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Should EA Sports bring back Tiger Woods PGA Tour? | By Daniel Tran Its been about five years since Tiger Woods graced the cover of EA Sports PGA Tour video game and many want him (and the game) back. Woods worst years are behind him, and his recent rise to relevance would be a perfect match for the game he helped make popular. However, with The Golf Club 2019 already in production, EA has no reason to make a PGA Tour game anymore. At its peak, Tiger Woods PGA Tour was one of the most successful EA Sports video games series ever. When the PGA Tour untapped EA Sports to make its game, the series made $771 million since 1999. With Woods out of his slump and contending in PGA Tour events, many want to see the franchise come back with him as the cover athlete again. Despite his recent struggles, Woods remains one of the most recognized athletes in the world. His win at the Tour Championship in 2018 only made people more intrigued about his performances. EA Sports and the PGA Tour would be foolish not to capitalize on his popularity once again. The game always had the best courses and players with a slick graphics engine to boot. "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" needs to return! MORE: Its time for a new PGA game, EA Report: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson will bring back The Match The pay-per-view event had glitches at first, but may grow to a team competition. The PGA Tour made the right decision to hand their video game rights to HB Studios, and they should continue that relationship. "The Golf Club 2019" might not have the golfers or all of the courses EA Sports had, but the game itself can improve and will get better with time. There's no need to revert back to a game with Woods, who is past his prime with a sordid past, on the cover. People need to let "Tiger Woods PGA Tour" die in peace. MORE: PGA Tour video game to get a new look with EA Sports out as the official licensing partner 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. | It's been about five years since Tiger Woods graced the cover of EA Sports PGA Tour video game. Many want to see the franchise come back with him as the cover athlete again. " The Golf Club 2019" might not have the golfers or all of the courses EA Sports had, but the game itself can improve. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/should-ea-sports-bring-back-tiger-woods-pga-tour.html | 0.201312 |
Does Coca-Cola Have A Billion-Dollar Brand in Cold-Pressed Juice Favorite Suja Life? | Coca-Cola owns 50% of Suja Life. The company's investments have helped pay for Suja's in-house manufacturing plant - a key to its recent success. Suja Life At Suja Lifes 122,000 square-foot factory outside of San Diego, one and a half million bottles roll off conveyor belts every week, with colorful labels that tout cold-pressed juices and ingredients like kale and monkfruit. Since moving in two years ago, the company has invested some $30 million in this plant. It now sells 95 drinks - from kombucha to drinking vinegars and plant-based protein milks - and moves quickly to get them to shelves from Target and Publix to Costco and Whole Foods. In fact, it can develop an entirely new product and get it to customers within eight weeks - a speed rare in the beverage industry. That agility has led Suja to develop more than 250 products in the six years since it was founded, and on any given day, the factory is manufacturing as much as 15 different styles. Last year, Suja hit $100 million in revenue for the first time, a milestone in the perennially crowded industry, with gross margins of 40%. Its nearly tripled in four years, when sales topped $40 million. The benefit of having spent all the money to do it, is we get a lot of flexibility. We can be really innovative. We can move past the market and try new things without having to have a minimum order, says CEO Jeff Church. But it cost a lot of money and took fundraising rounds to get it to that point. Suja Life's CEO Jeff Church. BevNET.com It has secured about $125 million in all. Its main backer is Coca-Cola, who teamed up with Goldman Sachs in 2015 to buy a 30% stake. Two years later, Coke invested another $11 million and increased its stake to 50%. Part of the reason why: A recent study they funded found that more than 28 million households are interested in more organic cold pressed juice, they just don't know where to get it. Sujas currently purchased by some three-and-a-half million families, so the gap is great. So great, in fact, that Church thinks Suja is on track to become a billion-dollar brand, especially as it continues to break into new categories. Last year, Suja launched 21 products - including energy juices with 100 milligrams of naturally derived caffeine from ingredients such as coffeeberry and guayusa tea. Another line of wellness shots, which launched in August, has sold particularly well. Its Immunity flavor - with ingredients like Ginger, turmeric, camu camu, echinacea, and live probiotics - has become Sujas top selling item across many accounts, the company says, and it averages about 50% faster turns than its juices. Immunity is now emerging as the top-selling item in Sujas entire portfolio of products, out-performing even Sujas long-standing best-seller, the Uber Greens juice. The line has two others flavors, Digestion and Energy, with a fourth, called Focus, about to launch. Suja Life's 122,000 square foot plant near San Diego. Suja Life Suja plans to do launch another 21 products in 2019. And Church says Sujas plant could easily produce other shelf-stable products, from salsa and hummus to salad dressing. It's about continuing to leverage the halo that we've created with our consumers and really take them into other areas of the store and be able to help the store benefit from that. A Kroger has alt-milks in one area and the juices in another area and the kombuchas in another area. That gives us three different growth platforms within the retailers. And then we will be looking around the perimeter of the store and seeing what's not being done fresh that we can own, says Church. Retailers like it because they know that we'll do the cross-marketing to drive consumers from one place, versus trying to build a whole new brand. The factory, along with purchasing produce directly from local farmers, has also helped Suja scale while reducing its costs of goods sold about 50%. Suja keeps inventory low and only manufactures to each order. Thats translated to price reductions across the board: The 12-ounce juice that Suja started selling for $9.99 in 2012 is now sold for typically $2.99 or $3.99. Its also broadened Sujas potential customer base. The brand is now stocked in some 25,000 stores. Says Church: Its really about pushing that price to the lowest possible level that you can. Were always trying to take cost out. As far as the possibility of an acquisition by Coke goes, Church says: Theyve been great. They follow through on investments that were unanticipated, which is really the test of a good partner - that they're willing to step up. If we both ultimately want to be together, then we'll be together. If we don't, then it won't. I'm enthusiastic about the options and opportunities that we have with Coke and without Coke. | Coca-Cola owns 50% of cold-Pressed Juice brand Suja Life. Suja is on track to become a billion-dollar brand, says CEO Jeff Church. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2019/03/04/does-coca-cola-have-a-billion-dollar-brand-in-cold-pressed-juice-favorite-suja-life/ | 0.518131 |
Does Coca-Cola Have A Billion-Dollar Brand in Cold-Pressed Juice Favorite Suja Life? | Coca-Cola owns 50% of Suja Life. The company's investments have helped pay for Suja's in-house manufacturing plant - a key to its recent success. Suja Life At Suja Lifes 122,000 square-foot factory outside of San Diego, one and a half million bottles roll off conveyor belts every week, with colorful labels that tout cold-pressed juices and ingredients like kale and monkfruit. Since moving in two years ago, the company has invested some $30 million in this plant. It now sells 95 drinks - from kombucha to drinking vinegars and plant-based protein milks - and moves quickly to get them to shelves from Target and Publix to Costco and Whole Foods. In fact, it can develop an entirely new product and get it to customers within eight weeks - a speed rare in the beverage industry. That agility has led Suja to develop more than 250 products in the six years since it was founded, and on any given day, the factory is manufacturing as much as 15 different styles. Last year, Suja hit $100 million in revenue for the first time, a milestone in the perennially crowded industry, with gross margins of 40%. Its nearly tripled in four years, when sales topped $40 million. The benefit of having spent all the money to do it, is we get a lot of flexibility. We can be really innovative. We can move past the market and try new things without having to have a minimum order, says CEO Jeff Church. But it cost a lot of money and took fundraising rounds to get it to that point. Suja Life's CEO Jeff Church. BevNET.com It has secured about $125 million in all. Its main backer is Coca-Cola, who teamed up with Goldman Sachs in 2015 to buy a 30% stake. Two years later, Coke invested another $11 million and increased its stake to 50%. Part of the reason why: A recent study they funded found that more than 28 million households are interested in more organic cold pressed juice, they just don't know where to get it. Sujas currently purchased by some three-and-a-half million families, so the gap is great. So great, in fact, that Church thinks Suja is on track to become a billion-dollar brand, especially as it continues to break into new categories. Last year, Suja launched 21 products - including energy juices with 100 milligrams of naturally derived caffeine from ingredients such as coffeeberry and guayusa tea. Another line of wellness shots, which launched in August, has sold particularly well. Its Immunity flavor - with ingredients like Ginger, turmeric, camu camu, echinacea, and live probiotics - has become Sujas top selling item across many accounts, the company says, and it averages about 50% faster turns than its juices. Immunity is now emerging as the top-selling item in Sujas entire portfolio of products, out-performing even Sujas long-standing best-seller, the Uber Greens juice. The line has two others flavors, Digestion and Energy, with a fourth, called Focus, about to launch. Suja Life's 122,000 square foot plant near San Diego. Suja Life Suja plans to do launch another 21 products in 2019. And Church says Sujas plant could easily produce other shelf-stable products, from salsa and hummus to salad dressing. It's about continuing to leverage the halo that we've created with our consumers and really take them into other areas of the store and be able to help the store benefit from that. A Kroger has alt-milks in one area and the juices in another area and the kombuchas in another area. That gives us three different growth platforms within the retailers. And then we will be looking around the perimeter of the store and seeing what's not being done fresh that we can own, says Church. Retailers like it because they know that we'll do the cross-marketing to drive consumers from one place, versus trying to build a whole new brand. The factory, along with purchasing produce directly from local farmers, has also helped Suja scale while reducing its costs of goods sold about 50%. Suja keeps inventory low and only manufactures to each order. Thats translated to price reductions across the board: The 12-ounce juice that Suja started selling for $9.99 in 2012 is now sold for typically $2.99 or $3.99. Its also broadened Sujas potential customer base. The brand is now stocked in some 25,000 stores. Says Church: Its really about pushing that price to the lowest possible level that you can. Were always trying to take cost out. As far as the possibility of an acquisition by Coke goes, Church says: Theyve been great. They follow through on investments that were unanticipated, which is really the test of a good partner - that they're willing to step up. If we both ultimately want to be together, then we'll be together. If we don't, then it won't. I'm enthusiastic about the options and opportunities that we have with Coke and without Coke. | Coca-Cola owns 50% of cold-Pressed Juice Favorite Suja Life. Suja is on track to become a billion-dollar brand, says CEO Jeff Church. Sujalife has developed more than 250 products in the six years since it was founded. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/chloesorvino/2019/03/04/does-coca-cola-have-a-billion-dollar-brand-in-cold-pressed-juice-favorite-suja-life/ | 0.541739 |
What Do Wyoming's 13 New Blockchain Laws Mean? | Wyoming has now enacted a total of 13 blockchain-enabling laws, making it the only US state to provide a comprehensive, welcoming legal framework that enables blockchain technology to flourish, both for individuals and companies. These laws enable innovation and creativity, and are meant to bring capital, jobs and revenue into Wyoming. Law and technology are discrete systems. For a new technology to attain wide adoption, the law and technology must be backwards-compatible, as early bitcoin investor Trace Mayer puts it. In a nutshell, thats what Wyoming has now done for blockchain technology. Heres an analysis of what I think it all means. NONE of what follows is legal or tax advicethis is for educational purposes only. You may not rely on it and you must seek a qualified adviser to advise you about how you can take advantage of the great opportunities Wyoming offers! In sum, Wyoming is already the "Delaware of digital asset law," a reference to Delawares lead in corporate law. More than a dozen other US states and Congress are now following Wyomings lead by enacting our bills (usually just one or two of Wyomings bills). But no other state is likely to catch up to Wyomingits a very tall order for any legislature to enact 13 bills on a single topic in a compressed time frame, especially when another state has already claimed first-mover advantage. Here are the top highlights regarding Wyomings newest blockchain laws: Recognizes direct property rights for individual owners of digital assets of all types (virtual currencies, digital securities and utility tokens) and applies the super-negotiability rules of commercial law to virtual currencies which foster their liquidity by applying the very same rules that apply to money. Wyomings commercial law reflects the true nature of digital assets (directly owned, peer-to-peer assets), and I strongly encourage other states to adopt Wyomings same commercial law protections; Creates a fintech sandbox to provide regulatory relief to financial innovators from existing laws for up to 3 years. Its broadly reciprocal with fintech sandboxes both in the US and globally; Authorizes a new type of state-chartered depository institution to provide basic banking services to blockchain and other businesses. The bank is required to have 100% reserves, cannot lend, is for business depositors only, and FDIC insurance is optional. Such banks could be operating as soon as March 31, 2020; Authorizes the first true qualified custodian for digital assets which is a bank. Wyoming banks can start such operations as soon as September 1, 2019. Wyomings digital asset custodians will stand out above all others because they will respect the DIRECT ownership nature of digital assets! These new custodians won't be like traditional securities custodians, because for a Wyoming-based custodian investors will still DIRECTLY own their digital assets under custody as a BAILMENT, which means they retain direct ownership while merely giving up control (much like valet parking). Today, institutional investors are forced to be de facto creditors of their securities custodians, since all publicly-traded securities are owned indirectly. Custody under bailment is possible in securities custody today, but it's neutered by the fact that all securities are owned indirectlyinvestors can't directly own the real security, and therefore they're really just counterparties to the custodian. So, what Wyoming has done is truly revolutionaryBAILMENT + DIRECT ownership! It doesn't exist in securities custody today! Customers of Wyoming custodians can still choose indirect ownership, but it's on much more investor-friendly terms than exist in securities custody today. In sum, Wyoming will become known as the home of SOLVENT, investor-friendly digital asset custodians to which investment fiduciaries are likely to migrate over time. Answer: the custodian is for large institutional investors, which are required by federal securities law to store the assets they manage at an independent custodian. And, now, these institutional investors will be able to directly own the digital assets they custody at solvent Wyoming custodians. Capital ultimately flows to where its treated best. For digital assets within the US, Im pretty confident that will end up being Wyoming. It's all about its legal regime respecting DIRECT ownership of digital assets, whether by individuals or institutional investors. I was formerly a fiduciary of pension plans and, based on that experience, I think it will become a very big deal that provably SOLVENT custodians exist. As more and more securities are natively-issued on blockchains in the next several years, Wyomings custodians will likely become the preferred digital-asset custodians of 401(k) plans and mutual fundsand they will help make securities markets fair to regular investors! Here are some common questions about Wyomings laws. Again, this is not legal or tax advice! No, not unless youre starting a Wyoming bank or custodian. For everyone else, its pretty easy to take advantage of Wyomings blockchain laws. Just ask your attorney! Individual owners of digital assets can gain the protections of Wyomings laws by moving to Wyoming, or you may physically locate your cold storage digital assets somewhere in Wyoming or set up your own Wyoming LLC, corporation, trust, foundation or other business entity (through which to own your digital assets). As Ill discuss below, theres a particular reason why owning digital assets via a Wyoming entity may be beneficial. From a personal wealth planning and protection standpoint, Wyomings laws really cant be beat. Billions of dollars in trust assets are already managed in our state. Wyoming invented the LLC in 1977 and this year it revamped its trust and statutory foundation laws to be the best in the US. Its LLC laws have very strong privacy protections, and Wyoming is frequently cited as the tax-friendliest state in the United States (more on that below). Businesses have 3 ways to benefit and theyre not mutually exclusive. Your business can (1) simply apply Wyoming law to its contracts involving digital assets, (2) legally domicile in Wyoming and/or (3) physically locate in Wyoming. If you own a blockchain business, you should already be asking your attorney why the company is still domiciled anywhere other than Wyoming and examine the costs/benefits of converting to a Wyoming domicile. One objection Ive heard from attorneys is that Wyoming doesnt have a special court for resolving complex business disputes like Delaware does. Well, Wyoming just solved that by setting up its own business court (Chancery Court) this year, details of which are here. Basically, there are none at the state levelin most cases! In the US, federal taxes are distinct from state taxes and federal taxes apply to every Americanbut Wyoming can (and does) offer whats probably the friendliest state tax regime. Wyoming often comes up #1 on surveys of the best states for tax purposes. At the state level, Wyoming has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and almost none of the other gotcha taxes that frequently hit businesses domiciled in other US states, such as franchise taxes or gross-receipts taxes. Every Delaware-registered business should be asking your tax adviser how much you pay in Delaware franchise taxes every year and then calculate how much youd save by redomiciling to Wyoming (hint hint!). And, for digital assets specifically, last year Wyoming exempted them from property taxes. Sales taxes apply to tangible personal property, but Wyomings legislature this year classified digital assets as intangible personal property soyou can fill in the blank. As for federal tax relief, Wyoming cant fix the IRSs terrible tax treatment of digital assets (yes, spending bitcoin on a cup of coffee triggers federal capital gains tax). But there are 25 opportunity zones located around Wyoming that provide potential capital gains tax deferralagain, talk to your tax adviser. Some of these locations might be great spots for cold-storage vaults, mining operations and/or the new headquarters of your start-up or investment fund. In short, there are very good tax reasons why, as they say, the billionaires are pushing out the millionaires in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and why so many tax-motivated relocations to Wyoming are happening. Wyoming is Americas tax-friendliest state in many waysand it has the clearest, tax-friendly approach to digital assets. Wyoming is the first state to clarify the treatment of digital assets under existing commercial laws (e.g., the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)), and this is probably the most important of Wyomings new blockchain laws. Laws governing commerce are the foundational laws of businesstheyre a protocol layer of the legal system. These laws are essentially the plumbing that makes every financial transaction possible, and most importantly, they provide rules for what happens when a transaction doesnt go smoothlyensuring parties have certainty regarding their rights and duties. States control commercial laws in the US, so the federal government cannot trump what Wyoming has just created. I strongly encourage other states to enact Wyomings same statutory language, which you can find here. Wyomings commercial law for digital assets is WAY too detailed to analyze here, but Ill highlight my favorite four parts of it. First, as described above, it maps virtual currencies to the super-negotiability rules of money under existing law. In plain terms, this means a bitcoin purchaser can buy bitcoin free and clear of any pre-existing liens against it, unless the purchaser was defrauding a lender who had previously made a loan against that bitcoin. Second, it defines control in a manner thats consistent with how blockchain assets are actually controlled. It also enables a smart contract to take control of a digital assetvery forward-thinking! Third, it makes security interests in digital assets possessory security interests, which means Wyoming law applies as long as the assets are, under this law, located in Wyomingand the law makes it very easy to locate the digital assets in Wyoming. Possessory security interests have priority over other types of security interests. (For this reason alone, I suspect most coin lending and prime brokerage businesses will want to domicile in Wyoming.) Fourth, it extinguishes pre-existing liens after two yearsto match the statute of limitations for fraudulent conveyance under federal bankruptcy law. The latter is one reason why it may make sense for individuals to store digital assets in Wyoming or through a Wyoming LLC, trust or other entity. Heres the issue that may solve. Its possiblethough admittedly an edge casethat a judge will enforce a prior lien against bitcoin that you, an innocent purchaser, did not know existed. To my knowledge that hasnt actually happened yet, but as bitcoin lending markets grow and as more merchants accept bitcoin (which may be covered by an all-assets lien over the merchants inventory), the issue will inevitably arise. Some attorneys have called this bitcoins Achilles heel, and many speculate this surprise lien risk is one of the reasons why new bitcoins trade at a premium over older bitcoins in OTC markets. Well, Wyoming law provides a solutionask your attorney about the myriad ways to get your digital assets subject to Wyoming law for two years! Yes, a lot. Wyomings money transmitter law exempts crypto-to-crypto transactions, effective as of last year. Many lawyers worry that Lightning Network transactions may run afoul of money transmitter laws. Well, not in Wyoming (#probably!check with your lawyer!) At least three other states that I know of have either enacted, or are in process of enacting, Wyomings same money transmitter exemption for crypto-to-crypto transactions. If youre working on security tokens, you wont find a friendlier state because Wyoming law legally recognizes both uncertificated and certificated blockchain shares of stock. Delaware was first to recognize blockchain shares, but it only recognizes uncertificated versions. Wyomings new law regarding certificated shares just took effect this week, and WOW, Missouri was lightning fast in already copying it! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Wyoming was the first state to exempt utility tokens from its state securities laws, which took effect last year. State law doesnt trump federal laws regarding securities, but Im pleased that Arizona also enacted a similar law last year and five other states have proposed it this year. Wyomings law also heavily influenced the proposed federal Token Taxonomy Act in Congress. Its really true that the impetus to change bad federal law sometimes bubbles up from the statesand 7 states supporting a common cause is actually a lot, just one year into the effortits already a movement to push back against the SECs view that most digital assets are securities. And Wyoming added a couple of sweeteners to attract cryptocurrency miners to Wyoming as well. One bill enables Wyomings electric utilities to negotiate directly with miners, instead of requiring them to go through the ratemaking process. All gains and losses from mining agreements remain with the utilitys shareholders, thereby completely insulating retail electric customers from these transactions. And, with a goal to help Wyomings struggling coal industrywhich is crucial to Wyoming and is trying to recover from low coal pricesWyoming passed a bill to provide a process for Wyomings electric utilities to sell the coal-fired generation plants they would otherwise permanently be shutting down. Potential buyers may include crypto miners, among others, and Im told power costs available in Wyoming would be highly competitive with the best electricity prices available to miners around the world. CAPITAL, JOBS and REVENUE. Its really that simple. Sure. But Wyoming is ready, and its laws are pretty punitive on fraudsters. (Remember, rehypothecation is a felony in Wyomingin New York, it wins bankers big bonuses. In Wyoming, it might land you in jail.) TELL ME MORE ABOUT WYOMINGS QUALIFIED CUSTODIAN LAW Its an opt-in regime available to any Wyoming bank, including its new special-purpose depository institutions. A bank license is superior to a trust company license for digital asset custody, for many reasons. Some have expressed concerns about triggering the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA) by obtaining a Wyoming bank license, but a Wyoming special-purpose depository institution does not meet the definition of bank under the BHCA because it cant make commercial loans. The US Supreme Court has rejected previous attempts by the Federal Reserve to expand this definition, so Wyoming's special-purpose depository institution is a pretty neat regulatory option for those wanting to become qualified custodians of digital assets. Wyomings new law also ensures that digital asset owners have legal certainty about how their assets will be treated and the nature of the custodial relationship (clear laws that specifically govern digital assets + a Chancery Court exclusively devoted to fast resolution of business disputes). Digital assets held in custody today in any other state lack this certainty! Wyomings law contains many investor protections, and SOLVENT custodians will have no problem complying with these provisions. Institutional investors can expect that Wyoming-based qualified custodians will actually be SOLVENT for three basic reasons: The custody relationship is legally a BAILMENT (akin to valet parking for your car, where you give up control but not ownership of your asset). This is far superior to how securities custodians traditionally work, where investors are de facto creditors of their custodians, which are leveraged and may or may not actually have on hand the assets theyve promised to investors. The laws investor protections are a big dealall value from digital assets (including forks, airdrops and staking) belongs to investors unless otherwise expressly agreed. This model is distinct from both traditional securities custodians and crypto exchanges, where investors are usually de facto creditors and where the firms frequently trade with customers' assets behind the scenes. Rehypothecation of assetsthe practice of pledging the same asset as collateral for different loans, which is rampant in the securities industry and which poses solvency risks to traditional securities custodiansis expressly prohibited by Wyomings new digital asset law. It was already a felony in Wyoming anyway, per a 1986 Supreme Court case ( Smith v State ). In a nutshell, Wyomings digital asset custodians will simply be service providers to institutional investors, who will still own their digital assets. They will not be counterparties that are de facto hedge funds in a relationship that is too often heads I win, tails I win. Fiduciaries of institutional investors will, I believe, appreciate this and migrate to Wyoming-based digital asset custodians. Let me close by thanking the wise Wyoming legislators and Governor Gordon, who stand for strong property rights and are welcoming this industry with meaningful laws. Thank you also to all the small army of industry supporters who showed up to support the Wyoming Blockchain Coalitions events along the way, and to those who provided comments on our draft laws. Were all volunteers who crowdsourced this effort! Very special thank you to Rep. Tyler Lindholm and Sen. Ogden Driskill, who led the posse so effectively. Special thanks to Steve Lupien of the Digital Asset Trade Association for his strong, intrepid support on the ground. Biggest thanks go to Chris Land, legislative draftsman extraordinaire and unsung hero of this massive undertakinga true expert in commercial law and digital asset law. Yes, we even talked about the draft UCC bill on Christmas day! I didnt intend to spend the last 14 months volunteeringbut am so glad I did because it benefited two things I dearly love, Wyoming and blockchain. It's probable that my deep attraction to blockchain stems from my Wyoming upbringing. Wyoming instilled in me deep-seeded philosophies that have a strong cultural overlap with those of blockchain (i.e., whats mine is mine and whats yours is yours, good fences make good neighbors, rugged individualism, clear property rights and low taxes). Owing to this strong cultural overlap, it makes perfect sense that Wyoming will be the home of blockchain in the US! Ill be hunkering down in the next few months to help advise the Wyoming Banking Division on the rules drafting process for institutional digital asset custody and special-purpose depository institutions. And I finally hope to finish the book I started writing about the intersection of Wall Street and blockchain. If only I werent such a slow writer! :-) | Wyoming has now enacted a total of 13 blockchain-enabling laws. These laws enable innovation and creativity, and are meant to bring capital, jobs and revenue into Wyoming. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/caitlinlong/2019/03/04/what-do-wyomings-new-blockchain-laws-mean/ | 0.472524 |
What Do Wyoming's 13 New Blockchain Laws Mean? | Wyoming has now enacted a total of 13 blockchain-enabling laws, making it the only US state to provide a comprehensive, welcoming legal framework that enables blockchain technology to flourish, both for individuals and companies. These laws enable innovation and creativity, and are meant to bring capital, jobs and revenue into Wyoming. Law and technology are discrete systems. For a new technology to attain wide adoption, the law and technology must be backwards-compatible, as early bitcoin investor Trace Mayer puts it. In a nutshell, thats what Wyoming has now done for blockchain technology. Heres an analysis of what I think it all means. NONE of what follows is legal or tax advicethis is for educational purposes only. You may not rely on it and you must seek a qualified adviser to advise you about how you can take advantage of the great opportunities Wyoming offers! In sum, Wyoming is already the "Delaware of digital asset law," a reference to Delawares lead in corporate law. More than a dozen other US states and Congress are now following Wyomings lead by enacting our bills (usually just one or two of Wyomings bills). But no other state is likely to catch up to Wyomingits a very tall order for any legislature to enact 13 bills on a single topic in a compressed time frame, especially when another state has already claimed first-mover advantage. Here are the top highlights regarding Wyomings newest blockchain laws: Recognizes direct property rights for individual owners of digital assets of all types (virtual currencies, digital securities and utility tokens) and applies the super-negotiability rules of commercial law to virtual currencies which foster their liquidity by applying the very same rules that apply to money. Wyomings commercial law reflects the true nature of digital assets (directly owned, peer-to-peer assets), and I strongly encourage other states to adopt Wyomings same commercial law protections; Creates a fintech sandbox to provide regulatory relief to financial innovators from existing laws for up to 3 years. Its broadly reciprocal with fintech sandboxes both in the US and globally; Authorizes a new type of state-chartered depository institution to provide basic banking services to blockchain and other businesses. The bank is required to have 100% reserves, cannot lend, is for business depositors only, and FDIC insurance is optional. Such banks could be operating as soon as March 31, 2020; Authorizes the first true qualified custodian for digital assets which is a bank. Wyoming banks can start such operations as soon as September 1, 2019. Wyomings digital asset custodians will stand out above all others because they will respect the DIRECT ownership nature of digital assets! These new custodians won't be like traditional securities custodians, because for a Wyoming-based custodian investors will still DIRECTLY own their digital assets under custody as a BAILMENT, which means they retain direct ownership while merely giving up control (much like valet parking). Today, institutional investors are forced to be de facto creditors of their securities custodians, since all publicly-traded securities are owned indirectly. Custody under bailment is possible in securities custody today, but it's neutered by the fact that all securities are owned indirectlyinvestors can't directly own the real security, and therefore they're really just counterparties to the custodian. So, what Wyoming has done is truly revolutionaryBAILMENT + DIRECT ownership! It doesn't exist in securities custody today! Customers of Wyoming custodians can still choose indirect ownership, but it's on much more investor-friendly terms than exist in securities custody today. In sum, Wyoming will become known as the home of SOLVENT, investor-friendly digital asset custodians to which investment fiduciaries are likely to migrate over time. Answer: the custodian is for large institutional investors, which are required by federal securities law to store the assets they manage at an independent custodian. And, now, these institutional investors will be able to directly own the digital assets they custody at solvent Wyoming custodians. Capital ultimately flows to where its treated best. For digital assets within the US, Im pretty confident that will end up being Wyoming. It's all about its legal regime respecting DIRECT ownership of digital assets, whether by individuals or institutional investors. I was formerly a fiduciary of pension plans and, based on that experience, I think it will become a very big deal that provably SOLVENT custodians exist. As more and more securities are natively-issued on blockchains in the next several years, Wyomings custodians will likely become the preferred digital-asset custodians of 401(k) plans and mutual fundsand they will help make securities markets fair to regular investors! Here are some common questions about Wyomings laws. Again, this is not legal or tax advice! No, not unless youre starting a Wyoming bank or custodian. For everyone else, its pretty easy to take advantage of Wyomings blockchain laws. Just ask your attorney! Individual owners of digital assets can gain the protections of Wyomings laws by moving to Wyoming, or you may physically locate your cold storage digital assets somewhere in Wyoming or set up your own Wyoming LLC, corporation, trust, foundation or other business entity (through which to own your digital assets). As Ill discuss below, theres a particular reason why owning digital assets via a Wyoming entity may be beneficial. From a personal wealth planning and protection standpoint, Wyomings laws really cant be beat. Billions of dollars in trust assets are already managed in our state. Wyoming invented the LLC in 1977 and this year it revamped its trust and statutory foundation laws to be the best in the US. Its LLC laws have very strong privacy protections, and Wyoming is frequently cited as the tax-friendliest state in the United States (more on that below). Businesses have 3 ways to benefit and theyre not mutually exclusive. Your business can (1) simply apply Wyoming law to its contracts involving digital assets, (2) legally domicile in Wyoming and/or (3) physically locate in Wyoming. If you own a blockchain business, you should already be asking your attorney why the company is still domiciled anywhere other than Wyoming and examine the costs/benefits of converting to a Wyoming domicile. One objection Ive heard from attorneys is that Wyoming doesnt have a special court for resolving complex business disputes like Delaware does. Well, Wyoming just solved that by setting up its own business court (Chancery Court) this year, details of which are here. Basically, there are none at the state levelin most cases! In the US, federal taxes are distinct from state taxes and federal taxes apply to every Americanbut Wyoming can (and does) offer whats probably the friendliest state tax regime. Wyoming often comes up #1 on surveys of the best states for tax purposes. At the state level, Wyoming has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and almost none of the other gotcha taxes that frequently hit businesses domiciled in other US states, such as franchise taxes or gross-receipts taxes. Every Delaware-registered business should be asking your tax adviser how much you pay in Delaware franchise taxes every year and then calculate how much youd save by redomiciling to Wyoming (hint hint!). And, for digital assets specifically, last year Wyoming exempted them from property taxes. Sales taxes apply to tangible personal property, but Wyomings legislature this year classified digital assets as intangible personal property soyou can fill in the blank. As for federal tax relief, Wyoming cant fix the IRSs terrible tax treatment of digital assets (yes, spending bitcoin on a cup of coffee triggers federal capital gains tax). But there are 25 opportunity zones located around Wyoming that provide potential capital gains tax deferralagain, talk to your tax adviser. Some of these locations might be great spots for cold-storage vaults, mining operations and/or the new headquarters of your start-up or investment fund. In short, there are very good tax reasons why, as they say, the billionaires are pushing out the millionaires in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and why so many tax-motivated relocations to Wyoming are happening. Wyoming is Americas tax-friendliest state in many waysand it has the clearest, tax-friendly approach to digital assets. Wyoming is the first state to clarify the treatment of digital assets under existing commercial laws (e.g., the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC)), and this is probably the most important of Wyomings new blockchain laws. Laws governing commerce are the foundational laws of businesstheyre a protocol layer of the legal system. These laws are essentially the plumbing that makes every financial transaction possible, and most importantly, they provide rules for what happens when a transaction doesnt go smoothlyensuring parties have certainty regarding their rights and duties. States control commercial laws in the US, so the federal government cannot trump what Wyoming has just created. I strongly encourage other states to enact Wyomings same statutory language, which you can find here. Wyomings commercial law for digital assets is WAY too detailed to analyze here, but Ill highlight my favorite four parts of it. First, as described above, it maps virtual currencies to the super-negotiability rules of money under existing law. In plain terms, this means a bitcoin purchaser can buy bitcoin free and clear of any pre-existing liens against it, unless the purchaser was defrauding a lender who had previously made a loan against that bitcoin. Second, it defines control in a manner thats consistent with how blockchain assets are actually controlled. It also enables a smart contract to take control of a digital assetvery forward-thinking! Third, it makes security interests in digital assets possessory security interests, which means Wyoming law applies as long as the assets are, under this law, located in Wyomingand the law makes it very easy to locate the digital assets in Wyoming. Possessory security interests have priority over other types of security interests. (For this reason alone, I suspect most coin lending and prime brokerage businesses will want to domicile in Wyoming.) Fourth, it extinguishes pre-existing liens after two yearsto match the statute of limitations for fraudulent conveyance under federal bankruptcy law. The latter is one reason why it may make sense for individuals to store digital assets in Wyoming or through a Wyoming LLC, trust or other entity. Heres the issue that may solve. Its possiblethough admittedly an edge casethat a judge will enforce a prior lien against bitcoin that you, an innocent purchaser, did not know existed. To my knowledge that hasnt actually happened yet, but as bitcoin lending markets grow and as more merchants accept bitcoin (which may be covered by an all-assets lien over the merchants inventory), the issue will inevitably arise. Some attorneys have called this bitcoins Achilles heel, and many speculate this surprise lien risk is one of the reasons why new bitcoins trade at a premium over older bitcoins in OTC markets. Well, Wyoming law provides a solutionask your attorney about the myriad ways to get your digital assets subject to Wyoming law for two years! Yes, a lot. Wyomings money transmitter law exempts crypto-to-crypto transactions, effective as of last year. Many lawyers worry that Lightning Network transactions may run afoul of money transmitter laws. Well, not in Wyoming (#probably!check with your lawyer!) At least three other states that I know of have either enacted, or are in process of enacting, Wyomings same money transmitter exemption for crypto-to-crypto transactions. If youre working on security tokens, you wont find a friendlier state because Wyoming law legally recognizes both uncertificated and certificated blockchain shares of stock. Delaware was first to recognize blockchain shares, but it only recognizes uncertificated versions. Wyomings new law regarding certificated shares just took effect this week, and WOW, Missouri was lightning fast in already copying it! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! Wyoming was the first state to exempt utility tokens from its state securities laws, which took effect last year. State law doesnt trump federal laws regarding securities, but Im pleased that Arizona also enacted a similar law last year and five other states have proposed it this year. Wyomings law also heavily influenced the proposed federal Token Taxonomy Act in Congress. Its really true that the impetus to change bad federal law sometimes bubbles up from the statesand 7 states supporting a common cause is actually a lot, just one year into the effortits already a movement to push back against the SECs view that most digital assets are securities. And Wyoming added a couple of sweeteners to attract cryptocurrency miners to Wyoming as well. One bill enables Wyomings electric utilities to negotiate directly with miners, instead of requiring them to go through the ratemaking process. All gains and losses from mining agreements remain with the utilitys shareholders, thereby completely insulating retail electric customers from these transactions. And, with a goal to help Wyomings struggling coal industrywhich is crucial to Wyoming and is trying to recover from low coal pricesWyoming passed a bill to provide a process for Wyomings electric utilities to sell the coal-fired generation plants they would otherwise permanently be shutting down. Potential buyers may include crypto miners, among others, and Im told power costs available in Wyoming would be highly competitive with the best electricity prices available to miners around the world. CAPITAL, JOBS and REVENUE. Its really that simple. Sure. But Wyoming is ready, and its laws are pretty punitive on fraudsters. (Remember, rehypothecation is a felony in Wyomingin New York, it wins bankers big bonuses. In Wyoming, it might land you in jail.) TELL ME MORE ABOUT WYOMINGS QUALIFIED CUSTODIAN LAW Its an opt-in regime available to any Wyoming bank, including its new special-purpose depository institutions. A bank license is superior to a trust company license for digital asset custody, for many reasons. Some have expressed concerns about triggering the Bank Holding Company Act (BHCA) by obtaining a Wyoming bank license, but a Wyoming special-purpose depository institution does not meet the definition of bank under the BHCA because it cant make commercial loans. The US Supreme Court has rejected previous attempts by the Federal Reserve to expand this definition, so Wyoming's special-purpose depository institution is a pretty neat regulatory option for those wanting to become qualified custodians of digital assets. Wyomings new law also ensures that digital asset owners have legal certainty about how their assets will be treated and the nature of the custodial relationship (clear laws that specifically govern digital assets + a Chancery Court exclusively devoted to fast resolution of business disputes). Digital assets held in custody today in any other state lack this certainty! Wyomings law contains many investor protections, and SOLVENT custodians will have no problem complying with these provisions. Institutional investors can expect that Wyoming-based qualified custodians will actually be SOLVENT for three basic reasons: The custody relationship is legally a BAILMENT (akin to valet parking for your car, where you give up control but not ownership of your asset). This is far superior to how securities custodians traditionally work, where investors are de facto creditors of their custodians, which are leveraged and may or may not actually have on hand the assets theyve promised to investors. The laws investor protections are a big dealall value from digital assets (including forks, airdrops and staking) belongs to investors unless otherwise expressly agreed. This model is distinct from both traditional securities custodians and crypto exchanges, where investors are usually de facto creditors and where the firms frequently trade with customers' assets behind the scenes. Rehypothecation of assetsthe practice of pledging the same asset as collateral for different loans, which is rampant in the securities industry and which poses solvency risks to traditional securities custodiansis expressly prohibited by Wyomings new digital asset law. It was already a felony in Wyoming anyway, per a 1986 Supreme Court case ( Smith v State ). In a nutshell, Wyomings digital asset custodians will simply be service providers to institutional investors, who will still own their digital assets. They will not be counterparties that are de facto hedge funds in a relationship that is too often heads I win, tails I win. Fiduciaries of institutional investors will, I believe, appreciate this and migrate to Wyoming-based digital asset custodians. Let me close by thanking the wise Wyoming legislators and Governor Gordon, who stand for strong property rights and are welcoming this industry with meaningful laws. Thank you also to all the small army of industry supporters who showed up to support the Wyoming Blockchain Coalitions events along the way, and to those who provided comments on our draft laws. Were all volunteers who crowdsourced this effort! Very special thank you to Rep. Tyler Lindholm and Sen. Ogden Driskill, who led the posse so effectively. Special thanks to Steve Lupien of the Digital Asset Trade Association for his strong, intrepid support on the ground. Biggest thanks go to Chris Land, legislative draftsman extraordinaire and unsung hero of this massive undertakinga true expert in commercial law and digital asset law. Yes, we even talked about the draft UCC bill on Christmas day! I didnt intend to spend the last 14 months volunteeringbut am so glad I did because it benefited two things I dearly love, Wyoming and blockchain. It's probable that my deep attraction to blockchain stems from my Wyoming upbringing. Wyoming instilled in me deep-seeded philosophies that have a strong cultural overlap with those of blockchain (i.e., whats mine is mine and whats yours is yours, good fences make good neighbors, rugged individualism, clear property rights and low taxes). Owing to this strong cultural overlap, it makes perfect sense that Wyoming will be the home of blockchain in the US! Ill be hunkering down in the next few months to help advise the Wyoming Banking Division on the rules drafting process for institutional digital asset custody and special-purpose depository institutions. And I finally hope to finish the book I started writing about the intersection of Wall Street and blockchain. If only I werent such a slow writer! :-) | Wyoming has now enacted a total of 13 blockchain-enabling laws. These laws enable innovation and creativity, and are meant to bring capital, jobs and revenue into Wyoming. More than a dozen other US states and Congress are now following Wyomings lead by enacting our bills. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/caitlinlong/2019/03/04/what-do-wyomings-new-blockchain-laws-mean/ | 0.483002 |
Why are New Yorks bookstores disappearing? | The city that produced so many authors is losing its bookshops to pressure from Amazon, changing reading habits and skyrocketing rents Like payphones, typewriter repair shops and middle-class housing, bookstores are a vanishing presence in New York City. In 1950, Manhattan had 386 bookstores, according to Gothamist; by 2015, the number was down to 106. Now, according to a count by the citys best-known bookstore, the Strand, there are fewer than 80. Book Row, a stretch of Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place that once housed almost 50 used and antiquarian bookstores, now claims just one: Alabaster Bookshop at Fourth Avenue and 12th Street. (Plus the Strand, which relocated a block away in 1957.) Lin-Manuel Miranda buys bookshop to save it from closure Read more In literary New York, the closing of another bookstore elicits a sense of crisis and sometimes emergency measures. In January, after the Drama Book Shop, a pillar of the citys theatre community, announced it could no longer afford its rent, Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the play Hamilton, stepped in to purchase the shop along with three of his Hamilton collaborators. This was Mirandas second intervention; in 2016 he led a crowdfunding campaign to support the store after a pipe burst and destroyed part of its inventory. The shop is currently closed while Miranda and his business partners seek a new, less expensive location. Westsider Books, another stalwart of New Yorks independent bookstores, also announced in January that it would likely close when its lease expired. In response, loyal customers flooded the shop with orders, and someone organised a crowdfunding campaign that has raised more than $50,000 (38,600). The Strand, the citys largest independent bookstore, owns its building, which insulates it from some of the economic pressures faced by its peers. But when a city commission recently proposed landmarking the 11-storey Renaissance Revival building, it was cause for panic, not celebration. Owner Nancy Bass Wyden is lobbying against the proposal because she says it will make maintenance costs prohibitively expensive. I just want the city to leave me alone, Wyden tells me. Her grandfather Fred Bass founded the store in 1927. Her father, who started working at the store when he was 13, saved for years to buy the property, she said, precisely to avoid the fate that befell the rest of Book Row. Americans appear to be reading less, a trend that seems to accelerate with each generation I have been told that I have no chance, Wyden says, but she couldnt live with herself if she didnt fight it. She could make more money renting the bookstores three-floor space to other commercial tenants but has no plans to do so, nor to sell the building. As landmarking only applies to physical architecture, a new status for the Strand wouldnt protect it from becoming, in her words, a bank or a Lululemon, like the Scribner building. Wyden and her supporters including writers Gary Shteyngart and Fran Lebowitz and the graphic novelist Art Spiegelman contested the landmarking proposal at a public hearing last month. In a statement, the landmarks commission said it will continue to work with Wyden to address her concerns and ensure that this cultural institution endures, adding that the commission successfully regulates thousands of commercial buildings across the city and we are sympathetic and responsive to their needs. Contrast the Strands plight with Amazon, long the worlds largest online bookstore and now the worlds most valuable retailer: New Yorks city and state government offered the tech giant $3bn in incentives and subsidies to build a new headquarters in Queens. (Amazon later made the surprise announcement that it was cancelling its New York move, after protests.) Independent bookstores are getting squeezed from multiple directions, including competition from Amazon whose massive purchasing power and low margins undercut brick-and-mortar operations and consumer technology: ebooks, Kindles and tablets, and attention-stealing smartphones. Statistics on reading habits are famously difficult to parse, but the bad news is that yes, Americans do appear to be reading less. This is a long-term trend, dating from the arrival of television, and one that appears to accelerate with each generation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest New York protestors opposing Amazons plan to open its second headquarters in the city in November 2018. Amazon later announced it would not proceed with the move. Photograph: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Some sociologists believe that reading is becoming a minority, elite activity the province of a special reading class, as the writer Caleb Crain put it in a 2007 New Yorker article and that society is effectively returning to the situation before the advent of mass literacy. In a follow-up piece last year, Crain argued that the statistics continue to paint a fairly grim picture of Americas reading habits. But the biggest culprit, at least in New York, is the same seemingly unstoppable force shuttering small businesses across the city: rising rent. Rent is a particular concern for bookstores because they operate on low margins but require large storage space. Bookstores have weathered many economic challenges over the decades, but there is nothing they can do when the landlord triples or quadruples the rent, or simply refuses to renew the lease, Jeremiah Moss, author of Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul, tells me. Every time I step into a bookstore in the city, it is packed with people who are browsing and buying books. In a truly fair market, this would be sustaining success, but there is nothing fair about the current market. One of the causes of skyrocketing business rents is speculation: owners are forcing out tenants because buildings are sometimes more valuable empty. The goal is to empty these buildings of rent-regulated residents and small businesses, Moss says, so that they can be sold for profit or used as collateral with which to borrow money that is then invested elsewhere. Your favourite independent bookshops: 'I want my ashes scattered in the fiction section' Read more The most powerful solution, according to Moss, would be commercial rent control a hard sell politically, he acknowledges, but one that was effective in curtailing predatory landlords in the city after the second world war. Other potential solutions, he says, include a vacancy tax on commercial spaces left deliberately empty; zoning to control the proliferation of chain stores; and the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, a bill that would give commercial tenants the option of 10-year lease renewals, as well as the right to request arbitration with landlords. The legislation, first introduced in 1986, has struggled to gain traction. Proponents say it could end rent gouging and the practice of landlords illegally charging tenants extra rent under the table. Critics say the bill might not pass constitutional scrutiny and could discourage landlords from renting to small businesses. It would be a sad turn of events if a city that has nurtured so many great writers Dorothy Parker, Truman Capote, James Baldwin, Edith Wharton, Langston Hughes, Allen Ginsberg and countless others became a city without places to buy their books. | In 1950, Manhattan had 386 bookstores, according to Gothamist; by 2015, there were 106. The city that produced so many authors is losing its bookshops to pressure from Amazon. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/why-are-new-yorks-bookstores-disappearing | 0.18717 |
Why are New Yorks bookstores disappearing? | The city that produced so many authors is losing its bookshops to pressure from Amazon, changing reading habits and skyrocketing rents Like payphones, typewriter repair shops and middle-class housing, bookstores are a vanishing presence in New York City. In 1950, Manhattan had 386 bookstores, according to Gothamist; by 2015, the number was down to 106. Now, according to a count by the citys best-known bookstore, the Strand, there are fewer than 80. Book Row, a stretch of Fourth Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place that once housed almost 50 used and antiquarian bookstores, now claims just one: Alabaster Bookshop at Fourth Avenue and 12th Street. (Plus the Strand, which relocated a block away in 1957.) Lin-Manuel Miranda buys bookshop to save it from closure Read more In literary New York, the closing of another bookstore elicits a sense of crisis and sometimes emergency measures. In January, after the Drama Book Shop, a pillar of the citys theatre community, announced it could no longer afford its rent, Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of the play Hamilton, stepped in to purchase the shop along with three of his Hamilton collaborators. This was Mirandas second intervention; in 2016 he led a crowdfunding campaign to support the store after a pipe burst and destroyed part of its inventory. The shop is currently closed while Miranda and his business partners seek a new, less expensive location. Westsider Books, another stalwart of New Yorks independent bookstores, also announced in January that it would likely close when its lease expired. In response, loyal customers flooded the shop with orders, and someone organised a crowdfunding campaign that has raised more than $50,000 (38,600). The Strand, the citys largest independent bookstore, owns its building, which insulates it from some of the economic pressures faced by its peers. But when a city commission recently proposed landmarking the 11-storey Renaissance Revival building, it was cause for panic, not celebration. Owner Nancy Bass Wyden is lobbying against the proposal because she says it will make maintenance costs prohibitively expensive. I just want the city to leave me alone, Wyden tells me. Her grandfather Fred Bass founded the store in 1927. Her father, who started working at the store when he was 13, saved for years to buy the property, she said, precisely to avoid the fate that befell the rest of Book Row. Americans appear to be reading less, a trend that seems to accelerate with each generation I have been told that I have no chance, Wyden says, but she couldnt live with herself if she didnt fight it. She could make more money renting the bookstores three-floor space to other commercial tenants but has no plans to do so, nor to sell the building. As landmarking only applies to physical architecture, a new status for the Strand wouldnt protect it from becoming, in her words, a bank or a Lululemon, like the Scribner building. Wyden and her supporters including writers Gary Shteyngart and Fran Lebowitz and the graphic novelist Art Spiegelman contested the landmarking proposal at a public hearing last month. In a statement, the landmarks commission said it will continue to work with Wyden to address her concerns and ensure that this cultural institution endures, adding that the commission successfully regulates thousands of commercial buildings across the city and we are sympathetic and responsive to their needs. Contrast the Strands plight with Amazon, long the worlds largest online bookstore and now the worlds most valuable retailer: New Yorks city and state government offered the tech giant $3bn in incentives and subsidies to build a new headquarters in Queens. (Amazon later made the surprise announcement that it was cancelling its New York move, after protests.) Independent bookstores are getting squeezed from multiple directions, including competition from Amazon whose massive purchasing power and low margins undercut brick-and-mortar operations and consumer technology: ebooks, Kindles and tablets, and attention-stealing smartphones. Statistics on reading habits are famously difficult to parse, but the bad news is that yes, Americans do appear to be reading less. This is a long-term trend, dating from the arrival of television, and one that appears to accelerate with each generation. Facebook Twitter Pinterest New York protestors opposing Amazons plan to open its second headquarters in the city in November 2018. Amazon later announced it would not proceed with the move. Photograph: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images Some sociologists believe that reading is becoming a minority, elite activity the province of a special reading class, as the writer Caleb Crain put it in a 2007 New Yorker article and that society is effectively returning to the situation before the advent of mass literacy. In a follow-up piece last year, Crain argued that the statistics continue to paint a fairly grim picture of Americas reading habits. But the biggest culprit, at least in New York, is the same seemingly unstoppable force shuttering small businesses across the city: rising rent. Rent is a particular concern for bookstores because they operate on low margins but require large storage space. Bookstores have weathered many economic challenges over the decades, but there is nothing they can do when the landlord triples or quadruples the rent, or simply refuses to renew the lease, Jeremiah Moss, author of Vanishing New York: How a Great City Lost Its Soul, tells me. Every time I step into a bookstore in the city, it is packed with people who are browsing and buying books. In a truly fair market, this would be sustaining success, but there is nothing fair about the current market. One of the causes of skyrocketing business rents is speculation: owners are forcing out tenants because buildings are sometimes more valuable empty. The goal is to empty these buildings of rent-regulated residents and small businesses, Moss says, so that they can be sold for profit or used as collateral with which to borrow money that is then invested elsewhere. Your favourite independent bookshops: 'I want my ashes scattered in the fiction section' Read more The most powerful solution, according to Moss, would be commercial rent control a hard sell politically, he acknowledges, but one that was effective in curtailing predatory landlords in the city after the second world war. Other potential solutions, he says, include a vacancy tax on commercial spaces left deliberately empty; zoning to control the proliferation of chain stores; and the Small Business Jobs Survival Act, a bill that would give commercial tenants the option of 10-year lease renewals, as well as the right to request arbitration with landlords. The legislation, first introduced in 1986, has struggled to gain traction. Proponents say it could end rent gouging and the practice of landlords illegally charging tenants extra rent under the table. Critics say the bill might not pass constitutional scrutiny and could discourage landlords from renting to small businesses. It would be a sad turn of events if a city that has nurtured so many great writers Dorothy Parker, Truman Capote, James Baldwin, Edith Wharton, Langston Hughes, Allen Ginsberg and countless others became a city without places to buy their books. | In 1950, Manhattan had 386 bookstores, according to Gothamist; by 2015, the number was down to 106. The city that produced so many authors is losing its bookshops to pressure from Amazon, changing reading habits and skyrocketing rents. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/04/why-are-new-yorks-bookstores-disappearing | 0.31861 |
How does the inquiry into historical child sexual abuse work? | Image copyright IICSA Image caption Inquiry chairwoman, Prof Alexis Jay, led the probe into child abuse in Rotherham The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales is investigating claims against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions - as well as people in the public eye. But it has been dogged with controversy since being announced in July 2014, with chairwomen coming and going, lawyers quitting their posts and victims' groups losing faith in the process. Following the death of BBC presenter Jimmy Savile in 2011, hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children. The spotlight has also fallen on sexual assaults carried out in schools, children's homes and at NHS sites. Image copyright PA Image caption Jimmy Savile died in 2011 At the same time, there have been claims of past failures by police and prosecutors to properly investigate allegations. The inquiry was announced by the then Home Secretary Theresa May to "expose those failures and learn the lessons" from the past. When it was announced, the inquiry was expected to take about five years to complete. When finished, it will publish a report of recommendations. The inquiry is divided into public hearings into specific areas of concern, with witnesses giving evidence under oath; research into institutional failures in child protection, and the so-called Truth Project in which victims will share their experiences with the inquiry either in private interviews or written form. The inquiry will not seek to determine civil or criminal liability of individuals or organisations but may reach "findings of fact" in relation to this. Allegations of child abuse received by the inquiry will be referred to police and material related to Scotland, Northern Ireland or British Overseas Territories will be passed on to the authorities there. A separate inquiry looking at the abuse of children in care in Scotland has been set up by the Scottish Government. The inquiry is being led by Prof Alexis Jay, a former director of social services who headed the inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. She is being assisted by a panel of advisers: law professor and human rights expert Malcolm Evans; child protection barrister Ivor Frank; and lawyer Drusilla Sharpling, a former Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, who has worked as an inspector of constabulary since 2009. A separate panel will represent victims and survivors. Brian Altman QC is lead counsel to the inquiry. The inquiry's public hearings consist of 13 separate investigations, which are expected to last until 2020. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Part of the inquiry will focus on the late Lord Janner The inquiry is investigating: the cases of British children in care who were sent to parts of the Empire including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and what was Southern Rhodesia between 1920 and the 1970s alleged failings at Lambeth and Nottinghamshire councils; Cambridge House Boys' Hostel, Knowl View School and other institutions arranged by Rochdale Borough Council; the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches; custodial institutions, residential schools, and the support services and legal remedies available to victims and survivors "areas of contemporary concern" including the internet and organised abuse networks allegations of child sexual abuse by "people of public prominence associated with Westminster" and claims of cover-ups allegations against the late Lord Janner, the former Labour peer who in 2015 was ruled unfit to stand trial on child sexual abuse charges The evidence given at the public hearings is expected to cover a number of other cases that have attracted headlines in recent years, including late MP Cyril Smith and claims of sexual abuse at care homes in north Wales. Three of the investigations are now complete, along with a case study of abuse in Ampleforth and Downside Roman Catholic schools. They found: An interim report has also been published, which concluded that common responses to child abuse "deflected responsibility away from perpetrators and institutions". The inquiry has begun investigating claims that political parties in Westminster "turned a blind eye" to allegations of abuse. Brian Altman QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, said this phase would examine whether there were any attempted cover-ups. But some of the most serious allegations made in the past are not being considered, after they were reviewed by a former senior judge in 2016, who concluded they were false. Public hearings on the Westminster investigation are due to finish in mid-March. The main bone of contention has been the turbulent history in the inquiry's first years surrounding who is in charge. The first chairwoman of the inquiry appointed in July 2014 was Baroness Butler-Sloss. However, she resigned just one week later after concerns arose around her links to the establishment - namely her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, who was attorney general in the 1980s. In September 2014, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf was named the new head, but after disclosing she had been to five dinners with the late Lord Brittan - one of the people facing accusations at the time, which have since been dropped - she quit by the end of October. In February 2015, Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, took over the reins and was in charge as inquiry began hearing directly from victims and survivors. But by August 2016, she had resigned her post as well due to "compounding difficulties" and her family life. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Shane Donnelly and Pauline Blackwood are members of the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, which pulled out of the inquiry A number of lawyers have also resigned or been removed from the process. In November 2016, the largest of the victims's groups involved in the inquiry, the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, pulled out and said it had lost confidence in the inquiry's leadership. A legal case relating to allegations of abuse relating to Lord Janner has been dropped. The case had previously caused hearings to be delayed because of an "overlap" with the criminal investigation. His family have now met with inquiry staff after initially opposing the inclusion of the former politician. The IICSA has a budget of 17.9m in its first year, funded by the Home Office, with staff accounting for 41%. Prof Jay is to be paid 185,000 - almost half her predecessor's salary - while panel members will each receive 565 a day. | The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is investigating claims against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions - as well as people in the public eye. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34965912 | 0.292968 |
How does the inquiry into historical child sexual abuse work? | Image copyright IICSA Image caption Inquiry chairwoman, Prof Alexis Jay, led the probe into child abuse in Rotherham The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) in England and Wales is investigating claims against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions - as well as people in the public eye. But it has been dogged with controversy since being announced in July 2014, with chairwomen coming and going, lawyers quitting their posts and victims' groups losing faith in the process. Following the death of BBC presenter Jimmy Savile in 2011, hundreds of people came forward to say he had abused them as children. The spotlight has also fallen on sexual assaults carried out in schools, children's homes and at NHS sites. Image copyright PA Image caption Jimmy Savile died in 2011 At the same time, there have been claims of past failures by police and prosecutors to properly investigate allegations. The inquiry was announced by the then Home Secretary Theresa May to "expose those failures and learn the lessons" from the past. When it was announced, the inquiry was expected to take about five years to complete. When finished, it will publish a report of recommendations. The inquiry is divided into public hearings into specific areas of concern, with witnesses giving evidence under oath; research into institutional failures in child protection, and the so-called Truth Project in which victims will share their experiences with the inquiry either in private interviews or written form. The inquiry will not seek to determine civil or criminal liability of individuals or organisations but may reach "findings of fact" in relation to this. Allegations of child abuse received by the inquiry will be referred to police and material related to Scotland, Northern Ireland or British Overseas Territories will be passed on to the authorities there. A separate inquiry looking at the abuse of children in care in Scotland has been set up by the Scottish Government. The inquiry is being led by Prof Alexis Jay, a former director of social services who headed the inquiry into child sexual exploitation in Rotherham. She is being assisted by a panel of advisers: law professor and human rights expert Malcolm Evans; child protection barrister Ivor Frank; and lawyer Drusilla Sharpling, a former Chief Crown Prosecutor for London, who has worked as an inspector of constabulary since 2009. A separate panel will represent victims and survivors. Brian Altman QC is lead counsel to the inquiry. The inquiry's public hearings consist of 13 separate investigations, which are expected to last until 2020. Image copyright Reuters Image caption Part of the inquiry will focus on the late Lord Janner The inquiry is investigating: the cases of British children in care who were sent to parts of the Empire including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and what was Southern Rhodesia between 1920 and the 1970s alleged failings at Lambeth and Nottinghamshire councils; Cambridge House Boys' Hostel, Knowl View School and other institutions arranged by Rochdale Borough Council; the Anglican and Roman Catholic churches; custodial institutions, residential schools, and the support services and legal remedies available to victims and survivors "areas of contemporary concern" including the internet and organised abuse networks allegations of child sexual abuse by "people of public prominence associated with Westminster" and claims of cover-ups allegations against the late Lord Janner, the former Labour peer who in 2015 was ruled unfit to stand trial on child sexual abuse charges The evidence given at the public hearings is expected to cover a number of other cases that have attracted headlines in recent years, including late MP Cyril Smith and claims of sexual abuse at care homes in north Wales. Three of the investigations are now complete, along with a case study of abuse in Ampleforth and Downside Roman Catholic schools. They found: An interim report has also been published, which concluded that common responses to child abuse "deflected responsibility away from perpetrators and institutions". The inquiry has begun investigating claims that political parties in Westminster "turned a blind eye" to allegations of abuse. Brian Altman QC, lead counsel to the inquiry, said this phase would examine whether there were any attempted cover-ups. But some of the most serious allegations made in the past are not being considered, after they were reviewed by a former senior judge in 2016, who concluded they were false. Public hearings on the Westminster investigation are due to finish in mid-March. The main bone of contention has been the turbulent history in the inquiry's first years surrounding who is in charge. The first chairwoman of the inquiry appointed in July 2014 was Baroness Butler-Sloss. However, she resigned just one week later after concerns arose around her links to the establishment - namely her late brother, Sir Michael Havers, who was attorney general in the 1980s. In September 2014, Lord Mayor of London Fiona Woolf was named the new head, but after disclosing she had been to five dinners with the late Lord Brittan - one of the people facing accusations at the time, which have since been dropped - she quit by the end of October. In February 2015, Justice Lowell Goddard, a serving judge of the High Court of New Zealand, took over the reins and was in charge as inquiry began hearing directly from victims and survivors. But by August 2016, she had resigned her post as well due to "compounding difficulties" and her family life. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Shane Donnelly and Pauline Blackwood are members of the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, which pulled out of the inquiry A number of lawyers have also resigned or been removed from the process. In November 2016, the largest of the victims's groups involved in the inquiry, the Shirley Oaks Survivors Association, pulled out and said it had lost confidence in the inquiry's leadership. A legal case relating to allegations of abuse relating to Lord Janner has been dropped. The case had previously caused hearings to be delayed because of an "overlap" with the criminal investigation. His family have now met with inquiry staff after initially opposing the inclusion of the former politician. The IICSA has a budget of 17.9m in its first year, funded by the Home Office, with staff accounting for 41%. Prof Jay is to be paid 185,000 - almost half her predecessor's salary - while panel members will each receive 565 a day. | The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) is investigating claims against local authorities, religious organisations, the armed forces and public and private institutions. The inquiry is expected to take about five years to complete, when finished, it will publish a report of recommendations. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34965912 | 0.36825 |
Is an ice cream that promises a better nights sleep too good to be true? | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The first thing you should know about Nightfood, a new sleep-friendly ice cream, is that its a genius idea. That statement is true whether it actually works or not. Many people have trouble sleeping, and many people love eating ice cream, and the possibility of cookies-and-cream-flavored Ambien even though thats not exactly how the product functions is going to be irresistible to insomniacs everywhere. Part of me is like, Im jealous Im not part of this marketing scheme, said Raj Dasgupta, assistant professor of clinical medicine specializing in sleep at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. They knew exactly where to strike. Yep, right in the taste buds. Nightfoods ice creams come in flavors such as decaf cold brew, Bed and Breakfast (waffles and syrup), chocolate cherry and Cookies n Dreams. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements, so they will not necessarily help you fall asleep. The point is they will not keep you awake, either: The ice cream is configured to include less of the stuff that can impede your digestion to cause disrupted sleep, like lactose, sugar and caffeine. It also has boosted levels of certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which studies have shown is beneficial for sleep. It is endorsed by Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, who was a consultant involved in its development. You could eat Nightfood any time of day without feeling drowsy, but the product is designed for sleep because surveys have shown one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night, probably while watching Netflix. Probably not, Dasgupta said. The best way to improve your sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene: Have a set bedtime and wake time every day, avoid caffeine and screens late at night, and, uh, do not eat within two hours of your bedtime. But our willpower fails us in the face of a Russian Doll binge with a pint of mint chocolate chip. They know no one is going to listen to this advice, so, might as well cater to them, Dasgupta said. Sugary snacks are the no-no foods you dont want someone to eat [before bed]. If theyre going to eat it anyway, Id rather they grab the nutritious one rather than the Twinkie or the cupcake. And heres the thing: It actually tastes really good. Unlike other functional ice creams that boast of higher protein and lower sugar and fat, Nightfood uses real sugar no alternative sweeteners. There is milk and cream in the ingredients list. It has fewer calories than your typical pint, but you would hardly know it from the texture or taste. It does not seem like a healthy ice cream, which makes it all the more likable. Compared with Haagen Dazs, Nightfoods pints have significantly less sugar and fat but they taste way better than other low-fat alternatives, such as Halo Top. I cannot say for sure whether it actually improved my sleep, though. Trendy adaptogenic foods foods with natural compounds that promote certain physiological functions, such as healthier skin, less anxiety or improved concentration are on the upswing, but it is hard to determine how well these products fulfill their claims. The placebo effect is strong. And while my sleep was not disrupted after eating Nightfood, it typically is not after eating other ice creams, anyway. I dont think theyre going to run a double-blinded control trial on ice cream, Dasgupta said. Nightfood is not the only sleep-friendly product on the market. Counting Sheep Coffee, launched in 2013, is a decaffeinated coffee that contains valerian, a natural sleep aid. There are also several carbonated sleep drinks, including Som and Neuro Sleep. They might help a bit, but Dasgupta cautions that sleep-promoting foods are not a cure-all. Youre not just going to start eating this food and get great sleep. Theres other things that go into it, too, like your overall health, stress level and the amount of time you spend aimlessly scrolling through Twitter in bed. So if you were hoping your doctor would prescribe you ice cream . . . well, in your dreams. | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements. | bart | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/shop-northwest/is-an-ice-cream-that-promises-a-better-nights-sleep-too-good-to-be-true/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 0.123321 |
Is an ice cream that promises a better nights sleep too good to be true? | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The first thing you should know about Nightfood, a new sleep-friendly ice cream, is that its a genius idea. That statement is true whether it actually works or not. Many people have trouble sleeping, and many people love eating ice cream, and the possibility of cookies-and-cream-flavored Ambien even though thats not exactly how the product functions is going to be irresistible to insomniacs everywhere. Part of me is like, Im jealous Im not part of this marketing scheme, said Raj Dasgupta, assistant professor of clinical medicine specializing in sleep at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. They knew exactly where to strike. Yep, right in the taste buds. Nightfoods ice creams come in flavors such as decaf cold brew, Bed and Breakfast (waffles and syrup), chocolate cherry and Cookies n Dreams. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements, so they will not necessarily help you fall asleep. The point is they will not keep you awake, either: The ice cream is configured to include less of the stuff that can impede your digestion to cause disrupted sleep, like lactose, sugar and caffeine. It also has boosted levels of certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which studies have shown is beneficial for sleep. It is endorsed by Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, who was a consultant involved in its development. You could eat Nightfood any time of day without feeling drowsy, but the product is designed for sleep because surveys have shown one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night, probably while watching Netflix. Probably not, Dasgupta said. The best way to improve your sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene: Have a set bedtime and wake time every day, avoid caffeine and screens late at night, and, uh, do not eat within two hours of your bedtime. But our willpower fails us in the face of a Russian Doll binge with a pint of mint chocolate chip. They know no one is going to listen to this advice, so, might as well cater to them, Dasgupta said. Sugary snacks are the no-no foods you dont want someone to eat [before bed]. If theyre going to eat it anyway, Id rather they grab the nutritious one rather than the Twinkie or the cupcake. And heres the thing: It actually tastes really good. Unlike other functional ice creams that boast of higher protein and lower sugar and fat, Nightfood uses real sugar no alternative sweeteners. There is milk and cream in the ingredients list. It has fewer calories than your typical pint, but you would hardly know it from the texture or taste. It does not seem like a healthy ice cream, which makes it all the more likable. Compared with Haagen Dazs, Nightfoods pints have significantly less sugar and fat but they taste way better than other low-fat alternatives, such as Halo Top. I cannot say for sure whether it actually improved my sleep, though. Trendy adaptogenic foods foods with natural compounds that promote certain physiological functions, such as healthier skin, less anxiety or improved concentration are on the upswing, but it is hard to determine how well these products fulfill their claims. The placebo effect is strong. And while my sleep was not disrupted after eating Nightfood, it typically is not after eating other ice creams, anyway. I dont think theyre going to run a double-blinded control trial on ice cream, Dasgupta said. Nightfood is not the only sleep-friendly product on the market. Counting Sheep Coffee, launched in 2013, is a decaffeinated coffee that contains valerian, a natural sleep aid. There are also several carbonated sleep drinks, including Som and Neuro Sleep. They might help a bit, but Dasgupta cautions that sleep-promoting foods are not a cure-all. Youre not just going to start eating this food and get great sleep. Theres other things that go into it, too, like your overall health, stress level and the amount of time you spend aimlessly scrolling through Twitter in bed. So if you were hoping your doctor would prescribe you ice cream . . . well, in your dreams. | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The product is designed for sleep because surveys have shown one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/shop-northwest/is-an-ice-cream-that-promises-a-better-nights-sleep-too-good-to-be-true/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 0.116566 |
Is an ice cream that promises a better nights sleep too good to be true? | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The first thing you should know about Nightfood, a new sleep-friendly ice cream, is that its a genius idea. That statement is true whether it actually works or not. Many people have trouble sleeping, and many people love eating ice cream, and the possibility of cookies-and-cream-flavored Ambien even though thats not exactly how the product functions is going to be irresistible to insomniacs everywhere. Part of me is like, Im jealous Im not part of this marketing scheme, said Raj Dasgupta, assistant professor of clinical medicine specializing in sleep at Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. They knew exactly where to strike. Yep, right in the taste buds. Nightfoods ice creams come in flavors such as decaf cold brew, Bed and Breakfast (waffles and syrup), chocolate cherry and Cookies n Dreams. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements, so they will not necessarily help you fall asleep. The point is they will not keep you awake, either: The ice cream is configured to include less of the stuff that can impede your digestion to cause disrupted sleep, like lactose, sugar and caffeine. It also has boosted levels of certain vitamins and minerals, such as magnesium, which studies have shown is beneficial for sleep. It is endorsed by Michael Breus, the Sleep Doctor, who was a consultant involved in its development. You could eat Nightfood any time of day without feeling drowsy, but the product is designed for sleep because surveys have shown one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night, probably while watching Netflix. Probably not, Dasgupta said. The best way to improve your sleep is to practice good sleep hygiene: Have a set bedtime and wake time every day, avoid caffeine and screens late at night, and, uh, do not eat within two hours of your bedtime. But our willpower fails us in the face of a Russian Doll binge with a pint of mint chocolate chip. They know no one is going to listen to this advice, so, might as well cater to them, Dasgupta said. Sugary snacks are the no-no foods you dont want someone to eat [before bed]. If theyre going to eat it anyway, Id rather they grab the nutritious one rather than the Twinkie or the cupcake. And heres the thing: It actually tastes really good. Unlike other functional ice creams that boast of higher protein and lower sugar and fat, Nightfood uses real sugar no alternative sweeteners. There is milk and cream in the ingredients list. It has fewer calories than your typical pint, but you would hardly know it from the texture or taste. It does not seem like a healthy ice cream, which makes it all the more likable. Compared with Haagen Dazs, Nightfoods pints have significantly less sugar and fat but they taste way better than other low-fat alternatives, such as Halo Top. I cannot say for sure whether it actually improved my sleep, though. Trendy adaptogenic foods foods with natural compounds that promote certain physiological functions, such as healthier skin, less anxiety or improved concentration are on the upswing, but it is hard to determine how well these products fulfill their claims. The placebo effect is strong. And while my sleep was not disrupted after eating Nightfood, it typically is not after eating other ice creams, anyway. I dont think theyre going to run a double-blinded control trial on ice cream, Dasgupta said. Nightfood is not the only sleep-friendly product on the market. Counting Sheep Coffee, launched in 2013, is a decaffeinated coffee that contains valerian, a natural sleep aid. There are also several carbonated sleep drinks, including Som and Neuro Sleep. They might help a bit, but Dasgupta cautions that sleep-promoting foods are not a cure-all. Youre not just going to start eating this food and get great sleep. Theres other things that go into it, too, like your overall health, stress level and the amount of time you spend aimlessly scrolling through Twitter in bed. So if you were hoping your doctor would prescribe you ice cream . . . well, in your dreams. | Nightfood, a new "sleep-friendly" ice cream, tastes good. The ice creams do not contain melatonin or other sleep supplements. The product is designed for sleep because one of the most common times people tuck into a pint of ice cream is at night. | bart | 2 | https://www.seattletimes.com/explore/shop-northwest/is-an-ice-cream-that-promises-a-better-nights-sleep-too-good-to-be-true/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all | 0.189676 |
What Is 5G And How Does It Differ From 4G, 3G And What Came Before? | That's the question most people ask when it comes to the increasingly hyped new 5G mobile technology. 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. Derek McManus, chief operating officer of Telefonica-owned UK mobile operator O2, explains exactly how it will transform the technological landscape. "Each generation of network standard has brought with it unique capabilities and benefits for consumers and businesses alike," says McManus. "1G was introduced in the late 1980s as the first mode for mass mobile communication, allowing us to make simple calls between mobile phones. 2G was introduced in the 1990s offering greater security through its use of digital encryption, as opposed to analog signals, allowing for the first data services such as SMS messaging. "3G arrived in the UK in 2003 and made way for the eventual smartphone revolution, offering higher speeds and bridging mobile devices to the internet. 4G was released in 2012 bringing faster speeds and allowing for streaming on the go, which brought high definition content into the palms of peoples hands for the first time." 5G is probably the biggest leap forward in terms of the life-changing nature of mobile tech. "5G isnt simply an iteration of 4G," emphasizes McManus. "It presents a completely different and more powerful proposition to any of the previous generations of network standards. With the arrival of 5G, mobile connectivity will go from something we experience mainly through personal devices to being built into the fabric of our society, creating an integrated infrastructure that will connect buildings, transport, and utilities. It will update the operating system of our economy, transforming the energy, healthcare, transport, and retail sectors. "O2 research last year estimated that 5G could create over 6 billion of efficiency savings for the U.K.s cities, with innovation including smart energy grids and traffic management systems key drivers. In advance of the launch of our 5G network later this year, were working in partnership with British business to build a 5G economy to ensure we maximize the enormous potential of the technology and create tangible benefits from day one." Last month O2 revealed its plans to roll out 5G in the UK this year with a focus on partnering with U.K. businesses. It is hoped that business will then go on to kickstart the consumer market for 5G. | 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. 5G is probably the biggest leap forward in terms of the life-changing nature of mobile tech. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatobin/2019/03/04/what-is-5g-and-how-does-it-differ-from-4g-3g-and-what-came-before/ | 0.230638 |
What Is 5G And How Does It Differ From 4G, 3G And What Came Before? | That's the question most people ask when it comes to the increasingly hyped new 5G mobile technology. 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. Derek McManus, chief operating officer of Telefonica-owned UK mobile operator O2, explains exactly how it will transform the technological landscape. "Each generation of network standard has brought with it unique capabilities and benefits for consumers and businesses alike," says McManus. "1G was introduced in the late 1980s as the first mode for mass mobile communication, allowing us to make simple calls between mobile phones. 2G was introduced in the 1990s offering greater security through its use of digital encryption, as opposed to analog signals, allowing for the first data services such as SMS messaging. "3G arrived in the UK in 2003 and made way for the eventual smartphone revolution, offering higher speeds and bridging mobile devices to the internet. 4G was released in 2012 bringing faster speeds and allowing for streaming on the go, which brought high definition content into the palms of peoples hands for the first time." 5G is probably the biggest leap forward in terms of the life-changing nature of mobile tech. "5G isnt simply an iteration of 4G," emphasizes McManus. "It presents a completely different and more powerful proposition to any of the previous generations of network standards. With the arrival of 5G, mobile connectivity will go from something we experience mainly through personal devices to being built into the fabric of our society, creating an integrated infrastructure that will connect buildings, transport, and utilities. It will update the operating system of our economy, transforming the energy, healthcare, transport, and retail sectors. "O2 research last year estimated that 5G could create over 6 billion of efficiency savings for the U.K.s cities, with innovation including smart energy grids and traffic management systems key drivers. In advance of the launch of our 5G network later this year, were working in partnership with British business to build a 5G economy to ensure we maximize the enormous potential of the technology and create tangible benefits from day one." Last month O2 revealed its plans to roll out 5G in the UK this year with a focus on partnering with U.K. businesses. It is hoped that business will then go on to kickstart the consumer market for 5G. | 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. Derek McManus, chief operating officer of Telefonica-owned UK mobile operator O2, explains exactly how it will transform the technological landscape. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatobin/2019/03/04/what-is-5g-and-how-does-it-differ-from-4g-3g-and-what-came-before/ | 0.148937 |
What Is 5G And How Does It Differ From 4G, 3G And What Came Before? | That's the question most people ask when it comes to the increasingly hyped new 5G mobile technology. 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. Derek McManus, chief operating officer of Telefonica-owned UK mobile operator O2, explains exactly how it will transform the technological landscape. "Each generation of network standard has brought with it unique capabilities and benefits for consumers and businesses alike," says McManus. "1G was introduced in the late 1980s as the first mode for mass mobile communication, allowing us to make simple calls between mobile phones. 2G was introduced in the 1990s offering greater security through its use of digital encryption, as opposed to analog signals, allowing for the first data services such as SMS messaging. "3G arrived in the UK in 2003 and made way for the eventual smartphone revolution, offering higher speeds and bridging mobile devices to the internet. 4G was released in 2012 bringing faster speeds and allowing for streaming on the go, which brought high definition content into the palms of peoples hands for the first time." 5G is probably the biggest leap forward in terms of the life-changing nature of mobile tech. "5G isnt simply an iteration of 4G," emphasizes McManus. "It presents a completely different and more powerful proposition to any of the previous generations of network standards. With the arrival of 5G, mobile connectivity will go from something we experience mainly through personal devices to being built into the fabric of our society, creating an integrated infrastructure that will connect buildings, transport, and utilities. It will update the operating system of our economy, transforming the energy, healthcare, transport, and retail sectors. "O2 research last year estimated that 5G could create over 6 billion of efficiency savings for the U.K.s cities, with innovation including smart energy grids and traffic management systems key drivers. In advance of the launch of our 5G network later this year, were working in partnership with British business to build a 5G economy to ensure we maximize the enormous potential of the technology and create tangible benefits from day one." Last month O2 revealed its plans to roll out 5G in the UK this year with a focus on partnering with U.K. businesses. It is hoped that business will then go on to kickstart the consumer market for 5G. | 5G stands for fifth-generation mobile. 5G is probably the biggest leap forward in terms of the life-changing nature of mobile tech. O2 research last year estimated that 5G could create over 6 billion of efficiency savings for the U.K. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/annatobin/2019/03/04/what-is-5g-and-how-does-it-differ-from-4g-3g-and-what-came-before/ | 0.221207 |
What Would A Resurgent Chris Davis Be Worth, And Would The Orioles Eat The Rest? | If youre an Orioles fan looking for bring spots at the beginning of a long and trying rebuild, you may have read this story about Chris Davis. And this one. Also this one. And maybe even this one. Baltimore baseball fans will be forgiven for not holding their breath. Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract that has eclipsed the infamous Glenn Davis trade as the most damaging deal in franchise history. Twice already since signing, Davis has reported to spring training hopeful of reversing declining production. Each time, the season that followed was even worse, culminating in his garishly historic 2018. By all accounts, Davis is a high character guy and a good teammate who desperately wants to live up to his contract. But there's no evidence yet that 2019 will be different. (At press time, Davis had only 12 spring training at-bats and one hit, a home run.) What has changed is the reason why an improvement would matter to the Orioles. The rebuilding club carries no pretensions of meaningfully contending in 2019 and 2020, and even a vintage 2013- or 2015-type year from the slugger they once lovingly called "Crush" would likely only help the Birds avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons. The question then is how much of a revival Davis would need to pique other teams' interest in paying even a fraction of his remaining salary, how realistic a resurgence might be, and how much salary the Orioles could stomach eating. Consistently Inconsistent Per year, the Orioles still owe Davis $92 million. That figure grows to $110 million if you factor in deferred payments that extend for 15 years after the deal requires him to play in Baltimore. Even if Davis miraculously morphed back into the 2013 version of himself that clobbered 53 home runs, drove in 138 runs and posted a 7.0 WAR (according to FanGraphs), he almost certainly would not be worth that kind of money in a more cautious player market. For one thing, Davis' career is a study in inconsistency. Since 2011, his WAR has fluctuated by at least two wins from season to season, and often by a lot more. By contrast, former Orioles teammate Nelson Cruz has never posted a single season as good as Davis had in 2013. But his WAR has hovered between 2.5 and 5.0 in each of the past five seasons, including for all of his four-year, $57-million contract with the Mariners that he signed entering his age 34 season, a year older than Davis is now. Even if Davis had a bombastic start to 2019, it would be imprudent to assume anything close to Cruz-like production for the remainder for his four year contract. Additionally, Cruz's late-career success as the plate is by far the exception. Of all 2019 position playing free agents Davis' age or older, only six posted a WAR of 2.0 or higher, and four of those were catchers or middle infielders. At best, a reasonable front office might look at a resurgent Davis and be willing to believe he could be consistently inconsistent for the remainder of his contract. Based on career averages, that would work out to roughly 30 homers and 80 RBIs yearly while posting a .238/.319/.471 slash line. For those numbers, a club might be willing to pay $20-$30 million for 2.5-3.5 years. Sunk Costs Whether the Orioles would be willing to eat the rest in a trade of some sort is a giant question, especially since John and Louis Angelos have taken over -- unofficially at least -- as the public face of club ownership. Their father, Peter Angelos, was reported to have OKed Davis' signing in 2016 partly because of his personal fondness for the lefty slugger. However, with Peter now in poor health, John and Louis appear to have embraced many of the strategies their father was criticized for resisting, such as hiring a more analytically focused front office beginning with new GM Mike Elias, and investing more money in scouting and player development. That's not to say the Angelos brothers will gleefully agree to pay more than half of the salary of a player no longer in Baltimore. But they may not be as emotionally attached to Davis as a player and person, and may also look at the dollar figure in terms of money that can be put toward draft or international signings. In that context, $20-$30 million goes much further there than it does in big league payroll. Well, Baltimore is already coming off a 40-year attendance low in 2018, and he remains relatively popular among fans despite his recent struggles. And perhaps organization's goals for a rebuild timeline are more aggressive than outside expectations, which could mean they believe Davis could contribute to a playoff team in the last two years of his contract. The Not Worst Case Scenario The nightmare scenario for the Orioles is not if 2018 repeats itself. At some point the club would designate Davis for assignment, with zero likelihood another club would claim his mammoth contract. Another young player would fill the void, and the rebuild would continue. The trickier situation is if Davis shows modest improvement to convince new manager Brandon Hyde to allow him some rope, without ever truly reaching a breakout. This might look something like the last years for another power-hitting lefty first baseman, Ryan Howard. Both Howard and Davis' contracts stretched through their age 36 seasons. Over the last four years of Howard's Philadelphia career, he averaged 20 homers, 68 RBIs and a .227/.292/.427 slash line. The Phillies went 280-368, never winning more than 73 games. | Chris Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract. Davis has reported to spring training hopeful of reversing declining production. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianquillen/2019/03/04/what-would-a-resurgent-chris-davis-be-worth-and-would-the-orioles-eat-the-rest/ | 0.128393 |
What Would A Resurgent Chris Davis Be Worth, And Would The Orioles Eat The Rest? | If youre an Orioles fan looking for bring spots at the beginning of a long and trying rebuild, you may have read this story about Chris Davis. And this one. Also this one. And maybe even this one. Baltimore baseball fans will be forgiven for not holding their breath. Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract that has eclipsed the infamous Glenn Davis trade as the most damaging deal in franchise history. Twice already since signing, Davis has reported to spring training hopeful of reversing declining production. Each time, the season that followed was even worse, culminating in his garishly historic 2018. By all accounts, Davis is a high character guy and a good teammate who desperately wants to live up to his contract. But there's no evidence yet that 2019 will be different. (At press time, Davis had only 12 spring training at-bats and one hit, a home run.) What has changed is the reason why an improvement would matter to the Orioles. The rebuilding club carries no pretensions of meaningfully contending in 2019 and 2020, and even a vintage 2013- or 2015-type year from the slugger they once lovingly called "Crush" would likely only help the Birds avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons. The question then is how much of a revival Davis would need to pique other teams' interest in paying even a fraction of his remaining salary, how realistic a resurgence might be, and how much salary the Orioles could stomach eating. Consistently Inconsistent Per year, the Orioles still owe Davis $92 million. That figure grows to $110 million if you factor in deferred payments that extend for 15 years after the deal requires him to play in Baltimore. Even if Davis miraculously morphed back into the 2013 version of himself that clobbered 53 home runs, drove in 138 runs and posted a 7.0 WAR (according to FanGraphs), he almost certainly would not be worth that kind of money in a more cautious player market. For one thing, Davis' career is a study in inconsistency. Since 2011, his WAR has fluctuated by at least two wins from season to season, and often by a lot more. By contrast, former Orioles teammate Nelson Cruz has never posted a single season as good as Davis had in 2013. But his WAR has hovered between 2.5 and 5.0 in each of the past five seasons, including for all of his four-year, $57-million contract with the Mariners that he signed entering his age 34 season, a year older than Davis is now. Even if Davis had a bombastic start to 2019, it would be imprudent to assume anything close to Cruz-like production for the remainder for his four year contract. Additionally, Cruz's late-career success as the plate is by far the exception. Of all 2019 position playing free agents Davis' age or older, only six posted a WAR of 2.0 or higher, and four of those were catchers or middle infielders. At best, a reasonable front office might look at a resurgent Davis and be willing to believe he could be consistently inconsistent for the remainder of his contract. Based on career averages, that would work out to roughly 30 homers and 80 RBIs yearly while posting a .238/.319/.471 slash line. For those numbers, a club might be willing to pay $20-$30 million for 2.5-3.5 years. Sunk Costs Whether the Orioles would be willing to eat the rest in a trade of some sort is a giant question, especially since John and Louis Angelos have taken over -- unofficially at least -- as the public face of club ownership. Their father, Peter Angelos, was reported to have OKed Davis' signing in 2016 partly because of his personal fondness for the lefty slugger. However, with Peter now in poor health, John and Louis appear to have embraced many of the strategies their father was criticized for resisting, such as hiring a more analytically focused front office beginning with new GM Mike Elias, and investing more money in scouting and player development. That's not to say the Angelos brothers will gleefully agree to pay more than half of the salary of a player no longer in Baltimore. But they may not be as emotionally attached to Davis as a player and person, and may also look at the dollar figure in terms of money that can be put toward draft or international signings. In that context, $20-$30 million goes much further there than it does in big league payroll. Well, Baltimore is already coming off a 40-year attendance low in 2018, and he remains relatively popular among fans despite his recent struggles. And perhaps organization's goals for a rebuild timeline are more aggressive than outside expectations, which could mean they believe Davis could contribute to a playoff team in the last two years of his contract. The Not Worst Case Scenario The nightmare scenario for the Orioles is not if 2018 repeats itself. At some point the club would designate Davis for assignment, with zero likelihood another club would claim his mammoth contract. Another young player would fill the void, and the rebuild would continue. The trickier situation is if Davis shows modest improvement to convince new manager Brandon Hyde to allow him some rope, without ever truly reaching a breakout. This might look something like the last years for another power-hitting lefty first baseman, Ryan Howard. Both Howard and Davis' contracts stretched through their age 36 seasons. Over the last four years of Howard's Philadelphia career, he averaged 20 homers, 68 RBIs and a .227/.292/.427 slash line. The Phillies went 280-368, never winning more than 73 games. | Chris Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract. Davis has reported to spring training hopeful of reversing declining production. But there's no evidence yet that 2019 will be different. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianquillen/2019/03/04/what-would-a-resurgent-chris-davis-be-worth-and-would-the-orioles-eat-the-rest/ | 0.126663 |
What Would A Resurgent Chris Davis Be Worth, And Would The Orioles Eat The Rest? | If youre an Orioles fan looking for bring spots at the beginning of a long and trying rebuild, you may have read this story about Chris Davis. And this one. Also this one. And maybe even this one. Baltimore baseball fans will be forgiven for not holding their breath. Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract that has eclipsed the infamous Glenn Davis trade as the most damaging deal in franchise history. Twice already since signing, Davis has reported to spring training hopeful of reversing declining production. Each time, the season that followed was even worse, culminating in his garishly historic 2018. By all accounts, Davis is a high character guy and a good teammate who desperately wants to live up to his contract. But there's no evidence yet that 2019 will be different. (At press time, Davis had only 12 spring training at-bats and one hit, a home run.) What has changed is the reason why an improvement would matter to the Orioles. The rebuilding club carries no pretensions of meaningfully contending in 2019 and 2020, and even a vintage 2013- or 2015-type year from the slugger they once lovingly called "Crush" would likely only help the Birds avoid back-to-back 100-loss seasons. The question then is how much of a revival Davis would need to pique other teams' interest in paying even a fraction of his remaining salary, how realistic a resurgence might be, and how much salary the Orioles could stomach eating. Consistently Inconsistent Per year, the Orioles still owe Davis $92 million. That figure grows to $110 million if you factor in deferred payments that extend for 15 years after the deal requires him to play in Baltimore. Even if Davis miraculously morphed back into the 2013 version of himself that clobbered 53 home runs, drove in 138 runs and posted a 7.0 WAR (according to FanGraphs), he almost certainly would not be worth that kind of money in a more cautious player market. For one thing, Davis' career is a study in inconsistency. Since 2011, his WAR has fluctuated by at least two wins from season to season, and often by a lot more. By contrast, former Orioles teammate Nelson Cruz has never posted a single season as good as Davis had in 2013. But his WAR has hovered between 2.5 and 5.0 in each of the past five seasons, including for all of his four-year, $57-million contract with the Mariners that he signed entering his age 34 season, a year older than Davis is now. Even if Davis had a bombastic start to 2019, it would be imprudent to assume anything close to Cruz-like production for the remainder for his four year contract. Additionally, Cruz's late-career success as the plate is by far the exception. Of all 2019 position playing free agents Davis' age or older, only six posted a WAR of 2.0 or higher, and four of those were catchers or middle infielders. At best, a reasonable front office might look at a resurgent Davis and be willing to believe he could be consistently inconsistent for the remainder of his contract. Based on career averages, that would work out to roughly 30 homers and 80 RBIs yearly while posting a .238/.319/.471 slash line. For those numbers, a club might be willing to pay $20-$30 million for 2.5-3.5 years. Sunk Costs Whether the Orioles would be willing to eat the rest in a trade of some sort is a giant question, especially since John and Louis Angelos have taken over -- unofficially at least -- as the public face of club ownership. Their father, Peter Angelos, was reported to have OKed Davis' signing in 2016 partly because of his personal fondness for the lefty slugger. However, with Peter now in poor health, John and Louis appear to have embraced many of the strategies their father was criticized for resisting, such as hiring a more analytically focused front office beginning with new GM Mike Elias, and investing more money in scouting and player development. That's not to say the Angelos brothers will gleefully agree to pay more than half of the salary of a player no longer in Baltimore. But they may not be as emotionally attached to Davis as a player and person, and may also look at the dollar figure in terms of money that can be put toward draft or international signings. In that context, $20-$30 million goes much further there than it does in big league payroll. Well, Baltimore is already coming off a 40-year attendance low in 2018, and he remains relatively popular among fans despite his recent struggles. And perhaps organization's goals for a rebuild timeline are more aggressive than outside expectations, which could mean they believe Davis could contribute to a playoff team in the last two years of his contract. The Not Worst Case Scenario The nightmare scenario for the Orioles is not if 2018 repeats itself. At some point the club would designate Davis for assignment, with zero likelihood another club would claim his mammoth contract. Another young player would fill the void, and the rebuild would continue. The trickier situation is if Davis shows modest improvement to convince new manager Brandon Hyde to allow him some rope, without ever truly reaching a breakout. This might look something like the last years for another power-hitting lefty first baseman, Ryan Howard. Both Howard and Davis' contracts stretched through their age 36 seasons. Over the last four years of Howard's Philadelphia career, he averaged 20 homers, 68 RBIs and a .227/.292/.427 slash line. The Phillies went 280-368, never winning more than 73 games. | Chris Davis is entering Year 4 of a seven-year, $161-million contract that has eclipsed the infamous Glenn Davis trade as the most damaging deal in franchise history. Davis' career is a study in inconsistency, and his WAR has hovered between 2.5 and 5.0 in each of the past five seasons. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ianquillen/2019/03/04/what-would-a-resurgent-chris-davis-be-worth-and-would-the-orioles-eat-the-rest/ | 0.112602 |
What's The Impact Of The Government Shutdown On The Tech Industry? | Im not sure how we got here, but we have arrived at the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, one that's affected roughly 800,000 federal workers. While there appears to be a short-term resolution, even if the shutdown ends today, tomorrow or continues for another month, repercussions will persist even beyond an agreement to open the government again. And these repercussions dont end with just the federal agencies being affected, either -- the shutdown also has rippling impacts on contractors, regulators and B2Bs, such as my own company, that service these entities. Not to mention the impacts on every other industry, such as retail and restaurants, with so many tightening their belts for the month of January and beyond, deciding to eat in rather than go out, not purchasing a new pair of jeans or deferring to buy tickets to the latest movie release, etc. There are countless examples. Focusing specifically on the tech industry, heres a quick rundown of possible ongoing ramifications: New Technology Adoptions With federal agencies strained by the shutdown, many of the resources that could have been used to invest in new technology for a greater IT stance in 2019 have likely been placed elsewhere. This has consequences not only for the IT personnel within federal agencies that wouldve been involved in these new technology adoptions, but also for the third-party providers and producers of those technologies. Its lost revenue that could have gone toward building the economy. Merger And Acquisition Activity With the widespread uncertainty throughout the country, the taste for making large purchases has decreased significantly. This is also true for companies seeking to acquire and/or merge with other companies, unsure how existing performance and revenue goals might be affected by the growing length of government inaction. Compliance Audits And Approvals Say your company is under a compliance framework and must have audits performed on a quarterly basis. Going into the new year, this would normally be the time a regulator comes knocking on your door. But with the shutdown, delays abound. For industries such as the financial sector, where having proof of passing the latest compliance audit matters quite a bit to clients, consumers and investors, these companies could be feeling the pressure quite strongly. For those already employed by federal agencies, I wouldnt be surprised if they are looking for work elsewhere at this point. A shortage of IT talent in a marketplace where this kind of skill is already highly sought after could have ramifications that last for decades. Cybersecurity Risks According to Quartz, over 130 TLS certificates used by the U.S. government have now expired, and with no tech professionals able to renew them yet due to the impacts surrounding the shutdown, this places the country at a huge vulnerability to data exposure and breaches. Even more frightening than enticement for lone-wolf hackers, this NPR article states, Security researchers worry that the shutdown is like putting a red blanket in front of a bull. There are political nuances Ill choose to avoid in this article. But for those affected in the tech industry, I would say to hold on as best you can. If youre having problems making ends meet, check out this article for a few relevant resources, such as sample letters to creditors, mortgage companies and landlords. If youre an IT person, perhaps take a freelancing job for the interim, since establishing yourself as a freelancer in your skills market may come in handy should another shutdown occur in the future. If youre a business that needs to offload a few IT burdens or hire some IT expertise to fill gaps during this trying time, perhaps check out a managed IT services vendor with a subscription payment structure and short-term contract offerings. | The government shutdown is the longest in U.S. history. The impact of the shutdown on the tech industry is not just limited to federal agencies. The shutdown also has rippling impacts on contractors, regulators and B2Bs. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/04/whats-the-impact-of-the-government-shutdown-on-the-tech-industry/ | 0.429184 |
What's The Impact Of The Government Shutdown On The Tech Industry? | Im not sure how we got here, but we have arrived at the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, one that's affected roughly 800,000 federal workers. While there appears to be a short-term resolution, even if the shutdown ends today, tomorrow or continues for another month, repercussions will persist even beyond an agreement to open the government again. And these repercussions dont end with just the federal agencies being affected, either -- the shutdown also has rippling impacts on contractors, regulators and B2Bs, such as my own company, that service these entities. Not to mention the impacts on every other industry, such as retail and restaurants, with so many tightening their belts for the month of January and beyond, deciding to eat in rather than go out, not purchasing a new pair of jeans or deferring to buy tickets to the latest movie release, etc. There are countless examples. Focusing specifically on the tech industry, heres a quick rundown of possible ongoing ramifications: New Technology Adoptions With federal agencies strained by the shutdown, many of the resources that could have been used to invest in new technology for a greater IT stance in 2019 have likely been placed elsewhere. This has consequences not only for the IT personnel within federal agencies that wouldve been involved in these new technology adoptions, but also for the third-party providers and producers of those technologies. Its lost revenue that could have gone toward building the economy. Merger And Acquisition Activity With the widespread uncertainty throughout the country, the taste for making large purchases has decreased significantly. This is also true for companies seeking to acquire and/or merge with other companies, unsure how existing performance and revenue goals might be affected by the growing length of government inaction. Compliance Audits And Approvals Say your company is under a compliance framework and must have audits performed on a quarterly basis. Going into the new year, this would normally be the time a regulator comes knocking on your door. But with the shutdown, delays abound. For industries such as the financial sector, where having proof of passing the latest compliance audit matters quite a bit to clients, consumers and investors, these companies could be feeling the pressure quite strongly. For those already employed by federal agencies, I wouldnt be surprised if they are looking for work elsewhere at this point. A shortage of IT talent in a marketplace where this kind of skill is already highly sought after could have ramifications that last for decades. Cybersecurity Risks According to Quartz, over 130 TLS certificates used by the U.S. government have now expired, and with no tech professionals able to renew them yet due to the impacts surrounding the shutdown, this places the country at a huge vulnerability to data exposure and breaches. Even more frightening than enticement for lone-wolf hackers, this NPR article states, Security researchers worry that the shutdown is like putting a red blanket in front of a bull. There are political nuances Ill choose to avoid in this article. But for those affected in the tech industry, I would say to hold on as best you can. If youre having problems making ends meet, check out this article for a few relevant resources, such as sample letters to creditors, mortgage companies and landlords. If youre an IT person, perhaps take a freelancing job for the interim, since establishing yourself as a freelancer in your skills market may come in handy should another shutdown occur in the future. If youre a business that needs to offload a few IT burdens or hire some IT expertise to fill gaps during this trying time, perhaps check out a managed IT services vendor with a subscription payment structure and short-term contract offerings. | The government shutdown is the longest in U.S. history. The impact of the shutdown on the tech industry is not just limited to federal agencies. The shutdown also has rippling impacts on contractors, regulators and B2Bs, such as my company, that service these entities. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2019/03/04/whats-the-impact-of-the-government-shutdown-on-the-tech-industry/ | 0.448333 |
Could Andrew Bogut Return To The Golden State Warriors? | The Golden State Warriors have seen many twists and turns on their journey to becoming a modern-day NBA dynasty. Right back in the early days, the trade of fan favorite Monta Ellis for an injured Andrew Bogut symbolized a different front office approach and helped solidify a defensive identity that lifted them to their first title. The Warriors of old would never give up a dynamic 20-point-per-game scorer, even if he was limited on the other end, for a less spectacular big man who was better known for solid, intelligent positional defense. Bogut became an important piece of the new Warriors, providing toughness inside, setting bone-crushing screens to free up their world-class shooters, and utilizing his well-honed playmaking skills in the high post through a mixture of dribble hand-off sets and well-timed passes. When Kevin Durant decided to join the Warriors, Bogut was one of the pieces who had to make way in order to create the necessary room under the salary cap. After short stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, Bogut returned to his native Australia to play for the Sidney Kings. It seemed that at age 34 that would be the end of a successful NBA career, capped off by that 2015 championship ring. But over in Australia, Bogut found a new lease of life. After averaging 11.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.7 blocks per game and shooting 56% from the floor, Bogut won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy in Australia. Then yesterday Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that multiple contenders, including the Golden State Warriors, were expected to pursue him now the NBL season is over. Its a strange twist in the Warriors story. But Golden State has kept open a roster spot all year in the hope of finding someone who can contribute in the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls Robin Lopez was heavily rumored to be their number one buyout candidate, but he never managed the wriggle free. Indeed, the buyout market that followed a frenzied trade deadline was remarkably tepid, devoid of any real playoff contributors save for a couple of players like Wes Matthews who quickly signed for playoff teams who could give them more minutes. It looked very much like the Warriors were going to be left standing. Their best remaining option was probably converting the two-way contract of guard Damion Lee so that he could become playoff eligible. Indeed the experience of last years playoffs suggests that snagging a wing for that last spot would be the wisest course of action. As the league trends goes more towards smaller, more versatile lineups with speed and shooting, the Warriors could do with another piece who can play some defense and knock down some threes in a pinch. Lee has shot 44.2% from beyond the arc this year, including 4-5 in their latest win in Philadelphia with Klay Thompson out. Hes certainly shown that he can hit the open threes. Whether his defense will hold up in the playoffs remains to be seen, but given the alternative option is Alfonzo McKinnie, who has gone somewhat off the boil in recent weeks, some insurance at that spot may well be a good idea. On the other hand, the Warriors could well face a series of punishing big men in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets both possess bruising giants in the middle. Of course, the Warriors have DeMarcus Cousins still working his way back from injury. Cousins has shown some nice flashes of his offensive potential but the defense is not there yet and may not turn up in time. Some of Cousins recent struggles have been more schematic, and when the playoffs roll around the Warriors will probably go smaller if opposing big men are bombing away from deep as Mike Scott and Jonah Bolden were in Philadelphia. But when Cody Zeller drops 28 points on 13-14 shooting on you, as happened against the Hornets recently, its not a good sign. Thats where Bogut could come in. He may be older now, but hes a former member of the NBA All-Defense team, and has proven his mettle in the playoffs against physical teams. Most notably his Game 5 Western Conference Finals performance against the Thunder in 2016, with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks, helped turn the tide as the Warriors came back from 3-1 down. Even if hes just injury insurance, the Warriors know what he brings to the table. At the moment if Cousins is struggling defensively with one of the big beasts, or goes down injured, theres not really another option. Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell are more suited to the smaller, switchier lineups, while there are only so many minutes you want to play Draymond Green at the five. Boguts experience and fit would seem to work nicely, but the elephant in the room is his injury history. His career with the Warriors ended after he got injured in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, one of many factors behind Golden States infamous collapse. Signing a player for injury insurance who has a history of getting injured themselves is a risky move. However, Bogut has remained healthy all throughout the NBL season, notching up 900 minutes, which may provide some reassurance to the front office. He wont be asked to play big minutes for the Warriors either. The Warriors have some decisions to make Both Bogut and Lee provide some intriguing possibilities for the 15th spot on the roster. Its unlikely either will make or break their playoff run but having enough depth to withstand injuries is an important, and oft-underrated, factor in winning a championship. Either one could potentially step in and provide spot minutes in a crisis. The Warriors dont have to make a decision straight away. Their roster spot remains open, and the deadline for signing someone isnt until the end of the regular season. Lee has time remaining on his two-way deal, allowing them to evaluate him alongside other options on the roster. They could sign Bogut to the open roster spot now and if Lee breaks out then look to release someone else on the roster if need be. There arent many options for players to cut though. Rookie Jacob Evans may have disappointed but its too early to cut bait on him yet. Alfonzo McKinnie may be struggling of late but he brings an energy to proceedings that remains valuable, and the Warriors have an option to retain him for next season on the minimum which they wont want to give up. The most likely may be the injured Damian Jones, but he is signed through next year after the Warriors picked up his option. Cutting him would leave them with dead money on their salary cap that would count towards the luxury tax, even if his $2.3m option was stretched across three years. In the end, the Warriors pursuit of Bogut could come to nothing. But a reunion would be a fascinating story and may yet help them on their way to another title. | The Golden State Warriors are expected to pursue Andrew Bogut now the NBL season is over. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmurray/2019/03/04/could-andrew-bogut-return-to-the-golden-state-warriors/ | 0.131399 |
Could Andrew Bogut Return To The Golden State Warriors? | The Golden State Warriors have seen many twists and turns on their journey to becoming a modern-day NBA dynasty. Right back in the early days, the trade of fan favorite Monta Ellis for an injured Andrew Bogut symbolized a different front office approach and helped solidify a defensive identity that lifted them to their first title. The Warriors of old would never give up a dynamic 20-point-per-game scorer, even if he was limited on the other end, for a less spectacular big man who was better known for solid, intelligent positional defense. Bogut became an important piece of the new Warriors, providing toughness inside, setting bone-crushing screens to free up their world-class shooters, and utilizing his well-honed playmaking skills in the high post through a mixture of dribble hand-off sets and well-timed passes. When Kevin Durant decided to join the Warriors, Bogut was one of the pieces who had to make way in order to create the necessary room under the salary cap. After short stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, Bogut returned to his native Australia to play for the Sidney Kings. It seemed that at age 34 that would be the end of a successful NBA career, capped off by that 2015 championship ring. But over in Australia, Bogut found a new lease of life. After averaging 11.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.7 blocks per game and shooting 56% from the floor, Bogut won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy in Australia. Then yesterday Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that multiple contenders, including the Golden State Warriors, were expected to pursue him now the NBL season is over. Its a strange twist in the Warriors story. But Golden State has kept open a roster spot all year in the hope of finding someone who can contribute in the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls Robin Lopez was heavily rumored to be their number one buyout candidate, but he never managed the wriggle free. Indeed, the buyout market that followed a frenzied trade deadline was remarkably tepid, devoid of any real playoff contributors save for a couple of players like Wes Matthews who quickly signed for playoff teams who could give them more minutes. It looked very much like the Warriors were going to be left standing. Their best remaining option was probably converting the two-way contract of guard Damion Lee so that he could become playoff eligible. Indeed the experience of last years playoffs suggests that snagging a wing for that last spot would be the wisest course of action. As the league trends goes more towards smaller, more versatile lineups with speed and shooting, the Warriors could do with another piece who can play some defense and knock down some threes in a pinch. Lee has shot 44.2% from beyond the arc this year, including 4-5 in their latest win in Philadelphia with Klay Thompson out. Hes certainly shown that he can hit the open threes. Whether his defense will hold up in the playoffs remains to be seen, but given the alternative option is Alfonzo McKinnie, who has gone somewhat off the boil in recent weeks, some insurance at that spot may well be a good idea. On the other hand, the Warriors could well face a series of punishing big men in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets both possess bruising giants in the middle. Of course, the Warriors have DeMarcus Cousins still working his way back from injury. Cousins has shown some nice flashes of his offensive potential but the defense is not there yet and may not turn up in time. Some of Cousins recent struggles have been more schematic, and when the playoffs roll around the Warriors will probably go smaller if opposing big men are bombing away from deep as Mike Scott and Jonah Bolden were in Philadelphia. But when Cody Zeller drops 28 points on 13-14 shooting on you, as happened against the Hornets recently, its not a good sign. Thats where Bogut could come in. He may be older now, but hes a former member of the NBA All-Defense team, and has proven his mettle in the playoffs against physical teams. Most notably his Game 5 Western Conference Finals performance against the Thunder in 2016, with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks, helped turn the tide as the Warriors came back from 3-1 down. Even if hes just injury insurance, the Warriors know what he brings to the table. At the moment if Cousins is struggling defensively with one of the big beasts, or goes down injured, theres not really another option. Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell are more suited to the smaller, switchier lineups, while there are only so many minutes you want to play Draymond Green at the five. Boguts experience and fit would seem to work nicely, but the elephant in the room is his injury history. His career with the Warriors ended after he got injured in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, one of many factors behind Golden States infamous collapse. Signing a player for injury insurance who has a history of getting injured themselves is a risky move. However, Bogut has remained healthy all throughout the NBL season, notching up 900 minutes, which may provide some reassurance to the front office. He wont be asked to play big minutes for the Warriors either. The Warriors have some decisions to make Both Bogut and Lee provide some intriguing possibilities for the 15th spot on the roster. Its unlikely either will make or break their playoff run but having enough depth to withstand injuries is an important, and oft-underrated, factor in winning a championship. Either one could potentially step in and provide spot minutes in a crisis. The Warriors dont have to make a decision straight away. Their roster spot remains open, and the deadline for signing someone isnt until the end of the regular season. Lee has time remaining on his two-way deal, allowing them to evaluate him alongside other options on the roster. They could sign Bogut to the open roster spot now and if Lee breaks out then look to release someone else on the roster if need be. There arent many options for players to cut though. Rookie Jacob Evans may have disappointed but its too early to cut bait on him yet. Alfonzo McKinnie may be struggling of late but he brings an energy to proceedings that remains valuable, and the Warriors have an option to retain him for next season on the minimum which they wont want to give up. The most likely may be the injured Damian Jones, but he is signed through next year after the Warriors picked up his option. Cutting him would leave them with dead money on their salary cap that would count towards the luxury tax, even if his $2.3m option was stretched across three years. In the end, the Warriors pursuit of Bogut could come to nothing. But a reunion would be a fascinating story and may yet help them on their way to another title. | The Golden State Warriors are expected to pursue Andrew Bogut now the NBL season is over. Bogut won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy in Australia. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmurray/2019/03/04/could-andrew-bogut-return-to-the-golden-state-warriors/ | 0.106366 |
Could Andrew Bogut Return To The Golden State Warriors? | The Golden State Warriors have seen many twists and turns on their journey to becoming a modern-day NBA dynasty. Right back in the early days, the trade of fan favorite Monta Ellis for an injured Andrew Bogut symbolized a different front office approach and helped solidify a defensive identity that lifted them to their first title. The Warriors of old would never give up a dynamic 20-point-per-game scorer, even if he was limited on the other end, for a less spectacular big man who was better known for solid, intelligent positional defense. Bogut became an important piece of the new Warriors, providing toughness inside, setting bone-crushing screens to free up their world-class shooters, and utilizing his well-honed playmaking skills in the high post through a mixture of dribble hand-off sets and well-timed passes. When Kevin Durant decided to join the Warriors, Bogut was one of the pieces who had to make way in order to create the necessary room under the salary cap. After short stints with the Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Lakers, Bogut returned to his native Australia to play for the Sidney Kings. It seemed that at age 34 that would be the end of a successful NBA career, capped off by that 2015 championship ring. But over in Australia, Bogut found a new lease of life. After averaging 11.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.7 blocks per game and shooting 56% from the floor, Bogut won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy in Australia. Then yesterday Shams Charania of the Athletic reported that multiple contenders, including the Golden State Warriors, were expected to pursue him now the NBL season is over. Its a strange twist in the Warriors story. But Golden State has kept open a roster spot all year in the hope of finding someone who can contribute in the playoffs. The Chicago Bulls Robin Lopez was heavily rumored to be their number one buyout candidate, but he never managed the wriggle free. Indeed, the buyout market that followed a frenzied trade deadline was remarkably tepid, devoid of any real playoff contributors save for a couple of players like Wes Matthews who quickly signed for playoff teams who could give them more minutes. It looked very much like the Warriors were going to be left standing. Their best remaining option was probably converting the two-way contract of guard Damion Lee so that he could become playoff eligible. Indeed the experience of last years playoffs suggests that snagging a wing for that last spot would be the wisest course of action. As the league trends goes more towards smaller, more versatile lineups with speed and shooting, the Warriors could do with another piece who can play some defense and knock down some threes in a pinch. Lee has shot 44.2% from beyond the arc this year, including 4-5 in their latest win in Philadelphia with Klay Thompson out. Hes certainly shown that he can hit the open threes. Whether his defense will hold up in the playoffs remains to be seen, but given the alternative option is Alfonzo McKinnie, who has gone somewhat off the boil in recent weeks, some insurance at that spot may well be a good idea. On the other hand, the Warriors could well face a series of punishing big men in the playoffs. The Oklahoma City Thunder and Denver Nuggets both possess bruising giants in the middle. Of course, the Warriors have DeMarcus Cousins still working his way back from injury. Cousins has shown some nice flashes of his offensive potential but the defense is not there yet and may not turn up in time. Some of Cousins recent struggles have been more schematic, and when the playoffs roll around the Warriors will probably go smaller if opposing big men are bombing away from deep as Mike Scott and Jonah Bolden were in Philadelphia. But when Cody Zeller drops 28 points on 13-14 shooting on you, as happened against the Hornets recently, its not a good sign. Thats where Bogut could come in. He may be older now, but hes a former member of the NBA All-Defense team, and has proven his mettle in the playoffs against physical teams. Most notably his Game 5 Western Conference Finals performance against the Thunder in 2016, with 15 points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks, helped turn the tide as the Warriors came back from 3-1 down. Even if hes just injury insurance, the Warriors know what he brings to the table. At the moment if Cousins is struggling defensively with one of the big beasts, or goes down injured, theres not really another option. Kevon Looney and Jordan Bell are more suited to the smaller, switchier lineups, while there are only so many minutes you want to play Draymond Green at the five. Boguts experience and fit would seem to work nicely, but the elephant in the room is his injury history. His career with the Warriors ended after he got injured in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals, one of many factors behind Golden States infamous collapse. Signing a player for injury insurance who has a history of getting injured themselves is a risky move. However, Bogut has remained healthy all throughout the NBL season, notching up 900 minutes, which may provide some reassurance to the front office. He wont be asked to play big minutes for the Warriors either. The Warriors have some decisions to make Both Bogut and Lee provide some intriguing possibilities for the 15th spot on the roster. Its unlikely either will make or break their playoff run but having enough depth to withstand injuries is an important, and oft-underrated, factor in winning a championship. Either one could potentially step in and provide spot minutes in a crisis. The Warriors dont have to make a decision straight away. Their roster spot remains open, and the deadline for signing someone isnt until the end of the regular season. Lee has time remaining on his two-way deal, allowing them to evaluate him alongside other options on the roster. They could sign Bogut to the open roster spot now and if Lee breaks out then look to release someone else on the roster if need be. There arent many options for players to cut though. Rookie Jacob Evans may have disappointed but its too early to cut bait on him yet. Alfonzo McKinnie may be struggling of late but he brings an energy to proceedings that remains valuable, and the Warriors have an option to retain him for next season on the minimum which they wont want to give up. The most likely may be the injured Damian Jones, but he is signed through next year after the Warriors picked up his option. Cutting him would leave them with dead money on their salary cap that would count towards the luxury tax, even if his $2.3m option was stretched across three years. In the end, the Warriors pursuit of Bogut could come to nothing. But a reunion would be a fascinating story and may yet help them on their way to another title. | The Golden State Warriors are expected to pursue Andrew Bogut now the NBL season is over. Bogut won both the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year trophy in Australia. The Warriors could use a player who can play some defense and knock down some threes in a pinch. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickmurray/2019/03/04/could-andrew-bogut-return-to-the-golden-state-warriors/ | 0.102184 |
How far did LSU baseball fall in polls after Texas sweep? | AUSTIN, TEXAS -- LSU baseball had a rough weekend in Austin. The Tigers came into the weekend 8-0 and ranked No. 1 or No. 2 by every national outlet. But LSU didnt have any high-caliber wins, so the weekend series at No. 19 Texas was going to be the first major test for Paul Mainieris club. Instead, LSU lost 8-1 on Friday after Texas ace Bryce Elder dominated and held the Tigers to one run while the LSU pitching staff walked nine batters. Saturday, LSU lost 8-4 as freshman Landon Marceaux allowed six runs and the staff allowed another 12 free passes. Weve got to get better: Top-ranked LSU baseball swept by Texas after late collapse LSU gave away a 3-run lead in the final two innings in a walk-off 7-6 loss. Sunday, though, LSU had a convincing 6-3 lead in the eighth inning as Cole Henry and Todd Peterson combined to allow four runs before they could get the final five outs to win. Texas won on a walk-off RBI single up the middle, finishing the Texas sweep. Heres a breakdown: Baseball America: No. 10 (Previous: No. 2) D1Baseball: No. 13 (Previous: No. 2) Perfect Game: No. 14 (Previous: No. 1) More polls will be added as they are updated. | Top-ranked LSU baseball was swept by No. 19 Texas over the weekend. LSU fell from No. 1 to No. 10 in several national polls. The Tigers are now No. 13 in the latest D1Baseball poll. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/03/how-far-did-lsu-baseball-fall-in-the-polls-after-being-swept-by-texas.html | 0.548208 |
How far did LSU baseball fall in polls after Texas sweep? | AUSTIN, TEXAS -- LSU baseball had a rough weekend in Austin. The Tigers came into the weekend 8-0 and ranked No. 1 or No. 2 by every national outlet. But LSU didnt have any high-caliber wins, so the weekend series at No. 19 Texas was going to be the first major test for Paul Mainieris club. Instead, LSU lost 8-1 on Friday after Texas ace Bryce Elder dominated and held the Tigers to one run while the LSU pitching staff walked nine batters. Saturday, LSU lost 8-4 as freshman Landon Marceaux allowed six runs and the staff allowed another 12 free passes. Weve got to get better: Top-ranked LSU baseball swept by Texas after late collapse LSU gave away a 3-run lead in the final two innings in a walk-off 7-6 loss. Sunday, though, LSU had a convincing 6-3 lead in the eighth inning as Cole Henry and Todd Peterson combined to allow four runs before they could get the final five outs to win. Texas won on a walk-off RBI single up the middle, finishing the Texas sweep. Heres a breakdown: Baseball America: No. 10 (Previous: No. 2) D1Baseball: No. 13 (Previous: No. 2) Perfect Game: No. 14 (Previous: No. 1) More polls will be added as they are updated. | Top-ranked LSU baseball was swept by No. 19 Texas over the weekend. LSU fell from No. 1 to No. 10 in several national polls. The Tigers are now ranked No. 13 in the latest D1Baseball poll, which is No. 2 in Baseball America. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.nola.com/lsu/2019/03/how-far-did-lsu-baseball-fall-in-the-polls-after-being-swept-by-texas.html | 0.585381 |
Is Oregon State the No. 3 or 4 seed in Pac-12 basketball tournament, or No. 9? | Oregon States lost week at Gill Coliseum, where it fell to Arizona and Arizona State by a combined five points, has put the Beavers with fewer postseason options. OSU is surely out of the hunt for an NCAA tournament at-large berth. The Beavers only hope is to win the Pac-12 tournament and land the leagues NCAA automatic. To do that, Oregon States best chance is finish among the top Pac-12s four teams and earn a first-round bye. Otherwise it means winning four games in four days to win the Pac-12 tournament. Only Colorado in 2012 has pulled off that feat. The bottom line this week is this: if Oregon State splits or sweeps its road series against Washington and Washington State, the Beavers finish among the top four. Lose both, and there are myriad possibilities. This much we know so far about the Pac-12 tourney seedings: Washington is No. 1 Arizona State is No. 2 Washington State is No. 11 California is No. 12 Three through 10 are up for grabs. Oregon State cant finish 10th, but everything else is in play. Whats left for teams 3 through 10: OSU (9-7): at Washington, at Washington State UCLA (9-7): at Colorado, at Utah Utah (9-7): USC, UCLA USC (8-8): at Utah, at Colorado Colorado (8-8): UCLA, USC Oregon (8-8): at Washington State, at Washington Stanford (8-9): California Arizona (8-9): Arizona State Here are the Pac-12 seeding possibilities for Oregon State: No. 3 seed Beat Washington and Washington State. Beat Washington or Washington State, with at least one loss by UCLA and Utah No. There is a way. UCLA must sweep, USC, Colorado and Oregon split their last two games. Oregon State wins all the tie-breakers. Even if Arizona and/or Stanford finish 9-9, Oregon States collective record against those tied at 9-9 is better than any other team. No. 5 and 6 seed Lose to Washington and Washington State. There are so many possibilities here it makes the head spin. But OSU probably finishes fifth, and definitely sixth, as long as Arizona isnt among the teams finishing 9-9. No. 7 seed Lose to Washington and Washington State. Utah, Colorado and Oregon sweep, and Stanford wins, but Arizona loses. No. 8 seed Lose to Washington and Washington State. UCLA and USC (or Colorado and Utah) and Oregon sweep, Arizona wins, Stanford loses. No. 9 seed Lose to Washington and Washington State, AND USC, UCLA (or Utah and Colorado) and Oregon sweep, plus Arizona and Stanford win their finales. --Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. | Oregon State's best chance is to finish among the top Pac-12s four teams and earn a first-round bye. The Beavers must win four games in four days to win thePac-12 tournament. Oregon State can't finish 10th, but everything else is in play. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/2019/03/is-oregon-state-the-no-3-or-4-seed-in-pac-12-basketball-tournament-or-no-9.html | 0.101933 |
Does Washington want Josh Rosen? | Washington needs a quarterback, but Washington wont be able to sink a lot of money into a quarterback, given the money committed to Alex Smith. With Smith likely to miss 2019 (and possibly never play again) after suffering a badly broken leg last season, Washingtons options are limited. One option would be to trade for Josh Rosen, if the Cardinals indeed plan to take Kyler Murray with the first pick in the draft. Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reports that multiple sources have indicated that Washington is talking openly about trading for Rosen, if Arizona decides to make the move. Washington holds the 15th pick in the 2019 draft; Arizona acquired Rosen with pick No. 10 a year ago. Arizona paid Rosen a signing bonus of $10.878 million and a 2018 base salary of $480,000, leaving only $6.239 million to be paid out over the next three years. Come 2022, Rosens fifth-year option would become the quarterback transition-tag number for 2021, since he was a top-10 pick. By 2021, however, Smiths $31 million in remaining injury guarantees will have exited the books. Its unclear whether the Cardinals would take the 15th overall pick for Rosen, or whether they would want more especially since theyd be handing to a new team a very affordable quarterback contract, with an average of $2.079 million per year through 2021. | Washington is reportedly interested in trading for Arizona's Josh Rosen. The Cardinals are expected to pick Kyler Murray with the first pick in the draft. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-washington-want-josh-rosen-221553787.html?src=rss | 0.450163 |
Does Washington want Josh Rosen? | Washington needs a quarterback, but Washington wont be able to sink a lot of money into a quarterback, given the money committed to Alex Smith. With Smith likely to miss 2019 (and possibly never play again) after suffering a badly broken leg last season, Washingtons options are limited. One option would be to trade for Josh Rosen, if the Cardinals indeed plan to take Kyler Murray with the first pick in the draft. Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reports that multiple sources have indicated that Washington is talking openly about trading for Rosen, if Arizona decides to make the move. Washington holds the 15th pick in the 2019 draft; Arizona acquired Rosen with pick No. 10 a year ago. Arizona paid Rosen a signing bonus of $10.878 million and a 2018 base salary of $480,000, leaving only $6.239 million to be paid out over the next three years. Come 2022, Rosens fifth-year option would become the quarterback transition-tag number for 2021, since he was a top-10 pick. By 2021, however, Smiths $31 million in remaining injury guarantees will have exited the books. Its unclear whether the Cardinals would take the 15th overall pick for Rosen, or whether they would want more especially since theyd be handing to a new team a very affordable quarterback contract, with an average of $2.079 million per year through 2021. | Washington is reportedly interested in trading for Arizona's Josh Rosen. The Cardinals are expected to pick Kyler Murray with the first pick in the 2019 draft. Washington holds the 15th pick in next year's draft. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-washington-want-josh-rosen-221553787.html?src=rss | 0.472193 |
Does Washington want Josh Rosen? | Washington needs a quarterback, but Washington wont be able to sink a lot of money into a quarterback, given the money committed to Alex Smith. With Smith likely to miss 2019 (and possibly never play again) after suffering a badly broken leg last season, Washingtons options are limited. One option would be to trade for Josh Rosen, if the Cardinals indeed plan to take Kyler Murray with the first pick in the draft. Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.com reports that multiple sources have indicated that Washington is talking openly about trading for Rosen, if Arizona decides to make the move. Washington holds the 15th pick in the 2019 draft; Arizona acquired Rosen with pick No. 10 a year ago. Arizona paid Rosen a signing bonus of $10.878 million and a 2018 base salary of $480,000, leaving only $6.239 million to be paid out over the next three years. Come 2022, Rosens fifth-year option would become the quarterback transition-tag number for 2021, since he was a top-10 pick. By 2021, however, Smiths $31 million in remaining injury guarantees will have exited the books. Its unclear whether the Cardinals would take the 15th overall pick for Rosen, or whether they would want more especially since theyd be handing to a new team a very affordable quarterback contract, with an average of $2.079 million per year through 2021. | Washington is reportedly interested in trading for Arizona's Josh Rosen. The Cardinals are expected to pick Kyler Murray with the first pick in the 2019 draft. Washington holds the 15th pick in next years draft, and Rosen would be a very affordable quarterback for the Redskins. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-washington-want-josh-rosen-221553787.html?src=rss | 0.544576 |
How Will Alienated America Save For Retirement? | Alienated America is the title of a new book out by Tim Carney, commentary editor at the Washington Examiner and American Enterprise Institute visiting fellow. Its core observation is this: while in the 2016 general election, Trump had the support of evangelicals and other pro-life Christians, because of the binary choice between Trump and Clinton (where the single issue of abortion was key for many reluctant Trump votes), quite the opposite was true for the primaries. Then, as now, Trump's core support came elsewhere, from those disconnected from religious communities. What's more, it was localities in which community institutions were strong that Trump did poorly in the primaries, and in areas where they were weak and where residents were disconnected from each other, that Trump did well. For wealthy communities like the D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase which Carney uses as one reference point, a swim club or a book discussion group or garden club might do a great job of connecting up residents, but for most Americans, it has historically been their church/house of worship which has been their primary "community institution" and, despite stereotypes otherwise, it is among the white working class that the trend of religious disaffiliation has been most dramatic -- and its impact is much more far-reaching that the results in an election, as the loss of those institutions impact the well-being of the alienated. In early February, the Aspen Institute published a new report, "Portable Non-Employer Retirement Benefits: An Approach to Expanding Coverage for a 21st Century Workforce," which sought to address the 55 million Americans who, according to survey data, lack access to a workplace retirement plan, by describing/proposing six alternate ways of providing access to retirement plans which might be scaled up or, in some cases, brought into existence. Some of these mechanisms are still very much workplace-centered. The report proposes that employers and workers in a specific industry sector might band together to provide retirement plans in which all employees could maintain participation even as they move from one employer to another. These sector-based plans are common in the Netherlands -- for example, the Dutch multiemployer plan which I contrasted with the US equivalent back in November was a plan for the metal industry. In Massachusetts, nonprofit organizations are partnering to provide a multiple employer 401(k) plan, as is a similar coalition in Canada for its nonprofit workers. The report also profiles "new worker organizations" -- union-like groups formed to advance the interests of workers, such as domestic workers, freelancers, app-platform drivers, and so on -- and suggests that they might offer workers the ability to enroll in a retirement plan, and considers professional associations and trade associations as further sources of retirement plan access -- ideas which have been proposed elsewhere. But there are two suggestions which are new. The report suggests that labor unions might be a source of retirement benefits -- not in the form of Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans which are already so troubled in their defined benefit form, but as a sponsor of retirement savings that reaches beyond mandatory contributions as a part of collective bargaining (though it does suggest this) to acting as a plan sponsor for spouses of union members, "non-unionized workers who might join a union under an 'associate member' category" and workers at employers who choose to participate in the union-sponsored plan. The report also proposes that faith communities be a source of retirement plan participation. They observe that the United Methodist Church provides retirement benefits for all its clergy and lay employees via its Wespath entity, the "largest publicly reported denominational plan in the US." (Side note: you'd think the Catholics would be larger, but they manage everything at the level of the diocese rather than country-wide.) But the Aspen report suggests taking this a step further: A potentially more far-reaching approach would be for faith groups to sponsor portable non-employer retirement benefits for the members of their community. The addressable uncovered group here is, in theory, very large. If we assume 55 million Americans lack access to a workplace retirement plan, and 36 percent of those attend religious services once a week or more (assuming the same proportion as the population as a whole), then there is a pool of nearly 20 million regular participants in faith communities who could be served by a faith group-sponsored portable non-employer retirement benefit. Where the faith community already sponsors a retirement arrangement for its employees especially where that arrangement has scale, as in the Wespath example there could be opportunities to extend access to that arrangement to the broader faith community. To be sure, for an entity such as Wespath to reach beyond the employees of the church it serves, to those parishioners, it would become more like a "retail retirement account." The report's suggestion might sound trivial to educated Americans who already have done their due diligence on how to save for retirement, but the kernel of this proposal could make a big difference for those who haven't. Carney emphasizes that churches in America have a key role as community institutions, and, at least among churches with greater resources, they offer groups that reach beyond Bible studies to provide support for the bereaved, young mothers, the unemployed, those in recovery, and so on. In many parishes a "parish nurse" provides further resources and referrals, visits the sick, and provides other aid. Whether through a formal organization or simply through an informal process that materializes as needed, they deliver casseroles to families struck by illness. And many evangelical/mega-churches offer Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" money-management classes. In this context, it's not so crazy to imagine that churches, community groups, and unions acting as a community group could and should have an important role to play in financial wellness and retirement savings -- both as organizations which might provide education and support on the path, and because they provide the sort of informal social networks that nudge people forward towards, for example, saving for retirement. Yet these are exactly the organizations which Carney (and others) reports are disappearing in the regions of America that turned to Trump in 2016. That's another question. Please let me know at JaneTheActuary.com! | Tim Carney's new book, Alienated America, looks at how Americans save for retirement. He says many Americans are losing faith in their community institutions. Carney says unions and faith communities could be sources of retirement benefits. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2019/03/04/how-will-alienated-america-save-for-retirement/ | 0.287821 |
How Will Alienated America Save For Retirement? | Alienated America is the title of a new book out by Tim Carney, commentary editor at the Washington Examiner and American Enterprise Institute visiting fellow. Its core observation is this: while in the 2016 general election, Trump had the support of evangelicals and other pro-life Christians, because of the binary choice between Trump and Clinton (where the single issue of abortion was key for many reluctant Trump votes), quite the opposite was true for the primaries. Then, as now, Trump's core support came elsewhere, from those disconnected from religious communities. What's more, it was localities in which community institutions were strong that Trump did poorly in the primaries, and in areas where they were weak and where residents were disconnected from each other, that Trump did well. For wealthy communities like the D.C. suburb of Chevy Chase which Carney uses as one reference point, a swim club or a book discussion group or garden club might do a great job of connecting up residents, but for most Americans, it has historically been their church/house of worship which has been their primary "community institution" and, despite stereotypes otherwise, it is among the white working class that the trend of religious disaffiliation has been most dramatic -- and its impact is much more far-reaching that the results in an election, as the loss of those institutions impact the well-being of the alienated. In early February, the Aspen Institute published a new report, "Portable Non-Employer Retirement Benefits: An Approach to Expanding Coverage for a 21st Century Workforce," which sought to address the 55 million Americans who, according to survey data, lack access to a workplace retirement plan, by describing/proposing six alternate ways of providing access to retirement plans which might be scaled up or, in some cases, brought into existence. Some of these mechanisms are still very much workplace-centered. The report proposes that employers and workers in a specific industry sector might band together to provide retirement plans in which all employees could maintain participation even as they move from one employer to another. These sector-based plans are common in the Netherlands -- for example, the Dutch multiemployer plan which I contrasted with the US equivalent back in November was a plan for the metal industry. In Massachusetts, nonprofit organizations are partnering to provide a multiple employer 401(k) plan, as is a similar coalition in Canada for its nonprofit workers. The report also profiles "new worker organizations" -- union-like groups formed to advance the interests of workers, such as domestic workers, freelancers, app-platform drivers, and so on -- and suggests that they might offer workers the ability to enroll in a retirement plan, and considers professional associations and trade associations as further sources of retirement plan access -- ideas which have been proposed elsewhere. But there are two suggestions which are new. The report suggests that labor unions might be a source of retirement benefits -- not in the form of Taft-Hartley multi-employer plans which are already so troubled in their defined benefit form, but as a sponsor of retirement savings that reaches beyond mandatory contributions as a part of collective bargaining (though it does suggest this) to acting as a plan sponsor for spouses of union members, "non-unionized workers who might join a union under an 'associate member' category" and workers at employers who choose to participate in the union-sponsored plan. The report also proposes that faith communities be a source of retirement plan participation. They observe that the United Methodist Church provides retirement benefits for all its clergy and lay employees via its Wespath entity, the "largest publicly reported denominational plan in the US." (Side note: you'd think the Catholics would be larger, but they manage everything at the level of the diocese rather than country-wide.) But the Aspen report suggests taking this a step further: A potentially more far-reaching approach would be for faith groups to sponsor portable non-employer retirement benefits for the members of their community. The addressable uncovered group here is, in theory, very large. If we assume 55 million Americans lack access to a workplace retirement plan, and 36 percent of those attend religious services once a week or more (assuming the same proportion as the population as a whole), then there is a pool of nearly 20 million regular participants in faith communities who could be served by a faith group-sponsored portable non-employer retirement benefit. Where the faith community already sponsors a retirement arrangement for its employees especially where that arrangement has scale, as in the Wespath example there could be opportunities to extend access to that arrangement to the broader faith community. To be sure, for an entity such as Wespath to reach beyond the employees of the church it serves, to those parishioners, it would become more like a "retail retirement account." The report's suggestion might sound trivial to educated Americans who already have done their due diligence on how to save for retirement, but the kernel of this proposal could make a big difference for those who haven't. Carney emphasizes that churches in America have a key role as community institutions, and, at least among churches with greater resources, they offer groups that reach beyond Bible studies to provide support for the bereaved, young mothers, the unemployed, those in recovery, and so on. In many parishes a "parish nurse" provides further resources and referrals, visits the sick, and provides other aid. Whether through a formal organization or simply through an informal process that materializes as needed, they deliver casseroles to families struck by illness. And many evangelical/mega-churches offer Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" money-management classes. In this context, it's not so crazy to imagine that churches, community groups, and unions acting as a community group could and should have an important role to play in financial wellness and retirement savings -- both as organizations which might provide education and support on the path, and because they provide the sort of informal social networks that nudge people forward towards, for example, saving for retirement. Yet these are exactly the organizations which Carney (and others) reports are disappearing in the regions of America that turned to Trump in 2016. That's another question. Please let me know at JaneTheActuary.com! | Tim Carney's new book, Alienated America, looks at how Americans save for retirement. He says many Americans are losing faith in their community institutions. Carney says unions and faith communities could be sources of retirement benefits. The book is published by Simon & Schuster at $16.99. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/ebauer/2019/03/04/how-will-alienated-america-save-for-retirement/ | 0.254981 |
Will latest study on vaccines and autism change minds? | Yet another study finds no evidence that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine raises the risk of autism -- even among children who are at increased genetic risk. Experts said the findings, reported in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, should be reassuring to parents, particularly those who already have a child with autism. The theory that MMR vaccination raises the risk of autism has its roots in a small study done in 1998 -- one that was later found to be fraudulent. Since then, numerous international studies have found no evidence that vaccines help trigger autism. Still, some parents remain worried. And those who already have a child with autism seem even more concerned. "Research has shown that parents of kids with autism spectrum disorders are more likely to delay vaccinating their younger children," said Dr. Bryan King, an autism researcher at the University of Washington, in Seattle. "Basically, they wait until the developmental dust has settled, and it looks like their child will be unaffected (by autism)," said King, who wrote an editorial published with the study. But delaying recommended vaccinations puts children at risk of potentially serious infections, said Dr. Anjali Jain, the study leader and a researcher at the Lewin Group, a healthcare consulting firm in Falls Church, Va. She pointed to the United States' recent measles outbreaks as an example. This year, 162 people have been sickened in outbreaks across 19 states and Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials blame the reappearance of the disease, in part, on parents who choose to forgo or delay their children's vaccinations. In recent years, the United States has seen a rising rate of autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs -- a group of developmental brain disorders that affect children's behavior and ability to communicate and socialize. The latest federal estimates say one in 68 kids has some form of autism spectrum disorder. They range widely in severity: Some children have relatively mild problems with social interactions, while others are unable to speak and focus on a limited number of repetitive behaviors. It's known that genes make certain children more vulnerable to autism -- that's why kids with an affected older sibling are at higher-than-average risk. But environmental factors also have to play a role, experts believe. One theory, King said, is that it takes a "triple hit" -- genes, plus an environmental trigger that strikes during a particular time window in brain development. But based on years of research, the MMR vaccine is not that trigger, according to health experts. "Every study that's looked at this, through every strategy they've used, has found no signal," King said. The new findings are based on insurance records for nearly 96,000 U.S. children with an older brother or sister; 2 percent had an older sibling with an autism spectrum disorder. Of the children with an affected sibling, 7 percent had an autism spectrum disorder themselves, compared to just under 1 percent of other kids. There was no evidence, though, that the MMR vaccination raised the risk of autism in either group of children, Jain said. Among kids with an affected sibling, those who'd received one MMR dose by age 2 were actually one-quarter less likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, the study found. The odds were even lower among those who'd received two doses by age 5. Probably not, King said. It could be possible that some parents who noticed developmental delays in their babies opted not to vaccinate, for example. "But we can say that vaccination was not associated with an increased risk in children with or without an affected sibling," King said. Jain agreed. "I hope this is reassuring to parents," she said. According to King, it's natural for parents with a child who has autism to want to reduce their younger kids' risk. "Everyone believes there have to be environmental factors contributing to the exponential rise we've seen in ASDs," he said. "But we don't understand what those factors are yet." Researchers are finding clues, though. And more and more, they suspect that prenatal brain development is the critical period, King said. He pointed to one study published just last week. There, researchers found that among more than 322,000 children, the risk of autism was elevated among children whose mothers had pregnancy-related diabetes in the first or second trimester. It's not yet clear what that means, King stressed. But, he noted, some of the genes linked to autism are also involved in regulating insulin -- the blood-sugar-controlling hormone that goes awry in diabetes. According to King, studies like that are opening new ideas on the potential environmental risk factors for autism -- even as others are "closing the door" on the MMR theory. | New study finds no evidence that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine raises the risk of autism. Still, some parents remain worried, especially those who already have a child with autism. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-latest-study-on-vaccines-and-autism-change-minds/ | 0.325131 |
Will latest study on vaccines and autism change minds? | Yet another study finds no evidence that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine raises the risk of autism -- even among children who are at increased genetic risk. Experts said the findings, reported in the April 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, should be reassuring to parents, particularly those who already have a child with autism. The theory that MMR vaccination raises the risk of autism has its roots in a small study done in 1998 -- one that was later found to be fraudulent. Since then, numerous international studies have found no evidence that vaccines help trigger autism. Still, some parents remain worried. And those who already have a child with autism seem even more concerned. "Research has shown that parents of kids with autism spectrum disorders are more likely to delay vaccinating their younger children," said Dr. Bryan King, an autism researcher at the University of Washington, in Seattle. "Basically, they wait until the developmental dust has settled, and it looks like their child will be unaffected (by autism)," said King, who wrote an editorial published with the study. But delaying recommended vaccinations puts children at risk of potentially serious infections, said Dr. Anjali Jain, the study leader and a researcher at the Lewin Group, a healthcare consulting firm in Falls Church, Va. She pointed to the United States' recent measles outbreaks as an example. This year, 162 people have been sickened in outbreaks across 19 states and Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials blame the reappearance of the disease, in part, on parents who choose to forgo or delay their children's vaccinations. In recent years, the United States has seen a rising rate of autism spectrum disorders, or ASDs -- a group of developmental brain disorders that affect children's behavior and ability to communicate and socialize. The latest federal estimates say one in 68 kids has some form of autism spectrum disorder. They range widely in severity: Some children have relatively mild problems with social interactions, while others are unable to speak and focus on a limited number of repetitive behaviors. It's known that genes make certain children more vulnerable to autism -- that's why kids with an affected older sibling are at higher-than-average risk. But environmental factors also have to play a role, experts believe. One theory, King said, is that it takes a "triple hit" -- genes, plus an environmental trigger that strikes during a particular time window in brain development. But based on years of research, the MMR vaccine is not that trigger, according to health experts. "Every study that's looked at this, through every strategy they've used, has found no signal," King said. The new findings are based on insurance records for nearly 96,000 U.S. children with an older brother or sister; 2 percent had an older sibling with an autism spectrum disorder. Of the children with an affected sibling, 7 percent had an autism spectrum disorder themselves, compared to just under 1 percent of other kids. There was no evidence, though, that the MMR vaccination raised the risk of autism in either group of children, Jain said. Among kids with an affected sibling, those who'd received one MMR dose by age 2 were actually one-quarter less likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, the study found. The odds were even lower among those who'd received two doses by age 5. Probably not, King said. It could be possible that some parents who noticed developmental delays in their babies opted not to vaccinate, for example. "But we can say that vaccination was not associated with an increased risk in children with or without an affected sibling," King said. Jain agreed. "I hope this is reassuring to parents," she said. According to King, it's natural for parents with a child who has autism to want to reduce their younger kids' risk. "Everyone believes there have to be environmental factors contributing to the exponential rise we've seen in ASDs," he said. "But we don't understand what those factors are yet." Researchers are finding clues, though. And more and more, they suspect that prenatal brain development is the critical period, King said. He pointed to one study published just last week. There, researchers found that among more than 322,000 children, the risk of autism was elevated among children whose mothers had pregnancy-related diabetes in the first or second trimester. It's not yet clear what that means, King stressed. But, he noted, some of the genes linked to autism are also involved in regulating insulin -- the blood-sugar-controlling hormone that goes awry in diabetes. According to King, studies like that are opening new ideas on the potential environmental risk factors for autism -- even as others are "closing the door" on the MMR theory. | New study finds no evidence that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine raises the risk of autism. Still, some parents remain worried, especially those who already have a child with autism. The findings are based on insurance records for nearly 96,000 U.S. children with an older brother or sister. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cbsnews.com/news/will-latest-study-on-vaccines-and-autism-change-minds/ | 0.337577 |
Is it cruel to set up nets that prevent birds nesting? | A battle broke out at the weekend over a hedge in Lincolnshire. The hedge, near the town of Winterton, was covered in netting by Partner Construction, which has applied for planning permission to build 40 homes on the site. This is standard practice, the developer said, in order to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged if building work begins later in the year. However, a group of local residents opposed to the development released a video showing birds trapped beneath the nets. Jeremy Vine and Chris Packham shared the footage, and their outrage, on Twitter. Packham said the nets showed brutal ignorance of how to look after the countryside, and said, if he were there, he would rip those nets down, in a tweet that has since disappeared. According to the Telegraph, some of the offending nets have now gone. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. In theory, this even bans people from pruning their fruit trees if doing so harms a nest that they know is there. Any tree or hedge becomes a protected site the moment a bird settles in it, which it might do at any time from about February until August potentially shutting down an entire construction site for the busy half of the year. Many conservationists agree to compromise. Netting an empty tree or a bush in the winter is certainly better than making the birds look for a new site in the middle of the breeding season. Its not ideal, says Martin Fowlie of the RSPB, but it is legal, so when it has to be done, its important that it be done properly, which means checking for birds when the netting is fitted, and to keep checking it regularly. Birds are ingenious creatures, and they can often find a way to get under the edge of a net. Builders must compromise by taking this part seriously. Dave Leech, head of ringing and nest recording schemes at the British Trust for Ornithology, accepts that netting is probably the lowest-impact option if a habitat has to be removed during the breeding season. But done badly it might be worse than nothing. A well-protected nest site is a good thing, Leech says, so if you have limited access it might actually be attractive to birds, but they may then get trapped inside afterwards, so youve got to exclude access completely. A spokesman for Partner Construction told the Telegraph: We commissioned properly qualified and experienced ecologists to carry out the work on our behalf. They have assured us and provided photographic evidence there were no birds in the hedgerow after it was netted and that the cover was left in a secure condition, preventing birds from gaining access. | The hedge near Winterton, Lincolnshire, was covered in netting. This is to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/is-it-cruel-to-set-up-nets-prevent-bird-nesting-jeremy-vine-chris-packham-protesting | 0.153115 |
Is it cruel to set up nets that prevent birds nesting? | A battle broke out at the weekend over a hedge in Lincolnshire. The hedge, near the town of Winterton, was covered in netting by Partner Construction, which has applied for planning permission to build 40 homes on the site. This is standard practice, the developer said, in order to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged if building work begins later in the year. However, a group of local residents opposed to the development released a video showing birds trapped beneath the nets. Jeremy Vine and Chris Packham shared the footage, and their outrage, on Twitter. Packham said the nets showed brutal ignorance of how to look after the countryside, and said, if he were there, he would rip those nets down, in a tweet that has since disappeared. According to the Telegraph, some of the offending nets have now gone. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. In theory, this even bans people from pruning their fruit trees if doing so harms a nest that they know is there. Any tree or hedge becomes a protected site the moment a bird settles in it, which it might do at any time from about February until August potentially shutting down an entire construction site for the busy half of the year. Many conservationists agree to compromise. Netting an empty tree or a bush in the winter is certainly better than making the birds look for a new site in the middle of the breeding season. Its not ideal, says Martin Fowlie of the RSPB, but it is legal, so when it has to be done, its important that it be done properly, which means checking for birds when the netting is fitted, and to keep checking it regularly. Birds are ingenious creatures, and they can often find a way to get under the edge of a net. Builders must compromise by taking this part seriously. Dave Leech, head of ringing and nest recording schemes at the British Trust for Ornithology, accepts that netting is probably the lowest-impact option if a habitat has to be removed during the breeding season. But done badly it might be worse than nothing. A well-protected nest site is a good thing, Leech says, so if you have limited access it might actually be attractive to birds, but they may then get trapped inside afterwards, so youve got to exclude access completely. A spokesman for Partner Construction told the Telegraph: We commissioned properly qualified and experienced ecologists to carry out the work on our behalf. They have assured us and provided photographic evidence there were no birds in the hedgerow after it was netted and that the cover was left in a secure condition, preventing birds from gaining access. | The hedge near Winterton, Lincolnshire, was covered in netting. This is to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged. A group of local residents released a video showing birds trapped beneath the nets. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/is-it-cruel-to-set-up-nets-prevent-bird-nesting-jeremy-vine-chris-packham-protesting | 0.17347 |
Is it cruel to set up nets that prevent birds nesting? | A battle broke out at the weekend over a hedge in Lincolnshire. The hedge, near the town of Winterton, was covered in netting by Partner Construction, which has applied for planning permission to build 40 homes on the site. This is standard practice, the developer said, in order to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged if building work begins later in the year. However, a group of local residents opposed to the development released a video showing birds trapped beneath the nets. Jeremy Vine and Chris Packham shared the footage, and their outrage, on Twitter. Packham said the nets showed brutal ignorance of how to look after the countryside, and said, if he were there, he would rip those nets down, in a tweet that has since disappeared. According to the Telegraph, some of the offending nets have now gone. The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 makes it an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird while it is in use or being built. In theory, this even bans people from pruning their fruit trees if doing so harms a nest that they know is there. Any tree or hedge becomes a protected site the moment a bird settles in it, which it might do at any time from about February until August potentially shutting down an entire construction site for the busy half of the year. Many conservationists agree to compromise. Netting an empty tree or a bush in the winter is certainly better than making the birds look for a new site in the middle of the breeding season. Its not ideal, says Martin Fowlie of the RSPB, but it is legal, so when it has to be done, its important that it be done properly, which means checking for birds when the netting is fitted, and to keep checking it regularly. Birds are ingenious creatures, and they can often find a way to get under the edge of a net. Builders must compromise by taking this part seriously. Dave Leech, head of ringing and nest recording schemes at the British Trust for Ornithology, accepts that netting is probably the lowest-impact option if a habitat has to be removed during the breeding season. But done badly it might be worse than nothing. A well-protected nest site is a good thing, Leech says, so if you have limited access it might actually be attractive to birds, but they may then get trapped inside afterwards, so youve got to exclude access completely. A spokesman for Partner Construction told the Telegraph: We commissioned properly qualified and experienced ecologists to carry out the work on our behalf. They have assured us and provided photographic evidence there were no birds in the hedgerow after it was netted and that the cover was left in a secure condition, preventing birds from gaining access. | The hedge near Winterton, Lincolnshire, was covered in netting. This is to prevent birds from nesting in a habitat that might be damaged. A group of local residents released a video showing birds trapped beneath the nets. Chris Packham said the nets showed 'brutal ignorance' of how to look after countryside. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/shortcuts/2019/mar/04/is-it-cruel-to-set-up-nets-prevent-bird-nesting-jeremy-vine-chris-packham-protesting | 0.197281 |
What is Vice President Mike Pence doing in Phoenix this week? | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. Pence will arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport in Air Force Two just after 11 a.m. Tuesday. Later, Pence is set to speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. After the meeting he will join a roundtable discussion with Linda McMahon, the Small Business Administrator, and the National Association of Manufacturers Executive Council. Then Pence will receive a briefing and tour a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. He leaves Wednesday. Reach the reporter at alexis.egeland@azcentral.com or 909-635-9146. Follow her on Twitter @alexis_egeland. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. He will speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | 0.690076 |
What is Vice President Mike Pence doing in Phoenix this week? | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. Pence will arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport in Air Force Two just after 11 a.m. Tuesday. Later, Pence is set to speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. After the meeting he will join a roundtable discussion with Linda McMahon, the Small Business Administrator, and the National Association of Manufacturers Executive Council. Then Pence will receive a briefing and tour a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. He leaves Wednesday. Reach the reporter at alexis.egeland@azcentral.com or 909-635-9146. Follow her on Twitter @alexis_egeland. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. He will speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. Pence will also tour a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | 0.737475 |
What is Vice President Mike Pence doing in Phoenix this week? | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. Pence will arrive at Sky Harbor International Airport in Air Force Two just after 11 a.m. Tuesday. Later, Pence is set to speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. After the meeting he will join a roundtable discussion with Linda McMahon, the Small Business Administrator, and the National Association of Manufacturers Executive Council. Then Pence will receive a briefing and tour a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. He leaves Wednesday. Reach the reporter at alexis.egeland@azcentral.com or 909-635-9146. Follow her on Twitter @alexis_egeland. Support local journalism. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | Vice President Mike Pence is visiting Phoenix again this week. He will speak at the National Association of Manufacturer's Spring 2019 board of directors meeting. Pence will also tour a Drug Enforcement Administration facility. He leaves Phoenix on Wednesday. Follow us on Twitter @azcentralpolitics and @alexis_egeland. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2019/03/04/vice-president-mike-pence-phoenix-visit-national-association-of-manufacturers-small-business-dea/3056464002/ | 0.757302 |
Do digital echo chambers exist? | A common, and ostensibly common sense, assumption about the era we are living through is that social media is a primary cause of polarisation. I have often endorsed this idea, whether explicitly or implicitly, during my time at the BBC. Twitter has generally struck me as the industrialisation of confirmation bias. Facebook, a softer version of the same. And other platforms, such as Instagram, similar. But this claim - that our digital media habits are an exercise in the lazy endorsement of our prejudices - is itself lazy and full of prejudice. Asked to do a report on the link, if there is one, between social media and polarisation, or social fragmentation, as part of the BBC's Crossing Divides season, I surveyed the academic literature. Most of the academic work in this area points to the complexity of that link, and resists a clear causal connection. Indeed, for the most part, it comes down against the idea that the online world is full of echo chambers. The abstract for this commonly cited article in the journal Public Opinion Quarterly, by Seth Freeman, Sharad Goel and Justin M Rao, puts it succinctly: "Social networks and search engines are associated with an increase in the mean ideological distance between individuals", the authors write. "However, somewhat counter-intuitively, these same channels also are associated with an increase in an individual's exposure to material from his or her less preferred side of the political spectrum". They go on: "The vast majority of online news consumption is accounted for by individuals simply visiting the home pages of their favourite, typically mainstream, news outlets, tempering the consequences - both positive and negative - of recent technological changes." Last week, I went up to Oxford to visit Dr Grant Blank. His most recent work has examined, as he puts it, "the myth of the echo chamber." In an important paper, published with Elizabeth Dubois in the journal Information, Communication and Society, Dr Blank concluded "social media and [the] internet [are] not [a] cause of political polarisation." Image copyright ENB Image caption Dr Grant Blank at the Oxford Internet Institute has examined what he calls "the myth of the echo chamber" Their findings are striking. In an interview, Dr Blank gave me a nuanced account of our digital behaviour. He told me, "one of the characteristics of the internet is that it has created a very large, complex media environment that includes not just social media but also print media, television, radio, and online media of various types, including online copies of print media - as well as specialised online media. "And if you look at that entire multi-media environment what you find is people are not in echo chambers, that people are not locked into groups of like-minded people all thinking the same thing and all talking the same way." I asked him specifically about that alleged link between social media and political polarisation. "You can find a relationship between social media and political polarisation if you look only at social media," he said. "If you look, in other words, at Twitter or you look only at Facebook. But in a complex, multi-media environment - which is the way people live now because of the internet - you don't find that, you find people consuming a lot of media. "You find people interacting with others who have varying points of view, changing their minds, encountering contradictory information, checking information that they find in social media. It turns out, if you look at media generally and you ask people what media do you trust, and then you rank the media in terms of trust, social media is at the very bottom of trustworthiness in terms of news." At this point he returned to a familiar argument: "In Britain it turns out the top [i.e. most trusted] is television. Probably due to the BBC but television, print media, online media of various kinds are all higher than social media in terms of trust." Academics in this field do, however, accept that there is an element of prejudice reinforcement on some social media channels. They just add that you're more likely to encounter different worldviews than in an era where you mainly read The Daily Mirror, say, or watched mainly CNN. Social media has an effect on the ignorance or knowledge of a citizenry that is, it turns out, nuanced and complicated. It certainly gives prominence and oxygen to fringe views that would once have struggled to get a hearing. It ostensibly democratises opinion, by equalising the format in which the US President and some conspiratorial nutter opine: both have 280 characters on Twitter. And for those who want to indulge niche interests, whether political or otherwise, it creates digital wormholes in which you can lose yourself. Partly because Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble, is an engaging speaker. Also, because there are times when we all feel like our social media feeds slant in one particular direction. And, ironically, because the idea of echo chambers and filter bubbles has bounced around social media, gaining traction there. Maybe some platforms, such as Twitter - which is the preferred receptacle for verbose journalists and politicians - are more prone to uniformity of outlook for some users. Which might explain the final reason echo chambers have become part of the prevailing orthodoxy: people like me have parroted the idea without surveying the academic literature. Journalism and academia: that's one divide that should be crossed more often. For more stories about Crossing Divides please go to bbc.co.uk/crossingdivides If you're interested in issues such as these, you can follow me on Twitter or Facebook; and subscribe to The Media Show podcast from Radio 4. | The myth of digital echo chambers is wrong, says the BBC's John Defterios. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47447633 | 0.108561 |
Do digital echo chambers exist? | A common, and ostensibly common sense, assumption about the era we are living through is that social media is a primary cause of polarisation. I have often endorsed this idea, whether explicitly or implicitly, during my time at the BBC. Twitter has generally struck me as the industrialisation of confirmation bias. Facebook, a softer version of the same. And other platforms, such as Instagram, similar. But this claim - that our digital media habits are an exercise in the lazy endorsement of our prejudices - is itself lazy and full of prejudice. Asked to do a report on the link, if there is one, between social media and polarisation, or social fragmentation, as part of the BBC's Crossing Divides season, I surveyed the academic literature. Most of the academic work in this area points to the complexity of that link, and resists a clear causal connection. Indeed, for the most part, it comes down against the idea that the online world is full of echo chambers. The abstract for this commonly cited article in the journal Public Opinion Quarterly, by Seth Freeman, Sharad Goel and Justin M Rao, puts it succinctly: "Social networks and search engines are associated with an increase in the mean ideological distance between individuals", the authors write. "However, somewhat counter-intuitively, these same channels also are associated with an increase in an individual's exposure to material from his or her less preferred side of the political spectrum". They go on: "The vast majority of online news consumption is accounted for by individuals simply visiting the home pages of their favourite, typically mainstream, news outlets, tempering the consequences - both positive and negative - of recent technological changes." Last week, I went up to Oxford to visit Dr Grant Blank. His most recent work has examined, as he puts it, "the myth of the echo chamber." In an important paper, published with Elizabeth Dubois in the journal Information, Communication and Society, Dr Blank concluded "social media and [the] internet [are] not [a] cause of political polarisation." Image copyright ENB Image caption Dr Grant Blank at the Oxford Internet Institute has examined what he calls "the myth of the echo chamber" Their findings are striking. In an interview, Dr Blank gave me a nuanced account of our digital behaviour. He told me, "one of the characteristics of the internet is that it has created a very large, complex media environment that includes not just social media but also print media, television, radio, and online media of various types, including online copies of print media - as well as specialised online media. "And if you look at that entire multi-media environment what you find is people are not in echo chambers, that people are not locked into groups of like-minded people all thinking the same thing and all talking the same way." I asked him specifically about that alleged link between social media and political polarisation. "You can find a relationship between social media and political polarisation if you look only at social media," he said. "If you look, in other words, at Twitter or you look only at Facebook. But in a complex, multi-media environment - which is the way people live now because of the internet - you don't find that, you find people consuming a lot of media. "You find people interacting with others who have varying points of view, changing their minds, encountering contradictory information, checking information that they find in social media. It turns out, if you look at media generally and you ask people what media do you trust, and then you rank the media in terms of trust, social media is at the very bottom of trustworthiness in terms of news." At this point he returned to a familiar argument: "In Britain it turns out the top [i.e. most trusted] is television. Probably due to the BBC but television, print media, online media of various kinds are all higher than social media in terms of trust." Academics in this field do, however, accept that there is an element of prejudice reinforcement on some social media channels. They just add that you're more likely to encounter different worldviews than in an era where you mainly read The Daily Mirror, say, or watched mainly CNN. Social media has an effect on the ignorance or knowledge of a citizenry that is, it turns out, nuanced and complicated. It certainly gives prominence and oxygen to fringe views that would once have struggled to get a hearing. It ostensibly democratises opinion, by equalising the format in which the US President and some conspiratorial nutter opine: both have 280 characters on Twitter. And for those who want to indulge niche interests, whether political or otherwise, it creates digital wormholes in which you can lose yourself. Partly because Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble, is an engaging speaker. Also, because there are times when we all feel like our social media feeds slant in one particular direction. And, ironically, because the idea of echo chambers and filter bubbles has bounced around social media, gaining traction there. Maybe some platforms, such as Twitter - which is the preferred receptacle for verbose journalists and politicians - are more prone to uniformity of outlook for some users. Which might explain the final reason echo chambers have become part of the prevailing orthodoxy: people like me have parroted the idea without surveying the academic literature. Journalism and academia: that's one divide that should be crossed more often. For more stories about Crossing Divides please go to bbc.co.uk/crossingdivides If you're interested in issues such as these, you can follow me on Twitter or Facebook; and subscribe to The Media Show podcast from Radio 4. | The myth of digital echo chambers is wrong, says John Defterios. He says social media is not a primary cause of political polarisation. But it does play a role, he says, in helping people to form their opinions. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-47447633 | 0.153232 |
Are Business For Sale Multiples Going To Come Down? | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases and unlike the past, these multiple increases have trickled down to even the lowest sectors of the business for sale market. Prior to the last market downturn in 2008, when businesses were selling quickly, the lower-end of the businesses for sale market that were generating at least $150,000 of Adjusted Net Income, with an average of $500,000, were selling at 1.97 x multiple. Measuring the last 12 months stats through one of the databases I use in the M & A world (used mostly by business brokers and therefore at the lower end), the average multiple for the same criteria net has been 2.84 times. A colleague of mine suggested that these multiples are never coming down, which to me is a pretty broad statement and one would say borders on predicting the future. In the mid-market, I tend to find their statement a little more plausible. Credit is readily available, there is an enormous amount of unused committed capital in the private markets and the very nature of a PE funds obligation to deploy capital may sustain these multiples. I wish I could suggest an answer with absolute certainty, but that would be foolish. Besides, if I could, I may be better served to play the lottery. To the smaller business buyer, it would be easy to stay on the sidelines. After all, with increasing multiples and some so-called experts predicting a recession, it would be easy to take a wait and see approach. However, that is not prudent. Multiples may continue to rise. As long as you acquire a business that has historically fared okay to well in difficult times and you do not over leverage, you should be fine. The sustainability of the business is critical whether in good times or bad. Your focus has to be on acquiring a good business with solid fundamentals. Yes, it is possible you may overpay slightly, but contrast that to the lost opportunity costs of not getting into the game for a few years. | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardparker/2019/03/04/are-business-for-sale-multiples-going-to-come-down/ | 0.154421 |
Are Business For Sale Multiples Going To Come Down? | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases and unlike the past, these multiple increases have trickled down to even the lowest sectors of the business for sale market. Prior to the last market downturn in 2008, when businesses were selling quickly, the lower-end of the businesses for sale market that were generating at least $150,000 of Adjusted Net Income, with an average of $500,000, were selling at 1.97 x multiple. Measuring the last 12 months stats through one of the databases I use in the M & A world (used mostly by business brokers and therefore at the lower end), the average multiple for the same criteria net has been 2.84 times. A colleague of mine suggested that these multiples are never coming down, which to me is a pretty broad statement and one would say borders on predicting the future. In the mid-market, I tend to find their statement a little more plausible. Credit is readily available, there is an enormous amount of unused committed capital in the private markets and the very nature of a PE funds obligation to deploy capital may sustain these multiples. I wish I could suggest an answer with absolute certainty, but that would be foolish. Besides, if I could, I may be better served to play the lottery. To the smaller business buyer, it would be easy to stay on the sidelines. After all, with increasing multiples and some so-called experts predicting a recession, it would be easy to take a wait and see approach. However, that is not prudent. Multiples may continue to rise. As long as you acquire a business that has historically fared okay to well in difficult times and you do not over leverage, you should be fine. The sustainability of the business is critical whether in good times or bad. Your focus has to be on acquiring a good business with solid fundamentals. Yes, it is possible you may overpay slightly, but contrast that to the lost opportunity costs of not getting into the game for a few years. | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases. Unlike the past, these multiple increases have trickled down to even the lowest sectors of the business for sale market. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardparker/2019/03/04/are-business-for-sale-multiples-going-to-come-down/ | 0.350644 |
Are Business For Sale Multiples Going To Come Down? | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases and unlike the past, these multiple increases have trickled down to even the lowest sectors of the business for sale market. Prior to the last market downturn in 2008, when businesses were selling quickly, the lower-end of the businesses for sale market that were generating at least $150,000 of Adjusted Net Income, with an average of $500,000, were selling at 1.97 x multiple. Measuring the last 12 months stats through one of the databases I use in the M & A world (used mostly by business brokers and therefore at the lower end), the average multiple for the same criteria net has been 2.84 times. A colleague of mine suggested that these multiples are never coming down, which to me is a pretty broad statement and one would say borders on predicting the future. In the mid-market, I tend to find their statement a little more plausible. Credit is readily available, there is an enormous amount of unused committed capital in the private markets and the very nature of a PE funds obligation to deploy capital may sustain these multiples. I wish I could suggest an answer with absolute certainty, but that would be foolish. Besides, if I could, I may be better served to play the lottery. To the smaller business buyer, it would be easy to stay on the sidelines. After all, with increasing multiples and some so-called experts predicting a recession, it would be easy to take a wait and see approach. However, that is not prudent. Multiples may continue to rise. As long as you acquire a business that has historically fared okay to well in difficult times and you do not over leverage, you should be fine. The sustainability of the business is critical whether in good times or bad. Your focus has to be on acquiring a good business with solid fundamentals. Yes, it is possible you may overpay slightly, but contrast that to the lost opportunity costs of not getting into the game for a few years. | Multiples are at all-time highs for business purchases and unlike the past, these multiple increases have trickled down to even the lowest sectors of the business for sale market. To the smaller business buyer, it would be easy to stay on the sidelines. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardparker/2019/03/04/are-business-for-sale-multiples-going-to-come-down/ | 0.418505 |
What Factors Will Weigh On Western Digital's Fiscal 2019 Earnings? | Western Digitals (NASDAQ: WDC) revenues have so far seen a low double-digit drop in fiscal 2019. The top line will likely fall in the high teens for the full fiscal, given the NAND headwinds. The entire industry is seeing normalization of NAND pricing, and this will likely result in lower earnings for Western Digital in fiscal 2019. In fact, we forecast the adjusted earnings to decline in the high 50s percent for the full fiscal. ~ which shows our earnings and share price projection for the company. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys revenues, earnings, and price estimate. Below we discuss our forecasts in detail. In addition, here is more Information Technology data. Expect Revenues To Decline In High Teens Western Digitals Data Center Solutions segment, which includes products such as enterprise-grade hard drives, fell as solid state drives that are primarily used in data centers, and for cloud-based storage, will likely see revenues decline in the high teens. The overall data center market is expected to witness a slowdown in the near term, which will likely have an impact on Western Digitals business as well. In fact, Gartner predicts the growth rate to slow from 11% in 2018 to 4% in 2019, and a decline of 4% in 2020. Client Devices segment includes revenue generated from global sales of hard drive units as well as solid state drives for desktops, laptops, smartphones, and consumer electronics. The segment revenues were down in high single-digits for the six month period ending December 2018, and the decline for the full fiscal will likely be in the low teens, in our view. This can primarily be attributed to the softness in the smartphone market. Smartphone shipments likely declined by over 3% in 2018, and are expected to see growth of under 3% in 2019, according to IDC. The overall PC shipments also declined in low single-digits in 2018, according to the research firm Gartner. However, 2019 could see PC TAM (total available market) to be flat (y-o-y). The Client Solutions segment, which refers to branded flash and removable storage products, such as USB flash drives, microSD cards, and other removable storage, will likely see the worst hit on sales, given the trends in NAND pricing. In fact, prices for NAND memory have seen significant declines over the last year, as major vendors largely completed the transition from planar NAND to 3D NAND, boosting supply. In addition, the foreign tariffs imposed on China have resulted in weaker demand, amid an overall slower growth in the Chinese economy. Chinas growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 6.6% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2019. This will have an impact on the overall sales of Western Digital. Looking at margins, the company expects margin pressure to remain primarily on the flash products for the calendar year 2019. We forecast the adjusted EBITDA to be $3.8 billion, reflecting a decline in EBITDA margins of a littler under 300 basis points. We expect the earnings to be $6.10 on an adjusted basis in fiscal 2019, reflecting a decline of over 50% to the prior fiscal earnings. Our price estimate of $53 for Western Digital is based of a 9x forward price to earnings multiple. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Western Digitals revenues have so far seen a low double-digit drop in fiscal 2019. The top line will likely fall in the high teens for the full fiscal, given the NAND headwinds. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/04/what-factors-will-weigh-on-western-digitals-fiscal-2019-earnings/ | 0.155817 |
What Factors Will Weigh On Western Digital's Fiscal 2019 Earnings? | Western Digitals (NASDAQ: WDC) revenues have so far seen a low double-digit drop in fiscal 2019. The top line will likely fall in the high teens for the full fiscal, given the NAND headwinds. The entire industry is seeing normalization of NAND pricing, and this will likely result in lower earnings for Western Digital in fiscal 2019. In fact, we forecast the adjusted earnings to decline in the high 50s percent for the full fiscal. ~ which shows our earnings and share price projection for the company. You can adjust various drivers to see the impact on the companys revenues, earnings, and price estimate. Below we discuss our forecasts in detail. In addition, here is more Information Technology data. Expect Revenues To Decline In High Teens Western Digitals Data Center Solutions segment, which includes products such as enterprise-grade hard drives, fell as solid state drives that are primarily used in data centers, and for cloud-based storage, will likely see revenues decline in the high teens. The overall data center market is expected to witness a slowdown in the near term, which will likely have an impact on Western Digitals business as well. In fact, Gartner predicts the growth rate to slow from 11% in 2018 to 4% in 2019, and a decline of 4% in 2020. Client Devices segment includes revenue generated from global sales of hard drive units as well as solid state drives for desktops, laptops, smartphones, and consumer electronics. The segment revenues were down in high single-digits for the six month period ending December 2018, and the decline for the full fiscal will likely be in the low teens, in our view. This can primarily be attributed to the softness in the smartphone market. Smartphone shipments likely declined by over 3% in 2018, and are expected to see growth of under 3% in 2019, according to IDC. The overall PC shipments also declined in low single-digits in 2018, according to the research firm Gartner. However, 2019 could see PC TAM (total available market) to be flat (y-o-y). The Client Solutions segment, which refers to branded flash and removable storage products, such as USB flash drives, microSD cards, and other removable storage, will likely see the worst hit on sales, given the trends in NAND pricing. In fact, prices for NAND memory have seen significant declines over the last year, as major vendors largely completed the transition from planar NAND to 3D NAND, boosting supply. In addition, the foreign tariffs imposed on China have resulted in weaker demand, amid an overall slower growth in the Chinese economy. Chinas growth is projected to decelerate from an estimated 6.6% in 2018 to 6.2% in 2019. This will have an impact on the overall sales of Western Digital. Looking at margins, the company expects margin pressure to remain primarily on the flash products for the calendar year 2019. We forecast the adjusted EBITDA to be $3.8 billion, reflecting a decline in EBITDA margins of a littler under 300 basis points. We expect the earnings to be $6.10 on an adjusted basis in fiscal 2019, reflecting a decline of over 50% to the prior fiscal earnings. Our price estimate of $53 for Western Digital is based of a 9x forward price to earnings multiple. Explore example interactive dashboards and create your own. | Western Digitals revenues have so far seen a low double-digit drop in fiscal 2019. The company is seeing normalization of NAND pricing, and this will likely result in lower earnings for Western Digital in Fiscal 2019. We forecast the adjusted earnings to decline in the high 50s percent for the full fiscal. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/04/what-factors-will-weigh-on-western-digitals-fiscal-2019-earnings/ | 0.506612 |
Is Paris Still For Lovers? | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. After I moved back to New York, I returned to Paris at least once a year. Then the visits turned into every other year, then every two years, and now it had been ten years since I'd returned to the City of Love. I had sweet memories, but Paris was no longer in my heart -- until a few months ago when my boyfriend suggested we go there. I suddenly felt desperate to see the sun glittering on the ancient buildings, the barges floating down the Seine. I was hungry for those freshly baked baguettes the French carried home for lunch and longed to fish escargots out of their little shells while inhaling the heady aroma of garlic butter. The more I remembered about how Paris seduced me in the first place, the more I began lusting for the most romantic city in the world. That summer after graduation when I decided to stay in Paris, I sold my return ticket back to New York so I could rent a cheap room on the Isle de la Cite. I found work right away because it was August, and all the French were on vacation in the south of France; they needed me. My job was working in a Parisian film company right off the Champs Elysee, subtitling foreign films into English. I loved everything about the City of Light, especially the stylish Parisian women who wore higher heels than I had ever seen, had perfect make-up and hair, and walked confidently, swinging their arms at their side. They were so graceful and sophisticated that I longed to be French. I learned the language, changed my hairstyle, bought white leather boots and a grey Courreges skirt and sweater with white piping. I ate steak au poivre at la Coupole and switched to French cigarettes, Gitanes sans filtre. I spent hours walking the city with my Michelin guidebook, studying all the 3-star cultural attractions that were listed, trying to follow the suggested routes. I got lost constantly, but I felt I had to see everything listed, as though I were a student being forced to go through a textbook, chapter by chapter. Most of my free time was spent with my face buried in the guidebook or street map. I never gave myself a chance to just enjoy the scenery from a park bench or cafe chair. And I was always alone (at least in the beginning). Couples kissed on bridges and at the edge of the Seine. They held hands walking through the plane trees of the Tuileries and the Jardins de Luxembourg. I watched, wishing I had someone who would lock my arm through his, take my face in his hands and kiss me tenderly. Now I was about to return to this city of love with a man I knew would kiss me as we walked down the Seine. I was excited to show him my Paris -- but not with a map and guidebook the way I had seen it. We would wander through the city, turning into streets with no direction in mind, no goal. Perhaps we'd visit the Louvre and the Muse Rodin, but mainly we'd stay outside and walk all day and, if we were tired, sit in the shade of the Place des Vosges or any of the small gardens one finds every few blocks. We'd stroll in the shadow of sand-colored buildings which hadnt changed since the 16th century, peek into cobblestone courtyards with huge arched windows and doors. We'd hug the narrow sidewalks where two people can barely walk side by side and sit at outdoor cafes sipping Cafe grand creme . After our transatlantic night flight, we woke up at Charles de Gaulle Airport and held hands in the taxi on our way into Paris. I expected to see the familiar buildings with grey slate roofs and wrought-iron balconied windows, but instead I saw a complex of huge skyscrapers as tall as any in New York. Our Cambodian taxi driver explained that this was a new neighborhood, mainly for Chinese and Japanese and full of great Chinese restaurants. He suggested we eat there. We checked into a cozy hotel two blocks from the Seine, our room overlooking a street of neatly laid-out buildings with ornate moldings, huge windows, and small balconies. This was the Paris I remembered. The bathroom had fluffy bathrobes, terry slippers, even a hair dryer, but shockingly, there was no bidet! When I lived in Paris, a bidet was as natural to the French as brushing their teeth. Back then, even my $3.00-a-night room had one. Id fill it with run cold water and leave my wine chilling. My boyfriend and I strolled down the block and sat under a shade umbrella at a sidewalk cafe. There were many French people sipping espresso, but they were texting or talking on cell phones instead of gazing into one another's eyes. That was something new. The waiter handed us a menu. I expected to order a croissant or pain au chocolat because after all, thats what the French ate for breakfast, but now there was a choice of eggs, bacon and sausage. Mon dieu! We wandered down the Left Bank on Rue de la Harpe, Rue de Seine, and Rue St. Andre des Arts. We walked across a bridge and noticed that Paris had now become a love-locked city, with small padlocks and couples names scratched on them locked into bridge railings. We thought about buying a small padlock, but it seemed cheesy. From time to time, we'd enter a store to examine an antique map or objet d'art, but mainly we looked at the people. Everywhere I looked were American women in sneakers and jeans or baggy cargo pants; but as they passed, they'd be speaking perfect French. They weren't Americans, they were Parisians! They didn't even walk like French women. It looked as though they were trying to be American! We strolled down Boulevard Saint Germain, and I was horrified to see a McDonalds with a large French crowd spilling outside the door. Right next to it was a GAP. We strolled through the courtyard of the Louvre, past the I.M. Pei glass pyramid, across the Place de la Concorde to the Tuileries Gardens. "I don't get it," my boyfriend said. "No one's holding hands. No one's kissing! This isn't the way Paris is supposed to be." I had to agree. Although the city was every bit as beautiful as I remembered it -- the gardens were as lush, the streets were still spotless, and the blaring of the police sirens was still distinctively French -- it was not the same city. The Parisians had morphed into Americans In a packed restaurant that night on the Isle St. Louis we sat next to an older French couple and got into a conversation with them about how much Paris had changed. They explained that Parisians watch every American TV show and movie -- dubbed into French, of course. So, the wife said, Parisians now want everything American, including the latest clothing styles. I thought about the four years I had spent in Paris when the French wanted nothing to do with American culture and nor did I. Back then, I became a Francophile, eating croissants for breakfast and foie gras for lunch, dressing in the latest French fashions, imitating the Parisian walk. I realized that if I were moving to Paris now, there'd be little to imitate that was truly French. And I probably wouldnt have felt so left out being alone, because there was so little hand-holding or public affection taking place. I didn't get the feeling that couples were as ready to steam up the windows of any convenient hotel room based on a passionate look or a knowing smile. Maybe that was something I saw in French movies a long time ago. But I still felt the unmistakable embrace of the world's most romantic city. After all, my lover wasn't talking on a cell phone at our cafe table. And we kissed on every bridge we crossed. # | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2019/03/04/is-paris-still-for-lovers/ | 0.102552 |
Is Paris Still For Lovers? | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. After I moved back to New York, I returned to Paris at least once a year. Then the visits turned into every other year, then every two years, and now it had been ten years since I'd returned to the City of Love. I had sweet memories, but Paris was no longer in my heart -- until a few months ago when my boyfriend suggested we go there. I suddenly felt desperate to see the sun glittering on the ancient buildings, the barges floating down the Seine. I was hungry for those freshly baked baguettes the French carried home for lunch and longed to fish escargots out of their little shells while inhaling the heady aroma of garlic butter. The more I remembered about how Paris seduced me in the first place, the more I began lusting for the most romantic city in the world. That summer after graduation when I decided to stay in Paris, I sold my return ticket back to New York so I could rent a cheap room on the Isle de la Cite. I found work right away because it was August, and all the French were on vacation in the south of France; they needed me. My job was working in a Parisian film company right off the Champs Elysee, subtitling foreign films into English. I loved everything about the City of Light, especially the stylish Parisian women who wore higher heels than I had ever seen, had perfect make-up and hair, and walked confidently, swinging their arms at their side. They were so graceful and sophisticated that I longed to be French. I learned the language, changed my hairstyle, bought white leather boots and a grey Courreges skirt and sweater with white piping. I ate steak au poivre at la Coupole and switched to French cigarettes, Gitanes sans filtre. I spent hours walking the city with my Michelin guidebook, studying all the 3-star cultural attractions that were listed, trying to follow the suggested routes. I got lost constantly, but I felt I had to see everything listed, as though I were a student being forced to go through a textbook, chapter by chapter. Most of my free time was spent with my face buried in the guidebook or street map. I never gave myself a chance to just enjoy the scenery from a park bench or cafe chair. And I was always alone (at least in the beginning). Couples kissed on bridges and at the edge of the Seine. They held hands walking through the plane trees of the Tuileries and the Jardins de Luxembourg. I watched, wishing I had someone who would lock my arm through his, take my face in his hands and kiss me tenderly. Now I was about to return to this city of love with a man I knew would kiss me as we walked down the Seine. I was excited to show him my Paris -- but not with a map and guidebook the way I had seen it. We would wander through the city, turning into streets with no direction in mind, no goal. Perhaps we'd visit the Louvre and the Muse Rodin, but mainly we'd stay outside and walk all day and, if we were tired, sit in the shade of the Place des Vosges or any of the small gardens one finds every few blocks. We'd stroll in the shadow of sand-colored buildings which hadnt changed since the 16th century, peek into cobblestone courtyards with huge arched windows and doors. We'd hug the narrow sidewalks where two people can barely walk side by side and sit at outdoor cafes sipping Cafe grand creme . After our transatlantic night flight, we woke up at Charles de Gaulle Airport and held hands in the taxi on our way into Paris. I expected to see the familiar buildings with grey slate roofs and wrought-iron balconied windows, but instead I saw a complex of huge skyscrapers as tall as any in New York. Our Cambodian taxi driver explained that this was a new neighborhood, mainly for Chinese and Japanese and full of great Chinese restaurants. He suggested we eat there. We checked into a cozy hotel two blocks from the Seine, our room overlooking a street of neatly laid-out buildings with ornate moldings, huge windows, and small balconies. This was the Paris I remembered. The bathroom had fluffy bathrobes, terry slippers, even a hair dryer, but shockingly, there was no bidet! When I lived in Paris, a bidet was as natural to the French as brushing their teeth. Back then, even my $3.00-a-night room had one. Id fill it with run cold water and leave my wine chilling. My boyfriend and I strolled down the block and sat under a shade umbrella at a sidewalk cafe. There were many French people sipping espresso, but they were texting or talking on cell phones instead of gazing into one another's eyes. That was something new. The waiter handed us a menu. I expected to order a croissant or pain au chocolat because after all, thats what the French ate for breakfast, but now there was a choice of eggs, bacon and sausage. Mon dieu! We wandered down the Left Bank on Rue de la Harpe, Rue de Seine, and Rue St. Andre des Arts. We walked across a bridge and noticed that Paris had now become a love-locked city, with small padlocks and couples names scratched on them locked into bridge railings. We thought about buying a small padlock, but it seemed cheesy. From time to time, we'd enter a store to examine an antique map or objet d'art, but mainly we looked at the people. Everywhere I looked were American women in sneakers and jeans or baggy cargo pants; but as they passed, they'd be speaking perfect French. They weren't Americans, they were Parisians! They didn't even walk like French women. It looked as though they were trying to be American! We strolled down Boulevard Saint Germain, and I was horrified to see a McDonalds with a large French crowd spilling outside the door. Right next to it was a GAP. We strolled through the courtyard of the Louvre, past the I.M. Pei glass pyramid, across the Place de la Concorde to the Tuileries Gardens. "I don't get it," my boyfriend said. "No one's holding hands. No one's kissing! This isn't the way Paris is supposed to be." I had to agree. Although the city was every bit as beautiful as I remembered it -- the gardens were as lush, the streets were still spotless, and the blaring of the police sirens was still distinctively French -- it was not the same city. The Parisians had morphed into Americans In a packed restaurant that night on the Isle St. Louis we sat next to an older French couple and got into a conversation with them about how much Paris had changed. They explained that Parisians watch every American TV show and movie -- dubbed into French, of course. So, the wife said, Parisians now want everything American, including the latest clothing styles. I thought about the four years I had spent in Paris when the French wanted nothing to do with American culture and nor did I. Back then, I became a Francophile, eating croissants for breakfast and foie gras for lunch, dressing in the latest French fashions, imitating the Parisian walk. I realized that if I were moving to Paris now, there'd be little to imitate that was truly French. And I probably wouldnt have felt so left out being alone, because there was so little hand-holding or public affection taking place. I didn't get the feeling that couples were as ready to steam up the windows of any convenient hotel room based on a passionate look or a knowing smile. Maybe that was something I saw in French movies a long time ago. But I still felt the unmistakable embrace of the world's most romantic city. After all, my lover wasn't talking on a cell phone at our cafe table. And we kissed on every bridge we crossed. # | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. After I moved back to New York, I returned to Paris at least once a year. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2019/03/04/is-paris-still-for-lovers/ | 0.120305 |
Is Paris Still For Lovers? | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. After I moved back to New York, I returned to Paris at least once a year. Then the visits turned into every other year, then every two years, and now it had been ten years since I'd returned to the City of Love. I had sweet memories, but Paris was no longer in my heart -- until a few months ago when my boyfriend suggested we go there. I suddenly felt desperate to see the sun glittering on the ancient buildings, the barges floating down the Seine. I was hungry for those freshly baked baguettes the French carried home for lunch and longed to fish escargots out of their little shells while inhaling the heady aroma of garlic butter. The more I remembered about how Paris seduced me in the first place, the more I began lusting for the most romantic city in the world. That summer after graduation when I decided to stay in Paris, I sold my return ticket back to New York so I could rent a cheap room on the Isle de la Cite. I found work right away because it was August, and all the French were on vacation in the south of France; they needed me. My job was working in a Parisian film company right off the Champs Elysee, subtitling foreign films into English. I loved everything about the City of Light, especially the stylish Parisian women who wore higher heels than I had ever seen, had perfect make-up and hair, and walked confidently, swinging their arms at their side. They were so graceful and sophisticated that I longed to be French. I learned the language, changed my hairstyle, bought white leather boots and a grey Courreges skirt and sweater with white piping. I ate steak au poivre at la Coupole and switched to French cigarettes, Gitanes sans filtre. I spent hours walking the city with my Michelin guidebook, studying all the 3-star cultural attractions that were listed, trying to follow the suggested routes. I got lost constantly, but I felt I had to see everything listed, as though I were a student being forced to go through a textbook, chapter by chapter. Most of my free time was spent with my face buried in the guidebook or street map. I never gave myself a chance to just enjoy the scenery from a park bench or cafe chair. And I was always alone (at least in the beginning). Couples kissed on bridges and at the edge of the Seine. They held hands walking through the plane trees of the Tuileries and the Jardins de Luxembourg. I watched, wishing I had someone who would lock my arm through his, take my face in his hands and kiss me tenderly. Now I was about to return to this city of love with a man I knew would kiss me as we walked down the Seine. I was excited to show him my Paris -- but not with a map and guidebook the way I had seen it. We would wander through the city, turning into streets with no direction in mind, no goal. Perhaps we'd visit the Louvre and the Muse Rodin, but mainly we'd stay outside and walk all day and, if we were tired, sit in the shade of the Place des Vosges or any of the small gardens one finds every few blocks. We'd stroll in the shadow of sand-colored buildings which hadnt changed since the 16th century, peek into cobblestone courtyards with huge arched windows and doors. We'd hug the narrow sidewalks where two people can barely walk side by side and sit at outdoor cafes sipping Cafe grand creme . After our transatlantic night flight, we woke up at Charles de Gaulle Airport and held hands in the taxi on our way into Paris. I expected to see the familiar buildings with grey slate roofs and wrought-iron balconied windows, but instead I saw a complex of huge skyscrapers as tall as any in New York. Our Cambodian taxi driver explained that this was a new neighborhood, mainly for Chinese and Japanese and full of great Chinese restaurants. He suggested we eat there. We checked into a cozy hotel two blocks from the Seine, our room overlooking a street of neatly laid-out buildings with ornate moldings, huge windows, and small balconies. This was the Paris I remembered. The bathroom had fluffy bathrobes, terry slippers, even a hair dryer, but shockingly, there was no bidet! When I lived in Paris, a bidet was as natural to the French as brushing their teeth. Back then, even my $3.00-a-night room had one. Id fill it with run cold water and leave my wine chilling. My boyfriend and I strolled down the block and sat under a shade umbrella at a sidewalk cafe. There were many French people sipping espresso, but they were texting or talking on cell phones instead of gazing into one another's eyes. That was something new. The waiter handed us a menu. I expected to order a croissant or pain au chocolat because after all, thats what the French ate for breakfast, but now there was a choice of eggs, bacon and sausage. Mon dieu! We wandered down the Left Bank on Rue de la Harpe, Rue de Seine, and Rue St. Andre des Arts. We walked across a bridge and noticed that Paris had now become a love-locked city, with small padlocks and couples names scratched on them locked into bridge railings. We thought about buying a small padlock, but it seemed cheesy. From time to time, we'd enter a store to examine an antique map or objet d'art, but mainly we looked at the people. Everywhere I looked were American women in sneakers and jeans or baggy cargo pants; but as they passed, they'd be speaking perfect French. They weren't Americans, they were Parisians! They didn't even walk like French women. It looked as though they were trying to be American! We strolled down Boulevard Saint Germain, and I was horrified to see a McDonalds with a large French crowd spilling outside the door. Right next to it was a GAP. We strolled through the courtyard of the Louvre, past the I.M. Pei glass pyramid, across the Place de la Concorde to the Tuileries Gardens. "I don't get it," my boyfriend said. "No one's holding hands. No one's kissing! This isn't the way Paris is supposed to be." I had to agree. Although the city was every bit as beautiful as I remembered it -- the gardens were as lush, the streets were still spotless, and the blaring of the police sirens was still distinctively French -- it was not the same city. The Parisians had morphed into Americans In a packed restaurant that night on the Isle St. Louis we sat next to an older French couple and got into a conversation with them about how much Paris had changed. They explained that Parisians watch every American TV show and movie -- dubbed into French, of course. So, the wife said, Parisians now want everything American, including the latest clothing styles. I thought about the four years I had spent in Paris when the French wanted nothing to do with American culture and nor did I. Back then, I became a Francophile, eating croissants for breakfast and foie gras for lunch, dressing in the latest French fashions, imitating the Parisian walk. I realized that if I were moving to Paris now, there'd be little to imitate that was truly French. And I probably wouldnt have felt so left out being alone, because there was so little hand-holding or public affection taking place. I didn't get the feeling that couples were as ready to steam up the windows of any convenient hotel room based on a passionate look or a knowing smile. Maybe that was something I saw in French movies a long time ago. But I still felt the unmistakable embrace of the world's most romantic city. After all, my lover wasn't talking on a cell phone at our cafe table. And we kissed on every bridge we crossed. # | Paris was like a lover from my past. I lived there for four years right after graduating from college. After I moved back to New York, I returned to Paris at least once a year. The more I remembered about how Paris seduced me in the first place, the more I began lusting for the most romantic city in the world. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/margiegoldsmith/2019/03/04/is-paris-still-for-lovers/ | 0.102501 |
How Is Digital Transformation Different From Change Management? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Andy Noronha, Director of Strategy & Thought Leadership at Cisco, on Quora: Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. There is no shortage of traditional methods - by some estimates there are more than 80,000 book titles on Amazon falling under the topic of change management. These traditional change management methods can be successful for certain types of organizational changes. Examples include incremental changes across the organization or significant changes within a specific department or process. Often traditional change management methodologies follow a step-by-step approach that has a beginning and an end. However, the nature of digital business transformation is different because it combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism with the need to make fundamental changes to the entire organization in the service of a new strategic direction. Precisely because digital business transformation involves making big changes across multiple aspects of the business, conventional change management is ill-suited to fostering major changes in highly entangled organizations. This is why we believe that transformation leaders must orchestrate transformation. The DBT Centers definition of orchestrate is to mobilize and enable so as to achieve a desired effect. Orchestration involves mobilizing and enabling different resources in an organization using the power of networks to achieve transformation goals. This is a very different approach than traditional, linear change management efforts. You can learn more in our book Orchestrating Transformation, and by visiting Orchestrating Transformation. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. Digital business transformation involves making big changes across multiple aspects of the business. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/03/04/how-is-digital-transformation-different-from-change-management/ | 0.258882 |
How Is Digital Transformation Different From Change Management? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Andy Noronha, Director of Strategy & Thought Leadership at Cisco, on Quora: Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. There is no shortage of traditional methods - by some estimates there are more than 80,000 book titles on Amazon falling under the topic of change management. These traditional change management methods can be successful for certain types of organizational changes. Examples include incremental changes across the organization or significant changes within a specific department or process. Often traditional change management methodologies follow a step-by-step approach that has a beginning and an end. However, the nature of digital business transformation is different because it combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism with the need to make fundamental changes to the entire organization in the service of a new strategic direction. Precisely because digital business transformation involves making big changes across multiple aspects of the business, conventional change management is ill-suited to fostering major changes in highly entangled organizations. This is why we believe that transformation leaders must orchestrate transformation. The DBT Centers definition of orchestrate is to mobilize and enable so as to achieve a desired effect. Orchestration involves mobilizing and enabling different resources in an organization using the power of networks to achieve transformation goals. This is a very different approach than traditional, linear change management efforts. You can learn more in our book Orchestrating Transformation, and by visiting Orchestrating Transformation. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. Digital business transformation combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism. Traditional change management is ill-suited to fostering major changes in highly entangled organizations. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/03/04/how-is-digital-transformation-different-from-change-management/ | 0.291259 |
How Is Digital Transformation Different From Change Management? | originally appeared on Quora: the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. Answer by Andy Noronha, Director of Strategy & Thought Leadership at Cisco, on Quora: Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. There is no shortage of traditional methods - by some estimates there are more than 80,000 book titles on Amazon falling under the topic of change management. These traditional change management methods can be successful for certain types of organizational changes. Examples include incremental changes across the organization or significant changes within a specific department or process. Often traditional change management methodologies follow a step-by-step approach that has a beginning and an end. However, the nature of digital business transformation is different because it combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism with the need to make fundamental changes to the entire organization in the service of a new strategic direction. Precisely because digital business transformation involves making big changes across multiple aspects of the business, conventional change management is ill-suited to fostering major changes in highly entangled organizations. This is why we believe that transformation leaders must orchestrate transformation. The DBT Centers definition of orchestrate is to mobilize and enable so as to achieve a desired effect. Orchestration involves mobilizing and enabling different resources in an organization using the power of networks to achieve transformation goals. This is a very different approach than traditional, linear change management efforts. You can learn more in our book Orchestrating Transformation, and by visiting Orchestrating Transformation. This question originally appeared on Quora - the place to gain and share knowledge, empowering people to learn from others and better understand the world. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+. More questions: | Companies have historically pursued linear approaches to change management. Digital business transformation combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism with the need to make fundamental changes. Traditional change management methods can be successful for certain types of organizational changes. The nature of digital business transformation is different because it combines high levels of scale, interdependence, and dynamism. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2019/03/04/how-is-digital-transformation-different-from-change-management/ | 0.472737 |
Are These 10 Online M.B.A.s Best In The World? | For the second consecutive year, Britains Warwick Business School has topped the Financial Times highly limited ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs. The 2019 list, ranking a mere ten schools in the world, half as many as last year, is the sixth time that the British newspaper has cranked out a list of top online M.B.A. programs. Only 22 schools cooperated with the Financial Times, a stark contrast to U.S. News online MBA ranking which rates 285 programs and profiles 302 online options in the U.S. alone. In the 2019 U.S. News ranking, published in January, Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business tied with the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School for first place. Poets&Quants online MBA ranking puts numerical ranks on 35 different programs, with this years winner being the University of Southern Californias Marshall School of Business. The new FT ranking includes five U.S. programs, three of which are in the top five. Spains IE Business School, which had come in first three years ago, placed second t, followed by No. 3 University of Massachusetts at Amherst, No. 4 Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business, and No. 5 the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School. This is the first time UNC, who MBA@UNC boasts one of the largest online MBA enrollments in the world, made the FT ranking. Given the limited size of the ranking, there were few significant year-over-year changes. In fact, the top four schools all maintained their 2018 ranks. Northeastern University saw its online M.B.A. offering rise four places to rank eighth from 12th last year, while the University of Bradfords School of Management also improved by four spots to rank tenth from 14th in 2018. To rank online M.B.A. programs, the FT uses 18 different metrics culled from both school and alumni surveys. The British newspaper puts the most weight (30%) on compensation, with 20% slotted to average alumni salary three years after graduation and 10% on the percentage increase in alumni salary three years after graduation. Warwicks alums reported the highest average pay at $214,141, largely a function of the fact that its online students are older and have more work experience, while the alumni of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management reported the highest percentage increase at 39%, The Financial Times said that Warwick maintained its number one ranking partly on the strength of its faculty, but also its value for money and its graduates career progression. Warwick held onto its lead despite the fact that one in ten students in its online M.B.A. program fails to graduate within five years. That compares with a 100% five-year graduation rate at the other four top five programs. AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE WAS 31.1% WITHIN THREE YEARS OF GRADUATION Oddly, the FT collects this information but does not weight it in the online ranking. As a result, one of its top 10 programs, the No. 9 ranked Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, posts a mediocre graduation rate of just 72.3% in five years, a sign of a high dropout rate. Yet, the FT does include weighted metrics that are far less important and valuable, including international mobility which gives points to programs that have more alums who work in countries that differ from their citizenship. The newspaper said that overall average salaries for online M.B.A. alumni were $148,742, compared with an average of $189,975 for the top 10 full-time M.B.A.s on its latest global M.B.A. ranking. The big difference between online and full-time study is the salary increase, according to the Financial Times. The average rise across the online courses is 32.1%, compared with 119.5% for the top 10 full-time MBAs in the 2019 global ranking. This is due to student demographics. Full-time MBA students tend to be in their late 20s and at a point in their career where they enjoy rapid promotion. There is much more scope for them to increase their earnings after their MBA. Online MBA students, on the other hand, are more likely to be in their mid-30s and to switch careers after graduating. This means their salary is more likely to plateau or even decrease after the course. Some of the more noteworthy metrics used by the FT include online interaction defined as how the alumni rate the interaction between students, teamwork and the availability of faculty. Some 10% of the ranking is based on this measure. The University of Floridas Warrington School came out first in online interaction, followed by IE Business School, Indiana Kelley, UNC, and Massachusetts. On career services, based on alumni ratings of the effectiveness of the schools careers service in terms of career counseling, personal development, networking events and recruitment, no school did better than Northeastern Universitys DAmore-McKim School of Business. Right behind Northeastern were Indiana Kelley, Warwick, UNC, and Durham University Business School. | UK's Warwick Business School has topped the Financial Times ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/poetsandquants/2019/03/04/are-these-ten-online-mbas-best-in-the-world/ | 0.193239 |
Are These 10 Online M.B.A.s Best In The World? | For the second consecutive year, Britains Warwick Business School has topped the Financial Times highly limited ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs. The 2019 list, ranking a mere ten schools in the world, half as many as last year, is the sixth time that the British newspaper has cranked out a list of top online M.B.A. programs. Only 22 schools cooperated with the Financial Times, a stark contrast to U.S. News online MBA ranking which rates 285 programs and profiles 302 online options in the U.S. alone. In the 2019 U.S. News ranking, published in January, Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business tied with the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School for first place. Poets&Quants online MBA ranking puts numerical ranks on 35 different programs, with this years winner being the University of Southern Californias Marshall School of Business. The new FT ranking includes five U.S. programs, three of which are in the top five. Spains IE Business School, which had come in first three years ago, placed second t, followed by No. 3 University of Massachusetts at Amherst, No. 4 Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business, and No. 5 the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School. This is the first time UNC, who MBA@UNC boasts one of the largest online MBA enrollments in the world, made the FT ranking. Given the limited size of the ranking, there were few significant year-over-year changes. In fact, the top four schools all maintained their 2018 ranks. Northeastern University saw its online M.B.A. offering rise four places to rank eighth from 12th last year, while the University of Bradfords School of Management also improved by four spots to rank tenth from 14th in 2018. To rank online M.B.A. programs, the FT uses 18 different metrics culled from both school and alumni surveys. The British newspaper puts the most weight (30%) on compensation, with 20% slotted to average alumni salary three years after graduation and 10% on the percentage increase in alumni salary three years after graduation. Warwicks alums reported the highest average pay at $214,141, largely a function of the fact that its online students are older and have more work experience, while the alumni of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management reported the highest percentage increase at 39%, The Financial Times said that Warwick maintained its number one ranking partly on the strength of its faculty, but also its value for money and its graduates career progression. Warwick held onto its lead despite the fact that one in ten students in its online M.B.A. program fails to graduate within five years. That compares with a 100% five-year graduation rate at the other four top five programs. AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE WAS 31.1% WITHIN THREE YEARS OF GRADUATION Oddly, the FT collects this information but does not weight it in the online ranking. As a result, one of its top 10 programs, the No. 9 ranked Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, posts a mediocre graduation rate of just 72.3% in five years, a sign of a high dropout rate. Yet, the FT does include weighted metrics that are far less important and valuable, including international mobility which gives points to programs that have more alums who work in countries that differ from their citizenship. The newspaper said that overall average salaries for online M.B.A. alumni were $148,742, compared with an average of $189,975 for the top 10 full-time M.B.A.s on its latest global M.B.A. ranking. The big difference between online and full-time study is the salary increase, according to the Financial Times. The average rise across the online courses is 32.1%, compared with 119.5% for the top 10 full-time MBAs in the 2019 global ranking. This is due to student demographics. Full-time MBA students tend to be in their late 20s and at a point in their career where they enjoy rapid promotion. There is much more scope for them to increase their earnings after their MBA. Online MBA students, on the other hand, are more likely to be in their mid-30s and to switch careers after graduating. This means their salary is more likely to plateau or even decrease after the course. Some of the more noteworthy metrics used by the FT include online interaction defined as how the alumni rate the interaction between students, teamwork and the availability of faculty. Some 10% of the ranking is based on this measure. The University of Floridas Warrington School came out first in online interaction, followed by IE Business School, Indiana Kelley, UNC, and Massachusetts. On career services, based on alumni ratings of the effectiveness of the schools careers service in terms of career counseling, personal development, networking events and recruitment, no school did better than Northeastern Universitys DAmore-McKim School of Business. Right behind Northeastern were Indiana Kelley, Warwick, UNC, and Durham University Business School. | The Financial Times has released its 2019 ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs in the world. Warwick Business School topped the list for the second consecutive year. Only 22 schools cooperated with the British newspaper for the ranking. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/poetsandquants/2019/03/04/are-these-ten-online-mbas-best-in-the-world/ | 0.261946 |
Are These 10 Online M.B.A.s Best In The World? | For the second consecutive year, Britains Warwick Business School has topped the Financial Times highly limited ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs. The 2019 list, ranking a mere ten schools in the world, half as many as last year, is the sixth time that the British newspaper has cranked out a list of top online M.B.A. programs. Only 22 schools cooperated with the Financial Times, a stark contrast to U.S. News online MBA ranking which rates 285 programs and profiles 302 online options in the U.S. alone. In the 2019 U.S. News ranking, published in January, Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business tied with the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School for first place. Poets&Quants online MBA ranking puts numerical ranks on 35 different programs, with this years winner being the University of Southern Californias Marshall School of Business. The new FT ranking includes five U.S. programs, three of which are in the top five. Spains IE Business School, which had come in first three years ago, placed second t, followed by No. 3 University of Massachusetts at Amherst, No. 4 Indiana Universitys Kelley School of Business, and No. 5 the University of North Carolinas Kenan-Flagler Business School. This is the first time UNC, who MBA@UNC boasts one of the largest online MBA enrollments in the world, made the FT ranking. Given the limited size of the ranking, there were few significant year-over-year changes. In fact, the top four schools all maintained their 2018 ranks. Northeastern University saw its online M.B.A. offering rise four places to rank eighth from 12th last year, while the University of Bradfords School of Management also improved by four spots to rank tenth from 14th in 2018. To rank online M.B.A. programs, the FT uses 18 different metrics culled from both school and alumni surveys. The British newspaper puts the most weight (30%) on compensation, with 20% slotted to average alumni salary three years after graduation and 10% on the percentage increase in alumni salary three years after graduation. Warwicks alums reported the highest average pay at $214,141, largely a function of the fact that its online students are older and have more work experience, while the alumni of Massachusetts Isenberg School of Management reported the highest percentage increase at 39%, The Financial Times said that Warwick maintained its number one ranking partly on the strength of its faculty, but also its value for money and its graduates career progression. Warwick held onto its lead despite the fact that one in ten students in its online M.B.A. program fails to graduate within five years. That compares with a 100% five-year graduation rate at the other four top five programs. AVERAGE SALARY INCREASE WAS 31.1% WITHIN THREE YEARS OF GRADUATION Oddly, the FT collects this information but does not weight it in the online ranking. As a result, one of its top 10 programs, the No. 9 ranked Australian Graduate School of Management at the University of New South Wales, posts a mediocre graduation rate of just 72.3% in five years, a sign of a high dropout rate. Yet, the FT does include weighted metrics that are far less important and valuable, including international mobility which gives points to programs that have more alums who work in countries that differ from their citizenship. The newspaper said that overall average salaries for online M.B.A. alumni were $148,742, compared with an average of $189,975 for the top 10 full-time M.B.A.s on its latest global M.B.A. ranking. The big difference between online and full-time study is the salary increase, according to the Financial Times. The average rise across the online courses is 32.1%, compared with 119.5% for the top 10 full-time MBAs in the 2019 global ranking. This is due to student demographics. Full-time MBA students tend to be in their late 20s and at a point in their career where they enjoy rapid promotion. There is much more scope for them to increase their earnings after their MBA. Online MBA students, on the other hand, are more likely to be in their mid-30s and to switch careers after graduating. This means their salary is more likely to plateau or even decrease after the course. Some of the more noteworthy metrics used by the FT include online interaction defined as how the alumni rate the interaction between students, teamwork and the availability of faculty. Some 10% of the ranking is based on this measure. The University of Floridas Warrington School came out first in online interaction, followed by IE Business School, Indiana Kelley, UNC, and Massachusetts. On career services, based on alumni ratings of the effectiveness of the schools careers service in terms of career counseling, personal development, networking events and recruitment, no school did better than Northeastern Universitys DAmore-McKim School of Business. Right behind Northeastern were Indiana Kelley, Warwick, UNC, and Durham University Business School. | UK's Warwick Business School has topped the Financial Times ranking of the best online M.B.A. programs for the second consecutive year. The 2019 list, ranking a mere ten schools in the world, includes five U.S. programs, three of which are in the top five. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/poetsandquants/2019/03/04/are-these-ten-online-mbas-best-in-the-world/ | 0.310381 |
Can Vanderbilt football replace cornerback Joejuan Williams with Dontye Carriere-Williams, others? | Watching former Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams at the NFL combine mustve been bittersweet for new Vanderbilt cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams. Carriere-Williams, a former starter at Wisconsin, transferred from Independence (Kansas) Community College to Vanderbilt, where he enrolled in January. He committed to the Commodores on Dec. 18, hoping to play in the secondary with Williams. But 11 days later, Williams declared for the NFL draft. Now in spring practice, Carriere-Williams is trying to be Williams replacement rather than his teammate. (Developing for an NFL career) definitely played a role (in choosing Vanderbilt), Carriere-Williams said. Seeing Joejuan Williams play here three years and then go on to the next level and train for the combine, thats definitely a motivation. I wanted to play with him, but hes got to do whats best for his family. Williams, a former Father Ryan standout, worked out at the combine Monday. He hopes to capitalize on his rangy 6-foot-3 frame and All-SEC junior season for an early-round pick in the NFL draft, which will be held in his hometown Nashville from April 25-27. Carriere-Williams was in Wisconsins cornerback rotation as a freshman in 2017, starting five games and playing all 14. He was ranked No. 4 among junior-college cornerbacks by 247Sports in this recruiting class. Buy Photo Vanderbilt cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams runs a drill during the teams first spring practice on Wednesday. (Photo: Shelley Mays / Tennessean) Carriere-Williams, a 5-11, 185-pounder, enters his second week of spring practice hoping to make an impression on his new coaches in facing an experienced group of receivers. The top four pass-catchers, besides running backs, return this season, led by All-SEC performers Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney. I consider myself a very physical, aggressive press corner, Carriere-Williams said. I can do it all, but my bread-and-butter is press. (The SEC) is the best league, hands down. I wanted to compete with the best, so Im here. Illinois transfer joining mix in secondary Illinois graduate transfer Cameron Watkins, a former Pearl-Cohn standout, will enroll at Vanderbilt this summer and compete at cornerback in preseason camp. That will give the Commodores two cornerbacks with experience at Power 5 schools. Its enough for coach Derek Mason to believe his secondary will improve this season despite losing starting cornerbacks Williams (NFL draft) and Donovan Sheffield (graduation), starting safety LaDarius Wiley (graduation) and safety Zaire Jones (transfer). I think were going to be a better secondary all the way around, Mason said. (In Carriere-Williams), you are talking about a guy that was a starter at Wisconsin. That dude can play. Youve got some good prospects to be able to replace Joejuan Williams and make sure you can line up with some guys who have played football, maybe not the SEC, but at Wisconsin and Illinois. I think weve got guys here already and coming (later) to solidify the secondary. Tae Daley and Frank Coppet, who combined for 14 starts last season, return as quality options at safety. Randall Haynie and Allan George were backup cornerbacks as redshirt freshmen last season. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Vanderbilt football news from The Tennessean on your mobile device SPRING FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt quarterback competition to go to preseason camp NFL DRAFT: Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams swaps Skittles for cauliflower before NFL Combine Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | Dontye Carriere-Williams is trying to be Joejuan Williams' replacement. Williams declared for the NFL draft 11 days after committing to Vanderbilt. Carrier-Williams was ranked No. 4 among junior-college cornerbacks by 247Sports. | bart | 1 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/03/04/vanderbilt-football-joejuan-williams-dontye-carriere-williams/3049617002/ | 0.246406 |
Can Vanderbilt football replace cornerback Joejuan Williams with Dontye Carriere-Williams, others? | Watching former Vanderbilt cornerback Joejuan Williams at the NFL combine mustve been bittersweet for new Vanderbilt cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams. Carriere-Williams, a former starter at Wisconsin, transferred from Independence (Kansas) Community College to Vanderbilt, where he enrolled in January. He committed to the Commodores on Dec. 18, hoping to play in the secondary with Williams. But 11 days later, Williams declared for the NFL draft. Now in spring practice, Carriere-Williams is trying to be Williams replacement rather than his teammate. (Developing for an NFL career) definitely played a role (in choosing Vanderbilt), Carriere-Williams said. Seeing Joejuan Williams play here three years and then go on to the next level and train for the combine, thats definitely a motivation. I wanted to play with him, but hes got to do whats best for his family. Williams, a former Father Ryan standout, worked out at the combine Monday. He hopes to capitalize on his rangy 6-foot-3 frame and All-SEC junior season for an early-round pick in the NFL draft, which will be held in his hometown Nashville from April 25-27. Carriere-Williams was in Wisconsins cornerback rotation as a freshman in 2017, starting five games and playing all 14. He was ranked No. 4 among junior-college cornerbacks by 247Sports in this recruiting class. Buy Photo Vanderbilt cornerback Dontye Carriere-Williams runs a drill during the teams first spring practice on Wednesday. (Photo: Shelley Mays / Tennessean) Carriere-Williams, a 5-11, 185-pounder, enters his second week of spring practice hoping to make an impression on his new coaches in facing an experienced group of receivers. The top four pass-catchers, besides running backs, return this season, led by All-SEC performers Kalija Lipscomb and Jared Pinkney. I consider myself a very physical, aggressive press corner, Carriere-Williams said. I can do it all, but my bread-and-butter is press. (The SEC) is the best league, hands down. I wanted to compete with the best, so Im here. Illinois transfer joining mix in secondary Illinois graduate transfer Cameron Watkins, a former Pearl-Cohn standout, will enroll at Vanderbilt this summer and compete at cornerback in preseason camp. That will give the Commodores two cornerbacks with experience at Power 5 schools. Its enough for coach Derek Mason to believe his secondary will improve this season despite losing starting cornerbacks Williams (NFL draft) and Donovan Sheffield (graduation), starting safety LaDarius Wiley (graduation) and safety Zaire Jones (transfer). I think were going to be a better secondary all the way around, Mason said. (In Carriere-Williams), you are talking about a guy that was a starter at Wisconsin. That dude can play. Youve got some good prospects to be able to replace Joejuan Williams and make sure you can line up with some guys who have played football, maybe not the SEC, but at Wisconsin and Illinois. I think weve got guys here already and coming (later) to solidify the secondary. Tae Daley and Frank Coppet, who combined for 14 starts last season, return as quality options at safety. Randall Haynie and Allan George were backup cornerbacks as redshirt freshmen last season. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get Vanderbilt football news from The Tennessean on your mobile device SPRING FOOTBALL: Vanderbilt quarterback competition to go to preseason camp NFL DRAFT: Vanderbilt's Joejuan Williams swaps Skittles for cauliflower before NFL Combine Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks. | Dontye Carriere-Williams, a former starter at Wisconsin, transferred to Vanderbilt. He hopes to replace Joejuan Williams, who declared for the NFL draft. Williams, a former Father Ryan standout, worked out at the combine Monday. He hopes to capitalize on his rangy 6-foot-3 frame and All-SEC junior season. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/college/vanderbilt/2019/03/04/vanderbilt-football-joejuan-williams-dontye-carriere-williams/3049617002/ | 0.311792 |
Will the Baseball Caps on Major League Heads Be Union Made? | This week we speak to Washington Nationals pitcher Sean Doolittle and activist Eireann Dolan about their push to keep the MLBs caps union made after cap maker New Era announced a factory relocation from Derby, New York, to a non-union shop in Florida. We also talk about the MLB players association and the shift in perception with respect to labor. Ad Policy Weve also got Choice Words about Colin Kaepernicks settlement with the NFL, and Just Stand Up and Just Sit Down awards and more to some basketball players at Ole Miss and Patriots owner and coverage of the Robert Kraft news in recent days. All that and more! Eireann Dolan Twitter: @EireannDolan Sean Doolittle Twitter: @whatwouldDOOdo This MLB power couple is fighting to save 200 union jobs Zirin Colin Kaepernick Settles His Collusion Case With the NFL | Sean Doolittle and Eireann Dolan are fighting to keep the MLBs caps union made. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.thenation.com/article/baseball-caps-new-era-podcast/ | 0.120161 |
Will the New York State Democratic Party Oppose Fusion Voting? | 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. In New York, the plot thickens. And theres a useful lesson here for American progressivesboth elected officials and grassroots leaders alikeon what to expect as they build power and organization. Ad Policy The background: The New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. A vote is scheduled for Monday, unless Governor Cuomo decides otherwise. The reasons are described in this earlier column. But the bottom line is this. Governor Cuomo allowed the New York State Senate to be controlled for the last six years by an unholy alliance between Republicans and rogue Democrats. Progressive-minded Democrats won big in November, and the Senate is now under the leadership of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers. She is the first woman to lead a chamber in New York. And together with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, both legislative chambers, for the first time in state history, are led by African Americans. Katrina vanden Heuvel So the governor no longer controls what legislation comes to his desk. He is in a rage that the legislature wanted to be consulted on the Amazon deal that he and Mayor de Blasio (mistakenly) negotiated in secret. And hes out to embarrass the State Senate and make them understand that this kind of independence will not be tolerated. By forcing the Senate to show disdain for the forces, epitomized by the Working Families Party, that broke the back of the rogue Democrats. If this seems ridiculous, thats because it is. But it puts the Senate and Stewart-Cousins in a bind. A substantial majority of Democrats oppose such a ban, but the governor has immense structural power over the legislature that he is willing to misuse. Stewart-Cousins should insist that any change to the voting laws be taken up in regular legislative order. The governor has immense structural power in the budget process, and it wont be easy for her to stand strong against him. But she must do so. The forces of decency won big in Novembers elections, and legislative leaders always have the difficult task of balancing the need to simultaneously pass legislation, keep the conference united, respond to the activists, and mind the governor. Its not simple. But the legislature is a co-equal branch, just as Speaker Pelosi is showing in Washington, and this is one case in which Leader Stewart-Cousins should just say no to any attempt to limit democracy in New York. | The New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. | bart | 0 | https://www.thenation.com/article/new-york-state-democratic-party-fusion-voting-andrew-cuomo/ | 0.464684 |
Will the New York State Democratic Party Oppose Fusion Voting? | 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. In New York, the plot thickens. And theres a useful lesson here for American progressivesboth elected officials and grassroots leaders alikeon what to expect as they build power and organization. Ad Policy The background: The New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. A vote is scheduled for Monday, unless Governor Cuomo decides otherwise. The reasons are described in this earlier column. But the bottom line is this. Governor Cuomo allowed the New York State Senate to be controlled for the last six years by an unholy alliance between Republicans and rogue Democrats. Progressive-minded Democrats won big in November, and the Senate is now under the leadership of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers. She is the first woman to lead a chamber in New York. And together with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, both legislative chambers, for the first time in state history, are led by African Americans. Katrina vanden Heuvel So the governor no longer controls what legislation comes to his desk. He is in a rage that the legislature wanted to be consulted on the Amazon deal that he and Mayor de Blasio (mistakenly) negotiated in secret. And hes out to embarrass the State Senate and make them understand that this kind of independence will not be tolerated. By forcing the Senate to show disdain for the forces, epitomized by the Working Families Party, that broke the back of the rogue Democrats. If this seems ridiculous, thats because it is. But it puts the Senate and Stewart-Cousins in a bind. A substantial majority of Democrats oppose such a ban, but the governor has immense structural power over the legislature that he is willing to misuse. Stewart-Cousins should insist that any change to the voting laws be taken up in regular legislative order. The governor has immense structural power in the budget process, and it wont be easy for her to stand strong against him. But she must do so. The forces of decency won big in Novembers elections, and legislative leaders always have the difficult task of balancing the need to simultaneously pass legislation, keep the conference united, respond to the activists, and mind the governor. Its not simple. But the legislature is a co-equal branch, just as Speaker Pelosi is showing in Washington, and this is one case in which Leader Stewart-Cousins should just say no to any attempt to limit democracy in New York. | New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. A vote is scheduled for Monday, unless Governor Cuomo decides otherwise. | bart | 1 | https://www.thenation.com/article/new-york-state-democratic-party-fusion-voting-andrew-cuomo/ | 0.486547 |
Will the New York State Democratic Party Oppose Fusion Voting? | 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. In New York, the plot thickens. And theres a useful lesson here for American progressivesboth elected officials and grassroots leaders alikeon what to expect as they build power and organization. Ad Policy The background: The New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. A vote is scheduled for Monday, unless Governor Cuomo decides otherwise. The reasons are described in this earlier column. But the bottom line is this. Governor Cuomo allowed the New York State Senate to be controlled for the last six years by an unholy alliance between Republicans and rogue Democrats. Progressive-minded Democrats won big in November, and the Senate is now under the leadership of Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins of Yonkers. She is the first woman to lead a chamber in New York. And together with Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, both legislative chambers, for the first time in state history, are led by African Americans. Katrina vanden Heuvel So the governor no longer controls what legislation comes to his desk. He is in a rage that the legislature wanted to be consulted on the Amazon deal that he and Mayor de Blasio (mistakenly) negotiated in secret. And hes out to embarrass the State Senate and make them understand that this kind of independence will not be tolerated. By forcing the Senate to show disdain for the forces, epitomized by the Working Families Party, that broke the back of the rogue Democrats. If this seems ridiculous, thats because it is. But it puts the Senate and Stewart-Cousins in a bind. A substantial majority of Democrats oppose such a ban, but the governor has immense structural power over the legislature that he is willing to misuse. Stewart-Cousins should insist that any change to the voting laws be taken up in regular legislative order. The governor has immense structural power in the budget process, and it wont be easy for her to stand strong against him. But she must do so. The forces of decency won big in Novembers elections, and legislative leaders always have the difficult task of balancing the need to simultaneously pass legislation, keep the conference united, respond to the activists, and mind the governor. Its not simple. But the legislature is a co-equal branch, just as Speaker Pelosi is showing in Washington, and this is one case in which Leader Stewart-Cousins should just say no to any attempt to limit democracy in New York. | New York State Democratic Party is on the verge of passing a resolution to ban fusion voting. A vote is scheduled for Monday, unless Governor Cuomo decides otherwise. Governor Cuomo allowed the New York State Senate to be controlled for the last six years by an unholy alliance between Republicans and rogue Democrats. | bart | 2 | https://www.thenation.com/article/new-york-state-democratic-party-fusion-voting-andrew-cuomo/ | 0.569542 |
Why Do So Many People Think Management Doesn't Require Training? | We live in a management age where the prevailing philosophy is "leaner is better" and perceived "extras" like training and development are often jettisoned or reduced. According to HR Professionals Magazine, for example, U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics show that companies with under 100 employees on average provide less than one hour (0.8 hour, or 48 minutes) of manager training per six-month period. I've never completely understood why senior management, who's presumably come up through the management ranks and knows something about the challenges of the biz, can be so willing to save a few dollars by eliminating training. Successful management requires a complex mix of both hard and soft skills, plus a combination of firmness and diplomacy. National stats consistently show employee engagement rates around the 30% level. Which means of course that close to 70% of employees are not engaged... not emotionally committed to their organizations... hardly a ringing endorsement of overall managerial effectiveness. Yet despite such macro-level data, we tend to think management is something we're just magically and automatically ready for when we're promoted or hired into the role. Broad skill set I can't speak for everyone, but I know I sure wasn't. Ready, that is. When I was first promoted into management. Hadn't the slightest idea where to start. So I blundered my way through it. As I began to talk to people about management, and read books on the subject, and enrolled in an at-night MBA program, the faint contours of the landscape gradually began to come into focus. But it took a while. Probably close to five years until I was managing more by intent and less by instinct. I mentioned above that successful management requires a mix of skills. A broad skill set. Encompassing, say, skills that motivate and skills that control. I've written before that good managers can be, alternately, depending on what's needed in given situations, a coach, a policeman, a psychologist or a diplomat. None of which are too similar. Anyway, beats me why anyone would think all these diverse skills are just innate. I know we worship at the management altar of "lean," but there are short-term gains that may not be to one's long-term benefit if we're constantly burning through staff and/or disengaging our employee population. I'll be back tomorrow in this same space with an "elevator speech" for new managers. If I had just two things to tell them and a couple minutes to do it, this is where I'd focus... | Many people think management is something we're just magically and automatically ready for when we're promoted or hired into the role. Successful management requires a complex mix of both hard and soft skills, plus a combination of firmness and diplomacy. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2019/03/04/why-do-so-many-people-think-management-doesnt-require-training/ | 0.142769 |
Why Do So Many People Think Management Doesn't Require Training? | We live in a management age where the prevailing philosophy is "leaner is better" and perceived "extras" like training and development are often jettisoned or reduced. According to HR Professionals Magazine, for example, U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics show that companies with under 100 employees on average provide less than one hour (0.8 hour, or 48 minutes) of manager training per six-month period. I've never completely understood why senior management, who's presumably come up through the management ranks and knows something about the challenges of the biz, can be so willing to save a few dollars by eliminating training. Successful management requires a complex mix of both hard and soft skills, plus a combination of firmness and diplomacy. National stats consistently show employee engagement rates around the 30% level. Which means of course that close to 70% of employees are not engaged... not emotionally committed to their organizations... hardly a ringing endorsement of overall managerial effectiveness. Yet despite such macro-level data, we tend to think management is something we're just magically and automatically ready for when we're promoted or hired into the role. Broad skill set I can't speak for everyone, but I know I sure wasn't. Ready, that is. When I was first promoted into management. Hadn't the slightest idea where to start. So I blundered my way through it. As I began to talk to people about management, and read books on the subject, and enrolled in an at-night MBA program, the faint contours of the landscape gradually began to come into focus. But it took a while. Probably close to five years until I was managing more by intent and less by instinct. I mentioned above that successful management requires a mix of skills. A broad skill set. Encompassing, say, skills that motivate and skills that control. I've written before that good managers can be, alternately, depending on what's needed in given situations, a coach, a policeman, a psychologist or a diplomat. None of which are too similar. Anyway, beats me why anyone would think all these diverse skills are just innate. I know we worship at the management altar of "lean," but there are short-term gains that may not be to one's long-term benefit if we're constantly burning through staff and/or disengaging our employee population. I'll be back tomorrow in this same space with an "elevator speech" for new managers. If I had just two things to tell them and a couple minutes to do it, this is where I'd focus... | Many people think management is something we're just magically and automatically ready for when we're promoted or hired into the role. Successful management requires a complex mix of both hard and soft skills, plus a combination of firmness and diplomacy. The key is a broad skill set. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/victorlipman/2019/03/04/why-do-so-many-people-think-management-doesnt-require-training/ | 0.149233 |
Who is Jane Philpott, the Trudeau cabinet minister whose sudden resignation has rocked Ottawa? | OTTAWAJustin Trudeau just lost one of his key cabinet ministers. That was the general reaction Monday when Jane Philpott, who was named Treasury Board president in Trudeaus Liberal government just weeks ago, resigned from her post. It was the latest stunner in the cascading crisis over alleged political interference and pressure on the former attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to halt a criminal prosecution against the Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Liberal MP Jane Philpott leaves a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2019. Treasury Board president Philpott resigned Monday from the federal cabinet, saying she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair. ( Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) But it is Philpotts stature as a central figure in Trudeaus cabinet who is generally well-regarded deepens the impact of her sudden departure, said political scientist David Moscrop. Indeed, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told the Star on Monday: its hard to think of someone in politics that I have greater respect for than Jane Philpott. Philpott is an honest woman and shes known to be an honest woman, Moscrop said. I havent met a Liberal or talked to a Liberal who raised her name and didnt respect her. Article Continued Below Its not like losing Domi. Its like losing Gilmour. Philpott came to politics following a career as a doctor, including nine years working in Niger, where her 2-year-old daughter died from meningitis on what she has called the worst day of my life. In 2004, she founded the charity Give a Day to World AIDS, which has raised millions of dollars. When she decided to join Trudeaus push for government in 2015, she resigned from her post as chief of the department of medicine at the Markham Stouffville Hospital. As a rookie politician and newly-elected MP for the GTA riding of MarkhamStouffville, Philpott was appointed Trudeaus health minister. It was a key job in the new government, with partial responsibility for sensitive issues like drafting legislation for assisted dying and the legalization of marijuana. In August 2017, Philpott took on a new role as Indigenous services minister, a novel department that was created to help deliver health and social services to First Nations, Mtis and Inuit communities across Canada. Philpott was tasked with overseeing the transfer of responsibilities to the new department from Health Canada and the Indigenous Affair. She had to stickhandle key priorities for the government in its self-avowed push for reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and settler society, such as the ongoing effort to ensure there is safe drinking water on all First Nations reserves. And finally, last month, Philpott was named president of the Treasury Board. But now, Philpotts resignation leaves another hole in cabinet and, based on the reaction from opposition parties Monday night. It will likely add fuel to the crisis that has enveloped the Trudeau government, Moscrop said. Alex Ballingall is an Ottawa-based reporter covering national politics. Follow him on Twitter: @aballinga Read more about: | Jane Philpott was named Treasury Board president in Trudeau's Liberal government just weeks ago. | bart | 0 | https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/03/04/who-is-jane-philpott-the-trudeau-cabinet-minister-whose-sudden-resignation-has-rocked-ottawa.html | 0.229337 |
Who is Jane Philpott, the Trudeau cabinet minister whose sudden resignation has rocked Ottawa? | OTTAWAJustin Trudeau just lost one of his key cabinet ministers. That was the general reaction Monday when Jane Philpott, who was named Treasury Board president in Trudeaus Liberal government just weeks ago, resigned from her post. It was the latest stunner in the cascading crisis over alleged political interference and pressure on the former attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to halt a criminal prosecution against the Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Liberal MP Jane Philpott leaves a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2019. Treasury Board president Philpott resigned Monday from the federal cabinet, saying she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair. ( Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) But it is Philpotts stature as a central figure in Trudeaus cabinet who is generally well-regarded deepens the impact of her sudden departure, said political scientist David Moscrop. Indeed, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told the Star on Monday: its hard to think of someone in politics that I have greater respect for than Jane Philpott. Philpott is an honest woman and shes known to be an honest woman, Moscrop said. I havent met a Liberal or talked to a Liberal who raised her name and didnt respect her. Article Continued Below Its not like losing Domi. Its like losing Gilmour. Philpott came to politics following a career as a doctor, including nine years working in Niger, where her 2-year-old daughter died from meningitis on what she has called the worst day of my life. In 2004, she founded the charity Give a Day to World AIDS, which has raised millions of dollars. When she decided to join Trudeaus push for government in 2015, she resigned from her post as chief of the department of medicine at the Markham Stouffville Hospital. As a rookie politician and newly-elected MP for the GTA riding of MarkhamStouffville, Philpott was appointed Trudeaus health minister. It was a key job in the new government, with partial responsibility for sensitive issues like drafting legislation for assisted dying and the legalization of marijuana. In August 2017, Philpott took on a new role as Indigenous services minister, a novel department that was created to help deliver health and social services to First Nations, Mtis and Inuit communities across Canada. Philpott was tasked with overseeing the transfer of responsibilities to the new department from Health Canada and the Indigenous Affair. She had to stickhandle key priorities for the government in its self-avowed push for reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and settler society, such as the ongoing effort to ensure there is safe drinking water on all First Nations reserves. And finally, last month, Philpott was named president of the Treasury Board. But now, Philpotts resignation leaves another hole in cabinet and, based on the reaction from opposition parties Monday night. It will likely add fuel to the crisis that has enveloped the Trudeau government, Moscrop said. Alex Ballingall is an Ottawa-based reporter covering national politics. Follow him on Twitter: @aballinga Read more about: | Jane Philpott was named Treasury Board president in Trudeau's Liberal government just weeks ago. She resigned Monday, saying she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair. | bart | 1 | https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/03/04/who-is-jane-philpott-the-trudeau-cabinet-minister-whose-sudden-resignation-has-rocked-ottawa.html | 0.27455 |
Who is Jane Philpott, the Trudeau cabinet minister whose sudden resignation has rocked Ottawa? | OTTAWAJustin Trudeau just lost one of his key cabinet ministers. That was the general reaction Monday when Jane Philpott, who was named Treasury Board president in Trudeaus Liberal government just weeks ago, resigned from her post. It was the latest stunner in the cascading crisis over alleged political interference and pressure on the former attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, to halt a criminal prosecution against the Montreal-based engineering giant SNC-Lavalin. Liberal MP Jane Philpott leaves a caucus meeting on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Feb. 27, 2019. Treasury Board president Philpott resigned Monday from the federal cabinet, saying she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair. ( Sean Kilpatrick / THE CANADIAN PRESS ) But it is Philpotts stature as a central figure in Trudeaus cabinet who is generally well-regarded deepens the impact of her sudden departure, said political scientist David Moscrop. Indeed, Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith told the Star on Monday: its hard to think of someone in politics that I have greater respect for than Jane Philpott. Philpott is an honest woman and shes known to be an honest woman, Moscrop said. I havent met a Liberal or talked to a Liberal who raised her name and didnt respect her. Article Continued Below Its not like losing Domi. Its like losing Gilmour. Philpott came to politics following a career as a doctor, including nine years working in Niger, where her 2-year-old daughter died from meningitis on what she has called the worst day of my life. In 2004, she founded the charity Give a Day to World AIDS, which has raised millions of dollars. When she decided to join Trudeaus push for government in 2015, she resigned from her post as chief of the department of medicine at the Markham Stouffville Hospital. As a rookie politician and newly-elected MP for the GTA riding of MarkhamStouffville, Philpott was appointed Trudeaus health minister. It was a key job in the new government, with partial responsibility for sensitive issues like drafting legislation for assisted dying and the legalization of marijuana. In August 2017, Philpott took on a new role as Indigenous services minister, a novel department that was created to help deliver health and social services to First Nations, Mtis and Inuit communities across Canada. Philpott was tasked with overseeing the transfer of responsibilities to the new department from Health Canada and the Indigenous Affair. She had to stickhandle key priorities for the government in its self-avowed push for reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and settler society, such as the ongoing effort to ensure there is safe drinking water on all First Nations reserves. And finally, last month, Philpott was named president of the Treasury Board. But now, Philpotts resignation leaves another hole in cabinet and, based on the reaction from opposition parties Monday night. It will likely add fuel to the crisis that has enveloped the Trudeau government, Moscrop said. Alex Ballingall is an Ottawa-based reporter covering national politics. Follow him on Twitter: @aballinga Read more about: | Jane Philpott resigned Monday from her post as Treasury Board president. She said she's lost confidence in the way the Trudeau government has dealt with the SNC-Lavalin affair. The resignation is the latest in a cascading crisis over alleged political interference and pressure on the former attorney general. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/03/04/who-is-jane-philpott-the-trudeau-cabinet-minister-whose-sudden-resignation-has-rocked-ottawa.html | 0.229718 |
Should Texans be allowed to vote on Medicaid expansion? | With the Republican-dominated state Legislature reluctant to expand Medicaid, Democrats have filed legislation that would instead let voters decide the issue. Three other red states Nebraska, Utah and Idaho ushered in Medicaid expansion through their voters in November. State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, who has filed House Joint Resolution 46 to allow people to vote on Medicaid expansion, said theres no reason Texas shouldnt be the next state. It takes it directly to the people. We find more support across the aisle when we do that so that they dont feel like anyone is forcing voters. I think this is a viable path, said Bucy, whose top priority on the campaign trail last year was to push for Medicaid expansion. Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, and Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, as well as Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, have filed resolutions identical to Bucys. Supporters of Medicaid expansion were bolstered by the results of a poll over the summer that showed 64 percent of Texas voters said they supported it. Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Medicaid expansion could help 686,000 Texans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, a government-subsidized health insurance program, yet earn too little to qualify for tax credits to purchase Obamacare through healthcare.gov, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a policy research organization. Expansion could also make another 439,000 Texans eligible for Medicaid who are already insured through or eligible for Obamacare but who fall just above the federal poverty level. In Texas, which has the highest uninsured rate in the country, Medicaid eligibility is largely limited to people with severe disabilities or near-death illnesses, as well as for low-income children, seniors and pregnant women. Our high uninsured rate is making our maternal mortality crisis worse, limiting our ability to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies, and (failing to) keep rural hospitals open and stabilize our health care infrastructure, said Laura Guerra-Cardus, deputy director of the Children's Defense Fund-Texas. Guerra-Cardus was among more than a dozen people who spoke Monday at a Capitol rally in support of putting Medicaid expansion on the ballot. Majorie Gonzalez, a senior at the University of Texas, falls within the coverage gap. The daughter of a single mom, she had been covered by Medicaid as a child, receiving regular checkups, doctor visits when she wasnt feeling well and help to pay for medication. When she turned 18, however, her coverage was dropped, and with most of the $600 she makes monthly through a work-study program going toward rent and bills, she cant afford health insurance through UT. A recent bout of stomach pain landed her in the doctors office, where she paid $250 for the visit. When I was just younger, I just never realized what a luxury it would be like one day to be able to go to the doctor or get the medication to help me recover, Gonzalez said. Mandate struck down Although the Affordable Care Act originally required states to expand Medicaid, some, including Texas, fought the provision, and the U.S. Supreme Court removed the mandate in 2012. Texas lawmakers have said they dont trust the federal government to fulfill its promise to reimburse 90 percent of the cost of expansion. Aside from lack of trust in the feds, the fact that the Medicaid program is imperfect is sufficient reason not to expand the program, said David Balat with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. He said hes talked to physicians across the state who are bogged down by the paperwork and other administrative requirements of accepting Medicaid, limiting their time with patients. Medicaid is not as caring and efficient and as positive for the beneficiaries that receive Medicaid benefits. Before we even think about expanding the Medicaid program, we really have to start thinking about how to reform it and make it more effective for those who benefit from it, Balat said, adding that many physicians offer uninsured people health services at reduced costs. The state has struggled with its transition to Medicaid managed care, which hands over the administration of the Medicaid program to private insurance companies. Some Central Texas pediatric physicians groups in recent years have threatened to stop offering Medicaid plans from certain health insurance companies in large part because of the administrative burdens imposed by the companies. But proponents of Medicaid expansion have rebutted statements like Balats by pointing to results from a survey over the summer that found that 71 percent of Texans had a very positive or somewhat positive view of Medicaid. Lawmakers this session have filed more than a dozen bills to address Medicaid expansion. One of them, House Bill 565 by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, will be heard in the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday. It will be the first time a Medicaid expansion bill has received a committee hearing in several years. An uphill battle Balat said the Legislature is not likely to pass Medicaid expansion, even if the measure would bring the issue to voters. Bucy also recognizes the uphill battle of getting his legislation passed but is encouraged by the interest of House Republicans, especially those from rural districts. Since 2016, Texas has had 15 rural hospital closures, more than any other state. It and five other states that had more than five rural hospital closures shared one characteristic none had expanded Medicaid, according to Georgetown University researchers. Rural residents make up a bulk of the uninsured population in Texas, and uninsured people tend to seek out hospitals when theyre sick or injured. Hospitals then typically eat the high cost of treating the uninsured patients, researchers said. Its an old political fight and a fear of being aligned with President Obama. But I will say that the fear seems to be waning as time goes on, as we get separation from the Obama administration, Bucy said. I also think Republicans represent more of the rural areas, and theyre starting to realize they cant do this forever. They have to get past the political opposition and realize its time to do whats right for Texans. | Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190304/should-texans-be-allowed-to-vote-on-medicaid-expansion | 0.129507 |
Should Texans be allowed to vote on Medicaid expansion? | With the Republican-dominated state Legislature reluctant to expand Medicaid, Democrats have filed legislation that would instead let voters decide the issue. Three other red states Nebraska, Utah and Idaho ushered in Medicaid expansion through their voters in November. State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, who has filed House Joint Resolution 46 to allow people to vote on Medicaid expansion, said theres no reason Texas shouldnt be the next state. It takes it directly to the people. We find more support across the aisle when we do that so that they dont feel like anyone is forcing voters. I think this is a viable path, said Bucy, whose top priority on the campaign trail last year was to push for Medicaid expansion. Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, and Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, as well as Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, have filed resolutions identical to Bucys. Supporters of Medicaid expansion were bolstered by the results of a poll over the summer that showed 64 percent of Texas voters said they supported it. Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Medicaid expansion could help 686,000 Texans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, a government-subsidized health insurance program, yet earn too little to qualify for tax credits to purchase Obamacare through healthcare.gov, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a policy research organization. Expansion could also make another 439,000 Texans eligible for Medicaid who are already insured through or eligible for Obamacare but who fall just above the federal poverty level. In Texas, which has the highest uninsured rate in the country, Medicaid eligibility is largely limited to people with severe disabilities or near-death illnesses, as well as for low-income children, seniors and pregnant women. Our high uninsured rate is making our maternal mortality crisis worse, limiting our ability to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies, and (failing to) keep rural hospitals open and stabilize our health care infrastructure, said Laura Guerra-Cardus, deputy director of the Children's Defense Fund-Texas. Guerra-Cardus was among more than a dozen people who spoke Monday at a Capitol rally in support of putting Medicaid expansion on the ballot. Majorie Gonzalez, a senior at the University of Texas, falls within the coverage gap. The daughter of a single mom, she had been covered by Medicaid as a child, receiving regular checkups, doctor visits when she wasnt feeling well and help to pay for medication. When she turned 18, however, her coverage was dropped, and with most of the $600 she makes monthly through a work-study program going toward rent and bills, she cant afford health insurance through UT. A recent bout of stomach pain landed her in the doctors office, where she paid $250 for the visit. When I was just younger, I just never realized what a luxury it would be like one day to be able to go to the doctor or get the medication to help me recover, Gonzalez said. Mandate struck down Although the Affordable Care Act originally required states to expand Medicaid, some, including Texas, fought the provision, and the U.S. Supreme Court removed the mandate in 2012. Texas lawmakers have said they dont trust the federal government to fulfill its promise to reimburse 90 percent of the cost of expansion. Aside from lack of trust in the feds, the fact that the Medicaid program is imperfect is sufficient reason not to expand the program, said David Balat with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. He said hes talked to physicians across the state who are bogged down by the paperwork and other administrative requirements of accepting Medicaid, limiting their time with patients. Medicaid is not as caring and efficient and as positive for the beneficiaries that receive Medicaid benefits. Before we even think about expanding the Medicaid program, we really have to start thinking about how to reform it and make it more effective for those who benefit from it, Balat said, adding that many physicians offer uninsured people health services at reduced costs. The state has struggled with its transition to Medicaid managed care, which hands over the administration of the Medicaid program to private insurance companies. Some Central Texas pediatric physicians groups in recent years have threatened to stop offering Medicaid plans from certain health insurance companies in large part because of the administrative burdens imposed by the companies. But proponents of Medicaid expansion have rebutted statements like Balats by pointing to results from a survey over the summer that found that 71 percent of Texans had a very positive or somewhat positive view of Medicaid. Lawmakers this session have filed more than a dozen bills to address Medicaid expansion. One of them, House Bill 565 by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, will be heard in the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday. It will be the first time a Medicaid expansion bill has received a committee hearing in several years. An uphill battle Balat said the Legislature is not likely to pass Medicaid expansion, even if the measure would bring the issue to voters. Bucy also recognizes the uphill battle of getting his legislation passed but is encouraged by the interest of House Republicans, especially those from rural districts. Since 2016, Texas has had 15 rural hospital closures, more than any other state. It and five other states that had more than five rural hospital closures shared one characteristic none had expanded Medicaid, according to Georgetown University researchers. Rural residents make up a bulk of the uninsured population in Texas, and uninsured people tend to seek out hospitals when theyre sick or injured. Hospitals then typically eat the high cost of treating the uninsured patients, researchers said. Its an old political fight and a fear of being aligned with President Obama. But I will say that the fear seems to be waning as time goes on, as we get separation from the Obama administration, Bucy said. I also think Republicans represent more of the rural areas, and theyre starting to realize they cant do this forever. They have to get past the political opposition and realize its time to do whats right for Texans. | Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Three other red states ushered in Medicaid expansion through their voters in November. Texas lawmakers have said they don't trust the federal government to reimburse 90 percent of the cost of expansion. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190304/should-texans-be-allowed-to-vote-on-medicaid-expansion | 0.170515 |
Should Texans be allowed to vote on Medicaid expansion? | With the Republican-dominated state Legislature reluctant to expand Medicaid, Democrats have filed legislation that would instead let voters decide the issue. Three other red states Nebraska, Utah and Idaho ushered in Medicaid expansion through their voters in November. State Rep. John Bucy, D-Austin, who has filed House Joint Resolution 46 to allow people to vote on Medicaid expansion, said theres no reason Texas shouldnt be the next state. It takes it directly to the people. We find more support across the aisle when we do that so that they dont feel like anyone is forcing voters. I think this is a viable path, said Bucy, whose top priority on the campaign trail last year was to push for Medicaid expansion. Reps. Celia Israel, D-Austin, and Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, as well as Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, have filed resolutions identical to Bucys. Supporters of Medicaid expansion were bolstered by the results of a poll over the summer that showed 64 percent of Texas voters said they supported it. Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Medicaid expansion could help 686,000 Texans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, a government-subsidized health insurance program, yet earn too little to qualify for tax credits to purchase Obamacare through healthcare.gov, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a policy research organization. Expansion could also make another 439,000 Texans eligible for Medicaid who are already insured through or eligible for Obamacare but who fall just above the federal poverty level. In Texas, which has the highest uninsured rate in the country, Medicaid eligibility is largely limited to people with severe disabilities or near-death illnesses, as well as for low-income children, seniors and pregnant women. Our high uninsured rate is making our maternal mortality crisis worse, limiting our ability to improve health outcomes for mothers and babies, and (failing to) keep rural hospitals open and stabilize our health care infrastructure, said Laura Guerra-Cardus, deputy director of the Children's Defense Fund-Texas. Guerra-Cardus was among more than a dozen people who spoke Monday at a Capitol rally in support of putting Medicaid expansion on the ballot. Majorie Gonzalez, a senior at the University of Texas, falls within the coverage gap. The daughter of a single mom, she had been covered by Medicaid as a child, receiving regular checkups, doctor visits when she wasnt feeling well and help to pay for medication. When she turned 18, however, her coverage was dropped, and with most of the $600 she makes monthly through a work-study program going toward rent and bills, she cant afford health insurance through UT. A recent bout of stomach pain landed her in the doctors office, where she paid $250 for the visit. When I was just younger, I just never realized what a luxury it would be like one day to be able to go to the doctor or get the medication to help me recover, Gonzalez said. Mandate struck down Although the Affordable Care Act originally required states to expand Medicaid, some, including Texas, fought the provision, and the U.S. Supreme Court removed the mandate in 2012. Texas lawmakers have said they dont trust the federal government to fulfill its promise to reimburse 90 percent of the cost of expansion. Aside from lack of trust in the feds, the fact that the Medicaid program is imperfect is sufficient reason not to expand the program, said David Balat with the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank. He said hes talked to physicians across the state who are bogged down by the paperwork and other administrative requirements of accepting Medicaid, limiting their time with patients. Medicaid is not as caring and efficient and as positive for the beneficiaries that receive Medicaid benefits. Before we even think about expanding the Medicaid program, we really have to start thinking about how to reform it and make it more effective for those who benefit from it, Balat said, adding that many physicians offer uninsured people health services at reduced costs. The state has struggled with its transition to Medicaid managed care, which hands over the administration of the Medicaid program to private insurance companies. Some Central Texas pediatric physicians groups in recent years have threatened to stop offering Medicaid plans from certain health insurance companies in large part because of the administrative burdens imposed by the companies. But proponents of Medicaid expansion have rebutted statements like Balats by pointing to results from a survey over the summer that found that 71 percent of Texans had a very positive or somewhat positive view of Medicaid. Lawmakers this session have filed more than a dozen bills to address Medicaid expansion. One of them, House Bill 565 by Rep. Garnet Coleman, D-Houston, will be heard in the House Insurance Committee on Tuesday. It will be the first time a Medicaid expansion bill has received a committee hearing in several years. An uphill battle Balat said the Legislature is not likely to pass Medicaid expansion, even if the measure would bring the issue to voters. Bucy also recognizes the uphill battle of getting his legislation passed but is encouraged by the interest of House Republicans, especially those from rural districts. Since 2016, Texas has had 15 rural hospital closures, more than any other state. It and five other states that had more than five rural hospital closures shared one characteristic none had expanded Medicaid, according to Georgetown University researchers. Rural residents make up a bulk of the uninsured population in Texas, and uninsured people tend to seek out hospitals when theyre sick or injured. Hospitals then typically eat the high cost of treating the uninsured patients, researchers said. Its an old political fight and a fear of being aligned with President Obama. But I will say that the fear seems to be waning as time goes on, as we get separation from the Obama administration, Bucy said. I also think Republicans represent more of the rural areas, and theyre starting to realize they cant do this forever. They have to get past the political opposition and realize its time to do whats right for Texans. | Texas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Three other red states ushered in Medicaid expansion through their voters in November. Texas lawmakers have said they don't trust the federal government to fulfill its promise to reimburse 90 percent of the cost of expansion. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.statesman.com/news/20190304/should-texans-be-allowed-to-vote-on-medicaid-expansion | 0.165408 |
Is it time for 'smear test' to be rebranded? | Image copyright Getty Images The government has launched its first cervical screening advertising campaign in England, as the numbers of women taking part have hit a 20-year low. The campaign - being run by Public Health England - has avoided the term "smear test" amid concern it may be putting people off. Officials said the term was outdated and hope the term cervical screening will "normalise" the procedure. Adverts will run on TV, radio and online for the next eight weeks. The campaign stresses the screening is basically a health check for the cervix and shows a woman being reminded by family members and friends to go for testing. Figures last year showed just over 71% of women aged 25 to 64 had been screened at regular enough intervals. PHE director of screening Anne Mackie said the campaign was about "breaking down barriers". She said there were a variety of reasons for not attending but there had been a conscious move away from the term "smear test". "The technical process used today no longer smears the sample of cells from the cervix on to a glass plate," she said. "We now put cells that we collect into a tube of liquid, so technically 'smear' is incorrect." Ms Mackie said the overarching message of the campaign - cervical screening saves lives - was much more "clear and direct" and "hopefully helps to normalise the term". She added: "The campaign shows how cervical screening is a vital preventative test which can identify potentially harmful cells and treat them before they have a chance to develop into cancer, giving us the opportunity to stop cancer before it starts." 'Don't delay cervical screening' Image copyright other Masters student Isha Webber, 29, from London, attended her first screening appointment when she was 25. It came back all clear. A few years later, when she was screened again, she was found to have abnormal cells that required treatment to remove them. "I can't reinforce enough how important it is to stay on top of your cervical screening appointments," she said. "When you get your invitation letter, book right away and don't delay. "I am so glad that I went when I did and had those abnormal cells removed. "I hate to think what may have been the case if I delayed. "I now talk to as many people as possible about my experience, to raise awareness of the importance of screening." The NHS target is for 80% of women aged 25 to 49 to be tested every three years and the same proportion aged 50 to 64 to be screened every five years. But in some areas uptake has dropped below 50%. Experts have put it down to: embarrassment a lack of awareness just putting it off Research by the charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust suggested young women were embarrassed to attend because of: their body shape the appearance of their vulva concerns over smell A third said they would not go if they had not waxed or shaved their bikini area. And about 15% said they would miss their screening test for a gym class or a waxing appointment. Every year about 2,600 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and nearly 700 die from the disease. The advertising campaign is just one element of the government's approach to increase uptake. A review of invitation letters, leaflets and results letters is under way, while pilots to trial text messaging reminders have started. Some areas have also started to offer weekend and evening screening. Government advisers are also considering whether to recommend self-testing. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust chief executive Robert Music said: "We know attending screening isn't always easy for a wide range of reasons yet cervical screening can be lifesaving as it can detect changes in the cervix before they become cancerous." | Public Health England has avoided the term "smear test" amid concern it may be putting people off. Officials said the term was outdated and hope the term cervical screening will "normalise" the procedure. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47445785 | 0.116092 |
Is it time for 'smear test' to be rebranded? | Image copyright Getty Images The government has launched its first cervical screening advertising campaign in England, as the numbers of women taking part have hit a 20-year low. The campaign - being run by Public Health England - has avoided the term "smear test" amid concern it may be putting people off. Officials said the term was outdated and hope the term cervical screening will "normalise" the procedure. Adverts will run on TV, radio and online for the next eight weeks. The campaign stresses the screening is basically a health check for the cervix and shows a woman being reminded by family members and friends to go for testing. Figures last year showed just over 71% of women aged 25 to 64 had been screened at regular enough intervals. PHE director of screening Anne Mackie said the campaign was about "breaking down barriers". She said there were a variety of reasons for not attending but there had been a conscious move away from the term "smear test". "The technical process used today no longer smears the sample of cells from the cervix on to a glass plate," she said. "We now put cells that we collect into a tube of liquid, so technically 'smear' is incorrect." Ms Mackie said the overarching message of the campaign - cervical screening saves lives - was much more "clear and direct" and "hopefully helps to normalise the term". She added: "The campaign shows how cervical screening is a vital preventative test which can identify potentially harmful cells and treat them before they have a chance to develop into cancer, giving us the opportunity to stop cancer before it starts." 'Don't delay cervical screening' Image copyright other Masters student Isha Webber, 29, from London, attended her first screening appointment when she was 25. It came back all clear. A few years later, when she was screened again, she was found to have abnormal cells that required treatment to remove them. "I can't reinforce enough how important it is to stay on top of your cervical screening appointments," she said. "When you get your invitation letter, book right away and don't delay. "I am so glad that I went when I did and had those abnormal cells removed. "I hate to think what may have been the case if I delayed. "I now talk to as many people as possible about my experience, to raise awareness of the importance of screening." The NHS target is for 80% of women aged 25 to 49 to be tested every three years and the same proportion aged 50 to 64 to be screened every five years. But in some areas uptake has dropped below 50%. Experts have put it down to: embarrassment a lack of awareness just putting it off Research by the charity Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust suggested young women were embarrassed to attend because of: their body shape the appearance of their vulva concerns over smell A third said they would not go if they had not waxed or shaved their bikini area. And about 15% said they would miss their screening test for a gym class or a waxing appointment. Every year about 2,600 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and nearly 700 die from the disease. The advertising campaign is just one element of the government's approach to increase uptake. A review of invitation letters, leaflets and results letters is under way, while pilots to trial text messaging reminders have started. Some areas have also started to offer weekend and evening screening. Government advisers are also considering whether to recommend self-testing. Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust chief executive Robert Music said: "We know attending screening isn't always easy for a wide range of reasons yet cervical screening can be lifesaving as it can detect changes in the cervix before they become cancerous." | Government launches first cervical screening advertising campaign in England. Campaign avoids the term "smear test" amid concern it may be putting people off. Officials said the term was outdated and hope it will "normalise" the procedure. Figures last year showed just over 71% of women aged 25 to 64 had been screened at regular enough intervals. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-47445785 | 0.160301 |
Is Seattle's real estate market warming up again? | An analysis by Redfin indicates it probably is Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full listing here. less Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full ... more Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. 1 / 105 Back to Gallery Sellers rejoice: Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again after a months-long cool-down, even though there were fewer closed sales in January 2018 when compared to one year prior. But closed sales figures don't give a clear indication of what is to come. Pending sales however, tell a different story. Pending sales in January were up 15 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by real estate app and brokerage Redfin. That is the highest increase in the number of year-over-year pending sales in the city at one time since the end of 2016. Meanwhile, closed sales are down by 8 percent when compared to January 2018. "The second half of 2018 was frustrating for sellers who listed just as the market began to cool," Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in the report. "Since then, more sellers have dropped their prices and as a result more homes are going off the market." RELATED: Don't look now but peak real estate season is starting. Here's when experts recommend you list Fairweather urged buyers who were waiting to see what would happen in the market to consider buying sooner than later. "We're seeing this moment before the spring season arrives as an opportunity to get a home that's been on the market for a few months under contract for much less than its original list price," he said. Despite the cool-down in the fall and early winter months, Redfin's analysis indicated that closed sales in Seattle could begin to climb year-over-year "very soon." RELATED: $47.2 billion: Looking back at Washington's 2018 real estate "In the last month we've seen more buyers touring our homes for sale and we're receiving more offers, especially on those that have been on the market for a while," Seattle Redfin agent David Palmer said in the report. But buyers and sellers alike should be aware that things aren't expected to tick up the way they did the last five years. "Even as buyers return, home sellers should expect to negotiate more than they have in the past few years. The days of buyers waiving all contingencies are behind us," Palmer said. Click through the slideshow to see. | An analysis by Redfin indicates Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Is-Seattle-s-real-estate-market-warming-up-again-13661963.php | 0.499439 |
Is Seattle's real estate market warming up again? | An analysis by Redfin indicates it probably is Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full listing here. less Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full ... more Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. 1 / 105 Back to Gallery Sellers rejoice: Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again after a months-long cool-down, even though there were fewer closed sales in January 2018 when compared to one year prior. But closed sales figures don't give a clear indication of what is to come. Pending sales however, tell a different story. Pending sales in January were up 15 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by real estate app and brokerage Redfin. That is the highest increase in the number of year-over-year pending sales in the city at one time since the end of 2016. Meanwhile, closed sales are down by 8 percent when compared to January 2018. "The second half of 2018 was frustrating for sellers who listed just as the market began to cool," Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in the report. "Since then, more sellers have dropped their prices and as a result more homes are going off the market." RELATED: Don't look now but peak real estate season is starting. Here's when experts recommend you list Fairweather urged buyers who were waiting to see what would happen in the market to consider buying sooner than later. "We're seeing this moment before the spring season arrives as an opportunity to get a home that's been on the market for a few months under contract for much less than its original list price," he said. Despite the cool-down in the fall and early winter months, Redfin's analysis indicated that closed sales in Seattle could begin to climb year-over-year "very soon." RELATED: $47.2 billion: Looking back at Washington's 2018 real estate "In the last month we've seen more buyers touring our homes for sale and we're receiving more offers, especially on those that have been on the market for a while," Seattle Redfin agent David Palmer said in the report. But buyers and sellers alike should be aware that things aren't expected to tick up the way they did the last five years. "Even as buyers return, home sellers should expect to negotiate more than they have in the past few years. The days of buyers waiving all contingencies are behind us," Palmer said. Click through the slideshow to see. | Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again after a months-long cool-down. Pending sales in January were up 15 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by Redfin. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Is-Seattle-s-real-estate-market-warming-up-again-13661963.php | 0.622592 |
Is Seattle's real estate market warming up again? | An analysis by Redfin indicates it probably is Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full listing here. less Delight in this contemporary craftsman townhome with luxury touches including gleaming hardwoods, vaulted ceilings and granite counters. 114 B W Florentia St., Seattle, WA 98119. $639,000. See the full ... more Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. Photo: Listed By Sarah Rollinger Redfin Corp. 1 / 105 Back to Gallery Sellers rejoice: Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again after a months-long cool-down, even though there were fewer closed sales in January 2018 when compared to one year prior. But closed sales figures don't give a clear indication of what is to come. Pending sales however, tell a different story. Pending sales in January were up 15 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by real estate app and brokerage Redfin. That is the highest increase in the number of year-over-year pending sales in the city at one time since the end of 2016. Meanwhile, closed sales are down by 8 percent when compared to January 2018. "The second half of 2018 was frustrating for sellers who listed just as the market began to cool," Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather said in the report. "Since then, more sellers have dropped their prices and as a result more homes are going off the market." RELATED: Don't look now but peak real estate season is starting. Here's when experts recommend you list Fairweather urged buyers who were waiting to see what would happen in the market to consider buying sooner than later. "We're seeing this moment before the spring season arrives as an opportunity to get a home that's been on the market for a few months under contract for much less than its original list price," he said. Despite the cool-down in the fall and early winter months, Redfin's analysis indicated that closed sales in Seattle could begin to climb year-over-year "very soon." RELATED: $47.2 billion: Looking back at Washington's 2018 real estate "In the last month we've seen more buyers touring our homes for sale and we're receiving more offers, especially on those that have been on the market for a while," Seattle Redfin agent David Palmer said in the report. But buyers and sellers alike should be aware that things aren't expected to tick up the way they did the last five years. "Even as buyers return, home sellers should expect to negotiate more than they have in the past few years. The days of buyers waiving all contingencies are behind us," Palmer said. Click through the slideshow to see. | Seattle's real estate market could be warming up again after a months-long cool-down. Pending sales in January were up 15 percent from a year earlier, according to a recent analysis by real estate app and brokerage Redfin. But closed sales are down by 8 percent when compared to January 2018. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.seattlepi.com/realestate/article/Is-Seattle-s-real-estate-market-warming-up-again-13661963.php | 0.683535 |
Will Southwest's $49 Fares To Hawaii Trigger An Airline Price War? | On March 4, 2019, Southwest Airlines began selling tickets to Hawaii from the US mainland. The long-awaited announcement included the four California cities Southwest will fly from, as expected (San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento and Oakland) and the destinations (Oahu, Maui, Lanai and The Big Island.) The announcement of service, which begins March 14, also included something else not everyone had been expectingtickets as low as $49 each way. The flight dates and prices came as welcome news to consumers, particularly those who snagged the $49 tickets. No doubt they provided some solace as well to those stranded by an East Coast snowstorm that cancelled 2500 flights, leaving frustrated passengers to dream of Hawaiian beaches. (Full disclosure: I own stock in Southwest Airlines and Jet Blue.) In addition to launching service from Oakland and San Jose with fares as low as $49 and $79 each way to Hawaii (San Diego and Sacramento service will be announced later) Southwest said a little about what that service will look like. The airline says it will provide seating with an industry-leading 32-inch seat pitch on Hawaii flights, along with Islands-inspired drinks and snacks, WiFi enabled planes and 100% free inflight entertainment including movies and live TV. Southwest has put up a dedicated web page for information at Southwest.com/Hawaii. Although long expected, Southwests market entry was not so welcome at competitive airlines that already serve the Hawaiian market, including Alaska, Hawaiian, Delta, United and American. For Southwest itself, the stock market reaction was not particularly positive, as the stock (LUV) declined -0.51 (-0.94%). But the new announcement had a much more pronounced effect on Hawaiian Holdings Inc (HA:NASDAQ), which dropped $3.24 (-10.94%). Alaska Air (ALK), one of the volume leaders in flights to Hawaii from the West Coast, dropped -1.81 (-3.0%). While it was a bad day for the stock market in general, the three other major US airlines flying to Hawaii also declined. American dropped -0.92 (2.66%), United dropped -2.61 (-3.0%) while Delta declined slightly, by -0.17 (-0.3%). The competition problem for Hawaiian, although the airline has been established in the islands for 90 years, is obvious. (Not widely reported was the fact that Southwest is offering four interisland flights a day between Honolulu and Kona on an introductory basis for $29 each way.) The prospect of overcapacity and/or the dread fare war also potentially threatens revenues and profits at the other carriers. The race to the bottom (err, the race to preserve market share in a low fare environment) has already begun. Southwests competitors have responded with fares from the US mainland to Hawaii for as low as $197 roundtrip. For less than two hundred dollars, you can fly roundtrip from San Jose (SJC) or Oakland (Oak) to Kahului, Maui (OGG), or from Oakland to Honolulu (HNL). All three $197 round trips are Alaska Airlines Saver Fares, their version of Basic Economy, so luggage will be extra. (Southwest has promised to continue their two bags fly free policy to Hawaii.) Similarly, American Airlines is offering non-stop roundtrips from Phoenix (PHX) or LAX to Kona (KOA) on the Big Island for $257, also in Basic Economy. Other low fares are available from Delta and Sun Country. Low fares mean less revenues and lower profits, of course. In extreme cases the loser of such a fare war may end up drastically cutting back its presence in Hawaii or retreating from the islands altogether, as Allegiant did in 2017. Obviously, this is not a possibility for Hawaiian Air. Less obviously, the new low fares may mean something elsedamage to the elaborate loyalty and elite structure that the legacy airlines have built over the last 35 years. The folks at the Points Guy found some Southwest flights to Hawaii for $49 or 1,950 points each way, from San Jose and Oakland to Honolulu and Maui. I compared a Southwest flight from Oakland to Honolulu on March 19 with an American Airlines flight on that date, which demanded 22,500 points (or $173) versus 1950 (or $49) for Southwest. Even discounting the fact that the Southwest fare is a promotional one, and any possible discrepancy in point value, this is a huge difference. In some ways, it calls into question the value of loyalty to a particular frequent flyer program, which a number of analysts have pegged as actually more valuable than the airlines themselves. Even with this announcement, Southwest has other sandalser, shoes -to drop when in terms of Hawaiian announcements. The big question is when service from the Los Angeles and Orange County metro areas will begin. The 13 million people who live in those areas served by LAX, Burbank, Ontario, Long Beach and John Wayne/Orange County airports are currently left out of Southwests schedule, although competitors are now offering low fares from LA to the islands. In addition, a quick check of Southwest Vacations, the vacation package site of Southwest Airlines, shows that Hawaiian flightsand hotels, rental cars and other amenitieshave not yet been integrated into the system. When it is, in addition to the current Southwest.com/Hawaii site, expect tens of thousands of Southwest customers to begin building Hawaiian vacation packages. For the airlines, the battle for the Hawaiian market, and perhaps a larger war over the value of plum destinations like Hawaii to loyalty programs, has just begun. | Southwest Airlines will begin selling tickets to Hawaii from the US mainland on March 4, 2019. Southwest's competitors have responded with fares as low as $197 roundtrip. The race to the bottom (err, the race to preserve market share in a low fare environment) has already begun. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelgoldstein/2019/03/04/will-southwests-49-fares-to-hawaii-trigger-an-airline-price-war/ | 0.109946 |
How will CA courts pension ruling affect workers, taxpayers? | The California Supreme Court issued a major decision on public employee compensation Monday, upholding a piece of a 2012 pension law that reduced some benefits for workers. Below, find a quick guide to questions you might have about the ruling. Nothing changes right now for public workers. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee Former Gov. Jerry Browns 2012 law among other things eliminated a benefit known as air time that allowed public employees to buy up to five years of service credit that would boost their pensions as if they had worked that time. Had the court ruled differently Monday, employees hired before Jan. 1, 2013, might have regained access to that perk. On the other hand, the court could have made it easier for local governments to reduce public workers benefits, but it didnt. The courts decision preserves the status quo. Government agencies still cant tinker with their employees core pension rights unless unions make concessions at the bargaining table. CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost put it clearly in an emailed statement: Todays decision does not change how we administer benefits on behalf of our 1.9 million members and the nearly 3,000 public agencies that contract with us, Frost said in the statement. CalPERS has not offered air time since the Public Employees Pension Reform Act took effect in January 2013. Air time was not supposed to cost local governments anything, since employees were paying for it. But projections used to determine how much employees had to pay for the benefit turned out to underestimate its cost. Employee contributions fell short of costs by 12 to 38 percent, according to a CalPERS analysis, leaving governments to make up the difference. When local governments pay more for worker benefits, they have less money to spend on other public services such as parks or road maintenance. The Supreme Courts decision protects local governments from having to pay for the air time benefit. Some well-known advocates for reductions in pension benefits said the ruling keeps open the door to future changes. This ruling offers hope that California can take reasonable steps to ensure that our pension systems can always pay all the benefits our employees have earned without driving cities, counties, and school districts into insolvency, said Chuck Reed, a former San Jose mayor and founder of Retirement Security Initiative. It doesnt. Debates about the California Rule are focused on future benefits for current public workers. The courts decision was significant because unions and government agencies in briefs leading up to the case argued it was a test of the California Rule, the set of legal precedents that has prevented public worker benefits from being reduced without compensating them for lost income. The court declined to take up California Rule questions in its decision, determining air time wasnt a core pension benefit with constitutional protections. But those questions remain, and the court could take them up in other cases. Attorneys who have filed legal briefs in an Alameda County pensions case are waiting for the court to schedule oral hearings. That case is expected to address pension benefits more squarely, since it has to do with whether compensation from things like unused vacation time and sick leave can count in pension calculations. The ruling has no immediate effect on public workers, but could impact future negotiations over public pension benefits. | The California Supreme Court upheld a piece of a 2012 pension law that reduced some benefits for workers. The ruling has no immediate effect on public workers, but could impact future negotiations over public pension benefits. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article227110584.html | 0.338784 |
How will CA courts pension ruling affect workers, taxpayers? | The California Supreme Court issued a major decision on public employee compensation Monday, upholding a piece of a 2012 pension law that reduced some benefits for workers. Below, find a quick guide to questions you might have about the ruling. Nothing changes right now for public workers. Sign Up and Save Get six months of free digital access to The Sacramento Bee Former Gov. Jerry Browns 2012 law among other things eliminated a benefit known as air time that allowed public employees to buy up to five years of service credit that would boost their pensions as if they had worked that time. Had the court ruled differently Monday, employees hired before Jan. 1, 2013, might have regained access to that perk. On the other hand, the court could have made it easier for local governments to reduce public workers benefits, but it didnt. The courts decision preserves the status quo. Government agencies still cant tinker with their employees core pension rights unless unions make concessions at the bargaining table. CalPERS CEO Marcie Frost put it clearly in an emailed statement: Todays decision does not change how we administer benefits on behalf of our 1.9 million members and the nearly 3,000 public agencies that contract with us, Frost said in the statement. CalPERS has not offered air time since the Public Employees Pension Reform Act took effect in January 2013. Air time was not supposed to cost local governments anything, since employees were paying for it. But projections used to determine how much employees had to pay for the benefit turned out to underestimate its cost. Employee contributions fell short of costs by 12 to 38 percent, according to a CalPERS analysis, leaving governments to make up the difference. When local governments pay more for worker benefits, they have less money to spend on other public services such as parks or road maintenance. The Supreme Courts decision protects local governments from having to pay for the air time benefit. Some well-known advocates for reductions in pension benefits said the ruling keeps open the door to future changes. This ruling offers hope that California can take reasonable steps to ensure that our pension systems can always pay all the benefits our employees have earned without driving cities, counties, and school districts into insolvency, said Chuck Reed, a former San Jose mayor and founder of Retirement Security Initiative. It doesnt. Debates about the California Rule are focused on future benefits for current public workers. The courts decision was significant because unions and government agencies in briefs leading up to the case argued it was a test of the California Rule, the set of legal precedents that has prevented public worker benefits from being reduced without compensating them for lost income. The court declined to take up California Rule questions in its decision, determining air time wasnt a core pension benefit with constitutional protections. But those questions remain, and the court could take them up in other cases. Attorneys who have filed legal briefs in an Alameda County pensions case are waiting for the court to schedule oral hearings. That case is expected to address pension benefits more squarely, since it has to do with whether compensation from things like unused vacation time and sick leave can count in pension calculations. The ruling has no immediate effect on public workers, but could impact future negotiations over public pension benefits. | The California Supreme Court upheld a piece of a 2012 pension law that reduced some benefits for workers. The ruling has no immediate effect on public workers, but could impact future negotiations over public pension benefits. The court could have made it easier for local governments to reduce public workers benefits, but it didnt. | bart | 2 | https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/the-state-worker/article227110584.html | 0.474218 |
Where Does Live Nation Have Room To Grow? | A vertically integrated behemoth. An emerging music monopoly. Ruthless. Live Nation has been described in these terms for many years, especially since the worlds largest concert promoter merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. But that hasnt stopped fans from flocking to its shows. And investors are liking what theyre seeing. Shares of Live Nation hit an all-time high Friday after the company revealed that its overall revenue for 2018 was up 11%, reaching a record $10.8 billion. Concert attendance increased by 8%, to 93 million. Executives told investors to expect similar growth in 2019. An earnings call with investors on Thursday, and a newly released annual report give some insight into the live entertainment giants plans to continue its industry dominance. Global Expansion In the earnings call, Live Nation executives clearly expressed their commitment to pursuing new business opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. However, the companys long-term growth will depend on increasing ticket sales and sponsorships in 40 markets outside of North America. We know that Rihanna can sell out anywhere, said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. Thats the part that makes our model unique. Live Nation president Joe Berchtold noted that profit margins in international markets are limited by relatively low service fees on ticket sales. Ticketmasters U.S. service fees a longtime vexation for American fans are about 20% of a tickets listed price. Berchtold said these fees stay around 10% in other countries. While we see some level of convergence over time, don't expect that to shift quickly, Berchtold said. Rapino said establishing ticketing operations in Italy, ramping up operations in Germany and laying the groundwork for expansion in Latin America were among the highlights of Live Nations global expansion in 2018. Live Nation typically gains a foothold in new markets by acquiring local entertainment businesses. In the first quarter of 2019, the corporation has snapped up an Australian ticketing firm and promoters in Singapore and Spain. It also acquired the Blockfest hip-hop festival in Finland and the Tons of Rock festival in Norway. Digital Innovation Live Nations latest annual report reflects both the promise and perils of a digital ticketing ecosystem. One of the only blemishes in the concert promoters ledger for 2018 is the $15 million cost of mitigating a data breach that affected 40,000 British and international customers. On the bright side, the company reported that mobile ticket sales were up 35% from 2017, driven in part by a 40% increase in installations of the Live Nation and Ticketmaster mobile apps. The online marketplace converges with live events on Ticketmaster Presence, a platform for venue access control and fan engagement that debuted in 2017. Presence is designed to help venues prevent ticket fraud and analyze audience data, and also allows them to share event information in direct messages to ticket holders. Live Nation deployed Presence at over 200 venues by the end of 2018, including every NFL stadium. It expects to bring the platform to 500 venues by the end of this year. Venue Ownership Live Nation owns or has an equity interest in over 30 concert venues, and is looking to add to that total. "Were seeing more and more opportunities... to have some equity ownership and control in some great assets," Rapino said in Thursdays earnings call. We should capture not just the [entertainment] content, not just the food and beverage, but the equity value of the real estate holdings over time, too. Venue ownership and control is one area where Live Nation trails its main competitor, AEG. Philip Anschutzs privately-held company owns several iconic properties, including Staples Center in Los Angeles, the O2 in London, and the entertainment complexes surrounding both facilities. Rapino said Live Nation is negotiating for a bigger piece of the action in deals with real estate developers across the U.S. If you are a developer right now with a shopping mall to a development site, you probably are no longer asking the movie theater to be your tenant. Youre probably coming to Live Nation, he said. "What we're doing now, when those meetings happen, is to say: we're not happy just to ticket for your building. We want have equity value in that position and operate and run it to maximize all of the value that can be created. | Live Nation's overall revenue for 2018 was up 11%, reaching a record $10.8 billion. Live Nation plans to expand its business in 40 markets outside of North America. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshmandell/2019/03/04/where-does-live-nation-have-room-to-grow/ | 0.350642 |
Where Does Live Nation Have Room To Grow? | A vertically integrated behemoth. An emerging music monopoly. Ruthless. Live Nation has been described in these terms for many years, especially since the worlds largest concert promoter merged with Ticketmaster in 2010. But that hasnt stopped fans from flocking to its shows. And investors are liking what theyre seeing. Shares of Live Nation hit an all-time high Friday after the company revealed that its overall revenue for 2018 was up 11%, reaching a record $10.8 billion. Concert attendance increased by 8%, to 93 million. Executives told investors to expect similar growth in 2019. An earnings call with investors on Thursday, and a newly released annual report give some insight into the live entertainment giants plans to continue its industry dominance. Global Expansion In the earnings call, Live Nation executives clearly expressed their commitment to pursuing new business opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. However, the companys long-term growth will depend on increasing ticket sales and sponsorships in 40 markets outside of North America. We know that Rihanna can sell out anywhere, said Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino. Thats the part that makes our model unique. Live Nation president Joe Berchtold noted that profit margins in international markets are limited by relatively low service fees on ticket sales. Ticketmasters U.S. service fees a longtime vexation for American fans are about 20% of a tickets listed price. Berchtold said these fees stay around 10% in other countries. While we see some level of convergence over time, don't expect that to shift quickly, Berchtold said. Rapino said establishing ticketing operations in Italy, ramping up operations in Germany and laying the groundwork for expansion in Latin America were among the highlights of Live Nations global expansion in 2018. Live Nation typically gains a foothold in new markets by acquiring local entertainment businesses. In the first quarter of 2019, the corporation has snapped up an Australian ticketing firm and promoters in Singapore and Spain. It also acquired the Blockfest hip-hop festival in Finland and the Tons of Rock festival in Norway. Digital Innovation Live Nations latest annual report reflects both the promise and perils of a digital ticketing ecosystem. One of the only blemishes in the concert promoters ledger for 2018 is the $15 million cost of mitigating a data breach that affected 40,000 British and international customers. On the bright side, the company reported that mobile ticket sales were up 35% from 2017, driven in part by a 40% increase in installations of the Live Nation and Ticketmaster mobile apps. The online marketplace converges with live events on Ticketmaster Presence, a platform for venue access control and fan engagement that debuted in 2017. Presence is designed to help venues prevent ticket fraud and analyze audience data, and also allows them to share event information in direct messages to ticket holders. Live Nation deployed Presence at over 200 venues by the end of 2018, including every NFL stadium. It expects to bring the platform to 500 venues by the end of this year. Venue Ownership Live Nation owns or has an equity interest in over 30 concert venues, and is looking to add to that total. "Were seeing more and more opportunities... to have some equity ownership and control in some great assets," Rapino said in Thursdays earnings call. We should capture not just the [entertainment] content, not just the food and beverage, but the equity value of the real estate holdings over time, too. Venue ownership and control is one area where Live Nation trails its main competitor, AEG. Philip Anschutzs privately-held company owns several iconic properties, including Staples Center in Los Angeles, the O2 in London, and the entertainment complexes surrounding both facilities. Rapino said Live Nation is negotiating for a bigger piece of the action in deals with real estate developers across the U.S. If you are a developer right now with a shopping mall to a development site, you probably are no longer asking the movie theater to be your tenant. Youre probably coming to Live Nation, he said. "What we're doing now, when those meetings happen, is to say: we're not happy just to ticket for your building. We want have equity value in that position and operate and run it to maximize all of the value that can be created. | Live Nation's overall revenue for 2018 was up 11%, reaching a record $10.8 billion. Live Nation plans to expand its business in 40 markets outside of North America. The company plans to buy ticketing firms and promoters in Australia, Spain and Spain in the first quarter of 2019. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshmandell/2019/03/04/where-does-live-nation-have-room-to-grow/ | 0.446396 |
Which team has the best chance to land Antonio Brown? | Scroll to continue with content Ad Its been about two weeks since the Pittsburgh Steelers met with disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown and agreed to try to trade him. In the days since, weve heard only rumors of which teams are purportedly most interested in acquiring the talented but difficult Brown. The reality is, there arent many teams that have the basics to get a deal done: crossing the other AFC North teams as well as the New England Patriots off the list brings the number down to 27; add in the necessary salary-cap space and being willing to alter Browns current contract (which is quite on-market), the draft capital and/or ability and willingness to trade an above-average player, and a strong head coach and structure in place to be able to bring in a player with a history of doing whatever he wants and getting away with it and hopefully get him on board and the list of possibilities narrows significantly. Given everything including Browns recent comments, whether on social media or in an ESPN interview or on LeBron James The Shop were still convinced that when training camps open in July, Brown will still be with the Steelers. Oakland Raiders Among national reporters, both ESPNs Adam Schefter and NBC Sports Peter King have mentioned the Raiders as being on the short list of teams interested in Brown. Story continues Given that Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is on the record as saying the team will want significant compensation in trade because Brown is a significant player, Oakland makes sense on that front because it has three first-round picks this year (Nos. 4, 25 and 27) as well as a high second-round pick (No. 35). The Raiders also have about $73 million in cap space right now according to OverTheCap.com. (Getty Images) Oakland could certainly use a top receiver: running back Jalen Richard and tight end Jared Cook led the team in receptions last season, with 68 each; in terms of true receivers, Jordy Nelson had a team-high 63 catches. Brown has averaged 114 catches per season since 2013. The Raiders are unquestionably Jon Grudens team, as he has seemingly been given carte blanche to do what he pleases from owner Mark Davis, including forcing out the teams general manager, Reggie McKenzie, and trading two of their best players, in Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. They also have an experienced quarterback in Derek Carr, who is both talented and generally respected by teammates. Washington Redskins Schefter reported that Grudens brother, Jay, and Washington have shown strong interest as well. Washington has nine picks; its highest spots this year are No. 15 in the first round, as well as No. 46 in the second and two third-rounders at Nos. 76 and 96. It currently has just $17 million in cap space. Washington isnt known for making the best decisions in recent years, but from an organizational standpoint, it isnt clear who the quarterback is going to be in 2019, and Jay Gruden doesnt seem to be a strong head coach, either in position or demeanor. Tennessee Titans A last team mentioned by Schefter was Tennessee, and in many ways, the Titans dont seem too far-fetched. For one thing, both general manager Jon Robinson and second-year head coach Mike Vrabel spent enough time with the Patriots to know how important structure is and generally requiring that all players conform to the same expectations; Vrabel is a pretty no-nonsense guy. The Titans could certainly use a top-flight offensive skill player. Marcus Mariota is coming off his best season statistically, but has a history of injuries and is dealing with his fourth offensive coordinator as he enters his fifth season. Tennessee is roughly $43 million under the cap currently, but only has six total draft picks, including its first-round pick at No. 19. Denver Broncos NFL Networks Ian Rapoport mentioned the Broncos, but Brown doesnt exactly seem like the kind of player John Elway would like given his attitude. Denver is trading for Joe Flacco, who certainly dealt with a variety of personalities in his career with the Baltimore Ravens and has experience and a Super Bowl ring. New coach Vic Fangio is a rookie head coach, but a grizzled vet when it comes to coaching. The Broncos do have $34.5 million in cap space currently, and a high first-round pick, No. 10, after their disappointing 2018 season; they have seven other draft picks. Arizona Cardinals Reported by Rapoport to be interested, the Cardinals would seem to be an unlikely suitor and an in-house reporter quickly debunked the notion. Arizona is heading into this season with a rookie head coach in Kliff Kingsbury, and will have either an unproven second-year quarterback in Josh Rosen or possibly a rookie quarterback, if the Cardinals-Kyler Murray smoke turns into a fire. General manager Steve Keim is likely fighting to save his job after a third-straight playoff-less season, the Steve Wilks hiring and firing in less than 12 months, and his own very public legal issue. The Cardinals do have 11 draft picks this year, and $37.5 million in salary cap space. More from Yahoo Sports: | The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to trade receiver Antonio Brown. There aren't many teams that have the basics to get a deal done. Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins are among those interested. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/which-team-rumored-to-be-interested-in-antonio-brown-has-the-best-chance-to-land-him-204502621.html?src=rss | 0.143366 |
Which team has the best chance to land Antonio Brown? | Scroll to continue with content Ad Its been about two weeks since the Pittsburgh Steelers met with disgruntled receiver Antonio Brown and agreed to try to trade him. In the days since, weve heard only rumors of which teams are purportedly most interested in acquiring the talented but difficult Brown. The reality is, there arent many teams that have the basics to get a deal done: crossing the other AFC North teams as well as the New England Patriots off the list brings the number down to 27; add in the necessary salary-cap space and being willing to alter Browns current contract (which is quite on-market), the draft capital and/or ability and willingness to trade an above-average player, and a strong head coach and structure in place to be able to bring in a player with a history of doing whatever he wants and getting away with it and hopefully get him on board and the list of possibilities narrows significantly. Given everything including Browns recent comments, whether on social media or in an ESPN interview or on LeBron James The Shop were still convinced that when training camps open in July, Brown will still be with the Steelers. Oakland Raiders Among national reporters, both ESPNs Adam Schefter and NBC Sports Peter King have mentioned the Raiders as being on the short list of teams interested in Brown. Story continues Given that Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert is on the record as saying the team will want significant compensation in trade because Brown is a significant player, Oakland makes sense on that front because it has three first-round picks this year (Nos. 4, 25 and 27) as well as a high second-round pick (No. 35). The Raiders also have about $73 million in cap space right now according to OverTheCap.com. (Getty Images) Oakland could certainly use a top receiver: running back Jalen Richard and tight end Jared Cook led the team in receptions last season, with 68 each; in terms of true receivers, Jordy Nelson had a team-high 63 catches. Brown has averaged 114 catches per season since 2013. The Raiders are unquestionably Jon Grudens team, as he has seemingly been given carte blanche to do what he pleases from owner Mark Davis, including forcing out the teams general manager, Reggie McKenzie, and trading two of their best players, in Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper. They also have an experienced quarterback in Derek Carr, who is both talented and generally respected by teammates. Washington Redskins Schefter reported that Grudens brother, Jay, and Washington have shown strong interest as well. Washington has nine picks; its highest spots this year are No. 15 in the first round, as well as No. 46 in the second and two third-rounders at Nos. 76 and 96. It currently has just $17 million in cap space. Washington isnt known for making the best decisions in recent years, but from an organizational standpoint, it isnt clear who the quarterback is going to be in 2019, and Jay Gruden doesnt seem to be a strong head coach, either in position or demeanor. Tennessee Titans A last team mentioned by Schefter was Tennessee, and in many ways, the Titans dont seem too far-fetched. For one thing, both general manager Jon Robinson and second-year head coach Mike Vrabel spent enough time with the Patriots to know how important structure is and generally requiring that all players conform to the same expectations; Vrabel is a pretty no-nonsense guy. The Titans could certainly use a top-flight offensive skill player. Marcus Mariota is coming off his best season statistically, but has a history of injuries and is dealing with his fourth offensive coordinator as he enters his fifth season. Tennessee is roughly $43 million under the cap currently, but only has six total draft picks, including its first-round pick at No. 19. Denver Broncos NFL Networks Ian Rapoport mentioned the Broncos, but Brown doesnt exactly seem like the kind of player John Elway would like given his attitude. Denver is trading for Joe Flacco, who certainly dealt with a variety of personalities in his career with the Baltimore Ravens and has experience and a Super Bowl ring. New coach Vic Fangio is a rookie head coach, but a grizzled vet when it comes to coaching. The Broncos do have $34.5 million in cap space currently, and a high first-round pick, No. 10, after their disappointing 2018 season; they have seven other draft picks. Arizona Cardinals Reported by Rapoport to be interested, the Cardinals would seem to be an unlikely suitor and an in-house reporter quickly debunked the notion. Arizona is heading into this season with a rookie head coach in Kliff Kingsbury, and will have either an unproven second-year quarterback in Josh Rosen or possibly a rookie quarterback, if the Cardinals-Kyler Murray smoke turns into a fire. General manager Steve Keim is likely fighting to save his job after a third-straight playoff-less season, the Steve Wilks hiring and firing in less than 12 months, and his own very public legal issue. The Cardinals do have 11 draft picks this year, and $37.5 million in salary cap space. More from Yahoo Sports: | The Pittsburgh Steelers are trying to trade receiver Antonio Brown. There aren't many teams that have the basics to get a deal done. The Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins are among the teams mentioned as potential suitors for the talented but difficult Brown. The Raiders have three first-round picks this year, and the Titans have two third-rounders. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/which-team-rumored-to-be-interested-in-antonio-brown-has-the-best-chance-to-land-him-204502621.html?src=rss | 0.310443 |
Why Can't Energy Efficiency Get Any Respect? | Energy efficiency is widely regarded as the least costly source of additional energy, the most immediate way to reduce carbon emissions, a crucial part of any plan to achieve climate goals and advance a clean economy. It enjoys bipartisan support. But Congress let federal energy-efficiency tax credits lapse more than a year ago, and the industry has struggled to get attention in a dramatically distracted capitol. "Renewable energy is always the star quarterback," said Ray Fakhoury, a principle with the clean-energy advocacy group Advanced Energy Economy. "Theyre back there. Theyre doing all the things that you can point to them and see them and touch them. "A lot of the time energy efficiencys your line. You dont see them, but if you have a poor line, then youre going to have a lot of really inefficient renewable-energy production. So we like to think of things as a whole package. Energy efficiency must play a role." Fakhoury was speaking on a panel of energy-efficiency lobbyistsyes, energy efficiency has lobbyistsat the Energy Solutions Conference hosted in February by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEAA). Not everyone agreed with his assignment of positions. "Energy efficiency should be the star quarterback," said Jason Hartke, president of the Alliance to Save Energy and a former head of the Department of Energy's commercial-efficiency effort. "Maybe its a blue-collar, workmanlike quarterback, maybe its not Tom Brady. Its more like Jim McMahon." MEAA executive director Stacey Paradis then suggested, before the Chicago audience, that Terry Bradshaw would be a better choice. Hartke insisted that energy efficiency has made tremendous progress, but he conceded that it rarely gets to carry the ball. "Weve got tax incentives for a whole slew of different things, including powerful incentives on the generation side. but to not have efficiency incentives is really crazy." In 2016 taxpayers could get breaks for efficient equipment (known by its marker in law as 25C), whole-home efficiency (45L), and commercial building efficiency (179D). "Those have now been expired for over a year and two months," Hartke said. "Really, really sad. They had really strong bipartisan support, but its clouded because of all these other policy issues that are going on and all these other concurrent fights over other thingsgovernment shut-downs." The Department of Energy has calculated that its $14 billion investment in efficiency research and development has netted $230 billion in net economic benefits, Hartke said. "The sector represents two thirds of all energy jobs, 2.25 million jobs," he said, "and were reaping $800 billion in collective energy savings every single year. Things like standards are saving $2.4 trillion in net economic impacts. "Weve made tremendous progress in energy efficiency and there is a little bit of, How do we get the quarterback status, but the stats have us there." | Energy efficiency is widely regarded as the most immediate way to reduce carbon emissions. Congress let federal energy-efficiency tax credits lapse more than a year ago, and the industry has struggled to get attention in a distracted capitol. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2019/03/05/why-cant-energy-efficiency-get-any-respect/ | 0.12127 |
Why Can't Energy Efficiency Get Any Respect? | Energy efficiency is widely regarded as the least costly source of additional energy, the most immediate way to reduce carbon emissions, a crucial part of any plan to achieve climate goals and advance a clean economy. It enjoys bipartisan support. But Congress let federal energy-efficiency tax credits lapse more than a year ago, and the industry has struggled to get attention in a dramatically distracted capitol. "Renewable energy is always the star quarterback," said Ray Fakhoury, a principle with the clean-energy advocacy group Advanced Energy Economy. "Theyre back there. Theyre doing all the things that you can point to them and see them and touch them. "A lot of the time energy efficiencys your line. You dont see them, but if you have a poor line, then youre going to have a lot of really inefficient renewable-energy production. So we like to think of things as a whole package. Energy efficiency must play a role." Fakhoury was speaking on a panel of energy-efficiency lobbyistsyes, energy efficiency has lobbyistsat the Energy Solutions Conference hosted in February by the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEAA). Not everyone agreed with his assignment of positions. "Energy efficiency should be the star quarterback," said Jason Hartke, president of the Alliance to Save Energy and a former head of the Department of Energy's commercial-efficiency effort. "Maybe its a blue-collar, workmanlike quarterback, maybe its not Tom Brady. Its more like Jim McMahon." MEAA executive director Stacey Paradis then suggested, before the Chicago audience, that Terry Bradshaw would be a better choice. Hartke insisted that energy efficiency has made tremendous progress, but he conceded that it rarely gets to carry the ball. "Weve got tax incentives for a whole slew of different things, including powerful incentives on the generation side. but to not have efficiency incentives is really crazy." In 2016 taxpayers could get breaks for efficient equipment (known by its marker in law as 25C), whole-home efficiency (45L), and commercial building efficiency (179D). "Those have now been expired for over a year and two months," Hartke said. "Really, really sad. They had really strong bipartisan support, but its clouded because of all these other policy issues that are going on and all these other concurrent fights over other thingsgovernment shut-downs." The Department of Energy has calculated that its $14 billion investment in efficiency research and development has netted $230 billion in net economic benefits, Hartke said. "The sector represents two thirds of all energy jobs, 2.25 million jobs," he said, "and were reaping $800 billion in collective energy savings every single year. Things like standards are saving $2.4 trillion in net economic impacts. "Weve made tremendous progress in energy efficiency and there is a little bit of, How do we get the quarterback status, but the stats have us there." | Energy efficiency is widely regarded as the most immediate way to reduce carbon emissions. Congress let federal energy-efficiency tax credits lapse more than a year ago, and the industry has struggled to get attention in a dramatically distracted capitol. The sector represents two thirds of all energy jobs, 2.25 million jobs. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2019/03/05/why-cant-energy-efficiency-get-any-respect/ | 0.154579 |
How Much Of The Unobservable Universe Will We Someday Be Able To See? | Even though it's been billions of years since the Big Bang, there's a cosmic limit to how far we can observe the objects that occupy our Universe. The Universe has been expanding all this time, but that expansion rate is both finite and well-measured. If we were to calculate how far a photon emitted at the instant the Big Bang occurred could have traveled by today, we come up with the upper limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. That's the size of our observable Universe, which contains an estimated two trillion galaxies in various stages of evolutionary development. But beyond that, there ought to be much more Universe beyond the limits of what we can presently see: the unobservable Universe. Thanks to our best measurements of the part we can see, we're finally figuring out what lies beyond, and how much of it we'll someday be able to perceive and explore. The Big Bang tells us that at some point in the distant past, the Universe was hotter, denser, and expanding much more rapidly than it is today. The stars and galaxies we see throughout the Universe in all directions only exist as they do because the Universe has expanded and cooled, allowing gravitation to pull matter into clumps. Over billions of years, gravitational growth has fueled generations of stars and the formation of galaxies, leading to the Universe we see today. Everywhere we look, in all directions, we see a Universe that tells us the same cosmic story. But part of that story is the fact that the farther away we look, the farther we're looking back in time. The Universe hasn't been around, forming stars and growing galaxies, forever. According to the Big Bang and the observations that support it, the Universe had a beginning. In the early stages after the Big Bang, the Universe was filled with a variety of ingredients, and it began with an incredibly rapid initial expansion rate. These two factors the initial expansion rate and the gravitational effects of everything in the Universe are the two head-to-head players in the ultimate cosmic race. On the one hand, the expansion works to push everything apart, stretching the fabric of space and driving the galaxies and the large-scale structure of the Universe apart. But on the other hand, gravitation attracts all forms of matter and energy, working to pull the Universe back together. Normal matter, dark matter, dark energy, radiation, neutrinos, black holes, gravitational waves and more all play a role in the expanding Universe. The expansion rate began large, but has been decreasing as the Universe expands. There's a simple reason for this: as the Universe expands, its volume increases, and therefore the energy density goes down. As the density drops, so does the expansion rate. Light that was once too far away from us to be seen can now catch up to us. This fact carries with it a huge implication for the Universe: over time, galaxies that were once too distant to be revealed to us will spontaneously come into view. It may have been 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang occurred, but with the expansion of the Universe, there are objects as far away as 46.1 billion light-years whose light is just reaching us. All told, if we were to add up all the galaxies that exist within this volume of space, we'd find there are a whopping two trillion of them within our observable Universe. As enormous as this number is, it's still finite, and our observations don't reveal an edge in space in any direction we look. The amount of time that's passed since the Big Bang, the speed of light, and the ingredients in our Universe determine the limit of what's observable. Any farther than that, and even something moving at the speed of light since the moment of the hot Big Bang will not have had sufficient time to reach us. But all of this will change in time. As the years and aeons tick by, light that was unable to reach us will finally catch up to our eyes, revealing more of the Universe than we've ever seen before. You might think that if we waited for an arbitrarily long amount of time, we'd be able to see an arbitrarily far distance, and that there would be no limit to how much of the Universe would become visible. But in a Universe with dark energy, that simply isn't the case. As the Universe ages, the expansion rate doesn't drop to lower and lower values, approaching zero. Instead, there remains a finite and important amount of energy intrinsic to the fabric of space itself. As time goes on in a Universe with dark energy, the more distant objects will appear to recede from our perspective faster and faster. Although there's still more Universe out there to discover, there's a limit to how much of it will ever become observable to us. Based on the expansion rate, the amount of dark energy we have, and the present cosmological parameters of the Universe, we can calculate what we call the future visibility limit: the maximum distance we'll ever be able to observe. Right now, in a 13.8 billion year old Universe, our current visibility limit is 46 billion light-years. Our future visibility limit is approximately 33% greater: 61 billion light-years. There are galaxies out there, right now, whose light is on the way to our eyes, but has not had the opportunity to reach us yet. If we were to add up all the galaxies in the parts of the Universe that we'll someday see but cannot yet access today, we might be shocked to learn that there are more yet-to-be-revealed galaxies than there are galaxies in the visible Universe. There are an additional 2.7 trillion galaxies waiting to show us their light, on top of the 2 trillion we can already access. Compared to what the future holds for us, we're presently only seeing 43% of the galaxies that we'll someday be able to observe. Beyond our observable Universe lies the unobservable Universe, which ought to look just like the part we can see. The way we know that is through observations of the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale structure of the Universe. If the Universe were finite in size, had an edge to it, or its properties began to change as we looked to greater distances, our measurements of these phenomena would reveal it. The observed spatial flatness of the Universe tells us that it is neither positively nor negatively curved to a precision of 99.6%, meaning that if it curves back on itself, the unobservable Universe is at least 250 times as large as the presently visible part. We will never be able to see anything close to those extraordinary distances. The future visibility limit will take us to distances that are presently 61 billion light-years away, but no farther. It will reveal slightly more than twice the volume of the Universe we can observe today. The unobservable Universe, on the other hand, must be at least 23 trillion light years in diameter, and contain a volume of space that's over 15 million times as large as the volume we can observe. At the same time that we ponder the Universe beyond our observational limits, however, it's worth remembering how little of that Universe we can actually access or visit. All that we're looking forward to viewing is based on light that was already emitted many billions of years ago: close to the Big Bang in time. As it stands today, even if we left right now at the speed of light, we wouldn't be able to reach nearly all of the galaxies throughout space. Dark energy is causing the Universe to not only expand, but for distant galaxies to speed up in their apparent recession from us. Although there are a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies that we will someday be able to observe out to a distance of 61 billion light-years, the limit of what we can reach today is much more modest. Only those galaxies within approximately 15 billion light-years, or a quarter of the radius at the future visibility limit, can be reached today, which equates to about 66 billion galaxies only. This is only 1.4% of the total number of galaxies that will ever become visible to us. In other words, in the future, we will have a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies to view. Most of them will only ever appear to us as they were in the very distant past, and most of them will never get to see us as we are today. Of all those galaxies we'll someday see, 4.634 trillion of them are already forever unreachable, even at the speed of light. You might notice an interesting occurrence: the future visibility limit is exactly equal to the reachable limit (of 15 billion light-years) added to the current visibility limit (of 46 billion light-years). This no coincidence; the light that will ultimately reach us is right at that reachable limit today, after journeying 46 billion light-years since the Big Bang. Someday far in the future, it will arrive at our eyes. With each moment that passes, we come ever closer to our ultimate cosmic viewpoint, as the light from the last galactic holdouts continues on its inevitable journey towards us in the expanding Universe. | There's a limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/05/how-much-of-the-unobservable-universe-will-we-someday-be-able-to-see/ | 0.151942 |
How Much Of The Unobservable Universe Will We Someday Be Able To See? | Even though it's been billions of years since the Big Bang, there's a cosmic limit to how far we can observe the objects that occupy our Universe. The Universe has been expanding all this time, but that expansion rate is both finite and well-measured. If we were to calculate how far a photon emitted at the instant the Big Bang occurred could have traveled by today, we come up with the upper limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. That's the size of our observable Universe, which contains an estimated two trillion galaxies in various stages of evolutionary development. But beyond that, there ought to be much more Universe beyond the limits of what we can presently see: the unobservable Universe. Thanks to our best measurements of the part we can see, we're finally figuring out what lies beyond, and how much of it we'll someday be able to perceive and explore. The Big Bang tells us that at some point in the distant past, the Universe was hotter, denser, and expanding much more rapidly than it is today. The stars and galaxies we see throughout the Universe in all directions only exist as they do because the Universe has expanded and cooled, allowing gravitation to pull matter into clumps. Over billions of years, gravitational growth has fueled generations of stars and the formation of galaxies, leading to the Universe we see today. Everywhere we look, in all directions, we see a Universe that tells us the same cosmic story. But part of that story is the fact that the farther away we look, the farther we're looking back in time. The Universe hasn't been around, forming stars and growing galaxies, forever. According to the Big Bang and the observations that support it, the Universe had a beginning. In the early stages after the Big Bang, the Universe was filled with a variety of ingredients, and it began with an incredibly rapid initial expansion rate. These two factors the initial expansion rate and the gravitational effects of everything in the Universe are the two head-to-head players in the ultimate cosmic race. On the one hand, the expansion works to push everything apart, stretching the fabric of space and driving the galaxies and the large-scale structure of the Universe apart. But on the other hand, gravitation attracts all forms of matter and energy, working to pull the Universe back together. Normal matter, dark matter, dark energy, radiation, neutrinos, black holes, gravitational waves and more all play a role in the expanding Universe. The expansion rate began large, but has been decreasing as the Universe expands. There's a simple reason for this: as the Universe expands, its volume increases, and therefore the energy density goes down. As the density drops, so does the expansion rate. Light that was once too far away from us to be seen can now catch up to us. This fact carries with it a huge implication for the Universe: over time, galaxies that were once too distant to be revealed to us will spontaneously come into view. It may have been 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang occurred, but with the expansion of the Universe, there are objects as far away as 46.1 billion light-years whose light is just reaching us. All told, if we were to add up all the galaxies that exist within this volume of space, we'd find there are a whopping two trillion of them within our observable Universe. As enormous as this number is, it's still finite, and our observations don't reveal an edge in space in any direction we look. The amount of time that's passed since the Big Bang, the speed of light, and the ingredients in our Universe determine the limit of what's observable. Any farther than that, and even something moving at the speed of light since the moment of the hot Big Bang will not have had sufficient time to reach us. But all of this will change in time. As the years and aeons tick by, light that was unable to reach us will finally catch up to our eyes, revealing more of the Universe than we've ever seen before. You might think that if we waited for an arbitrarily long amount of time, we'd be able to see an arbitrarily far distance, and that there would be no limit to how much of the Universe would become visible. But in a Universe with dark energy, that simply isn't the case. As the Universe ages, the expansion rate doesn't drop to lower and lower values, approaching zero. Instead, there remains a finite and important amount of energy intrinsic to the fabric of space itself. As time goes on in a Universe with dark energy, the more distant objects will appear to recede from our perspective faster and faster. Although there's still more Universe out there to discover, there's a limit to how much of it will ever become observable to us. Based on the expansion rate, the amount of dark energy we have, and the present cosmological parameters of the Universe, we can calculate what we call the future visibility limit: the maximum distance we'll ever be able to observe. Right now, in a 13.8 billion year old Universe, our current visibility limit is 46 billion light-years. Our future visibility limit is approximately 33% greater: 61 billion light-years. There are galaxies out there, right now, whose light is on the way to our eyes, but has not had the opportunity to reach us yet. If we were to add up all the galaxies in the parts of the Universe that we'll someday see but cannot yet access today, we might be shocked to learn that there are more yet-to-be-revealed galaxies than there are galaxies in the visible Universe. There are an additional 2.7 trillion galaxies waiting to show us their light, on top of the 2 trillion we can already access. Compared to what the future holds for us, we're presently only seeing 43% of the galaxies that we'll someday be able to observe. Beyond our observable Universe lies the unobservable Universe, which ought to look just like the part we can see. The way we know that is through observations of the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale structure of the Universe. If the Universe were finite in size, had an edge to it, or its properties began to change as we looked to greater distances, our measurements of these phenomena would reveal it. The observed spatial flatness of the Universe tells us that it is neither positively nor negatively curved to a precision of 99.6%, meaning that if it curves back on itself, the unobservable Universe is at least 250 times as large as the presently visible part. We will never be able to see anything close to those extraordinary distances. The future visibility limit will take us to distances that are presently 61 billion light-years away, but no farther. It will reveal slightly more than twice the volume of the Universe we can observe today. The unobservable Universe, on the other hand, must be at least 23 trillion light years in diameter, and contain a volume of space that's over 15 million times as large as the volume we can observe. At the same time that we ponder the Universe beyond our observational limits, however, it's worth remembering how little of that Universe we can actually access or visit. All that we're looking forward to viewing is based on light that was already emitted many billions of years ago: close to the Big Bang in time. As it stands today, even if we left right now at the speed of light, we wouldn't be able to reach nearly all of the galaxies throughout space. Dark energy is causing the Universe to not only expand, but for distant galaxies to speed up in their apparent recession from us. Although there are a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies that we will someday be able to observe out to a distance of 61 billion light-years, the limit of what we can reach today is much more modest. Only those galaxies within approximately 15 billion light-years, or a quarter of the radius at the future visibility limit, can be reached today, which equates to about 66 billion galaxies only. This is only 1.4% of the total number of galaxies that will ever become visible to us. In other words, in the future, we will have a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies to view. Most of them will only ever appear to us as they were in the very distant past, and most of them will never get to see us as we are today. Of all those galaxies we'll someday see, 4.634 trillion of them are already forever unreachable, even at the speed of light. You might notice an interesting occurrence: the future visibility limit is exactly equal to the reachable limit (of 15 billion light-years) added to the current visibility limit (of 46 billion light-years). This no coincidence; the light that will ultimately reach us is right at that reachable limit today, after journeying 46 billion light-years since the Big Bang. Someday far in the future, it will arrive at our eyes. With each moment that passes, we come ever closer to our ultimate cosmic viewpoint, as the light from the last galactic holdouts continues on its inevitable journey towards us in the expanding Universe. | There's a limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. There ought to be much more Universe beyond the limits of what we can presently see: the unobservable Universe. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/05/how-much-of-the-unobservable-universe-will-we-someday-be-able-to-see/ | 0.192889 |
How Much Of The Unobservable Universe Will We Someday Be Able To See? | Even though it's been billions of years since the Big Bang, there's a cosmic limit to how far we can observe the objects that occupy our Universe. The Universe has been expanding all this time, but that expansion rate is both finite and well-measured. If we were to calculate how far a photon emitted at the instant the Big Bang occurred could have traveled by today, we come up with the upper limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. That's the size of our observable Universe, which contains an estimated two trillion galaxies in various stages of evolutionary development. But beyond that, there ought to be much more Universe beyond the limits of what we can presently see: the unobservable Universe. Thanks to our best measurements of the part we can see, we're finally figuring out what lies beyond, and how much of it we'll someday be able to perceive and explore. The Big Bang tells us that at some point in the distant past, the Universe was hotter, denser, and expanding much more rapidly than it is today. The stars and galaxies we see throughout the Universe in all directions only exist as they do because the Universe has expanded and cooled, allowing gravitation to pull matter into clumps. Over billions of years, gravitational growth has fueled generations of stars and the formation of galaxies, leading to the Universe we see today. Everywhere we look, in all directions, we see a Universe that tells us the same cosmic story. But part of that story is the fact that the farther away we look, the farther we're looking back in time. The Universe hasn't been around, forming stars and growing galaxies, forever. According to the Big Bang and the observations that support it, the Universe had a beginning. In the early stages after the Big Bang, the Universe was filled with a variety of ingredients, and it began with an incredibly rapid initial expansion rate. These two factors the initial expansion rate and the gravitational effects of everything in the Universe are the two head-to-head players in the ultimate cosmic race. On the one hand, the expansion works to push everything apart, stretching the fabric of space and driving the galaxies and the large-scale structure of the Universe apart. But on the other hand, gravitation attracts all forms of matter and energy, working to pull the Universe back together. Normal matter, dark matter, dark energy, radiation, neutrinos, black holes, gravitational waves and more all play a role in the expanding Universe. The expansion rate began large, but has been decreasing as the Universe expands. There's a simple reason for this: as the Universe expands, its volume increases, and therefore the energy density goes down. As the density drops, so does the expansion rate. Light that was once too far away from us to be seen can now catch up to us. This fact carries with it a huge implication for the Universe: over time, galaxies that were once too distant to be revealed to us will spontaneously come into view. It may have been 13.8 billion years since the Big Bang occurred, but with the expansion of the Universe, there are objects as far away as 46.1 billion light-years whose light is just reaching us. All told, if we were to add up all the galaxies that exist within this volume of space, we'd find there are a whopping two trillion of them within our observable Universe. As enormous as this number is, it's still finite, and our observations don't reveal an edge in space in any direction we look. The amount of time that's passed since the Big Bang, the speed of light, and the ingredients in our Universe determine the limit of what's observable. Any farther than that, and even something moving at the speed of light since the moment of the hot Big Bang will not have had sufficient time to reach us. But all of this will change in time. As the years and aeons tick by, light that was unable to reach us will finally catch up to our eyes, revealing more of the Universe than we've ever seen before. You might think that if we waited for an arbitrarily long amount of time, we'd be able to see an arbitrarily far distance, and that there would be no limit to how much of the Universe would become visible. But in a Universe with dark energy, that simply isn't the case. As the Universe ages, the expansion rate doesn't drop to lower and lower values, approaching zero. Instead, there remains a finite and important amount of energy intrinsic to the fabric of space itself. As time goes on in a Universe with dark energy, the more distant objects will appear to recede from our perspective faster and faster. Although there's still more Universe out there to discover, there's a limit to how much of it will ever become observable to us. Based on the expansion rate, the amount of dark energy we have, and the present cosmological parameters of the Universe, we can calculate what we call the future visibility limit: the maximum distance we'll ever be able to observe. Right now, in a 13.8 billion year old Universe, our current visibility limit is 46 billion light-years. Our future visibility limit is approximately 33% greater: 61 billion light-years. There are galaxies out there, right now, whose light is on the way to our eyes, but has not had the opportunity to reach us yet. If we were to add up all the galaxies in the parts of the Universe that we'll someday see but cannot yet access today, we might be shocked to learn that there are more yet-to-be-revealed galaxies than there are galaxies in the visible Universe. There are an additional 2.7 trillion galaxies waiting to show us their light, on top of the 2 trillion we can already access. Compared to what the future holds for us, we're presently only seeing 43% of the galaxies that we'll someday be able to observe. Beyond our observable Universe lies the unobservable Universe, which ought to look just like the part we can see. The way we know that is through observations of the cosmic microwave background and the large-scale structure of the Universe. If the Universe were finite in size, had an edge to it, or its properties began to change as we looked to greater distances, our measurements of these phenomena would reveal it. The observed spatial flatness of the Universe tells us that it is neither positively nor negatively curved to a precision of 99.6%, meaning that if it curves back on itself, the unobservable Universe is at least 250 times as large as the presently visible part. We will never be able to see anything close to those extraordinary distances. The future visibility limit will take us to distances that are presently 61 billion light-years away, but no farther. It will reveal slightly more than twice the volume of the Universe we can observe today. The unobservable Universe, on the other hand, must be at least 23 trillion light years in diameter, and contain a volume of space that's over 15 million times as large as the volume we can observe. At the same time that we ponder the Universe beyond our observational limits, however, it's worth remembering how little of that Universe we can actually access or visit. All that we're looking forward to viewing is based on light that was already emitted many billions of years ago: close to the Big Bang in time. As it stands today, even if we left right now at the speed of light, we wouldn't be able to reach nearly all of the galaxies throughout space. Dark energy is causing the Universe to not only expand, but for distant galaxies to speed up in their apparent recession from us. Although there are a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies that we will someday be able to observe out to a distance of 61 billion light-years, the limit of what we can reach today is much more modest. Only those galaxies within approximately 15 billion light-years, or a quarter of the radius at the future visibility limit, can be reached today, which equates to about 66 billion galaxies only. This is only 1.4% of the total number of galaxies that will ever become visible to us. In other words, in the future, we will have a total of 4.7 trillion galaxies to view. Most of them will only ever appear to us as they were in the very distant past, and most of them will never get to see us as we are today. Of all those galaxies we'll someday see, 4.634 trillion of them are already forever unreachable, even at the speed of light. You might notice an interesting occurrence: the future visibility limit is exactly equal to the reachable limit (of 15 billion light-years) added to the current visibility limit (of 46 billion light-years). This no coincidence; the light that will ultimately reach us is right at that reachable limit today, after journeying 46 billion light-years since the Big Bang. Someday far in the future, it will arrive at our eyes. With each moment that passes, we come ever closer to our ultimate cosmic viewpoint, as the light from the last galactic holdouts continues on its inevitable journey towards us in the expanding Universe. | There's a limit to how far we can see in any direction: 46 billion light-years. But beyond that, there ought to be much more Universe beyond the limits of what we can presently see: the unobservable Universe. The Universe has been expanding all this time, but that expansion rate is both finite and well-measured. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/05/how-much-of-the-unobservable-universe-will-we-someday-be-able-to-see/ | 0.232541 |
What are the Donald Trump investigations all about? | Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. Advertisement They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush-money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund. Democrats launched a sweeping new probe of Trump on Monday US time. Republican Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. The panel is sending document requests to 81 people linked to the president and his associates. Republican Jerrold Nadler announced the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. Photo / AP The broad investigation could be setting the stage for an impeachment effort, although Democratic leaders have pledged to investigate all avenues and review Mueller's upcoming report before trying any drastic action. "Over the last several years, President Trump has evaded accountability for his near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical, and constitutional rules and norms," Nadler said. "Investigating these threats to the rule of law is an obligation of Congress and a core function of the House Judiciary Committee." Trump dismissed the Nadler probe and others as futile efforts "in search of a crime." On Twitter, the president exclaimed that it was "Ridiculous!" Meanwhile, the Justice Department said career ethics officials had advised Attorney General William Barr that he should not recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel investigation and Barr said he has decided to follow that advice. Some Democrats had raised concerns that Barr might disrupt or upend Mueller's investigation. Conservative author conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi retracted an article he wrote last year for the website InfoWars alleging that Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich and his brother were involved in downloading and leaking DNC emails to the website WikiLeaks. Seth Rich was killed in July 2016 in what Washington police believe was a robbery attempt. On his website Corsi acknowledged that he did not have "independent factual knowledge" for the allegation and had instead relied on a Washington Times article that has since been retracted. There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the communications. There is evidence that some people in Trump's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia. Photo / AP American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential effort. That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and Trump's fury over Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal. The US President has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and insisted there was "NO COLLUSION" with Russia. He also says Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence in New York. It's unclear. Then-acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in January that the probe is "close to being completed," the first official sign that Mueller's investigation may be wrapping up. But he gave no specific timetable. | Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12209813&ref=rss | 0.173661 |
What are the Donald Trump investigations all about? | Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. Trump also plays a central role in a separate case in New York, where prosecutors have implicated him in a crime. Advertisement They say Trump directed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen to make illegal hush-money payments to two women as a way to quash potential sex scandals during the campaign. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund. Democrats launched a sweeping new probe of Trump on Monday US time. Republican Jerrold Nadler, chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, announced the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. The panel is sending document requests to 81 people linked to the president and his associates. Republican Jerrold Nadler announced the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. Photo / AP The broad investigation could be setting the stage for an impeachment effort, although Democratic leaders have pledged to investigate all avenues and review Mueller's upcoming report before trying any drastic action. "Over the last several years, President Trump has evaded accountability for his near-daily attacks on our basic legal, ethical, and constitutional rules and norms," Nadler said. "Investigating these threats to the rule of law is an obligation of Congress and a core function of the House Judiciary Committee." Trump dismissed the Nadler probe and others as futile efforts "in search of a crime." On Twitter, the president exclaimed that it was "Ridiculous!" Meanwhile, the Justice Department said career ethics officials had advised Attorney General William Barr that he should not recuse himself from overseeing the special counsel investigation and Barr said he has decided to follow that advice. Some Democrats had raised concerns that Barr might disrupt or upend Mueller's investigation. Conservative author conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi retracted an article he wrote last year for the website InfoWars alleging that Democratic National Committee staffer Seth Rich and his brother were involved in downloading and leaking DNC emails to the website WikiLeaks. Seth Rich was killed in July 2016 in what Washington police believe was a robbery attempt. On his website Corsi acknowledged that he did not have "independent factual knowledge" for the allegation and had instead relied on a Washington Times article that has since been retracted. There is no smoking gun when it comes to the question of Russia collusion. But the evidence so far shows that a broad range of Trump associates had Russia-related contacts during the 2016 presidential campaign and transition period, and several lied about the communications. There is evidence that some people in Trump's orbit were discussing a possible email dump from WikiLeaks before it occurred. Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia. Photo / AP American intelligence agencies and Mueller have said Russia was the source of hacked material released by the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks during the campaign that was damaging to Democrat Hillary Clinton's presidential effort. That is another unresolved question that Mueller is pursuing. Investigators have examined key episodes such as Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey and Trump's fury over Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recusal. The US President has repeatedly slammed the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" and insisted there was "NO COLLUSION" with Russia. He also says Cohen lied to get a lighter sentence in New York. It's unclear. Then-acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said in January that the probe is "close to being completed," the first official sign that Mueller's investigation may be wrapping up. But he gave no specific timetable. | Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and whether the president obstructed the investigation. New York prosecutors also are looking into Trump's inaugural fund. Republican Jerrold Nadler announced the probe into possible obstruction of justice, corruption and abuse of power. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=12209813&ref=rss | 0.211399 |
Is giving 26-year-old Bryce Harper a 13-year, $330m contract a terrible idea? | The Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger $22m when hes 39. But its unlikely he will be the same player he is now in a decades time For some, 13 is an unlucky number. For Bryce Harper, originally from Las Vegas, 13 is anything but unlucky. Thats because the Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger who has been an All-Star in six of his seven seasons in Major League Baseball $330m over the next 13 years, the richest contract in the history of baseball. With a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, Harper isnt going anywhere and the Phillies will still need to pay him $22m in the final year of his contract, when hes 39 and far from his prime. Its not really surprising that the Phillies were the team to land the 26-year old Harper. In a move surely regretted in later negotiations, Phillies owner John Middleton clearly stated the teams intent to acquire top level talent in the offseason, no matter the cost. Were going into this expecting to spend money, Middleton told USA Today Sports in November, and maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. Bryce Harper to sign record $330m contract with Philadelphia Phillies Read more But, for baseball, the concern hasnt been over paying stupid money, but rather for paying stupid money for a stupid amount of time. Risk averse teams are increasingly reluctant to hand out large sums of money to players they dont believe will deliver on the goods years down the line. Well, 13 years is a long-time and life happens, namely injuries. Recent free agent history is full of such cautionary tales. Miguel Cabrera 10 years, $275m: a herniated disc in his neck forced a premature end to the 2017 season and most of 2018 was lost to a torn biceps tendon. Albert Pujols 10 years, $240m: given his age at signing, 32, this one might have been doomed from the start. Injuries, particularly foot problems, have diminished his production to the replacement player level over the past several seasons. Prince Fielder nine years, $214m: signed by the Detroit Tigers, traded to the Texas Rangers. Herniated discs in his neck forced an early retirement. And for players signed to these long-term deals, the longer the contract, the greater the likelihood that injury will ultimately strike. In baseball, like other sports, injuries are difficult to prevent collisions with other players, being hit by a pitch, or an awkward dive in the outfield, can all put a player on the disabled list (for the 2019 season, its now called the injured list). Or, of course, the result of the repetitive stress of throwing a ball 95mph or swinging a bat hundreds of times a day. Though he is younger than the average free agent, the 26-year old Harper has had his share of injuries hip, knee, thumb, neck, shoulder most notably a gruesome knee hyperextension in 2017 that was the result of slipping on a wet base. Since the biggest risk of reinjury is a history of injury, minor problems can quickly turn into bigger ones, robbing a player of power and performance. While not directly related to aging, players then have fewer opportunities to post big numbers on the back side of their careers, because they are more likely to have seasons cut short by injury. Why Kyler Murray is set to forfeit a $4.6m MLB bonus and join the NFL Read more Chris Capuano, a left-handed pitcher with 12 years of Major League experience, believes that one of baseballs greatest challenges is the length of the season. The most difficult thing about baseball is the volume of games 30 in Spring Training, 162 in the regular season, and potentially another 20 or so in the postseason. A ballplayer needs to be incredibly disciplined about the way he takes care of his body and his mind throughout the year. Maintaining that level of performance gets harder each season. You obviously cant train the same way at 35 or 40 as when you were 25, says Capuano. Tom Brady is probably the best example of that in sports today. As your body ages, you need to refine your training to be more efficient, more recovery based. Yet, even when not at their physical peak, some players are just better than others. Researcher JC Bradbury, a sports economist at Kennesaw State, believes that the best players follow a different trajectory. It is a mistake to pay too much attention to aging when looking at these players because aging is gradual, he says. Player quality is a much more important variable. A player who is excelling at age 24 is likely to be improving into his late-20s/early-30s and then decline. Every players skill set ebbs over time, with those requiring less physical ability peaking later, specifies Bradbury, but those of the best players have farther to fall than the average player. Those who start with more skill an All-Star like Harper, for example maintain a better than average level of play longer, making them better candidates for long-term contracts. Bradburys research determined that performance generally declines after 29, but not every facet. For example, doubles plus triples per-at-bat peaks 4.5 years later for Hall-of-Famers, which indicates that elite hitters continue to improve and maintain hitting skills while other players are in decline. On-base percentage peaks later than hitting ability, presumably as players get better at reading pitches and therefore earning walks. One reason for decline in performance are changes in hand-eye coordination. Some players can adapt, others cannot. Research shows that some older players can still perform because they are able to compensate with experience. However, older players who cant compensate find themselves out of baseball. Recent increases in average pitching velocity have also likely affected which players can stick around. Interestingly, a recent analysis of long-term contracts in baseball, presented at last weeks MIT/Sloane Sports Analytics Conference, looked at performance during the other end of long-term contracts, the first several seasons. The research, presented by Richard Paulsen, compares a scenario in which an athlete plays a shorter, three-year contract with the first three years of a long-term contract. Paulsen summed it up like this, My work would predict that the player would accumulate about one fewer WAR for his team in the true scenario (first three years of a longer-term contract) relative to the three-year contract. Basically, for a variety of possible reasons, players tend to slightly underperform during the initial portion of a long-term contract. As long as teams are competing for top talent, there will continue to be special players like Harper driving the market. There is certainly risk in long-term contracts, but for teams willing to spend, they believe theres a lot to gain. But know this, the Phillies did not pin their hopes on Bryce Harper producing 13-years from now. Theyre banking on more immediate results. | Philadelphia Phillies will pay Bryce Harper $330m over the next 13 years. It is the richest contract in the history of baseball. | bart | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/05/bryce-harper-contract-length-value--philadelphia-phillies-mlb-baseball | 0.152065 |
Is giving 26-year-old Bryce Harper a 13-year, $330m contract a terrible idea? | The Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger $22m when hes 39. But its unlikely he will be the same player he is now in a decades time For some, 13 is an unlucky number. For Bryce Harper, originally from Las Vegas, 13 is anything but unlucky. Thats because the Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger who has been an All-Star in six of his seven seasons in Major League Baseball $330m over the next 13 years, the richest contract in the history of baseball. With a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, Harper isnt going anywhere and the Phillies will still need to pay him $22m in the final year of his contract, when hes 39 and far from his prime. Its not really surprising that the Phillies were the team to land the 26-year old Harper. In a move surely regretted in later negotiations, Phillies owner John Middleton clearly stated the teams intent to acquire top level talent in the offseason, no matter the cost. Were going into this expecting to spend money, Middleton told USA Today Sports in November, and maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. Bryce Harper to sign record $330m contract with Philadelphia Phillies Read more But, for baseball, the concern hasnt been over paying stupid money, but rather for paying stupid money for a stupid amount of time. Risk averse teams are increasingly reluctant to hand out large sums of money to players they dont believe will deliver on the goods years down the line. Well, 13 years is a long-time and life happens, namely injuries. Recent free agent history is full of such cautionary tales. Miguel Cabrera 10 years, $275m: a herniated disc in his neck forced a premature end to the 2017 season and most of 2018 was lost to a torn biceps tendon. Albert Pujols 10 years, $240m: given his age at signing, 32, this one might have been doomed from the start. Injuries, particularly foot problems, have diminished his production to the replacement player level over the past several seasons. Prince Fielder nine years, $214m: signed by the Detroit Tigers, traded to the Texas Rangers. Herniated discs in his neck forced an early retirement. And for players signed to these long-term deals, the longer the contract, the greater the likelihood that injury will ultimately strike. In baseball, like other sports, injuries are difficult to prevent collisions with other players, being hit by a pitch, or an awkward dive in the outfield, can all put a player on the disabled list (for the 2019 season, its now called the injured list). Or, of course, the result of the repetitive stress of throwing a ball 95mph or swinging a bat hundreds of times a day. Though he is younger than the average free agent, the 26-year old Harper has had his share of injuries hip, knee, thumb, neck, shoulder most notably a gruesome knee hyperextension in 2017 that was the result of slipping on a wet base. Since the biggest risk of reinjury is a history of injury, minor problems can quickly turn into bigger ones, robbing a player of power and performance. While not directly related to aging, players then have fewer opportunities to post big numbers on the back side of their careers, because they are more likely to have seasons cut short by injury. Why Kyler Murray is set to forfeit a $4.6m MLB bonus and join the NFL Read more Chris Capuano, a left-handed pitcher with 12 years of Major League experience, believes that one of baseballs greatest challenges is the length of the season. The most difficult thing about baseball is the volume of games 30 in Spring Training, 162 in the regular season, and potentially another 20 or so in the postseason. A ballplayer needs to be incredibly disciplined about the way he takes care of his body and his mind throughout the year. Maintaining that level of performance gets harder each season. You obviously cant train the same way at 35 or 40 as when you were 25, says Capuano. Tom Brady is probably the best example of that in sports today. As your body ages, you need to refine your training to be more efficient, more recovery based. Yet, even when not at their physical peak, some players are just better than others. Researcher JC Bradbury, a sports economist at Kennesaw State, believes that the best players follow a different trajectory. It is a mistake to pay too much attention to aging when looking at these players because aging is gradual, he says. Player quality is a much more important variable. A player who is excelling at age 24 is likely to be improving into his late-20s/early-30s and then decline. Every players skill set ebbs over time, with those requiring less physical ability peaking later, specifies Bradbury, but those of the best players have farther to fall than the average player. Those who start with more skill an All-Star like Harper, for example maintain a better than average level of play longer, making them better candidates for long-term contracts. Bradburys research determined that performance generally declines after 29, but not every facet. For example, doubles plus triples per-at-bat peaks 4.5 years later for Hall-of-Famers, which indicates that elite hitters continue to improve and maintain hitting skills while other players are in decline. On-base percentage peaks later than hitting ability, presumably as players get better at reading pitches and therefore earning walks. One reason for decline in performance are changes in hand-eye coordination. Some players can adapt, others cannot. Research shows that some older players can still perform because they are able to compensate with experience. However, older players who cant compensate find themselves out of baseball. Recent increases in average pitching velocity have also likely affected which players can stick around. Interestingly, a recent analysis of long-term contracts in baseball, presented at last weeks MIT/Sloane Sports Analytics Conference, looked at performance during the other end of long-term contracts, the first several seasons. The research, presented by Richard Paulsen, compares a scenario in which an athlete plays a shorter, three-year contract with the first three years of a long-term contract. Paulsen summed it up like this, My work would predict that the player would accumulate about one fewer WAR for his team in the true scenario (first three years of a longer-term contract) relative to the three-year contract. Basically, for a variety of possible reasons, players tend to slightly underperform during the initial portion of a long-term contract. As long as teams are competing for top talent, there will continue to be special players like Harper driving the market. There is certainly risk in long-term contracts, but for teams willing to spend, they believe theres a lot to gain. But know this, the Phillies did not pin their hopes on Bryce Harper producing 13-years from now. Theyre banking on more immediate results. | Bryce Harper has signed a 13-year, $330m contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 26-year-old slugger has been an All-Star in six of his seven seasons. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/05/bryce-harper-contract-length-value--philadelphia-phillies-mlb-baseball | 0.180864 |
Is giving 26-year-old Bryce Harper a 13-year, $330m contract a terrible idea? | The Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger $22m when hes 39. But its unlikely he will be the same player he is now in a decades time For some, 13 is an unlucky number. For Bryce Harper, originally from Las Vegas, 13 is anything but unlucky. Thats because the Philadelphia Phillies will be paying the slugger who has been an All-Star in six of his seven seasons in Major League Baseball $330m over the next 13 years, the richest contract in the history of baseball. With a full no-trade clause and no opt-outs, Harper isnt going anywhere and the Phillies will still need to pay him $22m in the final year of his contract, when hes 39 and far from his prime. Its not really surprising that the Phillies were the team to land the 26-year old Harper. In a move surely regretted in later negotiations, Phillies owner John Middleton clearly stated the teams intent to acquire top level talent in the offseason, no matter the cost. Were going into this expecting to spend money, Middleton told USA Today Sports in November, and maybe even be a little bit stupid about it. Bryce Harper to sign record $330m contract with Philadelphia Phillies Read more But, for baseball, the concern hasnt been over paying stupid money, but rather for paying stupid money for a stupid amount of time. Risk averse teams are increasingly reluctant to hand out large sums of money to players they dont believe will deliver on the goods years down the line. Well, 13 years is a long-time and life happens, namely injuries. Recent free agent history is full of such cautionary tales. Miguel Cabrera 10 years, $275m: a herniated disc in his neck forced a premature end to the 2017 season and most of 2018 was lost to a torn biceps tendon. Albert Pujols 10 years, $240m: given his age at signing, 32, this one might have been doomed from the start. Injuries, particularly foot problems, have diminished his production to the replacement player level over the past several seasons. Prince Fielder nine years, $214m: signed by the Detroit Tigers, traded to the Texas Rangers. Herniated discs in his neck forced an early retirement. And for players signed to these long-term deals, the longer the contract, the greater the likelihood that injury will ultimately strike. In baseball, like other sports, injuries are difficult to prevent collisions with other players, being hit by a pitch, or an awkward dive in the outfield, can all put a player on the disabled list (for the 2019 season, its now called the injured list). Or, of course, the result of the repetitive stress of throwing a ball 95mph or swinging a bat hundreds of times a day. Though he is younger than the average free agent, the 26-year old Harper has had his share of injuries hip, knee, thumb, neck, shoulder most notably a gruesome knee hyperextension in 2017 that was the result of slipping on a wet base. Since the biggest risk of reinjury is a history of injury, minor problems can quickly turn into bigger ones, robbing a player of power and performance. While not directly related to aging, players then have fewer opportunities to post big numbers on the back side of their careers, because they are more likely to have seasons cut short by injury. Why Kyler Murray is set to forfeit a $4.6m MLB bonus and join the NFL Read more Chris Capuano, a left-handed pitcher with 12 years of Major League experience, believes that one of baseballs greatest challenges is the length of the season. The most difficult thing about baseball is the volume of games 30 in Spring Training, 162 in the regular season, and potentially another 20 or so in the postseason. A ballplayer needs to be incredibly disciplined about the way he takes care of his body and his mind throughout the year. Maintaining that level of performance gets harder each season. You obviously cant train the same way at 35 or 40 as when you were 25, says Capuano. Tom Brady is probably the best example of that in sports today. As your body ages, you need to refine your training to be more efficient, more recovery based. Yet, even when not at their physical peak, some players are just better than others. Researcher JC Bradbury, a sports economist at Kennesaw State, believes that the best players follow a different trajectory. It is a mistake to pay too much attention to aging when looking at these players because aging is gradual, he says. Player quality is a much more important variable. A player who is excelling at age 24 is likely to be improving into his late-20s/early-30s and then decline. Every players skill set ebbs over time, with those requiring less physical ability peaking later, specifies Bradbury, but those of the best players have farther to fall than the average player. Those who start with more skill an All-Star like Harper, for example maintain a better than average level of play longer, making them better candidates for long-term contracts. Bradburys research determined that performance generally declines after 29, but not every facet. For example, doubles plus triples per-at-bat peaks 4.5 years later for Hall-of-Famers, which indicates that elite hitters continue to improve and maintain hitting skills while other players are in decline. On-base percentage peaks later than hitting ability, presumably as players get better at reading pitches and therefore earning walks. One reason for decline in performance are changes in hand-eye coordination. Some players can adapt, others cannot. Research shows that some older players can still perform because they are able to compensate with experience. However, older players who cant compensate find themselves out of baseball. Recent increases in average pitching velocity have also likely affected which players can stick around. Interestingly, a recent analysis of long-term contracts in baseball, presented at last weeks MIT/Sloane Sports Analytics Conference, looked at performance during the other end of long-term contracts, the first several seasons. The research, presented by Richard Paulsen, compares a scenario in which an athlete plays a shorter, three-year contract with the first three years of a long-term contract. Paulsen summed it up like this, My work would predict that the player would accumulate about one fewer WAR for his team in the true scenario (first three years of a longer-term contract) relative to the three-year contract. Basically, for a variety of possible reasons, players tend to slightly underperform during the initial portion of a long-term contract. As long as teams are competing for top talent, there will continue to be special players like Harper driving the market. There is certainly risk in long-term contracts, but for teams willing to spend, they believe theres a lot to gain. But know this, the Phillies did not pin their hopes on Bryce Harper producing 13-years from now. Theyre banking on more immediate results. | Bryce Harper has signed a 13-year, $330m contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. The 26-year-old slugger has been an All-Star in six of his seven seasons in Major League Baseball. But it's unlikely he will be the same player he is now in a decade's time. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/mar/05/bryce-harper-contract-length-value--philadelphia-phillies-mlb-baseball | 0.28096 |
How does physical activity in class improve a child's learning? | During the Super Movers Super-Size Experiment, where primary pupils were tested on their learning capabilities, 77% of schools saw an improvement in brain speed after exercise. Super Movers, a partnership between the BBC and the Premier League, aims to get primary school children up and moving in class with their Brain Booster and Just for Fun videos. To understand just how effective this can be on a child's classroom performance they launched the Super-Size Experiment. Schools from all over the country took part, resulting in over a thousand students being tested with memory and brain speed puzzles. At each school a class would take the test, before being split into two groups. One group continued solving maths problems at their desks, while the other group had a physical activity session which included moving along to Super Movers videos. Both groups then completed a second test and any differences, along with plenty of other factors, were noted. The results are clear, 77% of schools saw an improvement in the brain speed of pupils in the group taking part in sessions including exercise and activity. This improvement was up to 19% higher than their previous scores. The experiment also found that exercise clearly improved the mood of both boys and girls, while those who continued to do traditional, seated maths saw a decrease in mood. In boys this improvement in mood resulted in better brain speed and memory. In Operation Ouch's broadcast of one of the experiments, Dr Chris and Dr Xand explained it best: "Exercise boosts your learning abilities, because when you're active your heart pumps faster and faster. This sends more blood to you brain. "Blood is packed with useful nutrients and oxygen molecules, so more blood means more molecules to help you think quicker!" Super Movers aims to get children moving throughout the day with lots of free, easy-to-use video resources and great football-inspired incentives like a visit from the Premier League Trophy. Brain Booster routines star famous faces and cover key areas of Numeracy and Literacy. They can be used in the classroom or at home to help children feel refreshed and energised whilst learning. The Just for Fun routines help get the whole family active together. | Exercising boosts your learning abilities, because when you're active your heart pumps faster and faster. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/supermovers/47440613 | 0.192671 |
How does physical activity in class improve a child's learning? | During the Super Movers Super-Size Experiment, where primary pupils were tested on their learning capabilities, 77% of schools saw an improvement in brain speed after exercise. Super Movers, a partnership between the BBC and the Premier League, aims to get primary school children up and moving in class with their Brain Booster and Just for Fun videos. To understand just how effective this can be on a child's classroom performance they launched the Super-Size Experiment. Schools from all over the country took part, resulting in over a thousand students being tested with memory and brain speed puzzles. At each school a class would take the test, before being split into two groups. One group continued solving maths problems at their desks, while the other group had a physical activity session which included moving along to Super Movers videos. Both groups then completed a second test and any differences, along with plenty of other factors, were noted. The results are clear, 77% of schools saw an improvement in the brain speed of pupils in the group taking part in sessions including exercise and activity. This improvement was up to 19% higher than their previous scores. The experiment also found that exercise clearly improved the mood of both boys and girls, while those who continued to do traditional, seated maths saw a decrease in mood. In boys this improvement in mood resulted in better brain speed and memory. In Operation Ouch's broadcast of one of the experiments, Dr Chris and Dr Xand explained it best: "Exercise boosts your learning abilities, because when you're active your heart pumps faster and faster. This sends more blood to you brain. "Blood is packed with useful nutrients and oxygen molecules, so more blood means more molecules to help you think quicker!" Super Movers aims to get children moving throughout the day with lots of free, easy-to-use video resources and great football-inspired incentives like a visit from the Premier League Trophy. Brain Booster routines star famous faces and cover key areas of Numeracy and Literacy. They can be used in the classroom or at home to help children feel refreshed and energised whilst learning. The Just for Fun routines help get the whole family active together. | Exercising boosts your learning abilities, because when you're active your heart pumps faster and faster, sending more blood to you brain. The Super Movers Super-Size Experiment saw over a thousand students being tested with memory and brain speed puzzles. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/supermovers/47440613 | 0.255957 |
Should public transportation be free? | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Some feel public transportation should be free in order to grow ridership and encourage people to choose mass transit over their car. But real-world experiments show that making public transit free does not bring in new riders, so the cost should stay the same. When climate change is top-of-mind for many people and governments, it would only make sense to make public transportation easier to access. The more drivers cities can get off the road, the less greenhouse-gas emissions will be released into the atmosphere. According to The Atlantics Joe Pinksker, the U.S. government subsidizes up to 89 percent of operating costs for buses and rail systems, allowing most public transit to cost less than $2 on average. Maybe free public transit should be thought of not as a behavioral instrument, but as a right; poorer citizens have just as much of a privilege to get around conveniently as wealthier ones. If the debate shifted from means-to-an-end thinking to pure egalitarianism, the hope of free public transit might actually be realized. But Pinksker admits that in cases where free public transportation has been attempted, locals were reluctant to change their behavior. According to Pinksker, the earliest urban experiment in free public transportation took place in Rome in the 1970s. The results were less than ideal: Romans couldn't be bothered to ditch their carsthe buses were only half-full during the mid-day rush hour, when hundreds of thousands battle their way home for a plate of spaghetti. Six months after the failed, costly experiment, a cash-strapped Rome reinstated its fare system. When train and bus systems are free for all, they only entice people who might otherwise walk or bike, not those who drive. With this being the case, theres no need for further subsidies or taxes to pay for public transit in entiretythe results would not justify the means. An interesting, albeit misguided, thread: free public transportation doesn't work, on its own. Raising the cost of car use won't do the trick. True. (1/2) https://t.co/qQpebXKEfZ Nicholas de Wolff (@usdew) December 16, 2018 Some argue a small payroll tax would be more than enough to fund train and bus costs for cities. According to The UrbanistsDavid Gordon, this system would shift remaining operating costs to employers and employees. A fare-free [transit] system can quickly and significantly allow low-income people to have more disposable income, reduce traffic congestion by getting more commuters on buses, and reduce the regressive nature of our high sales taxes. Gordon points out that the perks to free transit go beyond reducing greenhouse gases. A free system would also benefit taxpayers in search of faster commutes, as well as transit agencies looking to improve operations and increase ridership. The Case for Making Transit Free (and How to Pay for It) The Urbanist But others feel that making transit free will create a false impression for riders. Lucile Ramackers writes on Medium that passengers already dont cover much of the operating costs for public transportationmost of it is covered by the government: The major problem with free public transport is that it creates the perception of a no-cost service. Just as car drivers commonly assume that there is no cost involved in driving their car somewhere. Ramackers argues by increasing subsidies or taxes, improvements to public transit systems will be even more limited. As more people use these systems, the faults of outdated trains and buses will only become more of a nightmare. Instead, governments should encourage a number of different transportation habits to promote clean air: Indeed, we should support any initiative aiming at reducing air pollution and the scope is wide: improve public transport experience, promote car-sharing, encourage biking, develop Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) meaning electric cars obviously, but also electric motorcycles and scooters. The point is to widen eco-friendly and resource efficient options, so that anyone can choose the most appropriate means of transportation for their journey. Why making public transport free is a bad idea 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. | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Some feel public transportation should be free in order to grow ridership. | bart | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/03/should-public-transportation-be-free.html | 0.174329 |
Should public transportation be free? | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Some feel public transportation should be free in order to grow ridership and encourage people to choose mass transit over their car. But real-world experiments show that making public transit free does not bring in new riders, so the cost should stay the same. When climate change is top-of-mind for many people and governments, it would only make sense to make public transportation easier to access. The more drivers cities can get off the road, the less greenhouse-gas emissions will be released into the atmosphere. According to The Atlantics Joe Pinksker, the U.S. government subsidizes up to 89 percent of operating costs for buses and rail systems, allowing most public transit to cost less than $2 on average. Maybe free public transit should be thought of not as a behavioral instrument, but as a right; poorer citizens have just as much of a privilege to get around conveniently as wealthier ones. If the debate shifted from means-to-an-end thinking to pure egalitarianism, the hope of free public transit might actually be realized. But Pinksker admits that in cases where free public transportation has been attempted, locals were reluctant to change their behavior. According to Pinksker, the earliest urban experiment in free public transportation took place in Rome in the 1970s. The results were less than ideal: Romans couldn't be bothered to ditch their carsthe buses were only half-full during the mid-day rush hour, when hundreds of thousands battle their way home for a plate of spaghetti. Six months after the failed, costly experiment, a cash-strapped Rome reinstated its fare system. When train and bus systems are free for all, they only entice people who might otherwise walk or bike, not those who drive. With this being the case, theres no need for further subsidies or taxes to pay for public transit in entiretythe results would not justify the means. An interesting, albeit misguided, thread: free public transportation doesn't work, on its own. Raising the cost of car use won't do the trick. True. (1/2) https://t.co/qQpebXKEfZ Nicholas de Wolff (@usdew) December 16, 2018 Some argue a small payroll tax would be more than enough to fund train and bus costs for cities. According to The UrbanistsDavid Gordon, this system would shift remaining operating costs to employers and employees. A fare-free [transit] system can quickly and significantly allow low-income people to have more disposable income, reduce traffic congestion by getting more commuters on buses, and reduce the regressive nature of our high sales taxes. Gordon points out that the perks to free transit go beyond reducing greenhouse gases. A free system would also benefit taxpayers in search of faster commutes, as well as transit agencies looking to improve operations and increase ridership. The Case for Making Transit Free (and How to Pay for It) The Urbanist But others feel that making transit free will create a false impression for riders. Lucile Ramackers writes on Medium that passengers already dont cover much of the operating costs for public transportationmost of it is covered by the government: The major problem with free public transport is that it creates the perception of a no-cost service. Just as car drivers commonly assume that there is no cost involved in driving their car somewhere. Ramackers argues by increasing subsidies or taxes, improvements to public transit systems will be even more limited. As more people use these systems, the faults of outdated trains and buses will only become more of a nightmare. Instead, governments should encourage a number of different transportation habits to promote clean air: Indeed, we should support any initiative aiming at reducing air pollution and the scope is wide: improve public transport experience, promote car-sharing, encourage biking, develop Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) meaning electric cars obviously, but also electric motorcycles and scooters. The point is to widen eco-friendly and resource efficient options, so that anyone can choose the most appropriate means of transportation for their journey. Why making public transport free is a bad idea 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. | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Making public transit free does not bring in new riders, so the cost should stay the same. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/03/should-public-transportation-be-free.html | 0.105207 |
Should public transportation be free? | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Some feel public transportation should be free in order to grow ridership and encourage people to choose mass transit over their car. But real-world experiments show that making public transit free does not bring in new riders, so the cost should stay the same. When climate change is top-of-mind for many people and governments, it would only make sense to make public transportation easier to access. The more drivers cities can get off the road, the less greenhouse-gas emissions will be released into the atmosphere. According to The Atlantics Joe Pinksker, the U.S. government subsidizes up to 89 percent of operating costs for buses and rail systems, allowing most public transit to cost less than $2 on average. Maybe free public transit should be thought of not as a behavioral instrument, but as a right; poorer citizens have just as much of a privilege to get around conveniently as wealthier ones. If the debate shifted from means-to-an-end thinking to pure egalitarianism, the hope of free public transit might actually be realized. But Pinksker admits that in cases where free public transportation has been attempted, locals were reluctant to change their behavior. According to Pinksker, the earliest urban experiment in free public transportation took place in Rome in the 1970s. The results were less than ideal: Romans couldn't be bothered to ditch their carsthe buses were only half-full during the mid-day rush hour, when hundreds of thousands battle their way home for a plate of spaghetti. Six months after the failed, costly experiment, a cash-strapped Rome reinstated its fare system. When train and bus systems are free for all, they only entice people who might otherwise walk or bike, not those who drive. With this being the case, theres no need for further subsidies or taxes to pay for public transit in entiretythe results would not justify the means. An interesting, albeit misguided, thread: free public transportation doesn't work, on its own. Raising the cost of car use won't do the trick. True. (1/2) https://t.co/qQpebXKEfZ Nicholas de Wolff (@usdew) December 16, 2018 Some argue a small payroll tax would be more than enough to fund train and bus costs for cities. According to The UrbanistsDavid Gordon, this system would shift remaining operating costs to employers and employees. A fare-free [transit] system can quickly and significantly allow low-income people to have more disposable income, reduce traffic congestion by getting more commuters on buses, and reduce the regressive nature of our high sales taxes. Gordon points out that the perks to free transit go beyond reducing greenhouse gases. A free system would also benefit taxpayers in search of faster commutes, as well as transit agencies looking to improve operations and increase ridership. The Case for Making Transit Free (and How to Pay for It) The Urbanist But others feel that making transit free will create a false impression for riders. Lucile Ramackers writes on Medium that passengers already dont cover much of the operating costs for public transportationmost of it is covered by the government: The major problem with free public transport is that it creates the perception of a no-cost service. Just as car drivers commonly assume that there is no cost involved in driving their car somewhere. Ramackers argues by increasing subsidies or taxes, improvements to public transit systems will be even more limited. As more people use these systems, the faults of outdated trains and buses will only become more of a nightmare. Instead, governments should encourage a number of different transportation habits to promote clean air: Indeed, we should support any initiative aiming at reducing air pollution and the scope is wide: improve public transport experience, promote car-sharing, encourage biking, develop Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) meaning electric cars obviously, but also electric motorcycles and scooters. The point is to widen eco-friendly and resource efficient options, so that anyone can choose the most appropriate means of transportation for their journey. Why making public transport free is a bad idea 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. | One-in-10 Americans use public transportation on a daily or weekly basis. Some feel public transportation should be free in order to grow ridership. But real-world experiments show that making public transit free does not bring in new riders, so the cost should stay the same. | bart | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/politics/2019/03/should-public-transportation-be-free.html | 0.268435 |
What Can Mardi Gras Teach Us About Food Trademarks? | For food and beverage companies, trademarks can offer a priceless competitive advantage. Given that today is Mardi Gras, it seems only appropriate to examine food trademarks through the lens of New Orleans. For example, a courtroom battle over trademarks and beer has broken out in the week before Mardi Gras. Spilling out of New Orleans Bourbon Street into federal court, a local businesses claims that its Huge descriptor of its alcoholic beverages is being infringed by a competitor offering Giant drinks. Distinctiveness represents one of the key criteria for trademark protection. Generally, prospective marks may have a stronger claim when they are more fanciful and less descriptive. As one court put it, the protection accorded trademarks is directly related to the marks distinctiveness. That is, a proposed mark that is completely arbitrary to the nature of the product might obtain greater protection than a mark using a descriptive term without a secondary meaning. New Orleans was home to a canonical trademark case that examined the distinctiveness of trademarked foodstuffs. In that case, Zatarains accused another company of infringing on its Fish-Fri and Chick-Fri marks for mixes used to fry fish and chicken, respectively. Noting that it need not tarry long for it had other fish to fry, the court found that both marks were descriptive. As the court put it, Chick-Fri is at least as descriptive of the act of frying chicken as Fish-Fri is descriptive of frying fish. Nevertheless, the court ruled that Fish-Fri had acquired a secondary meaning specific to the New Orleans area, whereas Chick-Fri had not done so. Using survey evidence combined with what the court described as circumstantial evidence of secondary meaning consisting of use over a period of several decades combined with significant local advertising and sales, Zatarains was able to prove that its Fish-Fri mark had acquired secondary meaning in the minds of the New Orleans consuming public such that it was a protectable trademark. Words, symbols, designs, and names are among the marks eligible for protection under trademark law. In one recent case involving the denial of an application for a temporary restraining order, two quick service restaurants battled over the use of Cajun in connection with chicken biscuits. That court there assessed the alleged trademark infringement of Cajun Filet Biscuit and the phrase GottaWannaNeedaGettaHava, recognizing that the GottaWannaNeedaGettaHava phrase was more abstract and thus subject to greater protection than the descriptive biscuit mark. Ultimately, the court concluded that it simply cannot be that a single company has a monopoly on putting a piece of Cajun spiced chicken between two sides of a biscuit. Product configuration represents another category of registrable trademarks. In order to be registrable, any product configuration must have acquired distinctiveness and it must be non-functional, according to Anne Glazer, a partner at Stoel Rives focusing on trademarks. Glazer added that these are generally difficult standards to meet. Nonetheless, the configurations of food products like Bugles snacks and Goldfish crackers have cleared this bar. In just the past month, the product configuration of the Bubba Burger, an unusually-shaped frozen burger patty, was granted preliminary trademark approval and was published for potential opposition. Glazer noted that the Bubba Burger applicant had submitted extensive evidence of its sales and advertising in order to show acquired distinctiveness and claimed that the unusual shape has no functional benefits in relation to the manufacturing, cooking, or texture of the product. Whether or not one celebrates Mardis Gras with a burger or a king cake marked with a trademarked dog made out of Mardi Gras beads, New Orleans and Mardi Gras have much to teach us all about food trademarks. | Courtroom battle over trademarks and beer has broken out in the week before Mardi Gras. New Orleans was home to a canonical trademark case that examined the distinctiveness of trademarked foodstuffs. Words, symbols, designs, and names are among the marks eligible for protection under trademark law. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommytobin/2019/03/05/mardigras/ | 0.120939 |
Is The Roth IRA More Valuable Under Trump Tax Plan? | The news has been abuzz with people who are displeased about their shrinking tax refunds under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), or as its more commonly called, the Trump Tax Plan. I recently spoke with a couple who were accustomed to getting back several thousand dollars per year. However, they ended up owing more $10,000 when they filed their 2018 federal income taxes. A surprise tax bill like this might cause a taxpayer to scream and then look for ways to cut that tax bill. One of those ways might be a Traditional IRA contribution to lower your current tax liability. While that may be a good step in the right direction, the Trump Tax Plan may make a Roth IRA contribution more valuable in the long term for the average taxpayer. If you google Traditional IRA versus Roth IRA, you will see more than 650,000 results. While there are a number of opinions out there about which is the better option, I think most people should have a combination of pre-tax accounts (Traditional IRA, 401(k)) and post-tax accounts (Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), regular investment accounts). It is important to point out that the Roth IRA may become more valuable to you because of the new Trump Tax Plan. At least that has been the case for many people. Tax-free growth and tax-free income might be quite appealing to current and future retirees. At the same time, more money in your pocket to maximize today could be extremely tempting as well. The reality is that tax rates have been lowered under the TCJA. Lower tax rates decrease the value of a current tax deduction. Pair that with the ballooning federal deficits, and one can reasonably expect that tax rates will have to be higher at some point in the future. A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that you fund with post-tax money. Put another way, you will not get a tax deduction for your contributions. However, assuming you follow Roth IRA rules, all of your growth and withdrawals in the future will be tax free. For 2018, you can still contribute up to $5,500 into a Roth IRA. Individuals who are at least 50 years old are able to contribute an additional $1,000. April 15, 2019 is the deadline to open and fund an IRA, or Roth IRA, for the 2018 tax year. Keep in mind that there are income limitations. If you are single and make between $120,000 and $135,000, your contributions will be limited. If you earn more than $135,000 you will not be able to contribute at all. The phaseout range is $189,000 to $199,000 for married couples filing jointly. If you make more than this you want to check out the Rich Person Roth which doesn't come with any income restrictions. There is also the Roth 401(k). Individuals are allowed to put up to $18,500, for tax year 2018, into this type of account. That assumes your employer offers this type of retirement account. Like a Roth IRA, the Roth 401(k) allows an individual, who is at least 50 years old, to make catch up contributions up to an additional $6,000 each year. No Required Minimum Distributions Once you reach the age of 70 , an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) formula tells you how much you must take out of your retirement accounts each year. This is called a required minimum distribution (RMD). All of that will likely be counted as taxable income, which could push other retirement income into higher tax brackets. That does not even take into account increased taxes that may be due on Social Security benefits and having higher premiums due for Medicare Part B. I should point out that Roth IRAs are not subject to RMD requirements. They can also offer some retirement income protection in the form of diversity of taxation on your retirement income. They may also provide opportunities for proactive tax planning as well, which if done properly, could help minimize taxes and therefore net more (in your pocket) retirement income. Take Advantage of Low Tax Rates Now If you are in the final stretch of retirement planning, now may be a good time to be funding your Roth accounts or looking at Roth IRA conversions. If you are retired and find yourself in a lower tax bracket than expected, consider converting a portion of your retirement savings into a Roth IRA each year. Do not do it all at once or you will likely end up in a higher tax bracket during the conversion. The funds can then grow, and come out tax free. When handled properly, the tax savings could be substantial. Typically, the younger you are the more value a Roth IRA contribution can bring down the road. That is simply because your money will have more time to compound and grow tax free. For example, lets say you are 22 years old and put in $5,500 today. Assuming that dollar amount grew at 8% per year until age 70, you could have more than $220,000. You would also be able to pull out all of that money, tax free once you retired. To put that in perspective, if you pulled $220,000 out of an IRA today, the federal income taxes that you would be required to pay would be as high as 35% based on 2018 tax brackets. Related: 5 Legal Ways to Get Tax Free Income In Retirement The bottom line is that the more time you have until retirement, the more opportunity you have to let your money grow and compound. Younger workers tend to make less money early in their careers, which may cause them to think they will start investing once they are earning higher salaries. However, making regular investments into a Roth IRA earlier in your career, and then transitioning to a traditional IRA or 401(k) as your income increases, can be a smart move. When doing comprehensive financial plans for clients, we typically look to have a combination of pre-tax and post-tax money by the time they achieve financial freedom. The new tax law may be making your tax refund smaller. But it may be making the benefits of Roth accounts bigger. | The Trump Tax Plan may make a Roth IRA contribution more valuable in the long term. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/03/05/roth-ira/ | 0.510772 |
Is The Roth IRA More Valuable Under Trump Tax Plan? | The news has been abuzz with people who are displeased about their shrinking tax refunds under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), or as its more commonly called, the Trump Tax Plan. I recently spoke with a couple who were accustomed to getting back several thousand dollars per year. However, they ended up owing more $10,000 when they filed their 2018 federal income taxes. A surprise tax bill like this might cause a taxpayer to scream and then look for ways to cut that tax bill. One of those ways might be a Traditional IRA contribution to lower your current tax liability. While that may be a good step in the right direction, the Trump Tax Plan may make a Roth IRA contribution more valuable in the long term for the average taxpayer. If you google Traditional IRA versus Roth IRA, you will see more than 650,000 results. While there are a number of opinions out there about which is the better option, I think most people should have a combination of pre-tax accounts (Traditional IRA, 401(k)) and post-tax accounts (Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), regular investment accounts). It is important to point out that the Roth IRA may become more valuable to you because of the new Trump Tax Plan. At least that has been the case for many people. Tax-free growth and tax-free income might be quite appealing to current and future retirees. At the same time, more money in your pocket to maximize today could be extremely tempting as well. The reality is that tax rates have been lowered under the TCJA. Lower tax rates decrease the value of a current tax deduction. Pair that with the ballooning federal deficits, and one can reasonably expect that tax rates will have to be higher at some point in the future. A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that you fund with post-tax money. Put another way, you will not get a tax deduction for your contributions. However, assuming you follow Roth IRA rules, all of your growth and withdrawals in the future will be tax free. For 2018, you can still contribute up to $5,500 into a Roth IRA. Individuals who are at least 50 years old are able to contribute an additional $1,000. April 15, 2019 is the deadline to open and fund an IRA, or Roth IRA, for the 2018 tax year. Keep in mind that there are income limitations. If you are single and make between $120,000 and $135,000, your contributions will be limited. If you earn more than $135,000 you will not be able to contribute at all. The phaseout range is $189,000 to $199,000 for married couples filing jointly. If you make more than this you want to check out the Rich Person Roth which doesn't come with any income restrictions. There is also the Roth 401(k). Individuals are allowed to put up to $18,500, for tax year 2018, into this type of account. That assumes your employer offers this type of retirement account. Like a Roth IRA, the Roth 401(k) allows an individual, who is at least 50 years old, to make catch up contributions up to an additional $6,000 each year. No Required Minimum Distributions Once you reach the age of 70 , an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) formula tells you how much you must take out of your retirement accounts each year. This is called a required minimum distribution (RMD). All of that will likely be counted as taxable income, which could push other retirement income into higher tax brackets. That does not even take into account increased taxes that may be due on Social Security benefits and having higher premiums due for Medicare Part B. I should point out that Roth IRAs are not subject to RMD requirements. They can also offer some retirement income protection in the form of diversity of taxation on your retirement income. They may also provide opportunities for proactive tax planning as well, which if done properly, could help minimize taxes and therefore net more (in your pocket) retirement income. Take Advantage of Low Tax Rates Now If you are in the final stretch of retirement planning, now may be a good time to be funding your Roth accounts or looking at Roth IRA conversions. If you are retired and find yourself in a lower tax bracket than expected, consider converting a portion of your retirement savings into a Roth IRA each year. Do not do it all at once or you will likely end up in a higher tax bracket during the conversion. The funds can then grow, and come out tax free. When handled properly, the tax savings could be substantial. Typically, the younger you are the more value a Roth IRA contribution can bring down the road. That is simply because your money will have more time to compound and grow tax free. For example, lets say you are 22 years old and put in $5,500 today. Assuming that dollar amount grew at 8% per year until age 70, you could have more than $220,000. You would also be able to pull out all of that money, tax free once you retired. To put that in perspective, if you pulled $220,000 out of an IRA today, the federal income taxes that you would be required to pay would be as high as 35% based on 2018 tax brackets. Related: 5 Legal Ways to Get Tax Free Income In Retirement The bottom line is that the more time you have until retirement, the more opportunity you have to let your money grow and compound. Younger workers tend to make less money early in their careers, which may cause them to think they will start investing once they are earning higher salaries. However, making regular investments into a Roth IRA earlier in your career, and then transitioning to a traditional IRA or 401(k) as your income increases, can be a smart move. When doing comprehensive financial plans for clients, we typically look to have a combination of pre-tax and post-tax money by the time they achieve financial freedom. The new tax law may be making your tax refund smaller. But it may be making the benefits of Roth accounts bigger. | The Trump Tax Plan may make a Roth IRA contribution more valuable in the long term for the average taxpayer. A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that you fund with post-tax money. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/03/05/roth-ira/ | 0.568503 |
Is The Roth IRA More Valuable Under Trump Tax Plan? | The news has been abuzz with people who are displeased about their shrinking tax refunds under the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), or as its more commonly called, the Trump Tax Plan. I recently spoke with a couple who were accustomed to getting back several thousand dollars per year. However, they ended up owing more $10,000 when they filed their 2018 federal income taxes. A surprise tax bill like this might cause a taxpayer to scream and then look for ways to cut that tax bill. One of those ways might be a Traditional IRA contribution to lower your current tax liability. While that may be a good step in the right direction, the Trump Tax Plan may make a Roth IRA contribution more valuable in the long term for the average taxpayer. If you google Traditional IRA versus Roth IRA, you will see more than 650,000 results. While there are a number of opinions out there about which is the better option, I think most people should have a combination of pre-tax accounts (Traditional IRA, 401(k)) and post-tax accounts (Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), regular investment accounts). It is important to point out that the Roth IRA may become more valuable to you because of the new Trump Tax Plan. At least that has been the case for many people. Tax-free growth and tax-free income might be quite appealing to current and future retirees. At the same time, more money in your pocket to maximize today could be extremely tempting as well. The reality is that tax rates have been lowered under the TCJA. Lower tax rates decrease the value of a current tax deduction. Pair that with the ballooning federal deficits, and one can reasonably expect that tax rates will have to be higher at some point in the future. A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that you fund with post-tax money. Put another way, you will not get a tax deduction for your contributions. However, assuming you follow Roth IRA rules, all of your growth and withdrawals in the future will be tax free. For 2018, you can still contribute up to $5,500 into a Roth IRA. Individuals who are at least 50 years old are able to contribute an additional $1,000. April 15, 2019 is the deadline to open and fund an IRA, or Roth IRA, for the 2018 tax year. Keep in mind that there are income limitations. If you are single and make between $120,000 and $135,000, your contributions will be limited. If you earn more than $135,000 you will not be able to contribute at all. The phaseout range is $189,000 to $199,000 for married couples filing jointly. If you make more than this you want to check out the Rich Person Roth which doesn't come with any income restrictions. There is also the Roth 401(k). Individuals are allowed to put up to $18,500, for tax year 2018, into this type of account. That assumes your employer offers this type of retirement account. Like a Roth IRA, the Roth 401(k) allows an individual, who is at least 50 years old, to make catch up contributions up to an additional $6,000 each year. No Required Minimum Distributions Once you reach the age of 70 , an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) formula tells you how much you must take out of your retirement accounts each year. This is called a required minimum distribution (RMD). All of that will likely be counted as taxable income, which could push other retirement income into higher tax brackets. That does not even take into account increased taxes that may be due on Social Security benefits and having higher premiums due for Medicare Part B. I should point out that Roth IRAs are not subject to RMD requirements. They can also offer some retirement income protection in the form of diversity of taxation on your retirement income. They may also provide opportunities for proactive tax planning as well, which if done properly, could help minimize taxes and therefore net more (in your pocket) retirement income. Take Advantage of Low Tax Rates Now If you are in the final stretch of retirement planning, now may be a good time to be funding your Roth accounts or looking at Roth IRA conversions. If you are retired and find yourself in a lower tax bracket than expected, consider converting a portion of your retirement savings into a Roth IRA each year. Do not do it all at once or you will likely end up in a higher tax bracket during the conversion. The funds can then grow, and come out tax free. When handled properly, the tax savings could be substantial. Typically, the younger you are the more value a Roth IRA contribution can bring down the road. That is simply because your money will have more time to compound and grow tax free. For example, lets say you are 22 years old and put in $5,500 today. Assuming that dollar amount grew at 8% per year until age 70, you could have more than $220,000. You would also be able to pull out all of that money, tax free once you retired. To put that in perspective, if you pulled $220,000 out of an IRA today, the federal income taxes that you would be required to pay would be as high as 35% based on 2018 tax brackets. Related: 5 Legal Ways to Get Tax Free Income In Retirement The bottom line is that the more time you have until retirement, the more opportunity you have to let your money grow and compound. Younger workers tend to make less money early in their careers, which may cause them to think they will start investing once they are earning higher salaries. However, making regular investments into a Roth IRA earlier in your career, and then transitioning to a traditional IRA or 401(k) as your income increases, can be a smart move. When doing comprehensive financial plans for clients, we typically look to have a combination of pre-tax and post-tax money by the time they achieve financial freedom. The new tax law may be making your tax refund smaller. But it may be making the benefits of Roth accounts bigger. | A Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that you fund with post-tax money. Under the new Trump Tax Plan, the Roth IRA may become more valuable to you because of the lower tax rates under the TCJA. If you have a Roth IRA, you can still contribute up to $5,500 for 2018. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrae/2019/03/05/roth-ira/ | 0.681786 |
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