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When will the art world recognise the real artist behind Duchamp's Fountain?
|
I dont believe the people involved in these attributions were all monsters out to destroy the reputation of the artist or thinker. The evidence was there. They couldnt see it. Paintings, novels and philosophy made by men feel more elevated somehow, more serious, while works by women feel flimsier and more emotional. Masculinity has a purifying effect, femininity a polluting one. The chain of associations that infect our thought dates back to the Greeks in the west: male, mind-intellect, high, hard, spirit, culture as opposed to female, body, emotion, soft, low, flesh, nature. The chains are hierarchical, man on top and woman on bottom. They are often subliminal, and they are emotionally charged. Ironically, these enduring associations become all the more important when the artwork in question is a urinal a pee pot for men. The story goes like this: Marcel Duchamp, brilliant inventor of the ready-made and anti-retinal art, submitted Fountain, a urinal signed R Mutt, to the American Society of Independent Artists in 1917. The piece was rejected. Duchamp, a member of the board, resigned. Alfred Stieglitz photographed it. The thing vanished, but conceptual art was born. In 2004 it was voted the most influential modern artwork of all time. She appears in my most recent novel, Memories of the Future, as an insurrectionist inspiration for my narrator. One reviewer of the novel described the baroness as a marginal figure in art history who was a raucous proto-punk poet from whom Duchamp allegedly stole the concept for his urinal. It is true that she was part of the Dada movement, published in the Little Review with Ezra Pound, Djuna Barnes, TS Eliot, Mina Loy and James Joyce and has been marginalised in art history, but the case made in my book, derived from scholarly sources enumerated in the acknowledgements, is not that Duchamp allegedly stole the concept for his urinal from Von Freytag-Loringhoven, but rather that she was the one who found the object, inscribed it with the name R Mutt, and that this seminal artwork rightly belongs to her. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Fountain, the famous porcelain urinal. Photograph: AP In the novel, I quote a 1917 letter Duchamp wrote to his sister, Susanne. I took the translation directly from Irene Gammels excellent biography of Von Freytag-Loringhoven, Baroness Elsa: One of my female friends who had adopted the masculine pseudonym Richard Mutt sent me a porcelain urinal as a sculpture. I got it wrong. Glyn Thompson, an art scholar and indefatigable champion of the baroness as the brain behind the urinal, pointed out to me that Duchamp wrote avait envoy not ma envoy sent in, not sent me. R Mutt was identified as an artist living in Philadelphia, which is where she was living at the time. In 1935 Andr Breton attributed the urinal to Duchamp, but it wasnt until 1950, long after the baroness had died and four years after Stieglitzs death, that Duchamp began to take credit for the piece and authorise replicas. Duchamp said he had purchased the urinal from JL Mott Ironworks Company, adapting Mutt from Mott, but the company did not manufacture the model in the photograph, so his story cannot be true. Von Freytag-Loringhoven loved dogs. She paraded her mutts on the sidewalks of Greenwich Village. She collected pipes and spouts and drains. She relished scatological jokes and made frequent references to plumbing in her poems: Iron my soul cast iron! Marcel Dushit. She poked fun at William Carlos Williams by calling him WC. She created God, a plumbing trap as artwork, once attributed to Morton Schamberg, now to both of them. Gammel notes in her book that R Mutt sounds like Armut, the word for poverty in German, and when the name is reversed it reads Mutter mother. The baronesss devout mother died of uterine cancer. She was convinced her mother died because her tyrannical father failed to treat his venereal disease. (The uterine character of the upside-down urinal has long been noted.) And the handwriting on the urinal matches the handwriting Von Freytag-Loringhoven used for her poems. All this and more appears in Gammels biography. All this and more reappears in my novel. All the evidence has been painstakingly reiterated in numerous articles and, as part of the Edinburgh festival fringe, Glyn Thompson and Julian Spalding, a former director of Glasgow Museums, mounted the 2015 exhibition A Ladys Not a Gents, which presented the factual and circumstantial evidence for reattribution of the urinal to Von Freytag-Loringhoven. The museums, including the Tate, have not budged. The standard Fountain narrative with Duchamp as hero goes on. I am convinced that if the urinal had been attributed to the baroness from the beginning, it would never have soared into the stratosphere as a work of consummate genius. Women are rarely granted such status, but the present reputation of Fountain, one that was hardly instantaneous but grew slowly over the course of many decades, has made the truth embarrassing, not to speak of the money involved and the urgent need to rewrite history. The evidence is there. They cant or wont see it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Lee Krasner in New York, c 1940. Photograph: The Jewish Museum Expectation is the better part of perception, most of it unconscious. Past experience determines how we confront the world in the present. Prejudgment and stereotyping are part of cognition, but those preordained ideas authority is masculine, for example are cultural. Most people know about implicit bias. The media are full of it. Take the implicit association test to see if you are a racist or sexist. But as Perry Hinton put it: The implicit stereotypical associations picked up by an individual do not reflect a cognitive bias but the associations prevalent in their culture evidence of culture in mind. We need gut feelings, but we also devise post hoc explanations for them: Certainly, Freytag-Loringhoven had created broadly similar scatological works but nothing that held the thinking expressed in Duchamps piece. I lifted this sentence from an online article at Phaidon.com called The Fascinating Tale of Marcel Duchamps Fountain. I quote it in the novel. The writer does not explain what he means by thinking or why works by the baroness lack thought. Siri Hustvedt: Im writing for my life Read more To open oneself to any work a sculpture, a book of literature or philosophy is to acknowledge the authority behind it. When the spectator or reader is a man and the artist or thinker is a woman, this simple act of recognition can give rise to bad feelings of emasculation, what I call the yuck factor the unpleasant sensation of being dragged down into fleshy feminine muck. But because the feelings are automatic, they may never be identified and can easily be explained away: she couldnt think. She was a wild woman who wore tin cans for a bra. She turned her body into Dada. In 1913, she picked a rusted ring off the street, a found object, and named it Enduring Ornament, a year before Duchamps first readymade, Bottle Rack, but she wasnt thinking. She couldnt have influenced him. She was emotional, out of control crazy. Duchamp, on the other hand, was dry, witty, a chess-playing genius of pure conceptual mind, a hero of high culture. The baroness called herself art aggressive. She celebrated and elevated bodily machinery, rejoiced in verbal hijinks, and pitied Duchamp for devolving into cheap, bluff, giggle frivolity. She played with the outrage, contempt and disgust she incited. She wrote: You forget, madame that we are the masters go by our rules. She broke the rules. The evidence is there. She sent in the urinal. Its time to rewrite the story. Memories of the Future by Siri Hustvedt is published by Hodder & Stoughton at 18.99. Buy it for 16.71 at guardianbookshop.com
|
Duchamp's Fountain was voted the most influential modern artwork of all time in 2004. But the real artist behind it is Baroness Elsa Von Freytag-Loringhoven.
|
ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/29/marcel-duchamp-fountain-women-art-history
| 0.448049 |
When will the art world recognise the real artist behind Duchamp's Fountain?
|
I dont believe the people involved in these attributions were all monsters out to destroy the reputation of the artist or thinker. The evidence was there. They couldnt see it. Paintings, novels and philosophy made by men feel more elevated somehow, more serious, while works by women feel flimsier and more emotional. Masculinity has a purifying effect, femininity a polluting one. The chain of associations that infect our thought dates back to the Greeks in the west: male, mind-intellect, high, hard, spirit, culture as opposed to female, body, emotion, soft, low, flesh, nature. The chains are hierarchical, man on top and woman on bottom. They are often subliminal, and they are emotionally charged. Ironically, these enduring associations become all the more important when the artwork in question is a urinal a pee pot for men. The story goes like this: Marcel Duchamp, brilliant inventor of the ready-made and anti-retinal art, submitted Fountain, a urinal signed R Mutt, to the American Society of Independent Artists in 1917. The piece was rejected. Duchamp, a member of the board, resigned. Alfred Stieglitz photographed it. The thing vanished, but conceptual art was born. In 2004 it was voted the most influential modern artwork of all time. She appears in my most recent novel, Memories of the Future, as an insurrectionist inspiration for my narrator. One reviewer of the novel described the baroness as a marginal figure in art history who was a raucous proto-punk poet from whom Duchamp allegedly stole the concept for his urinal. It is true that she was part of the Dada movement, published in the Little Review with Ezra Pound, Djuna Barnes, TS Eliot, Mina Loy and James Joyce and has been marginalised in art history, but the case made in my book, derived from scholarly sources enumerated in the acknowledgements, is not that Duchamp allegedly stole the concept for his urinal from Von Freytag-Loringhoven, but rather that she was the one who found the object, inscribed it with the name R Mutt, and that this seminal artwork rightly belongs to her. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Fountain, the famous porcelain urinal. Photograph: AP In the novel, I quote a 1917 letter Duchamp wrote to his sister, Susanne. I took the translation directly from Irene Gammels excellent biography of Von Freytag-Loringhoven, Baroness Elsa: One of my female friends who had adopted the masculine pseudonym Richard Mutt sent me a porcelain urinal as a sculpture. I got it wrong. Glyn Thompson, an art scholar and indefatigable champion of the baroness as the brain behind the urinal, pointed out to me that Duchamp wrote avait envoy not ma envoy sent in, not sent me. R Mutt was identified as an artist living in Philadelphia, which is where she was living at the time. In 1935 Andr Breton attributed the urinal to Duchamp, but it wasnt until 1950, long after the baroness had died and four years after Stieglitzs death, that Duchamp began to take credit for the piece and authorise replicas. Duchamp said he had purchased the urinal from JL Mott Ironworks Company, adapting Mutt from Mott, but the company did not manufacture the model in the photograph, so his story cannot be true. Von Freytag-Loringhoven loved dogs. She paraded her mutts on the sidewalks of Greenwich Village. She collected pipes and spouts and drains. She relished scatological jokes and made frequent references to plumbing in her poems: Iron my soul cast iron! Marcel Dushit. She poked fun at William Carlos Williams by calling him WC. She created God, a plumbing trap as artwork, once attributed to Morton Schamberg, now to both of them. Gammel notes in her book that R Mutt sounds like Armut, the word for poverty in German, and when the name is reversed it reads Mutter mother. The baronesss devout mother died of uterine cancer. She was convinced her mother died because her tyrannical father failed to treat his venereal disease. (The uterine character of the upside-down urinal has long been noted.) And the handwriting on the urinal matches the handwriting Von Freytag-Loringhoven used for her poems. All this and more appears in Gammels biography. All this and more reappears in my novel. All the evidence has been painstakingly reiterated in numerous articles and, as part of the Edinburgh festival fringe, Glyn Thompson and Julian Spalding, a former director of Glasgow Museums, mounted the 2015 exhibition A Ladys Not a Gents, which presented the factual and circumstantial evidence for reattribution of the urinal to Von Freytag-Loringhoven. The museums, including the Tate, have not budged. The standard Fountain narrative with Duchamp as hero goes on. I am convinced that if the urinal had been attributed to the baroness from the beginning, it would never have soared into the stratosphere as a work of consummate genius. Women are rarely granted such status, but the present reputation of Fountain, one that was hardly instantaneous but grew slowly over the course of many decades, has made the truth embarrassing, not to speak of the money involved and the urgent need to rewrite history. The evidence is there. They cant or wont see it. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Lee Krasner in New York, c 1940. Photograph: The Jewish Museum Expectation is the better part of perception, most of it unconscious. Past experience determines how we confront the world in the present. Prejudgment and stereotyping are part of cognition, but those preordained ideas authority is masculine, for example are cultural. Most people know about implicit bias. The media are full of it. Take the implicit association test to see if you are a racist or sexist. But as Perry Hinton put it: The implicit stereotypical associations picked up by an individual do not reflect a cognitive bias but the associations prevalent in their culture evidence of culture in mind. We need gut feelings, but we also devise post hoc explanations for them: Certainly, Freytag-Loringhoven had created broadly similar scatological works but nothing that held the thinking expressed in Duchamps piece. I lifted this sentence from an online article at Phaidon.com called The Fascinating Tale of Marcel Duchamps Fountain. I quote it in the novel. The writer does not explain what he means by thinking or why works by the baroness lack thought. Siri Hustvedt: Im writing for my life Read more To open oneself to any work a sculpture, a book of literature or philosophy is to acknowledge the authority behind it. When the spectator or reader is a man and the artist or thinker is a woman, this simple act of recognition can give rise to bad feelings of emasculation, what I call the yuck factor the unpleasant sensation of being dragged down into fleshy feminine muck. But because the feelings are automatic, they may never be identified and can easily be explained away: she couldnt think. She was a wild woman who wore tin cans for a bra. She turned her body into Dada. In 1913, she picked a rusted ring off the street, a found object, and named it Enduring Ornament, a year before Duchamps first readymade, Bottle Rack, but she wasnt thinking. She couldnt have influenced him. She was emotional, out of control crazy. Duchamp, on the other hand, was dry, witty, a chess-playing genius of pure conceptual mind, a hero of high culture. The baroness called herself art aggressive. She celebrated and elevated bodily machinery, rejoiced in verbal hijinks, and pitied Duchamp for devolving into cheap, bluff, giggle frivolity. She played with the outrage, contempt and disgust she incited. She wrote: You forget, madame that we are the masters go by our rules. She broke the rules. The evidence is there. She sent in the urinal. Its time to rewrite the story. Memories of the Future by Siri Hustvedt is published by Hodder & Stoughton at 18.99. Buy it for 16.71 at guardianbookshop.com
|
Duchamp's Fountain was voted the most influential modern artwork of all time in 2004. But the real artist behind it is Baroness Elsa Von Freytag-Loringhoven, who has been marginalised in art history and has been the inspiration for my novel Memories of the Future.
|
ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/mar/29/marcel-duchamp-fountain-women-art-history
| 0.481312 |
Is Pete Buttigieg a Political Genius?
|
This is not to say that Buttigiegs politics are revolutionary in any way. More often than not, he splits the difference between the partys extremes. In a recent Vox interview about the ongoing Democratic debate over capitalism and socialism, he said, You have one generation that grew up associating socialism with communism like theyre the same thing, and therefore also assuming that capitalism and democracy were inseparable. Ive grown up in a time when you can pretty much tell that theres tension between capitalism and democracy, and negotiating that tension is probably the biggest challenge for America right now. This answer reflects a sort of third way that Buttigieg is attempting to carve out in the Democratic primarybetween Bernie Sanderss democratic socialism and Clintonian neoliberalism. At the same time, Buttigieg is trying to turn a quality that should be a liabilityhis ageas an asset. Hes suggesting that he doesnt have the baggage of the past; as someone born in the liminal space between Generation X and Millennials, Buttigieg can see the present with clear eyes. Its not, in some ways, much different than the approach of ORourke, to whom he is frequently compared. Buttigieg has tried to turn his other apparent weaknessthat his political experience is limited to less than two terms as South Bends mayorinto a strength, too. Look, you could be a senior senator and have never managed more than a hundred people in your life, he told voters in New Hampshire last month. I not only have more years of government experience than the president of the United States, but I have more years of executive experience than the vice president of the United States, and more wartime experience than anybody who arrived in the office since George H.W. Bush. In his memoir, Buttigieg exhaustively walks the reader through what its like to be mayorthe ins and outs of dealing with potholes, sewers, and abandoned houses. At 352 pages, Shortest Way Home is anything but short and one gets the sense that Buttigieg wants to put the criticism that hes not prepared to lead to bed by listing every single reason why hes ready for a higher office. Like ORourke, Buttigiegs appeal rests on his authenticity. In Shortest Way Home, he casts himself as a regular guy who just happens to be mayor. He writes about what its like to attend festivities that often involve heavy drinking as a politician (retail politics is never fun among the intoxicated), an angry and bigoted constituent who happens to be a neighbor, and trying to figure out how a gay mayoror any mayor navigates the dating scene. His willingness to peel back the curtain has found him a number of admirers already. Perhaps his success to date tells us the secret to unifying the country does not rest with fighting Trumpian fire with fire nor in being a celebrity candidate of the left, wrote Jennifer Rubin, of all people, in The Washington Post. The secret to unifying the country, to underscoring Trumps total unfitness to hold office and to breaking through the media noise is to eschew cynicism and artifice. Refusing to sound like a politician running for president or to buy into the media narrative makes him unique in a pack of sameness. Of course, Buttigieg is very much running for president; hes just really good at not sounding like he is. This has been true for years. In December of 2016, he published an essay on Medium, A Letter from Flyover Country, arguing that Democrats have lost touch with voters in red and purple states and are overly focused on national politics. When it comes to my part of the country, we will recover our ability to reach people only when we take them seriously, connecting our plans to their actual, personal lived experience rather than focusing on The Show, Buttigieg wrote. We need to invite individual people to assess how their individual lives changedhow their safety, their income, their access to health care, their gun rights, their marriageshave actually been affected, if at all, by what goes on in Washington.
|
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is running for president in the Democratic primary. Peter Bergen says Buttig Siegfried is a political genius who splits the difference between the party's extremes.
|
ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://newrepublic.com/article/153424/pete-buttigieg-political-genius
| 0.317838 |
Is Pete Buttigieg a Political Genius?
|
This is not to say that Buttigiegs politics are revolutionary in any way. More often than not, he splits the difference between the partys extremes. In a recent Vox interview about the ongoing Democratic debate over capitalism and socialism, he said, You have one generation that grew up associating socialism with communism like theyre the same thing, and therefore also assuming that capitalism and democracy were inseparable. Ive grown up in a time when you can pretty much tell that theres tension between capitalism and democracy, and negotiating that tension is probably the biggest challenge for America right now. This answer reflects a sort of third way that Buttigieg is attempting to carve out in the Democratic primarybetween Bernie Sanderss democratic socialism and Clintonian neoliberalism. At the same time, Buttigieg is trying to turn a quality that should be a liabilityhis ageas an asset. Hes suggesting that he doesnt have the baggage of the past; as someone born in the liminal space between Generation X and Millennials, Buttigieg can see the present with clear eyes. Its not, in some ways, much different than the approach of ORourke, to whom he is frequently compared. Buttigieg has tried to turn his other apparent weaknessthat his political experience is limited to less than two terms as South Bends mayorinto a strength, too. Look, you could be a senior senator and have never managed more than a hundred people in your life, he told voters in New Hampshire last month. I not only have more years of government experience than the president of the United States, but I have more years of executive experience than the vice president of the United States, and more wartime experience than anybody who arrived in the office since George H.W. Bush. In his memoir, Buttigieg exhaustively walks the reader through what its like to be mayorthe ins and outs of dealing with potholes, sewers, and abandoned houses. At 352 pages, Shortest Way Home is anything but short and one gets the sense that Buttigieg wants to put the criticism that hes not prepared to lead to bed by listing every single reason why hes ready for a higher office. Like ORourke, Buttigiegs appeal rests on his authenticity. In Shortest Way Home, he casts himself as a regular guy who just happens to be mayor. He writes about what its like to attend festivities that often involve heavy drinking as a politician (retail politics is never fun among the intoxicated), an angry and bigoted constituent who happens to be a neighbor, and trying to figure out how a gay mayoror any mayor navigates the dating scene. His willingness to peel back the curtain has found him a number of admirers already. Perhaps his success to date tells us the secret to unifying the country does not rest with fighting Trumpian fire with fire nor in being a celebrity candidate of the left, wrote Jennifer Rubin, of all people, in The Washington Post. The secret to unifying the country, to underscoring Trumps total unfitness to hold office and to breaking through the media noise is to eschew cynicism and artifice. Refusing to sound like a politician running for president or to buy into the media narrative makes him unique in a pack of sameness. Of course, Buttigieg is very much running for president; hes just really good at not sounding like he is. This has been true for years. In December of 2016, he published an essay on Medium, A Letter from Flyover Country, arguing that Democrats have lost touch with voters in red and purple states and are overly focused on national politics. When it comes to my part of the country, we will recover our ability to reach people only when we take them seriously, connecting our plans to their actual, personal lived experience rather than focusing on The Show, Buttigieg wrote. We need to invite individual people to assess how their individual lives changedhow their safety, their income, their access to health care, their gun rights, their marriageshave actually been affected, if at all, by what goes on in Washington.
|
South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is running for president in the Democratic primary. Peter Bergen says Buttig Siegfried is a political genius who splits the difference between the partys extremes. Bergen: His appeal rests on his authenticity and his willingness to peel back the curtain.
|
ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://newrepublic.com/article/153424/pete-buttigieg-political-genius
| 0.446151 |
How Many Credit Cards Should A Small Business Owner Utilize?
|
Getty As any entrepreneur will tell you, owning a business comes with a lot of demands, pressure and hard work, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Thanks to an impactful conversation with an old friend and fellow business owner several years ago, I realized that I was wasting a lot of money by just having one credit card to pay business expenses. Multiple credit cards can provide big bonuses. Credit card companies are fighting a turf war, and they all have enticing offers to get us to sign up with them. And thats what I do today. I have strategically selected multiple credit cards to maximize benefits in my favor, not the bank's favor. The irony is, banks love me. Im one of their best customers. The short answer is, its only worth it to have multiple cards on two conditions: First, your business must be able to spend more than $5,000 per month on credit cards the more, the better. Second, you have to be willing to travel on vacation. Im pretty fortunate; thanks to what I spend on our business cards, my family and I get to vacation for free multiple times per year. Last year, we used our cards strategically, allowing us to spend four days in Cabo, five days in Cancun and seven days in Fiji. The goal is to pay for your business travel and let it provide you enough points to vacation for free. Let me explain how we did that. Here is the plan I believe business owners should have and why. The key to maximizing credit card rewards is to have three strategic credit cards. Stay loyal to them and keep your rewards with that one group. Here are the three card types and how to use them. Hotel Rewards Card As a business owner who either travels or has people in your company who travel, here is my simple three-step process for getting free hotel stays when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which hotel group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Select the correct hotel credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that hotel chain. 3. Book all your hotels through this hotel group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card at their hotel. Airline Rewards Card Here is my simple four-step process for getting free flights when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which airline group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Apply for a corporate travel account with the airline. Many people are surprised to learn these are available to both large and small businesses. 3. Select the correct airline credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that airline group. 4. Book all your flights through this airline group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card for their airline. Even more gratifying, if you pay for someone elses travel (e.g., staff, vendors, customers, etc.) you receive the rewards for their travel. Premium Rewards Card As a business owner, you want to have one premium card that accrues generic points that can be used across multiple airlines or hotels. This is what will provide you extreme flexibility to book your dream vacation. Look for big sign-up bonuses and category bonuses that work for your business spending habits. For example, one company's gold card gives you three times the points on advertising. I love this feature for our Google Adwords spend. Bonus Booking Tips: Join the hotel and airline rewards programs and start to build the points on that front as well. Most credit cards will give you higher status just because you have the credit card, providing additional perks and bonus points. If you pay for anything at the hotel with the hotel card, you will get additional bonus points. For example, when we were in Fiji, we booked our boat trip through the hotel concierge and paid for it when we checked out. For every dollar we paid, we received 14 points. Always look for bonus points opportunities. For instance, one hotel chain offers two times the points on each booking for a small amount: maybe $10-20 per night. Oh, and this fee is tax deductible! Avoid booking the cheapest airline fair. The cheapest fares typically wont give you many points, a good seat or a chance for upgrades. It's simple. Take a few minutes to read the details about each rewards program online so you understand where the bonus opportunities are. Next, keep it simple: airlines on the airline card, hotels on the hotel card and maximize bonus categories. The last step is to plan ahead. Decide what vacations you want to go on and put together a plan to earn the points to make them happen. Even if its just one vacation a year, it's an amazing feeling for your hard work all year to completely pay for your vacation. Vacations are great, but when they are free, they take on a new level of joy.
|
Business owners should have three strategic credit cards to maximize rewards.
|
ctrlsum
| 0 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/03/29/how-many-credit-cards-should-a-small-business-owner-utilize/
| 0.447401 |
How Many Credit Cards Should A Small Business Owner Utilize?
|
Getty As any entrepreneur will tell you, owning a business comes with a lot of demands, pressure and hard work, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Thanks to an impactful conversation with an old friend and fellow business owner several years ago, I realized that I was wasting a lot of money by just having one credit card to pay business expenses. Multiple credit cards can provide big bonuses. Credit card companies are fighting a turf war, and they all have enticing offers to get us to sign up with them. And thats what I do today. I have strategically selected multiple credit cards to maximize benefits in my favor, not the bank's favor. The irony is, banks love me. Im one of their best customers. The short answer is, its only worth it to have multiple cards on two conditions: First, your business must be able to spend more than $5,000 per month on credit cards the more, the better. Second, you have to be willing to travel on vacation. Im pretty fortunate; thanks to what I spend on our business cards, my family and I get to vacation for free multiple times per year. Last year, we used our cards strategically, allowing us to spend four days in Cabo, five days in Cancun and seven days in Fiji. The goal is to pay for your business travel and let it provide you enough points to vacation for free. Let me explain how we did that. Here is the plan I believe business owners should have and why. The key to maximizing credit card rewards is to have three strategic credit cards. Stay loyal to them and keep your rewards with that one group. Here are the three card types and how to use them. Hotel Rewards Card As a business owner who either travels or has people in your company who travel, here is my simple three-step process for getting free hotel stays when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which hotel group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Select the correct hotel credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that hotel chain. 3. Book all your hotels through this hotel group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card at their hotel. Airline Rewards Card Here is my simple four-step process for getting free flights when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which airline group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Apply for a corporate travel account with the airline. Many people are surprised to learn these are available to both large and small businesses. 3. Select the correct airline credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that airline group. 4. Book all your flights through this airline group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card for their airline. Even more gratifying, if you pay for someone elses travel (e.g., staff, vendors, customers, etc.) you receive the rewards for their travel. Premium Rewards Card As a business owner, you want to have one premium card that accrues generic points that can be used across multiple airlines or hotels. This is what will provide you extreme flexibility to book your dream vacation. Look for big sign-up bonuses and category bonuses that work for your business spending habits. For example, one company's gold card gives you three times the points on advertising. I love this feature for our Google Adwords spend. Bonus Booking Tips: Join the hotel and airline rewards programs and start to build the points on that front as well. Most credit cards will give you higher status just because you have the credit card, providing additional perks and bonus points. If you pay for anything at the hotel with the hotel card, you will get additional bonus points. For example, when we were in Fiji, we booked our boat trip through the hotel concierge and paid for it when we checked out. For every dollar we paid, we received 14 points. Always look for bonus points opportunities. For instance, one hotel chain offers two times the points on each booking for a small amount: maybe $10-20 per night. Oh, and this fee is tax deductible! Avoid booking the cheapest airline fair. The cheapest fares typically wont give you many points, a good seat or a chance for upgrades. It's simple. Take a few minutes to read the details about each rewards program online so you understand where the bonus opportunities are. Next, keep it simple: airlines on the airline card, hotels on the hotel card and maximize bonus categories. The last step is to plan ahead. Decide what vacations you want to go on and put together a plan to earn the points to make them happen. Even if its just one vacation a year, it's an amazing feeling for your hard work all year to completely pay for your vacation. Vacations are great, but when they are free, they take on a new level of joy.
|
Business owners should have three strategic credit cards to maximize rewards. The key is to have one card that accrues generic points that can be used across multiple airlines or hotels.
|
ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/03/29/how-many-credit-cards-should-a-small-business-owner-utilize/
| 0.381406 |
How Many Credit Cards Should A Small Business Owner Utilize?
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Getty As any entrepreneur will tell you, owning a business comes with a lot of demands, pressure and hard work, but it can also be extremely rewarding. Thanks to an impactful conversation with an old friend and fellow business owner several years ago, I realized that I was wasting a lot of money by just having one credit card to pay business expenses. Multiple credit cards can provide big bonuses. Credit card companies are fighting a turf war, and they all have enticing offers to get us to sign up with them. And thats what I do today. I have strategically selected multiple credit cards to maximize benefits in my favor, not the bank's favor. The irony is, banks love me. Im one of their best customers. The short answer is, its only worth it to have multiple cards on two conditions: First, your business must be able to spend more than $5,000 per month on credit cards the more, the better. Second, you have to be willing to travel on vacation. Im pretty fortunate; thanks to what I spend on our business cards, my family and I get to vacation for free multiple times per year. Last year, we used our cards strategically, allowing us to spend four days in Cabo, five days in Cancun and seven days in Fiji. The goal is to pay for your business travel and let it provide you enough points to vacation for free. Let me explain how we did that. Here is the plan I believe business owners should have and why. The key to maximizing credit card rewards is to have three strategic credit cards. Stay loyal to them and keep your rewards with that one group. Here are the three card types and how to use them. Hotel Rewards Card As a business owner who either travels or has people in your company who travel, here is my simple three-step process for getting free hotel stays when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which hotel group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Select the correct hotel credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that hotel chain. 3. Book all your hotels through this hotel group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card at their hotel. Airline Rewards Card Here is my simple four-step process for getting free flights when you travel on vacation. 1. Select which airline group works best for you based on where you travel and the price point you are comfortable with. 2. Apply for a corporate travel account with the airline. Many people are surprised to learn these are available to both large and small businesses. 3. Select the correct airline credit card to get both a great sign-up bonus and ongoing points for booking in that airline group. 4. Book all your flights through this airline group and on this credit card. They will give you bonus points when you use their card for their airline. Even more gratifying, if you pay for someone elses travel (e.g., staff, vendors, customers, etc.) you receive the rewards for their travel. Premium Rewards Card As a business owner, you want to have one premium card that accrues generic points that can be used across multiple airlines or hotels. This is what will provide you extreme flexibility to book your dream vacation. Look for big sign-up bonuses and category bonuses that work for your business spending habits. For example, one company's gold card gives you three times the points on advertising. I love this feature for our Google Adwords spend. Bonus Booking Tips: Join the hotel and airline rewards programs and start to build the points on that front as well. Most credit cards will give you higher status just because you have the credit card, providing additional perks and bonus points. If you pay for anything at the hotel with the hotel card, you will get additional bonus points. For example, when we were in Fiji, we booked our boat trip through the hotel concierge and paid for it when we checked out. For every dollar we paid, we received 14 points. Always look for bonus points opportunities. For instance, one hotel chain offers two times the points on each booking for a small amount: maybe $10-20 per night. Oh, and this fee is tax deductible! Avoid booking the cheapest airline fair. The cheapest fares typically wont give you many points, a good seat or a chance for upgrades. It's simple. Take a few minutes to read the details about each rewards program online so you understand where the bonus opportunities are. Next, keep it simple: airlines on the airline card, hotels on the hotel card and maximize bonus categories. The last step is to plan ahead. Decide what vacations you want to go on and put together a plan to earn the points to make them happen. Even if its just one vacation a year, it's an amazing feeling for your hard work all year to completely pay for your vacation. Vacations are great, but when they are free, they take on a new level of joy.
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Business owners should have three strategic credit cards to maximize rewards. The key is to have one card that accrues generic points that can be used across multiple airlines or hotels. The goal is to pay for your business travel and let it provide you enough points to vacation for free.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2019/03/29/how-many-credit-cards-should-a-small-business-owner-utilize/
| 0.39303 |
Is 'Professional Presence' A Euphemism Meant To Discourage Diversity?
|
Getty As a career professional in human resources, I have been exposed for years to hiring and promotional conversations where managers rejected candidates because they lacked a secret sauce called presence. This concept comes in different packages, often under the guise of professional presence, executive presence, personal brand and more. What it really means is how you look, how you talk and how well you adhere to the companys self-image and fit in with the prevailing company culture. First, Define Presence Presence is defined very differently from one company to the next. But it boils down to trying to emulate the company leadership, the majority of which are white males. This might mean dressing like everyone else whether it be a blue suit at a bank, jeans and a hoodie at a high-tech company, a conservative haircut at a big corporate office, or green hair and a nose ring at an edgy nonprofit. It can also mean aggressively pounding the table to get your opinion across, or quietly building consensus behind the scenes. The idea of the appropriateness of your presence, however, is how I believe companies can tacitly discourage diversity. A fashion-forward employee might not want to wear a tech-company hoodie every day to fit in, any more than a recent college grad may want to cover up a tattoo and get a short haircut to look professional in order to get ahead. By normalizing certain behaviors and choices about appearance as being part of a company culture and others as not, a condition of your employment is effectively about becoming who the company wants you to be, rather than continuing to be who you already are. Recently, at a conference, I was speaking with another HR leader who wanted to coach one of her up-and-coming managers to have better executive presence. This individual was smart, was educated, had performed well on big projects and had essentially earned the trust of the leadership team. However, his presence was considered a problem from a promotional perspective because of his unruly hair and non-standard American business attire as a European, he wore sweaters and jeans as opposed to the usual company uniform of Dockers and a blue button-down shirt. Additionally, he had a strong accent. The HR leader was wondering how to coach this manager to succeed. My response was that it didnt sound like the employee needed coaching; it sounded as if the leadership team did. Next, Challenge Yourself We all have biases. To say we dont would show a lack of awareness. Its a part of being human. The key is to be aware of your biases and challenge yourself and your assumptions, as well as the assumptions of others. This is not about lowering your standards or those of the company; its about broadening your horizons with regard to acceptance and realizing that different perspectives and styles add value. Its about focusing on the things that really matter. And guess what, its not your hair or your flip-flops or your ability to play foosball. Then, Challenge Others Hiring decisions and promotions are largely made by groups of people who are focused on fit and presence. Alas, this tends to be based on preconceived notions of what success should look like, rather than facts. Of course, people joining my team will be a better fit for me personally if they all went to the same school I did, are roughly the same demographic and so forth. But those are qualities to look for in friends. Colleagues can and should come from all different walks of life, because to be successful in business, diverse perspectives add value and promote innovation. Become more fact-based in your hiring practices, take risks, challenge yourself, be uncomfortable, allow yourself to be challenged and make room at the table for different voices. Finally, Improve Your Business Equality and diversity are powerful contributors to innovation and growth as well as to retention. According to 2019 research from our partner Accenture, workplaces with a robust culture of equality have an employee mindset for innovation six times higher than in the least-equal companies surveyed. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study in 2018 found that companies reporting above-average diversity on their management teams also reported innovation revenue 19 percentage points higher than that of companies with below-average leadership diversity. And more than 60% of women in a 2017 PwC survey said they looked at the diversity of a prospective employers leadership team before accepting their most recent job offer. Make room for different voices. Let other people be heard. Take a risk. Take a chance. And dont buy into the faulty concept of presence. Focusing on increasingly dated concepts of what success looks like is a trap that will prevent your company from hiring and promoting the best people for each team.
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The idea of the appropriateness of your presence is how I believe companies can tacitly discourage diversity.
|
pegasus
| 0 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2019/03/29/is-professional-presence-a-euphemism-meant-to-discourage-diversity/
| 0.112386 |
Is 'Professional Presence' A Euphemism Meant To Discourage Diversity?
|
Getty As a career professional in human resources, I have been exposed for years to hiring and promotional conversations where managers rejected candidates because they lacked a secret sauce called presence. This concept comes in different packages, often under the guise of professional presence, executive presence, personal brand and more. What it really means is how you look, how you talk and how well you adhere to the companys self-image and fit in with the prevailing company culture. First, Define Presence Presence is defined very differently from one company to the next. But it boils down to trying to emulate the company leadership, the majority of which are white males. This might mean dressing like everyone else whether it be a blue suit at a bank, jeans and a hoodie at a high-tech company, a conservative haircut at a big corporate office, or green hair and a nose ring at an edgy nonprofit. It can also mean aggressively pounding the table to get your opinion across, or quietly building consensus behind the scenes. The idea of the appropriateness of your presence, however, is how I believe companies can tacitly discourage diversity. A fashion-forward employee might not want to wear a tech-company hoodie every day to fit in, any more than a recent college grad may want to cover up a tattoo and get a short haircut to look professional in order to get ahead. By normalizing certain behaviors and choices about appearance as being part of a company culture and others as not, a condition of your employment is effectively about becoming who the company wants you to be, rather than continuing to be who you already are. Recently, at a conference, I was speaking with another HR leader who wanted to coach one of her up-and-coming managers to have better executive presence. This individual was smart, was educated, had performed well on big projects and had essentially earned the trust of the leadership team. However, his presence was considered a problem from a promotional perspective because of his unruly hair and non-standard American business attire as a European, he wore sweaters and jeans as opposed to the usual company uniform of Dockers and a blue button-down shirt. Additionally, he had a strong accent. The HR leader was wondering how to coach this manager to succeed. My response was that it didnt sound like the employee needed coaching; it sounded as if the leadership team did. Next, Challenge Yourself We all have biases. To say we dont would show a lack of awareness. Its a part of being human. The key is to be aware of your biases and challenge yourself and your assumptions, as well as the assumptions of others. This is not about lowering your standards or those of the company; its about broadening your horizons with regard to acceptance and realizing that different perspectives and styles add value. Its about focusing on the things that really matter. And guess what, its not your hair or your flip-flops or your ability to play foosball. Then, Challenge Others Hiring decisions and promotions are largely made by groups of people who are focused on fit and presence. Alas, this tends to be based on preconceived notions of what success should look like, rather than facts. Of course, people joining my team will be a better fit for me personally if they all went to the same school I did, are roughly the same demographic and so forth. But those are qualities to look for in friends. Colleagues can and should come from all different walks of life, because to be successful in business, diverse perspectives add value and promote innovation. Become more fact-based in your hiring practices, take risks, challenge yourself, be uncomfortable, allow yourself to be challenged and make room at the table for different voices. Finally, Improve Your Business Equality and diversity are powerful contributors to innovation and growth as well as to retention. According to 2019 research from our partner Accenture, workplaces with a robust culture of equality have an employee mindset for innovation six times higher than in the least-equal companies surveyed. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study in 2018 found that companies reporting above-average diversity on their management teams also reported innovation revenue 19 percentage points higher than that of companies with below-average leadership diversity. And more than 60% of women in a 2017 PwC survey said they looked at the diversity of a prospective employers leadership team before accepting their most recent job offer. Make room for different voices. Let other people be heard. Take a risk. Take a chance. And dont buy into the faulty concept of presence. Focusing on increasingly dated concepts of what success looks like is a trap that will prevent your company from hiring and promoting the best people for each team.
|
"Professional Presence" is an euphemism for how you look, how you talk and how well you adhere to the company's self-image and fit in with the prevailing company culture.
|
ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2019/03/29/is-professional-presence-a-euphemism-meant-to-discourage-diversity/
| 0.213796 |
Is 'Professional Presence' A Euphemism Meant To Discourage Diversity?
|
Getty As a career professional in human resources, I have been exposed for years to hiring and promotional conversations where managers rejected candidates because they lacked a secret sauce called presence. This concept comes in different packages, often under the guise of professional presence, executive presence, personal brand and more. What it really means is how you look, how you talk and how well you adhere to the companys self-image and fit in with the prevailing company culture. First, Define Presence Presence is defined very differently from one company to the next. But it boils down to trying to emulate the company leadership, the majority of which are white males. This might mean dressing like everyone else whether it be a blue suit at a bank, jeans and a hoodie at a high-tech company, a conservative haircut at a big corporate office, or green hair and a nose ring at an edgy nonprofit. It can also mean aggressively pounding the table to get your opinion across, or quietly building consensus behind the scenes. The idea of the appropriateness of your presence, however, is how I believe companies can tacitly discourage diversity. A fashion-forward employee might not want to wear a tech-company hoodie every day to fit in, any more than a recent college grad may want to cover up a tattoo and get a short haircut to look professional in order to get ahead. By normalizing certain behaviors and choices about appearance as being part of a company culture and others as not, a condition of your employment is effectively about becoming who the company wants you to be, rather than continuing to be who you already are. Recently, at a conference, I was speaking with another HR leader who wanted to coach one of her up-and-coming managers to have better executive presence. This individual was smart, was educated, had performed well on big projects and had essentially earned the trust of the leadership team. However, his presence was considered a problem from a promotional perspective because of his unruly hair and non-standard American business attire as a European, he wore sweaters and jeans as opposed to the usual company uniform of Dockers and a blue button-down shirt. Additionally, he had a strong accent. The HR leader was wondering how to coach this manager to succeed. My response was that it didnt sound like the employee needed coaching; it sounded as if the leadership team did. Next, Challenge Yourself We all have biases. To say we dont would show a lack of awareness. Its a part of being human. The key is to be aware of your biases and challenge yourself and your assumptions, as well as the assumptions of others. This is not about lowering your standards or those of the company; its about broadening your horizons with regard to acceptance and realizing that different perspectives and styles add value. Its about focusing on the things that really matter. And guess what, its not your hair or your flip-flops or your ability to play foosball. Then, Challenge Others Hiring decisions and promotions are largely made by groups of people who are focused on fit and presence. Alas, this tends to be based on preconceived notions of what success should look like, rather than facts. Of course, people joining my team will be a better fit for me personally if they all went to the same school I did, are roughly the same demographic and so forth. But those are qualities to look for in friends. Colleagues can and should come from all different walks of life, because to be successful in business, diverse perspectives add value and promote innovation. Become more fact-based in your hiring practices, take risks, challenge yourself, be uncomfortable, allow yourself to be challenged and make room at the table for different voices. Finally, Improve Your Business Equality and diversity are powerful contributors to innovation and growth as well as to retention. According to 2019 research from our partner Accenture, workplaces with a robust culture of equality have an employee mindset for innovation six times higher than in the least-equal companies surveyed. A Boston Consulting Group (BCG) study in 2018 found that companies reporting above-average diversity on their management teams also reported innovation revenue 19 percentage points higher than that of companies with below-average leadership diversity. And more than 60% of women in a 2017 PwC survey said they looked at the diversity of a prospective employers leadership team before accepting their most recent job offer. Make room for different voices. Let other people be heard. Take a risk. Take a chance. And dont buy into the faulty concept of presence. Focusing on increasingly dated concepts of what success looks like is a trap that will prevent your company from hiring and promoting the best people for each team.
|
"Professional Presence" is an euphemism for how you look, how you talk and how well you adhere to the company's self-image and fit in with the prevailing company culture. The idea of the appropriateness of your presence is how I believe companies can tacitly discourage diversity.
|
ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbeshumanresourcescouncil/2019/03/29/is-professional-presence-a-euphemism-meant-to-discourage-diversity/
| 0.551217 |
Why Will It Be So Hard to Pull the Plug on Amtrak?
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Getty My recent article arguing that we should cut federal subsidies to Amtrak got some very interesting and useful feedback on social media with at least one reader making the point that the highways and the airways are also very heavily subsidized by governments at all levels. I plan to expand on this in a future column and will note that if were subsidizing it, we should stop is a good rule of thumb, but here Id like to go into some of the reasons why subsidies remain even when it is pretty clear that the costs exceed the benefits. Perhaps most obviously, subsidies create constituencies with a powerful financial interest in making sure the subsidies stick around. The people who work for Amtrak, obviously, have incentives to keep the subsidies flowing. So do regular Amtrak riders who enjoy cheaper rides. Its a relatively small constituency, but it enjoys substantial benefits. Importantly, these benefits are concentrated while the costs are dispersed across a much larger population. Amtrak employees, suppliers, and regular riders would notice a considerable disruption if the government money stopped flowing. The rest of us would barely notice. A $2 billion annual subsidy to Amtrak spread out over a population of almost 330 million is less than seven dollars per person. Its about the same as the cost of a trip to Subway or Chick-fil-A, and for most taxpayers, its simply not worth their time to go to the political barricades to save the cost of a sandwich. The beneficiaries who enjoy concentrated benefits have powerful incentives to keep those benefits coming. The rest of us have very weak incentives to fight back. Concentrated benefits and dispersed costs arent the only factors at play, though. In his 2007 book The Myth of the Rational Voter, Bryan Caplan introduced the concept of rational irrationality (heres a very short version published by the Cato Institute). Caplan points out an important empirical oddity: a lot of programs are as popular among those who dont benefit from them as they are among those who do. A lot of people who dont have a stake in Amtrak, for example, still support Amtrak subsidies. Farm subsidies are very popular even among non-farmers and people who dont live in farm states. Simply put, subsidies sound good and the beneficiaries are easy to see and often very sympathetic. Just as people have very weak incentives to fight back against subsidy beneficiaries, people have very weak incentives to think beyond what is most immediate and obvious. Eliminating subsidies for Amtrak would create real and visible harm for real and visible people. The benefits of eliminating the subsidies, however, are a lot harder to see. Helping people with a subsidy feels good, the claim that we are all better off because we subsidize things like Amtrak is at least superficially intuitive and appealing, and working to understand the long-term and hard-to-see effects of subsidies is difficult. Hence, subsidies and the like remain popular even among people with no obvious stake in them. Governments at all levels waste resources by subsidizing activities for which the costs exceed the benefits. The subsidies persist, however, because there are a lot of people with a serious financial stake in them and because they are superficially (but incorrectly) appealing even to those who dont.
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John Avlon: Why is it so hard to pull the plug on Amtrak? He says there are many reasons why subsidies remain even when costs exceed the benefits. He says the benefits of eliminating the subsidies are a lot harder to see.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2019/03/29/why-will-it-be-so-hard-to-pull-the-plug-on-amtrak/
| 0.428251 |
Why Will It Be So Hard to Pull the Plug on Amtrak?
|
Getty My recent article arguing that we should cut federal subsidies to Amtrak got some very interesting and useful feedback on social media with at least one reader making the point that the highways and the airways are also very heavily subsidized by governments at all levels. I plan to expand on this in a future column and will note that if were subsidizing it, we should stop is a good rule of thumb, but here Id like to go into some of the reasons why subsidies remain even when it is pretty clear that the costs exceed the benefits. Perhaps most obviously, subsidies create constituencies with a powerful financial interest in making sure the subsidies stick around. The people who work for Amtrak, obviously, have incentives to keep the subsidies flowing. So do regular Amtrak riders who enjoy cheaper rides. Its a relatively small constituency, but it enjoys substantial benefits. Importantly, these benefits are concentrated while the costs are dispersed across a much larger population. Amtrak employees, suppliers, and regular riders would notice a considerable disruption if the government money stopped flowing. The rest of us would barely notice. A $2 billion annual subsidy to Amtrak spread out over a population of almost 330 million is less than seven dollars per person. Its about the same as the cost of a trip to Subway or Chick-fil-A, and for most taxpayers, its simply not worth their time to go to the political barricades to save the cost of a sandwich. The beneficiaries who enjoy concentrated benefits have powerful incentives to keep those benefits coming. The rest of us have very weak incentives to fight back. Concentrated benefits and dispersed costs arent the only factors at play, though. In his 2007 book The Myth of the Rational Voter, Bryan Caplan introduced the concept of rational irrationality (heres a very short version published by the Cato Institute). Caplan points out an important empirical oddity: a lot of programs are as popular among those who dont benefit from them as they are among those who do. A lot of people who dont have a stake in Amtrak, for example, still support Amtrak subsidies. Farm subsidies are very popular even among non-farmers and people who dont live in farm states. Simply put, subsidies sound good and the beneficiaries are easy to see and often very sympathetic. Just as people have very weak incentives to fight back against subsidy beneficiaries, people have very weak incentives to think beyond what is most immediate and obvious. Eliminating subsidies for Amtrak would create real and visible harm for real and visible people. The benefits of eliminating the subsidies, however, are a lot harder to see. Helping people with a subsidy feels good, the claim that we are all better off because we subsidize things like Amtrak is at least superficially intuitive and appealing, and working to understand the long-term and hard-to-see effects of subsidies is difficult. Hence, subsidies and the like remain popular even among people with no obvious stake in them. Governments at all levels waste resources by subsidizing activities for which the costs exceed the benefits. The subsidies persist, however, because there are a lot of people with a serious financial stake in them and because they are superficially (but incorrectly) appealing even to those who dont.
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John Avlon: Why is it so hard to pull the plug on Amtrak? He says there are many reasons why subsidies remain even when costs exceed the benefits. He says the benefits of eliminating the subsidies are a lot harder to see than those of cutting them.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2019/03/29/why-will-it-be-so-hard-to-pull-the-plug-on-amtrak/
| 0.45129 |
Where does April Fools' Day come from?
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On 1st April, many of you may be planning to be mischievous and play pranks on your friends and family. That's because it's April Fools' Day, when we all get to play the joker! "It has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century," explains Andrea Livesey, a historian from the University of Bristol. "Children were commonly the victims of these pranks!" So we wanted to find out more about why we celebrate April Fools' Day. No it's Superman crasing into a wall The first of April some do say, Is set apart for All Fools' Day; But why the people call it so Nor I, nor they themselves, do know 18th century folk rhyme Andrea told us that not everybody agrees where the festival come from. She says: "There is surprisingly little known about the origins of April Fools' Day and there are a large number of completely different - and quite entertaining - theories of its origin." So let's have a look at some of them. "Some have argued that a story told by early English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century - where a fox plays a prank on a rooster (who is almost eaten because of it) - is the first reference to pranks taking place on the first of April." The poet doesn't actually directly refer to April 1st though. In the poem, he says 32 days "syn March began", which people have said is "32 days since March began" which would be April 1st. But those who don't believe this theory say he was just using confusing words to make fun of people in the poem. Theory 2 - Calendars Some believe the tradition started because of events in the calendar. Something called renewal festivals date back to Roman times. These were a celebration at the start of a new year or season, when things went a bit topsy turvy. "Servants could control masters or children could control their parents!" says Andrea. March is the time of the Spring Equinox, so people think the joker tradition could come from this, as the beginning of spring and planting flowers was considered the start of the new year. There is another calendar theory about when people started celebrating new year at the beginning of January, instead of the end of March. Those who continued to celebrate it at the end of March, rather than on 1st January like we do today, were considered to be fools and had jokes played on them. Theory 3 - Fishing in Europe istock/Getty Images In some parts of Europe, an April Fools' prank is to stuck a fish to someone's back "The earliest concrete records we have about 1st April are from France and Holland in the 1500s and, because of this, people believe that it must have been a northern European tradition that spread to Britain," Andrea explains. It is actually known as April Fish Day in some areas of Europe. People think this is because there are a lot of fish in French streams and rivers around 1st April, and they are easy to catch - foolish fish! So it soon became a tradition to play tricks on people on April 1st too. "It is still a common trick in France, and elsewhere in Europe, to attach a paper fish to somebody's back on April Fools' Day, and also to give chocolate fish as gifts," Andrea says. NYMR/Gough Bailey Wright Last year the North Yorkshire Moors Railway said it had created a train carriage dedicated just to dogs, but it was just a joke. So it appears we don't actually know for sure where April Fools' Day officially started. But one thing's for sure - people have been playing jokes on April 1st for a very long time! So watch out that you don't get pranked!
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April Fools' Day has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century.
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bart
| 0 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47750667
| 0.296939 |
Where does April Fools' Day come from?
|
On 1st April, many of you may be planning to be mischievous and play pranks on your friends and family. That's because it's April Fools' Day, when we all get to play the joker! "It has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century," explains Andrea Livesey, a historian from the University of Bristol. "Children were commonly the victims of these pranks!" So we wanted to find out more about why we celebrate April Fools' Day. No it's Superman crasing into a wall The first of April some do say, Is set apart for All Fools' Day; But why the people call it so Nor I, nor they themselves, do know 18th century folk rhyme Andrea told us that not everybody agrees where the festival come from. She says: "There is surprisingly little known about the origins of April Fools' Day and there are a large number of completely different - and quite entertaining - theories of its origin." So let's have a look at some of them. "Some have argued that a story told by early English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century - where a fox plays a prank on a rooster (who is almost eaten because of it) - is the first reference to pranks taking place on the first of April." The poet doesn't actually directly refer to April 1st though. In the poem, he says 32 days "syn March began", which people have said is "32 days since March began" which would be April 1st. But those who don't believe this theory say he was just using confusing words to make fun of people in the poem. Theory 2 - Calendars Some believe the tradition started because of events in the calendar. Something called renewal festivals date back to Roman times. These were a celebration at the start of a new year or season, when things went a bit topsy turvy. "Servants could control masters or children could control their parents!" says Andrea. March is the time of the Spring Equinox, so people think the joker tradition could come from this, as the beginning of spring and planting flowers was considered the start of the new year. There is another calendar theory about when people started celebrating new year at the beginning of January, instead of the end of March. Those who continued to celebrate it at the end of March, rather than on 1st January like we do today, were considered to be fools and had jokes played on them. Theory 3 - Fishing in Europe istock/Getty Images In some parts of Europe, an April Fools' prank is to stuck a fish to someone's back "The earliest concrete records we have about 1st April are from France and Holland in the 1500s and, because of this, people believe that it must have been a northern European tradition that spread to Britain," Andrea explains. It is actually known as April Fish Day in some areas of Europe. People think this is because there are a lot of fish in French streams and rivers around 1st April, and they are easy to catch - foolish fish! So it soon became a tradition to play tricks on people on April 1st too. "It is still a common trick in France, and elsewhere in Europe, to attach a paper fish to somebody's back on April Fools' Day, and also to give chocolate fish as gifts," Andrea says. NYMR/Gough Bailey Wright Last year the North Yorkshire Moors Railway said it had created a train carriage dedicated just to dogs, but it was just a joke. So it appears we don't actually know for sure where April Fools' Day officially started. But one thing's for sure - people have been playing jokes on April 1st for a very long time! So watch out that you don't get pranked!
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April Fools' Day has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century. There are a number of theories as to where the festival come from. Some believe it started because of events in the calendar.
|
ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47750667
| 0.319573 |
Where does April Fools' Day come from?
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On 1st April, many of you may be planning to be mischievous and play pranks on your friends and family. That's because it's April Fools' Day, when we all get to play the joker! "It has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century," explains Andrea Livesey, a historian from the University of Bristol. "Children were commonly the victims of these pranks!" So we wanted to find out more about why we celebrate April Fools' Day. No it's Superman crasing into a wall The first of April some do say, Is set apart for All Fools' Day; But why the people call it so Nor I, nor they themselves, do know 18th century folk rhyme Andrea told us that not everybody agrees where the festival come from. She says: "There is surprisingly little known about the origins of April Fools' Day and there are a large number of completely different - and quite entertaining - theories of its origin." So let's have a look at some of them. "Some have argued that a story told by early English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in the 14th century - where a fox plays a prank on a rooster (who is almost eaten because of it) - is the first reference to pranks taking place on the first of April." The poet doesn't actually directly refer to April 1st though. In the poem, he says 32 days "syn March began", which people have said is "32 days since March began" which would be April 1st. But those who don't believe this theory say he was just using confusing words to make fun of people in the poem. Theory 2 - Calendars Some believe the tradition started because of events in the calendar. Something called renewal festivals date back to Roman times. These were a celebration at the start of a new year or season, when things went a bit topsy turvy. "Servants could control masters or children could control their parents!" says Andrea. March is the time of the Spring Equinox, so people think the joker tradition could come from this, as the beginning of spring and planting flowers was considered the start of the new year. There is another calendar theory about when people started celebrating new year at the beginning of January, instead of the end of March. Those who continued to celebrate it at the end of March, rather than on 1st January like we do today, were considered to be fools and had jokes played on them. Theory 3 - Fishing in Europe istock/Getty Images In some parts of Europe, an April Fools' prank is to stuck a fish to someone's back "The earliest concrete records we have about 1st April are from France and Holland in the 1500s and, because of this, people believe that it must have been a northern European tradition that spread to Britain," Andrea explains. It is actually known as April Fish Day in some areas of Europe. People think this is because there are a lot of fish in French streams and rivers around 1st April, and they are easy to catch - foolish fish! So it soon became a tradition to play tricks on people on April 1st too. "It is still a common trick in France, and elsewhere in Europe, to attach a paper fish to somebody's back on April Fools' Day, and also to give chocolate fish as gifts," Andrea says. NYMR/Gough Bailey Wright Last year the North Yorkshire Moors Railway said it had created a train carriage dedicated just to dogs, but it was just a joke. So it appears we don't actually know for sure where April Fools' Day officially started. But one thing's for sure - people have been playing jokes on April 1st for a very long time! So watch out that you don't get pranked!
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April Fools' Day has been celebrated in the UK since at least the 19th century. There are a number of theories as to where the festival come from. Some believe it started because of the Spring Equinox, while others think it is because of fishing in Europe.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/47750667
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How Many Streaming Video Services Does The Average Person Subscribe To?
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Getty Its hard to believe that its been only six years since House of Cards premiered on Netflix and suddenly video streaming companies became the big new players in content. A new study details why people subscribe to these channels as well as what prompts them to stick with or cancel the services. It paints an interesting picture at a time when pay television is struggling to keep subscribers, with many cord cutters replacing those services with over the top services. The study, commissioned by business-to-consumer digital services monetization company Vindicia from nScreenMedia, examines consumer relationships with streaming video services. One of the most telling findings is just how widespread subscription video services are. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription, compared with 40 percent of U.K. homes. And the average American subscriber watches 3.4 services. For each one, they pay an average $8.53 per month. That would total a monthly bill of $29. Thats less than a third of the average monthly cable bill of $107. The study found a number of reasons for people leaving streaming services. More than a quarter of U.S. subscribers said they had a subscription video on demand (SVOD) channel canceled because of a credit card program, and about a third of them didnt return to the service after that. This is particularly an issue among younger adults. Involuntary cancellations are a huge problem for the SVOD industry, particularly among young subscribers, said study author Colin Dixon, founder and chief analyst at nScreenMedia. The study found Netflix users are less likely than average to have canceled service over the past year, while Hulu users are slightly more likely. Amazon Prime Video subscribers are no more or less likely. The top two reasons for terminating service are that people didnt find the service a good value for their money and they didnt find enough content they likedwhich explains why Netflix is spending so darn much on content. Content is the most important part of consumers decision-making on whether to keep subscribing to an SVOD. The study found the top reason people stick with a service is the interesting content. The ease of finding something they liked to watch was the third reason given, with interesting original content fourth and lots of new shows fifth.
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Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription to streaming video services.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2019/03/29/how-many-streaming-video-services-does-the-average-person-subscribe-to/
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How Many Streaming Video Services Does The Average Person Subscribe To?
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Getty Its hard to believe that its been only six years since House of Cards premiered on Netflix and suddenly video streaming companies became the big new players in content. A new study details why people subscribe to these channels as well as what prompts them to stick with or cancel the services. It paints an interesting picture at a time when pay television is struggling to keep subscribers, with many cord cutters replacing those services with over the top services. The study, commissioned by business-to-consumer digital services monetization company Vindicia from nScreenMedia, examines consumer relationships with streaming video services. One of the most telling findings is just how widespread subscription video services are. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription, compared with 40 percent of U.K. homes. And the average American subscriber watches 3.4 services. For each one, they pay an average $8.53 per month. That would total a monthly bill of $29. Thats less than a third of the average monthly cable bill of $107. The study found a number of reasons for people leaving streaming services. More than a quarter of U.S. subscribers said they had a subscription video on demand (SVOD) channel canceled because of a credit card program, and about a third of them didnt return to the service after that. This is particularly an issue among younger adults. Involuntary cancellations are a huge problem for the SVOD industry, particularly among young subscribers, said study author Colin Dixon, founder and chief analyst at nScreenMedia. The study found Netflix users are less likely than average to have canceled service over the past year, while Hulu users are slightly more likely. Amazon Prime Video subscribers are no more or less likely. The top two reasons for terminating service are that people didnt find the service a good value for their money and they didnt find enough content they likedwhich explains why Netflix is spending so darn much on content. Content is the most important part of consumers decision-making on whether to keep subscribing to an SVOD. The study found the top reason people stick with a service is the interesting content. The ease of finding something they liked to watch was the third reason given, with interesting original content fourth and lots of new shows fifth.
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A new study examines consumer relationships with streaming video services. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription. The average American subscriber watches 3.4 services.
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bart
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2019/03/29/how-many-streaming-video-services-does-the-average-person-subscribe-to/
| 0.529871 |
How Many Streaming Video Services Does The Average Person Subscribe To?
|
Getty Its hard to believe that its been only six years since House of Cards premiered on Netflix and suddenly video streaming companies became the big new players in content. A new study details why people subscribe to these channels as well as what prompts them to stick with or cancel the services. It paints an interesting picture at a time when pay television is struggling to keep subscribers, with many cord cutters replacing those services with over the top services. The study, commissioned by business-to-consumer digital services monetization company Vindicia from nScreenMedia, examines consumer relationships with streaming video services. One of the most telling findings is just how widespread subscription video services are. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription, compared with 40 percent of U.K. homes. And the average American subscriber watches 3.4 services. For each one, they pay an average $8.53 per month. That would total a monthly bill of $29. Thats less than a third of the average monthly cable bill of $107. The study found a number of reasons for people leaving streaming services. More than a quarter of U.S. subscribers said they had a subscription video on demand (SVOD) channel canceled because of a credit card program, and about a third of them didnt return to the service after that. This is particularly an issue among younger adults. Involuntary cancellations are a huge problem for the SVOD industry, particularly among young subscribers, said study author Colin Dixon, founder and chief analyst at nScreenMedia. The study found Netflix users are less likely than average to have canceled service over the past year, while Hulu users are slightly more likely. Amazon Prime Video subscribers are no more or less likely. The top two reasons for terminating service are that people didnt find the service a good value for their money and they didnt find enough content they likedwhich explains why Netflix is spending so darn much on content. Content is the most important part of consumers decision-making on whether to keep subscribing to an SVOD. The study found the top reason people stick with a service is the interesting content. The ease of finding something they liked to watch was the third reason given, with interesting original content fourth and lots of new shows fifth.
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A new study examines consumer relationships with streaming video services. Seventy percent of U.S. households have at least one subscription. The average American subscriber watches 3.4 services. For each one, they pay an average $8.53 per month. Thats less than a third of the average monthly cable bill.
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bart
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/tonifitzgerald/2019/03/29/how-many-streaming-video-services-does-the-average-person-subscribe-to/
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Why can't Minnesotans figure out how to zipper merge?
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Kate Thoma recently came upon a construction zone in Bloomington, and with traffic backed up in the left lane, she zoomed along in the unoccupied right lane until signs told her to move over. She was zipper merging, but her efforts were thwarted by a left lane vigilante who would not let her in line. Im certain he thought of me as rude and entitled, but I was just doing what my 9th grade drivers ed teacher taught me, Thoma said. Indeed zipper merging is the law, but Thomas experience prompted her to ask why Minnesotans cant zipper merge and why some motorists get all worked up when people do it. Two other Star Tribune readers sent in similar questions to Curious Minnesota, the newspapers community-driven reporting project that invites readers to join the newsroom and ask the questions they want answered. How to zipper merge (it's not budging): The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. Video 01:09 The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. The Minnesota Department of Transportation in the early 2000s was the first in the nation to employ the zipper merge as a way to better manage traffic when a lane is closed in work zones. The concept is simple: Drivers remain in their respective lanes until they reach the designated merge point. Then, like we learned in kindergarten, drivers are supposed to take turns falling orderly in line. Its a great idea in theory, but theory is not how people always drive, said Dwight Hennessy, a traffic psychologist who teaches at Buffalo State College in New York. Zipper works when everyone follows the rules the system can handle the odd rule breaker but typically when one person breaks those rules others often follow. When people speed by in the open lane, that ticks people off as those waiting in line for a long time perceive those passing by as being impatient rule breakers sneaking to the front, Hennessey said. Its perceived unfairness, said MnDOT work zone engineer Ken Johnson. If more people would use lanes to the merge point, fairness is taken care of. Thats been a big roadblock, and a major reason why MnDOT is still struggling to get motorists to adopt the maneuver even though its included in the Minnesota Drivers Manual, Johnson said. Research has shown that zipper merging reduces the queue of vehicles in the closed lane by 40 to 50 percent, Johnson said. Its also safer. When motorists use both lanes and merge late, traffic in both lanes generally moves at the same speed. That, Johnson says, curbs risky behaviors such as queue jumping in which drivers move from the slow lane into the fast lane and then cut back into the slow lane. It also reduces the risk of rear-end crashes, the most common mishap in construction zones, he said. But that doesnt mean people do it. Many, Hennessy said, may be trying to be polite. Others have probably had bad experiences before. And thats when the merging battle begins. Sometimes frustrated drivers take things into their own hands. Thoma has seen drivers intentionally blocking the open lane so nobody can pass. Thats a no-no, said Lt. Gordon Shank of the State Patrol, and a ticketable offense. People view it as cutting in line, and cutting in line is not Minnesota Nice, Thomas said. Its not cutting in line. Its efficient. Zipper merging in Minnesota is exclusively reserved for work zone bottlenecks, and not in situations such as when drivers use an Exit Only lane and then cut in at the last second instead of exiting. That is cheating. They are forcing themselves in, Johnson said. Different rules for different situations. No wonder drivers are confused and angry. Minnesota drivers are not the only ones that struggle with how and when to zipper merge. In Kansas, where the take-your-turn-at-the-merge point technique has been employed occasionally over the past three years, the department of Transportation is shying away from using the zipper merge term and has resorted to telling drivers that merging early is incorrect. Drivers who are unaware or aggressive make it too difficult to use this process smoothly, said Laurie Arellano, a spokeswoman for KDOT. The California Department of Transportation no longer uses zipper merging. It recommends drivers merge well before reaching a lane closure because waiting can create opportunities for unsafe merging, said Alsia Becerra, a Caltrans spokeswoman. Drivers who cut in at the last minute cause sudden stopping and lane changes which cause direct collisions. Minnesota remains committed to using the zipper merge, and is continuing to teach drivers the proper and polite way to merge. Through YouTube videos and an entire resource guide on its website, Johnson said the agency continues to educate drivers. Thoma thinks a massive marketing campaign might help, but then again, she said signs tell drivers to use both lanes and take turns at merge and motorists just ignore them. I love the zipper merge, Thoma said. Its the law, and if everyone did it, wed all be better off. --- If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below:
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. A traffic psychologist says zipper works when everyone follows the rules but typically when one person breaks those rules others often follow.
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http://www.startribune.com/why-can-t-people-zipper-merge-curious-minnesota/506763211/
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Why can't Minnesotans figure out how to zipper merge?
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Kate Thoma recently came upon a construction zone in Bloomington, and with traffic backed up in the left lane, she zoomed along in the unoccupied right lane until signs told her to move over. She was zipper merging, but her efforts were thwarted by a left lane vigilante who would not let her in line. Im certain he thought of me as rude and entitled, but I was just doing what my 9th grade drivers ed teacher taught me, Thoma said. Indeed zipper merging is the law, but Thomas experience prompted her to ask why Minnesotans cant zipper merge and why some motorists get all worked up when people do it. Two other Star Tribune readers sent in similar questions to Curious Minnesota, the newspapers community-driven reporting project that invites readers to join the newsroom and ask the questions they want answered. How to zipper merge (it's not budging): The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. Video 01:09 The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. The Minnesota Department of Transportation in the early 2000s was the first in the nation to employ the zipper merge as a way to better manage traffic when a lane is closed in work zones. The concept is simple: Drivers remain in their respective lanes until they reach the designated merge point. Then, like we learned in kindergarten, drivers are supposed to take turns falling orderly in line. Its a great idea in theory, but theory is not how people always drive, said Dwight Hennessy, a traffic psychologist who teaches at Buffalo State College in New York. Zipper works when everyone follows the rules the system can handle the odd rule breaker but typically when one person breaks those rules others often follow. When people speed by in the open lane, that ticks people off as those waiting in line for a long time perceive those passing by as being impatient rule breakers sneaking to the front, Hennessey said. Its perceived unfairness, said MnDOT work zone engineer Ken Johnson. If more people would use lanes to the merge point, fairness is taken care of. Thats been a big roadblock, and a major reason why MnDOT is still struggling to get motorists to adopt the maneuver even though its included in the Minnesota Drivers Manual, Johnson said. Research has shown that zipper merging reduces the queue of vehicles in the closed lane by 40 to 50 percent, Johnson said. Its also safer. When motorists use both lanes and merge late, traffic in both lanes generally moves at the same speed. That, Johnson says, curbs risky behaviors such as queue jumping in which drivers move from the slow lane into the fast lane and then cut back into the slow lane. It also reduces the risk of rear-end crashes, the most common mishap in construction zones, he said. But that doesnt mean people do it. Many, Hennessy said, may be trying to be polite. Others have probably had bad experiences before. And thats when the merging battle begins. Sometimes frustrated drivers take things into their own hands. Thoma has seen drivers intentionally blocking the open lane so nobody can pass. Thats a no-no, said Lt. Gordon Shank of the State Patrol, and a ticketable offense. People view it as cutting in line, and cutting in line is not Minnesota Nice, Thomas said. Its not cutting in line. Its efficient. Zipper merging in Minnesota is exclusively reserved for work zone bottlenecks, and not in situations such as when drivers use an Exit Only lane and then cut in at the last second instead of exiting. That is cheating. They are forcing themselves in, Johnson said. Different rules for different situations. No wonder drivers are confused and angry. Minnesota drivers are not the only ones that struggle with how and when to zipper merge. In Kansas, where the take-your-turn-at-the-merge point technique has been employed occasionally over the past three years, the department of Transportation is shying away from using the zipper merge term and has resorted to telling drivers that merging early is incorrect. Drivers who are unaware or aggressive make it too difficult to use this process smoothly, said Laurie Arellano, a spokeswoman for KDOT. The California Department of Transportation no longer uses zipper merging. It recommends drivers merge well before reaching a lane closure because waiting can create opportunities for unsafe merging, said Alsia Becerra, a Caltrans spokeswoman. Drivers who cut in at the last minute cause sudden stopping and lane changes which cause direct collisions. Minnesota remains committed to using the zipper merge, and is continuing to teach drivers the proper and polite way to merge. Through YouTube videos and an entire resource guide on its website, Johnson said the agency continues to educate drivers. Thoma thinks a massive marketing campaign might help, but then again, she said signs tell drivers to use both lanes and take turns at merge and motorists just ignore them. I love the zipper merge, Thoma said. Its the law, and if everyone did it, wed all be better off. --- If you'd like to submit a Curious Minnesota question, fill out the form below:
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The Minnesota Department of Transportation says zipper merging reduces the overall length of a traffic backup by as much as 40 percent. A traffic psychologist says zipper works when everyone follows the rules, but typically when one person breaks those rules others often follow, he says. Some drivers intentionally block the open lane so nobody can pass, which is a ticketable offense.
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ctrlsum
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http://www.startribune.com/why-can-t-people-zipper-merge-curious-minnesota/506763211/
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Who is Adam Schiff and why does Donald Trump want him to resign?
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Twitter, alleging the California Democrat knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking information regarding special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. On Thursday morning, Mr Trump tweeted: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Mr Schiff has come under fire for continuing to launch investigations into the president and the Trump campaign to determine whether there was any possible collusion with the Kremlin and if Mr Mueller had any limitations during his investigation. Since Mr Muller did not find the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia, according to a letter sent to Congress by Attorney General William Barr, many Republicans believe the California Democrats continue investigation of the president to be an act of congressional overreach and an abuse of power to knowingly promote false information. In addition to the president, nine other Republicans sitting on the House Intelligence Committee signed a letter calling on Mr Schiff to resign. Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019 The letter read: Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming. The findings of the Special Counsel conclusively refute your past and present assertions and have exposed you as having abused your position to knowingly promote false information, having damaged the integrity of this Committee, and undermined faith in U.S. government institutions. Rep. Mike Conaway, the Republican leading the House Intelligence Committees Russia investigation, echoed calls for Mr Schiffs resignation at the beginning of the public committee hearing on money laundering. Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman, Mr Conway said. Mr Schiff is a Democrat representative of Californias 28th congressional district. He first assumed congressional office in January 2001 representing the Golden States 27th District and then the 29th District. He was tapped to serve on the House Intelligence Committee in 2008 until earlier this year when he became chairman of the committee. Mr Schiff graduated from Stanford University in 1982 with a degree in political science before earning his law degree from Harvard University in 1985. In Los Angeles, Mr Schiff made headlines as an assistant US attorney for his successful prosecution of Richard Miller. Mr Miller was an FBI agent who leaked confidential US documents to the former Soviet Union. Until recently, among Democrats, Mr Schiff was often seen as a heroic figure as a ranking member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, using his political prowess to bring forward concerns about the president and his campaigns possible collusion with the Kremlin. Mr Schiff was also credited for standing up against former House Intelligence Chairman Republican Rep. David Nunes. Despite working alongside him in the committee, Mr Schiff called on California Republican to step aside as the head of the Russia investigation after Mr Nunes appeared to safeguard the Trump administration. Question: "What do you make of the President calling you a disgrace, calling for you to resign?" Rep. Adam Schiff: "It's nothing new from this president." EARLIER: Trump: Schiff should be forced out of office https://t.co/alSzyiTtby pic.twitter.com/Y1usBMKONr The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 The California Democrat brushed it off. He said: "It's nothing new from this president. :
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
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https://news.yahoo.com/adam-schiff-why-does-donald-194428488.html
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Who is Adam Schiff and why does Donald Trump want him to resign?
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Twitter, alleging the California Democrat knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking information regarding special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. On Thursday morning, Mr Trump tweeted: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Mr Schiff has come under fire for continuing to launch investigations into the president and the Trump campaign to determine whether there was any possible collusion with the Kremlin and if Mr Mueller had any limitations during his investigation. Since Mr Muller did not find the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia, according to a letter sent to Congress by Attorney General William Barr, many Republicans believe the California Democrats continue investigation of the president to be an act of congressional overreach and an abuse of power to knowingly promote false information. In addition to the president, nine other Republicans sitting on the House Intelligence Committee signed a letter calling on Mr Schiff to resign. Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019 The letter read: Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming. The findings of the Special Counsel conclusively refute your past and present assertions and have exposed you as having abused your position to knowingly promote false information, having damaged the integrity of this Committee, and undermined faith in U.S. government institutions. Rep. Mike Conaway, the Republican leading the House Intelligence Committees Russia investigation, echoed calls for Mr Schiffs resignation at the beginning of the public committee hearing on money laundering. Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman, Mr Conway said. Mr Schiff is a Democrat representative of Californias 28th congressional district. He first assumed congressional office in January 2001 representing the Golden States 27th District and then the 29th District. He was tapped to serve on the House Intelligence Committee in 2008 until earlier this year when he became chairman of the committee. Mr Schiff graduated from Stanford University in 1982 with a degree in political science before earning his law degree from Harvard University in 1985. In Los Angeles, Mr Schiff made headlines as an assistant US attorney for his successful prosecution of Richard Miller. Mr Miller was an FBI agent who leaked confidential US documents to the former Soviet Union. Until recently, among Democrats, Mr Schiff was often seen as a heroic figure as a ranking member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, using his political prowess to bring forward concerns about the president and his campaigns possible collusion with the Kremlin. Mr Schiff was also credited for standing up against former House Intelligence Chairman Republican Rep. David Nunes. Despite working alongside him in the committee, Mr Schiff called on California Republican to step aside as the head of the Russia investigation after Mr Nunes appeared to safeguard the Trump administration. Question: "What do you make of the President calling you a disgrace, calling for you to resign?" Rep. Adam Schiff: "It's nothing new from this president." EARLIER: Trump: Schiff should be forced out of office https://t.co/alSzyiTtby pic.twitter.com/Y1usBMKONr The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 The California Democrat brushed it off. He said: "It's nothing new from this president. :
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Mr Schiff has come under fire for continuing to launch investigations into the president and the Trump campaign.
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pegasus
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https://news.yahoo.com/adam-schiff-why-does-donald-194428488.html
| 0.256683 |
Who is Adam Schiff and why does Donald Trump want him to resign?
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee on Twitter, alleging the California Democrat knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking information regarding special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. On Thursday morning, Mr Trump tweeted: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Mr Schiff has come under fire for continuing to launch investigations into the president and the Trump campaign to determine whether there was any possible collusion with the Kremlin and if Mr Mueller had any limitations during his investigation. Since Mr Muller did not find the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia, according to a letter sent to Congress by Attorney General William Barr, many Republicans believe the California Democrats continue investigation of the president to be an act of congressional overreach and an abuse of power to knowingly promote false information. In addition to the president, nine other Republicans sitting on the House Intelligence Committee signed a letter calling on Mr Schiff to resign. Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 28, 2019 The letter read: Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming. The findings of the Special Counsel conclusively refute your past and present assertions and have exposed you as having abused your position to knowingly promote false information, having damaged the integrity of this Committee, and undermined faith in U.S. government institutions. Rep. Mike Conaway, the Republican leading the House Intelligence Committees Russia investigation, echoed calls for Mr Schiffs resignation at the beginning of the public committee hearing on money laundering. Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman, Mr Conway said. Mr Schiff is a Democrat representative of Californias 28th congressional district. He first assumed congressional office in January 2001 representing the Golden States 27th District and then the 29th District. He was tapped to serve on the House Intelligence Committee in 2008 until earlier this year when he became chairman of the committee. Mr Schiff graduated from Stanford University in 1982 with a degree in political science before earning his law degree from Harvard University in 1985. In Los Angeles, Mr Schiff made headlines as an assistant US attorney for his successful prosecution of Richard Miller. Mr Miller was an FBI agent who leaked confidential US documents to the former Soviet Union. Until recently, among Democrats, Mr Schiff was often seen as a heroic figure as a ranking member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, using his political prowess to bring forward concerns about the president and his campaigns possible collusion with the Kremlin. Mr Schiff was also credited for standing up against former House Intelligence Chairman Republican Rep. David Nunes. Despite working alongside him in the committee, Mr Schiff called on California Republican to step aside as the head of the Russia investigation after Mr Nunes appeared to safeguard the Trump administration. Question: "What do you make of the President calling you a disgrace, calling for you to resign?" Rep. Adam Schiff: "It's nothing new from this president." EARLIER: Trump: Schiff should be forced out of office https://t.co/alSzyiTtby pic.twitter.com/Y1usBMKONr The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 The California Democrat brushed it off. He said: "It's nothing new from this president. :
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Donald Trump called on Rep. Adam Schiff to resign from his position as chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. Mr Schiff has come under fire for continuing to launch investigations into the president and the Trump campaign. Nine other Republicans sitting on the House Intelligence Committee signed a letter calling on Mr Schiff to resign.
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pegasus
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https://news.yahoo.com/adam-schiff-why-does-donald-194428488.html
| 0.367977 |
Could Prize-Based Competitions Help Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater?
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ASSOCIATED PRESS As human activities continue to add greenhouse gases to the planet's atmosphere, the oceans absorb nearly one-third of all CO 2 emissions. Through a series of chemical reactions, increasing CO 2 levels in the ocean have caused seawater to become 30% more acidic over the past century. This process, termed "ocean acidification", can disrupt animals' abilities to smell, regulate their metabolism, and build their shells. The Pacific Northwest region of the United States, where many economically and culturally valuable fisheries and shellfish farms exist, is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification. The shoreline that stretches from northern California to Alaska is the final destination for globally circulating seawater that accumulates nearly 1,000 years worth of CO 2 from the respiration and decomposition of flora and fauna. Seasonal "upwelling" of these millennium-aged deep sea waters and additional CO 2 from human activities makes them particularly acidic. Thus, understanding how these acidic waters affect the $220 million Dungeness crab fishery and the $9.4 billion mussel, clam and oyster farming industries in Washington (among many other potentially susceptible operations) is becoming increasingly urgent. Earlier this week, four United States Congressmembers from Washington, Oregon and Alaska reintroduced a bill called the "Ocean Acidification Innovation Act". Just like its predecessor from 2017, this bill would allow federal agencies to run prize-based competitions that would increase capacity for studying ocean acidification and mitigating its impacts. Our coastal communities depend on a healthy shellfish and fishing industry, says one of the bill's co-sponsors Rep. Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Ocean acidification threatens those jobs and the health of the oceans ecosystem, which is why were offering this bipartisan bill that will help us better understand the problem and find solutions. ASSOCIATED PRESS This bill was developed in partnership with the XPRIZE Foundation, which uses multi-million dollar incentivized competitions to foster innovative solutions for global problems. These include improving literacy initiative, human-artificial intelligence collaborations, the conversion of carbon emissions into usable products, and developing technologies for exploring the deep sea. The Ocean Acidification Innovation Acts prize competition will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification, " says Rep. Bonamici (OR-1), another co-sponsor of this bill, "This will help the communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the harsh realities of rising carbon emissions.
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Prize-Based Competitions could help Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2019/03/29/could-prize-based-competitions-help-pacific-northwest-shellfish-cope-with-acidic-seawater/
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Could Prize-Based Competitions Help Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater?
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ASSOCIATED PRESS As human activities continue to add greenhouse gases to the planet's atmosphere, the oceans absorb nearly one-third of all CO 2 emissions. Through a series of chemical reactions, increasing CO 2 levels in the ocean have caused seawater to become 30% more acidic over the past century. This process, termed "ocean acidification", can disrupt animals' abilities to smell, regulate their metabolism, and build their shells. The Pacific Northwest region of the United States, where many economically and culturally valuable fisheries and shellfish farms exist, is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification. The shoreline that stretches from northern California to Alaska is the final destination for globally circulating seawater that accumulates nearly 1,000 years worth of CO 2 from the respiration and decomposition of flora and fauna. Seasonal "upwelling" of these millennium-aged deep sea waters and additional CO 2 from human activities makes them particularly acidic. Thus, understanding how these acidic waters affect the $220 million Dungeness crab fishery and the $9.4 billion mussel, clam and oyster farming industries in Washington (among many other potentially susceptible operations) is becoming increasingly urgent. Earlier this week, four United States Congressmembers from Washington, Oregon and Alaska reintroduced a bill called the "Ocean Acidification Innovation Act". Just like its predecessor from 2017, this bill would allow federal agencies to run prize-based competitions that would increase capacity for studying ocean acidification and mitigating its impacts. Our coastal communities depend on a healthy shellfish and fishing industry, says one of the bill's co-sponsors Rep. Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Ocean acidification threatens those jobs and the health of the oceans ecosystem, which is why were offering this bipartisan bill that will help us better understand the problem and find solutions. ASSOCIATED PRESS This bill was developed in partnership with the XPRIZE Foundation, which uses multi-million dollar incentivized competitions to foster innovative solutions for global problems. These include improving literacy initiative, human-artificial intelligence collaborations, the conversion of carbon emissions into usable products, and developing technologies for exploring the deep sea. The Ocean Acidification Innovation Acts prize competition will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification, " says Rep. Bonamici (OR-1), another co-sponsor of this bill, "This will help the communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the harsh realities of rising carbon emissions.
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The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification. Prize-Based Competitions could help Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2019/03/29/could-prize-based-competitions-help-pacific-northwest-shellfish-cope-with-acidic-seawater/
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Could Prize-Based Competitions Help Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater?
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ASSOCIATED PRESS As human activities continue to add greenhouse gases to the planet's atmosphere, the oceans absorb nearly one-third of all CO 2 emissions. Through a series of chemical reactions, increasing CO 2 levels in the ocean have caused seawater to become 30% more acidic over the past century. This process, termed "ocean acidification", can disrupt animals' abilities to smell, regulate their metabolism, and build their shells. The Pacific Northwest region of the United States, where many economically and culturally valuable fisheries and shellfish farms exist, is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification. The shoreline that stretches from northern California to Alaska is the final destination for globally circulating seawater that accumulates nearly 1,000 years worth of CO 2 from the respiration and decomposition of flora and fauna. Seasonal "upwelling" of these millennium-aged deep sea waters and additional CO 2 from human activities makes them particularly acidic. Thus, understanding how these acidic waters affect the $220 million Dungeness crab fishery and the $9.4 billion mussel, clam and oyster farming industries in Washington (among many other potentially susceptible operations) is becoming increasingly urgent. Earlier this week, four United States Congressmembers from Washington, Oregon and Alaska reintroduced a bill called the "Ocean Acidification Innovation Act". Just like its predecessor from 2017, this bill would allow federal agencies to run prize-based competitions that would increase capacity for studying ocean acidification and mitigating its impacts. Our coastal communities depend on a healthy shellfish and fishing industry, says one of the bill's co-sponsors Rep. Herrera Beutler (WA-3), Ocean acidification threatens those jobs and the health of the oceans ecosystem, which is why were offering this bipartisan bill that will help us better understand the problem and find solutions. ASSOCIATED PRESS This bill was developed in partnership with the XPRIZE Foundation, which uses multi-million dollar incentivized competitions to foster innovative solutions for global problems. These include improving literacy initiative, human-artificial intelligence collaborations, the conversion of carbon emissions into usable products, and developing technologies for exploring the deep sea. The Ocean Acidification Innovation Acts prize competition will encourage collaboration and spur innovative strategies to mitigate and adapt to ocean acidification, " says Rep. Bonamici (OR-1), another co-sponsor of this bill, "This will help the communities, environments, and industries that rely on healthy oceans and are facing the harsh realities of rising carbon emissions.
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The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. is especially vulnerable to ocean acidification. Prize-Based Competitions could help the Pacific Northwest Shellfish Cope With Acidic Seawater. The Ocean Acidification Innovation Act would allow federal agencies to run prize-based competitions.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/priyashukla/2019/03/29/could-prize-based-competitions-help-pacific-northwest-shellfish-cope-with-acidic-seawater/
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Could tossing video footage from sex spa case clear Robert Kraft?
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CLOSE USA TODAY Sports Lorenzo Reyes says that based on precedent, the NFL could come down hard on Robert Kraft. USA TODAY Robert Kraft's game plan for getting solicitation charges against him dismissed was revealed in a court filing this week: suppress the video footage that Kraft's lawyers claim was illegally secured. If the court agrees the warrant was obtained illegally or that police misled the judge the New England Patriots owner could be spared. USA TODAY Sports obtained the sneak-and-peek search warrant application a judge approved to surveil the Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor that Kraft visited. The application listed evidence of prostitution as the primary need to place cameras inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The detective did note conditions inside the spa were "consistent with individuals living inside" something Kraft's legal team wrote in a filing "seemed to suggest" human trafficking was taking place in order to bolster the chance such a warrant would be approved. "Those facts were false, and any suggestion of human trafficking being suspected was unfounded and irresponsible," Jack Goldberger, Krafts Florida-based attorney, wrote in Thursday's filing. Goldbergers eight-page motion to suppress two vital pieces of evidence the video footage and the car stop during which Kraft initially was identified by police provided a look into Krafts defense strategy. Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor solicitation charges and asked for a jury trial. He also issued an apology Saturday that read in part: I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard. The sneak-and-peek warrant, officially known as a delayed notice warrant, was approved by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Howard Coates on Jan. 15 and spanned five days from the installation of the recording equipment. According to the charging documents, Kraft visited the spa twice during that span and footage captured two women on Jan. 19 and one woman on Jan. 20 performing sexual acts on Kraft. The second visit came hours before the kickoff of the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Coates approved video surveillance and recording, but not audio. He also mandated there will be no cameras installed in areas expected to be non-criminal in nature. SEX VIDEOS:Defense team files motion to keep sex spa videos private BELL: Kraft 'awkward' presence at NFL owners' meetings Thursdays filing by Kraft's legal team again chipped away at the human trafficking narrative law enforcement officials and prosecutors vociferously conveyed when the first of more than 300 people including Kraft were charged. Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder told USA TODAY Sports this week that the spas had all trappings of human trafficking, even though no such charges have been brought in either Martin or neighboring Palm Beach County, where Jupiter is located. And the mention in the Jupiter affidavit for the search warrant of human trafficking was related to information received from Detectives with the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Messages left Friday with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's office by USA TODAY Sports were not returned. The affidavit for the search warrant for the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter included information that was provided to police by Florida Department of Health specialist Karen Herzog. Herzog inspected several of the spas implicated and visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa at the request of Jupiter police. Herzog advised it appeared as though the female employees were living there as there were two rooms with beds, including sheets and pillows, a Jupiter police detective wrote in the application for the search warrant. Next to the beds she located dressers which housed several personal items including medicines and clothing for the females. Inside the kitchen of the business, Herzog located a refrigerator filled with food and condiments, consistent with individuals living inside. Goldberger argued the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor violated the Fourth Amendment and Floridas privacy laws. Robert Kraft attends the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Mark Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) 'This isn't some top-secret NSA stuff' The Patriots owner, however, could run up against one issue when it comes to sneak-and-peek warrants: the Patriot Act. Theres a huge difference between a search warrant and these delayed-notice searches, Paul Petruzzi, an attorney who represents one of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa workers charged, told USA TODAY Sports. This isnt some top-secret NSA stuff going on here. The Patriot Act was supposed to be about stopping terrorism, not rub and tugs. Even if this was a prostitution case, such warrants still are allowed under the Patriot Act that became federal law after 9/11, Pertuzzi said. Law enforcement, however, needs to show such an invasive tactic is necessary, meaning other techniques failed to expose a criminal enterprise. At the time officers secured this warrant, they already had ample evidence that solicitation might be occurring at the spa and an array of routine, reliable means for collecting more, Goldberger wrote in the filing. By no stretch of the imagination did law enforcement need to resort to secret, indiscriminate, continuous videotaping of private massage parlors in order to build a solicitation case around low-level, consensual sex acts. Even if the judge overseeing Krafts case agrees errors were made in obtaining or carrying out the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor, that doesnt necessarily mean Krafts two charges will be tossed or a jury won't convict if it gets to that stage. Detectives could testify in court as to what they observed, said former U.S. Attorney David S. Weinstein The case could still go forward against Kraft and the others. However, by filing this motion and litigating the issues, it might result in the state attorney softening the terms of the pretrial diversion offer and removing the admission of guilt. Kraft rejected the first pretrial diversion program offer by prosecutors earlier this month.The deal would have spared Kraft jail time, but he would have had to admit guilt something that is atypical in diversion cases. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 9. Defense: Video surveillance not necessary Richard Kibbey, whose firm is defending 24 clients between Martin and Palm Beach counties linked to the alleged prostitution ring, told USA TODAY Sports that its exactly that kind of policing that could have been done without the use of recording people including those who actually got massages with no sexual contact in the parlors. In Martin County, they stopped customers leaving the spa and asked them what went on in the massage parlor and if any sex acts occurred, Kibbey said. They confirmed they paid extra for (the sex acts) to happen. There was no mention of people who may have told police no sex acts happened. They are not giving the court a full picture of what happened. The Jupiter police warrant affidavit listed four unidentified men who told detectives they had sex acts performed on them at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The affidavit also stated a presumptive test of the napkins recovered for the presence of seminal fluid after a search of the spas garbage. Pertuzzi said that should have been enough to conclude a prostitution operation was in progress at the spa, negating the need for video surveillance. He also said police installed a GPS tracker on his clients car with the courts approval. They didnt fail in other techniques they tried, Pertuzzi said. They didnt fail to obtain evidence from the trash they pulled. They stopped people on the side of the road and got evidence. They got everything they needed. Follow A.J. Perez on Twitter @byajperez
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Robert Kraft is accused of soliciting women for sex at a Florida massage parlor. His lawyers say the video footage was illegally obtained.
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bart
| 0 |
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/29/robert-kraft-sex-spa-case-video-patriot-act/3308145002/
| 0.12925 |
Could tossing video footage from sex spa case clear Robert Kraft?
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CLOSE USA TODAY Sports Lorenzo Reyes says that based on precedent, the NFL could come down hard on Robert Kraft. USA TODAY Robert Kraft's game plan for getting solicitation charges against him dismissed was revealed in a court filing this week: suppress the video footage that Kraft's lawyers claim was illegally secured. If the court agrees the warrant was obtained illegally or that police misled the judge the New England Patriots owner could be spared. USA TODAY Sports obtained the sneak-and-peek search warrant application a judge approved to surveil the Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor that Kraft visited. The application listed evidence of prostitution as the primary need to place cameras inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The detective did note conditions inside the spa were "consistent with individuals living inside" something Kraft's legal team wrote in a filing "seemed to suggest" human trafficking was taking place in order to bolster the chance such a warrant would be approved. "Those facts were false, and any suggestion of human trafficking being suspected was unfounded and irresponsible," Jack Goldberger, Krafts Florida-based attorney, wrote in Thursday's filing. Goldbergers eight-page motion to suppress two vital pieces of evidence the video footage and the car stop during which Kraft initially was identified by police provided a look into Krafts defense strategy. Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor solicitation charges and asked for a jury trial. He also issued an apology Saturday that read in part: I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard. The sneak-and-peek warrant, officially known as a delayed notice warrant, was approved by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Howard Coates on Jan. 15 and spanned five days from the installation of the recording equipment. According to the charging documents, Kraft visited the spa twice during that span and footage captured two women on Jan. 19 and one woman on Jan. 20 performing sexual acts on Kraft. The second visit came hours before the kickoff of the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Coates approved video surveillance and recording, but not audio. He also mandated there will be no cameras installed in areas expected to be non-criminal in nature. SEX VIDEOS:Defense team files motion to keep sex spa videos private BELL: Kraft 'awkward' presence at NFL owners' meetings Thursdays filing by Kraft's legal team again chipped away at the human trafficking narrative law enforcement officials and prosecutors vociferously conveyed when the first of more than 300 people including Kraft were charged. Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder told USA TODAY Sports this week that the spas had all trappings of human trafficking, even though no such charges have been brought in either Martin or neighboring Palm Beach County, where Jupiter is located. And the mention in the Jupiter affidavit for the search warrant of human trafficking was related to information received from Detectives with the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Messages left Friday with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's office by USA TODAY Sports were not returned. The affidavit for the search warrant for the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter included information that was provided to police by Florida Department of Health specialist Karen Herzog. Herzog inspected several of the spas implicated and visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa at the request of Jupiter police. Herzog advised it appeared as though the female employees were living there as there were two rooms with beds, including sheets and pillows, a Jupiter police detective wrote in the application for the search warrant. Next to the beds she located dressers which housed several personal items including medicines and clothing for the females. Inside the kitchen of the business, Herzog located a refrigerator filled with food and condiments, consistent with individuals living inside. Goldberger argued the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor violated the Fourth Amendment and Floridas privacy laws. Robert Kraft attends the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Mark Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) 'This isn't some top-secret NSA stuff' The Patriots owner, however, could run up against one issue when it comes to sneak-and-peek warrants: the Patriot Act. Theres a huge difference between a search warrant and these delayed-notice searches, Paul Petruzzi, an attorney who represents one of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa workers charged, told USA TODAY Sports. This isnt some top-secret NSA stuff going on here. The Patriot Act was supposed to be about stopping terrorism, not rub and tugs. Even if this was a prostitution case, such warrants still are allowed under the Patriot Act that became federal law after 9/11, Pertuzzi said. Law enforcement, however, needs to show such an invasive tactic is necessary, meaning other techniques failed to expose a criminal enterprise. At the time officers secured this warrant, they already had ample evidence that solicitation might be occurring at the spa and an array of routine, reliable means for collecting more, Goldberger wrote in the filing. By no stretch of the imagination did law enforcement need to resort to secret, indiscriminate, continuous videotaping of private massage parlors in order to build a solicitation case around low-level, consensual sex acts. Even if the judge overseeing Krafts case agrees errors were made in obtaining or carrying out the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor, that doesnt necessarily mean Krafts two charges will be tossed or a jury won't convict if it gets to that stage. Detectives could testify in court as to what they observed, said former U.S. Attorney David S. Weinstein The case could still go forward against Kraft and the others. However, by filing this motion and litigating the issues, it might result in the state attorney softening the terms of the pretrial diversion offer and removing the admission of guilt. Kraft rejected the first pretrial diversion program offer by prosecutors earlier this month.The deal would have spared Kraft jail time, but he would have had to admit guilt something that is atypical in diversion cases. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 9. Defense: Video surveillance not necessary Richard Kibbey, whose firm is defending 24 clients between Martin and Palm Beach counties linked to the alleged prostitution ring, told USA TODAY Sports that its exactly that kind of policing that could have been done without the use of recording people including those who actually got massages with no sexual contact in the parlors. In Martin County, they stopped customers leaving the spa and asked them what went on in the massage parlor and if any sex acts occurred, Kibbey said. They confirmed they paid extra for (the sex acts) to happen. There was no mention of people who may have told police no sex acts happened. They are not giving the court a full picture of what happened. The Jupiter police warrant affidavit listed four unidentified men who told detectives they had sex acts performed on them at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The affidavit also stated a presumptive test of the napkins recovered for the presence of seminal fluid after a search of the spas garbage. Pertuzzi said that should have been enough to conclude a prostitution operation was in progress at the spa, negating the need for video surveillance. He also said police installed a GPS tracker on his clients car with the courts approval. They didnt fail in other techniques they tried, Pertuzzi said. They didnt fail to obtain evidence from the trash they pulled. They stopped people on the side of the road and got evidence. They got everything they needed. Follow A.J. Perez on Twitter @byajperez
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Robert Kraft is accused of soliciting women for sex at a Florida massage parlor. His lawyers say the video footage was illegally obtained. If the court agrees the warrant was obtained illegally, the Patriots owner could be spared.
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bart
| 1 |
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/29/robert-kraft-sex-spa-case-video-patriot-act/3308145002/
| 0.208492 |
Could tossing video footage from sex spa case clear Robert Kraft?
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CLOSE USA TODAY Sports Lorenzo Reyes says that based on precedent, the NFL could come down hard on Robert Kraft. USA TODAY Robert Kraft's game plan for getting solicitation charges against him dismissed was revealed in a court filing this week: suppress the video footage that Kraft's lawyers claim was illegally secured. If the court agrees the warrant was obtained illegally or that police misled the judge the New England Patriots owner could be spared. USA TODAY Sports obtained the sneak-and-peek search warrant application a judge approved to surveil the Jupiter, Florida, massage parlor that Kraft visited. The application listed evidence of prostitution as the primary need to place cameras inside the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The detective did note conditions inside the spa were "consistent with individuals living inside" something Kraft's legal team wrote in a filing "seemed to suggest" human trafficking was taking place in order to bolster the chance such a warrant would be approved. "Those facts were false, and any suggestion of human trafficking being suspected was unfounded and irresponsible," Jack Goldberger, Krafts Florida-based attorney, wrote in Thursday's filing. Goldbergers eight-page motion to suppress two vital pieces of evidence the video footage and the car stop during which Kraft initially was identified by police provided a look into Krafts defense strategy. Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor solicitation charges and asked for a jury trial. He also issued an apology Saturday that read in part: I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard. The sneak-and-peek warrant, officially known as a delayed notice warrant, was approved by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Howard Coates on Jan. 15 and spanned five days from the installation of the recording equipment. According to the charging documents, Kraft visited the spa twice during that span and footage captured two women on Jan. 19 and one woman on Jan. 20 performing sexual acts on Kraft. The second visit came hours before the kickoff of the AFC Championship game between the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Coates approved video surveillance and recording, but not audio. He also mandated there will be no cameras installed in areas expected to be non-criminal in nature. SEX VIDEOS:Defense team files motion to keep sex spa videos private BELL: Kraft 'awkward' presence at NFL owners' meetings Thursdays filing by Kraft's legal team again chipped away at the human trafficking narrative law enforcement officials and prosecutors vociferously conveyed when the first of more than 300 people including Kraft were charged. Martin County Sheriff Will Snyder told USA TODAY Sports this week that the spas had all trappings of human trafficking, even though no such charges have been brought in either Martin or neighboring Palm Beach County, where Jupiter is located. And the mention in the Jupiter affidavit for the search warrant of human trafficking was related to information received from Detectives with the Martin County Sheriffs Office. Messages left Friday with the Palm Beach County State Attorney's office by USA TODAY Sports were not returned. The affidavit for the search warrant for the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter included information that was provided to police by Florida Department of Health specialist Karen Herzog. Herzog inspected several of the spas implicated and visited the Orchids of Asia Day Spa at the request of Jupiter police. Herzog advised it appeared as though the female employees were living there as there were two rooms with beds, including sheets and pillows, a Jupiter police detective wrote in the application for the search warrant. Next to the beds she located dressers which housed several personal items including medicines and clothing for the females. Inside the kitchen of the business, Herzog located a refrigerator filled with food and condiments, consistent with individuals living inside. Goldberger argued the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor violated the Fourth Amendment and Floridas privacy laws. Robert Kraft attends the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium. (Photo: Mark Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports) 'This isn't some top-secret NSA stuff' The Patriots owner, however, could run up against one issue when it comes to sneak-and-peek warrants: the Patriot Act. Theres a huge difference between a search warrant and these delayed-notice searches, Paul Petruzzi, an attorney who represents one of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa workers charged, told USA TODAY Sports. This isnt some top-secret NSA stuff going on here. The Patriot Act was supposed to be about stopping terrorism, not rub and tugs. Even if this was a prostitution case, such warrants still are allowed under the Patriot Act that became federal law after 9/11, Pertuzzi said. Law enforcement, however, needs to show such an invasive tactic is necessary, meaning other techniques failed to expose a criminal enterprise. At the time officers secured this warrant, they already had ample evidence that solicitation might be occurring at the spa and an array of routine, reliable means for collecting more, Goldberger wrote in the filing. By no stretch of the imagination did law enforcement need to resort to secret, indiscriminate, continuous videotaping of private massage parlors in order to build a solicitation case around low-level, consensual sex acts. Even if the judge overseeing Krafts case agrees errors were made in obtaining or carrying out the warrant that allowed police to surreptitiously place video cameras inside the massage parlor, that doesnt necessarily mean Krafts two charges will be tossed or a jury won't convict if it gets to that stage. Detectives could testify in court as to what they observed, said former U.S. Attorney David S. Weinstein The case could still go forward against Kraft and the others. However, by filing this motion and litigating the issues, it might result in the state attorney softening the terms of the pretrial diversion offer and removing the admission of guilt. Kraft rejected the first pretrial diversion program offer by prosecutors earlier this month.The deal would have spared Kraft jail time, but he would have had to admit guilt something that is atypical in diversion cases. A hearing in the case is scheduled for April 9. Defense: Video surveillance not necessary Richard Kibbey, whose firm is defending 24 clients between Martin and Palm Beach counties linked to the alleged prostitution ring, told USA TODAY Sports that its exactly that kind of policing that could have been done without the use of recording people including those who actually got massages with no sexual contact in the parlors. In Martin County, they stopped customers leaving the spa and asked them what went on in the massage parlor and if any sex acts occurred, Kibbey said. They confirmed they paid extra for (the sex acts) to happen. There was no mention of people who may have told police no sex acts happened. They are not giving the court a full picture of what happened. The Jupiter police warrant affidavit listed four unidentified men who told detectives they had sex acts performed on them at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa. The affidavit also stated a presumptive test of the napkins recovered for the presence of seminal fluid after a search of the spas garbage. Pertuzzi said that should have been enough to conclude a prostitution operation was in progress at the spa, negating the need for video surveillance. He also said police installed a GPS tracker on his clients car with the courts approval. They didnt fail in other techniques they tried, Pertuzzi said. They didnt fail to obtain evidence from the trash they pulled. They stopped people on the side of the road and got evidence. They got everything they needed. Follow A.J. Perez on Twitter @byajperez
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Robert Kraft is accused of soliciting women for sex at a Florida massage parlor. His lawyers say the video footage was illegally obtained. If the court agrees the warrant was obtained illegally, Kraft could be spared. Kraft pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor solicitation charges and asked for a jury trial.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2019/03/29/robert-kraft-sex-spa-case-video-patriot-act/3308145002/
| 0.295196 |
Is the Future Of Artificial Intelligence Tied To The Future Of Blockchain?
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Deposit Photos Since the beginning of modern times, each industrial revolution was driven by different automation. While factory machines and fossil fuels drove the previous industrial revolutions, the on-going automation revolution is based on data-driven artificial intelligence (AI). Understanding its impact and what will be required to support the AI-driven automation revolution is a fundamental necessity. So, as we evaluate the impact and the support needed to harness this automation revolution, it seems that at the center of this revolution is the growing need for computing power. There are indicators that raw computing power is on its way to replacing fossil fuels and will be the most valued fuel in the rapidly emerging intelligence age. From where we are to where we want to reach in our intelligence automation journey, further advances in artificial intelligence require enormous amounts of computational power. Just as computing power is essential to AI, so too is the data that is fed and how the results are used. This is mainly because, ultimately, the input of AI is the data through which complex algorithms provide connections, patterns, and useful insight that provide valuable output for individuals and entities across nations: its government, industries, organizations, and academia (NGIOA). As seen across nations, many initiatives of blockchain currently provide computing power for the needs of AI. In addition to providing computing power, blockchain technologies also hold the promise of adding structure and accountability to AI algorithms and may help in much-needed areas like security, quality, and integrity of the intelligence AI produces. Now since big data fuels, artificial intelligence and blockchain generates big data, individually and collectively the future of AI is tied to the future of blockchain. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on the future of blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, and a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses The Future of Blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal, and Chairman of the Advisory Board at r4 Technologies based in the United States. Blockchain There is no doubt that blockchain is a disruptive technology and will give nations and all its components the foundation to the decentralized future. While blockchain is a disruptive technology, the way it is being used and applied has enormous energy and environmental impacts. The reason behind this is the process that is at the core of blockchain systems. The security of blockchain technology comes from its encryption, and the consensus mechanism of blockchain necessitates that all users require permission to write on the chain. Each of these requirements individually and collectively involves the intricate use of algorithms and enormous amounts of computing power. As the computing power needed to keep the current applications of blockchain running is not sustainable, it is one of the critical challenges facing the future of blockchain. Need for Increased Computing Power It is not only blockchain and artificial intelligence, but all existing and emerging technologies, that are accelerating global computing power consumption. As a result, there is a visible need for increased computing power. Now, as technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning blockchain, and the internet of things begin to require significant computing power, there is a need to not only process computation more efficiently but also to evolve both hardware and software to meet the demand for increased computing power. That brings us to an important point: there is a clear need to move away from traditional blockchain chips to low energy, scalable, and sustainable chips. Centralized Processing Infrastructure It seems that the current approach to centralized processing infrastructure (e.g., data centers) is not enough to meet the rapidly growing compiling, rendering, and predictive analytics needs of artificial intelligence in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. It is believed that evolution in hardware has become a necessity. Neuromorphic Computing Chips Neuromorphic computing may solve this ongoing problem of computing power by doing all the processing and functioning in the chips themselves rather than sending messages back and forth with a more massive server/cloud and by being event-driven and only operating when needed, thereby imitating the brain. As a result, the rise of neuromorphic chips and computing will likely bring much-needed energy efficiency and increases in computing power. Neuromorphic computing chips will likely be the future of not only artificial intelligence but also of the blockchain, as they give us an ability to develop low energy consuming cryptocurrency as well as distributed systems. As seen over the years, there have been formidable advances in computing and software. However, the developments have so far only been dedicated to software, and not on hardware. Neuromorphic computing and chips bring the much-needed evolution in computer hardware, allowing us not only to enhance machine intelligence for the complex problems that need to be solved for the future of humanity but also to give us a scalable and sustainable model for the future of blockchain and decentralized systems. With this evolving computing power, the future of blockchain and artificial intelligence seems to be tied together and perhaps secured and sustainable. Evolving Computational Capacity The demand for AI computation is multiplying rapidly with costs increasing proportionally as well. From the current alternative of centralized processing farms to a future filled with the democratization of neuromorphic computing chips, we are witnessing a disruptive effort towards not only reducing the cost of computing through neuromorphic computing chips but also changing the very fundamentals of machine learning and distributed systems. New power for blockchain and AI is emerging from neuromorphic computing chips. This emerging approach will not only be efficient at collecting and distributing computing power for the needs of artificial intelligence but will also allow scalability and sustainability of blockchain itself. Neuromorphic computing and chips (hardware) are the keys to the scalability, security, and sustainability of blockchainand the very future of artificial intelligence. Decentralized intelligence will influence and impact each one of us. As we see, the questions for tomorrow are being solved today, and nothing can distract from the stellar progress coming from the potential of neuromorphic computing chips to boost the scalability, sustainability, and security of blockchain and AI. The time is now to think about the future of humanity. NEVER MISS ANY OF JAYSHREES POST Just join here for a weekly update from Jayshree
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The future of artificial intelligence is tied to the future of blockchain, says Irving Wladawsky-Berger.
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ctrlsum
| 0 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/29/is-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-tied-to-the-future-of-blockchain/
| 0.508437 |
Is the Future Of Artificial Intelligence Tied To The Future Of Blockchain?
|
Deposit Photos Since the beginning of modern times, each industrial revolution was driven by different automation. While factory machines and fossil fuels drove the previous industrial revolutions, the on-going automation revolution is based on data-driven artificial intelligence (AI). Understanding its impact and what will be required to support the AI-driven automation revolution is a fundamental necessity. So, as we evaluate the impact and the support needed to harness this automation revolution, it seems that at the center of this revolution is the growing need for computing power. There are indicators that raw computing power is on its way to replacing fossil fuels and will be the most valued fuel in the rapidly emerging intelligence age. From where we are to where we want to reach in our intelligence automation journey, further advances in artificial intelligence require enormous amounts of computational power. Just as computing power is essential to AI, so too is the data that is fed and how the results are used. This is mainly because, ultimately, the input of AI is the data through which complex algorithms provide connections, patterns, and useful insight that provide valuable output for individuals and entities across nations: its government, industries, organizations, and academia (NGIOA). As seen across nations, many initiatives of blockchain currently provide computing power for the needs of AI. In addition to providing computing power, blockchain technologies also hold the promise of adding structure and accountability to AI algorithms and may help in much-needed areas like security, quality, and integrity of the intelligence AI produces. Now since big data fuels, artificial intelligence and blockchain generates big data, individually and collectively the future of AI is tied to the future of blockchain. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on the future of blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, and a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses The Future of Blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal, and Chairman of the Advisory Board at r4 Technologies based in the United States. Blockchain There is no doubt that blockchain is a disruptive technology and will give nations and all its components the foundation to the decentralized future. While blockchain is a disruptive technology, the way it is being used and applied has enormous energy and environmental impacts. The reason behind this is the process that is at the core of blockchain systems. The security of blockchain technology comes from its encryption, and the consensus mechanism of blockchain necessitates that all users require permission to write on the chain. Each of these requirements individually and collectively involves the intricate use of algorithms and enormous amounts of computing power. As the computing power needed to keep the current applications of blockchain running is not sustainable, it is one of the critical challenges facing the future of blockchain. Need for Increased Computing Power It is not only blockchain and artificial intelligence, but all existing and emerging technologies, that are accelerating global computing power consumption. As a result, there is a visible need for increased computing power. Now, as technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning blockchain, and the internet of things begin to require significant computing power, there is a need to not only process computation more efficiently but also to evolve both hardware and software to meet the demand for increased computing power. That brings us to an important point: there is a clear need to move away from traditional blockchain chips to low energy, scalable, and sustainable chips. Centralized Processing Infrastructure It seems that the current approach to centralized processing infrastructure (e.g., data centers) is not enough to meet the rapidly growing compiling, rendering, and predictive analytics needs of artificial intelligence in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. It is believed that evolution in hardware has become a necessity. Neuromorphic Computing Chips Neuromorphic computing may solve this ongoing problem of computing power by doing all the processing and functioning in the chips themselves rather than sending messages back and forth with a more massive server/cloud and by being event-driven and only operating when needed, thereby imitating the brain. As a result, the rise of neuromorphic chips and computing will likely bring much-needed energy efficiency and increases in computing power. Neuromorphic computing chips will likely be the future of not only artificial intelligence but also of the blockchain, as they give us an ability to develop low energy consuming cryptocurrency as well as distributed systems. As seen over the years, there have been formidable advances in computing and software. However, the developments have so far only been dedicated to software, and not on hardware. Neuromorphic computing and chips bring the much-needed evolution in computer hardware, allowing us not only to enhance machine intelligence for the complex problems that need to be solved for the future of humanity but also to give us a scalable and sustainable model for the future of blockchain and decentralized systems. With this evolving computing power, the future of blockchain and artificial intelligence seems to be tied together and perhaps secured and sustainable. Evolving Computational Capacity The demand for AI computation is multiplying rapidly with costs increasing proportionally as well. From the current alternative of centralized processing farms to a future filled with the democratization of neuromorphic computing chips, we are witnessing a disruptive effort towards not only reducing the cost of computing through neuromorphic computing chips but also changing the very fundamentals of machine learning and distributed systems. New power for blockchain and AI is emerging from neuromorphic computing chips. This emerging approach will not only be efficient at collecting and distributing computing power for the needs of artificial intelligence but will also allow scalability and sustainability of blockchain itself. Neuromorphic computing and chips (hardware) are the keys to the scalability, security, and sustainability of blockchainand the very future of artificial intelligence. Decentralized intelligence will influence and impact each one of us. As we see, the questions for tomorrow are being solved today, and nothing can distract from the stellar progress coming from the potential of neuromorphic computing chips to boost the scalability, sustainability, and security of blockchain and AI. The time is now to think about the future of humanity. NEVER MISS ANY OF JAYSHREES POST Just join here for a weekly update from Jayshree
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The future of artificial intelligence is tied to the future of blockchain, says Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/29/is-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-tied-to-the-future-of-blockchain/
| 0.56185 |
Is the Future Of Artificial Intelligence Tied To The Future Of Blockchain?
|
Deposit Photos Since the beginning of modern times, each industrial revolution was driven by different automation. While factory machines and fossil fuels drove the previous industrial revolutions, the on-going automation revolution is based on data-driven artificial intelligence (AI). Understanding its impact and what will be required to support the AI-driven automation revolution is a fundamental necessity. So, as we evaluate the impact and the support needed to harness this automation revolution, it seems that at the center of this revolution is the growing need for computing power. There are indicators that raw computing power is on its way to replacing fossil fuels and will be the most valued fuel in the rapidly emerging intelligence age. From where we are to where we want to reach in our intelligence automation journey, further advances in artificial intelligence require enormous amounts of computational power. Just as computing power is essential to AI, so too is the data that is fed and how the results are used. This is mainly because, ultimately, the input of AI is the data through which complex algorithms provide connections, patterns, and useful insight that provide valuable output for individuals and entities across nations: its government, industries, organizations, and academia (NGIOA). As seen across nations, many initiatives of blockchain currently provide computing power for the needs of AI. In addition to providing computing power, blockchain technologies also hold the promise of adding structure and accountability to AI algorithms and may help in much-needed areas like security, quality, and integrity of the intelligence AI produces. Now since big data fuels, artificial intelligence and blockchain generates big data, individually and collectively the future of AI is tied to the future of blockchain. Acknowledging this emerging paradigm, Risk Group initiated a much-needed discussion on the future of blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, and a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal on Risk Roundup. Disclosure: Risk Group LLC is my company Risk Group discusses The Future of Blockchain with Prof. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a Research Affiliate at MIT Sloan School of Management, Fellow of the Initiative on the Digital Economy and of the MIT Connection Science initiative, a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal, and Chairman of the Advisory Board at r4 Technologies based in the United States. Blockchain There is no doubt that blockchain is a disruptive technology and will give nations and all its components the foundation to the decentralized future. While blockchain is a disruptive technology, the way it is being used and applied has enormous energy and environmental impacts. The reason behind this is the process that is at the core of blockchain systems. The security of blockchain technology comes from its encryption, and the consensus mechanism of blockchain necessitates that all users require permission to write on the chain. Each of these requirements individually and collectively involves the intricate use of algorithms and enormous amounts of computing power. As the computing power needed to keep the current applications of blockchain running is not sustainable, it is one of the critical challenges facing the future of blockchain. Need for Increased Computing Power It is not only blockchain and artificial intelligence, but all existing and emerging technologies, that are accelerating global computing power consumption. As a result, there is a visible need for increased computing power. Now, as technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning blockchain, and the internet of things begin to require significant computing power, there is a need to not only process computation more efficiently but also to evolve both hardware and software to meet the demand for increased computing power. That brings us to an important point: there is a clear need to move away from traditional blockchain chips to low energy, scalable, and sustainable chips. Centralized Processing Infrastructure It seems that the current approach to centralized processing infrastructure (e.g., data centers) is not enough to meet the rapidly growing compiling, rendering, and predictive analytics needs of artificial intelligence in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner. It is believed that evolution in hardware has become a necessity. Neuromorphic Computing Chips Neuromorphic computing may solve this ongoing problem of computing power by doing all the processing and functioning in the chips themselves rather than sending messages back and forth with a more massive server/cloud and by being event-driven and only operating when needed, thereby imitating the brain. As a result, the rise of neuromorphic chips and computing will likely bring much-needed energy efficiency and increases in computing power. Neuromorphic computing chips will likely be the future of not only artificial intelligence but also of the blockchain, as they give us an ability to develop low energy consuming cryptocurrency as well as distributed systems. As seen over the years, there have been formidable advances in computing and software. However, the developments have so far only been dedicated to software, and not on hardware. Neuromorphic computing and chips bring the much-needed evolution in computer hardware, allowing us not only to enhance machine intelligence for the complex problems that need to be solved for the future of humanity but also to give us a scalable and sustainable model for the future of blockchain and decentralized systems. With this evolving computing power, the future of blockchain and artificial intelligence seems to be tied together and perhaps secured and sustainable. Evolving Computational Capacity The demand for AI computation is multiplying rapidly with costs increasing proportionally as well. From the current alternative of centralized processing farms to a future filled with the democratization of neuromorphic computing chips, we are witnessing a disruptive effort towards not only reducing the cost of computing through neuromorphic computing chips but also changing the very fundamentals of machine learning and distributed systems. New power for blockchain and AI is emerging from neuromorphic computing chips. This emerging approach will not only be efficient at collecting and distributing computing power for the needs of artificial intelligence but will also allow scalability and sustainability of blockchain itself. Neuromorphic computing and chips (hardware) are the keys to the scalability, security, and sustainability of blockchainand the very future of artificial intelligence. Decentralized intelligence will influence and impact each one of us. As we see, the questions for tomorrow are being solved today, and nothing can distract from the stellar progress coming from the potential of neuromorphic computing chips to boost the scalability, sustainability, and security of blockchain and AI. The time is now to think about the future of humanity. NEVER MISS ANY OF JAYSHREES POST Just join here for a weekly update from Jayshree
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The future of artificial intelligence is tied to the future of blockchain, says Irving Wladawsky-Berger, a professor at MIT Sloan School of Management and a Guest Columnist at WSJ CIO Journal on Risk Roundup. Risk Group LLC is a company based in the U.S.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/cognitiveworld/2019/03/29/is-the-future-of-artificial-intelligence-tied-to-the-future-of-blockchain/
| 0.586989 |
Will Accenture's Q2 Momentum Continue In The Second Half?
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BLOOMBERG NEWS Accenture reported its Q2 results on Thursday, March 28. The company beat consensus and Trefis expectations across revenue and EPS. Furthermore, the momentum in the business appears to have given management the confidence to revise its annual revenue guidance upwards. We currently have a price estimate of $170 per share for Accenture, which is about in line with the current market price. Our interactive dashboard on Accentures Price Estimate outlines our forecasts and estimates for the company. You can modify any of the key drivers to visualize the impact of changes, and see all Trefis technology company data here. Trefis Some Q2 highlights are detailed below: Communications, Media & Technology revenues grew to $2.15 billion (+8% y-o-y). Financial Services revenues declined to $2.05 billion (-2% y-o-y). The companys management maintains that financial services is likely to see further investment in the second half of the year. Health & Public Service revenues grew to $1.71 billion (+1% y-o-y). Management noted that the government shutdown led to a 2% impact for the segment. Going forward, a pickup in Accentures federal business in the second half of the year should make the impact of the shutdown immaterial. Products revenues grew to $2.91 billion (+10% y-o-y). Resources revenues grew to $1.64 billion (+17% y-o-y). In terms of the actual segments, Consulting revenues grew to $5.79 billion (+6% y-o-y). Segment new bookings were $6.7 billion. Outsourcing revenues grew to $4.67 billion (+5% y-o-y), and segment new bookings were $5.1 billion. Total revenue grew to $10.45 billion (+5% y-o-y), which was ahead of the $10.1-10.4 billion range guided by the company for Q2. In addition to raising the annual revenue growth guidance to 6.5% to 8.5% (from the earlier 6% to 8%), management also upped its annual EPS expectation to $7.18 to $7.32 (from the earlier $7.01 to $7.25). The erstwhile CFO, David Rowland, has taken over the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer. KC McClure, previously head of finance operations, has been promoted to the post of CFO. A notable observation in managements commentary was the companys focus on custom applications. This is a marked change from the processes-oriented approach that has been traditionally undertaken by the service industry to enhance its operating leverage. Accenture appears to have reached a stage wherein its core offerings can now be sliced and diced and tailored to specific customer needs.
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Accenture reported its Q2 results on Thursday, March 28. The company beat consensus and Trefis expectations across revenue and EPS. The momentum in the business appears to have given management the confidence to revise its annual revenue guidance upwards.
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bart
| 1 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/29/will-accentures-q2-momentum-continue-in-the-second-half/
| 0.127637 |
Will Accenture's Q2 Momentum Continue In The Second Half?
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BLOOMBERG NEWS Accenture reported its Q2 results on Thursday, March 28. The company beat consensus and Trefis expectations across revenue and EPS. Furthermore, the momentum in the business appears to have given management the confidence to revise its annual revenue guidance upwards. We currently have a price estimate of $170 per share for Accenture, which is about in line with the current market price. Our interactive dashboard on Accentures Price Estimate outlines our forecasts and estimates for the company. You can modify any of the key drivers to visualize the impact of changes, and see all Trefis technology company data here. Trefis Some Q2 highlights are detailed below: Communications, Media & Technology revenues grew to $2.15 billion (+8% y-o-y). Financial Services revenues declined to $2.05 billion (-2% y-o-y). The companys management maintains that financial services is likely to see further investment in the second half of the year. Health & Public Service revenues grew to $1.71 billion (+1% y-o-y). Management noted that the government shutdown led to a 2% impact for the segment. Going forward, a pickup in Accentures federal business in the second half of the year should make the impact of the shutdown immaterial. Products revenues grew to $2.91 billion (+10% y-o-y). Resources revenues grew to $1.64 billion (+17% y-o-y). In terms of the actual segments, Consulting revenues grew to $5.79 billion (+6% y-o-y). Segment new bookings were $6.7 billion. Outsourcing revenues grew to $4.67 billion (+5% y-o-y), and segment new bookings were $5.1 billion. Total revenue grew to $10.45 billion (+5% y-o-y), which was ahead of the $10.1-10.4 billion range guided by the company for Q2. In addition to raising the annual revenue growth guidance to 6.5% to 8.5% (from the earlier 6% to 8%), management also upped its annual EPS expectation to $7.18 to $7.32 (from the earlier $7.01 to $7.25). The erstwhile CFO, David Rowland, has taken over the role of Interim Chief Executive Officer. KC McClure, previously head of finance operations, has been promoted to the post of CFO. A notable observation in managements commentary was the companys focus on custom applications. This is a marked change from the processes-oriented approach that has been traditionally undertaken by the service industry to enhance its operating leverage. Accenture appears to have reached a stage wherein its core offerings can now be sliced and diced and tailored to specific customer needs.
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Accenture reported its Q2 results on Thursday, March 28. The company beat consensus and Trefis expectations across revenue and EPS. The momentum in the business appears to have given management the confidence to revise its annual revenue guidance upwards. We currently have a price estimate of $170 per share for Accenture.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2019/03/29/will-accentures-q2-momentum-continue-in-the-second-half/
| 0.155676 |
Can Wells Fargo fix itself with an outsider CEO?
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Wells Fargo turned heads this week when it abruptly announced the retirement of CEO Tim Sloan in the face of ongoing scrutiny of the fourth-largest banks many problems. The banks board on Thursday also said it will look outside the company for its next chief executive after Sloan, an insider, struggled for more than two years to move Wells past a series of high-profile scandals. But its not clear whether naming an outsider as CEO will be enough to quiet the banks biggest critics or improve its standing with regulators, who have expressed dissatisfaction with Wells since a 2016 scandal over unauthorized customer accounts. No sooner had the bank announced Sloans departure than consumer advocacy groups and U.S. lawmakers pounced, saying more measures must be taken to fix the San Francisco-based bank. In the Charlotte region, Wells employs about 25,700, making the area its biggest employment hub. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Wells Fargos mismanagement is about more than one CEO, Sherrod Brown, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, tweeted on Thursday. This bank needs a complete culture shift. Tim Sloan needed to go, and he should not take a huge payout with him. But Wells Fargos mismanagement is about more than one CEO this bank needs a complete culture shift. https://t.co/7uuowJWKef Sherrod Brown (@SenSherrodBrown) March 28, 2019 U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., said in a press release that mismanagement at Wells runs deeper than Mr. Sloan. The bank has a lot of work to do to fix its problems, and Congress and our bank watchdogs need to continue pressing for change. Wells Fargo declined to comment on the criticism, referring a reporter to a news release the bank issued Thursday. In the release, Wells Fargo Chair Betsy Duke said the board concluded that hiring an outsider is the most effective way to complete the transformation at Wells Fargo. And Sloan on Thursday said that the focus on him had become a distraction that was impacting the ability to successfully move Wells Fargo forward. Bart Naylor, financial policy advocate for Washington, D.C.,-based consumer advocacy group Public Citizen, said he still has concerns about the banks size in the wake of its scandals. Sloans departure doesnt end the fact that Wells Fargo is too big to manage, too big to fail, he said. Calls for board changes Wells has been under intense scrutiny since the 2016 revelations that employees opened millions of bank and credit card accounts without customer permission in order to meet high-pressure sales goals. For its part, the Committee for Better Banks, a New York-based group pushing to unionize Wells Fargo employees, said more must be done to turn Wells Fargo around and eliminate sales pressure that persists after the 2016 scandal. The departure of one man wont fix the banks broken and morally bankrupt culture, the group said in a statement. Wells Fargo employees still attest to the same toxic mix of high-pressure metrics and an atmosphere of fear and intimidation that fueled the fraudulent account scandal. Since the 2016 scandal, it has disclosed problems in other areas of the company, including foreign exchange, wealth management, auto lending and add-on products such as identity theft protection. Last year, the Federal Reserve, responding to recent and widespread consumer abuses at Wells, imposed a cap on its growth. That restriction remains in place, a concern for investors. When a bank has problems as serious and long-running as Wells Fargos, it must take three steps, said Ken Thomas, a Miami-based banking consultant. The first is to change senior management, which the bank is effectively doing by replacing Sloan, he said. But Wells also still needs to replace board members who have been in place since before the 2016 scandal was revealed, Thomas said. Those members failed to provide adequate oversight of the bank during the years of the scandal, he said. The bank has shaken up some of its board membership since the accounts scandal broke. Of the boards 12 directors, though, five have served since before the 2016 scandal erupted. The third step, reserved for the most serious situations, is to change the banks name and rebrand itself so that the public realizes its a totally new bank, Thomas said. Wells Fargo also needs to take that step, he said. So, being generous to the bank, they are about two-thirds of the way there, he said. Not an easy task Sloan is the second CEO to depart Wells Fargo in the past two and a half years. Sloans predecessor, John Stumpf, retired a month after the 2016 scandal was revealed. The bank elevated Sloan, then president and chief operating officer, to replace Stumpf, who presided over the bank during the years the accounts scandal went on. Almost immediately after his appointment, Sloan, 58, faced questions about whether someone with a decades-long career at Wells Fargo was the right person to fix its problems. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat and presidential candidate, has been among the critics who repeatedly called for Sloans resignation. Wells Fargo has not given a timeline for hiring Sloans permanent replacement. In the interim, Allen Parker, who most recently served as the banks general counsel, will fill the role during the search. The bank said it was immediately starting the search process. Its not unheard of for a troubled company to hire a CEO from outside the firm. In 2012, for example, Yahoo announced Google executive Marissa Mayer as its new chief executive of the beleaguered company. Bank of America, on the other hand, hired insider Brian Moynihan to take over the Charlotte-based company after Ken Lewis announced plans in 2009 to step down as he came under fire for Bank of Americas Merrill Lynch purchase. Even a CEO with Washington, D.C., experience wont immediately fix Wells Fargos troubles with lawmakers, Jaret Seiberg, a Washington bank analyst with Cowen and Company, wrote in a report on Friday. The challenge for Wells next CEO will be to change the perception from being a bank that has to be forced to take the right move to a bank that gets ahead of the pressure by taking the right step before Washington demands it, Seiberg wrote. That is not an easy task, which is why the challenge for the new CEO is so great. Retirement payouts Stumpf received no severance as he retired, and he agreed to forfeit all of his unvested stock awards, worth about $41 million, the bank has said. After Stumpf left the bank, it clawed back an additional approximately $28 million in stock from him. Wells Fargo has not announced any similar action against Sloan, who received $18.4 million in total compensation for his work last year, an increase of more than 5 percent from the year before. Sloans payouts for retiring from the company include more than $16.6 million in restricted stock rights and more than $35.3 million in performance shares, according to the banks proxy that was filed this month. Sloan also has an accumulated pension of about $1.3 million. His retirement payouts also include more than $13 million in deferred compensation, which includes 401(k) funds. All told, Sloan is scheduled to get more than $66 million from the various retirement payouts. Hard to do Many also are wondering what experience Wells Fargo will seek in its next CEO and who could possibly be interested in the tough job of fixing a major bank. Speaking to industry analysts during a conference call on Thursday, Duke, the board chair, said the board will likely hire someone whose qualifications match with the business of Wells Fargo, where we are in our transformation and just the leadership needs that we have. Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, said the bank will need someone who can calm the waters, change the culture and yet provide dynamic growth. Thats going to be hard to do. Bank analyst Nancy Bush told the Observer she was unsure whether Sloans departure will be enough to take pressure off the bank. I think the lessening of pressure will depend upon the identity of the new CEO, she said. They will have a select someone with a strong operational background and massive credibility.
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Wells Fargo abruptly announced CEO Tim Sloan's retirement this week. The bank's board also said it will look outside the company for its next chief executive. It's not clear whether naming an outsider as CEO will be enough to quiet the bank's biggest critics or improve its standing with regulators.
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pegasus
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https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/banking/article228577839.html
| 0.135155 |
What does Jordan Bells recent suspension mean for his Warriors future?
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MINNEAPOLIS This July could be a franchise-altering month for the Warriors, and one of the more intriguing decisions they must make is what to do with center Jordan Bell. Bell has shown flashes of his immense potential, but concerns about his consistency on the court and off have made it tough for him to carve out a regular rotation spot. Two days after Bell was suspended for Golden States win over Memphis for charging a candle to assistant coach Mike Browns hotel bill without Browns permission, guard Stephen Curry voiced support Friday that Bell can turn things around and have a long NBA career. Hes shown bright spots, Curry said. Its obviously tough with the night-to-night of when hes going to play, and if hell play or how much youre going to play. That challenge is tough. Different kind of situation. I went through it my rookie year, it being the year I didnt know what to expect on a night-to-night basis. You put the work in and come in with the right intentions and right mindset every day. Toward the end of his second NBA season, Bell still is inconsistent, following up dazzling sequences with puzzling ones. His averages of 3.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 11.4 minutes per game are down in each category. Bells recent suspension only amplified concerns about his maturity. With little more than three months until free agency, he is running out of time to show the Warriors that he warrants a $1.8 million qualifying offer. If Golden State opts not to extend one, Bell would head to unrestricted free agency, potentially starting fresh elsewhere. Damian Jones is the only Warriors center currently under contract for next season. Because it figures to be capped out, Golden State will probably have to replace DeMarcus Cousins, who signed last July with the expectation that hed be a one-year rental, on the cheap. Im not really that concerned about being in a contract year, Bell told NBC Sports Bay Area. We have a championship to win. Thats where my focus is now. I havent had to deal with contract stuff yet, so Im going to try to enjoy that as much as possible until that time comes. I dont think this off-the-court incident should affect on the court, as far as my play. I think Ive been figuring things out. People have been helping me get through this hump. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron
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Stephen Curry says Jordan Bell has "shown bright spots" Bell's recent suspension has amplified concerns about his maturity. Bell has little time to show the Warriors he warrants a $1.8 million qualifying offer.
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/What-does-Jordan-Bell-s-recent-suspension-mean-13727050.php
| 0.219938 |
What does Jordan Bells recent suspension mean for his Warriors future?
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MINNEAPOLIS This July could be a franchise-altering month for the Warriors, and one of the more intriguing decisions they must make is what to do with center Jordan Bell. Bell has shown flashes of his immense potential, but concerns about his consistency on the court and off have made it tough for him to carve out a regular rotation spot. Two days after Bell was suspended for Golden States win over Memphis for charging a candle to assistant coach Mike Browns hotel bill without Browns permission, guard Stephen Curry voiced support Friday that Bell can turn things around and have a long NBA career. Hes shown bright spots, Curry said. Its obviously tough with the night-to-night of when hes going to play, and if hell play or how much youre going to play. That challenge is tough. Different kind of situation. I went through it my rookie year, it being the year I didnt know what to expect on a night-to-night basis. You put the work in and come in with the right intentions and right mindset every day. Toward the end of his second NBA season, Bell still is inconsistent, following up dazzling sequences with puzzling ones. His averages of 3.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.0 assist in 11.4 minutes per game are down in each category. Bells recent suspension only amplified concerns about his maturity. With little more than three months until free agency, he is running out of time to show the Warriors that he warrants a $1.8 million qualifying offer. If Golden State opts not to extend one, Bell would head to unrestricted free agency, potentially starting fresh elsewhere. Damian Jones is the only Warriors center currently under contract for next season. Because it figures to be capped out, Golden State will probably have to replace DeMarcus Cousins, who signed last July with the expectation that hed be a one-year rental, on the cheap. Im not really that concerned about being in a contract year, Bell told NBC Sports Bay Area. We have a championship to win. Thats where my focus is now. I havent had to deal with contract stuff yet, so Im going to try to enjoy that as much as possible until that time comes. I dont think this off-the-court incident should affect on the court, as far as my play. I think Ive been figuring things out. People have been helping me get through this hump. Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron
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Stephen Curry says Jordan Bell has "shown bright spots" Bell's recent suspension has amplified concerns about his maturity. Bell has little more than three months to show the Warriors that he warrants a $1.8 million qualifying offer or he could head to unrestricted free agency, potentially starting fresh elsewhere.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.sfchronicle.com/warriors/article/What-does-Jordan-Bell-s-recent-suspension-mean-13727050.php
| 0.317112 |
Are these 'best neighborhoods' of SF actual neighborhoods?
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The 2019 Niche rankings of the 50 best neighborhoods to live in San Francisco are out. Good luck finding some of them even with a map. To be sure, many of the usual suspects are back. There are Telegraph and Russian hills at Nos. 6 and 37 respectively. Perennial stroller set favorite Noe Valley is still going strong at 22. The well-heeled will be reassured that Pacific Heights and Buena Vista Heights made the grade, but perplexed by swanky Sea Cliff's absence. According to Niche the analysis and ranking site for schools, cities and suburbs the fifth best neighborhood in San Francisco is some place called "Showplace Square." Showplace Square is a light industrial space wedged between I-280 and Potrero Avenue at the foot of Potrero Hill. It's really not square-shaped more like a triangle missing one of its corners. "Living in Showplace Square offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes," Niche says. Actually, almost every neighborhood in San Francisco "offers an urban feel," according to Niche, even St. Francis Wood with its staid estates and manicured lawns. "In St. Francis Wood there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks," says Niche. We haven't been to St. Francis Wood lately. Must have changed. Even if you cut Niche some slack for relying too heavily on boilerplate descriptions, it can be difficult to identify some of the neighborhoods included in the top 50. MORE: Bay Area housing market cools, but it's still nuts The more obscure ones are included in the above gallery. As for the No. 1 neighborhood in San Francisco according to Niche, it's the former U.S. military post, the Presidio. Great views, beaches, trees, historic landmarks abound, and there's virtually no crime.
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Niche has released its rankings of the 50 best neighborhoods to live in San Francisco. Showplace Square is the fifth best neighborhood, according to Niche. The top neighborhood is the former U.S. military post, the Presidio.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/San-Francisco-best-neighborhoods-Niche-real-estate-13727320.php
| 0.270474 |
Are these 'best neighborhoods' of SF actual neighborhoods?
|
The 2019 Niche rankings of the 50 best neighborhoods to live in San Francisco are out. Good luck finding some of them even with a map. To be sure, many of the usual suspects are back. There are Telegraph and Russian hills at Nos. 6 and 37 respectively. Perennial stroller set favorite Noe Valley is still going strong at 22. The well-heeled will be reassured that Pacific Heights and Buena Vista Heights made the grade, but perplexed by swanky Sea Cliff's absence. According to Niche the analysis and ranking site for schools, cities and suburbs the fifth best neighborhood in San Francisco is some place called "Showplace Square." Showplace Square is a light industrial space wedged between I-280 and Potrero Avenue at the foot of Potrero Hill. It's really not square-shaped more like a triangle missing one of its corners. "Living in Showplace Square offers residents an urban feel and most residents rent their homes," Niche says. Actually, almost every neighborhood in San Francisco "offers an urban feel," according to Niche, even St. Francis Wood with its staid estates and manicured lawns. "In St. Francis Wood there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops and parks," says Niche. We haven't been to St. Francis Wood lately. Must have changed. Even if you cut Niche some slack for relying too heavily on boilerplate descriptions, it can be difficult to identify some of the neighborhoods included in the top 50. MORE: Bay Area housing market cools, but it's still nuts The more obscure ones are included in the above gallery. As for the No. 1 neighborhood in San Francisco according to Niche, it's the former U.S. military post, the Presidio. Great views, beaches, trees, historic landmarks abound, and there's virtually no crime.
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Niche has named the 50 best neighborhoods to live in San Francisco. Some of the neighborhoods are so obscure that it's difficult to find them on a map. The Presidio is the top neighborhood in the city, according to Niche, with Telegraph and Russian hills at No. 6 and 37 respectively.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/San-Francisco-best-neighborhoods-Niche-real-estate-13727320.php
| 0.284659 |
How do I determine my priorities before I search for a home?
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A: Finding the perfect home in the perfect location at just the right price can be difficult and you may have to settle for something less then perfection. Our best advice is to make a list of three to five top priorities and not waste time looking at homes that dont meet your specifications. The first, and most basic, item would be budget once youre pre-approved, youll have a good idea of what you can afford. Second is location and that can mean different things to different people. One can always remodel, or add on, but one thing that can absolutely never be changed is the location of the property. Typically, we find commute and schools among buyers top priorities. Another factor to consider is reviewing your list of wants versus needs. Needs should include things like square footage, number of bedrooms and other qualities of the home that cannot be easily changed. Wants could include those items such as a pool or a view. Once you have your list of top priorities in place, you can use these to set clear parameters with your Realtor, narrow your search and avoid wasting time touring those listings that would come up short. Kathleen Daly, Coldwell Banker, 415-519-6074, kdaly@cbnorcal.com; Lisa Lange, Colwell Banker, 415-847-7770, lisalange@coldwellbanker.com. A: Home buyers can easily get wrapped up and turned around in questioning what their priorities really are from the esoteric, What am I actually buying? (especially for tenancy in commons and condominiums); the overwhelming, How am I really going to pay for this? to the existential, How can a space really be 0 square feet? But must-haves and deal-breakers really come into focus when we ask our buyers to take a look at their calendars, weekend plans and daily routines. (Read: location/starter home). (Read: kitchen quality). (Read: in-unit laundry and closet space). (Read: budget/room count). By taking a look at the humdrum of daily life, disoriented buyers may well see that the answers were right in front of them all along. Kevin K. Ho, Vanguard Properties, 415-297-7462, kevin@kevinandjonathan.com; Jonathan B. McNarry, Vanguard Properties,415-215-4393, jonathan@kevinandjonathan.com. A: An internet search for answers to this question yields the usual suspects like number of bedrooms your family needs or the nature of your work commute. But I believe its best to take a wider view. Begin by finding an agent (ask your friends) wholl be a gentle guide and ally. (Emphasis on gentle and ally.) You want someone who listens to you and focuses on your needs and especially your dreams before recommending specific houses. Its good to have a notion of budget and location, yet do some casual shopping prior to commencing an intensive search. Visit some homes, but take a deep breath before entering each door and attempt to detach from evaluation. Let the feeling of the place wash over you. Discover what qualities please or repel you. Then, with your agents counsel, translate those qualities into tangible parameters. Cynthia Cummins, Kindred SF Homes, 415-713-8008, cynthia@kindredsfhomes.com.
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Buyers should make a list of three to five top priorities before they search for a home. The list should include budget, location, wants and needs, and needs should include a pool or a view.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/How-do-I-determine-my-priorities-before-I-search-13727208.php
| 0.499503 |
How do I determine my priorities before I search for a home?
|
A: Finding the perfect home in the perfect location at just the right price can be difficult and you may have to settle for something less then perfection. Our best advice is to make a list of three to five top priorities and not waste time looking at homes that dont meet your specifications. The first, and most basic, item would be budget once youre pre-approved, youll have a good idea of what you can afford. Second is location and that can mean different things to different people. One can always remodel, or add on, but one thing that can absolutely never be changed is the location of the property. Typically, we find commute and schools among buyers top priorities. Another factor to consider is reviewing your list of wants versus needs. Needs should include things like square footage, number of bedrooms and other qualities of the home that cannot be easily changed. Wants could include those items such as a pool or a view. Once you have your list of top priorities in place, you can use these to set clear parameters with your Realtor, narrow your search and avoid wasting time touring those listings that would come up short. Kathleen Daly, Coldwell Banker, 415-519-6074, kdaly@cbnorcal.com; Lisa Lange, Colwell Banker, 415-847-7770, lisalange@coldwellbanker.com. A: Home buyers can easily get wrapped up and turned around in questioning what their priorities really are from the esoteric, What am I actually buying? (especially for tenancy in commons and condominiums); the overwhelming, How am I really going to pay for this? to the existential, How can a space really be 0 square feet? But must-haves and deal-breakers really come into focus when we ask our buyers to take a look at their calendars, weekend plans and daily routines. (Read: location/starter home). (Read: kitchen quality). (Read: in-unit laundry and closet space). (Read: budget/room count). By taking a look at the humdrum of daily life, disoriented buyers may well see that the answers were right in front of them all along. Kevin K. Ho, Vanguard Properties, 415-297-7462, kevin@kevinandjonathan.com; Jonathan B. McNarry, Vanguard Properties,415-215-4393, jonathan@kevinandjonathan.com. A: An internet search for answers to this question yields the usual suspects like number of bedrooms your family needs or the nature of your work commute. But I believe its best to take a wider view. Begin by finding an agent (ask your friends) wholl be a gentle guide and ally. (Emphasis on gentle and ally.) You want someone who listens to you and focuses on your needs and especially your dreams before recommending specific houses. Its good to have a notion of budget and location, yet do some casual shopping prior to commencing an intensive search. Visit some homes, but take a deep breath before entering each door and attempt to detach from evaluation. Let the feeling of the place wash over you. Discover what qualities please or repel you. Then, with your agents counsel, translate those qualities into tangible parameters. Cynthia Cummins, Kindred SF Homes, 415-713-8008, cynthia@kindredsfhomes.com.
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Buyers should make a list of three to five top priorities before they search for a home. The list should include budget, location, wants and needs, and needs should include things like square footage, number of bedrooms and other qualities of the home that cannot be easily changed.
|
ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/How-do-I-determine-my-priorities-before-I-search-13727208.php
| 0.551209 |
Who is Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Democrat presidential candidate?
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Youre listening to a Candidate Conversation from the California Nation podcast. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to learn whats happening in the worlds fifth-largest economy and how its shaping the national dialogue. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is a young mayor making his way onto the national stage. The self-described millennial midwestern mayor is 37, openly gay and a military veteran. He insists the nations top priority must be restoring the countrys democratic foundations. Here are five things you need to know about Pete Buttigieg as he campaigns in the Golden State: FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! 1. He wants to expand the Supreme Court It might not be the top priority for Californians, but its certainly something on Pete Buttigiegs mind. As president, he said hed work to revamp the U.S. Supreme Court to make it less political. His solution is increasing the number of justices from nine to 15. Ten of the 15 justices would be appointed under the existing structure, receiving a nomination from the president and confirmation from the Senate. Under his plan, the remaining five judges would need unanimous approval from the 10 Supreme Court justices. 2. Buttigieg sees a unique opportunity in California Many Democratic presidential candidates have largely ignored the middle of California, instead choosing to camp out in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Buttigieg is guilty of this, saying he has visited these areas because they are where his strongest base of supporters are. But given he comes from a conservative state, he thinks he can resonate well with voters in the Central Valley. In addition to the cities where we currently have the strongest base, Im looking forward to getting to different communities, he said. Frankly, its the more inland and redder parts of the state that I might have an easier time relating to coming out of Indiana. With Californias primary bumping up from June to March, the state will have an outsized role early in the election. Buttigieg acknowledged the change, saying its important to campaign in California because early voting will begin as the Iowa caucuses get underway. 3. Buttigieg insists hes qualified On the surface, a 37-year-old mayor from South Bend, Indiana, would be a longshot to win the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an increasingly crowded field. But early into his candidacy, he received the 65,000 individual donations necessary to qualify for a spot on the Democratic debate stage in June. He said in a March conversation with The Sacramento Bee that hes resonating with voters because they want the federal congress to follow cities lead. Historically, it was viewed that federal office is higher than local office, Buttigieg said. Today, if you take a look at Washington, a lot of folks would argue that we would be well served if Washington started looking more like our best run cities and towns rather than the other way around. He added that President Donald Trump represents a low bar and said he has more executive experience than the president and Vice President Mike President. He noted hed be the first president with military experience since George H.W. Bush. To my own surprise, were living in a moment perhaps the only moment in American history when somebody like me would even be taken seriously, Buttigieg said during the interview. Theres a reason for that. We need something completely different. 4. He says hes not holding out for another elected office Buttigieg is adamant that he actually wants to be president. While he acknowledges hes serving his eighth and final year as mayor, he said he doesnt have his eye on another office. I dont believe in running for an office so that you could run for some other office, he said. If that were the plan, Id be doing something easier than what Im doing. 5. His husbands Twitter game is on point While speaking to reporters before a March 28 event in San Francisco, Buttigieg was asked if his husband, Chasten, will have a role on the campaign trail. He immediately pointed behind the cameras, saying, Yeah, I think hes standing over there. Buttigieg added that Chasten is passionate about education and family. His story is a part of my story, Buttigieg said. Some of the time, hes holding down the fort back in South Bend. But hell be on the road with us quite a bit, both because I love to be around him and because hes a real asset in introducing ourselves around the country. Chasten also has quite Twitter personality. From his response to Chrissy Teigens follow to adorable dog picture to aimlessly staring outside the window while waiting for UberEats, hes gained some notoriety. Peter: Crushing townhalls in SC Chasten: staring out the window waiting for UberEats Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) March 23, 2019 He even received praise from Douglas Emhoff the husband of California Sen. Kamala Harris. Ok, I thought I had pretty good 2020 Spouse Twitter game....good job @Chas10Buttigieg! https://t.co/YbL3AM2iIY Douglas Emhoff (@douglasemhoff) March 18, 2019 Chasten Buttigieg is taking his newfound online popularity in stride, though he acknowledges, This new exposure can be very weird, adding, Im not sure if Ill ever get used to teenagers taking pictures of me and then running away giggling when I look up and see them pointing their phones at me. But with great notoriety comes great responsibility. This is why he has vowed to no longer smell deodorants at Target. Theyre always watching.
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Pete Buttigieg is a 37-year-old mayor from South Bend, Indiana.
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bart
| 0 |
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article228438359.html
| 0.218835 |
Who is Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Democrat presidential candidate?
|
Youre listening to a Candidate Conversation from the California Nation podcast. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to learn whats happening in the worlds fifth-largest economy and how its shaping the national dialogue. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is a young mayor making his way onto the national stage. The self-described millennial midwestern mayor is 37, openly gay and a military veteran. He insists the nations top priority must be restoring the countrys democratic foundations. Here are five things you need to know about Pete Buttigieg as he campaigns in the Golden State: FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! 1. He wants to expand the Supreme Court It might not be the top priority for Californians, but its certainly something on Pete Buttigiegs mind. As president, he said hed work to revamp the U.S. Supreme Court to make it less political. His solution is increasing the number of justices from nine to 15. Ten of the 15 justices would be appointed under the existing structure, receiving a nomination from the president and confirmation from the Senate. Under his plan, the remaining five judges would need unanimous approval from the 10 Supreme Court justices. 2. Buttigieg sees a unique opportunity in California Many Democratic presidential candidates have largely ignored the middle of California, instead choosing to camp out in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Buttigieg is guilty of this, saying he has visited these areas because they are where his strongest base of supporters are. But given he comes from a conservative state, he thinks he can resonate well with voters in the Central Valley. In addition to the cities where we currently have the strongest base, Im looking forward to getting to different communities, he said. Frankly, its the more inland and redder parts of the state that I might have an easier time relating to coming out of Indiana. With Californias primary bumping up from June to March, the state will have an outsized role early in the election. Buttigieg acknowledged the change, saying its important to campaign in California because early voting will begin as the Iowa caucuses get underway. 3. Buttigieg insists hes qualified On the surface, a 37-year-old mayor from South Bend, Indiana, would be a longshot to win the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an increasingly crowded field. But early into his candidacy, he received the 65,000 individual donations necessary to qualify for a spot on the Democratic debate stage in June. He said in a March conversation with The Sacramento Bee that hes resonating with voters because they want the federal congress to follow cities lead. Historically, it was viewed that federal office is higher than local office, Buttigieg said. Today, if you take a look at Washington, a lot of folks would argue that we would be well served if Washington started looking more like our best run cities and towns rather than the other way around. He added that President Donald Trump represents a low bar and said he has more executive experience than the president and Vice President Mike President. He noted hed be the first president with military experience since George H.W. Bush. To my own surprise, were living in a moment perhaps the only moment in American history when somebody like me would even be taken seriously, Buttigieg said during the interview. Theres a reason for that. We need something completely different. 4. He says hes not holding out for another elected office Buttigieg is adamant that he actually wants to be president. While he acknowledges hes serving his eighth and final year as mayor, he said he doesnt have his eye on another office. I dont believe in running for an office so that you could run for some other office, he said. If that were the plan, Id be doing something easier than what Im doing. 5. His husbands Twitter game is on point While speaking to reporters before a March 28 event in San Francisco, Buttigieg was asked if his husband, Chasten, will have a role on the campaign trail. He immediately pointed behind the cameras, saying, Yeah, I think hes standing over there. Buttigieg added that Chasten is passionate about education and family. His story is a part of my story, Buttigieg said. Some of the time, hes holding down the fort back in South Bend. But hell be on the road with us quite a bit, both because I love to be around him and because hes a real asset in introducing ourselves around the country. Chasten also has quite Twitter personality. From his response to Chrissy Teigens follow to adorable dog picture to aimlessly staring outside the window while waiting for UberEats, hes gained some notoriety. Peter: Crushing townhalls in SC Chasten: staring out the window waiting for UberEats Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) March 23, 2019 He even received praise from Douglas Emhoff the husband of California Sen. Kamala Harris. Ok, I thought I had pretty good 2020 Spouse Twitter game....good job @Chas10Buttigieg! https://t.co/YbL3AM2iIY Douglas Emhoff (@douglasemhoff) March 18, 2019 Chasten Buttigieg is taking his newfound online popularity in stride, though he acknowledges, This new exposure can be very weird, adding, Im not sure if Ill ever get used to teenagers taking pictures of me and then running away giggling when I look up and see them pointing their phones at me. But with great notoriety comes great responsibility. This is why he has vowed to no longer smell deodorants at Target. Theyre always watching.
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Pete Buttigieg is the mayor of South Bend, Indiana. The 37-year-old is openly gay and a military veteran. Buttigieg insists he's qualified to be president.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article228438359.html
| 0.243841 |
Who is Pete Buttigieg, 2020 Democrat presidential candidate?
|
Youre listening to a Candidate Conversation from the California Nation podcast. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to learn whats happening in the worlds fifth-largest economy and how its shaping the national dialogue. Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg is a young mayor making his way onto the national stage. The self-described millennial midwestern mayor is 37, openly gay and a military veteran. He insists the nations top priority must be restoring the countrys democratic foundations. Here are five things you need to know about Pete Buttigieg as he campaigns in the Golden State: FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! 1. He wants to expand the Supreme Court It might not be the top priority for Californians, but its certainly something on Pete Buttigiegs mind. As president, he said hed work to revamp the U.S. Supreme Court to make it less political. His solution is increasing the number of justices from nine to 15. Ten of the 15 justices would be appointed under the existing structure, receiving a nomination from the president and confirmation from the Senate. Under his plan, the remaining five judges would need unanimous approval from the 10 Supreme Court justices. 2. Buttigieg sees a unique opportunity in California Many Democratic presidential candidates have largely ignored the middle of California, instead choosing to camp out in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Buttigieg is guilty of this, saying he has visited these areas because they are where his strongest base of supporters are. But given he comes from a conservative state, he thinks he can resonate well with voters in the Central Valley. In addition to the cities where we currently have the strongest base, Im looking forward to getting to different communities, he said. Frankly, its the more inland and redder parts of the state that I might have an easier time relating to coming out of Indiana. With Californias primary bumping up from June to March, the state will have an outsized role early in the election. Buttigieg acknowledged the change, saying its important to campaign in California because early voting will begin as the Iowa caucuses get underway. 3. Buttigieg insists hes qualified On the surface, a 37-year-old mayor from South Bend, Indiana, would be a longshot to win the Democratic presidential nomination, especially in an increasingly crowded field. But early into his candidacy, he received the 65,000 individual donations necessary to qualify for a spot on the Democratic debate stage in June. He said in a March conversation with The Sacramento Bee that hes resonating with voters because they want the federal congress to follow cities lead. Historically, it was viewed that federal office is higher than local office, Buttigieg said. Today, if you take a look at Washington, a lot of folks would argue that we would be well served if Washington started looking more like our best run cities and towns rather than the other way around. He added that President Donald Trump represents a low bar and said he has more executive experience than the president and Vice President Mike President. He noted hed be the first president with military experience since George H.W. Bush. To my own surprise, were living in a moment perhaps the only moment in American history when somebody like me would even be taken seriously, Buttigieg said during the interview. Theres a reason for that. We need something completely different. 4. He says hes not holding out for another elected office Buttigieg is adamant that he actually wants to be president. While he acknowledges hes serving his eighth and final year as mayor, he said he doesnt have his eye on another office. I dont believe in running for an office so that you could run for some other office, he said. If that were the plan, Id be doing something easier than what Im doing. 5. His husbands Twitter game is on point While speaking to reporters before a March 28 event in San Francisco, Buttigieg was asked if his husband, Chasten, will have a role on the campaign trail. He immediately pointed behind the cameras, saying, Yeah, I think hes standing over there. Buttigieg added that Chasten is passionate about education and family. His story is a part of my story, Buttigieg said. Some of the time, hes holding down the fort back in South Bend. But hell be on the road with us quite a bit, both because I love to be around him and because hes a real asset in introducing ourselves around the country. Chasten also has quite Twitter personality. From his response to Chrissy Teigens follow to adorable dog picture to aimlessly staring outside the window while waiting for UberEats, hes gained some notoriety. Peter: Crushing townhalls in SC Chasten: staring out the window waiting for UberEats Chasten Buttigieg (@Chas10Buttigieg) March 23, 2019 He even received praise from Douglas Emhoff the husband of California Sen. Kamala Harris. Ok, I thought I had pretty good 2020 Spouse Twitter game....good job @Chas10Buttigieg! https://t.co/YbL3AM2iIY Douglas Emhoff (@douglasemhoff) March 18, 2019 Chasten Buttigieg is taking his newfound online popularity in stride, though he acknowledges, This new exposure can be very weird, adding, Im not sure if Ill ever get used to teenagers taking pictures of me and then running away giggling when I look up and see them pointing their phones at me. But with great notoriety comes great responsibility. This is why he has vowed to no longer smell deodorants at Target. Theyre always watching.
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Pete Buttigieg is a 37-year-old mayor from South Bend, Indiana. He wants to revamp the U.S. Supreme Court to make it less political. He sees a unique opportunity in California because early voting will begin as the Iowa caucuses get underway.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article228438359.html
| 0.211656 |
Why did the U.S. order a Chinese company to sell Grindr?
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The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has ordered a Chinese gaming company to sell gay dating app Grindr U.S. officials are concerned that personal data collected from the app could be used to blackmail government officials with security clearances A U.S. government panel focused on national security raised eyebrows when it ordered a Chinese company to sell gay dating app Grindr. The concern: That the Chinese government could use personal data on the app to blackmail American officials, the Wall Street Journal reported. Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. bought a majority stake in Grindr in 2016 and took full control of the company last year. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews acquisitions of U.S. companies by non-U.S. players for their potential impact on national security, only this week moved to block the deal. Experts point to growing concerns around data privacy, along with tense U.S. trade relations, as the reasons for CFIUS' intervention. "You have to treat this as a U.S. reaction to Chinese businesses having access to personal communications more than anything else," said Bart Lazar, a lawyer with Seyfarth Shaw who specializes in data privacy. Another China deal dinged Last year, CFIUS also blocked Chinese Ant Financial's $1.2 billion acquisition of U.S. money transfer company MoneyGram, a high-profile merger that dealt a blow to Alibaba chairman Jack Ma, who owns Ant Financial. CFIUS cited data privacy risks for U.S. citizens in halting the deal. Still, many Chinese companies have bought or invested in American business in recent years. Such deall aren't necessarily nefarious, Klint Finley, a Wired contributor, told CBSN. "There isn't an established link between Chinese companies and spying. These are concerns, not proven instances." Grindr said it had no comment on the U.S. order. Covington and Burling, a law firm based in Washington, D.C., also declined comment, saying it is involved in the case. A spokesperson with the Treasury Department, which heads CFIUS, said in a statement that the committee is barred by law from publicly disclosing information filed with the panel. "Blackmailer's goldmine" Grindr doesn't collect different user data than other social networking apps, like Tinder, but it has drawn fire for its privacy practices. The company, which had 27 million users on its platform as of 2017, last year was discovered to have shared users' HIV status and sexual preferences with third parties. Grindr also tracks email addresses, passwords, billing information, geolocations, and device IDs and IP addresses, as well as messages exchanged with other users and photographs. "I don't think we'll have an Anthony Weiner-type situation," Lazar said. "But people do, when they believe that they're in a private means of communication, they do open up and provide more information to an app than you might think is rational." Grindr could also be used to identify, for example, government and military personnel who could be pressured to reveal state secrets if they shared sensitive information on the app. "It could be a blackmailer's goldmine, essentially, if this information were to fall into the hands of an adversarial government," Finley said.
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A U.S. government panel has ordered a Chinese company to sell gay dating app Grindr. The concern is that the Chinese government could use personal data on the app to blackmail American officials.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-security-officials-ordered-chinese-company-to-sell-grindr/
| 0.431564 |
Why did the U.S. order a Chinese company to sell Grindr?
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The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States has ordered a Chinese gaming company to sell gay dating app Grindr U.S. officials are concerned that personal data collected from the app could be used to blackmail government officials with security clearances A U.S. government panel focused on national security raised eyebrows when it ordered a Chinese company to sell gay dating app Grindr. The concern: That the Chinese government could use personal data on the app to blackmail American officials, the Wall Street Journal reported. Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. bought a majority stake in Grindr in 2016 and took full control of the company last year. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews acquisitions of U.S. companies by non-U.S. players for their potential impact on national security, only this week moved to block the deal. Experts point to growing concerns around data privacy, along with tense U.S. trade relations, as the reasons for CFIUS' intervention. "You have to treat this as a U.S. reaction to Chinese businesses having access to personal communications more than anything else," said Bart Lazar, a lawyer with Seyfarth Shaw who specializes in data privacy. Another China deal dinged Last year, CFIUS also blocked Chinese Ant Financial's $1.2 billion acquisition of U.S. money transfer company MoneyGram, a high-profile merger that dealt a blow to Alibaba chairman Jack Ma, who owns Ant Financial. CFIUS cited data privacy risks for U.S. citizens in halting the deal. Still, many Chinese companies have bought or invested in American business in recent years. Such deall aren't necessarily nefarious, Klint Finley, a Wired contributor, told CBSN. "There isn't an established link between Chinese companies and spying. These are concerns, not proven instances." Grindr said it had no comment on the U.S. order. Covington and Burling, a law firm based in Washington, D.C., also declined comment, saying it is involved in the case. A spokesperson with the Treasury Department, which heads CFIUS, said in a statement that the committee is barred by law from publicly disclosing information filed with the panel. "Blackmailer's goldmine" Grindr doesn't collect different user data than other social networking apps, like Tinder, but it has drawn fire for its privacy practices. The company, which had 27 million users on its platform as of 2017, last year was discovered to have shared users' HIV status and sexual preferences with third parties. Grindr also tracks email addresses, passwords, billing information, geolocations, and device IDs and IP addresses, as well as messages exchanged with other users and photographs. "I don't think we'll have an Anthony Weiner-type situation," Lazar said. "But people do, when they believe that they're in a private means of communication, they do open up and provide more information to an app than you might think is rational." Grindr could also be used to identify, for example, government and military personnel who could be pressured to reveal state secrets if they shared sensitive information on the app. "It could be a blackmailer's goldmine, essentially, if this information were to fall into the hands of an adversarial government," Finley said.
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A U.S. government panel has ordered a Chinese company to sell gay dating app Grindr. The concern is that the Chinese government could use personal data on the app to blackmail American officials. Beijing Kunlun Tech Co. bought a majority stake in Grindr in 2016 and took full control of the company last year.
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pegasus
| 2 |
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/national-security-officials-ordered-chinese-company-to-sell-grindr/
| 0.543895 |
Should injury replays be banned from media?
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by Daniel Tran Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a gruesome injury (viewer discretion is advised), with footage of the injury spreading faster than the actual news. Users on social media were shocked to see one of the most disturbing injuries in the NBA. Some think replays of these injuries should be actively banned from all media because they are so horrific. Others think being informed of every detail is important and people can look away if they want. You're rewatching what might be the most devastating moment in that person's life, permanently seared in your mind forever. Having that floating in space doesn't enrich anyone's life other than the sad people who enjoy watching others suffer. Media already has a bad reputation for exploiting people when they are at their worst. People still watch the injuries that happened to Kevin Ware, Paul George and Gordon Hayward like they are drawn to catastrophe. There is no need to exploit this kind of disgusting event anymore. This content needs to be banned immediately. I honestly wish they would stop showing replays of the bad ones. Everybody showed Haywards injury last year 100 times. Not because they're gross, but because there's no value in it. I feel like it's capitalizing on an athletes worst moment instead of celebrating their greatness. Hell's Customer Service Dept. (@GabeYonts) March 28, 2019 It's not that people like to see these kinds of injuries occur. No one wants to see a Nurkic-type injury happen to anyone, but there is something to be said about being informed. If the media is here to share every aspect of life, horrific injuries are unfortunately part of that. Banning this kind of content robs people of knowing the harsh realities of life. Athletes put their bodies on the line and while these injuries are a grim reminder, they are a warning nonetheless that pro sports come with risks. People are acting like theyre being forced to watch these replays when they can just turn away or click out of a page.This kind of content should not be banned. Me, everytime theres a gruesome injury in professional sports: Im not saying I ~want~to watch slow motion replays in high definition.... its just that I dont want to not see it. cam wilson (@cameronwilson) March 26, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
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Users on social media were shocked to see one of the most disturbing injuries in the NBA. Some think replays of these injuries should be actively banned from all media because they are so horrific.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.cleveland.com/tylt/2019/03/should-injury-replays-be-banned-from-media.html
| 0.299687 |
Should injury replays be banned from media?
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by Daniel Tran Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic suffered a gruesome injury (viewer discretion is advised), with footage of the injury spreading faster than the actual news. Users on social media were shocked to see one of the most disturbing injuries in the NBA. Some think replays of these injuries should be actively banned from all media because they are so horrific. Others think being informed of every detail is important and people can look away if they want. You're rewatching what might be the most devastating moment in that person's life, permanently seared in your mind forever. Having that floating in space doesn't enrich anyone's life other than the sad people who enjoy watching others suffer. Media already has a bad reputation for exploiting people when they are at their worst. People still watch the injuries that happened to Kevin Ware, Paul George and Gordon Hayward like they are drawn to catastrophe. There is no need to exploit this kind of disgusting event anymore. This content needs to be banned immediately. I honestly wish they would stop showing replays of the bad ones. Everybody showed Haywards injury last year 100 times. Not because they're gross, but because there's no value in it. I feel like it's capitalizing on an athletes worst moment instead of celebrating their greatness. Hell's Customer Service Dept. (@GabeYonts) March 28, 2019 It's not that people like to see these kinds of injuries occur. No one wants to see a Nurkic-type injury happen to anyone, but there is something to be said about being informed. If the media is here to share every aspect of life, horrific injuries are unfortunately part of that. Banning this kind of content robs people of knowing the harsh realities of life. Athletes put their bodies on the line and while these injuries are a grim reminder, they are a warning nonetheless that pro sports come with risks. People are acting like theyre being forced to watch these replays when they can just turn away or click out of a page.This kind of content should not be banned. Me, everytime theres a gruesome injury in professional sports: Im not saying I ~want~to watch slow motion replays in high definition.... its just that I dont want to not see it. cam wilson (@cameronwilson) March 26, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
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Users on social media were shocked to see one of the most disturbing injuries in the NBA. Some think replays of these injuries should be actively banned from all media because they are so horrific. Others think being informed of every detail is important and people can look away if they want.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.cleveland.com/tylt/2019/03/should-injury-replays-be-banned-from-media.html
| 0.353645 |
Whats the best role for Nathan Fillion?
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THE ROOKIE - "Flesh and Blood" - On Captain Andersen's orders, Officer Nolan and Sergeant Grey are paired up for the day on patrol. Additionally, Nolan's son and Grey's daughter visit their dads on the job and see them in action. Meanwhile, Officer Chen is paired up with Captain Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs, on "The Rookie," airing TUESDAY, JAN. 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless) NATHAN FILLION, RICHARD T. JONES Question: I havent seen any talk about Nathan Fillions talent for comedy. Anyway, I cringe to watch him as The Rookie when he was so perfect in the role of Castle. I know that actors dont want to be typecast, but I feel hes not showing his potential in this Rookie role. Granny Matt Roush: I get where youre coming from, and theres no question that the lighter touch required on Castle suited his considerable comedy chops better than this more earnest procedural. But I also feel that theres an innate likability and vulnerability to the way Nathan Fillion plays Rookies John Nolan, as he tries to start over at middle age with the cards stacked against him. Shows end and an actors career goes on, and its understandable that youd prefer one role to another, especially if the aspects of his talent you enjoy most arent fully on display here. When the time comes for him to put his badge away, maybe hell go back to comedy and youll be more satisfied. William Matt Roush: Yes, good catch. That was Roger E. Mosley playing John Booky, a Vietnam vet who offers advice along with his cuts. Dont know if well see him again, but that was a nice callback to the shows origins. To submit questions to TV Critic Matt Roush, go to tvinsider.com.
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Nathan Fillion plays John Nolan on "The Rookie" There's an innate likability and vulnerability to the way Fillion plays Nolan.
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pegasus
| 0 |
https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/whats-the-best-role-for-nathan-fillion-1629443/
| 0.24302 |
Whats the best role for Nathan Fillion?
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THE ROOKIE - "Flesh and Blood" - On Captain Andersen's orders, Officer Nolan and Sergeant Grey are paired up for the day on patrol. Additionally, Nolan's son and Grey's daughter visit their dads on the job and see them in action. Meanwhile, Officer Chen is paired up with Captain Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs, on "The Rookie," airing TUESDAY, JAN. 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless) NATHAN FILLION, RICHARD T. JONES Question: I havent seen any talk about Nathan Fillions talent for comedy. Anyway, I cringe to watch him as The Rookie when he was so perfect in the role of Castle. I know that actors dont want to be typecast, but I feel hes not showing his potential in this Rookie role. Granny Matt Roush: I get where youre coming from, and theres no question that the lighter touch required on Castle suited his considerable comedy chops better than this more earnest procedural. But I also feel that theres an innate likability and vulnerability to the way Nathan Fillion plays Rookies John Nolan, as he tries to start over at middle age with the cards stacked against him. Shows end and an actors career goes on, and its understandable that youd prefer one role to another, especially if the aspects of his talent you enjoy most arent fully on display here. When the time comes for him to put his badge away, maybe hell go back to comedy and youll be more satisfied. William Matt Roush: Yes, good catch. That was Roger E. Mosley playing John Booky, a Vietnam vet who offers advice along with his cuts. Dont know if well see him again, but that was a nice callback to the shows origins. To submit questions to TV Critic Matt Roush, go to tvinsider.com.
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Nathan Fillion was so perfect in the role of "Castle," I feel he's not showing his potential in this "Rookie" role.
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bart
| 1 |
https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/whats-the-best-role-for-nathan-fillion-1629443/
| 0.24968 |
Whats the best role for Nathan Fillion?
|
THE ROOKIE - "Flesh and Blood" - On Captain Andersen's orders, Officer Nolan and Sergeant Grey are paired up for the day on patrol. Additionally, Nolan's son and Grey's daughter visit their dads on the job and see them in action. Meanwhile, Officer Chen is paired up with Captain Andersen, and Officer Bradford tells Chen to protect her at all costs, on "The Rookie," airing TUESDAY, JAN. 15 (10:00-11:00 p.m. EST), on The ABC Television Network. (ABC/Eric McCandless) NATHAN FILLION, RICHARD T. JONES Question: I havent seen any talk about Nathan Fillions talent for comedy. Anyway, I cringe to watch him as The Rookie when he was so perfect in the role of Castle. I know that actors dont want to be typecast, but I feel hes not showing his potential in this Rookie role. Granny Matt Roush: I get where youre coming from, and theres no question that the lighter touch required on Castle suited his considerable comedy chops better than this more earnest procedural. But I also feel that theres an innate likability and vulnerability to the way Nathan Fillion plays Rookies John Nolan, as he tries to start over at middle age with the cards stacked against him. Shows end and an actors career goes on, and its understandable that youd prefer one role to another, especially if the aspects of his talent you enjoy most arent fully on display here. When the time comes for him to put his badge away, maybe hell go back to comedy and youll be more satisfied. William Matt Roush: Yes, good catch. That was Roger E. Mosley playing John Booky, a Vietnam vet who offers advice along with his cuts. Dont know if well see him again, but that was a nice callback to the shows origins. To submit questions to TV Critic Matt Roush, go to tvinsider.com.
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Nathan Fillion was so perfect in the role of "Castle," I feel he's not showing his potential in this "Rookie" role. Roger E. Mosley playing John Booky, a Vietnam vet who offers advice along with his cuts, was a nice callback to the show's origins.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/tv/whats-the-best-role-for-nathan-fillion-1629443/
| 0.36024 |
Could Driverless Cars Pick Up Passengers In Wheelchairs?
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Getty Last week, the Disability Rights Advocates (DRA) filed a lawsuit against Lyft in California for not having any wheelchair-accessible vehicles in the San Francisco Bay Area. By not having the adequately equipped vehicles to accommodate passengers in wheelchairs, Lyft is violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, this is far from being the only case that transportation has been made inaccessible to people with disabilities, nor is California the only state with this problem. For example, in New York City, only 112 of MTAs 472 subway stations are accessible, and out of those, 100 are currently working in both directions. Additionally, less than 1,800 of the citys 13,000+ yellow cabs are equipped with wheelchair lifts or ramps, which means less than 15% of the taxis are accessible to New Yorkers with mobility difficulties. However, as we approach a new era of transportation, notably driverless cars, it is crucial to keep the issue of accessibility at the forefront of our minds. During this years SXSW conference earlier this month, a group of panelists tackled this exact issue at a talk sponsored by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), titled Accessible Transportation for All. Moderated DOTs Associate Administrator for Research, Demonstration and Innovation Vincent Valdes, the panel was about the various initiatives that have to take place to make sure the future of transportation will accommodate people with disabilities and the elderly. Valdes described a scenario that is very likely to take place in 2020 and asked the panelist the accessibility aspects of said scenario: a young professional woman who uses a wheelchair uses an automatic trolley vehicle to drive her to the train station. All systems are operating in real-time, so theres no way she can miss her train. The trolley can pick up additional passengers, but its up to the woman since shes the one who requested first. Everything is operated on a mobile app, and all payment is being processed through the app. Maria Town, the director of the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities in Houston, Texas, was the first one to push back on the feasibility of the scenario to be universal throughout the country. Currently, in 2019, rural places like southern Louisiana dont even have services like Uber or Lyft readily available, so its doubtful that theyll be able to catch up in the technological front in just 20 years. A lot of this technological delay stems from societal standpoints often regarding people with disabilities. Town explained, The Americans with Disabilities Act is approaching 30 years. At this point, people with disabilities should be able to expect the same kinds of service as other folks. Yet consistently companies like Uber and Lyft deny service to people with service dogs, deny service to individuals who look visibly disabled and they're afraid of them. As I was thinking through that scenario, I kept thinking of all of the little things that would have had to have been addressed to make that moment possible. So, the platform itself would have to be accessible. She may use a wheelchair, she might also have low vision. She might also have limited dexterity. So, the app itself needs to be accessible. A question that I always have whenever an app upgrades, is will my blind friends be able to use it? On a micro level, the automatic trolley needs to have the capability to provide all the services a human driver does, and its service truly equitable. There's, I know there's a lot of liability involved with that, with wheelchair accessible vehicle providers. Can someone without a smartphone or credit card be able to use the same sort of system. However, John Zimmerman, a professor of artificial intelligence and human-computer interaction at Carnegie Mellon University, had the most optimistic view out of the other two panelists. He believes that the medical field of technology will exponentially advance by 2040. He said, There are other emerging technologies that could make this future scenario actually happen. There's a bunch of new technologies. I'm curious., like would she be in a wheelchair or would she have a set of augmented legs. A wheelchair is sort of a fixed view, and there's a bunch of new technologies coming out that are much more on the body. Zimmerman strongly believes that there would be a tremendous improvement in the realm of adaptive and medical technology that will improve the lives of people with disabilities, so equipment like wheelchairs would be a thing in the past. Although all these innovated technologies are emerging, many people with disabilities would not be able to afford them. According to the National Disability Institute, more than 25% of Americans with disabilities live in poverty, and half have an annual household income of $35,000 or less. Even prevalent today, technology is growing exponentially at a pace that policies and laws cannot fathom to keep up. Matters are worse when it comes to adaptive technologypeople who need them cannot pay out of pocket, especially at their astonishingly high prices, and public healthcare insurance like Medicare and Medicaid do not cover much of the needed technology. Before the future utopian world of transportation and technology can come to fruition, the US needs to restructure and reevaluate the way its laws and policies are created and updated. Its time that people with disabilities stop being treated as second class citizens, especially during todays age and time.
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A lawsuit was filed against Lyft for not having wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Driverless cars could be available in the United States as early as 2020. The U.S. Department of Transportation is working on a plan to make driverless cars accessible to people with disabilities and the elderly.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahkim/2019/03/29/future-accessible-transportation/
| 0.166778 |
Will Brett Bielema succeed Greg Schiano in New England?
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In late January, Patriots defensive consultant Brett Bielema reportedly was telling people that hed become the teams next defensive coordinator. Two months later, maybe hell be right. With Greg Schiano gone, the Pats need a new defensive coordinator. Scroll to continue with content Ad Several defensive position coaches exited after Super Bowl LIII, with linebackers coach (and de facto defensive coordinator) Brian Flores becoming the new coach of the Dolphins, cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer joining Flores, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly jumping to the Chiefs. The only defensive coach currently listed on the teams official website is safeties coach Steve Belichick. Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo recently announced that hell serve as the teams linebackers coach. Theres a chance that Belichick wont name a new defensive coordinator, either retaining the duties or unofficially delegating them to Bielema or maybe even to Belichicks son, Steve. Regardless, an offseason that was expected to be tranquil for the Pats has been anything but, and the sudden departure of Schiano has become the latest twist for a team that will surely continue to turn out wins in 2019.
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Greg Schiano is out as the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator. Brett Bielema is in the running to replace Schiano.
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ctrlsum
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https://sports.yahoo.com/brett-bielema-succeed-greg-schiano-160121930.html?src=rss
| 0.3063 |
Will Brett Bielema succeed Greg Schiano in New England?
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In late January, Patriots defensive consultant Brett Bielema reportedly was telling people that hed become the teams next defensive coordinator. Two months later, maybe hell be right. With Greg Schiano gone, the Pats need a new defensive coordinator. Scroll to continue with content Ad Several defensive position coaches exited after Super Bowl LIII, with linebackers coach (and de facto defensive coordinator) Brian Flores becoming the new coach of the Dolphins, cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer joining Flores, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly jumping to the Chiefs. The only defensive coach currently listed on the teams official website is safeties coach Steve Belichick. Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo recently announced that hell serve as the teams linebackers coach. Theres a chance that Belichick wont name a new defensive coordinator, either retaining the duties or unofficially delegating them to Bielema or maybe even to Belichicks son, Steve. Regardless, an offseason that was expected to be tranquil for the Pats has been anything but, and the sudden departure of Schiano has become the latest twist for a team that will surely continue to turn out wins in 2019.
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Greg Schiano is out as the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator. Brett Bielema is in the running to replace Schiano as the team's next defensive coach.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://sports.yahoo.com/brett-bielema-succeed-greg-schiano-160121930.html?src=rss
| 0.332353 |
Will Brett Bielema succeed Greg Schiano in New England?
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In late January, Patriots defensive consultant Brett Bielema reportedly was telling people that hed become the teams next defensive coordinator. Two months later, maybe hell be right. With Greg Schiano gone, the Pats need a new defensive coordinator. Scroll to continue with content Ad Several defensive position coaches exited after Super Bowl LIII, with linebackers coach (and de facto defensive coordinator) Brian Flores becoming the new coach of the Dolphins, cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer joining Flores, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly jumping to the Chiefs. The only defensive coach currently listed on the teams official website is safeties coach Steve Belichick. Former Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo recently announced that hell serve as the teams linebackers coach. Theres a chance that Belichick wont name a new defensive coordinator, either retaining the duties or unofficially delegating them to Bielema or maybe even to Belichicks son, Steve. Regardless, an offseason that was expected to be tranquil for the Pats has been anything but, and the sudden departure of Schiano has become the latest twist for a team that will surely continue to turn out wins in 2019.
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Greg Schiano is out as the New England Patriots' defensive coordinator. Brett Bielema is in the running to replace Schiano as the team's defensive consultant. The Patriots have yet to name a defensive coordinator for the 2019 season, which begins on October 17 in New England.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://sports.yahoo.com/brett-bielema-succeed-greg-schiano-160121930.html?src=rss
| 0.432727 |
Should Texas have to get federal approval in next round of redistricting?
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The long legal fight over state political maps drawn in 2011 and 2013 is entering its final phase, and the outcome could have long-term implications for the way Texas runs its statewide elections. Arguing that the maps prove that state lawmakers cannot be trusted to create political districts that don't discriminate, civil rights groups and others have asked a panel of three federal judges to require Texas to get federal permission before redrawn districts can be used after the 2020 census. One plaintiffs group, which includes Latino voters and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, asked the judges to require Texas to get federal "preclearance" for statewide redistricting plans until 2030. The largest group of plaintiffs, including the NAACP and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, asked Texas to be placed under federal oversight for at least five years. "Without (preclearance), the Legislature will be free to yet again start the decade with discriminatory maps and very likely end the 2020 decade with discriminatory maps, given the complex, plodding pace of piecemeal redistricting litigation," they argued in court briefs. Thursday, the three-judge panel set a May 2 hearing on the question, which is opposed by lawyers for Texas and, in a change of position from the Obama administration, by the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump. Each side will have 30 minutes to make their final arguments to the San Antonio-based panel, with a decision expected in the following weeks or months. 'Already remedied' Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have argued that the state's victory before the U.S. Supreme Court last summer a 5-4 ruling in which the majority found no evidence that Republican lawmakers drew political districts with the intent to discriminate against minority voters should absolve the state from having to preclear maps in future redistricting efforts. Preclearance under the Voting Rights Act, state lawyers say, is a drastic step reserved for the type of flagrant and rampant discrimination that Congress identified when the law was passed in 1965 to address Southern segregationists who would erect new voting barriers as soon as old ones were struck down. "The plaintiffs cannot make that showing here," lawyers for Texas told the court, adding that states should not be punished "based on vague speculation that their legislatures might conceivably run afoul of the Constitution in the future." Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department argued that Texas needed federal oversight because of its "history of intentional racial discrimination in redistricting." In late January, however, the agency informed the three-judge panel that it had abandoned that line of thinking because past instances of discrimination "already have been remedied, and many date from decades ago," precluding the need for federal intervention into state policymaking. A troubled history Lawyers for the civil rights groups, Democratic politicians and minority voters who challenged the Republican-drawn political districts as discriminatory argue that there is plenty of evidence to require the three-judge panel to approve future redistricting maps, or at least require Texas to get Justice Department approval of any new districts. For five consecutive decades, the lawyers noted, at least one post-census redistricting plan adopted by the Legislature was declared unconstitutional or blocked as a violation of the Voting Rights Act. In addition, Texas and its political subdivisions, including cities and counties, have faced more than 200 voting-rights legal challenges since 1982, they said. The lawyers also pointed to the three-judge panel's 2017 rulings that said two congressional districts, and nine Texas House districts, were intentionally drawn in 2011 to discriminate against minority voters, either by reducing their voting strength or by improperly using race to determine where to set district boundaries. Those 2011 districts were never used in an election because of court action, however, and the Supreme Court found no intentional discrimination in maps adopted by the Legislature in 2013. But lawyers challenging the districts as discriminatory noted that the 2013 maps made no changes, or only slight alterations, to the districts identified as problems in the 2011 maps. Federal intervention is justified, they argued, based on the finding of intentional discrimination earlier this decade and "the persistent pattern of discriminatory governmental action in Texas directed at minority voters for generations." During the May 2 hearing, the three-judge panel also will consider recommendations for fixing the only problem district identified by the Supreme Court a Fort Worth-area state House district that was found to have been improperly gerrymandered by race to help a white Democrat stay in office. Recommended maps and supporting data are due at the court by April 25.
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Civil rights groups want Texas to get federal approval before redrawn districts can be used.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.statesman.com/news/20190329/should-texas-have-to-get-federal-approval-in-next-round-of-redistricting
| 0.217396 |
Should Texas have to get federal approval in next round of redistricting?
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The long legal fight over state political maps drawn in 2011 and 2013 is entering its final phase, and the outcome could have long-term implications for the way Texas runs its statewide elections. Arguing that the maps prove that state lawmakers cannot be trusted to create political districts that don't discriminate, civil rights groups and others have asked a panel of three federal judges to require Texas to get federal permission before redrawn districts can be used after the 2020 census. One plaintiffs group, which includes Latino voters and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, asked the judges to require Texas to get federal "preclearance" for statewide redistricting plans until 2030. The largest group of plaintiffs, including the NAACP and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, asked Texas to be placed under federal oversight for at least five years. "Without (preclearance), the Legislature will be free to yet again start the decade with discriminatory maps and very likely end the 2020 decade with discriminatory maps, given the complex, plodding pace of piecemeal redistricting litigation," they argued in court briefs. Thursday, the three-judge panel set a May 2 hearing on the question, which is opposed by lawyers for Texas and, in a change of position from the Obama administration, by the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump. Each side will have 30 minutes to make their final arguments to the San Antonio-based panel, with a decision expected in the following weeks or months. 'Already remedied' Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have argued that the state's victory before the U.S. Supreme Court last summer a 5-4 ruling in which the majority found no evidence that Republican lawmakers drew political districts with the intent to discriminate against minority voters should absolve the state from having to preclear maps in future redistricting efforts. Preclearance under the Voting Rights Act, state lawyers say, is a drastic step reserved for the type of flagrant and rampant discrimination that Congress identified when the law was passed in 1965 to address Southern segregationists who would erect new voting barriers as soon as old ones were struck down. "The plaintiffs cannot make that showing here," lawyers for Texas told the court, adding that states should not be punished "based on vague speculation that their legislatures might conceivably run afoul of the Constitution in the future." Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department argued that Texas needed federal oversight because of its "history of intentional racial discrimination in redistricting." In late January, however, the agency informed the three-judge panel that it had abandoned that line of thinking because past instances of discrimination "already have been remedied, and many date from decades ago," precluding the need for federal intervention into state policymaking. A troubled history Lawyers for the civil rights groups, Democratic politicians and minority voters who challenged the Republican-drawn political districts as discriminatory argue that there is plenty of evidence to require the three-judge panel to approve future redistricting maps, or at least require Texas to get Justice Department approval of any new districts. For five consecutive decades, the lawyers noted, at least one post-census redistricting plan adopted by the Legislature was declared unconstitutional or blocked as a violation of the Voting Rights Act. In addition, Texas and its political subdivisions, including cities and counties, have faced more than 200 voting-rights legal challenges since 1982, they said. The lawyers also pointed to the three-judge panel's 2017 rulings that said two congressional districts, and nine Texas House districts, were intentionally drawn in 2011 to discriminate against minority voters, either by reducing their voting strength or by improperly using race to determine where to set district boundaries. Those 2011 districts were never used in an election because of court action, however, and the Supreme Court found no intentional discrimination in maps adopted by the Legislature in 2013. But lawyers challenging the districts as discriminatory noted that the 2013 maps made no changes, or only slight alterations, to the districts identified as problems in the 2011 maps. Federal intervention is justified, they argued, based on the finding of intentional discrimination earlier this decade and "the persistent pattern of discriminatory governmental action in Texas directed at minority voters for generations." During the May 2 hearing, the three-judge panel also will consider recommendations for fixing the only problem district identified by the Supreme Court a Fort Worth-area state House district that was found to have been improperly gerrymandered by race to help a white Democrat stay in office. Recommended maps and supporting data are due at the court by April 25.
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The long legal fight over Texas political maps is entering its final phase. Civil rights groups want Texas to get federal permission before redrawn districts. A decision could have long-term implications for the way Texas runs its statewide elections.
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pegasus
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https://www.statesman.com/news/20190329/should-texas-have-to-get-federal-approval-in-next-round-of-redistricting
| 0.191075 |
Should Texas have to get federal approval in next round of redistricting?
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The long legal fight over state political maps drawn in 2011 and 2013 is entering its final phase, and the outcome could have long-term implications for the way Texas runs its statewide elections. Arguing that the maps prove that state lawmakers cannot be trusted to create political districts that don't discriminate, civil rights groups and others have asked a panel of three federal judges to require Texas to get federal permission before redrawn districts can be used after the 2020 census. One plaintiffs group, which includes Latino voters and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, asked the judges to require Texas to get federal "preclearance" for statewide redistricting plans until 2030. The largest group of plaintiffs, including the NAACP and state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez, D-Austin, asked Texas to be placed under federal oversight for at least five years. "Without (preclearance), the Legislature will be free to yet again start the decade with discriminatory maps and very likely end the 2020 decade with discriminatory maps, given the complex, plodding pace of piecemeal redistricting litigation," they argued in court briefs. Thursday, the three-judge panel set a May 2 hearing on the question, which is opposed by lawyers for Texas and, in a change of position from the Obama administration, by the U.S. Department of Justice under President Donald Trump. Each side will have 30 minutes to make their final arguments to the San Antonio-based panel, with a decision expected in the following weeks or months. 'Already remedied' Lawyers for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have argued that the state's victory before the U.S. Supreme Court last summer a 5-4 ruling in which the majority found no evidence that Republican lawmakers drew political districts with the intent to discriminate against minority voters should absolve the state from having to preclear maps in future redistricting efforts. Preclearance under the Voting Rights Act, state lawyers say, is a drastic step reserved for the type of flagrant and rampant discrimination that Congress identified when the law was passed in 1965 to address Southern segregationists who would erect new voting barriers as soon as old ones were struck down. "The plaintiffs cannot make that showing here," lawyers for Texas told the court, adding that states should not be punished "based on vague speculation that their legislatures might conceivably run afoul of the Constitution in the future." Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department argued that Texas needed federal oversight because of its "history of intentional racial discrimination in redistricting." In late January, however, the agency informed the three-judge panel that it had abandoned that line of thinking because past instances of discrimination "already have been remedied, and many date from decades ago," precluding the need for federal intervention into state policymaking. A troubled history Lawyers for the civil rights groups, Democratic politicians and minority voters who challenged the Republican-drawn political districts as discriminatory argue that there is plenty of evidence to require the three-judge panel to approve future redistricting maps, or at least require Texas to get Justice Department approval of any new districts. For five consecutive decades, the lawyers noted, at least one post-census redistricting plan adopted by the Legislature was declared unconstitutional or blocked as a violation of the Voting Rights Act. In addition, Texas and its political subdivisions, including cities and counties, have faced more than 200 voting-rights legal challenges since 1982, they said. The lawyers also pointed to the three-judge panel's 2017 rulings that said two congressional districts, and nine Texas House districts, were intentionally drawn in 2011 to discriminate against minority voters, either by reducing their voting strength or by improperly using race to determine where to set district boundaries. Those 2011 districts were never used in an election because of court action, however, and the Supreme Court found no intentional discrimination in maps adopted by the Legislature in 2013. But lawyers challenging the districts as discriminatory noted that the 2013 maps made no changes, or only slight alterations, to the districts identified as problems in the 2011 maps. Federal intervention is justified, they argued, based on the finding of intentional discrimination earlier this decade and "the persistent pattern of discriminatory governmental action in Texas directed at minority voters for generations." During the May 2 hearing, the three-judge panel also will consider recommendations for fixing the only problem district identified by the Supreme Court a Fort Worth-area state House district that was found to have been improperly gerrymandered by race to help a white Democrat stay in office. Recommended maps and supporting data are due at the court by April 25.
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Civil rights groups want Texas to get federal approval before redrawn districts can be used after the 2020 census. The Justice Department says past instances of discrimination "already have been remedied" Lawyers for Texas argue that the state's victory before the U.S. Supreme Court last summer should absolve the state from having to preclear maps.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.statesman.com/news/20190329/should-texas-have-to-get-federal-approval-in-next-round-of-redistricting
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Are Scottish school league tables demoralising for pupils?
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Unofficial school league tables are a staple of Scottish newspapers, many of which last week compiled a list of the "best-performing" based on Higher results. The Scottish government publishes raw data on exams but deliberately avoids league tables because they don't offer a wider picture of a school's performance. Image caption Dawnmarie said the league tables put children down Dawnmarie is an S6 pupil at St Paul's High in the Pollok area of Glasgow. It was ranked 316th out of the 339 state high schools in Scotland in a league table compiled by The Times. At St Paul's, 17% of pupils achieve five or more Highers compared to 83% at the number one school, Jordanhill. Dawnmarie told BBC Scotland's The Nine: "As children we are always told not to judge other people because it is a form of bullying. "I feel that is exactly what these league tables are doing to us. "It is judging all of us against other schools and it is really putting children down." St Paul's draws 89% of its pupils from areas which are among the country's most-deprived, the bottom fifth of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Dawnmarie said: "I've seen on Twitter a teacher having to explain to her pupils about how they are not the worst school and how they all felt so demoralised. "I think that's how we all feel. It is demoralising. We are put down, it's not right. As children we should not have that pressure on us." Image caption Peter says teachers at St Paul's go "above and beyond" Another St Paul's pupil Peter said the teachers at the school went "above and beyond" to help everyone achieve what they could. He said this extended to extra lessons on a Saturday, which were not as well attended as they should be. S6 pupil Brian also praised the dedication of the teachers, saying: "This school encourages you to go further and they will always offer you different alternatives." In the Times Educational Supplement this week, teacher Gordon Cairns said teachers were unfairly given an "annual kicking" by the league tables Mr Cairns said Lewis Capaldi might be number one in the charts with Someone You Loved but no-one above the age of eight would consider it to be the "best" song, based on that measure. 'A school is about much more than churning out exam results' Kirkcaldy High School in Fife was ranked 245th in the unofficial league table. Image caption Jack says there is more to a school than league tables S6 pupil Jack told The Nine: "We know it is a good school and there is a lot that the league table doesn't show." "A school is about much more than churning out exam results," said S4 pupil Cara. "It is important we leave here actually being decent people with skills for life." Image caption Jake says five Highers would not have helped him to become a chef S5 pupil Jake said that many students did not take five Highers but instead passed courses that were equivalent but weren't counted in the league tables. Jake did a course called Hospitality Skills for Work. "I learned more in about six weeks down there at the college, working with the chefs, doing what I love, than I have in five years doing any course in school," he said. "Five Highers would not help me much to be a professional chef." Image caption Kelice says if she had done five Highers she would not have got the experience in childcare S6 pupil Kelice agreed. She has done a two-year foundation apprenticeship in childcare. "If I had taken five Highers I would not have the experience to leave school and work with kids," she said. "But now I'm leaving school in S6 having had a year of experience working with children and I can just walk into a job as a pupil support assistant." Image caption Cara said schools should not be defined by league tables Jack said: "A lot of workplaces say exams are important but it is also about experience." "It varies from person to person. For some, five Highers would suit them but for others it won't. "I think this school does a really good job of promoting the other options." Cara said: "I'm proud to be a pupil at Kirkcaldy High school and I don't think our school should be defined by where it sits in the league table." Analysis by Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland education correspondent It is broadly accepted - by teachers, councils and the Scottish government - that there is much more to a school's performance than the raw exam results. In particular, there is a broad co-relation between exam results and a school's catchment area. That is why there are no official school league tables in Scotland, only unofficial ones produced by newspapers and based on passes at Higher. Broadly speaking, the schools which feature near the top of these tables are likely to be in prosperous suburbs. The reasons for this would seem superficially obvious. A greater number of children may come from comfortable family backgrounds where parents who are themselves highly-educated may be in a better position to help their children with their studies or even buy in extra tuition. Similarly fewer children will face disadvantages linked to poverty and deprivation. The argument is that to suggest these "top-performing" schools or the teachers who work in them are somehow "better" than others is simply misleading. Naturally though, some parents may feel more comfortable with the thought of sending their child to a school where a relatively large proportion of children get good exam results. They might make placing requests to these schools or even consciously buy a house in the catchment area. It is hard to conclusively prove that some property prices are higher simply because of a school's catchment area rather than because the area itself is desirable for a number of reasons. However an intelligent and thoughtful reading of exam results data or comparisons between schools facing similar challenges may provide food for thought. Perhaps the numbers getting at least one Higher or the numbers getting five Highers or going to university has gone up significantly. Parents and students may wish to consult inspectors' reports published by Education Scotland to get a sense of a school's strengths and weaknesses.
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Pupils at St Paul's High in Glasgow say league tables put them down.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47749595
| 0.109299 |
Are Scottish school league tables demoralising for pupils?
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Unofficial school league tables are a staple of Scottish newspapers, many of which last week compiled a list of the "best-performing" based on Higher results. The Scottish government publishes raw data on exams but deliberately avoids league tables because they don't offer a wider picture of a school's performance. Image caption Dawnmarie said the league tables put children down Dawnmarie is an S6 pupil at St Paul's High in the Pollok area of Glasgow. It was ranked 316th out of the 339 state high schools in Scotland in a league table compiled by The Times. At St Paul's, 17% of pupils achieve five or more Highers compared to 83% at the number one school, Jordanhill. Dawnmarie told BBC Scotland's The Nine: "As children we are always told not to judge other people because it is a form of bullying. "I feel that is exactly what these league tables are doing to us. "It is judging all of us against other schools and it is really putting children down." St Paul's draws 89% of its pupils from areas which are among the country's most-deprived, the bottom fifth of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Dawnmarie said: "I've seen on Twitter a teacher having to explain to her pupils about how they are not the worst school and how they all felt so demoralised. "I think that's how we all feel. It is demoralising. We are put down, it's not right. As children we should not have that pressure on us." Image caption Peter says teachers at St Paul's go "above and beyond" Another St Paul's pupil Peter said the teachers at the school went "above and beyond" to help everyone achieve what they could. He said this extended to extra lessons on a Saturday, which were not as well attended as they should be. S6 pupil Brian also praised the dedication of the teachers, saying: "This school encourages you to go further and they will always offer you different alternatives." In the Times Educational Supplement this week, teacher Gordon Cairns said teachers were unfairly given an "annual kicking" by the league tables Mr Cairns said Lewis Capaldi might be number one in the charts with Someone You Loved but no-one above the age of eight would consider it to be the "best" song, based on that measure. 'A school is about much more than churning out exam results' Kirkcaldy High School in Fife was ranked 245th in the unofficial league table. Image caption Jack says there is more to a school than league tables S6 pupil Jack told The Nine: "We know it is a good school and there is a lot that the league table doesn't show." "A school is about much more than churning out exam results," said S4 pupil Cara. "It is important we leave here actually being decent people with skills for life." Image caption Jake says five Highers would not have helped him to become a chef S5 pupil Jake said that many students did not take five Highers but instead passed courses that were equivalent but weren't counted in the league tables. Jake did a course called Hospitality Skills for Work. "I learned more in about six weeks down there at the college, working with the chefs, doing what I love, than I have in five years doing any course in school," he said. "Five Highers would not help me much to be a professional chef." Image caption Kelice says if she had done five Highers she would not have got the experience in childcare S6 pupil Kelice agreed. She has done a two-year foundation apprenticeship in childcare. "If I had taken five Highers I would not have the experience to leave school and work with kids," she said. "But now I'm leaving school in S6 having had a year of experience working with children and I can just walk into a job as a pupil support assistant." Image caption Cara said schools should not be defined by league tables Jack said: "A lot of workplaces say exams are important but it is also about experience." "It varies from person to person. For some, five Highers would suit them but for others it won't. "I think this school does a really good job of promoting the other options." Cara said: "I'm proud to be a pupil at Kirkcaldy High school and I don't think our school should be defined by where it sits in the league table." Analysis by Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland education correspondent It is broadly accepted - by teachers, councils and the Scottish government - that there is much more to a school's performance than the raw exam results. In particular, there is a broad co-relation between exam results and a school's catchment area. That is why there are no official school league tables in Scotland, only unofficial ones produced by newspapers and based on passes at Higher. Broadly speaking, the schools which feature near the top of these tables are likely to be in prosperous suburbs. The reasons for this would seem superficially obvious. A greater number of children may come from comfortable family backgrounds where parents who are themselves highly-educated may be in a better position to help their children with their studies or even buy in extra tuition. Similarly fewer children will face disadvantages linked to poverty and deprivation. The argument is that to suggest these "top-performing" schools or the teachers who work in them are somehow "better" than others is simply misleading. Naturally though, some parents may feel more comfortable with the thought of sending their child to a school where a relatively large proportion of children get good exam results. They might make placing requests to these schools or even consciously buy a house in the catchment area. It is hard to conclusively prove that some property prices are higher simply because of a school's catchment area rather than because the area itself is desirable for a number of reasons. However an intelligent and thoughtful reading of exam results data or comparisons between schools facing similar challenges may provide food for thought. Perhaps the numbers getting at least one Higher or the numbers getting five Highers or going to university has gone up significantly. Parents and students may wish to consult inspectors' reports published by Education Scotland to get a sense of a school's strengths and weaknesses.
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Unofficial school league tables are a staple of Scottish newspapers. Many compiled a list of the "best-performing" based on Higher results. St Paul's High in Glasgow was ranked 316th out of 339 state high schools.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47749595
| 0.109231 |
Are Scottish school league tables demoralising for pupils?
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Unofficial school league tables are a staple of Scottish newspapers, many of which last week compiled a list of the "best-performing" based on Higher results. The Scottish government publishes raw data on exams but deliberately avoids league tables because they don't offer a wider picture of a school's performance. Image caption Dawnmarie said the league tables put children down Dawnmarie is an S6 pupil at St Paul's High in the Pollok area of Glasgow. It was ranked 316th out of the 339 state high schools in Scotland in a league table compiled by The Times. At St Paul's, 17% of pupils achieve five or more Highers compared to 83% at the number one school, Jordanhill. Dawnmarie told BBC Scotland's The Nine: "As children we are always told not to judge other people because it is a form of bullying. "I feel that is exactly what these league tables are doing to us. "It is judging all of us against other schools and it is really putting children down." St Paul's draws 89% of its pupils from areas which are among the country's most-deprived, the bottom fifth of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation. Dawnmarie said: "I've seen on Twitter a teacher having to explain to her pupils about how they are not the worst school and how they all felt so demoralised. "I think that's how we all feel. It is demoralising. We are put down, it's not right. As children we should not have that pressure on us." Image caption Peter says teachers at St Paul's go "above and beyond" Another St Paul's pupil Peter said the teachers at the school went "above and beyond" to help everyone achieve what they could. He said this extended to extra lessons on a Saturday, which were not as well attended as they should be. S6 pupil Brian also praised the dedication of the teachers, saying: "This school encourages you to go further and they will always offer you different alternatives." In the Times Educational Supplement this week, teacher Gordon Cairns said teachers were unfairly given an "annual kicking" by the league tables Mr Cairns said Lewis Capaldi might be number one in the charts with Someone You Loved but no-one above the age of eight would consider it to be the "best" song, based on that measure. 'A school is about much more than churning out exam results' Kirkcaldy High School in Fife was ranked 245th in the unofficial league table. Image caption Jack says there is more to a school than league tables S6 pupil Jack told The Nine: "We know it is a good school and there is a lot that the league table doesn't show." "A school is about much more than churning out exam results," said S4 pupil Cara. "It is important we leave here actually being decent people with skills for life." Image caption Jake says five Highers would not have helped him to become a chef S5 pupil Jake said that many students did not take five Highers but instead passed courses that were equivalent but weren't counted in the league tables. Jake did a course called Hospitality Skills for Work. "I learned more in about six weeks down there at the college, working with the chefs, doing what I love, than I have in five years doing any course in school," he said. "Five Highers would not help me much to be a professional chef." Image caption Kelice says if she had done five Highers she would not have got the experience in childcare S6 pupil Kelice agreed. She has done a two-year foundation apprenticeship in childcare. "If I had taken five Highers I would not have the experience to leave school and work with kids," she said. "But now I'm leaving school in S6 having had a year of experience working with children and I can just walk into a job as a pupil support assistant." Image caption Cara said schools should not be defined by league tables Jack said: "A lot of workplaces say exams are important but it is also about experience." "It varies from person to person. For some, five Highers would suit them but for others it won't. "I think this school does a really good job of promoting the other options." Cara said: "I'm proud to be a pupil at Kirkcaldy High school and I don't think our school should be defined by where it sits in the league table." Analysis by Jamie McIvor, BBC Scotland education correspondent It is broadly accepted - by teachers, councils and the Scottish government - that there is much more to a school's performance than the raw exam results. In particular, there is a broad co-relation between exam results and a school's catchment area. That is why there are no official school league tables in Scotland, only unofficial ones produced by newspapers and based on passes at Higher. Broadly speaking, the schools which feature near the top of these tables are likely to be in prosperous suburbs. The reasons for this would seem superficially obvious. A greater number of children may come from comfortable family backgrounds where parents who are themselves highly-educated may be in a better position to help their children with their studies or even buy in extra tuition. Similarly fewer children will face disadvantages linked to poverty and deprivation. The argument is that to suggest these "top-performing" schools or the teachers who work in them are somehow "better" than others is simply misleading. Naturally though, some parents may feel more comfortable with the thought of sending their child to a school where a relatively large proportion of children get good exam results. They might make placing requests to these schools or even consciously buy a house in the catchment area. It is hard to conclusively prove that some property prices are higher simply because of a school's catchment area rather than because the area itself is desirable for a number of reasons. However an intelligent and thoughtful reading of exam results data or comparisons between schools facing similar challenges may provide food for thought. Perhaps the numbers getting at least one Higher or the numbers getting five Highers or going to university has gone up significantly. Parents and students may wish to consult inspectors' reports published by Education Scotland to get a sense of a school's strengths and weaknesses.
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St Paul's High in Glasgow ranked 316th out of 339 state high schools in Scotland. 17% of pupils achieve five or more Highers compared to 83% at number one school. Pupils at St Paul's say the league tables put children down. One says teachers go "above and beyond" to help everyone achieve.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-47749595
| 0.297836 |
Why are so many migrants suddenly arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border?
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Dozens of Central American migrants are dropped off at a Phoenix Greyhound bus station by ICE federal officials while a group of volunteers tries to help them on March 8, 2019. Many churches and organizations are running out of resources to help the mingrants. (Photo: Nick Oza, Nick Oza) The recent surge in migrant families arriving at the border is being driven by several factors including extreme poverty, violence, and political instability pushing migrants in Central America to flee. The strong U.S. economy also is drawing migrants looking for jobs. But the development of transportation networks by smuggling organizations that quickly shuttle migrants through Mexico and the Trump administrations own deterrence policies, including threats to shut down the southern border, are also fueling the influx, analysts say. On Friday, Trump again threatened to close the U.S.-Mexico border as soon as next week, unless Mexico takes steps to stop the flow of U.S.-bound migrants traveling through its country. But that threat, which Trump has made in the past, along with other recent policies aimed at deterring migrants from coming, are having the reverse effect, analysts say. It signals to migrants thinking of making the trip that now is the time to come before the door closes. Smuggling organizations have developed transportation networks capable of busing migrants from southern Mexico to the U.S. border in a matter of days.The development of the rapid transportation networks first was reported by The Washington Post, citing information from U.S. officials. The smuggling transportation network is "really having a snowball effect," where migrants can make it through Mexico within three days, and then notify family members and friends back home, triggering more to follow, said David Bier, an immigration policy analyst at the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. Subscribe to azcentral.com. At the same time, smugglers are also capitalizing on the Trump administration's policies, including the so-called Remain in Mexico policy, that sends migrants seeking asylum in the U.S. back to Mexico to to wait until their case is decided. "You had the administration announce a policy, Remain in Mexico, which is basically an advertisement for the smuggling organizations," Bier said. The smuggling organizations are "notifying migrants that 'It's now or never. The whole process is going to shut down,'" Bier said. "That's really the kind of messaging that causes this kind of a rush." Strong signals to migrants, smugglers Asylum seekers from Central America and Mexico in line, February 2019, in Tijuana, Mexico, as they wait for their numbers to be called to meet with U.S. immigration officials. (Photo: Nick Oza, Nick Oza/The Republic) The number of migrant families and unaccompanied minors arriving the border from Central America has been growing steadily for years. The number began to surge last summer after the Trump administration, amid an international outcry, was forced to abandon a zero-tolerance policy at the border that resulted in several thousand children being separated from their parents. The Trump administration also has been unable to follow through on vows to ramp up deportation of migrant families who don't qualify for asylum. Trump has also been unable to convince Congress to change immigration laws and court orders he says have created "loopholes" in the asylum system. Those "loopholes," Trump argues, encourage migrants to come illegally and then to fraudulently ask for asylum, knowing those with children will be quickly released and then allowed to remain in the U.S. for years while their asylum cases are pending in swamped immigration courts. The failure to follow through on policies aimed at deterring migrants is helping fuel the current wave, said Randy Capps, director of research and U.S. programs at the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters "That sends two strong signals to would-be migrants and their smugglers," Capps said. "Right now the Trump administration, the U.S. government, can't stop you from entering the country. The second message is, 'We are working really hard to find a way to stop you, and we may be able do that soon, so you better come now.'" Smuggling organizations exploiting migrants was also behind a similar surge in unaccompanied minors in the spring and summer of 2014, said Maureen Meyer, director for Mexico and migrant rights at the Washington Office on Latin America, a human rights advocacy group. "They were telling individuals, 'You have a permission to come to the U.S. and you need to come now or it's going to expire," Meyer said. "They are always finding clever ways to take advantage of people's desperation, vulnerability, and insecurity to tell them that the best option for them is to come to the United States without giving many of them any real idea of what that might actually look like at the border." Now smugglers are telling migrant families that "if you are coming with your children, you will not be detained" if you ask for asylum, she said. "A lot of the people coming are unaccompanied children and families who are coming to the U.S. and are seeking protection and are wanting asylum," Meyer said. "They are very different from the traditional, single-male, economic migrant." Keep up on the latest news Sign up for our newsletters to stay informed on the border and other issues. Asylum seekers from Central America wait in line in Tijuana, Mexico, in February 2019 to meet with U.S. immigration officials. (Photo: Nick Oza/The Republic) Overall, Border Patrol apprehensions in recent years have remained far below levels seen in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when in 2000 they peaked at 1.6 million apprehensions. But the current wave of migrant families and to a lesser extent, minors arriving unaccompanied by parents is unprecedented. During the first four months of the current fiscal year, the Border Patrol apprehended 136,150 migrants made up of adults and children who crossed illegally. That was more than the 107,212 migrants apprehended as families during the entire previous year, which set a record. In October, ICE, overwhelmed by the surge, began releasing large groups of families at local churches, shelters, and bus stations in communities near the border, including Phoenix, just days after they had been apprehended and processed by the Border Patrol. Since Dec. 21, the agency has released 108,500 migrant family members. Of that, 18,500 were released in the Phoenix area or other communities in Arizona; 47,500 in communities in south Texas; 31,500 in El Paso; and 1,000 in San Diego, the data shows. "We face a cascading crisis at our southern border. The system is in free fall," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, said in a statement. Exodus from Guatemala, Honduras About 80 percent of the families arriving at the border are from Guatemala and Honduras. Those two countries have high levels of poverty and violence, and also have experienced recent political instability, which is prompting migrant families to flee, Capps said. Bier said the strong U.S. economy and low unemployment rate is also drawing migrants. "I think that is a huge part of it," said Bier, noting that illegal immigration to the U.S. increased when the economy was booming in the 2000s but fell dramatically during the Great Recession. "So yeah, another recession would be a great way to stop the flow of migrants," Bier said. "At the end of the day, people need jobs, and if they hear that people coming north are getting jobs, they are going to keep coming." Central American migrants wait for food in El Paso, Texas on March 27, 2019, in a pen erected by U.S. Customs and Border Protection to process a surge of migrant families and unaccompanied minors. (Photo: Cedar Attanasio, AP) It will be difficult to reverse the current wave of migrant families arriving at the border now that the transportation networks are set up, Bier said. He advocates that the U.S. increase the number of humanitarian visas to allow families escaping poverty and violence in Central America to come to the U.S. legally, rather than turning to smuggling organizations. Capps at the Migration Policy Institute said that many of migrant families arriving at the border most likely don't qualify for asylum, which is only granted to migrants fleeing political and other forms of persecution, not poverty or violence in general. One short-term solution within the president's authority would be to allow asylum officers to decide asylum cases instead of judges in immigration courts.That could speed up the process to months. Those granted asylum would be allowed to stay, while those who did not qualify would have to quickly leave rather than being allowed to remain in the U.S. for years until their cases were decided in overwhelmed immigration courts, he said Long term, however, the U.S. will have to work with Central American countries to address the root causes that are driving migrants to leave, such as promoting economic development, combating corruption, and reducing violence, Meyer said. "It's not about deterrence as much as addressing why people are coming," Meyer said. "This is the one area where Trump has not focused any effort and in fact, he is working to actively reduce assistance to Central America." Reach the reporter at daniel.gonzalez@arizonarepublic.com or at 602-444-8312. Follow him on Twitter @azdangonzalez. Support local journalism.Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Support journalism To support groundbreaking journalism like "The Wall," find one of the more than 100 USA TODAY NETWORK newsrooms closest to you and subscribe today. Get started Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/immigration/2019/03/29/why-so-many-migrants-suddenly-arriving-u-s-mexico-border/3314514002/
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Smuggling organizations have developed transportation networks capable of busing migrants from southern Mexico to the U.S. border in a matter of days. Smugglers are also capitalizing on the Trump administration's policies, including the so-called Remain in Mexico policy. The failure to follow through on policies aimed at deterring migrants is helping fuel the current wave.
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What would happen in Arizona if Trump closed the border?
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CLOSE Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort, President Donald Trump said there's "a very good likelihood" that he'll be closing the U.S. southern border next week if Mexico does not immediately stop illegal immigration. (March 29) AP, AP If President Trump goes though with his threat to close the border with Mexico, Arizona would feel the effects almost immediately. As a border state, Arizona has a closer tie with Mexico than many other states do and in terms of the economy, trade, and tourism, it would feel the impact more than many other states. Many policy details aren't yet known and thus are difficult to predict. But here are some of the possible ripple effects of closing the border. It's big. Mexico is Arizona's largest trading partner. The state sends 30 percent of all its exports to one country, Mexico. That amounts to $682 million in exports over a recent three-month period, according to research by the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. Subscribe to azcentral.com. Mexico exports more to the U.S. border states than it does to the rest of the world combined, excluding the United States, according to a report by the Wilson Center, a think tank on global issues. The Nogales-Mariposa port of entry brings in an enormous amount of winter fruit and vegetables to the United States. Arizona faced the potential loss of $5 billion in exports and 236,000 jobs if the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, unraveled. Those studies, by BMO Capital Markets and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, also incorporated the value of Arizona's trade ties with Canada, another big trading partner. Negotiators representing the U.S. Mexico and Canada subsequently agreed to replace NAFTA with a new trade agreement, though the new deal hasn't been ratified. Farmworkers pick tomatoes from the vines at Chaparral Agricola tomato farm in Villa Juarez, Sinaloa, Mexico. (Photo: Nick Oza/USA TODAY NETWORK) Presumably, they would. For example, consider the large amounts of fruits and vegetables that Mexico sends north. If those produce items couldn't get through, supermarket prices would jump as supplies would get scarce. However, manufactured goods account for a bigger part of the trade picture than produce. Arizona's leading exports to Mexico and other nations include aircraft engines and parts, copper ore, and electrical parts and machinery. Lance Jungmeyer, president of the Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, said although the winter produce season is winding down, a big harvest of table grapes from Mexico is expected through June. Martha Isabel Velasquez looks at a pair of boots while shopping in downtown Nogales, Ariz. Velasquez says she waited two hours in line to cross by foot over from Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, to go shopping. (AP Photo/Astrid Galvan) (Photo: Astrid Galvan, AP) Yes. Mexicans regularly cross the border to go shopping, especially in the southern part of Arizona, before returning home. Border communities such as Nogales, Arizona, depend on sales taxes paid by Mexican shoppers as a key source of revenue. They often are the first to feel the impact of a decline in retail trade, and also feel it more heavily that other areas of the state. "Retailers in the U.S. border cities know how critical Mexican residents who cross the border and shop for food, clothing, auto parts, and other retail items on the American side are for their business revenues," wrote Vera Pavlakovich-Kochi, an associate professor of geography at the University of Arizona, in a February update. "City and county governments on the border are also cognizant of the contribution of Mexican shoppers to their sales tax revenues," she added. JJ's Cantina, located in Cholla Bay serves up tacos, burgers and beer in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. (Photo: Cheryl Evans/The Republic) A true shutdown would imply nobody could traverse the border by car, bus, or on foot, heading either north or south. Arizona businesses such as hotels, restaurants and various stores could feel the pinch from a drop-off of foreign tourists. Americans seeking to hit the beach in Rocky Point or other Mexican vacation destinations also might need to adjust their itineraries. Holy Week is probably the biggest annual travel holiday for Mexican visitors and shoppers. This year's Holy Week falls April 14-21, so the timing of a border closure or any change that creates lengthy delays could have big consequences for businesses all the way north to Tucson, including hotels, shops and restaurants who see a noticeable boon during this period, especially on Easter weekend. Even if Trump allowed airline flights to continue, the directive could push up the price of airline tickets, as flying would be the only realistic way to move from one country to the other. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. The Mexican peso might drop relative to the dollar, given the much larger importance the U.S. exerts on Mexico's economy rather than the other way around. Ironically, a shift in currency values could worsen America's trade deficit with Mexico by making items made in Mexico cheaper to American buyers assuming importers could find a way to get them across a closed border. A border shutdown also could push down U.S. stock prices and otherwise rattle financial markets, which have been skittish when trade disputes percolate to the surface. That could affect 401(k) retirement accounts and other investments held by millions of Americans. Above all, investors, businesses, and consumers dislike uncertainty. A shutdown might unnerve a lot of people on both sides of the border and prod them to put commercial and personal plans on hold. The business community thought North American trade had been ironed out when negotiations representing the U.S., Mexico and Canada agreed to replace NAFTA with a new trade pact. Now, it could be back on the front burner. Reach the reporters at russ.wiles@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8616, or rafael.carranza@arizonarepublic.com. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/border-issues/2019/03/29/what-happens-in-arizona-if-trump-closes-border/3315848002/
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Mexico is Arizona's largest trading partner. Mexico exports more to the U.S. border states than it does to the rest of the world combined. If the border were closed, there would be ripple effects across the state's economy and tourism. The impact would be felt immediately.
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What caused the deadliest air disaster of all-time?
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On a small holiday island, a chain of events unfolded that culminated in the worst plane crash of all time, forever changing how we fly. It was an unfortunate series of very unfortunate events that led to the deadliest aviation disaster of all time. On a Wednesday 42 years ago, the world reeled with shock when two packed passenger jets collided at the airport on Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands. Two Boeing 747s one operated by Dutch carrier KLM, the other by now-defunct Pan American collided on the runway, causing a catastrophic fire that killed 583 people on both aircraft: an aviation death toll not seen before, or since. Advertisement Unlike the recent tragedies of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes, which have been blamed so far on the aircraft itself, the Tenerife disaster was the culmination of bad luck and human error, which would change what happened in cockpits forever. Neither of the doomed planes should have been on Tenerife island on March 27, 1977 but as fate had it, they were. The Pan Am plane had come from Los Angeles via New York City and the KLM plane from Amsterdam, and both were heading to Gran Canaria, another of the Canary Islands. But a bombing at Gran Canaria airport by a local separatist group forced air traffic to divert to the usually quiet regional airport on Tenerife the first unfortunate event that would set the runway calamity in motion. KLM (light blue) had taxiied down the runway, turned at the end, and taken off. But Pan Am (dark blue) was still taxiing down the runway, in its path. Photo / Wikimedia Commons A PRELUDE TO DISASTER A few hours after both planes were diverted to overwhelmed Tenerife airport, Gran Canaria was finally back in business. A Pan Am Boeing 747-121, similar to the aircraft involved in the accident. Photo / Wikimedia Commons The Pan Am plane was ready to take off but its path was obstructed by the KLM plane, which was ahead and needed refuelling. By the time it had refuelled, a heavy fog settled over the airport at Tenerife. As pilot and author Patrick Smith wrote in his analysis of the disaster, had Pan Am been able to take off when it was ready, it would have beaten the fog. The bad weather meant neither aircraft could see the other, and air traffic control tower couldn't see either of them. At this regional airport, there was no ground tracking radar. Another complication was congestion at the airport, which had cut off the usual access to runway 30, which the planes were using to depart. To take off, each plane had to taxi down runway 30, get to the end, make a 180 degree turn, and take off in the direction it had taxied from similar to how models walk and turn on a catwalk. As both aircraft taxied down runway 30, preparing for departure, KLM was in front, with Pan Am trailing behind. KLM reached the end of the runway and turned, awaiting clearance to take off. Pan Am was to move into a left-hand taxiway, so the runway was clear for KLM's takeoff. At least, that was the plan. 'THAT SON OF A B*TCH IS COMING' As the KLM plane sat at the end of runway 30, in position and holding for takeoff, the Pan Am pilots missed the taxiway they were meant to turn into. They could use the next turn, but it meant they were on the runway for longer. Meanwhile, the pilots in KLM got a route clearance from air traffic control. The route clearance had come unusually late, due to the unusual circumstances of the day. The KLM pilots mistook it for takeoff clearance. Poor communication between both cockpits and air traffic sealed the terrible fate of both aircraft and everyone on board. As Smith explained, communication was via two-way VHF radios, and on these radios, if two transmissions were sent simultaneously, they cancelled each other out leading to words being missed and messages misunderstood. The Pan Am crew and air traffic control knew Pan Am was still on the runway, and despite efforts to tell KLM, the KLM crew thinking they were cleared for takeoff, and unable to see due to fog didn't realise. It was only as the KLM jet started thundering down runway 30 towards Pan Am as it tried to take off that the horrible reality of the situation set in. "There he is!" Pan Am captain Victor Grubbs yelled, in a cockpit voice recording. "Look at him! Goddamn, that son of a bitch is coming!" The moment of impact. Photo / Wikimedia Commons With that, the two mighty jets collided in a catastrophic crash. The briefly airborne KLM's undercarriage and engines hit the top of the Pan Am jet, ripping off the top of the fuselage down the centre. The KLM plane stalled, rolled, hit the ground and slid. And with its full fuel load, it erupted into a fireball that blazed for hours. "When he hit us, it was a very soft boom," Pan Am co-pilot Robert Bragg, who survived the crash and died in 2017, told the BBC. "I then looked up for the fire control handles and that's when I noticed the top of the aeroplane was gone." Both planes were destroyed. All 248 KLM passengers and crew died, along with 335 passengers and crew on Pan Am. There were 61 survivors, all on Pan Am, including captain Victor Grubbs and Robert Bragg. Survivors managed to escape the Pan Am plane. Photo / YouTube THE CRASH THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING After an international investigation, the fundamental cause of the crash was deemed to be KLM captain Veldhuyzen van Zanten's attempt to take off without clearance. But there were a raft of contributing causes the fog, the interference of the radio transmissions and use ambiguous phrases, the fact Pan Am had not left the runway, and that the airport was overwhelmed with large aircraft. The refuelling of KLM, which made the plane heavier and less capable of clearing Pan Am as they were heading for collision and the fact it fuelled the fire has also been noted. But the issue that had lasting consequences for the aviation industry was the misunderstandings between the cockpits and air traffic control. Part of this was the two-way radio. At one point before KLM took off, air traffic control told the flight deck, "OK, stand by for takeoff, I will call you". The KLM pilots only heard the word "OK". "We believe that nothing after the word 'OK' passed the filters of the Dutch crew, thus they believed the controller's transmission approved their announced action in taking off," a report into the crash said. Another factor was use of ambiguous phrases by the pilots. When KLM thought it was ready to take off, the first officer said, "We are now at takeoff". That phrase wasn't standard pilot-speak. Neither was "OK". In the cockpit recordings, the Pan Am pilots spoke English and the KLM pilots spoke Dutch. The accident led to the development of so-called Aviation English, which is the language used by pilots and air traffic controllers worldwide. Cockpit rules also changed so words like "OK" and "Roger" were no longer sufficient when accepting messages key parts of the message now have to be read back in the reply. These were some of the lessons learnt from the worst aviation accident the world had seen so it would forever remain the deadliest the world would see.
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In 1977, two Boeing 747s collided at the airport on Tenerife in Spain's Canary Islands, killing 583 people. The accident was the deadliest aviation disaster of all time, and changed the way we fly. It was the culmination of bad luck and human error, which would change what happened in cockpits forever.
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What now for Britain's troubled Brexit?
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LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal is all but dead, after lawmakers voted to reject it for a third time Friday the day Britain had long been scheduled to leave the European Union. The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement. 3 1 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 2 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 3 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement to Brexit. The bloc has called an emergency Brexit summit for April 10 to deal with a British request, or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. U.K. time (6 p.m. EDT) on April 12 without a divorce agreement to smooth the way. Most politicians, economists and business groups think such a no-deal scenario would be disastrous, erecting customs checks, tariffs and other barriers between Britain and its biggest trading partner. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a no-deal Brexit but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension. ___ DELAY AND SOFTEN The alternative to "no-deal" is to delay Brexit for at least several months while Britain tries to sort out the mess. The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in European Parliament elections in late May, as it would have to do if Brexit is delayed. But EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain the extension if it plans to change course and seek a softer Brexit that keeps close economic ties between Britain and the bloc. This week lawmakers held a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to May's deal. The exercise did not provide clarity all eight options on offer were defeated. But it did hint at a potential compromise. The measure that came closest to a majority called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves. May has always ruled that out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britain's ability to forge new trade deals around the world. But a customs union would ensure U.K. businesses can continue to trade with the EU, and would solve many of the problems that bedevil May's deal. In particular it would remove the need for customs posts and border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There's a good chance a withdrawal agreement that included a customs union pledge would be approved by Parliament, and welcomed by the EU. ___ ELECTION GAMBLE Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2022, but the gridlock in Parliament makes a snap vote more likely. Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. They could try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote, triggering a general election. Or the government could pull the trigger itself if it thinks it has nothing to lose. May promised to quit if her Brexit deal was approved and Britain left the EU in May. Even though it was defeated she will still face huge pressure to resign, paving the way for a Conservative Party leadership contest. ___ NEW REFERENDUM Another option considered by lawmakers this week called for any deal to be put to public vote in a "confirmatory referendum." The idea has significant support from opposition parties, plus some members of the Conservatives. The government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britain's EU membership, but could change its mind if there appeared no other way to pass a Brexit deal. Britain voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in 2016. Since then, polls suggest the "remain" side has gained in strength, but it's far from clear who would win a new referendum. It could leave Britain just as divided over Europe as it is now. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan.
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What now for Britain's troubled Brexit?
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LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal is all but dead, after lawmakers voted to reject it for a third time Friday the day Britain had long been scheduled to leave the European Union. The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement. 3 1 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 2 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 3 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement to Brexit. The bloc has called an emergency Brexit summit for April 10 to deal with a British request, or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. U.K. time (6 p.m. EDT) on April 12 without a divorce agreement to smooth the way. Most politicians, economists and business groups think such a no-deal scenario would be disastrous, erecting customs checks, tariffs and other barriers between Britain and its biggest trading partner. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a no-deal Brexit but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension. ___ DELAY AND SOFTEN The alternative to "no-deal" is to delay Brexit for at least several months while Britain tries to sort out the mess. The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in European Parliament elections in late May, as it would have to do if Brexit is delayed. But EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain the extension if it plans to change course and seek a softer Brexit that keeps close economic ties between Britain and the bloc. This week lawmakers held a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to May's deal. The exercise did not provide clarity all eight options on offer were defeated. But it did hint at a potential compromise. The measure that came closest to a majority called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves. May has always ruled that out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britain's ability to forge new trade deals around the world. But a customs union would ensure U.K. businesses can continue to trade with the EU, and would solve many of the problems that bedevil May's deal. In particular it would remove the need for customs posts and border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There's a good chance a withdrawal agreement that included a customs union pledge would be approved by Parliament, and welcomed by the EU. ___ ELECTION GAMBLE Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2022, but the gridlock in Parliament makes a snap vote more likely. Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. They could try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote, triggering a general election. Or the government could pull the trigger itself if it thinks it has nothing to lose. May promised to quit if her Brexit deal was approved and Britain left the EU in May. Even though it was defeated she will still face huge pressure to resign, paving the way for a Conservative Party leadership contest. ___ NEW REFERENDUM Another option considered by lawmakers this week called for any deal to be put to public vote in a "confirmatory referendum." The idea has significant support from opposition parties, plus some members of the Conservatives. The government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britain's EU membership, but could change its mind if there appeared no other way to pass a Brexit deal. Britain voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in 2016. Since then, polls suggest the "remain" side has gained in strength, but it's far from clear who would win a new referendum. It could leave Britain just as divided over Europe as it is now. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. time on April 12.
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What now for Britain's troubled Brexit?
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LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa May's Brexit deal is all but dead, after lawmakers voted to reject it for a third time Friday the day Britain had long been scheduled to leave the European Union. The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement. 3 1 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 2 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP 3 of 3 Photo: Frank Augstein, AP The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement to Brexit. The bloc has called an emergency Brexit summit for April 10 to deal with a British request, or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. U.K. time (6 p.m. EDT) on April 12 without a divorce agreement to smooth the way. Most politicians, economists and business groups think such a no-deal scenario would be disastrous, erecting customs checks, tariffs and other barriers between Britain and its biggest trading partner. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a no-deal Brexit but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension. ___ DELAY AND SOFTEN The alternative to "no-deal" is to delay Brexit for at least several months while Britain tries to sort out the mess. The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in European Parliament elections in late May, as it would have to do if Brexit is delayed. But EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain the extension if it plans to change course and seek a softer Brexit that keeps close economic ties between Britain and the bloc. This week lawmakers held a series of "indicative votes" on alternatives to May's deal. The exercise did not provide clarity all eight options on offer were defeated. But it did hint at a potential compromise. The measure that came closest to a majority called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves. May has always ruled that out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britain's ability to forge new trade deals around the world. But a customs union would ensure U.K. businesses can continue to trade with the EU, and would solve many of the problems that bedevil May's deal. In particular it would remove the need for customs posts and border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. There's a good chance a withdrawal agreement that included a customs union pledge would be approved by Parliament, and welcomed by the EU. ___ ELECTION GAMBLE Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2022, but the gridlock in Parliament makes a snap vote more likely. Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. They could try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote, triggering a general election. Or the government could pull the trigger itself if it thinks it has nothing to lose. May promised to quit if her Brexit deal was approved and Britain left the EU in May. Even though it was defeated she will still face huge pressure to resign, paving the way for a Conservative Party leadership contest. ___ NEW REFERENDUM Another option considered by lawmakers this week called for any deal to be put to public vote in a "confirmatory referendum." The idea has significant support from opposition parties, plus some members of the Conservatives. The government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britain's EU membership, but could change its mind if there appeared no other way to pass a Brexit deal. Britain voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in 2016. Since then, polls suggest the "remain" side has gained in strength, but it's far from clear who would win a new referendum. It could leave Britain just as divided over Europe as it is now. ___ Follow AP's full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc on April 12 without a divorce agreement. The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement.
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What now for Britains troubled Brexit?
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LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal is all but dead, after lawmakers voted to reject it for a third time Friday the day Britain had long been scheduled to leave the European Union. The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement. Heres a look at what could happen next: ___ NO DEAL The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement to Brexit. The bloc has called an emergency Brexit summit for April 10 to deal with a British request, or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. U.K. time (6 p.m. EDT) on April 12 without a divorce agreement to smooth the way. Most politicians, economists and business groups think such a no-deal scenario would be disastrous, erecting customs checks, tariffs and other barriers between Britain and its biggest trading partner. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a no-deal Brexit but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension. ___ DELAY AND SOFTEN The alternative to no-deal is to delay Brexit for at least several months while Britain tries to sort out the mess. Advertising The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in European Parliament elections in late May, as it would have to do if Brexit is delayed. But EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain the extension if it plans to change course and seek a softer Brexit that keeps close economic ties between Britain and the bloc. This week lawmakers held a series of indicative votes on alternatives to Mays deal. The exercise did not provide clarity all eight options on offer were defeated. But it did hint at a potential compromise. The measure that came closest to a majority called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves. May has always ruled that out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britains ability to forge new trade deals around the world. But a customs union would ensure U.K. businesses can continue to trade with the EU, and would solve many of the problems that bedevil Mays deal. In particular it would remove the need for customs posts and border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Theres a good chance a withdrawal agreement that included a customs union pledge would be approved by Parliament, and welcomed by the EU. ___ ELECTION GAMBLE Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2022, but the gridlock in Parliament makes a snap vote more likely. Advertising Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. They could try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote, triggering a general election. Or the government could pull the trigger itself if it thinks it has nothing to lose. May promised to quit if her Brexit deal was approved and Britain left the EU in May. Even though it was defeated she will still face huge pressure to resign, paving the way for a Conservative Party leadership contest. ___ NEW REFERENDUM Another option considered by lawmakers this week called for any deal to be put to public vote in a confirmatory referendum. The idea has significant support from opposition parties, plus some members of the Conservatives. The government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britains EU membership, but could change its mind if there appeared no other way to pass a Brexit deal. Britain voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in 2016. Since then, polls suggest the remain side has gained in strength, but its far from clear who would win a new referendum. It could leave Britain just as divided over Europe as it is now. ___ Follow APs full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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Britain now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan.
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pegasus
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https://www.seattletimes.com/business/where-now-for-britains-troubled-brexit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all
| 0.142562 |
What now for Britains troubled Brexit?
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LONDON (AP) Prime Minister Theresa Mays Brexit deal is all but dead, after lawmakers voted to reject it for a third time Friday the day Britain had long been scheduled to leave the European Union. The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement. Heres a look at what could happen next: ___ NO DEAL The EU has given Britain until April 12 two weeks away to decide whether it wants to ask for another postponement to Brexit. The bloc has called an emergency Brexit summit for April 10 to deal with a British request, or prepare for a no-deal Brexit. Without a delay, Britain will leave the bloc at 11 p.m. U.K. time (6 p.m. EDT) on April 12 without a divorce agreement to smooth the way. Most politicians, economists and business groups think such a no-deal scenario would be disastrous, erecting customs checks, tariffs and other barriers between Britain and its biggest trading partner. Parliament has voted repeatedly to rule out a no-deal Brexit but it remains the default position unless a deal is approved, Brexit is canceled or the EU grants Britain another extension. ___ DELAY AND SOFTEN The alternative to no-deal is to delay Brexit for at least several months while Britain tries to sort out the mess. Advertising The bloc is reluctant to have a departing Britain participate in European Parliament elections in late May, as it would have to do if Brexit is delayed. But EU Council President Donald Tusk has urged the bloc to give Britain the extension if it plans to change course and seek a softer Brexit that keeps close economic ties between Britain and the bloc. This week lawmakers held a series of indicative votes on alternatives to Mays deal. The exercise did not provide clarity all eight options on offer were defeated. But it did hint at a potential compromise. The measure that came closest to a majority called for Britain to remain in a customs union with the EU after it leaves. May has always ruled that out, because sticking to EU trade rules would limit Britains ability to forge new trade deals around the world. But a customs union would ensure U.K. businesses can continue to trade with the EU, and would solve many of the problems that bedevil Mays deal. In particular it would remove the need for customs posts and border checks between Ireland and Northern Ireland. Theres a good chance a withdrawal agreement that included a customs union pledge would be approved by Parliament, and welcomed by the EU. ___ ELECTION GAMBLE Britain is not scheduled to hold a national election until 2022, but the gridlock in Parliament makes a snap vote more likely. Advertising Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. They could try to bring down the government in a no-confidence vote, triggering a general election. Or the government could pull the trigger itself if it thinks it has nothing to lose. May promised to quit if her Brexit deal was approved and Britain left the EU in May. Even though it was defeated she will still face huge pressure to resign, paving the way for a Conservative Party leadership contest. ___ NEW REFERENDUM Another option considered by lawmakers this week called for any deal to be put to public vote in a confirmatory referendum. The idea has significant support from opposition parties, plus some members of the Conservatives. The government has ruled out holding another referendum on Britains EU membership, but could change its mind if there appeared no other way to pass a Brexit deal. Britain voted by 52 percent to 48 percent to leave the EU in 2016. Since then, polls suggest the remain side has gained in strength, but its far from clear who would win a new referendum. It could leave Britain just as divided over Europe as it is now. ___ Follow APs full coverage of Brexit at: https://www.apnews.com/Brexit
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The U.K. now faces a deadline of April 12 to present the EU with a new plan, or crash out of the bloc without an agreement.
|
pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/where-now-for-britains-troubled-brexit/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all
| 0.162841 |
What's next for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson after Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky?
|
KANSAS CITY, Mo. He was standing in an empty alcove of a very quiet locker room, considering how things could have gone and almost went differently. We were right there, Kelvin Sampson said, and he listed three sequences in the final minute of a 62-58 loss Friday night to Kentucky. If any of those had gone Houstons way but the coach didnt go further. Sampson knew the next question was coming, of course. It had nothing to do with the game and everything to do with where he might go next. Reports have Sampson as potentially the top target in Arkansas coaching search. I dont want to talk about that, Sampson told USA TODAY Sports. But he added: Its gonna get resolved quick. Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson. (Photo: Brett Rojo, USA TODAY Sports) When Arkansas fired Mike Anderson earlier this week after eight seasons, speculation immediately turned to Sampson, for several reasons. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek was a senior associate athletic director at Houston when Sampson was hired in 2014. He had a prime seat to watch Sampson rebuild the long-struggling program into a success. And Houston, which reached the Sweet 16 this season for the first time in 35 years, was only Sampsons latest project. Although one Houston media outlet reported this week that Sampson and Arkansas were already headed toward a deal, it appeared premature. Echoing what hed earlier told the Houston Chronicle, Sampson told USA TODAY Sports he would meet with Houston before talking with any other suitors. Thats still the plan, he said Friday night. Opinion:Duke has been perfect combination of lucky and good Elite Eight: Gonzaga hopes to 'out-ugly' Texas Tech More: How the NBA rebuilt Houston coach Kelvin Sampson's career during his show-cause penalty Sampson has two years remaining on a contract that pays $1.6 million annually. There are indications he was frustrated when negotiations were not completed before the season started. But although Houston athletic director Chris Pezman declined to address the topic Friday night, the school appears set now to offer a dramatic increase in years and dollars. Its about these kids tonight, and coach (Sampson) and the job they just did, Pezman said. Its been an incredible season. Lets get back home and when coach is ready to talk, were ready to go. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire businessman who is chair of Houstons board of regents as well as the schools biggest athletics booster, attended the game and confirmed to Houston TV station KRIV that the school is prepared to offer Sampson a six-year, $18 million deal. The $3 million annual average would rank 21st among college basketball coaches, according to the USA TODAY Sports salary database, and second in the American Athletic Conference (Wichita States Gregg Marshall makes $3.57 million a year). We love Kelvin, Fertitta told KRIV. Kelvins done an unbelievable job. Were all happy with Kelvin. But if Kelvin doesnt want to be here, theres nothing we can do about it. We put $18 million on the table over six years. Fertitta added: Im sure Kelvin is thinking about it and looking at his options, and I sure hope he doesnt want to go to Arkansas. Theres nothing better than the city of Houston. Fayetteville is a great place but its not Houston, Texas. . @UHouston chairman of the Board of Regents @TilmanJFertitta on Kelvin Sampson: "Kelvin's done an unbelievable job..but if Kelvin doesn't want to be here there's nothing we can do about it. We put $18 million on the table over 6 years.I love Kelvin, would love for him to be here" pic.twitter.com/Z5OaV7Jk8s Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 30, 2019 Andersons annual salary at Arkansas was $2.55 million. Its uncertain what Arkansas might pay to lure a new coach, though indications are the Razorbacks would have no issue surpassing $3 million a year four SEC coaches made more than that during the 2018-19 season. But theres potentially more involved than money. Sampson might like one more shot at building a winner at a Power Five program; in 12 seasons at Oklahoma, he coached in 11 NCAA tournaments, reaching the Final Four in 2002. A two-season tenure at Indiana ended in turmoil in 2008, with resulting NCAA sanctions against the school and a show-cause order against Sampson, which effectively banned him from college coaching for five years. Houston is prime recruiting territory, and the school now has facilities to rival any other program, including the $60 million Fertitta Center, which opened earlier this season and includes a sparkling new arena and team operations facilities. But Arkansas has similarly splendid facilities and can offer the brighter lights of the SEC. Another potential factor: Sampson, 63, has indicated he would like his son Kellen, Houstons lead assistant coach, to be formally named coach-in-waiting as part of any new deal. Its unclear whether Houston or Arkansas, for that matter would be willing to do that. But Fertitta told KRIV, Im very appreciative of everything Kelvin and his son have done. Also of note: Arkansas chancellor Joseph Steinmetz spent 19 years at Indiana, though he left two years before Sampson became the Hoosiers coach. After leaving Indiana, Sampson spent six years in the NBA in assistant coaching roles before returning to college coaching with Houston, where the Cougars are 116-52 in five seasons, with consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. This season, Houston won a school-record 33 games. I know Hunter would like to hire him, Fertitta told KRIV, referring to Yurachek, Arkansas athletic director. I hope Kelvin stays with us for many years, but I cannot make him stay. The chancellor cant make him stay. His players cant make him stay. Kelvins gonna do what he wants to do.
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Houston lost 62-58 to Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. Reports have Kelvin Sampson as potentially the top target in Arkansas' coaching search. Sampson has two years remaining on a contract that pays $1.6 million annually.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/tourney/2019/03/30/march-madness-whats-next-kelvin-sampson-after-sweet-16-loss/3318843002/
| 0.211309 |
What's next for Houston coach Kelvin Sampson after Sweet 16 loss to Kentucky?
|
KANSAS CITY, Mo. He was standing in an empty alcove of a very quiet locker room, considering how things could have gone and almost went differently. We were right there, Kelvin Sampson said, and he listed three sequences in the final minute of a 62-58 loss Friday night to Kentucky. If any of those had gone Houstons way but the coach didnt go further. Sampson knew the next question was coming, of course. It had nothing to do with the game and everything to do with where he might go next. Reports have Sampson as potentially the top target in Arkansas coaching search. I dont want to talk about that, Sampson told USA TODAY Sports. But he added: Its gonna get resolved quick. Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson. (Photo: Brett Rojo, USA TODAY Sports) When Arkansas fired Mike Anderson earlier this week after eight seasons, speculation immediately turned to Sampson, for several reasons. Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek was a senior associate athletic director at Houston when Sampson was hired in 2014. He had a prime seat to watch Sampson rebuild the long-struggling program into a success. And Houston, which reached the Sweet 16 this season for the first time in 35 years, was only Sampsons latest project. Although one Houston media outlet reported this week that Sampson and Arkansas were already headed toward a deal, it appeared premature. Echoing what hed earlier told the Houston Chronicle, Sampson told USA TODAY Sports he would meet with Houston before talking with any other suitors. Thats still the plan, he said Friday night. Opinion:Duke has been perfect combination of lucky and good Elite Eight: Gonzaga hopes to 'out-ugly' Texas Tech More: How the NBA rebuilt Houston coach Kelvin Sampson's career during his show-cause penalty Sampson has two years remaining on a contract that pays $1.6 million annually. There are indications he was frustrated when negotiations were not completed before the season started. But although Houston athletic director Chris Pezman declined to address the topic Friday night, the school appears set now to offer a dramatic increase in years and dollars. Its about these kids tonight, and coach (Sampson) and the job they just did, Pezman said. Its been an incredible season. Lets get back home and when coach is ready to talk, were ready to go. NEWSLETTERS Get the Sports newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Sports news, no matter the season. Stop by for the scores, stay for the stories. Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-872-0001. Delivery: Daily Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for Sports Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters Tilman Fertitta, the billionaire businessman who is chair of Houstons board of regents as well as the schools biggest athletics booster, attended the game and confirmed to Houston TV station KRIV that the school is prepared to offer Sampson a six-year, $18 million deal. The $3 million annual average would rank 21st among college basketball coaches, according to the USA TODAY Sports salary database, and second in the American Athletic Conference (Wichita States Gregg Marshall makes $3.57 million a year). We love Kelvin, Fertitta told KRIV. Kelvins done an unbelievable job. Were all happy with Kelvin. But if Kelvin doesnt want to be here, theres nothing we can do about it. We put $18 million on the table over six years. Fertitta added: Im sure Kelvin is thinking about it and looking at his options, and I sure hope he doesnt want to go to Arkansas. Theres nothing better than the city of Houston. Fayetteville is a great place but its not Houston, Texas. . @UHouston chairman of the Board of Regents @TilmanJFertitta on Kelvin Sampson: "Kelvin's done an unbelievable job..but if Kelvin doesn't want to be here there's nothing we can do about it. We put $18 million on the table over 6 years.I love Kelvin, would love for him to be here" pic.twitter.com/Z5OaV7Jk8s Mark Berman (@MarkBermanFox26) March 30, 2019 Andersons annual salary at Arkansas was $2.55 million. Its uncertain what Arkansas might pay to lure a new coach, though indications are the Razorbacks would have no issue surpassing $3 million a year four SEC coaches made more than that during the 2018-19 season. But theres potentially more involved than money. Sampson might like one more shot at building a winner at a Power Five program; in 12 seasons at Oklahoma, he coached in 11 NCAA tournaments, reaching the Final Four in 2002. A two-season tenure at Indiana ended in turmoil in 2008, with resulting NCAA sanctions against the school and a show-cause order against Sampson, which effectively banned him from college coaching for five years. Houston is prime recruiting territory, and the school now has facilities to rival any other program, including the $60 million Fertitta Center, which opened earlier this season and includes a sparkling new arena and team operations facilities. But Arkansas has similarly splendid facilities and can offer the brighter lights of the SEC. Another potential factor: Sampson, 63, has indicated he would like his son Kellen, Houstons lead assistant coach, to be formally named coach-in-waiting as part of any new deal. Its unclear whether Houston or Arkansas, for that matter would be willing to do that. But Fertitta told KRIV, Im very appreciative of everything Kelvin and his son have done. Also of note: Arkansas chancellor Joseph Steinmetz spent 19 years at Indiana, though he left two years before Sampson became the Hoosiers coach. After leaving Indiana, Sampson spent six years in the NBA in assistant coaching roles before returning to college coaching with Houston, where the Cougars are 116-52 in five seasons, with consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. This season, Houston won a school-record 33 games. I know Hunter would like to hire him, Fertitta told KRIV, referring to Yurachek, Arkansas athletic director. I hope Kelvin stays with us for many years, but I cannot make him stay. The chancellor cant make him stay. His players cant make him stay. Kelvins gonna do what he wants to do.
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Houston lost 62-58 to Kentucky in the Sweet 16 on Friday night. Reports have Kelvin Sampson as potentially the top target in Arkansas' coaching search. Houston reached the Sweet 16 for the first time in 35 years this season. Sampson has two years remaining on a contract that pays $1.6 million annually.
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pegasus
| 2 |
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaab/tourney/2019/03/30/march-madness-whats-next-kelvin-sampson-after-sweet-16-loss/3318843002/
| 0.234283 |
Do Amtrak and Airport Subsidies Make America Richer?
|
Getty Over the last two days, I've written a couple of articles about Amtrak that have elicited strong responses from readers (here's the first, and here's the second). I'd like to take a moment to consider the claim that subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways create economic development. This might be true at the very local level, but it isn't likely to be true at the national level. At the local level, there might be good arguments for subsidizing planes, trains, and automobiles, but if this is the case then the beneficiaries should be the ones who pay the taxes to support the infrastructure. In other words, people in Birmingham, not people in Boston, should be the ones who pay for Shuttlesworth International Airport. One could argue that as a matter of justice relatively wealthy Bostonians should be taxed to pay for airports, harbors, and train stations in Birmingham and beyond, but as a matter of economics, the incentives here are poorly aligned. As Milton Friedman has put it, people rarely spend others' money as carefully as they spend their own, and incentives making it possible to get nice things and have others foot the bill create substantial pressure to over-invest in all these "nice things." The government spending per se does not create net new economic activity. It just redistributes it, but in a way that is easy to see. Suppose we take a few million dollars from taxpayers in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas and then use those dollars to subsidize passenger rail service into and out of Birmingham or to pay for upgrades to Shuttlesworth International Airport. That's clearly good for me as a Birmingham resident because it means I have more transportation options. It might be good for the Birmingham hospitality industry because it would bring more people to and through town. It would be easy to see the new activity. Bars, hotels, restaurants, and other service-sector establishments would make money off the new traffic. It would be tempting, therefore, to conclude that the subsidies are good for the US writ large. Here I turn yet again to the wise words of nineteenth century economist Frederic Bastiat. If we are going to use the economic way of thinking and make wise choices about how to use our resources, we have to consider the unseen alternatives. Here's one of many places where people turn their noses up at the economic way of thinking. Unfortunately, we can't be specific and say what will replace this or that very visible Shiny Thing. But a bit of imagination helps. Ask yourself what you would do if we got rid of some of these subsidies and you found yourself with a few extra dollars. Maybe you wouldn't travel as much, and maybe travel would be more expensive (a bad thing). You would, however, have more money in your pocket (a good thing) with which to buy food, clothing, and shelter or which you might simply save. When you save, your money isn't simply lying dormant. Banks pay you interest because they can put your money to work by renting it out to people who want it now. If you have an account with Wells Fargo, for example, you helped my family replace our air conditioners last summer. Getting rid of subsidies doesn't make economic activity disappear. It moves it elsewhere--and in fact, it very likely moves it to areas that give us more bang for our buck or more bread for the sweat of our brows. Similarly, unless they capture spillover benefits that wouldn't emerge in a free market, subsidies just redistribute economic activity. Government spending on airports (like the FAA's Airport Improvement Grants) make some places a little richer but at the expense of other places that are taxed to pay for the subsidies. My home airport recently received an FAA Improvement Grant. Subsidies tend to be very popular--and understandably so--among their beneficiaries. Before we look at the easy-to-see benefits and conclude that subsidies are good for economic development, we need to make sure we're counting all the costs.
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Subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways don't create economic development.
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bart
| 0 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2019/03/30/do-amtrak-and-airport-subsidies-make-america-richer/
| 0.129564 |
Do Amtrak and Airport Subsidies Make America Richer?
|
Getty Over the last two days, I've written a couple of articles about Amtrak that have elicited strong responses from readers (here's the first, and here's the second). I'd like to take a moment to consider the claim that subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways create economic development. This might be true at the very local level, but it isn't likely to be true at the national level. At the local level, there might be good arguments for subsidizing planes, trains, and automobiles, but if this is the case then the beneficiaries should be the ones who pay the taxes to support the infrastructure. In other words, people in Birmingham, not people in Boston, should be the ones who pay for Shuttlesworth International Airport. One could argue that as a matter of justice relatively wealthy Bostonians should be taxed to pay for airports, harbors, and train stations in Birmingham and beyond, but as a matter of economics, the incentives here are poorly aligned. As Milton Friedman has put it, people rarely spend others' money as carefully as they spend their own, and incentives making it possible to get nice things and have others foot the bill create substantial pressure to over-invest in all these "nice things." The government spending per se does not create net new economic activity. It just redistributes it, but in a way that is easy to see. Suppose we take a few million dollars from taxpayers in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas and then use those dollars to subsidize passenger rail service into and out of Birmingham or to pay for upgrades to Shuttlesworth International Airport. That's clearly good for me as a Birmingham resident because it means I have more transportation options. It might be good for the Birmingham hospitality industry because it would bring more people to and through town. It would be easy to see the new activity. Bars, hotels, restaurants, and other service-sector establishments would make money off the new traffic. It would be tempting, therefore, to conclude that the subsidies are good for the US writ large. Here I turn yet again to the wise words of nineteenth century economist Frederic Bastiat. If we are going to use the economic way of thinking and make wise choices about how to use our resources, we have to consider the unseen alternatives. Here's one of many places where people turn their noses up at the economic way of thinking. Unfortunately, we can't be specific and say what will replace this or that very visible Shiny Thing. But a bit of imagination helps. Ask yourself what you would do if we got rid of some of these subsidies and you found yourself with a few extra dollars. Maybe you wouldn't travel as much, and maybe travel would be more expensive (a bad thing). You would, however, have more money in your pocket (a good thing) with which to buy food, clothing, and shelter or which you might simply save. When you save, your money isn't simply lying dormant. Banks pay you interest because they can put your money to work by renting it out to people who want it now. If you have an account with Wells Fargo, for example, you helped my family replace our air conditioners last summer. Getting rid of subsidies doesn't make economic activity disappear. It moves it elsewhere--and in fact, it very likely moves it to areas that give us more bang for our buck or more bread for the sweat of our brows. Similarly, unless they capture spillover benefits that wouldn't emerge in a free market, subsidies just redistribute economic activity. Government spending on airports (like the FAA's Airport Improvement Grants) make some places a little richer but at the expense of other places that are taxed to pay for the subsidies. My home airport recently received an FAA Improvement Grant. Subsidies tend to be very popular--and understandably so--among their beneficiaries. Before we look at the easy-to-see benefits and conclude that subsidies are good for economic development, we need to make sure we're counting all the costs.
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Bob Greene: Subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways create economic development. Greene: At the local level, there might be good arguments for subsidizing planes, trains, and automobiles.
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bart
| 1 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2019/03/30/do-amtrak-and-airport-subsidies-make-america-richer/
| 0.210064 |
Do Amtrak and Airport Subsidies Make America Richer?
|
Getty Over the last two days, I've written a couple of articles about Amtrak that have elicited strong responses from readers (here's the first, and here's the second). I'd like to take a moment to consider the claim that subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways create economic development. This might be true at the very local level, but it isn't likely to be true at the national level. At the local level, there might be good arguments for subsidizing planes, trains, and automobiles, but if this is the case then the beneficiaries should be the ones who pay the taxes to support the infrastructure. In other words, people in Birmingham, not people in Boston, should be the ones who pay for Shuttlesworth International Airport. One could argue that as a matter of justice relatively wealthy Bostonians should be taxed to pay for airports, harbors, and train stations in Birmingham and beyond, but as a matter of economics, the incentives here are poorly aligned. As Milton Friedman has put it, people rarely spend others' money as carefully as they spend their own, and incentives making it possible to get nice things and have others foot the bill create substantial pressure to over-invest in all these "nice things." The government spending per se does not create net new economic activity. It just redistributes it, but in a way that is easy to see. Suppose we take a few million dollars from taxpayers in Boston, New York, Los Angeles, and Dallas and then use those dollars to subsidize passenger rail service into and out of Birmingham or to pay for upgrades to Shuttlesworth International Airport. That's clearly good for me as a Birmingham resident because it means I have more transportation options. It might be good for the Birmingham hospitality industry because it would bring more people to and through town. It would be easy to see the new activity. Bars, hotels, restaurants, and other service-sector establishments would make money off the new traffic. It would be tempting, therefore, to conclude that the subsidies are good for the US writ large. Here I turn yet again to the wise words of nineteenth century economist Frederic Bastiat. If we are going to use the economic way of thinking and make wise choices about how to use our resources, we have to consider the unseen alternatives. Here's one of many places where people turn their noses up at the economic way of thinking. Unfortunately, we can't be specific and say what will replace this or that very visible Shiny Thing. But a bit of imagination helps. Ask yourself what you would do if we got rid of some of these subsidies and you found yourself with a few extra dollars. Maybe you wouldn't travel as much, and maybe travel would be more expensive (a bad thing). You would, however, have more money in your pocket (a good thing) with which to buy food, clothing, and shelter or which you might simply save. When you save, your money isn't simply lying dormant. Banks pay you interest because they can put your money to work by renting it out to people who want it now. If you have an account with Wells Fargo, for example, you helped my family replace our air conditioners last summer. Getting rid of subsidies doesn't make economic activity disappear. It moves it elsewhere--and in fact, it very likely moves it to areas that give us more bang for our buck or more bread for the sweat of our brows. Similarly, unless they capture spillover benefits that wouldn't emerge in a free market, subsidies just redistribute economic activity. Government spending on airports (like the FAA's Airport Improvement Grants) make some places a little richer but at the expense of other places that are taxed to pay for the subsidies. My home airport recently received an FAA Improvement Grant. Subsidies tend to be very popular--and understandably so--among their beneficiaries. Before we look at the easy-to-see benefits and conclude that subsidies are good for economic development, we need to make sure we're counting all the costs.
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Bob Greene: Subsidies for Amtrak, airports, and highways create economic development. Greene: At the local level, there might be good arguments for subsidizing planes, trains, and automobiles. He says if this is the case then the beneficiaries should be the ones who pay the taxes. Greene says getting rid of subsidies doesn't make economic activity disappear.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/artcarden/2019/03/30/do-amtrak-and-airport-subsidies-make-america-richer/
| 0.277026 |
Was Billboard wrong to pull Old Town Road from the country chart?
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by Keydra Manns Fans were upset when they learned Billboard removed country bop Old Town Road by Lil Nas X from the country music chart. The song simultaneously made the Hot Country Songs chart, Hot 100 chart, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but then Billboard quietly pulled the track. According to Billboard, the song was added by error and doesnt fit the country category. Fans are calling this action suspicious and say Billboard pulled the track just because Lil Nas X happens to be black in a very white genre. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself if you think Old Town Road belongs on the country chart. Billboard spoke with Rolling Stone on why the song suddenly disappeared from the country chart. ... upon further review, it was determined that Old Town Road by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboards country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While Old Town Road incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of todays country music to chart in its current version. Fans of the song are not taking its removal from the country charts lightly. They say Billboards move to remove the song was racist and a clear indicator that black artists arent welcome in the country music space. The country music industry is infamous for being very white and uninviting. Billboard highkey racist for taking Old Town Road off the country charts but are we surprised ernest baker (@ernestbaker) March 27, 2019 Old Town Road (cleary a country song) was removed from the Country charts, and the genre on iTunes was switched to Hip-Hop/Rap. even though the song is clearly country with some modern production. lil sab (@1SabSad) March 24, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
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Billboard says the song was added by error and doesn't fit the country category.
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ctrlsum
| 0 |
https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/was-billboard-wrong-to-pull-old-town-road-from-the-country-chart.html
| 0.178461 |
Was Billboard wrong to pull Old Town Road from the country chart?
|
by Keydra Manns Fans were upset when they learned Billboard removed country bop Old Town Road by Lil Nas X from the country music chart. The song simultaneously made the Hot Country Songs chart, Hot 100 chart, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but then Billboard quietly pulled the track. According to Billboard, the song was added by error and doesnt fit the country category. Fans are calling this action suspicious and say Billboard pulled the track just because Lil Nas X happens to be black in a very white genre. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself if you think Old Town Road belongs on the country chart. Billboard spoke with Rolling Stone on why the song suddenly disappeared from the country chart. ... upon further review, it was determined that Old Town Road by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboards country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While Old Town Road incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of todays country music to chart in its current version. Fans of the song are not taking its removal from the country charts lightly. They say Billboards move to remove the song was racist and a clear indicator that black artists arent welcome in the country music space. The country music industry is infamous for being very white and uninviting. Billboard highkey racist for taking Old Town Road off the country charts but are we surprised ernest baker (@ernestbaker) March 27, 2019 Old Town Road (cleary a country song) was removed from the Country charts, and the genre on iTunes was switched to Hip-Hop/Rap. even though the song is clearly country with some modern production. lil sab (@1SabSad) March 24, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
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Billboard quietly removed "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X from the country music chart. Billboard says the song was added by error and doesnt fit the country category.
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bart
| 1 |
https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/was-billboard-wrong-to-pull-old-town-road-from-the-country-chart.html
| 0.468804 |
Was Billboard wrong to pull Old Town Road from the country chart?
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by Keydra Manns Fans were upset when they learned Billboard removed country bop Old Town Road by Lil Nas X from the country music chart. The song simultaneously made the Hot Country Songs chart, Hot 100 chart, and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but then Billboard quietly pulled the track. According to Billboard, the song was added by error and doesnt fit the country category. Fans are calling this action suspicious and say Billboard pulled the track just because Lil Nas X happens to be black in a very white genre. Take a look at the video and decide for yourself if you think Old Town Road belongs on the country chart. Billboard spoke with Rolling Stone on why the song suddenly disappeared from the country chart. ... upon further review, it was determined that Old Town Road by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboards country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While Old Town Road incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of todays country music to chart in its current version. Fans of the song are not taking its removal from the country charts lightly. They say Billboards move to remove the song was racist and a clear indicator that black artists arent welcome in the country music space. The country music industry is infamous for being very white and uninviting. Billboard highkey racist for taking Old Town Road off the country charts but are we surprised ernest baker (@ernestbaker) March 27, 2019 Old Town Road (cleary a country song) was removed from the Country charts, and the genre on iTunes was switched to Hip-Hop/Rap. even though the song is clearly country with some modern production. lil sab (@1SabSad) March 24, 2019 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, wed love to hear what you have to say.
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Billboard quietly removed "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X from the country music chart. Billboard says the song was added by error and doesn't fit the country category. Fans are calling this action suspicious and say Billboard pulled the track just because Lil NasX happens to be black.
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bart
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https://www.oregonlive.com/tylt/2019/03/was-billboard-wrong-to-pull-old-town-road-from-the-country-chart.html
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Will Googles agreement improve internet in Cuba?
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Google and Cubas ETECSA telecommunications company have signed a memorandum of understanding to start negotiations toward a service agreement for the exchange of internet traffic, known as peering. Many people on the island have been asking what the agreement means for Cubans who connect to the internet near parks, and more recently on their cell phones. In the short run, the announcement last week did not change much. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is not a legal contract but a letter of intent in which the parties involved express their interest in negotiating certain accords. And the official announcement on the MOU as well as ETECSA comments on Twitter suggest it will take time to get there. This intention to work contained in the Memorandum of Understanding will be implemented when the technical conditions allow it, the government-owned ETECSA posted on Twitter. At the same time, the signing of the MOU is significant because it shows for the first time the Cuban governments readiness to discuss, under a commercial framework, a connection to a submarine cable, a source familiar with the matter told the Miami Herald. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Googles Web pages describe peering as the direct interconnection between Googles network and another network to support the exchange of traffic. A direct connection between Google and ETECSA would allow Cuban users faster navigation of Google content at lower prices. To do that, ETECSA must be connected to an internet exchange point, private or public, where Google is also present. During the signing of the MOU, Brett Perlmutter, director of Google Cuba, said that a team made up of engineers from both companies would investigate ways to implement the direct connection. Larry Press, emeritus professor at California State University and author of a blog on Cubas internet facilities, said ETECSA would not necessarily have to make the connection through a Google submarine cable, but I believe it would have to be over a cable that reached an exchange point where Google had a presence. The interconnection points closest to Cuba are in South Florida, Mexico and Colombia. The island is surrounded by submarine cables but its only connection is ALBA1 to Venezuela. It also has two satellite connections, making for slow and expensive access. Having a second cable would improve connection speeds and provide backups, and would be would be a bigger deal, Press added. Google has long been trying to reach an agreement with the Cuban government to improve the islands access and connectivity to the internet. El Nuevo Herald reported in 2015 that Cuban officials had rejected an initial Google proposal to expand access. In December 2016, the company reached a more limited agreement to store Google content in their own servers in Cuba. After the selection of Miguel Daz-Canel as president of Cuba in April 2018, the company stepped up its efforts to negotiate an agreement. Two months later, he met in Havana with Eric Schmidt, former executive director of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Az, who attended the meeting, told el Nuevo Herald that the company was closer to an agreement on connecting the island through a second submarine cable. Schmidt and Perlmutter also arranged a meeting between Miguel Daz-Canel and several technology company executives when he was in New York in September for his first United Nations General Assembly. Some observers have noted that the MOU was agreed despite the tensions between the U.S. and Cuban governments, but Google has tried to sidestep political issues and its message has focused on the benefits of expanding Internet access on the island one of the commercial activities not barred by the U.S. embargo. Although Google seems closer to its objectives with the MOU, during its signing ETECSAs vice president for investments, Luis Adolfo Iglesias Reyes, avoided referring to the agreement as allowing an expansion of the Internet. Instead, in brief statements to the news media, he said the accord would allow more efficient use of our international internet capacities. In a joint statement, ETECSA also avoided showing excessive interest in dealing with the American tech company, saying that the MOU was evidence that U.S. companies remain interested in developing businesses with ETECSA. More than 10 U.S. Companies currently have agreements in place, to the benefit of both sides. So far, the Cuban government has preferred telecommunications agreements with political allies such as Russia and China. In the same week that the MOU with Google was announced, the Cuban Communications Ministry signed another MOU with its Russian counterpart. The memo indeed covers a wide range of issues related to ICT cooperation which includes [the] sphere of cybersecurity but of course is not limited to it, Russias Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Mikhail Mamonov wrote in a statement sent to the Miami Herald. Mamonov added that the two governments, aside from discussing cybersecurity training, software and infrastructure, are also considering future cooperation on smart infrastructure, social engagement applications or digital TV. In the meantime, however, the expectations raised by the MOU with Google and the absence of concrete steps to improve connectivity in the short run have increased frustrations for Cubans who regularly criticize state-owned ETCSA for its high prices and bad service. YucaByte, an independent organization focused on information and communication technologies in Cuba, recently used Twitter for an opinion poll on the MOU with Google. We have the results of the poll about the agreement between Google and ETECSA, it reported later. Sixty-four percent of the respondents answered Nothing really important. Follow Nora Gmez Torres on Twitter: @ngameztorres
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Google and ETECSA have signed a memorandum of understanding to start negotiations toward a service agreement for the exchange of internet traffic.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article228636089.html
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Will Googles agreement improve internet in Cuba?
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Google and Cubas ETECSA telecommunications company have signed a memorandum of understanding to start negotiations toward a service agreement for the exchange of internet traffic, known as peering. Many people on the island have been asking what the agreement means for Cubans who connect to the internet near parks, and more recently on their cell phones. In the short run, the announcement last week did not change much. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is not a legal contract but a letter of intent in which the parties involved express their interest in negotiating certain accords. And the official announcement on the MOU as well as ETECSA comments on Twitter suggest it will take time to get there. This intention to work contained in the Memorandum of Understanding will be implemented when the technical conditions allow it, the government-owned ETECSA posted on Twitter. At the same time, the signing of the MOU is significant because it shows for the first time the Cuban governments readiness to discuss, under a commercial framework, a connection to a submarine cable, a source familiar with the matter told the Miami Herald. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Googles Web pages describe peering as the direct interconnection between Googles network and another network to support the exchange of traffic. A direct connection between Google and ETECSA would allow Cuban users faster navigation of Google content at lower prices. To do that, ETECSA must be connected to an internet exchange point, private or public, where Google is also present. During the signing of the MOU, Brett Perlmutter, director of Google Cuba, said that a team made up of engineers from both companies would investigate ways to implement the direct connection. Larry Press, emeritus professor at California State University and author of a blog on Cubas internet facilities, said ETECSA would not necessarily have to make the connection through a Google submarine cable, but I believe it would have to be over a cable that reached an exchange point where Google had a presence. The interconnection points closest to Cuba are in South Florida, Mexico and Colombia. The island is surrounded by submarine cables but its only connection is ALBA1 to Venezuela. It also has two satellite connections, making for slow and expensive access. Having a second cable would improve connection speeds and provide backups, and would be would be a bigger deal, Press added. Google has long been trying to reach an agreement with the Cuban government to improve the islands access and connectivity to the internet. El Nuevo Herald reported in 2015 that Cuban officials had rejected an initial Google proposal to expand access. In December 2016, the company reached a more limited agreement to store Google content in their own servers in Cuba. After the selection of Miguel Daz-Canel as president of Cuba in April 2018, the company stepped up its efforts to negotiate an agreement. Two months later, he met in Havana with Eric Schmidt, former executive director of Alphabet, the parent company of Google. Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Az, who attended the meeting, told el Nuevo Herald that the company was closer to an agreement on connecting the island through a second submarine cable. Schmidt and Perlmutter also arranged a meeting between Miguel Daz-Canel and several technology company executives when he was in New York in September for his first United Nations General Assembly. Some observers have noted that the MOU was agreed despite the tensions between the U.S. and Cuban governments, but Google has tried to sidestep political issues and its message has focused on the benefits of expanding Internet access on the island one of the commercial activities not barred by the U.S. embargo. Although Google seems closer to its objectives with the MOU, during its signing ETECSAs vice president for investments, Luis Adolfo Iglesias Reyes, avoided referring to the agreement as allowing an expansion of the Internet. Instead, in brief statements to the news media, he said the accord would allow more efficient use of our international internet capacities. In a joint statement, ETECSA also avoided showing excessive interest in dealing with the American tech company, saying that the MOU was evidence that U.S. companies remain interested in developing businesses with ETECSA. More than 10 U.S. Companies currently have agreements in place, to the benefit of both sides. So far, the Cuban government has preferred telecommunications agreements with political allies such as Russia and China. In the same week that the MOU with Google was announced, the Cuban Communications Ministry signed another MOU with its Russian counterpart. The memo indeed covers a wide range of issues related to ICT cooperation which includes [the] sphere of cybersecurity but of course is not limited to it, Russias Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media Mikhail Mamonov wrote in a statement sent to the Miami Herald. Mamonov added that the two governments, aside from discussing cybersecurity training, software and infrastructure, are also considering future cooperation on smart infrastructure, social engagement applications or digital TV. In the meantime, however, the expectations raised by the MOU with Google and the absence of concrete steps to improve connectivity in the short run have increased frustrations for Cubans who regularly criticize state-owned ETCSA for its high prices and bad service. YucaByte, an independent organization focused on information and communication technologies in Cuba, recently used Twitter for an opinion poll on the MOU with Google. We have the results of the poll about the agreement between Google and ETECSA, it reported later. Sixty-four percent of the respondents answered Nothing really important. Follow Nora Gmez Torres on Twitter: @ngameztorres
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Google and Cubas ETECSA telecommunications company have signed a memorandum of understanding. The agreement is to start negotiations toward a service agreement for the exchange of internet traffic, known as peering A direct connection would allow Cuban users faster navigation of Google content at lower prices.
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bart
| 2 |
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article228636089.html
| 0.453989 |
Will Trumps deregulation agenda survive?
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With the 2020 presidential campaign already underway, one of President Donald Trumps best opportunities to seal a solid first-term legacy lies in his deregulation agenda a goal broadly embraced by most Republicans. His administration already has 514 deregulatory measures in process, addressing issues as diverse as federal student loans and climate change. There is, however, one complication: the federal courts. You can expect that virtually every one of Trumps deregulatory actions will be challenged in court. These suits, which are relatively inexpensive to file, will likely allege that the Trump administration has in some way exceeded or abused presidential power. The answer will be determined case by case, but there are several reasons to believe that many of the actions will be reversed or delayed by federal judges. Heres why. Over the past few months, we pored through judicial records and tallied up how many lawsuits challenging deregulation filed after Trump became president have been successful and whether the deciding judges were appointed by Democratic or Republican presidents. What we found is that Democrat-appointed judges still dominate the federal court system, which means that federal judges appointed by Democratic presidents will continue to have a big influence over the fate of Trumps deregulation agenda. But this isnt all bad news for Trump. We also identified several strategies to make it more likely that deregulatory moves can survive court challenges, even under Democratic-appointed judges. OUR RESEARCH FOUND that although Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have been working hard to increase the number of Republican-appointed judges in the federal court system, the balance still tips in favor of Democrats, and that is unlikely to change before the end of the presidents first term. Less than 10 percent of active federal judges have been appointed by Trump. By comparison, over 40 percent were appointed by President Barack Obama, and in total 56 percent were appointed by Democratic presidents. The situation in the federal appellate courts is a little more favorable to Republicans: The overall breakdown between Democratic- and Republican-appointed judges is about 50-50. But that doesnt hold true for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the appellate court that hears a disproportionate number of cases against federal regulatory agencies. The D.C. Circuit has 11 judges, seven appointed by Democratic presidents and four appointed by Republican presidents, including the recent confirmation of Neomi Rao, Trumps former deregulation czar. This ideological tilt can be seen in the outcome of recent rulings. According to our research, so far there have been 30 lawsuits filed against Trumps deregulatory actions. Only two were successfully defended by the Trump administration. In the other 28 cases, the administration lost 18 judicial verdicts and settled 10 times to avoid an adverse judicial verdict. While this appears to be a disturbing rate of failure for the administrations deregulatory agenda, a majority of the cases involved the same question (whether the effective date of an Obama rule can be delayed in order to allow time for a Trump replacement rule to be issued). The more important point is that pro-regulation plaintiffs have been able to get their challenges heard by judges who were appointed by Democratic presidents (often Obama). While its not predetermined that Democrat-appointed judges are always favorable to regulation, our research suggests such a pattern developing against the Trump administration. Of the 18 adverse verdicts, 13 were at the District Court level, where 10 of the judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. Of the five appeals court cases (where three-judge panels ruled), all five panels had at least two judges appointed by Democratic presidents. Two of those five cases were split decisions, with the dissent written by a judge appointed by a Republican president. A worrisome sign for the administration is that they are not winning anywhere close to 100 percent of the judges appointed by GOP presidents. While the GOP may find some solace in the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court, where five of nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents, only a small fraction of regulatory-law cases reach the high court. For Trump, the reality is that federal judges, primarily Obama appointees, are likely to determine the fate of much, if not all, of his deregulatory agenda. Weve identified five strategies administration officials can employ to maximize the chance that their deregulatory actions will survive a court challenge. First, the administration needs to fill the vacant posts at regulatory agencies with qualified people who will work with career staff on the case for deregulation. Without the analytic support of the career staff who know the relevant science and economics, the program history and previous litigation the Trump administration is likely to produce deregulatory packages that are indefensible in court. Second, agency leaders need to build an administrative record with factual findings that support deregulation. Without an appropriate administrative record of facts, no amount of creative lawyering can save a deregulatory action. Judges, regardless of who appointed them, will focus on the administrative record; the clearer this record can be, the more likely it is that the regulatory action will be affirmed. Third, the general counsels at federal agencies need to work hard to ensure that each procedural requirement for deregulation has been honored; the easiest way for a federal judge to block deregulation is to point to a procedural box that has not been checked. Reviewing how and why prior legal challenges succeeded or failed will be helpful for administration officials to chart legal strategy. Fourth, Trumps regulatory czar in the White House Office of Regulatory Affairs needs to work with federal agencies to make sure that regulatory impact analysis considers both the benefits of regulation as well as the cost savings from deregulation. If the analysis ignores or downplays forgone benefits, it will be easier for a federal judge to determine that the administration has been arbitrary and capricious and to overturn the regulatory action. The administrations climate-related rulemakings are especially vulnerable in this regard, since the official 2009 Environmental Protection Agency finding that climate change endangers public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act is still in effect. The stronger the analysis and administrative record, the more difficult it becomes for a judge to find the action to be arbitrary and capricious. Finally, the administration needs to consider carefully how federal deregulation will affect state and local regulation. In some situations, it might be preferable for the Trump administration to keep more federal regulations than it thinks is appropriate in order to avoid a backlash of state and local regulation, which might be more restrictive. While predicting how states will react to federal regulatory action might be difficult, working with state regulators, where possible, could result in a more consistent regulatory process overall. If Trump wants his deregulatory agenda to succeed, his administration will need to convince Democratic-appointed federal judges that they have engaged in smart deregulation. It will not be easy, and if their current success rate is any indication, the Trump administration will need to be smarter in its approach over the next two years. John D. Graham is the former administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President George W. Bush and current dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. Keith B. Belton is director of the Manufacturing Policy Initiative at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
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Julian Zelizer: Trump's deregulation agenda will be challenged in court.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/03/26/trump-deregulation-agenda-000885
| 0.172848 |
Will Trumps deregulation agenda survive?
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With the 2020 presidential campaign already underway, one of President Donald Trumps best opportunities to seal a solid first-term legacy lies in his deregulation agenda a goal broadly embraced by most Republicans. His administration already has 514 deregulatory measures in process, addressing issues as diverse as federal student loans and climate change. There is, however, one complication: the federal courts. You can expect that virtually every one of Trumps deregulatory actions will be challenged in court. These suits, which are relatively inexpensive to file, will likely allege that the Trump administration has in some way exceeded or abused presidential power. The answer will be determined case by case, but there are several reasons to believe that many of the actions will be reversed or delayed by federal judges. Heres why. Over the past few months, we pored through judicial records and tallied up how many lawsuits challenging deregulation filed after Trump became president have been successful and whether the deciding judges were appointed by Democratic or Republican presidents. What we found is that Democrat-appointed judges still dominate the federal court system, which means that federal judges appointed by Democratic presidents will continue to have a big influence over the fate of Trumps deregulation agenda. But this isnt all bad news for Trump. We also identified several strategies to make it more likely that deregulatory moves can survive court challenges, even under Democratic-appointed judges. OUR RESEARCH FOUND that although Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have been working hard to increase the number of Republican-appointed judges in the federal court system, the balance still tips in favor of Democrats, and that is unlikely to change before the end of the presidents first term. Less than 10 percent of active federal judges have been appointed by Trump. By comparison, over 40 percent were appointed by President Barack Obama, and in total 56 percent were appointed by Democratic presidents. The situation in the federal appellate courts is a little more favorable to Republicans: The overall breakdown between Democratic- and Republican-appointed judges is about 50-50. But that doesnt hold true for the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, the appellate court that hears a disproportionate number of cases against federal regulatory agencies. The D.C. Circuit has 11 judges, seven appointed by Democratic presidents and four appointed by Republican presidents, including the recent confirmation of Neomi Rao, Trumps former deregulation czar. This ideological tilt can be seen in the outcome of recent rulings. According to our research, so far there have been 30 lawsuits filed against Trumps deregulatory actions. Only two were successfully defended by the Trump administration. In the other 28 cases, the administration lost 18 judicial verdicts and settled 10 times to avoid an adverse judicial verdict. While this appears to be a disturbing rate of failure for the administrations deregulatory agenda, a majority of the cases involved the same question (whether the effective date of an Obama rule can be delayed in order to allow time for a Trump replacement rule to be issued). The more important point is that pro-regulation plaintiffs have been able to get their challenges heard by judges who were appointed by Democratic presidents (often Obama). While its not predetermined that Democrat-appointed judges are always favorable to regulation, our research suggests such a pattern developing against the Trump administration. Of the 18 adverse verdicts, 13 were at the District Court level, where 10 of the judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. Of the five appeals court cases (where three-judge panels ruled), all five panels had at least two judges appointed by Democratic presidents. Two of those five cases were split decisions, with the dissent written by a judge appointed by a Republican president. A worrisome sign for the administration is that they are not winning anywhere close to 100 percent of the judges appointed by GOP presidents. While the GOP may find some solace in the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court, where five of nine justices were appointed by Republican presidents, only a small fraction of regulatory-law cases reach the high court. For Trump, the reality is that federal judges, primarily Obama appointees, are likely to determine the fate of much, if not all, of his deregulatory agenda. Weve identified five strategies administration officials can employ to maximize the chance that their deregulatory actions will survive a court challenge. First, the administration needs to fill the vacant posts at regulatory agencies with qualified people who will work with career staff on the case for deregulation. Without the analytic support of the career staff who know the relevant science and economics, the program history and previous litigation the Trump administration is likely to produce deregulatory packages that are indefensible in court. Second, agency leaders need to build an administrative record with factual findings that support deregulation. Without an appropriate administrative record of facts, no amount of creative lawyering can save a deregulatory action. Judges, regardless of who appointed them, will focus on the administrative record; the clearer this record can be, the more likely it is that the regulatory action will be affirmed. Third, the general counsels at federal agencies need to work hard to ensure that each procedural requirement for deregulation has been honored; the easiest way for a federal judge to block deregulation is to point to a procedural box that has not been checked. Reviewing how and why prior legal challenges succeeded or failed will be helpful for administration officials to chart legal strategy. Fourth, Trumps regulatory czar in the White House Office of Regulatory Affairs needs to work with federal agencies to make sure that regulatory impact analysis considers both the benefits of regulation as well as the cost savings from deregulation. If the analysis ignores or downplays forgone benefits, it will be easier for a federal judge to determine that the administration has been arbitrary and capricious and to overturn the regulatory action. The administrations climate-related rulemakings are especially vulnerable in this regard, since the official 2009 Environmental Protection Agency finding that climate change endangers public health and welfare under the Clean Air Act is still in effect. The stronger the analysis and administrative record, the more difficult it becomes for a judge to find the action to be arbitrary and capricious. Finally, the administration needs to consider carefully how federal deregulation will affect state and local regulation. In some situations, it might be preferable for the Trump administration to keep more federal regulations than it thinks is appropriate in order to avoid a backlash of state and local regulation, which might be more restrictive. While predicting how states will react to federal regulatory action might be difficult, working with state regulators, where possible, could result in a more consistent regulatory process overall. If Trump wants his deregulatory agenda to succeed, his administration will need to convince Democratic-appointed federal judges that they have engaged in smart deregulation. It will not be easy, and if their current success rate is any indication, the Trump administration will need to be smarter in its approach over the next two years. John D. Graham is the former administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs under President George W. Bush and current dean of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University. Keith B. Belton is director of the Manufacturing Policy Initiative at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University.
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Julian Zelizer: Federal courts will likely challenge Trump's deregulatory measures. He says there are several reasons to believe that many of the actions will be reversed or delayed. But Zelizer says there is a way to make it more likely that moves can survive court challenges.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2019/03/26/trump-deregulation-agenda-000885
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Does Instagram Have A Problem With Hate Speech And Extremism?
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Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Facebook announced on Wednesday that starting next week, it will begin banning white nationalism and white separatism content on its platforms. That includes its popular photo-sharing app, Instagram. While Facebook and Twitter have come under heavy criticism for the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, Instagram has flown relatively under the radar. That's allowed the platform to increasingly serve as a home for hate speech and extremist content, according to Taylor Lorenz, a reporter for The Atlantic. In an article titled "Instagram Is the Internet's New Home for Hate," Lorenz writes that Instagram is "likely where the next great battle against misinformation will be fought, and yet it has largely escaped scrutiny." Instagram is huge, with over one billion users. But policing the platform has its challenges, says Lorenz. For example, users can set their accounts to "private" mode, meaning that only approved followers can see the content that is posted on that user's page this makes it harder to regulate the content posted on private accounts. Lorenz said that Instagram relies on its users to report problematic content. So, problematic content, especially on private accounts, can easily slip by unnoticed and go unreported by users. NPR spoke with Lorenz about how extremist content spreads on Instagram and what she thinks should be done to stop it. Interview Highlights On what Instagram's extremist content looks like Extremist content on Instagram is essentially just a more visual way of presenting classic misinformation that we've seen on other platforms. So, a lot of racist memes, white nationalist content, sometimes screenshots of fake news articles. On who extremists target on Instagram A lot of these accounts are actually targeted towards younger people. Some of the heaviest engagers on Instagram are teenagers and sort of young millennials. A lot of these big right-wing extremist meme pages consider those people their audience and those are the users that they're targeting. It's not all young people that are following these pages, but primarily it's a lot of teenagers, maybe college students, kids right out of school who are kind of looking to form their identity and learn about the world learn about news events and they're increasingly turning to social media to do that. Instagram and YouTube are the two most used platforms for Generation Z. So they're following these accounts and just becoming susceptible to their ideas. On how memes are used to introduce people to extremist ideas Memes and humor in general disarms people and it makes them almost more susceptible to extremist beliefs. Humor is a really good way to introduce people to ideas, especially extremist ideas, and conspiracy theories. You kind of start by laughing at it. Then, you start by questioning things a little bit, and you can end up believing and getting sort of sucked up in a lot of this stuff through humor. On how Instagram makes it easier to find extremist accounts Instagram is built on a bunch of different algorithms and one big algorithm that stimulates growth in the site is the page recommendation algorithm. So that's when you follow one Instagram page [and then] you're immediately prompted to follow a slew of more pages. So you can follow even a semi what's considered a mainstream conservative meme page, and you're immediately recommended very extremist content from people like Alex Jones and other notorious conspiracy theorists. On why extremist content can go unnoticed on private accounts Instagram relies on users to report problematic content, and while they are developing algorithms that they say can catch some of this stuff a lot of extremists memes, for instance you might have a meme page with 10,000 followers all of those people are very susceptible to white nationalist beliefs and the account is set to private. So, it's kind of what we're seeing with Facebook groups too, where there's no outside person policing it. This type of stuff is not appearing on a lot of normal users feeds. On how popular Instagram is for Russian misinformation groups A Senate report last year found that the IRA, which is the Internet Research Agency a notorious Russian troll farm that promotes a lot of this nefarious misinformation actually found Instagram to be their most valuable platform. They ran tons of Instagram accounts aimed at stoking sort of divisive political opinions and promoting extremism to to Americans. On how to combat extremism on social media platforms The media has covered a lot of this misinformation stuff and done a great job of it. You know, there can always be more coverage, but it's also up to people to hold people like Mark Zuckerberg, or the head of YouTube, head of Instagram, accountable for this type of stuff. Because when they see public outcry or they see #DeleteFacebook type of movements, it really does move the needle. So, people can just be aware. This story was produced and edited for radio by Nell Clark and Natalie Winston. NPR's Amanda Morris produced this story for digital.
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Instagram has become a home for hate speech and extremist content, says Taylor Lorenz.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.npr.org/2019/03/30/708386364/does-instagram-have-a-problem-with-hate-speech-and-extremism?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr
| 0.388812 |
Does Instagram Have A Problem With Hate Speech And Extremism?
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Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Facebook announced on Wednesday that starting next week, it will begin banning white nationalism and white separatism content on its platforms. That includes its popular photo-sharing app, Instagram. While Facebook and Twitter have come under heavy criticism for the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, Instagram has flown relatively under the radar. That's allowed the platform to increasingly serve as a home for hate speech and extremist content, according to Taylor Lorenz, a reporter for The Atlantic. In an article titled "Instagram Is the Internet's New Home for Hate," Lorenz writes that Instagram is "likely where the next great battle against misinformation will be fought, and yet it has largely escaped scrutiny." Instagram is huge, with over one billion users. But policing the platform has its challenges, says Lorenz. For example, users can set their accounts to "private" mode, meaning that only approved followers can see the content that is posted on that user's page this makes it harder to regulate the content posted on private accounts. Lorenz said that Instagram relies on its users to report problematic content. So, problematic content, especially on private accounts, can easily slip by unnoticed and go unreported by users. NPR spoke with Lorenz about how extremist content spreads on Instagram and what she thinks should be done to stop it. Interview Highlights On what Instagram's extremist content looks like Extremist content on Instagram is essentially just a more visual way of presenting classic misinformation that we've seen on other platforms. So, a lot of racist memes, white nationalist content, sometimes screenshots of fake news articles. On who extremists target on Instagram A lot of these accounts are actually targeted towards younger people. Some of the heaviest engagers on Instagram are teenagers and sort of young millennials. A lot of these big right-wing extremist meme pages consider those people their audience and those are the users that they're targeting. It's not all young people that are following these pages, but primarily it's a lot of teenagers, maybe college students, kids right out of school who are kind of looking to form their identity and learn about the world learn about news events and they're increasingly turning to social media to do that. Instagram and YouTube are the two most used platforms for Generation Z. So they're following these accounts and just becoming susceptible to their ideas. On how memes are used to introduce people to extremist ideas Memes and humor in general disarms people and it makes them almost more susceptible to extremist beliefs. Humor is a really good way to introduce people to ideas, especially extremist ideas, and conspiracy theories. You kind of start by laughing at it. Then, you start by questioning things a little bit, and you can end up believing and getting sort of sucked up in a lot of this stuff through humor. On how Instagram makes it easier to find extremist accounts Instagram is built on a bunch of different algorithms and one big algorithm that stimulates growth in the site is the page recommendation algorithm. So that's when you follow one Instagram page [and then] you're immediately prompted to follow a slew of more pages. So you can follow even a semi what's considered a mainstream conservative meme page, and you're immediately recommended very extremist content from people like Alex Jones and other notorious conspiracy theorists. On why extremist content can go unnoticed on private accounts Instagram relies on users to report problematic content, and while they are developing algorithms that they say can catch some of this stuff a lot of extremists memes, for instance you might have a meme page with 10,000 followers all of those people are very susceptible to white nationalist beliefs and the account is set to private. So, it's kind of what we're seeing with Facebook groups too, where there's no outside person policing it. This type of stuff is not appearing on a lot of normal users feeds. On how popular Instagram is for Russian misinformation groups A Senate report last year found that the IRA, which is the Internet Research Agency a notorious Russian troll farm that promotes a lot of this nefarious misinformation actually found Instagram to be their most valuable platform. They ran tons of Instagram accounts aimed at stoking sort of divisive political opinions and promoting extremism to to Americans. On how to combat extremism on social media platforms The media has covered a lot of this misinformation stuff and done a great job of it. You know, there can always be more coverage, but it's also up to people to hold people like Mark Zuckerberg, or the head of YouTube, head of Instagram, accountable for this type of stuff. Because when they see public outcry or they see #DeleteFacebook type of movements, it really does move the needle. So, people can just be aware. This story was produced and edited for radio by Nell Clark and Natalie Winston. NPR's Amanda Morris produced this story for digital.
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Instagram has become a home for hate speech and extremist content, says Taylor Lorenz. Lorenz: Instagram relies on its users to report problematic content, so it can easily slip by unnoticed.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/30/708386364/does-instagram-have-a-problem-with-hate-speech-and-extremism?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr
| 0.406139 |
Does Instagram Have A Problem With Hate Speech And Extremism?
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Enlarge this image toggle caption Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Facebook announced on Wednesday that starting next week, it will begin banning white nationalism and white separatism content on its platforms. That includes its popular photo-sharing app, Instagram. While Facebook and Twitter have come under heavy criticism for the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories, Instagram has flown relatively under the radar. That's allowed the platform to increasingly serve as a home for hate speech and extremist content, according to Taylor Lorenz, a reporter for The Atlantic. In an article titled "Instagram Is the Internet's New Home for Hate," Lorenz writes that Instagram is "likely where the next great battle against misinformation will be fought, and yet it has largely escaped scrutiny." Instagram is huge, with over one billion users. But policing the platform has its challenges, says Lorenz. For example, users can set their accounts to "private" mode, meaning that only approved followers can see the content that is posted on that user's page this makes it harder to regulate the content posted on private accounts. Lorenz said that Instagram relies on its users to report problematic content. So, problematic content, especially on private accounts, can easily slip by unnoticed and go unreported by users. NPR spoke with Lorenz about how extremist content spreads on Instagram and what she thinks should be done to stop it. Interview Highlights On what Instagram's extremist content looks like Extremist content on Instagram is essentially just a more visual way of presenting classic misinformation that we've seen on other platforms. So, a lot of racist memes, white nationalist content, sometimes screenshots of fake news articles. On who extremists target on Instagram A lot of these accounts are actually targeted towards younger people. Some of the heaviest engagers on Instagram are teenagers and sort of young millennials. A lot of these big right-wing extremist meme pages consider those people their audience and those are the users that they're targeting. It's not all young people that are following these pages, but primarily it's a lot of teenagers, maybe college students, kids right out of school who are kind of looking to form their identity and learn about the world learn about news events and they're increasingly turning to social media to do that. Instagram and YouTube are the two most used platforms for Generation Z. So they're following these accounts and just becoming susceptible to their ideas. On how memes are used to introduce people to extremist ideas Memes and humor in general disarms people and it makes them almost more susceptible to extremist beliefs. Humor is a really good way to introduce people to ideas, especially extremist ideas, and conspiracy theories. You kind of start by laughing at it. Then, you start by questioning things a little bit, and you can end up believing and getting sort of sucked up in a lot of this stuff through humor. On how Instagram makes it easier to find extremist accounts Instagram is built on a bunch of different algorithms and one big algorithm that stimulates growth in the site is the page recommendation algorithm. So that's when you follow one Instagram page [and then] you're immediately prompted to follow a slew of more pages. So you can follow even a semi what's considered a mainstream conservative meme page, and you're immediately recommended very extremist content from people like Alex Jones and other notorious conspiracy theorists. On why extremist content can go unnoticed on private accounts Instagram relies on users to report problematic content, and while they are developing algorithms that they say can catch some of this stuff a lot of extremists memes, for instance you might have a meme page with 10,000 followers all of those people are very susceptible to white nationalist beliefs and the account is set to private. So, it's kind of what we're seeing with Facebook groups too, where there's no outside person policing it. This type of stuff is not appearing on a lot of normal users feeds. On how popular Instagram is for Russian misinformation groups A Senate report last year found that the IRA, which is the Internet Research Agency a notorious Russian troll farm that promotes a lot of this nefarious misinformation actually found Instagram to be their most valuable platform. They ran tons of Instagram accounts aimed at stoking sort of divisive political opinions and promoting extremism to to Americans. On how to combat extremism on social media platforms The media has covered a lot of this misinformation stuff and done a great job of it. You know, there can always be more coverage, but it's also up to people to hold people like Mark Zuckerberg, or the head of YouTube, head of Instagram, accountable for this type of stuff. Because when they see public outcry or they see #DeleteFacebook type of movements, it really does move the needle. So, people can just be aware. This story was produced and edited for radio by Nell Clark and Natalie Winston. NPR's Amanda Morris produced this story for digital.
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Instagram has become a home for hate speech and extremist content, says Taylor Lorenz. Lorenz: Instagram relies on its users to report problematic content, so it can easily slip by unnoticed and go unreported by users. The Atlantic's Lorenz spoke with NPR about how extremist content spreads on Instagram.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/30/708386364/does-instagram-have-a-problem-with-hate-speech-and-extremism?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=storiesfromnpr
| 0.45993 |
How have the Patriots fared with Bill Belichick calling defensive plays?
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originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com With the news that Greg Schiano is stepping away from the Patriots, the job of defensive coordinator is once again vacant. With the 2019 season inching closer by the day, it's possible that Bill Belichick will once again call the team's defense. Belichick has been the Patriots head coach since 2000. During that time, Romeo Crennel was the Patriots defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2004, as well as Eric Mangini in 2005, Dean Pees from 2006 to 2009, Matt Patricia from 2012 to 2017, and Brian Flores (not named, but de facto) in 2018. This means that Belichick called the shots on New England's defense in three seasons-2000, 2010, and 2011. The Patriots in those three seasons had a record of 5-11, 14-2, and 13-3 respectively. It must be noted that the 2000 season, while Tom Brady was on the roster, was still part of the Drew Bledsoe era, and was Belichick's inaugural season, before the dynasty began in 2001. In 2000, the Patriots defense was ranked 20th in the league in yards per game, and 17th in the league in points allowed. In 2010, the Patriots defense was ranked 25th in the league in yards per game, but 8th in the league in points allowed. In 2011, the Patriots defense was ranked 2nd in the league in yards per game, and 15th in the league in points allowed. The Patriots were upset by the New York Jets in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2010, which is also the last time the Pats did not make it to the AFC Championship Game, as they have in every season since. Story continues In 2011, perhaps one of Belichick's best coaching jobs given the apparent lack of talent on his defense (Julian Edelman played defensive back at one point), made it to Super Bowl XLVI, where the team lost a close game (once again) to the New York Giants. In all, there does not seem to be a strong correlation between the performance of the Patriots' defense and Belichick calling plays. Some of the Patriots best defenses (early 2000s, 2018) came with different defensive coordinators, and one (Flores in 2018) who did not actually have the title. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.
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Belichick called the shots on New England's defense in three seasons-2000, 2010, and 2011. There does not seem to be a strong correlation between the performance of the Patriots' defense and Belichick calling plays.
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ctrlsum
| 1 |
https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-fared-bill-belichick-calling-154800062.html?src=rss
| 0.10279 |
How have the Patriots fared with Bill Belichick calling defensive plays?
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originally appeared on nbcsportsboston.com With the news that Greg Schiano is stepping away from the Patriots, the job of defensive coordinator is once again vacant. With the 2019 season inching closer by the day, it's possible that Bill Belichick will once again call the team's defense. Belichick has been the Patriots head coach since 2000. During that time, Romeo Crennel was the Patriots defensive coordinator from 2001 to 2004, as well as Eric Mangini in 2005, Dean Pees from 2006 to 2009, Matt Patricia from 2012 to 2017, and Brian Flores (not named, but de facto) in 2018. This means that Belichick called the shots on New England's defense in three seasons-2000, 2010, and 2011. The Patriots in those three seasons had a record of 5-11, 14-2, and 13-3 respectively. It must be noted that the 2000 season, while Tom Brady was on the roster, was still part of the Drew Bledsoe era, and was Belichick's inaugural season, before the dynasty began in 2001. In 2000, the Patriots defense was ranked 20th in the league in yards per game, and 17th in the league in points allowed. In 2010, the Patriots defense was ranked 25th in the league in yards per game, but 8th in the league in points allowed. In 2011, the Patriots defense was ranked 2nd in the league in yards per game, and 15th in the league in points allowed. The Patriots were upset by the New York Jets in the divisional round of the playoffs in 2010, which is also the last time the Pats did not make it to the AFC Championship Game, as they have in every season since. Story continues In 2011, perhaps one of Belichick's best coaching jobs given the apparent lack of talent on his defense (Julian Edelman played defensive back at one point), made it to Super Bowl XLVI, where the team lost a close game (once again) to the New York Giants. In all, there does not seem to be a strong correlation between the performance of the Patriots' defense and Belichick calling plays. Some of the Patriots best defenses (early 2000s, 2018) came with different defensive coordinators, and one (Flores in 2018) who did not actually have the title. Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Celtics easily on your device.
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Greg Schiano is stepping away from the Patriots. The job of defensive coordinator is once again vacant. Bill Belichick has called the shots on New England's defense in three seasons-2000, 2010, and 2011. The Patriots in those three seasons had a record of 5-11, 14-2, and 13-3 respectively.
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bart
| 2 |
https://sports.yahoo.com/patriots-fared-bill-belichick-calling-154800062.html?src=rss
| 0.521956 |
Is there an Austrian link to New Zealand mosque attacks?
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Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner is under scrutiny The Austrian authorities are investigating possible connections after it emerged that the main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks made a donation of 1,500 (1,293) to the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria (IB). The suspect visited Austria from 27 November to 4 December last year, according to Austria's Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, who said that potential links to Austrian extremists were being looked into. Police have searched the house of the charismatic, social media-savvy IB leader, Martin Sellner, who has done much to raise the profile of the Identitarians throughout Europe. The group is hostile to multiculturalism, and claims to defend Europe against migrants, especially Muslims. Mr Sellner has firmly denied any involvement with the 15 March attacks, which killed 50 people, but admits he received the donation and wrote an email of thanks. In a video posted online, he said: "I am not a member of a terrorist organisation. I have nothing to do with this man, other than that I passively received a donation from him." Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said the group will be dissolved if it is deemed to be a terrorist organisation. "There must be no tolerance for dangerous ideologies in our country - no matter if it's radical Islam or right-wing fanaticism," he said. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch after New Zealand's worst mass shooting The main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks, Australian Brenton Tarrant, also seems to have had a preoccupation with Austrian history - something the interior minister said was being investigated. Austrian landmark The suspect's clothes and weapons were covered with writing and symbols. One of the words daubed in white on a gun magazine was "Vienna". There was also a string of names of historical figures, including that of Count Ernst Rdiger von Starhemberg, the military commander of Vienna during the Ottoman siege of 1683. Starhemberg and his company of 20,000 men defended the city against the 120,000-strong Ottoman army, which was eventually defeated by the combined forces of Poles, Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption September 2017: Austrian Identitarians celebrate the 1683 victory over the Ottoman Turks The Battle of Vienna in 1683 is often cited by historians as the point where the Ottoman advance on Western Europe was stopped; the turning of the tide in the Muslim/Christian struggle for the control of Europe. As such, it is a date celebrated by the far right, including, it seems, the Christchurch suspect, who is a self-confessed anti-Muslim white supremacist. 'The Great Replacement' The Documentation Archive of the Austrian Resistance (DOEW), which researches extreme-right activity, says there are "many rhetorical and ideological overlaps" between groups like the Identitarians and the suspected Christchurch attacker. "The title of the attacker's manifesto, The Great Replacement (which sees immigrants as a threat to "white" Western culture) was a slogan popularised by the Identitarians," DOEW said on its website. "Regardless of the outcome of the investigation," DOEW says, the Identitarians seem to be sticking to their narrative "for the time being". It points to an IB statement from last week, which speaks of the "Great Replacement" and calls for "De-Islamification". The whole affair is uncomfortable not just for the Identitarians, but for Austria's government as well. Mr Kurz's own conservative Austrian People's Party is in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FP), making Austria the only country in Western Europe with a far-right presence in government. Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Strache (L) got some key ministerial posts in his deal with Chancellor Kurz (R) FP leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said on Wednesday that his party had "nothing to do with the Identitarians". However, Austrian media published photos of FP politicians with members of the group, and Bernhard Weidinger from DOEW told the BBC that there were many links between FP politicians and members of the IB, who often attended each other's events. In 2016, before he became interior minister, Herbert Kickl gave a speech to a far-right conference in Linz, called Defenders of Europe. The FP politician addressed his audience, which included Identitarians, as "like-minded people", according to Austrian media reports. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Battle of Vienna (1837 painting by Leander Russ): Now part of far-right mythology The FP has also long celebrated the Battle of Vienna victory of 1683. In 2010 it even published a comic, set during the siege, featuring Mr Strache as a knight saving Vienna's cathedral from an Ottoman minaret. And when Mr Strache and Mr Kurz presented their government programme back in 2017, shortly before the coalition was sworn in, they broke with tradition, and held the event on Vienna's Kahlenberg mountain, where the Battle of Vienna took place. Asked if there was any historical significance to the choice of venue, Mr Kurz said no. But in a video blog, Mr Sellner hailed it as "a good omen".
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The main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks made a donation to the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria. Police have searched the house of the group's leader, Martin Sellner.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47735412
| 0.119392 |
Is there an Austrian link to New Zealand mosque attacks?
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Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Austrian far-right activist Martin Sellner is under scrutiny The Austrian authorities are investigating possible connections after it emerged that the main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks made a donation of 1,500 (1,293) to the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria (IB). The suspect visited Austria from 27 November to 4 December last year, according to Austria's Interior Minister Herbert Kickl, who said that potential links to Austrian extremists were being looked into. Police have searched the house of the charismatic, social media-savvy IB leader, Martin Sellner, who has done much to raise the profile of the Identitarians throughout Europe. The group is hostile to multiculturalism, and claims to defend Europe against migrants, especially Muslims. Mr Sellner has firmly denied any involvement with the 15 March attacks, which killed 50 people, but admits he received the donation and wrote an email of thanks. In a video posted online, he said: "I am not a member of a terrorist organisation. I have nothing to do with this man, other than that I passively received a donation from him." Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said the group will be dissolved if it is deemed to be a terrorist organisation. "There must be no tolerance for dangerous ideologies in our country - no matter if it's radical Islam or right-wing fanaticism," he said. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Al-Noor mosque in Christchurch after New Zealand's worst mass shooting The main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks, Australian Brenton Tarrant, also seems to have had a preoccupation with Austrian history - something the interior minister said was being investigated. Austrian landmark The suspect's clothes and weapons were covered with writing and symbols. One of the words daubed in white on a gun magazine was "Vienna". There was also a string of names of historical figures, including that of Count Ernst Rdiger von Starhemberg, the military commander of Vienna during the Ottoman siege of 1683. Starhemberg and his company of 20,000 men defended the city against the 120,000-strong Ottoman army, which was eventually defeated by the combined forces of Poles, Habsburgs and the Holy Roman Empire. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption September 2017: Austrian Identitarians celebrate the 1683 victory over the Ottoman Turks The Battle of Vienna in 1683 is often cited by historians as the point where the Ottoman advance on Western Europe was stopped; the turning of the tide in the Muslim/Christian struggle for the control of Europe. As such, it is a date celebrated by the far right, including, it seems, the Christchurch suspect, who is a self-confessed anti-Muslim white supremacist. 'The Great Replacement' The Documentation Archive of the Austrian Resistance (DOEW), which researches extreme-right activity, says there are "many rhetorical and ideological overlaps" between groups like the Identitarians and the suspected Christchurch attacker. "The title of the attacker's manifesto, The Great Replacement (which sees immigrants as a threat to "white" Western culture) was a slogan popularised by the Identitarians," DOEW said on its website. "Regardless of the outcome of the investigation," DOEW says, the Identitarians seem to be sticking to their narrative "for the time being". It points to an IB statement from last week, which speaks of the "Great Replacement" and calls for "De-Islamification". The whole affair is uncomfortable not just for the Identitarians, but for Austria's government as well. Mr Kurz's own conservative Austrian People's Party is in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party (FP), making Austria the only country in Western Europe with a far-right presence in government. Image copyright AFP Image caption Mr Strache (L) got some key ministerial posts in his deal with Chancellor Kurz (R) FP leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said on Wednesday that his party had "nothing to do with the Identitarians". However, Austrian media published photos of FP politicians with members of the group, and Bernhard Weidinger from DOEW told the BBC that there were many links between FP politicians and members of the IB, who often attended each other's events. In 2016, before he became interior minister, Herbert Kickl gave a speech to a far-right conference in Linz, called Defenders of Europe. The FP politician addressed his audience, which included Identitarians, as "like-minded people", according to Austrian media reports. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The Battle of Vienna (1837 painting by Leander Russ): Now part of far-right mythology The FP has also long celebrated the Battle of Vienna victory of 1683. In 2010 it even published a comic, set during the siege, featuring Mr Strache as a knight saving Vienna's cathedral from an Ottoman minaret. And when Mr Strache and Mr Kurz presented their government programme back in 2017, shortly before the coalition was sworn in, they broke with tradition, and held the event on Vienna's Kahlenberg mountain, where the Battle of Vienna took place. Asked if there was any historical significance to the choice of venue, Mr Kurz said no. But in a video blog, Mr Sellner hailed it as "a good omen".
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The main suspect in the Christchurch mosque attacks made a donation to the far-right Identitarian Movement in Austria. Police have searched the house of the group's leader, Martin Sellner. Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has said the group will be dissolved if it is deemed to be a terrorist organisation.
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pegasus
| 2 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47735412
| 0.107661 |
Why are university students catching mumps?
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Image copyright Reuters Image caption Uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine has gone down in recent years Mumps - a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the glands - has been in the news this week following a confirmed outbreak at two universities. A total of 223 suspected cases were reported, with 40 confirmed, across Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. That has now risen to 241 suspected cases with 51 confirmed by Public Health England (PHE). BBC News has taken a look at why this is and whether university students are still at risk. The numbers seem particularly high in Nottingham. PHE said latest figures showed cases of mumps in England had decreased in 2018, with 1,024 confirmed cases compared with 1,796 in 2017. There have also been a handful of reported cases at the universities of Bath, Hull and Liverpool and in the US - specifically Temple University, in Philadelphia, which has recorded about 100 people with signs of the infection. There does not appear to be any reason as to why the Nottingham numbers are much higher, though experts have said it could be that there are more in the city who are not immune. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students outside an emergency clinic at Temple University, in Philadelphia Professor Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham - an expert in viruses and viral vaccines and treatments - said it was affecting students because they gathered in "close proximity for fairly large periods of time". This would include in halls of residence, lecture theatres or even at nightclubs, which hold specific nights aimed at students. "The virus [could] spread fairly easy, especially if there are relatively large numbers of people who have not been vaccinated," he said. A marine biology student at the University of Hull, who did not want to give his name, said he started feeling ill while on a field trip to the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland. He said a local doctor diagnosed mumps but also sent away a swab for it to be confirmed, as mumps is a notifiable disease in England and Wales. The 19-year-old, who said he knew at least two others who had the symptoms, had to be isolated and driven home, avoiding public transport because of the risk of others being infected. Yes. Dr Vanessa MacGregor, from PHE, said it had seen a rise in figures recently, with teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine "particularly vulnerable". The NHS says the vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, in which a child is given one dose when they are 12 to 13 months old, and a second at three years and four months. Dr MacGregor urged those who have not had the MMR vaccine - or only received one dose - to ensure they took up the offer of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students in Philadelphia have been taking the MMR jab The University of Hull student also said it was "strange" he had contracted the infection because he had received both doses and this had been confirmed by his father. According to Prof Ball, the mumps part of the vaccine is the "least effective". He said: "For the mumps vaccine, we expect about 88% of people vaccinated to be protected, whereas for the measles vaccine this is as high as 98%. "If you then add unvaccinated people into the mix, it is easy to see how a relatively contagious virus as mumps can spread so easily." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mumps was once common in children before vaccinations began in the 1980s He said this was further complicated, because some people who are infected show little or no symptoms at all. However, if the majority were vaccinated, those susceptible to the infection would benefit from "herd immunity", the level considered by experts to protect a population from a disease. But, as Prof Ball states: "If you start to reduce the numbers of people being vaccinated, then that herd protection just isn't there." According to BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym, the reason for uptake declining in many countries was not clear. The "damaging" work of discredited scientist and struck-off medic Andrew Wakefield in the 1990s "helped fuel the fire of the anti-vaccine movement," according to Prof Ball. In 1998, the doctor led a study that linked the MMR vaccine to autism, impacting on the coverage of the vaccine, with rates dropping to about 80% in the late 1990s and a low of 79% in 2003. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The GMC ruled that Andrew Wakefield acted "irresponsibly" in carrying out his research Rates partially recovered after the research was disproved but the volume of anti-vaccine sentiment on social media has increased in recent years. This led Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to call for new laws to force social media companies to remove content that promoted false information about vaccines. Prof Ball said there were rarely "side effects" with vaccines and even if there was, the benefits outweighed these. "Because we have lived through a golden age of vaccination, we have forgotten just how harmful, and sometimes even fatal, these virus infections can be," he said. Dr Natalie Riddell, a lecturer in immunology and ageing at the University of Surrey, said a reduced amount of people being vaccinated against any contagious disease was dangerous. "Babies and immuno-compromised people [such as the elderly or those receiving chemotherapy] rely on the rest of us to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease," she said. "It is totally unnecessary for people to risk their friends and family becoming ill, or even dying, from measles or mumps, as there is a safe and effective vaccine to protect against both." Prof Ball said poor vaccine uptake worldwide had led to an increase in outbreaks of mumps and measles and we should "expect things to get worse" before they get better. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The University of Nottingham has been hit by the mumps virus Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
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Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the glands. It has been confirmed at Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham.
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bart
| 0 |
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-47736643
| 0.228089 |
Why are university students catching mumps?
|
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine has gone down in recent years Mumps - a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the glands - has been in the news this week following a confirmed outbreak at two universities. A total of 223 suspected cases were reported, with 40 confirmed, across Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. That has now risen to 241 suspected cases with 51 confirmed by Public Health England (PHE). BBC News has taken a look at why this is and whether university students are still at risk. The numbers seem particularly high in Nottingham. PHE said latest figures showed cases of mumps in England had decreased in 2018, with 1,024 confirmed cases compared with 1,796 in 2017. There have also been a handful of reported cases at the universities of Bath, Hull and Liverpool and in the US - specifically Temple University, in Philadelphia, which has recorded about 100 people with signs of the infection. There does not appear to be any reason as to why the Nottingham numbers are much higher, though experts have said it could be that there are more in the city who are not immune. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students outside an emergency clinic at Temple University, in Philadelphia Professor Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham - an expert in viruses and viral vaccines and treatments - said it was affecting students because they gathered in "close proximity for fairly large periods of time". This would include in halls of residence, lecture theatres or even at nightclubs, which hold specific nights aimed at students. "The virus [could] spread fairly easy, especially if there are relatively large numbers of people who have not been vaccinated," he said. A marine biology student at the University of Hull, who did not want to give his name, said he started feeling ill while on a field trip to the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland. He said a local doctor diagnosed mumps but also sent away a swab for it to be confirmed, as mumps is a notifiable disease in England and Wales. The 19-year-old, who said he knew at least two others who had the symptoms, had to be isolated and driven home, avoiding public transport because of the risk of others being infected. Yes. Dr Vanessa MacGregor, from PHE, said it had seen a rise in figures recently, with teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine "particularly vulnerable". The NHS says the vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, in which a child is given one dose when they are 12 to 13 months old, and a second at three years and four months. Dr MacGregor urged those who have not had the MMR vaccine - or only received one dose - to ensure they took up the offer of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students in Philadelphia have been taking the MMR jab The University of Hull student also said it was "strange" he had contracted the infection because he had received both doses and this had been confirmed by his father. According to Prof Ball, the mumps part of the vaccine is the "least effective". He said: "For the mumps vaccine, we expect about 88% of people vaccinated to be protected, whereas for the measles vaccine this is as high as 98%. "If you then add unvaccinated people into the mix, it is easy to see how a relatively contagious virus as mumps can spread so easily." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mumps was once common in children before vaccinations began in the 1980s He said this was further complicated, because some people who are infected show little or no symptoms at all. However, if the majority were vaccinated, those susceptible to the infection would benefit from "herd immunity", the level considered by experts to protect a population from a disease. But, as Prof Ball states: "If you start to reduce the numbers of people being vaccinated, then that herd protection just isn't there." According to BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym, the reason for uptake declining in many countries was not clear. The "damaging" work of discredited scientist and struck-off medic Andrew Wakefield in the 1990s "helped fuel the fire of the anti-vaccine movement," according to Prof Ball. In 1998, the doctor led a study that linked the MMR vaccine to autism, impacting on the coverage of the vaccine, with rates dropping to about 80% in the late 1990s and a low of 79% in 2003. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The GMC ruled that Andrew Wakefield acted "irresponsibly" in carrying out his research Rates partially recovered after the research was disproved but the volume of anti-vaccine sentiment on social media has increased in recent years. This led Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to call for new laws to force social media companies to remove content that promoted false information about vaccines. Prof Ball said there were rarely "side effects" with vaccines and even if there was, the benefits outweighed these. "Because we have lived through a golden age of vaccination, we have forgotten just how harmful, and sometimes even fatal, these virus infections can be," he said. Dr Natalie Riddell, a lecturer in immunology and ageing at the University of Surrey, said a reduced amount of people being vaccinated against any contagious disease was dangerous. "Babies and immuno-compromised people [such as the elderly or those receiving chemotherapy] rely on the rest of us to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease," she said. "It is totally unnecessary for people to risk their friends and family becoming ill, or even dying, from measles or mumps, as there is a safe and effective vaccine to protect against both." Prof Ball said poor vaccine uptake worldwide had led to an increase in outbreaks of mumps and measles and we should "expect things to get worse" before they get better. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The University of Nottingham has been hit by the mumps virus Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
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Mumps confirmed at Nottingham Trent University and University of Nottingham. There have also been reported cases at Bath, Hull and Liverpool and in the US. Experts say it is affecting students because they gather in close proximity.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-47736643
| 0.41979 |
Why are university students catching mumps?
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Image copyright Reuters Image caption Uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine has gone down in recent years Mumps - a contagious viral infection that causes swelling of the glands - has been in the news this week following a confirmed outbreak at two universities. A total of 223 suspected cases were reported, with 40 confirmed, across Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham. That has now risen to 241 suspected cases with 51 confirmed by Public Health England (PHE). BBC News has taken a look at why this is and whether university students are still at risk. The numbers seem particularly high in Nottingham. PHE said latest figures showed cases of mumps in England had decreased in 2018, with 1,024 confirmed cases compared with 1,796 in 2017. There have also been a handful of reported cases at the universities of Bath, Hull and Liverpool and in the US - specifically Temple University, in Philadelphia, which has recorded about 100 people with signs of the infection. There does not appear to be any reason as to why the Nottingham numbers are much higher, though experts have said it could be that there are more in the city who are not immune. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students outside an emergency clinic at Temple University, in Philadelphia Professor Jonathan Ball, from the University of Nottingham - an expert in viruses and viral vaccines and treatments - said it was affecting students because they gathered in "close proximity for fairly large periods of time". This would include in halls of residence, lecture theatres or even at nightclubs, which hold specific nights aimed at students. "The virus [could] spread fairly easy, especially if there are relatively large numbers of people who have not been vaccinated," he said. A marine biology student at the University of Hull, who did not want to give his name, said he started feeling ill while on a field trip to the Isle of Cumbrae in Scotland. He said a local doctor diagnosed mumps but also sent away a swab for it to be confirmed, as mumps is a notifiable disease in England and Wales. The 19-year-old, who said he knew at least two others who had the symptoms, had to be isolated and driven home, avoiding public transport because of the risk of others being infected. Yes. Dr Vanessa MacGregor, from PHE, said it had seen a rise in figures recently, with teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine "particularly vulnerable". The NHS says the vaccine is part of the routine childhood immunisation schedule, in which a child is given one dose when they are 12 to 13 months old, and a second at three years and four months. Dr MacGregor urged those who have not had the MMR vaccine - or only received one dose - to ensure they took up the offer of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccination. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Students in Philadelphia have been taking the MMR jab The University of Hull student also said it was "strange" he had contracted the infection because he had received both doses and this had been confirmed by his father. According to Prof Ball, the mumps part of the vaccine is the "least effective". He said: "For the mumps vaccine, we expect about 88% of people vaccinated to be protected, whereas for the measles vaccine this is as high as 98%. "If you then add unvaccinated people into the mix, it is easy to see how a relatively contagious virus as mumps can spread so easily." Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mumps was once common in children before vaccinations began in the 1980s He said this was further complicated, because some people who are infected show little or no symptoms at all. However, if the majority were vaccinated, those susceptible to the infection would benefit from "herd immunity", the level considered by experts to protect a population from a disease. But, as Prof Ball states: "If you start to reduce the numbers of people being vaccinated, then that herd protection just isn't there." According to BBC Health Editor Hugh Pym, the reason for uptake declining in many countries was not clear. The "damaging" work of discredited scientist and struck-off medic Andrew Wakefield in the 1990s "helped fuel the fire of the anti-vaccine movement," according to Prof Ball. In 1998, the doctor led a study that linked the MMR vaccine to autism, impacting on the coverage of the vaccine, with rates dropping to about 80% in the late 1990s and a low of 79% in 2003. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The GMC ruled that Andrew Wakefield acted "irresponsibly" in carrying out his research Rates partially recovered after the research was disproved but the volume of anti-vaccine sentiment on social media has increased in recent years. This led Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock to call for new laws to force social media companies to remove content that promoted false information about vaccines. Prof Ball said there were rarely "side effects" with vaccines and even if there was, the benefits outweighed these. "Because we have lived through a golden age of vaccination, we have forgotten just how harmful, and sometimes even fatal, these virus infections can be," he said. Dr Natalie Riddell, a lecturer in immunology and ageing at the University of Surrey, said a reduced amount of people being vaccinated against any contagious disease was dangerous. "Babies and immuno-compromised people [such as the elderly or those receiving chemotherapy] rely on the rest of us to be vaccinated to prevent the spread of disease," she said. "It is totally unnecessary for people to risk their friends and family becoming ill, or even dying, from measles or mumps, as there is a safe and effective vaccine to protect against both." Prof Ball said poor vaccine uptake worldwide had led to an increase in outbreaks of mumps and measles and we should "expect things to get worse" before they get better. Image copyright Getty Images Image caption The University of Nottingham has been hit by the mumps virus Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.
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Mumps confirmed at Nottingham Trent University and University of Nottingham. There have also been reported cases at Bath, Hull and Liverpool and in the US. Experts say it is affecting students because they gather in "close proximity" Uptake of the measles, mumps, and rubella virus (MMR) vaccine has gone down.
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-nottinghamshire-47736643
| 0.471751 |
Can Collaboration Fuel Asia's Philanthropic Power?
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More than half of the worlds economic growth in recent years came from Asia. This eastward shift of the worlds economic center of gravity is fueling the expansion of individual wealth, with the number of high-net-worth individuals in Asia nearly doubling since 2012. According to the Forbes World's Billionaires list for 2019, one out of five newly minted billionaires from last year came from China, making up the largest number of new billionaires in the world. With growing wealth comes the potential for a new era of charitable giving laser-focused on solving the worlds most intractable problemslike climate change, inequality and scarce food supplies. That this can be Asian-led is unprecedented. In fact, according to the Doing Good Index 2018, Asian philanthropists have the capacity to contribute $500 billion in charitable giving, surpassing that of the U.S. China, for example, has already begun to unleash this potential by harnessing the highest number of millionaires engaged in environmental, social and governance-related investing. Across the region, a new generation of globally minded and mission-driven ultra-rich are now taking the helm of the exponential growth in capital. This convergence uniquely positions Asia to fuel a new model of philanthropy that can make the biggest bets in bridging the $2.5 trillion funding gap needed to solve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Yet despite a strong heritage of collective action among Asian cultures, philanthropy in the region has also traditionally been a lonely mission. This is beginning to change, with a number of consortiums and alliances taking root. But as development challenges become increasingly globalized and complex, the time has come to accelerate collaboration and the pooling of resources to create outsized impact. Getty Bolder momentum, bigger bets As one of the worlds oldest family established philanthropies, we at The Rockefeller Foundation believe we have a clear answer: a partnership among Asias diverse and inspired philanthropists who share a like-minded mission to improve the well-being of humanity. Issues such as climate change and halting the spread of HIV go beyond national borders and require information, capital and know-how to be shared, and activities to be coordinated to effect lasting change. Asias ultra-rich, old and new, are already well-known for being pillars of their communities, shepherding and contributing to economic and social transformation. This sense of community can and should be elevated to a global level with Asias next generation of givers. Collaborative philanthropy helps to amplify and structure developmental programs for outsized impact. Consider Project ECHO, which re-imagines the way healthcare delivery is made by connecting frontline providers, specialists, public institutions and private sector entities to provide more accessible healthcare around the world. By catalyzing collaboration between several philanthropic organizations, the project seeks to transform Indias healthcare delivery system over the next five years and make healthcare accessible to between 3 and 6 million people. This was made possible by a grant from Co-Impacta collaborative initiative among various philanthropic organizations including The Rockefeller Foundationwhich deployed $80 million in its first round of grant-making to reach 9 million people across Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Project ECHO demonstrates that strong partnership between philanthropiststhose best positioned to contribute risk capital and pool resourcesprogram partners and anchor organizations with local credibility, can make a difference for millions. Imagine the possibilities of a strategic, collective effort by Asian philanthropists. Imagine a new paradigm, where the sense of communityingrained in family values and powered by modern capitalcan create the building blocks for a new, sustained model of economic growth and opportunity. Take the Asia Philanthropy Circle, where more than 30 philanthropists have pooled their resources under a community impact fund to make greater impact in Indonesia and Myanmar, or the Paradise International Foundation, led by Jack Ma and Pony Ma, who are bringing together the efforts of a range of philanthropic actors to better protect the environment in China. Collaboration not only pools resources, but creates disciplined mechanisms for learning, measurement and accountability. Big problems require big partnerships. Globally, most grants award less than $10 million and have short horizons of approximately 1 to 2 years, with many uncoordinated funders each with their own requirements. This encourages social changemakers to think and act small. By banding together around common themes and a commitment to results, philanthropists have the power to dare social innovators to build bigger and bolder, empowering them to create the breakthrough solutions that will help billions of people rise out of poverty and vulnerability. The regions growing number of philanthropists care deeply about addressing the greatest social and environmental challenges of our time and want to be a part of a lasting, transformational change. Ultimately, large, widespread challenges are impossible to solve with a single intervention, or one philanthropic actor, no matter how big the investment. Lasting, transformative change takes time, some dimension of partnership across sectors, and a considered, strategic marshaling of resources. From this vantage point, by bringing their resources, social values, networks and deep-rooted culture of collectivism to bear, Asias philanthropists are in an enviable position to shape a new era of giving and a legacy of the impact that can transform the world.
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The Rockefeller Foundation calls for collaboration among Asian philanthropists.
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ctrlsum
| 0 |
https://www.forbes.com/sites/deepalikhanna/2019/03/31/can-collaboration-fuel-asias-philanthropic-power/
| 0.264517 |
Can Collaboration Fuel Asia's Philanthropic Power?
|
More than half of the worlds economic growth in recent years came from Asia. This eastward shift of the worlds economic center of gravity is fueling the expansion of individual wealth, with the number of high-net-worth individuals in Asia nearly doubling since 2012. According to the Forbes World's Billionaires list for 2019, one out of five newly minted billionaires from last year came from China, making up the largest number of new billionaires in the world. With growing wealth comes the potential for a new era of charitable giving laser-focused on solving the worlds most intractable problemslike climate change, inequality and scarce food supplies. That this can be Asian-led is unprecedented. In fact, according to the Doing Good Index 2018, Asian philanthropists have the capacity to contribute $500 billion in charitable giving, surpassing that of the U.S. China, for example, has already begun to unleash this potential by harnessing the highest number of millionaires engaged in environmental, social and governance-related investing. Across the region, a new generation of globally minded and mission-driven ultra-rich are now taking the helm of the exponential growth in capital. This convergence uniquely positions Asia to fuel a new model of philanthropy that can make the biggest bets in bridging the $2.5 trillion funding gap needed to solve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Yet despite a strong heritage of collective action among Asian cultures, philanthropy in the region has also traditionally been a lonely mission. This is beginning to change, with a number of consortiums and alliances taking root. But as development challenges become increasingly globalized and complex, the time has come to accelerate collaboration and the pooling of resources to create outsized impact. Getty Bolder momentum, bigger bets As one of the worlds oldest family established philanthropies, we at The Rockefeller Foundation believe we have a clear answer: a partnership among Asias diverse and inspired philanthropists who share a like-minded mission to improve the well-being of humanity. Issues such as climate change and halting the spread of HIV go beyond national borders and require information, capital and know-how to be shared, and activities to be coordinated to effect lasting change. Asias ultra-rich, old and new, are already well-known for being pillars of their communities, shepherding and contributing to economic and social transformation. This sense of community can and should be elevated to a global level with Asias next generation of givers. Collaborative philanthropy helps to amplify and structure developmental programs for outsized impact. Consider Project ECHO, which re-imagines the way healthcare delivery is made by connecting frontline providers, specialists, public institutions and private sector entities to provide more accessible healthcare around the world. By catalyzing collaboration between several philanthropic organizations, the project seeks to transform Indias healthcare delivery system over the next five years and make healthcare accessible to between 3 and 6 million people. This was made possible by a grant from Co-Impacta collaborative initiative among various philanthropic organizations including The Rockefeller Foundationwhich deployed $80 million in its first round of grant-making to reach 9 million people across Africa, South Asia and Latin America. Project ECHO demonstrates that strong partnership between philanthropiststhose best positioned to contribute risk capital and pool resourcesprogram partners and anchor organizations with local credibility, can make a difference for millions. Imagine the possibilities of a strategic, collective effort by Asian philanthropists. Imagine a new paradigm, where the sense of communityingrained in family values and powered by modern capitalcan create the building blocks for a new, sustained model of economic growth and opportunity. Take the Asia Philanthropy Circle, where more than 30 philanthropists have pooled their resources under a community impact fund to make greater impact in Indonesia and Myanmar, or the Paradise International Foundation, led by Jack Ma and Pony Ma, who are bringing together the efforts of a range of philanthropic actors to better protect the environment in China. Collaboration not only pools resources, but creates disciplined mechanisms for learning, measurement and accountability. Big problems require big partnerships. Globally, most grants award less than $10 million and have short horizons of approximately 1 to 2 years, with many uncoordinated funders each with their own requirements. This encourages social changemakers to think and act small. By banding together around common themes and a commitment to results, philanthropists have the power to dare social innovators to build bigger and bolder, empowering them to create the breakthrough solutions that will help billions of people rise out of poverty and vulnerability. The regions growing number of philanthropists care deeply about addressing the greatest social and environmental challenges of our time and want to be a part of a lasting, transformational change. Ultimately, large, widespread challenges are impossible to solve with a single intervention, or one philanthropic actor, no matter how big the investment. Lasting, transformative change takes time, some dimension of partnership across sectors, and a considered, strategic marshaling of resources. From this vantage point, by bringing their resources, social values, networks and deep-rooted culture of collectivism to bear, Asias philanthropists are in an enviable position to shape a new era of giving and a legacy of the impact that can transform the world.
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The Rockefeller Foundation is calling for a new era of philanthropy in Asia. It is calling on the region's ultra-rich to collaborate with one another to make a difference.
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https://www.forbes.com/sites/deepalikhanna/2019/03/31/can-collaboration-fuel-asias-philanthropic-power/
| 0.218951 |
Should Rep. Adam Schiff resign as Chair of the House Intelligence Committee?
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By Cait Bladt Republicans in Congress and the White House are calling for Rep. Adam Schiff to resign his position as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. The president and his supporters say Schiff perpetuated a false narrative about Trump and his potential illegal activities. Schiff, for his part, says that while he supports Robert Mueller and his investigation, he does not believe the conclusion of that investigation should be the end of all investigations into the president. As soon as Barrs summary of the Mueller report was released, the president began calling for retribution against those he felt lead a wrongful investigation into him and his administration. Schiff was first on that list. Per The Hill: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! the president said in an early morning tweet. Nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee, which Schiff chairs, called for him to step down. Per NBC News: Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, introduced the scathing letter during a public committee hearing Thursday and then read it aloud. "Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming," Conaway said. "The findings of the special counsel conclusively refute your past and present exertions, and have exposed you of having abused your position to knowingly promote false information." "Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman of this committee," Conaway added. "As such, we have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your constitutional responsibility, and urge your immediate resignation as chairman of the committee." Schiff, however, says he still sees value in continuing the multiple investigations into the president he has been overseeing. Rep. Adam Schiff: "Until we're satisfied, I think, that we have pursued credible allegations of conflict of interest or compromise, we are not done." pic.twitter.com/ESt1NAEB0B The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Schiff delivered a passionate speech defending both Robert Muellers investigation and his decision to maintain his seat and continue the investigations. Rep. Adam Schiff: "I do not think that conduct, criminal or not, is okay -- and the day we do think that's okay is the day we will look back and say that is the day America lost its way." https://t.co/5W1w80eKqZ pic.twitter.com/lP5Dkddyvu The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Mueller report over 300 pages; Democrats demand full release Trump has said he's fine with releasing the findings. 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.
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Republicans in Congress and the White House are calling for Rep. Adam Schiff to resign his position as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
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pegasus
| 0 |
https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/should-rep-adam-schiff-resign-as-chair-of-the-house-intelligence-committee.html
| 0.208515 |
Should Rep. Adam Schiff resign as Chair of the House Intelligence Committee?
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By Cait Bladt Republicans in Congress and the White House are calling for Rep. Adam Schiff to resign his position as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. The president and his supporters say Schiff perpetuated a false narrative about Trump and his potential illegal activities. Schiff, for his part, says that while he supports Robert Mueller and his investigation, he does not believe the conclusion of that investigation should be the end of all investigations into the president. As soon as Barrs summary of the Mueller report was released, the president began calling for retribution against those he felt lead a wrongful investigation into him and his administration. Schiff was first on that list. Per The Hill: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! the president said in an early morning tweet. Nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee, which Schiff chairs, called for him to step down. Per NBC News: Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, introduced the scathing letter during a public committee hearing Thursday and then read it aloud. "Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming," Conaway said. "The findings of the special counsel conclusively refute your past and present exertions, and have exposed you of having abused your position to knowingly promote false information." "Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman of this committee," Conaway added. "As such, we have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your constitutional responsibility, and urge your immediate resignation as chairman of the committee." Schiff, however, says he still sees value in continuing the multiple investigations into the president he has been overseeing. Rep. Adam Schiff: "Until we're satisfied, I think, that we have pursued credible allegations of conflict of interest or compromise, we are not done." pic.twitter.com/ESt1NAEB0B The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Schiff delivered a passionate speech defending both Robert Muellers investigation and his decision to maintain his seat and continue the investigations. Rep. Adam Schiff: "I do not think that conduct, criminal or not, is okay -- and the day we do think that's okay is the day we will look back and say that is the day America lost its way." https://t.co/5W1w80eKqZ pic.twitter.com/lP5Dkddyvu The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Mueller report over 300 pages; Democrats demand full release Trump has said he's fine with releasing the findings. 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.
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Republicans in Congress and the White House are calling for Rep. Adam Schiff to resign his position as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. The president and his supporters say Schiff perpetuated a false narrative about Trump and his potential illegal activities.
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pegasus
| 1 |
https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/should-rep-adam-schiff-resign-as-chair-of-the-house-intelligence-committee.html
| 0.279478 |
Should Rep. Adam Schiff resign as Chair of the House Intelligence Committee?
|
By Cait Bladt Republicans in Congress and the White House are calling for Rep. Adam Schiff to resign his position as the Chair of the House Intelligence Committee. The president and his supporters say Schiff perpetuated a false narrative about Trump and his potential illegal activities. Schiff, for his part, says that while he supports Robert Mueller and his investigation, he does not believe the conclusion of that investigation should be the end of all investigations into the president. As soon as Barrs summary of the Mueller report was released, the president began calling for retribution against those he felt lead a wrongful investigation into him and his administration. Schiff was first on that list. Per The Hill: Congressman Adam Schiff, who spent two years knowingly and unlawfully lying and leaking, should be forced to resign from Congress! the president said in an early morning tweet. Nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee, which Schiff chairs, called for him to step down. Per NBC News: Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Texas, introduced the scathing letter during a public committee hearing Thursday and then read it aloud. "Your willingness to continue to promote a demonstrably false narrative is alarming," Conaway said. "The findings of the special counsel conclusively refute your past and present exertions, and have exposed you of having abused your position to knowingly promote false information." "Your actions both past and present are incompatible with your duty as chairman of this committee," Conaway added. "As such, we have no faith in your ability to discharge your duties in a manner consistent with your constitutional responsibility, and urge your immediate resignation as chairman of the committee." Schiff, however, says he still sees value in continuing the multiple investigations into the president he has been overseeing. Rep. Adam Schiff: "Until we're satisfied, I think, that we have pursued credible allegations of conflict of interest or compromise, we are not done." pic.twitter.com/ESt1NAEB0B The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Schiff delivered a passionate speech defending both Robert Muellers investigation and his decision to maintain his seat and continue the investigations. Rep. Adam Schiff: "I do not think that conduct, criminal or not, is okay -- and the day we do think that's okay is the day we will look back and say that is the day America lost its way." https://t.co/5W1w80eKqZ pic.twitter.com/lP5Dkddyvu The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2019 Mueller report over 300 pages; Democrats demand full release Trump has said he's fine with releasing the findings. 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.
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Nine Republican members of the House Intelligence Committee, which Schiff chairs, called for him to step down. The president and his supporters say Schiff perpetuated a false narrative about Trump and his potential illegal activities. Schiff, however, says he still sees value in continuing the multiple investigations into the president he has been overseeing.
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ctrlsum
| 2 |
https://www.nola.com/tylt/2019/03/should-rep-adam-schiff-resign-as-chair-of-the-house-intelligence-committee.html
| 0.101147 |
How will a 2.7 mile Outer Banks bridge be destroyed?
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A big, dramatic explosion would definitely be a memorable way to say goodbye to the 55-year-old bridge, but engineers say their plan is just the opposite. Thats partly because flying debris could damage the replacement bridge that just opened a few weeks ago. Instead, the 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart, piece by piece, and carted off on barges. The work has already begun and should take about 10 months, officials told the Charlotte Observer. The whole thing will be dangerous, because we are compromising the structure of the bridge as we go, said the projects resident, Pablo Hernandez. Were doing it in a controlled fashion, but when you cut things loose, they can swing away from you in directions you didnt predict. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Here are some of the lesser-known details of the demolition project, according to Hernandez: There are oddities lost under the bridge: Over the past 50 years, the state has dropped countless oddities under the bridge to stabilize the sand around the pilings. Boulders, baskets and metal mattresses filled with rock, and gigantic jacks (like the childrens toy), are just a few of the things 30 feet below the surfaces. Some must be removed, but the projects engineers arent exactly sure where they are located. 1,000 feet of the old bridge is being kept intact for a surprising reason: The N.C. Department of Transportation is keeping 1,000 feet of the Bonner Bridge intact at the south end, as a pedestrian and fishing pier. But that is only part of the reason it was saved. Turns out a strong current of water called the Davis Slough flows under that section of the bridge, and removing it would change the flow pattern in Oregon Inlet in ways that could not be predicted. Beach erosion and rough currents could result. The bridges end posts have been saved: The 4-foot-long end posts (with metal plaques) at the north end of the bridge were sawed off last week and are being saved as historic artifacts. They will eventually go on display. The bridges bits and pieces will be used to create reefs: The 140,000 pounds of concrete and metal will be hauled out to sea on barges and dumped into the ocean to make four artificial reefs. The sites are 5 to 12 miles off of Oregon Inlet. (No asphalt will be included for environmental reasons.) Disturbing marine mammals is forbidden during the work: If a dolphin, sea turtle, manatee or any other marine mammal swims up to the bridge or under it during work, everything must stop until the animal has moved away. Not all of the pilings that held up the bridge will be removed: Environmentalist have determined that removing the pilings in marshes at the north end of the bridge will cause harm to marine life, so pilings in those areas will be cut off at water level.
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The 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart.
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ctrlsum
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https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article228273989.html
| 0.129216 |
How will a 2.7 mile Outer Banks bridge be destroyed?
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A big, dramatic explosion would definitely be a memorable way to say goodbye to the 55-year-old bridge, but engineers say their plan is just the opposite. Thats partly because flying debris could damage the replacement bridge that just opened a few weeks ago. Instead, the 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart, piece by piece, and carted off on barges. The work has already begun and should take about 10 months, officials told the Charlotte Observer. The whole thing will be dangerous, because we are compromising the structure of the bridge as we go, said the projects resident, Pablo Hernandez. Were doing it in a controlled fashion, but when you cut things loose, they can swing away from you in directions you didnt predict. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Here are some of the lesser-known details of the demolition project, according to Hernandez: There are oddities lost under the bridge: Over the past 50 years, the state has dropped countless oddities under the bridge to stabilize the sand around the pilings. Boulders, baskets and metal mattresses filled with rock, and gigantic jacks (like the childrens toy), are just a few of the things 30 feet below the surfaces. Some must be removed, but the projects engineers arent exactly sure where they are located. 1,000 feet of the old bridge is being kept intact for a surprising reason: The N.C. Department of Transportation is keeping 1,000 feet of the Bonner Bridge intact at the south end, as a pedestrian and fishing pier. But that is only part of the reason it was saved. Turns out a strong current of water called the Davis Slough flows under that section of the bridge, and removing it would change the flow pattern in Oregon Inlet in ways that could not be predicted. Beach erosion and rough currents could result. The bridges end posts have been saved: The 4-foot-long end posts (with metal plaques) at the north end of the bridge were sawed off last week and are being saved as historic artifacts. They will eventually go on display. The bridges bits and pieces will be used to create reefs: The 140,000 pounds of concrete and metal will be hauled out to sea on barges and dumped into the ocean to make four artificial reefs. The sites are 5 to 12 miles off of Oregon Inlet. (No asphalt will be included for environmental reasons.) Disturbing marine mammals is forbidden during the work: If a dolphin, sea turtle, manatee or any other marine mammal swims up to the bridge or under it during work, everything must stop until the animal has moved away. Not all of the pilings that held up the bridge will be removed: Environmentalist have determined that removing the pilings in marshes at the north end of the bridge will cause harm to marine life, so pilings in those areas will be cut off at water level.
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The 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart, piece by piece, and carted off on barges. The work has already begun and should take about 10 months.
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pegasus
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https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article228273989.html
| 0.284834 |
How will a 2.7 mile Outer Banks bridge be destroyed?
|
A big, dramatic explosion would definitely be a memorable way to say goodbye to the 55-year-old bridge, but engineers say their plan is just the opposite. Thats partly because flying debris could damage the replacement bridge that just opened a few weeks ago. Instead, the 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart, piece by piece, and carted off on barges. The work has already begun and should take about 10 months, officials told the Charlotte Observer. The whole thing will be dangerous, because we are compromising the structure of the bridge as we go, said the projects resident, Pablo Hernandez. Were doing it in a controlled fashion, but when you cut things loose, they can swing away from you in directions you didnt predict. FLASH SALE! Unlimited digital access for $3.99 per month Don't miss this great deal. Offer ends on March 31st! Here are some of the lesser-known details of the demolition project, according to Hernandez: There are oddities lost under the bridge: Over the past 50 years, the state has dropped countless oddities under the bridge to stabilize the sand around the pilings. Boulders, baskets and metal mattresses filled with rock, and gigantic jacks (like the childrens toy), are just a few of the things 30 feet below the surfaces. Some must be removed, but the projects engineers arent exactly sure where they are located. 1,000 feet of the old bridge is being kept intact for a surprising reason: The N.C. Department of Transportation is keeping 1,000 feet of the Bonner Bridge intact at the south end, as a pedestrian and fishing pier. But that is only part of the reason it was saved. Turns out a strong current of water called the Davis Slough flows under that section of the bridge, and removing it would change the flow pattern in Oregon Inlet in ways that could not be predicted. Beach erosion and rough currents could result. The bridges end posts have been saved: The 4-foot-long end posts (with metal plaques) at the north end of the bridge were sawed off last week and are being saved as historic artifacts. They will eventually go on display. The bridges bits and pieces will be used to create reefs: The 140,000 pounds of concrete and metal will be hauled out to sea on barges and dumped into the ocean to make four artificial reefs. The sites are 5 to 12 miles off of Oregon Inlet. (No asphalt will be included for environmental reasons.) Disturbing marine mammals is forbidden during the work: If a dolphin, sea turtle, manatee or any other marine mammal swims up to the bridge or under it during work, everything must stop until the animal has moved away. Not all of the pilings that held up the bridge will be removed: Environmentalist have determined that removing the pilings in marshes at the north end of the bridge will cause harm to marine life, so pilings in those areas will be cut off at water level.
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The 2.7-mile bridge on N.C. 12 is going to be painstakingly sawed apart, piece by piece, and carted off on barges. The bridges bits and pieces will be used to create reefs. The demolition will take about 10 months.
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https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article228273989.html
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Is civil rights icon Cesar Chvez's legacy ignored in his hometown of Yuma?
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Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore. Chvez He was born on March 31, 1927, in Arizona, where the desert is made soft and fertile alongside water that flows through the Colorado and Gila rivers near Yuma. He was named after his grandfather Cesario, an escaped slave who traveled from his home in Chihuahua, Mexico to work the railroads and fields of Arizona. He died in 1993 near the Arizona-Mexico border his grandfather had crossed more than 100 years earlier. Cesar Estrada Chvez was baptized Catholic in the faith of his parents, his grandparents and the many ancestors who came before them. He grew up on the homestead his grandfather established in North Gila Valley in Yuma County about 10 miles from the big city. His parents ran a grocery store, an auto repair shop and a pool hall, near his grandfathers farm until the Great Depression forced the young family back to the family homestead, according to a National Park Service report. At home, he learned from parents who taught him to work with his hands, farming the Chvez familys 100 acres. At school, he learned from books and children who didnt look like him. He experienced racism and discrimination as a young child," branded as a dirty Mexican at the public school in Yuma, states an NPS study to assess the historical significance of sites and resources associated with Chvez and the farm-labor movement. "Such experiences taught Chvez how discrimination made its targets feel excluded and inferior." Subscribe to azcentral.com. In the 1930s, as the Depression deepened, the Chvez family lost their land. They left Yuma County. They left the adobe home with sturdy mudbrick walls that his grandfather built with his hands. In California, they joined migrant farmworkers. Decades later, after founding a farmworkers movement that drew international support for a boycott of inhumane working conditions. After winning the admiration of fieldworkers and presidents and fueling the ire of powerful growers. After inspiring music, art and people with fights for social justice, Chvez would return to Yuma to battle a lawsuit against the United Farm Workers Union. The answer is just as relevant today On April 22, 1993, after a long day in the courtroom, Chvez drove through Latino neighborhoods in Yuma and San Luis, according to UFW archives. Places he recognized from his childhood. Places where farmworkers who picked lettuce, lemons, wheat and other crops lived. NEWSLETTERS Get the AZ Memo newsletter delivered to your inbox We're sorry, but something went wrong Get the pulse of Arizona -- Local news, in-depth state coverage and what it all means for you Please try again soon, or contact Customer Service at 1-800-332-6733. Delivery: Mon-Fri Invalid email address Thank you! You're almost signed up for AZ Memo Keep an eye out for an email to confirm your newsletter registration. More newsletters He settled at the San Luis home of Dofla Maria Hau, a friend and former farmworker. That night, his loved ones said they saw the weight of the trial on Chvezs face. He told them to take care of themselves, went to his room and fell asleep reading. In the morning, he was found dead, holding a book about Native American crafts in his hands, according to UFW archives. Six days later, mourners came from across the nation to the UFWs field office in Delano. More than 50,000 people farmworkers, families and dignitaries walked Chvez to his final resting place. CLOSE Civil rights icon Csar Chvez formed the National Association of Farm Workers to protect the rights and increase the wages of unionized workers. Diana Payan, The Republic | azcentral.com When we are really honest with ourselves we must admit that our lives are all that really belong to us. So, it's how we use our lives that determines what kind of men we are. It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life. Chvez Henry Valenzuela was born and raised in Yuma. He lets loose a long sigh and says it was only about a year ago that he learned Chvez was born, went to school and died in the Yuma area. How do I not know this? he said. Were hoping we can change that. Let people in Yuma know how he changed the lives of so many. Valenzuela, 40, is the treasurer and spokesman for the Cesar Chavez Legacy political action committee. The group came together after sharing a common concern: Yuma, a place rich with the history of an American and Latino civil rights icon, has no major recognition for Chvez. Valenzuela said the group has emailed the Yuma City Council asking for a main street to be named after Chvez, for the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex to be named after him and for the city to establish a holiday in Chvezs name. No one has responded to their request, he said. The Yuma mayor and council members did not immediately respond to an Arizona Republic email for comment. He struggles to understand. It would be as if Martin Luther King Jr. was born here and died here and wed done nothing, he said. All over the country people know who Cesar Chvez is. He is one of our most well known civil-rights leaders in our country. And weve done nothing. Nothing. Cesar Chavez (Photo: The Republic) He worries about why. There are some powerful business owners, land owners, farmers in the community that have opposed any honoring or any promotion of the legacy of Cesar Chvez, and its because they lived through the era when the United Farmworkers were trying to come to Yuma and they resisted that, he said. One proposal would change 16th Street to Cesar Chvez Street. The group has talked with leaders who are considering a proposal to change Highway 95, which stretches across Arizona, cuts through Yuma along 16th Street and extends south to the border in San Luis where Chvez died. They like to imagine that by this time next year, people in Yuma will be gathering to honor Chvez with renaming ceremonies and a day of service on an official holiday in his name. But theyll compromise. Really, any main street would do, Valenzuela said. Theyre fine with sharing. Marking a street sign with its original name and Chvez's would do. Theyll take an unpaid holiday, as long as it's dedicated to Chvez. In this region along the border, where cultures, traditions and languages mix, sometimes things take time. But its past time, Valenzuela said. In San Luis, 22 miles south of Yuma, they have the Cesar Chvez Cultural Center, where families learn art, music and dance. There's a statue of Chvez in the town square. They have Cesar Chvez Street that runs parallel to Main Street and stops just short of the U.S.-Mexico border. And this year, the city approved a resolution adding Cesar Chvez Day as an official holiday. Cesar Chavez is a hero to many and an inspiration to all, who made history by speaking up for the voiceless and advocating for the rights and dignity of farmworkers, Mayor Gerardo Sanchez said in a statement on the recognition. CLOSE Phoenix residents gathered to celebrate the history of the Santa Rita Center during a community open-mic night. Wochit Valenzuela believes any recognition of Chvez is not just for fieldworkers, but for the dignity of work and of labor for all jobs." But there's another reason to remember. One Valenzuela keeps coming back to, maybe, because hes a police officer in a border state in a divided country. Chvez faced inhumanity and injustice with nonviolent marches, hunger strikes and boycotts. What we need in our country right now if you think about the last several years, the violent protests that have happened throughout our country we need to give an example to people who want change, that change can happen and violence is not necessary, he said. For now, when people ask Valenzuela if there's anything official for Chvez in Yuma, he points them to a mural. The one near a high school that bears the Latino icon's face. But not his name. History will judge societies and governments and their institutions not by how big they are or how well they serve the rich and the powerful, but by how effectively they respond to the needs of the poor and the helpless. Chvez Alejandro Chvez isnt surprised Yuma doesnt recognize his grandfather. If you think about it, we were among the last states to get Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a holiday, he said. President Ronald Reagan approved the first national King holiday, celebrated in 1986. The late Sen. John McCain famously voted against establishing the federal holiday in Kings honor. Decades later, McCain said he was wrong to oppose the recognition. Arizonans voted down establishing a state holiday for the civil-rights leader, but after losing the 1993 Super Bowl because of the snub, voters returned to the polls and approved the MLK holiday. READ MORE: Gosar wants Chavez's birthday to be 'National Border Control Day' Upon McCains death, Arizonans and people across the U.S. have sought recognition for the late senator who was born in the Panama Canal Zone. Chvez likes to think that the sentiment for McCain will ease the way for similar recognition for his grandfather, an Arizona native. But like his grandfather, he knows justice moves slowly. Chvez served in the U.S. Navy for two years, from 1944-46. At the time Mexican-Americans were only allowed to serve as deckhands and painters. Chvez's family has said he entered the Navy for opportunity and left it because of discrimination. In 2015, 22 years after his death, a sailor named Marco Valdovinos organized a ceremony to render final military honors to Chvez. Something he didn't receive upon his death, according to Navy Times. Maybe, one day, Arizona will recognize Cesar Chvez Day as an official state holiday, like California does, Chvez said. For now, he celebrates his grandfathers legacy at Arizona schools, churches and community celebrations in cities that choose to recognize Chvez with a local holiday. RELATED: Glendale dedicates street in honor of Cesar Chavez On Thursday, Chvez read the Prayer of the Farm Workers Struggle/Oracin del Campesino en la Lucha at his childs Phoenix school. Show me the suffering of the most miserable; So I will know my peoples plight. Chvez likes knowing his own son was born in the same state as his grandfather. Lately, he's been thinking about his grandfather's past and what opportunities his son's generation will have in a country with growing economic disparity. Its a prime time to recognize my grandfathers work not just for farmworkers, but in bridging the gap between the most powerful industry in California and the workers, he said. "With everything happening now, what better way to honor the dignity of work and the value of bridging the gaps we have now?" Csar Chvez The Republic Cesar Chavez, head of the United Farm Workers of America, is shown in his office in Keene, Calif. He announced the end of a seven and one-half years boycott against the California lettuce and and grape industries on January 1978. (AP Photo) (Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS) One thing many people dont know about his grandfather, is that he kept working with his hands, long after he stopped working in the fields, he said. He had his own little garden, he said. He took great pride in that you worked and you took care of your family, whether you were a CEO or a farmworker, you both put the food on the table." We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our communityOur ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. Chvez Nancy Godoy worries about people forgetting, or worse, never learning. She spends most days making sure that doesnt happen. Godoy is the archivist of the Chicano/a Research Collection at Arizona State University. She sifts through papers and photos and hunts for memories, ones people keep in their mind and ones they store in a drawer or box, to record. She's not surprised Valenzuela, the officer working to honor Chvez in Yuma, didn't know the civil and labor rights icon was born and died in Yuma County. She sees too many students who don't know their own stories, their own past. "In Arizona, we dont know that history (of Latino communities) existed, I would say because of racism and lack of resources in archiving, so figures like Cesar Chvez havent been documented in our history, she said. Not knowing paves the way for inequality, she said. When communities lack a history, they get dehumanized, she said. In Arizona, you see that with the Latino community, even though they have been here before Arizona was a territory, theyve been marginalized and once you marginalize and dehumanize a community, its easier to attack them with legislation. You see that through SB 1070 and the ban on Ethnic Studies. Arizona leaders signed SB 1070 into law despite a national outcry against the anti-immigration measure. (Photo: The Arizona Republic) Godoy is managing a Mellon Foundation grant awarded to ASU that helps historically marginalized communities preserve their past. Stories are her work. She will tell you about Arizonas Mexican mining families and about Gustavo Gutierrez, the labor organizer from Chandler who helped found Chicanos Por La Causa and who like Chvez was born to a family of farmworkers. And in the next breath, she's reminding you that it's been nearly 17 years since ASU awarded Chvez an honorary doctorate. Arizonans who marched with Chvez and stood by his side during hunger strikes and boycotts keep their stories close. They remember when Chvez came to Arizona in 1972. He took shelter at Santa Rita Center, an old building in Phoenix on loan from the Catholic Church. The labor organizer and civil-rights leader, surrounded by supporters, many of them children of Mexican farmworkers, kept his 24-day "fast for love." READ: New generation refuses to forget the place that sheltered Cesar Chvez and where 'S, se puede' was born Many consider Santa Rita the place where Arizonas Chicano movement started. Chvez launched his hunger strike to bring attention to the plight of Arizona farm workers after then-Gov. Jack Williams signed a bill outlawing boycotts and strikes during harvest time, making it virtually impossible for workers to organize a union. Families, migrants and activists went to Santa Rita to be by Chavezs side, as did national leaders, including Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Caesar Chavez with Coretta Scott King in 1972. (Photo: Arizona Republic) Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America union with Chvez, stood by him in Arizona. At Santa Rita, after a day of losses, Huerta, surrounded by Latino youth and leaders, said three words: "S, se puede." (Yes, you can.) The famous phrase is synonymous with Chvez and the farmworkers movement. It became a political cry for millions who cast their vote for the nations first black president. Today, it is a mantra for migrant-rights groups and others fighting what seems impossible. But it started in Arizona, with Huerta, Chvez and the farmworkers movement. Huerta was meeting with the states Latino leaders. They told her Chavez picked the wrong state for a fight. Arizonas growers lobby was too strong. "They kept saying, 'In Arizona, no. No se puede. No se puede,'" she recalled in a 2014 interview with The Republic. "My spontaneous response was, 'S, se puede. S, se puede.' Later that night, during her organizing report, Huerta said the words again. "All the people started shouting, 'S, se puede! S, se puede!' " she said. "It became the heart of our campaign." You should know that the education of the heart is very important. This will distinguish you from others. Educating oneself is easy, but educating ourselves to help other human beings to help the community is much more difficult. ASU Library will pay for workshop supplies and provide free services for community-driven collections. Info: https://lib.asu.edu/communityarchives, 480-965-2594. Archives and Preservation Workshops: Individuals will learn how to be archivists for under-represented communities. Each person will receive a free archive starter kit that contains preservation information and archival supplies. Scanning and oral history events: Individuals will learn how to scan archival material and conduct an oral history interview. ASU Library will offer free consultation services and scan material. People will also have the opportunity to record their story using StoryCenter listening stations. Read or Share this story: https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/03/31/farmworker-civil-rights-icon-cesar-chavez-legacy-ignored-his-hometown/3314942002/
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Cesar Estrada Chvez was born on March 31, 1927, in Yuma County, Arizona. He experienced racism and discrimination as a young child," branded as a dirty Mexican at the public school. He founded a farmworkers movement that drew international support for a boycott.
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https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2019/03/31/farmworker-civil-rights-icon-cesar-chavez-legacy-ignored-his-hometown/3314942002/
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