century. At the height of Hollywood melodrama, falling in love was often equated to danger, with characters embroiled in a romance falling victim to disease, disability and death in films like Dark Victory, An Affair to Remember, Magnificent Obsession and Letter from an Unknown Woman. With the blockbuster success of Love Story in 1970, however, the genre refocused itself on youth. And over the past 50 years, this trend has only increased as tragic terminal romances continue to target high school and college-aged students. In these stories, the idealization of youthful romance reinforces an assumption that love cannot last, allowing the overwhelming intensity of a young love affair to be frozen in time. Growing up, A Walk to Remember, starring Mandy Moore, was the epitome of romance at the all-girls Catholic school I attended. In the film, Jamie, the preachers daughter, grabs the attention of the resident bad boy, only for the audience to be hit with a third act twist when its revealed that shes dying. It was a film where death, rather than being an obstacle against true love, was the vehicle for it. It was a love story in which we could escape the trials and tribulations of shame and sinfulness hanging above us. As we fearfully looked towards an uncertain future, perhaps there was a morbid comfort in attaching ourselves to a love story that would never be tested by the real world. In the case of most of these films, they represent their young women as aspirational symbols of femininity. They are beautiful, smart and morally upstanding. Due to her terminal prognosis, Jamie never has to compromise or adapt to an increasingly complex adult world. Death saves her from the disappointment of a failed relationship and the shame of losing her virginity out of wedlock. With the ugliness of her disease safely relegated to off-screen space, she remains beautiful and youthful even in death. Like many of these films, Jamies death serves a dual purpose: initiating a coming of age in the male character and preserving youthful femininity. In Autumn in New York, Richard Gere plays Will, a 50-something ladykiller who falls in love with a beautiful 22-year-old, Charlotte (Winona Ryder). While the film opens with Gere dating a more age-appropriate woman, over the course of the film, his heart is opened thanks to Charlottes joie de vivre. Unlike the girlfriends that came before (including a fling with Charlottes mother decades prior), Charlotte is virginal and trusting, and aside from her pesky heart disease, completely immune to the evils of the world. Over the course of the film, Charlotte is continually measured against other women in Wills life. They are all older, jaded, tired and cynical. It is only the purity of Charlottes youth that allows Will to change his ways and emerge as a better man. While she dies in her prime, Will comes out of the relationship redeemed with a new lease on life and a better sense of whats important. He is even inspired to reconnect with his adult daughter. While Charlotte has expended her usefulness, Will still has room to grow. Terminal romances are less about love, and more about the fetishization of youth often with female characters whose significance is only found in how they affect the men in their lives. These movies portray love frozen in time, uncorrupted by the trials of long-term monogamy. More than the disease, aging is presented as the true threat against love in an adult world that is consistently portrayed as cynical and corrupted. For women especially, the conservative expectations these romantic ideals impose are limiting and infantilizing. If Ali MacGraws death at the end of Love Story makes me weep, its not because Im sad about the death of her perfect love and beauty. Im crying because Im thinking of my own mortality and my own tally of romantic disappointments. Encased in her perfect 25-year-old life forever, she is a symbol of everything we lose as we grow older. If terminal romances tug at our heartstrings at all, its because they remind us we are all in a losing race against time. | The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. With the success of Love Story in 1970, the genre refocused itself on youth. | pegasus | 0 | https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/what-is-so-attractive-about-the-terminal-romance-genre-and-its-obsession-with-love-and-youth | 0.101756 |
What is so attractive about the terminal romance genre and its obsession with love and youth? | Ryan ONeal kneels beside Ali MacGraws deathbed toward the end of the romantic classic Love Story. Her silky smooth hair is perfectly splayed across her pillow and her skin is enviably rosy. Somehow in the shadow of death, MacGraw is even more beautiful than usual. Love means never having to say youre sorry. A lump builds at the back of my throat. The vulgarity of the clichd melodrama is overwhelming, but because a dying Ali MacGraw is so beautiful, young and in love, Im weeping. With the release this weekend of Five Feet Apart, a film about a pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses who meet in a hospital and fall in love, another film joins the long ranks of melodramas in which a perfect love affair is disrupted (and typically enhanced) by a terminal prognosis. The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. Alexander Dumass semi-autobiographical novel, Camille, about his love affair with a dying courtesan was adapted no fewer than six times in the first half of the 20th century. At the height of Hollywood melodrama, falling in love was often equated to danger, with characters embroiled in a romance falling victim to disease, disability and death in films like Dark Victory, An Affair to Remember, Magnificent Obsession and Letter from an Unknown Woman. With the blockbuster success of Love Story in 1970, however, the genre refocused itself on youth. And over the past 50 years, this trend has only increased as tragic terminal romances continue to target high school and college-aged students. In these stories, the idealization of youthful romance reinforces an assumption that love cannot last, allowing the overwhelming intensity of a young love affair to be frozen in time. Growing up, A Walk to Remember, starring Mandy Moore, was the epitome of romance at the all-girls Catholic school I attended. In the film, Jamie, the preachers daughter, grabs the attention of the resident bad boy, only for the audience to be hit with a third act twist when its revealed that shes dying. It was a film where death, rather than being an obstacle against true love, was the vehicle for it. It was a love story in which we could escape the trials and tribulations of shame and sinfulness hanging above us. As we fearfully looked towards an uncertain future, perhaps there was a morbid comfort in attaching ourselves to a love story that would never be tested by the real world. In the case of most of these films, they represent their young women as aspirational symbols of femininity. They are beautiful, smart and morally upstanding. Due to her terminal prognosis, Jamie never has to compromise or adapt to an increasingly complex adult world. Death saves her from the disappointment of a failed relationship and the shame of losing her virginity out of wedlock. With the ugliness of her disease safely relegated to off-screen space, she remains beautiful and youthful even in death. Like many of these films, Jamies death serves a dual purpose: initiating a coming of age in the male character and preserving youthful femininity. In Autumn in New York, Richard Gere plays Will, a 50-something ladykiller who falls in love with a beautiful 22-year-old, Charlotte (Winona Ryder). While the film opens with Gere dating a more age-appropriate woman, over the course of the film, his heart is opened thanks to Charlottes joie de vivre. Unlike the girlfriends that came before (including a fling with Charlottes mother decades prior), Charlotte is virginal and trusting, and aside from her pesky heart disease, completely immune to the evils of the world. Over the course of the film, Charlotte is continually measured against other women in Wills life. They are all older, jaded, tired and cynical. It is only the purity of Charlottes youth that allows Will to change his ways and emerge as a better man. While she dies in her prime, Will comes out of the relationship redeemed with a new lease on life and a better sense of whats important. He is even inspired to reconnect with his adult daughter. While Charlotte has expended her usefulness, Will still has room to grow. Terminal romances are less about love, and more about the fetishization of youth often with female characters whose significance is only found in how they affect the men in their lives. These movies portray love frozen in time, uncorrupted by the trials of long-term monogamy. More than the disease, aging is presented as the true threat against love in an adult world that is consistently portrayed as cynical and corrupted. For women especially, the conservative expectations these romantic ideals impose are limiting and infantilizing. If Ali MacGraws death at the end of Love Story makes me weep, its not because Im sad about the death of her perfect love and beauty. Im crying because Im thinking of my own mortality and my own tally of romantic disappointments. Encased in her perfect 25-year-old life forever, she is a symbol of everything we lose as we grow older. If terminal romances tug at our heartstrings at all, its because they remind us we are all in a losing race against time. | The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. With the blockbuster success of Love Story in 1970, the genre refocused itself on youth. In these stories, the idealization of youthful romance reinforces an assumption that love cannot last. | bart | 1 | https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/what-is-so-attractive-about-the-terminal-romance-genre-and-its-obsession-with-love-and-youth | 0.16187 |
What is so attractive about the terminal romance genre and its obsession with love and youth? | Ryan ONeal kneels beside Ali MacGraws deathbed toward the end of the romantic classic Love Story. Her silky smooth hair is perfectly splayed across her pillow and her skin is enviably rosy. Somehow in the shadow of death, MacGraw is even more beautiful than usual. Love means never having to say youre sorry. A lump builds at the back of my throat. The vulgarity of the clichd melodrama is overwhelming, but because a dying Ali MacGraw is so beautiful, young and in love, Im weeping. With the release this weekend of Five Feet Apart, a film about a pair of teenagers with life-threatening illnesses who meet in a hospital and fall in love, another film joins the long ranks of melodramas in which a perfect love affair is disrupted (and typically enhanced) by a terminal prognosis. The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. Alexander Dumass semi-autobiographical novel, Camille, about his love affair with a dying courtesan was adapted no fewer than six times in the first half of the 20th century. At the height of Hollywood melodrama, falling in love was often equated to danger, with characters embroiled in a romance falling victim to disease, disability and death in films like Dark Victory, An Affair to Remember, Magnificent Obsession and Letter from an Unknown Woman. With the blockbuster success of Love Story in 1970, however, the genre refocused itself on youth. And over the past 50 years, this trend has only increased as tragic terminal romances continue to target high school and college-aged students. In these stories, the idealization of youthful romance reinforces an assumption that love cannot last, allowing the overwhelming intensity of a young love affair to be frozen in time. Growing up, A Walk to Remember, starring Mandy Moore, was the epitome of romance at the all-girls Catholic school I attended. In the film, Jamie, the preachers daughter, grabs the attention of the resident bad boy, only for the audience to be hit with a third act twist when its revealed that shes dying. It was a film where death, rather than being an obstacle against true love, was the vehicle for it. It was a love story in which we could escape the trials and tribulations of shame and sinfulness hanging above us. As we fearfully looked towards an uncertain future, perhaps there was a morbid comfort in attaching ourselves to a love story that would never be tested by the real world. In the case of most of these films, they represent their young women as aspirational symbols of femininity. They are beautiful, smart and morally upstanding. Due to her terminal prognosis, Jamie never has to compromise or adapt to an increasingly complex adult world. Death saves her from the disappointment of a failed relationship and the shame of losing her virginity out of wedlock. With the ugliness of her disease safely relegated to off-screen space, she remains beautiful and youthful even in death. Like many of these films, Jamies death serves a dual purpose: initiating a coming of age in the male character and preserving youthful femininity. In Autumn in New York, Richard Gere plays Will, a 50-something ladykiller who falls in love with a beautiful 22-year-old, Charlotte (Winona Ryder). While the film opens with Gere dating a more age-appropriate woman, over the course of the film, his heart is opened thanks to Charlottes joie de vivre. Unlike the girlfriends that came before (including a fling with Charlottes mother decades prior), Charlotte is virginal and trusting, and aside from her pesky heart disease, completely immune to the evils of the world. Over the course of the film, Charlotte is continually measured against other women in Wills life. They are all older, jaded, tired and cynical. It is only the purity of Charlottes youth that allows Will to change his ways and emerge as a better man. While she dies in her prime, Will comes out of the relationship redeemed with a new lease on life and a better sense of whats important. He is even inspired to reconnect with his adult daughter. While Charlotte has expended her usefulness, Will still has room to grow. Terminal romances are less about love, and more about the fetishization of youth often with female characters whose significance is only found in how they affect the men in their lives. These movies portray love frozen in time, uncorrupted by the trials of long-term monogamy. More than the disease, aging is presented as the true threat against love in an adult world that is consistently portrayed as cynical and corrupted. For women especially, the conservative expectations these romantic ideals impose are limiting and infantilizing. If Ali MacGraws death at the end of Love Story makes me weep, its not because Im sad about the death of her perfect love and beauty. Im crying because Im thinking of my own mortality and my own tally of romantic disappointments. Encased in her perfect 25-year-old life forever, she is a symbol of everything we lose as we grow older. If terminal romances tug at our heartstrings at all, its because they remind us we are all in a losing race against time. | The terminal romance genre has almost always been booming. With the blockbuster success of Love Story in 1970, the genre refocused itself on youth. In Autumn in New York, Richard Gere plays Will, a 50-something ladykiller who falls in love with a beautiful 22-year-old. | bart | 2 | https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/movies/what-is-so-attractive-about-the-terminal-romance-genre-and-its-obsession-with-love-and-youth | 0.153609 |
Could the Utah Jazz Be Turning a Corner? | Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Out of crisis can often come progress. Perhaps, at long last, thats happening in Salt Lake City, home of the Utah Jazz. The crisis occurred Monday night, when the Oklahoma City Thunders all-world point guard Russell Westbrook was taunted by a Jazz fan in racialized terms. Before people knew what the fan, Shane Keisel, had saidand before they knew who Keisel wasthe sports world had a collective conniption fit as Russell Westbrook was caught on video cursing him out. Westbrook said ,I promise you. I swear to god. I swear to god. Ill fuck you up. You and your wife, Ill fuck you up. [turns towards the court] Nah, fuck that! Nah, fuck that! [turns back to fan] I promise you. On everything I love. Everything I love, I promise you. I swear to god. Ad Policy Westbrook says that Keisel and his wife, after some back and forth, told him to get on your knees like youre used to. Shane Keisel denies saying get on your knees, and gave a defiant interview where he called Westbrook classless. But following the viral incident he deleted old social-media posts, including racist trash like the use of the N-word, saying that Westbrook should go back where he came from. #MAGA, and calling Westbrook a classless shit. No one is held accountable for their actions except for us. Fans are protected in every way possible but not us. Another teammate, Raymond Felton, also backed up Westbrooks account. This incident doesnt exist in a vacuum. Salt Lake City has a long reputation for fans treating visiting black players poorly. As 10-year NBA veteran (and my radio cohost) Etan Thomas said to me, I remember the atmosphere in Utah reminding me of one of those movies from the 60s when they had segregated schools and the black team would come play the white team. Like the movie Glory Road or something. Thats what the atmosphere reminded me of, and hearing different NBA players talk now, not much has changed from when I played. But, again, out of crisis, calcification can crumble and we may be seeing a step in the right direction. In the aftermath of this incident, the Utah Jazz, acted swiftlyand surprisinglyby banning Keisel from future games. After speaking to witnesses and viewing videotape, the team determined that Westbrook was telling the truth. Jazz president Steve Starks said in a statement: Current Issue View our current issue Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy and play the game in a safe, positive and inclusive environment. Offensive and abusive behavior does not reflect the values of the Miller family, our organization and the community. We all have a responsibility to respect the game of basketball and, more importantly, each other as human beings. In another welcome development, Utah Jazz star player Donovan Mitchell put out his own lengthy statement where he wrote in part, Racism and hate speech hurt us all, and this is not the first time something like this has happened in our arena. Over the coming months I will work with the team, my teammates and the league to help make our arenas and our communities more inclusive and welcoming. That includes bans on hate speech and racism. Utah teammate Thabo Sefoloshawhom casual fans may remember from the time the NYPD broke his legalso took to Instagram to say that he stand[s] 100% with Russell Westbrook. Support and cheer for your team and enjoy the action but fans like Shane Keisel who use that platform to spur there[sic] hateful and racist views need to be held accountable. Russell Westbrook has still been fined $25,000 by Commissioner Adam Silver for directing profanity and threatening language to a fan. But, overall, the response to the incident suggests that at least the Jazz organization may be turning a corner. | Could the Utah Jazz Be Turning a Corner? The team has been criticized for its treatment of a black player. The team is now facing criticism for its handling of the incident. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.thenation.com/article/russell-westbrook-utah-jazz-racist-fan/ | 0.113055 |
Could the Utah Jazz Be Turning a Corner? | Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and get three actions in your inbox every week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Subscribe now for as little as $2 a month! Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Fight Back! Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. You will receive occasional promotional offers for programs that support The Nations journalism. You can read our Privacy Policy here. Sign up for Take Action Now and well send you three meaningful actions you can take each week. Thank you for signing up. For more from The Nation, check out our latest issue Travel With The Nation Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Be the first to hear about Nation Travels destinations, and explore the world with kindred spirits. Sign up for our Wine Club today. Out of crisis can often come progress. Perhaps, at long last, thats happening in Salt Lake City, home of the Utah Jazz. The crisis occurred Monday night, when the Oklahoma City Thunders all-world point guard Russell Westbrook was taunted by a Jazz fan in racialized terms. Before people knew what the fan, Shane Keisel, had saidand before they knew who Keisel wasthe sports world had a collective conniption fit as Russell Westbrook was caught on video cursing him out. Westbrook said ,I promise you. I swear to god. I swear to god. Ill fuck you up. You and your wife, Ill fuck you up. [turns towards the court] Nah, fuck that! Nah, fuck that! [turns back to fan] I promise you. On everything I love. Everything I love, I promise you. I swear to god. Ad Policy Westbrook says that Keisel and his wife, after some back and forth, told him to get on your knees like youre used to. Shane Keisel denies saying get on your knees, and gave a defiant interview where he called Westbrook classless. But following the viral incident he deleted old social-media posts, including racist trash like the use of the N-word, saying that Westbrook should go back where he came from. #MAGA, and calling Westbrook a classless shit. No one is held accountable for their actions except for us. Fans are protected in every way possible but not us. Another teammate, Raymond Felton, also backed up Westbrooks account. This incident doesnt exist in a vacuum. Salt Lake City has a long reputation for fans treating visiting black players poorly. As 10-year NBA veteran (and my radio cohost) Etan Thomas said to me, I remember the atmosphere in Utah reminding me of one of those movies from the 60s when they had segregated schools and the black team would come play the white team. Like the movie Glory Road or something. Thats what the atmosphere reminded me of, and hearing different NBA players talk now, not much has changed from when I played. But, again, out of crisis, calcification can crumble and we may be seeing a step in the right direction. In the aftermath of this incident, the Utah Jazz, acted swiftlyand surprisinglyby banning Keisel from future games. After speaking to witnesses and viewing videotape, the team determined that Westbrook was telling the truth. Jazz president Steve Starks said in a statement: Current Issue View our current issue Everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy and play the game in a safe, positive and inclusive environment. Offensive and abusive behavior does not reflect the values of the Miller family, our organization and the community. We all have a responsibility to respect the game of basketball and, more importantly, each other as human beings. In another welcome development, Utah Jazz star player Donovan Mitchell put out his own lengthy statement where he wrote in part, Racism and hate speech hurt us all, and this is not the first time something like this has happened in our arena. Over the coming months I will work with the team, my teammates and the league to help make our arenas and our communities more inclusive and welcoming. That includes bans on hate speech and racism. Utah teammate Thabo Sefoloshawhom casual fans may remember from the time the NYPD broke his legalso took to Instagram to say that he stand[s] 100% with Russell Westbrook. Support and cheer for your team and enjoy the action but fans like Shane Keisel who use that platform to spur there[sic] hateful and racist views need to be held accountable. Russell Westbrook has still been fined $25,000 by Commissioner Adam Silver for directing profanity and threatening language to a fan. But, overall, the response to the incident suggests that at least the Jazz organization may be turning a corner. | Could the Utah Jazz Be Turning a Corner? The team has been criticized for its treatment of visiting black players. The team is now facing criticism for its handling of a racial incident involving one of its players. It's time for the team to step up its game, says the team's president. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.thenation.com/article/russell-westbrook-utah-jazz-racist-fan/ | 0.156843 |
How'd the Huskies do at the 2019 NFL Combine? | Byron Murphy, Cornerback Unlike most of his Husky peers, Murphy entered the Combine with little to prove. As a prospect who was already receiving first-round assessments, his biggest goal was to make sure he didn't give scouts any reason to change their minds. Murphy certainly didn't, and flashed his signature ball-hawking skills in drills and adequate athletic traits. While it's true that his speed isn't jaw-dropping, the reason Murphy is so highly touted is his technique and ball skills so don't expect much to change. DRAFT PREDICTION: 1st Round less Byron Murphy, Cornerback Unlike most of his Husky peers, Murphy entered the Combine with little to prove. 1 / 12 Back to Gallery With the 2019 NFL Draft Combine in the books, the football world is quickly approaching April's main event. The Washington Huskies had a prominent presence at the Combine, with a Pac-12-best nine players invited. Amongst the best of the best in college football, Jake Browning, Myles Gaskin, Byron Murphy, Taylor Rapp, Ben Burr-Kirven, Drew Sample, Jordan Miller, Kaleb McGary and Greg Gaines were chosen to represent the Dawgs. For the most part, yes. There were shared traits across the board: toughness, high football IQ and heart, among others. For players like Rapp and Murphy, both of whom are highly-rated prospects, the Combine was more about not messing up and giving scouts a reason to doubt them. RELATED: 8 free-agent acquisitions by Seahawks this decade that made a big impact Others, like Gaskin and Burr-Kirven had a drastically different task. Both were elite players in college. Both possess the requisite athleticism required of their respective positions. Unfortunately for them, they also lack the size desired by NFL coaches. For them, the Combine was about showing teams that those concerns should be outweighed by everything else they bring to the table. There's still plenty of time before draft day, including Washington's Pro Day. For now, things seem mostly settled for the Dawgs' NFL hopefuls. Click through to see our take on how the Huskies did at the 2019 Combine. | The Washington Huskies had a prominent presence at the 2019 NFL Combine. Byron Murphy, Myles Gaskin, Taylor Rapp, Ben Burr-Kirven, Drew Sample, Jordan Miller, Kaleb McGary and Greg Gaines were chosen to represent the Dawgs. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.seattlepi.com/sports/college/article/How-d-the-Huskies-do-at-the-2019-NFL-Combine-13685395.php | 0.186138 |
Will Desmond Ridder be a four-year starter for UC like QB coach Gino Guidugli? | CLOSE UC QB coach Gino Guidugli on Bearcat starter Desmond Ridder Scott Springer, sspringer@enquirer.com A pair of Kentuckians could become University of Cincinnati legends. Actually, one already is. Gino Guidugli of Fort Thomas Highlands High School switched from a University of Kentucky commit to a UC commit way back when and is now in the Bearcat Hall of Fame. Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback leading them from 2001-2004. He need only point to the No. 8 in the Herschede-Shank Pavilion of Nippert Stadium to one-up somebody. He's also in his third year as a UC assistant coach under Luke Fickell and second-year coaching the quarterbacks. Last season, in the UCLA opener in Pasadena, when Hayden Moore faltered, in came Desmond Ridder, redshirt freshman from Louisville. Ridder led the Bearcats to the 26-17 win over the Bruins and never relinquished the starter's role again. To Hayden Moore's credit, when Ridder was injured in the Military Bowl vs. Virginia Tech, Moore led the Bearcats to the 35-31 triumph. Back in 2001, Adam Hoover was UC's starter in an opening loss to Purdue. Then, in the following game at Army, Hoover was lost for the year. In came freshman Guidugli who went on to go 31-for-41 passing for 311 yards leading UC to the win at West Point. Gino Guidugli set multiple University of Cincinnati passing records during his career from 2001-04. After one year as running backs coach under Luke Fickell, he's in his second year coaching the quarterbacks. He holds many of the UC passing records. (Photo: Enquirer file/Mike Simons) Like Ridder, he never came out again other than for injuries. "Absolutely, phenomenal freshman year," Guidugli said of Ridder. "I"m looking forward to building off that foundation put together from last season. He's extremely motivated to get better and commands our offense." Though offenses and philosophies change with coaches and seasons, Guidugli's opening campaign saw him go 214-for-363 passing with nine interceptions, 2,856 yards and 17 touchdowns. Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) drops back to pass in the first quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar) Ridder was 194-for-311 passing with just five interceptions, 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns leading UC to an 11-2 record. Listed at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, he's bigger than Guidugli was then at 6-3 and 201 pounds. Actually, with advanced weight facilities and the fact that he's just 19, Ridder says he's grown an inch and a half putting him more in the 6-5 range with a more chiseled physique. "We just took our offseason photos from the winter and you can see a big difference from when I got here," Ridder said. "There's plenty of room for improvement." Where Guidugli may have had the edge in big throws over his career (as indicated by the record book showing him leading in pass attempts, passing yards, touchdown passes, total plays and total yards). Ridder gets the nod in running with his 583 yards for five scores in 2018. With the help of Guidugli now, he's got better command of the offense. The scrambling just enhances his game. "The balls are getting easier to throw," Ridder confirmed. "I think it's also the reads and my comfortability with the offense. It's making the throws a lot easier since I'm able to see the defense. The game's slowing down a lot more for me." Most college teams need a minimum of two quarterbacks as injuries and bad days can take their toll on the best. But, it is a luxury to have a returning starter so young who led the team on the field for 12 of their 13 games. Like Guidugli, he's overcome being a teenager barking in the huddle to older players. "Playing that position you've got to have some leadership qualities," Guidugli said. "I think he had that when he got there. Naturally, with a little bit of success, those things are easy to develop." Ridder's hard work has allowed him to be told by offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock that he will control the offense. Now the goal is to perfect what's been working. NEWSLETTERS Get the Bengals Beat newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-876-4500. Delivery: Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Bengals Beat Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "We want to get his completion percentage up this fall," Guidiguli said. "He's doing all the right things. We're going to continue to work his feet, continue to work his eyes and I think you'll see a whole different guy out there throwing the ball." If Ridder can stay at the helm the next three seasons, he'll match his coach in spinning spirals over a four-year span. He also knows that Bryant and Jake Sopko are with the team this spring, with Michael Lindauer and Cameron Jones coming this fall. "I don't think anyone on this team can be complacent or be just OK because they know there's always somebody behind them ready to work," Ridder said. Added Guidugli, "Those other guys are going to be nipping at his ankles to get in there. Ben Bryant does a great job throwing the ball, so does Jake (Sopko). I'm anxious to see the competition throughout the spring." Transfer updates: Michigan transfer James Hudson is running with the first unit offensive line and participated in some Military Bowl practices before UC left for Maryland last December. Darrian Beavers was Connecticut's sack leader and has gone from a Colerain safety to linebacker. Mount Healthy's Bryan Cook is a defensive back who transferred from Howard University. Luke Fickell addressed their early situations. "There's a couple new editions out there with James Hudson, Beavers from Colerain and Bryan Cook from Mount Healthy," Fickell said. "We don't know exactly where we are with those guys as we go into fall, but we know we're going to prepare them and get them ready. There's a definite size difference in what Beavers can bring to the linebacker position being 6-3, 240 pounds and what Cook can bring to the back end being 6-1, 6-2 with some length. I know they've only been here for a short time but they've got great pride in this program because of where they're from." | Gino Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback from 2001-04. Desmond Ridder is a redshirt freshman from Louisville. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2019/03/13/cincinnati-bearcats-football-desmond-ridder-looks-keep-starting-job/3136233002/ | 0.415063 |
Will Desmond Ridder be a four-year starter for UC like QB coach Gino Guidugli? | CLOSE UC QB coach Gino Guidugli on Bearcat starter Desmond Ridder Scott Springer, sspringer@enquirer.com A pair of Kentuckians could become University of Cincinnati legends. Actually, one already is. Gino Guidugli of Fort Thomas Highlands High School switched from a University of Kentucky commit to a UC commit way back when and is now in the Bearcat Hall of Fame. Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback leading them from 2001-2004. He need only point to the No. 8 in the Herschede-Shank Pavilion of Nippert Stadium to one-up somebody. He's also in his third year as a UC assistant coach under Luke Fickell and second-year coaching the quarterbacks. Last season, in the UCLA opener in Pasadena, when Hayden Moore faltered, in came Desmond Ridder, redshirt freshman from Louisville. Ridder led the Bearcats to the 26-17 win over the Bruins and never relinquished the starter's role again. To Hayden Moore's credit, when Ridder was injured in the Military Bowl vs. Virginia Tech, Moore led the Bearcats to the 35-31 triumph. Back in 2001, Adam Hoover was UC's starter in an opening loss to Purdue. Then, in the following game at Army, Hoover was lost for the year. In came freshman Guidugli who went on to go 31-for-41 passing for 311 yards leading UC to the win at West Point. Gino Guidugli set multiple University of Cincinnati passing records during his career from 2001-04. After one year as running backs coach under Luke Fickell, he's in his second year coaching the quarterbacks. He holds many of the UC passing records. (Photo: Enquirer file/Mike Simons) Like Ridder, he never came out again other than for injuries. "Absolutely, phenomenal freshman year," Guidugli said of Ridder. "I"m looking forward to building off that foundation put together from last season. He's extremely motivated to get better and commands our offense." Though offenses and philosophies change with coaches and seasons, Guidugli's opening campaign saw him go 214-for-363 passing with nine interceptions, 2,856 yards and 17 touchdowns. Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) drops back to pass in the first quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar) Ridder was 194-for-311 passing with just five interceptions, 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns leading UC to an 11-2 record. Listed at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, he's bigger than Guidugli was then at 6-3 and 201 pounds. Actually, with advanced weight facilities and the fact that he's just 19, Ridder says he's grown an inch and a half putting him more in the 6-5 range with a more chiseled physique. "We just took our offseason photos from the winter and you can see a big difference from when I got here," Ridder said. "There's plenty of room for improvement." Where Guidugli may have had the edge in big throws over his career (as indicated by the record book showing him leading in pass attempts, passing yards, touchdown passes, total plays and total yards). Ridder gets the nod in running with his 583 yards for five scores in 2018. With the help of Guidugli now, he's got better command of the offense. The scrambling just enhances his game. "The balls are getting easier to throw," Ridder confirmed. "I think it's also the reads and my comfortability with the offense. It's making the throws a lot easier since I'm able to see the defense. The game's slowing down a lot more for me." Most college teams need a minimum of two quarterbacks as injuries and bad days can take their toll on the best. But, it is a luxury to have a returning starter so young who led the team on the field for 12 of their 13 games. Like Guidugli, he's overcome being a teenager barking in the huddle to older players. "Playing that position you've got to have some leadership qualities," Guidugli said. "I think he had that when he got there. Naturally, with a little bit of success, those things are easy to develop." Ridder's hard work has allowed him to be told by offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock that he will control the offense. Now the goal is to perfect what's been working. NEWSLETTERS Get the Bengals Beat newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-876-4500. Delivery: Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Bengals Beat Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "We want to get his completion percentage up this fall," Guidiguli said. "He's doing all the right things. We're going to continue to work his feet, continue to work his eyes and I think you'll see a whole different guy out there throwing the ball." If Ridder can stay at the helm the next three seasons, he'll match his coach in spinning spirals over a four-year span. He also knows that Bryant and Jake Sopko are with the team this spring, with Michael Lindauer and Cameron Jones coming this fall. "I don't think anyone on this team can be complacent or be just OK because they know there's always somebody behind them ready to work," Ridder said. Added Guidugli, "Those other guys are going to be nipping at his ankles to get in there. Ben Bryant does a great job throwing the ball, so does Jake (Sopko). I'm anxious to see the competition throughout the spring." Transfer updates: Michigan transfer James Hudson is running with the first unit offensive line and participated in some Military Bowl practices before UC left for Maryland last December. Darrian Beavers was Connecticut's sack leader and has gone from a Colerain safety to linebacker. Mount Healthy's Bryan Cook is a defensive back who transferred from Howard University. Luke Fickell addressed their early situations. "There's a couple new editions out there with James Hudson, Beavers from Colerain and Bryan Cook from Mount Healthy," Fickell said. "We don't know exactly where we are with those guys as we go into fall, but we know we're going to prepare them and get them ready. There's a definite size difference in what Beavers can bring to the linebacker position being 6-3, 240 pounds and what Cook can bring to the back end being 6-1, 6-2 with some length. I know they've only been here for a short time but they've got great pride in this program because of where they're from." | Gino Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback from 2001-04. Desmond Ridder, a redshirt freshman from Louisville, is expected to start this season. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2019/03/13/cincinnati-bearcats-football-desmond-ridder-looks-keep-starting-job/3136233002/ | 0.418895 |
Will Desmond Ridder be a four-year starter for UC like QB coach Gino Guidugli? | CLOSE UC QB coach Gino Guidugli on Bearcat starter Desmond Ridder Scott Springer, sspringer@enquirer.com A pair of Kentuckians could become University of Cincinnati legends. Actually, one already is. Gino Guidugli of Fort Thomas Highlands High School switched from a University of Kentucky commit to a UC commit way back when and is now in the Bearcat Hall of Fame. Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback leading them from 2001-2004. He need only point to the No. 8 in the Herschede-Shank Pavilion of Nippert Stadium to one-up somebody. He's also in his third year as a UC assistant coach under Luke Fickell and second-year coaching the quarterbacks. Last season, in the UCLA opener in Pasadena, when Hayden Moore faltered, in came Desmond Ridder, redshirt freshman from Louisville. Ridder led the Bearcats to the 26-17 win over the Bruins and never relinquished the starter's role again. To Hayden Moore's credit, when Ridder was injured in the Military Bowl vs. Virginia Tech, Moore led the Bearcats to the 35-31 triumph. Back in 2001, Adam Hoover was UC's starter in an opening loss to Purdue. Then, in the following game at Army, Hoover was lost for the year. In came freshman Guidugli who went on to go 31-for-41 passing for 311 yards leading UC to the win at West Point. Gino Guidugli set multiple University of Cincinnati passing records during his career from 2001-04. After one year as running backs coach under Luke Fickell, he's in his second year coaching the quarterbacks. He holds many of the UC passing records. (Photo: Enquirer file/Mike Simons) Like Ridder, he never came out again other than for injuries. "Absolutely, phenomenal freshman year," Guidugli said of Ridder. "I"m looking forward to building off that foundation put together from last season. He's extremely motivated to get better and commands our offense." Though offenses and philosophies change with coaches and seasons, Guidugli's opening campaign saw him go 214-for-363 passing with nine interceptions, 2,856 yards and 17 touchdowns. Cincinnati Bearcats quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) drops back to pass in the first quarter during a college football game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Cincinnati Bearcats, Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati. (Photo: Kareem Elgazzar) Ridder was 194-for-311 passing with just five interceptions, 2,445 yards and 20 touchdowns leading UC to an 11-2 record. Listed at 6-foot-4, 212 pounds, he's bigger than Guidugli was then at 6-3 and 201 pounds. Actually, with advanced weight facilities and the fact that he's just 19, Ridder says he's grown an inch and a half putting him more in the 6-5 range with a more chiseled physique. "We just took our offseason photos from the winter and you can see a big difference from when I got here," Ridder said. "There's plenty of room for improvement." Where Guidugli may have had the edge in big throws over his career (as indicated by the record book showing him leading in pass attempts, passing yards, touchdown passes, total plays and total yards). Ridder gets the nod in running with his 583 yards for five scores in 2018. With the help of Guidugli now, he's got better command of the offense. The scrambling just enhances his game. "The balls are getting easier to throw," Ridder confirmed. "I think it's also the reads and my comfortability with the offense. It's making the throws a lot easier since I'm able to see the defense. The game's slowing down a lot more for me." Most college teams need a minimum of two quarterbacks as injuries and bad days can take their toll on the best. But, it is a luxury to have a returning starter so young who led the team on the field for 12 of their 13 games. Like Guidugli, he's overcome being a teenager barking in the huddle to older players. "Playing that position you've got to have some leadership qualities," Guidugli said. "I think he had that when he got there. Naturally, with a little bit of success, those things are easy to develop." Ridder's hard work has allowed him to be told by offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock that he will control the offense. Now the goal is to perfect what's been working. NEWSLETTERS Get the Bengals Beat newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-876-4500. Delivery: Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Bengals Beat Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "We want to get his completion percentage up this fall," Guidiguli said. "He's doing all the right things. We're going to continue to work his feet, continue to work his eyes and I think you'll see a whole different guy out there throwing the ball." If Ridder can stay at the helm the next three seasons, he'll match his coach in spinning spirals over a four-year span. He also knows that Bryant and Jake Sopko are with the team this spring, with Michael Lindauer and Cameron Jones coming this fall. "I don't think anyone on this team can be complacent or be just OK because they know there's always somebody behind them ready to work," Ridder said. Added Guidugli, "Those other guys are going to be nipping at his ankles to get in there. Ben Bryant does a great job throwing the ball, so does Jake (Sopko). I'm anxious to see the competition throughout the spring." Transfer updates: Michigan transfer James Hudson is running with the first unit offensive line and participated in some Military Bowl practices before UC left for Maryland last December. Darrian Beavers was Connecticut's sack leader and has gone from a Colerain safety to linebacker. Mount Healthy's Bryan Cook is a defensive back who transferred from Howard University. Luke Fickell addressed their early situations. "There's a couple new editions out there with James Hudson, Beavers from Colerain and Bryan Cook from Mount Healthy," Fickell said. "We don't know exactly where we are with those guys as we go into fall, but we know we're going to prepare them and get them ready. There's a definite size difference in what Beavers can bring to the linebacker position being 6-3, 240 pounds and what Cook can bring to the back end being 6-1, 6-2 with some length. I know they've only been here for a short time but they've got great pride in this program because of where they're from." | Gino Guidugli was UC's last four-year starting quarterback from 2001-04. Desmond Ridder, a redshirt freshman from Louisville, is expected to be the Bearcats' starter this season. Ridder says he's grown an inch and a half and has a more chiseled physique. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/college/university-of-cincinnati/2019/03/13/cincinnati-bearcats-football-desmond-ridder-looks-keep-starting-job/3136233002/ | 0.597433 |
Does the United States Need a Civilian Nuclear Industry? | Patrick Roberts, Ariel Ahram Security, Americas Instead of a greater financial cushion, what the nuclear industry needs is more transparent exposure to market signals. The U.S. nuclear industry is on life support. Two nuclear reactors currently under construction have been canceled. Westinghouse, once at the vanguard of American technology, filed for bankruptcy in 2017 and is now owned by a Canadian firm. These troubles have affected the human capitaltechnicians, engineers, and other specialistscrucial for innovation in the industry. The United States once held the majority of nuclear-qualified manufacturing certificationsthe prestigious N-stamp issued by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to certify a level of quality for nuclear applications. That ended in 2010 as other countries expanded their nuclear workforces. Advocates and industry lobbyists are proposing a new structure of subsidies to prop up the industry. Instead of a greater financial cushion, however, what the nuclear industry needs is more transparent exposure to market signals. Knowledgeable investors who have skin in the game could guide investment of money, expertise, and technology. Their collective intelligence could point toward a more sustainable business model that attains value not just in building reactors but throughout the nuclear enterprise, including decommissioning, and agriculture and health applications. The prospect of lagging interest in reactors distracts the U.S. nuclear industry from focusing energy on other parts of the nuclear value chain where innovation is more likely. Part of the problem for the nuclear industry is that high start-up costs overshadow prospective efficiencies that could come decades down the line. This uncertainty can lead to ballooning costs that make nuclear power prohibitively expensive. The market incentives for investment in nuclear energy may be unclear, but the growth in government-driven programs worldwide shows that an energy market for nuclear energy remains. Nuclear power production grew 1.1 percent in 2018. As an eco-friendly energy source, nuclear power has potential but also competition from renewables like wind and natural gas. Nuclear advocates promote the carbon-free energy source as justification for subsidies. According to the widely-respected McKinsey greenhouse gas abatement cost curve , nuclear energys stark startup costs will likely limit the construction of new nuclear plans in the next decade or two, at least. In the short to medium term, existing nuclear power plant life spans may be extended to provide constant baseload generation, something which fickle wind or solar output cannot provide. However, improved battery storage and transmission technology could make the entire idea of baseload energy obsolete. Government subsidies, whether to renewables, natural gas, or nuclear, only cloud the issue. It should be up to investors, with access to diverse and comprehensive market information, to bet for (or against) nuclear energy. Another argument for subsidizing the civil nuclear industry relies on its importance for national defense. Here, the United States walks a fine line: on one hand, the United States has a commitment to uphold the nonproliferation regime. On the other hand, the United States seeks to maintain and even modernize its nuclear arsenal to provide deterrence. In August 2017, former energy secretary Ernest Moniz coauthored the Energy Futures Initiative, a report arguing for greater government support for robust nuclear energy enterprise that serves both nonproliferation and nuclear deterrence goals. A particular concern was ensuring the supply of tritium, a hydrogen isotope important for powering nuclear weapons. Government reactors produced tritium until 1988, when they were closed because of cost. On closer inspection, however, these concerns about the health of the nuclear elements of national security are overblown. The Government Accountability Office finds that tritium reserves are sufficient through the 2030s, and there are other ways to acquire tritium by enriching uranium. The civilian industry makes the case for electric rate subsidies and exemption of onerous licensing and export controls because of their importance for nuclear weapons and nuclear powered submarines. However, it seems just as likely that the civil nuclear industry is as dependent on the defense industry for talent and investment. The training for civil and military nuclear technology requires the same basic physics, but beyond that, the education diverges. Naval reactors are not the same as civilian ones, and the navy operates approximately 160 nuclear reactors compared to ninety-eight in the civilian sector. | Patrick Roberts, Ariel Ahram: The U.S. nuclear industry is on life support. They say the nuclear industry needs more transparent exposure to market signals. Roberts and Ahram say the industry needs to be more transparent and open to new investment. The authors say the government should not subsidize the civil nuclear industry. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/does-united-states-civilian-nuclear-155800825.html | 0.233568 |
How Much Can The Partnership With Amazon Contribute To VMware's Top Line? | VMware announced a partnership with Amazons AWS a few years back, as the companies jointly developed the VMware Cloud on AWS offering. Per AWSs website, the offering delivers a highly scalable, secure and innovative service that allows organizations to seamlessly migrate and extend their on-premises VMware vSphere-based environments to the AWS Cloud running on next-generation Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) bare metal infrastructure. The unique selling point of this partnership is that VMware is facilitating the development of a hybrid cloud for its customers, with the cloud side being AWS and the on-premise as an open system. While the partnership is mutually beneficial, given that VMwares overall revenue is much lower than AWS, the impact of the partnership is likely much more significant for VMware than Amazon. Below we take a look at how much this partnership impacts VMwares revenue and valuation. While VMware does not break out the revenue contribution from AWS within the broader Hybrid Cloud and SaaS, we estimate that the AWS partnership currently accounts for a low single-digit percentage of VMwares total revenue (likely in the ~2% range). Our interactive dashboard on the VMware AWS Partnership Revenue outlines our estimates for the impact to VMwares revenue from this partnership. You can modify any of the key drivers to visualize the impact of changes, and see all Trefis technology company data here. Our estimates are based on management commentary about incremental growth from AWS and on the commentary across the last few quarters around VMwares relationship with AWS and the traction in the partnership. We believe, given the current adoption momentum, by 2020, this partnership may contribute ~4% to VWwares total revenue. For reference, this would imply estimated 2020 revenue of around $400 million from the partnership. Embed them in your own posts using the Trefis WordPress Plugin. | We estimate that by 2020, this partnership may contribute ~4% to VWwares total revenue. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/13/how-much-can-the-partnership-with-amazon-contribute-to-vmwares-top-line/ | 0.108661 |
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