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Do Gig Platform Workers Need New Tax Rules Now That Reporting To IRS Is Expanding? | An Uber Eats worker wait in front of a McDonalds for his order. Food delivery industry has boomed in ... [+] the past year as the pandemic forced people to stay at home and shop online as in France where this industry is considered as an 'essential services'. But yesterday Milano prosecutors order food delivery groups to hire riders, pay 733 million euros in fines after an investigation showed their working conditions were inadequate. The European Commission took a step towards improving the rights of gig economy workers with the launch of a public consultation to determine their legal employment status and how to improve their working conditions. The CLAP (a french riders union) says that the proposal has been written by Uber's European head. Toulouse, France. February 25th 2021. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Non-employee platform-based work seems like a sufficiently distinct phenomenon to require changes to either tax forms or the tax code to accommodate the new work arrangements that have arisen over the past decade or so, but the only truly novel element in platform work might be the online platform. The IRS maintains that platform work is essentially an internet-fueled spin on the well-established concept of self-employed workers running small businesses. While those gig economy taxpayers may require increased outreach because they may not have a complete understanding of their tax obligations, the rise of platform work probably doesnt require any new rules, particularly once information reporting gets underway in its expanded format. Because of the changes in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, that expansion is coming. Increased tax information reporting for participants in platform work is step 1 in increasing compliance, even if compliance isn't lower than typical for taxpayers with self-employment earnings. Educating taxpayers on their obligations will be the second step, as noted in a previous post. To that point, there has been a dearth of information about platform workers tax compliance in part because its hard to identify which taxpayers are doing platform-based work. But the deficiencies in the data the IRS has about platform workers will be dramatically shored up once the information reporting begins. The IRS explained, in response to a Government Accountability Office report in May 2020, that there's no evidence that taxpayers who use platforms to find work are at any greater risk of noncompliance with their tax obligations than any other self-employed taxpayer. Perhaps the unique challenge for taxpayers who begin platform work is that they often seem to be turning to it to supplement other income or as a bridge between non-platform jobs. Given the ease of signing up with a platform, taxpayers may not initially consider their tax obligations when opting to do platform work. The IRS already does outreach to self-employed platform workers, including through its year-old Gig Economy Tax Center, which provides basic instructions on recordkeeping, paying quarterly estimated taxes, and tax return filing. The principal message is that taxpayers performing platform work who arent employees are self-employed and have the same filing obligations as any other self-employed taxpayers. Other options that have been floated for helping platform workers comply with their tax obligations might not be as attractive in the wake of information reporting. Check-the-Box The May 2020 GAO report said the IRS could add a question to Form 1040, Schedule C, "Profit or Loss From Business," or Form 1099-NEC, "Nonemployee Compensation," asking whether a taxpayer had performed platform work. That would probably take the form of a checkbox, much like the ones that already ask whether a taxpayer has foreign bank accounts or bought or sold cryptocurrency. The IRS disagreed with the recommendation to change the forms on the grounds that it already had a communication strategy in place for helping to educate platform workers, and changing the forms would require added costs. The IRS said that while a form change "could provide a count of self-reported platform workers, it is not expected to serve a benefit to improve tax administration, nor does the IRS see a clear jeopardy to tax compliance without implementation of this recommendation. The foreign bank account and cryptocurrency questions on Form 1040 have a slightly different role in administering the tax laws than a hypothetical platform work question would. Because every taxpayer must answer them, they serve as a speed bump for taxpayers, reminding them of their obligations, but the IRS also uses them in the enforcement context. Before the UBS investigation, which prompted legislation that effectively dismantled bank secrecy across the globe, some taxpayers were unaware of their obligation to report their foreign bank accounts, and there was no reporting from foreign financial institutions before the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act. Rear view of independent gig delivery van and male driver inside managing packages for eventual ... [+] transport. getty The dynamic at play in the platform work space is sufficiently distinct from foreign bank account and cryptocurrency ownership that the IRSs position here makes sense. Standard Business Deduction An option to streamline the tax compliance of platform workers that would require action by Congress is a simplified deduction for business expenses. A standard deduction would be calculated as a percentage of gross earnings for specific types of platform work. It would reduce the complexity platform workers face in filing their tax returns, while also simplifying administration, particularly the examination function, for the IRS. It could be enacted with an option to deduct actual business expenses instead. Kathleen DeLaney Thomas of the University of North Carolina proposed a standard business deduction to replace the current requirement for self-employed taxpayers to track and report their business expenses, with a deduction of 60% of gross receipts. Congress isnt terribly likely to consider a standard business deduction anytime soon because of the American Rescue Plans increase in information reporting and the likely negative revenue estimate that a standard deduction would have. If, once information reporting is in full effect, it becomes apparent that platform workers have particularly high compliance challenges, the standard business deduction might reemerge as a way to help the IRS and taxpayers. | The IRS says the rise of platform work doesn't require any new rules. Gig Economy Tax Center provides basic instructions on recordkeeping, paying quarterly estimated taxes, and tax return filing. The European Commission took a step towards improving the rights of gig economy workers with the launch of a public consultation. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/taxnotes/2021/04/07/do-platform-workers-need-new-tax-rules-after-information-reporting/ | 0.596738 |
Is CB Richard Sherman still an option for the Raiders? | Sherman is 33 years old but is still a quality cornerback in the right scheme. The idea of adding Sherman has been an intriguing one for Raiders fans as he has played most of his career in a Cover-3 defense. And as we know, arguably the best year of his career came under Gus Bradley in 2012. In a recent article by Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report, he predicted that Sherman will ultimately land with the Raiders. Here is a quick snippet of his thoughts on the potential pairing: He could help groom upstart cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen, who are heading into their second and third seasons, respectively. Also of note, Sherman played under Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for two seasons in 2011 and 2012. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. According to OverTheCap.com, the Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to a contract extension. While there are ways to free up space, the Raiders will need money to pay their draft class and find a veteran safety before the start of camp. The Raiders could restructure or extend Derek Carr and that could free up nearly $10 million in cap space. They could also restructure Darren Waller, saving around $4 million, as well. So they have options, but it will be interesting just how much space they create over the next few weeks. Sherman to the Raiders remains a possibility, but it is unlikely to happen before the 2021 NFL draft. Dont be surprised if Sherman signs a deal in May or June, once the draft has played out and depth charts are more complete. If the Raiders dont add a cornerback high in the 2021 NFL draft, dont be surprised if Sherman does join the team at some point in the summer. While we certainly arent reporting that it will happen, it just makes too much sense for both sides. | Richard Sherman is still an option for the Raiders. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/cb-richard-sherman-still-option-150145890.html?src=rss | 0.597032 |
Is CB Richard Sherman still an option for the Raiders? | Sherman is 33 years old but is still a quality cornerback in the right scheme. The idea of adding Sherman has been an intriguing one for Raiders fans as he has played most of his career in a Cover-3 defense. And as we know, arguably the best year of his career came under Gus Bradley in 2012. In a recent article by Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report, he predicted that Sherman will ultimately land with the Raiders. Here is a quick snippet of his thoughts on the potential pairing: He could help groom upstart cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen, who are heading into their second and third seasons, respectively. Also of note, Sherman played under Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for two seasons in 2011 and 2012. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. According to OverTheCap.com, the Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to a contract extension. While there are ways to free up space, the Raiders will need money to pay their draft class and find a veteran safety before the start of camp. The Raiders could restructure or extend Derek Carr and that could free up nearly $10 million in cap space. They could also restructure Darren Waller, saving around $4 million, as well. So they have options, but it will be interesting just how much space they create over the next few weeks. Sherman to the Raiders remains a possibility, but it is unlikely to happen before the 2021 NFL draft. Dont be surprised if Sherman signs a deal in May or June, once the draft has played out and depth charts are more complete. If the Raiders dont add a cornerback high in the 2021 NFL draft, dont be surprised if Sherman does join the team at some point in the summer. While we certainly arent reporting that it will happen, it just makes too much sense for both sides. | Richard Sherman is still an option for the Raiders. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. The Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to an extension. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/cb-richard-sherman-still-option-150145890.html?src=rss | 0.650595 |
Is CB Richard Sherman still an option for the Raiders? | Sherman is 33 years old but is still a quality cornerback in the right scheme. The idea of adding Sherman has been an intriguing one for Raiders fans as he has played most of his career in a Cover-3 defense. And as we know, arguably the best year of his career came under Gus Bradley in 2012. In a recent article by Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report, he predicted that Sherman will ultimately land with the Raiders. Here is a quick snippet of his thoughts on the potential pairing: He could help groom upstart cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen, who are heading into their second and third seasons, respectively. Also of note, Sherman played under Raiders defensive coordinator Gus Bradley for two seasons in 2011 and 2012. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. According to OverTheCap.com, the Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to a contract extension. While there are ways to free up space, the Raiders will need money to pay their draft class and find a veteran safety before the start of camp. The Raiders could restructure or extend Derek Carr and that could free up nearly $10 million in cap space. They could also restructure Darren Waller, saving around $4 million, as well. So they have options, but it will be interesting just how much space they create over the next few weeks. Sherman to the Raiders remains a possibility, but it is unlikely to happen before the 2021 NFL draft. Dont be surprised if Sherman signs a deal in May or June, once the draft has played out and depth charts are more complete. If the Raiders dont add a cornerback high in the 2021 NFL draft, dont be surprised if Sherman does join the team at some point in the summer. While we certainly arent reporting that it will happen, it just makes too much sense for both sides. | Richard Sherman is still an option for the Raiders. The biggest problem with landing Sherman is the cap. Sherman could help groom upstart cornerbacks Damon Arnette and Trayvon Mullen, who are heading into their second and third seasons, respectively. The Raiders have just under $3 million in cap space after signing Kolton Miller to an extension. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/cb-richard-sherman-still-option-150145890.html?src=rss | 0.754203 |
Have Fermilab Scientists Broken Modern Physics? | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink ... [+] their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab The past half century has been relatively uneventful for scientists understanding of the subatomic world. Theories developed in the 1960s and early 1970s have been combined into what is now called the standard model of particle physics. While there are a few unexplained phenomena (for example dark matter and dark energy), scientists have tested predictions of the standard model against measurements and the theory has passed with flying colors. Well, except for a few loose ends, including a decade-old disagreement between data and theory pertaining to the magnetic properties of a subatomic particle called the muon. Scientists have waited for two decades to see if this discrepancy is real. And today, the wait is over. A new measurement has been announced that goes a long way towards telling us if the venerable theory will need revising. Muons are ephemeral subatomic particles, much like the more familiar electron. Like their electron brethren, muons have electric charge and spin. They also decay in about a millionth of a second, which makes them challenging to study. Objects that are both electrically charged and spin are also magnets, and muons are no exception. Physicists call the magnetic strength of a magnet made in this way the magnetic moment of a particle. One can predict the magnetic moment of both electrons and muons using the conventional quantum mechanics of the 1930s. However, when the first measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron was accomplished in 1948, it was 0.1% too high. The cause of this tiny discrepancy was traced to some truly odd quantum behavior. At the very smallest size scales, space is not quiescent. Instead, its a writhing mess, with pairs of particles and antimatter particles appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. We cant see this frenetic sea of objects appearing and disappearing, but if you accept that it is true and calculate its effect on the magnetic moment of both muon and electron, it is in exact agreement with the tiny, 0.1%, excess, first reported back in 1948. In the intervening 70 years, scientists have both predicted and measured the magnetic moment of the both the muon and electron to a staggering precision of twelve digits of accuracy. And measurement and prediction agree, digit for digit, for the first ten digits. But they disagree for the last two. Furthermore, the disagreement is larger than can be explained by the uncertainty on either the prediction or measurement. It appears that the two disagree. If data and theory disagree, one (or both) is wrong. Its possible that the measurement was inaccurate in some way. Its also possible that the calculation has an error, or the calculation doesnt include all relevant effects. If that last option is true overlooked effects it means that the standard model of particle physics is incomplete. There is at least something new and unexpected. For the past two decades, the best measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon is one made by the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, on Long Island, New York. (The experiment is pronounced muon gee minus two.) The g-2 is historical and refers specifically only to the 0.1% excess over the prediction of standard quantum mechanics. Standard quantum mechanics predicts that the magnetic moment of the electron or muon is g. The discrepancy between theory and measurement was pretty large. If you divided the difference by the combined experimental and theoretical uncertainty, the result was 3.7. Scientists call that ratio sigma, and use sigma to rate how important a measurement is. If a sigma is under 3, scientists say it is not interesting. If sigma is between 3 and 5, scientists start to get interested and call that state of affairs to be evidence of a discovery. If sigma is above 5, scientists are confident that the discrepancy is real and meaningful. For sigmas above 5, scientists usually title their papers as Observation of Five sigma is a big deal. So, the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven reported a 3.7 sigma result, which is a big deal, but not big enough to be super excited. Another measurement was needed. However, the accelerator facility at Brookhaven had done all it could do. A more powerful source of muons was needed. Enter Fermilab, Americas flagship particle physics laboratory, located just west of Chicago. Fermilab could make more muons than Brookhaven could. Ominous clouds welcome the Muon g-2 experiment as it arrives at Fermilab. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab So, researchers bundled up the g-2 apparatus and sent it to Fermilab. Because the g-2 apparatus is shaped like a plate, but 50 across and 6 thick, it couldnt easily be shipped on roads. So, the equipment was put on a barge that went down the east coast of the U.S., up the Mississippi and some of its tributaries, until it was at a debarkation point near Fermilab in northeast Illinois. Then the equipment was put on a flatbed truck and driven in the dead of night to Fermilab. It took two nights, but on July 26, 2013, the g-2 experiment was located at Fermilab. Scientists then set to work, building the buildings, accelerator, and infrastructure necessary to perform an improved measurement. In the spring of 2018, the scientists began taking data. Each year, the experiment operates for many months, collecting data. Each year is called a run and the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment is expected to make five runs, including a few in the future. The measurement is incredibly precise. They are measuring something with twelve digits of accuracy. That is like measuring the distance around the Earth to a precision a little smaller than the thickness of a sheet of computer printer paper. This recent measurement using the g-2 equipment at Fermilab confirmed the earlier measurement at Brookhaven. When the data from the two laboratories are combined, the discrepancy between data and theory is now 4.2 sigma, tantalizingly close to the desired Observation of standard, but not quite there. On the other hand, the measurement reported today is based on a single run. Given improvements to the accelerator and facilities, researchers expect to record sixteen times more data than has been reported so far. If the measurement involving all of the data is consistent with the measurement reported today, and the precision of the measurement improves as expected, it is very likely that the g-2 experiment will definitively prove that the standard model is not a complete theory. That conclusion is premature, but it is looking likely. The most robust conclusion one can draw is that if future measurements tell the same story, the standard model needs modification. It appears that there is something going on in the subatomic realm that is giving the muon a different magnetic moment than the standard model predicts. Well, it is unlikely that the standard model will need to be completely discarded. It simply works too well on other measurements that arent quite as precise. What is more likely is that there exist an unknown class of subatomic particles that have not yet been discovered. One possibility is that an extension of the standard model, called supersymmetry, is true. If supersymmetry is real, it predicts twice as many subatomic particles as the standard model. In a pure supersymmetric theory, these new particles would have the same mass as the known ones, but this is ruled out by many measurements. However, there could be a modified version of supersymmetry, which makes the undiscovered cousin particles heavier than the known ones. If true, it would modify the prediction of the magnetic moment of the muon in just the right way to make data and theory agree. Particle physics supersymmetry. Conceptual illustration showing the standard model particles with ... [+] their heavier superpartners introduced by the supersymmetry (SUSY) principle. In supersymmetry force and matter are treated identically. Using supersymmetry, physicists may find solutions for problems such as the weakness of gravity, the low mass of the Higgs boson and the unification of forces or even dark matter. getty But supersymmetry is just one possible explanation. The simple fact is that there could be many different kinds of subatomic particles that havent been discovered. Perhaps some new theory that explains dark matter might be relevant. Or something entirely unimagined by anyone at this point. We just dont know. But not knowing isnt bad. It just means that there are new things to learn, problems to solve. Theoretical physicists are already thinking through what might be the implications of the new measurement and what sorts of theories might explain it. The important thing is to accept that a venerable and long-accepted theory is incomplete, and that we need to rethink things. Thats how science is done. But Im getting ahead of myself. The researchers need to analyze the other runs and verify that the more precise results validate todays measurement. But things are definitely beginning to look interesting. | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/drdonlincoln/2021/04/07/have-fermilab-scientists-broken-modern-physics/ | 0.166761 |
Have Fermilab Scientists Broken Modern Physics? | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink ... [+] their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab The past half century has been relatively uneventful for scientists understanding of the subatomic world. Theories developed in the 1960s and early 1970s have been combined into what is now called the standard model of particle physics. While there are a few unexplained phenomena (for example dark matter and dark energy), scientists have tested predictions of the standard model against measurements and the theory has passed with flying colors. Well, except for a few loose ends, including a decade-old disagreement between data and theory pertaining to the magnetic properties of a subatomic particle called the muon. Scientists have waited for two decades to see if this discrepancy is real. And today, the wait is over. A new measurement has been announced that goes a long way towards telling us if the venerable theory will need revising. Muons are ephemeral subatomic particles, much like the more familiar electron. Like their electron brethren, muons have electric charge and spin. They also decay in about a millionth of a second, which makes them challenging to study. Objects that are both electrically charged and spin are also magnets, and muons are no exception. Physicists call the magnetic strength of a magnet made in this way the magnetic moment of a particle. One can predict the magnetic moment of both electrons and muons using the conventional quantum mechanics of the 1930s. However, when the first measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron was accomplished in 1948, it was 0.1% too high. The cause of this tiny discrepancy was traced to some truly odd quantum behavior. At the very smallest size scales, space is not quiescent. Instead, its a writhing mess, with pairs of particles and antimatter particles appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. We cant see this frenetic sea of objects appearing and disappearing, but if you accept that it is true and calculate its effect on the magnetic moment of both muon and electron, it is in exact agreement with the tiny, 0.1%, excess, first reported back in 1948. In the intervening 70 years, scientists have both predicted and measured the magnetic moment of the both the muon and electron to a staggering precision of twelve digits of accuracy. And measurement and prediction agree, digit for digit, for the first ten digits. But they disagree for the last two. Furthermore, the disagreement is larger than can be explained by the uncertainty on either the prediction or measurement. It appears that the two disagree. If data and theory disagree, one (or both) is wrong. Its possible that the measurement was inaccurate in some way. Its also possible that the calculation has an error, or the calculation doesnt include all relevant effects. If that last option is true overlooked effects it means that the standard model of particle physics is incomplete. There is at least something new and unexpected. For the past two decades, the best measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon is one made by the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, on Long Island, New York. (The experiment is pronounced muon gee minus two.) The g-2 is historical and refers specifically only to the 0.1% excess over the prediction of standard quantum mechanics. Standard quantum mechanics predicts that the magnetic moment of the electron or muon is g. The discrepancy between theory and measurement was pretty large. If you divided the difference by the combined experimental and theoretical uncertainty, the result was 3.7. Scientists call that ratio sigma, and use sigma to rate how important a measurement is. If a sigma is under 3, scientists say it is not interesting. If sigma is between 3 and 5, scientists start to get interested and call that state of affairs to be evidence of a discovery. If sigma is above 5, scientists are confident that the discrepancy is real and meaningful. For sigmas above 5, scientists usually title their papers as Observation of Five sigma is a big deal. So, the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven reported a 3.7 sigma result, which is a big deal, but not big enough to be super excited. Another measurement was needed. However, the accelerator facility at Brookhaven had done all it could do. A more powerful source of muons was needed. Enter Fermilab, Americas flagship particle physics laboratory, located just west of Chicago. Fermilab could make more muons than Brookhaven could. Ominous clouds welcome the Muon g-2 experiment as it arrives at Fermilab. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab So, researchers bundled up the g-2 apparatus and sent it to Fermilab. Because the g-2 apparatus is shaped like a plate, but 50 across and 6 thick, it couldnt easily be shipped on roads. So, the equipment was put on a barge that went down the east coast of the U.S., up the Mississippi and some of its tributaries, until it was at a debarkation point near Fermilab in northeast Illinois. Then the equipment was put on a flatbed truck and driven in the dead of night to Fermilab. It took two nights, but on July 26, 2013, the g-2 experiment was located at Fermilab. Scientists then set to work, building the buildings, accelerator, and infrastructure necessary to perform an improved measurement. In the spring of 2018, the scientists began taking data. Each year, the experiment operates for many months, collecting data. Each year is called a run and the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment is expected to make five runs, including a few in the future. The measurement is incredibly precise. They are measuring something with twelve digits of accuracy. That is like measuring the distance around the Earth to a precision a little smaller than the thickness of a sheet of computer printer paper. This recent measurement using the g-2 equipment at Fermilab confirmed the earlier measurement at Brookhaven. When the data from the two laboratories are combined, the discrepancy between data and theory is now 4.2 sigma, tantalizingly close to the desired Observation of standard, but not quite there. On the other hand, the measurement reported today is based on a single run. Given improvements to the accelerator and facilities, researchers expect to record sixteen times more data than has been reported so far. If the measurement involving all of the data is consistent with the measurement reported today, and the precision of the measurement improves as expected, it is very likely that the g-2 experiment will definitively prove that the standard model is not a complete theory. That conclusion is premature, but it is looking likely. The most robust conclusion one can draw is that if future measurements tell the same story, the standard model needs modification. It appears that there is something going on in the subatomic realm that is giving the muon a different magnetic moment than the standard model predicts. Well, it is unlikely that the standard model will need to be completely discarded. It simply works too well on other measurements that arent quite as precise. What is more likely is that there exist an unknown class of subatomic particles that have not yet been discovered. One possibility is that an extension of the standard model, called supersymmetry, is true. If supersymmetry is real, it predicts twice as many subatomic particles as the standard model. In a pure supersymmetric theory, these new particles would have the same mass as the known ones, but this is ruled out by many measurements. However, there could be a modified version of supersymmetry, which makes the undiscovered cousin particles heavier than the known ones. If true, it would modify the prediction of the magnetic moment of the muon in just the right way to make data and theory agree. Particle physics supersymmetry. Conceptual illustration showing the standard model particles with ... [+] their heavier superpartners introduced by the supersymmetry (SUSY) principle. In supersymmetry force and matter are treated identically. Using supersymmetry, physicists may find solutions for problems such as the weakness of gravity, the low mass of the Higgs boson and the unification of forces or even dark matter. getty But supersymmetry is just one possible explanation. The simple fact is that there could be many different kinds of subatomic particles that havent been discovered. Perhaps some new theory that explains dark matter might be relevant. Or something entirely unimagined by anyone at this point. We just dont know. But not knowing isnt bad. It just means that there are new things to learn, problems to solve. Theoretical physicists are already thinking through what might be the implications of the new measurement and what sorts of theories might explain it. The important thing is to accept that a venerable and long-accepted theory is incomplete, and that we need to rethink things. Thats how science is done. But Im getting ahead of myself. The researchers need to analyze the other runs and verify that the more precise results validate todays measurement. But things are definitely beginning to look interesting. | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink... their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/drdonlincoln/2021/04/07/have-fermilab-scientists-broken-modern-physics/ | 0.144846 |
Have Fermilab Scientists Broken Modern Physics? | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink ... [+] their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab The past half century has been relatively uneventful for scientists understanding of the subatomic world. Theories developed in the 1960s and early 1970s have been combined into what is now called the standard model of particle physics. While there are a few unexplained phenomena (for example dark matter and dark energy), scientists have tested predictions of the standard model against measurements and the theory has passed with flying colors. Well, except for a few loose ends, including a decade-old disagreement between data and theory pertaining to the magnetic properties of a subatomic particle called the muon. Scientists have waited for two decades to see if this discrepancy is real. And today, the wait is over. A new measurement has been announced that goes a long way towards telling us if the venerable theory will need revising. Muons are ephemeral subatomic particles, much like the more familiar electron. Like their electron brethren, muons have electric charge and spin. They also decay in about a millionth of a second, which makes them challenging to study. Objects that are both electrically charged and spin are also magnets, and muons are no exception. Physicists call the magnetic strength of a magnet made in this way the magnetic moment of a particle. One can predict the magnetic moment of both electrons and muons using the conventional quantum mechanics of the 1930s. However, when the first measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron was accomplished in 1948, it was 0.1% too high. The cause of this tiny discrepancy was traced to some truly odd quantum behavior. At the very smallest size scales, space is not quiescent. Instead, its a writhing mess, with pairs of particles and antimatter particles appearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye. We cant see this frenetic sea of objects appearing and disappearing, but if you accept that it is true and calculate its effect on the magnetic moment of both muon and electron, it is in exact agreement with the tiny, 0.1%, excess, first reported back in 1948. In the intervening 70 years, scientists have both predicted and measured the magnetic moment of the both the muon and electron to a staggering precision of twelve digits of accuracy. And measurement and prediction agree, digit for digit, for the first ten digits. But they disagree for the last two. Furthermore, the disagreement is larger than can be explained by the uncertainty on either the prediction or measurement. It appears that the two disagree. If data and theory disagree, one (or both) is wrong. Its possible that the measurement was inaccurate in some way. Its also possible that the calculation has an error, or the calculation doesnt include all relevant effects. If that last option is true overlooked effects it means that the standard model of particle physics is incomplete. There is at least something new and unexpected. For the past two decades, the best measurement of the magnetic moment of the muon is one made by the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven National Laboratory, on Long Island, New York. (The experiment is pronounced muon gee minus two.) The g-2 is historical and refers specifically only to the 0.1% excess over the prediction of standard quantum mechanics. Standard quantum mechanics predicts that the magnetic moment of the electron or muon is g. The discrepancy between theory and measurement was pretty large. If you divided the difference by the combined experimental and theoretical uncertainty, the result was 3.7. Scientists call that ratio sigma, and use sigma to rate how important a measurement is. If a sigma is under 3, scientists say it is not interesting. If sigma is between 3 and 5, scientists start to get interested and call that state of affairs to be evidence of a discovery. If sigma is above 5, scientists are confident that the discrepancy is real and meaningful. For sigmas above 5, scientists usually title their papers as Observation of Five sigma is a big deal. So, the Muon g-2 experiment at Brookhaven reported a 3.7 sigma result, which is a big deal, but not big enough to be super excited. Another measurement was needed. However, the accelerator facility at Brookhaven had done all it could do. A more powerful source of muons was needed. Enter Fermilab, Americas flagship particle physics laboratory, located just west of Chicago. Fermilab could make more muons than Brookhaven could. Ominous clouds welcome the Muon g-2 experiment as it arrives at Fermilab. Reidar Hahn/Fermilab So, researchers bundled up the g-2 apparatus and sent it to Fermilab. Because the g-2 apparatus is shaped like a plate, but 50 across and 6 thick, it couldnt easily be shipped on roads. So, the equipment was put on a barge that went down the east coast of the U.S., up the Mississippi and some of its tributaries, until it was at a debarkation point near Fermilab in northeast Illinois. Then the equipment was put on a flatbed truck and driven in the dead of night to Fermilab. It took two nights, but on July 26, 2013, the g-2 experiment was located at Fermilab. Scientists then set to work, building the buildings, accelerator, and infrastructure necessary to perform an improved measurement. In the spring of 2018, the scientists began taking data. Each year, the experiment operates for many months, collecting data. Each year is called a run and the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment is expected to make five runs, including a few in the future. The measurement is incredibly precise. They are measuring something with twelve digits of accuracy. That is like measuring the distance around the Earth to a precision a little smaller than the thickness of a sheet of computer printer paper. This recent measurement using the g-2 equipment at Fermilab confirmed the earlier measurement at Brookhaven. When the data from the two laboratories are combined, the discrepancy between data and theory is now 4.2 sigma, tantalizingly close to the desired Observation of standard, but not quite there. On the other hand, the measurement reported today is based on a single run. Given improvements to the accelerator and facilities, researchers expect to record sixteen times more data than has been reported so far. If the measurement involving all of the data is consistent with the measurement reported today, and the precision of the measurement improves as expected, it is very likely that the g-2 experiment will definitively prove that the standard model is not a complete theory. That conclusion is premature, but it is looking likely. The most robust conclusion one can draw is that if future measurements tell the same story, the standard model needs modification. It appears that there is something going on in the subatomic realm that is giving the muon a different magnetic moment than the standard model predicts. Well, it is unlikely that the standard model will need to be completely discarded. It simply works too well on other measurements that arent quite as precise. What is more likely is that there exist an unknown class of subatomic particles that have not yet been discovered. One possibility is that an extension of the standard model, called supersymmetry, is true. If supersymmetry is real, it predicts twice as many subatomic particles as the standard model. In a pure supersymmetric theory, these new particles would have the same mass as the known ones, but this is ruled out by many measurements. However, there could be a modified version of supersymmetry, which makes the undiscovered cousin particles heavier than the known ones. If true, it would modify the prediction of the magnetic moment of the muon in just the right way to make data and theory agree. Particle physics supersymmetry. Conceptual illustration showing the standard model particles with ... [+] their heavier superpartners introduced by the supersymmetry (SUSY) principle. In supersymmetry force and matter are treated identically. Using supersymmetry, physicists may find solutions for problems such as the weakness of gravity, the low mass of the Higgs boson and the unification of forces or even dark matter. getty But supersymmetry is just one possible explanation. The simple fact is that there could be many different kinds of subatomic particles that havent been discovered. Perhaps some new theory that explains dark matter might be relevant. Or something entirely unimagined by anyone at this point. We just dont know. But not knowing isnt bad. It just means that there are new things to learn, problems to solve. Theoretical physicists are already thinking through what might be the implications of the new measurement and what sorts of theories might explain it. The important thing is to accept that a venerable and long-accepted theory is incomplete, and that we need to rethink things. Thats how science is done. But Im getting ahead of myself. The researchers need to analyze the other runs and verify that the more precise results validate todays measurement. But things are definitely beginning to look interesting. | Researchers at Fermilab have made a measurement that could mean that scientists have to rethink their understanding of the rules that govern the subatomic world. Muons are subatomic particles, much like the more familiar electron. When the first measurement of the magnetic moment of the electron was accomplished in 1948, it was 0.1% too high. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/drdonlincoln/2021/04/07/have-fermilab-scientists-broken-modern-physics/ | 0.183119 |
Is Indias mammoth vaccine campaign fast enough to reach villages before COVID-19 does? | Open this photo in gallery Health worker Reena Jani, foreground, speaks with a pregnant patient in Pendajam village in Koraput, India, this past January before travelling to a health centre to get vaccinated. Ms. Jani works as an accredited social health activist (ASHA), a lynchpin of India's rural health-care system. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters One of the greatest challenges facing Indias vaccination drive, the largest in the world, lies in reaching the remotest corners of the country before the pandemic does. India is now seeing more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, up from 10,000 in February, and is hurriedly mobilizing rural communities in an immunization push expanding medical facilities, deploying mobile vaccination camps and getting local health care workers to tout the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But rural residents are often scattered across the countryside, working as day labourers, making it hard to track them down. Vaccine hesitancy is more prevalent than in urban centres. And people in small, remote villages often believe they are safe by virtue of geography or the local deity. Story continues below advertisement India is a vaccine manufacturing hub with a record of delivering large-scale immunization ... so everybody had a high expectation from the COVID-19 vaccination drive, and it hasnt yet lived up to the potential, as the daily vaccination rate is far lower than it should be. It is slowly picking up, said epidemiologist and public-health expert Chandrakant Lahariya. Open this photo in gallery A health worker displays an AstraZeneca dose, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, before administering it to an elderly person in Gauhati last month. Anupam Nath/The Associated Press On a recent weekday morning, a dozen women gathered at the child-care centre in Dongra, a village about three hours from Delhi. A large white banner on the wall announced that a COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Campaign was under way. Reach out to your community, coax your neighbours, tell them about the benefits of getting vaccinated and how it will help their immunity, exhorted Shyam Lal, a program officer at the Society for Public Education, Cultural Training and Rural Action (SPECTRA), a local organization. Low turnout at vaccination camps in rural areas has prompted Mr. Lals team to hold frequent awareness drives in villages across Rajasthan states Alwar district. Such initiatives are now being employed across the country, with millions of rural health-care workers enlisted to spread the word and exhort people to get the jab. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed all states to step up vaccinations in remote rural and tribal areas as the country was gripped by a severe second wave. Public-health officials worry that this time the virus is sweeping across smaller cities, inching closer to rural areas that lack health care infrastructure robust enough to manage an outbreak. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani got a lift from Koraput to the health centre from a neighbour with a motorcycle. When she first learned she was to be vaccinated, she says she wasn't worried, but then she heard a rumour: 'Someone told me that people are fainting, they are developing fever and some are dying after taking the injection.' Nevertheless, she went to get her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters After a staggered approach earlier in the crisis, the Health Ministry plans to vaccinate 300 million people by July. Almost 80 million doses have been administered so far, and on April 1 the drive was expanded to include everyone above the age of 45. But it is unfolding differently in urban and rural areas, with a clear class divide. In cities, the affluent have been relatively enthusiastic to register for vaccination appointments on a centralized, government-run portal. In rural areas in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, however, even with on-the-spot registration and walk-ins, some news reports peg turnout at just 8 per cent to 13 per cent, compared with more than 40 per cent in urban areas. In some states, such as Gujarat, superstition has gotten in the way. In one case, 50 villages reportedly refused entry to public-health officials because the villagers believed the local god would protect them from the disease. Access is a significant issue, too. Mobile vaccination camps are trying to address this problem, but the day in early March that a camp was held in her village, Ismailpur in Alwar district, 84-year-old Phoolpati Devi couldnt make it. My son was away at work, as we didnt know about it in advance, and I cant get there on my own as my eyes are too weak, she said. Her other option was to get the jab at the community health centre about 10 kilometres away. Thats too far, she said, so she will wait for the next mobile vaccination camp to come to her village, which could take another month. Open this photo in gallery People wait in line for vaccinations at a medical college in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, on April 6. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images In the neighbouring village of Tehtra, meanwhile, a vaccination camp was in progress at the local primary school, which is surrounded by sweeping fields of mustard and wheat. Last evening, we received a notification on our phones from the health supervisor that the camp will be held tomorrow. We didnt have much time to prepare, so we immediately began going door to door informing everyone in our village that the elderly can avail of the free vaccine between 10 and 5 p.m. Many were not willing to get it done due to vaccine hesitancy, said community health worker Resham Yadav. Announcements were also made on loudspeakers. It took a fair bit of counselling and coaxing to get 70 of 200 eligible residents to turn up for the jab. One of them, farmer Sundar Lal, 74, said many of his neighbours were afraid to get vaccinated. They are suspicious, so would rather not take the risk, especially when there are hardly any cases of infection in the village, he said. Rahaman Khan, 62, said his friends refused to come along because they believe COVID-19 is a city disease. Its also harvest season, and people are busy working in the fields. They cant afford to miss even one days earnings. There may be more enthusiasm once farm work slows down in a few weeks. As states employ a variety of strategies to increase vaccination coverage in remote areas, timely communication is key, said Dr. Lahariya. Large-scale vaccination programs have to factor in such obstacles, and misinformation campaigns are challenging. Informing people of the benefits, the side effects and that there is still a chance of being infected after vaccination is important, while addressing rumours and managing expectations through front-line workers and mass media. We need to speed up vaccination everywhere. Two-thirds of India is in rural areas, so unless we vaccinate that population, we will never be out of the woods. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani leaves Mathalput Community Health Centre after getting her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the days most important headlines. Sign up today. | India is now seeing more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, up from 10,000 in February, and is hurriedly mobilizing rural communities in an immunization push. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-is-indias-mammoth-vaccine-campaign-fast-enough-to-reach-villages/ | 0.179855 |
Is Indias mammoth vaccine campaign fast enough to reach villages before COVID-19 does? | Open this photo in gallery Health worker Reena Jani, foreground, speaks with a pregnant patient in Pendajam village in Koraput, India, this past January before travelling to a health centre to get vaccinated. Ms. Jani works as an accredited social health activist (ASHA), a lynchpin of India's rural health-care system. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters One of the greatest challenges facing Indias vaccination drive, the largest in the world, lies in reaching the remotest corners of the country before the pandemic does. India is now seeing more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, up from 10,000 in February, and is hurriedly mobilizing rural communities in an immunization push expanding medical facilities, deploying mobile vaccination camps and getting local health care workers to tout the safety and efficacy of vaccines. But rural residents are often scattered across the countryside, working as day labourers, making it hard to track them down. Vaccine hesitancy is more prevalent than in urban centres. And people in small, remote villages often believe they are safe by virtue of geography or the local deity. Story continues below advertisement India is a vaccine manufacturing hub with a record of delivering large-scale immunization ... so everybody had a high expectation from the COVID-19 vaccination drive, and it hasnt yet lived up to the potential, as the daily vaccination rate is far lower than it should be. It is slowly picking up, said epidemiologist and public-health expert Chandrakant Lahariya. Open this photo in gallery A health worker displays an AstraZeneca dose, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, before administering it to an elderly person in Gauhati last month. Anupam Nath/The Associated Press On a recent weekday morning, a dozen women gathered at the child-care centre in Dongra, a village about three hours from Delhi. A large white banner on the wall announced that a COVID-19 Vaccination Awareness Campaign was under way. Reach out to your community, coax your neighbours, tell them about the benefits of getting vaccinated and how it will help their immunity, exhorted Shyam Lal, a program officer at the Society for Public Education, Cultural Training and Rural Action (SPECTRA), a local organization. Low turnout at vaccination camps in rural areas has prompted Mr. Lals team to hold frequent awareness drives in villages across Rajasthan states Alwar district. Such initiatives are now being employed across the country, with millions of rural health-care workers enlisted to spread the word and exhort people to get the jab. Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed all states to step up vaccinations in remote rural and tribal areas as the country was gripped by a severe second wave. Public-health officials worry that this time the virus is sweeping across smaller cities, inching closer to rural areas that lack health care infrastructure robust enough to manage an outbreak. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani got a lift from Koraput to the health centre from a neighbour with a motorcycle. When she first learned she was to be vaccinated, she says she wasn't worried, but then she heard a rumour: 'Someone told me that people are fainting, they are developing fever and some are dying after taking the injection.' Nevertheless, she went to get her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters After a staggered approach earlier in the crisis, the Health Ministry plans to vaccinate 300 million people by July. Almost 80 million doses have been administered so far, and on April 1 the drive was expanded to include everyone above the age of 45. But it is unfolding differently in urban and rural areas, with a clear class divide. In cities, the affluent have been relatively enthusiastic to register for vaccination appointments on a centralized, government-run portal. In rural areas in the states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, however, even with on-the-spot registration and walk-ins, some news reports peg turnout at just 8 per cent to 13 per cent, compared with more than 40 per cent in urban areas. In some states, such as Gujarat, superstition has gotten in the way. In one case, 50 villages reportedly refused entry to public-health officials because the villagers believed the local god would protect them from the disease. Access is a significant issue, too. Mobile vaccination camps are trying to address this problem, but the day in early March that a camp was held in her village, Ismailpur in Alwar district, 84-year-old Phoolpati Devi couldnt make it. My son was away at work, as we didnt know about it in advance, and I cant get there on my own as my eyes are too weak, she said. Her other option was to get the jab at the community health centre about 10 kilometres away. Thats too far, she said, so she will wait for the next mobile vaccination camp to come to her village, which could take another month. Open this photo in gallery People wait in line for vaccinations at a medical college in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, on April 6. SANJAY KANOJIA/AFP via Getty Images In the neighbouring village of Tehtra, meanwhile, a vaccination camp was in progress at the local primary school, which is surrounded by sweeping fields of mustard and wheat. Last evening, we received a notification on our phones from the health supervisor that the camp will be held tomorrow. We didnt have much time to prepare, so we immediately began going door to door informing everyone in our village that the elderly can avail of the free vaccine between 10 and 5 p.m. Many were not willing to get it done due to vaccine hesitancy, said community health worker Resham Yadav. Announcements were also made on loudspeakers. It took a fair bit of counselling and coaxing to get 70 of 200 eligible residents to turn up for the jab. One of them, farmer Sundar Lal, 74, said many of his neighbours were afraid to get vaccinated. They are suspicious, so would rather not take the risk, especially when there are hardly any cases of infection in the village, he said. Rahaman Khan, 62, said his friends refused to come along because they believe COVID-19 is a city disease. Its also harvest season, and people are busy working in the fields. They cant afford to miss even one days earnings. There may be more enthusiasm once farm work slows down in a few weeks. As states employ a variety of strategies to increase vaccination coverage in remote areas, timely communication is key, said Dr. Lahariya. Large-scale vaccination programs have to factor in such obstacles, and misinformation campaigns are challenging. Informing people of the benefits, the side effects and that there is still a chance of being infected after vaccination is important, while addressing rumours and managing expectations through front-line workers and mass media. We need to speed up vaccination everywhere. Two-thirds of India is in rural areas, so unless we vaccinate that population, we will never be out of the woods. Story continues below advertisement Open this photo in gallery Ms. Jani leaves Mathalput Community Health Centre after getting her shot. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the days most important headlines. Sign up today. | India's vaccination drive, the largest in the world, lies in reaching the remotest corners of the country before the pandemic does. India is now seeing more than 100,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, up from 10,000 in February. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-is-indias-mammoth-vaccine-campaign-fast-enough-to-reach-villages/ | 0.404413 |
Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pursue Free Agent RB Giovani Bernard? | Tampa Bay has scanned the market for a pass-catching running back this offseason to no avail. The discourse regarding the Buccaneers team needs - rather, their lack of pressing team needs at this point in the offseason - has focused on adding luxuries and making a strong team stronger. Although the Bucs have Ronald Jones II on his rookie contract for another season, and second-punch rusher Leonard Fournette has also signed a new one-year deal with the team, one of Tampa Bay's luxurious needs is at the running back position. Some have even wondered if the Buccaneers could key in on an elusive, proven pass-catching tailback with the No. 32 pick in the upcoming draft to complement Jones and Fournette's power-rushing, early-down roles. Tampa Bay may be better suited to add defensive or offensive line help with their first-round pick, or even an outside cornerback to push Jamel Dean and add depth if the value is right, instead of targeting a No. 3 running back. In a year where the Buccaneers are chasing a consecutive Super Bowl title, spending such an asset on a player who might spend the season as the third guy on the depth chart probably isn't in their best interest. So, the Buccaneers might be better off by targeting free-agent running back Giovani Bernard, who was released on Wednesday morning after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tampa Bay has not been linked to Bernard since his release, but the Bucs immediately stand out as a fit for the 29-year-old's services. Bernard is far past his peak as an NFL player and certainly isn't a threat to take on the lead role at running back in his next offense. He has served as the No. 2 to Joe Mixon for four years now, and has posted more receiving yards than rushing yards in half of those seasons. But that's okay with Jones and Fournette in-house - Bernard would not be depended on as a rusher primarily should he end up with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay reportedly explored signing New England receiving/running back James White in March before he re-signed with the Patriots, indicating an interest in change-of-pace role player at the position. White caught 320 passes in six seasons with now-Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leading New England's offense. Bernard, meanwhile, has tallied 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 scores through the air in his career. He caught 47 passes this past year while averaging 7.8 yards per reception, which is the third-highest mark of his career and suggests Bernard still has some juice to offer his next team in the passing game. Bernard's last contract carried a yearly average value of $4.85 million, with $5.5 million at signing. The Bengals reportedly asked Bernard to take a pay cut this offseason, which led to him asking for his release. It's unlikely that we'll see Bernard earn similar figures on the market, considering his age and how salary cap space is down universally. However, a chance to contend for a championship at this stage in Bernard's career could be enough for him to take a pay cut after all. The Bengals can't offer that right now. The Bucs are about $50,000 over the 2021 salary cap at this point per Over the Cap, so any contract for Bernard would require a cap-saving move to balance the signing out or a creatively structured deal to move his cap hits into the 2022 season and beyond. Tampa Bay has utilized a similar structuring method to retain linebacker Lavonte David and extend Brady this offseason. Reports indicate that Bernard should quickly find a new team. It remains to be seen if the Bucs will be in contention to sign him, but such a move could end up being a sneaky-good transaction for Tampa Bay. | Tampa Bay has not been linked to free-agent running back Giovani Bernard since his release from the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-free-agency-giovani-bernard-released-bengals | 0.338912 |
Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pursue Free Agent RB Giovani Bernard? | Tampa Bay has scanned the market for a pass-catching running back this offseason to no avail. The discourse regarding the Buccaneers team needs - rather, their lack of pressing team needs at this point in the offseason - has focused on adding luxuries and making a strong team stronger. Although the Bucs have Ronald Jones II on his rookie contract for another season, and second-punch rusher Leonard Fournette has also signed a new one-year deal with the team, one of Tampa Bay's luxurious needs is at the running back position. Some have even wondered if the Buccaneers could key in on an elusive, proven pass-catching tailback with the No. 32 pick in the upcoming draft to complement Jones and Fournette's power-rushing, early-down roles. Tampa Bay may be better suited to add defensive or offensive line help with their first-round pick, or even an outside cornerback to push Jamel Dean and add depth if the value is right, instead of targeting a No. 3 running back. In a year where the Buccaneers are chasing a consecutive Super Bowl title, spending such an asset on a player who might spend the season as the third guy on the depth chart probably isn't in their best interest. So, the Buccaneers might be better off by targeting free-agent running back Giovani Bernard, who was released on Wednesday morning after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tampa Bay has not been linked to Bernard since his release, but the Bucs immediately stand out as a fit for the 29-year-old's services. Bernard is far past his peak as an NFL player and certainly isn't a threat to take on the lead role at running back in his next offense. He has served as the No. 2 to Joe Mixon for four years now, and has posted more receiving yards than rushing yards in half of those seasons. But that's okay with Jones and Fournette in-house - Bernard would not be depended on as a rusher primarily should he end up with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay reportedly explored signing New England receiving/running back James White in March before he re-signed with the Patriots, indicating an interest in change-of-pace role player at the position. White caught 320 passes in six seasons with now-Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leading New England's offense. Bernard, meanwhile, has tallied 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 scores through the air in his career. He caught 47 passes this past year while averaging 7.8 yards per reception, which is the third-highest mark of his career and suggests Bernard still has some juice to offer his next team in the passing game. Bernard's last contract carried a yearly average value of $4.85 million, with $5.5 million at signing. The Bengals reportedly asked Bernard to take a pay cut this offseason, which led to him asking for his release. It's unlikely that we'll see Bernard earn similar figures on the market, considering his age and how salary cap space is down universally. However, a chance to contend for a championship at this stage in Bernard's career could be enough for him to take a pay cut after all. The Bengals can't offer that right now. The Bucs are about $50,000 over the 2021 salary cap at this point per Over the Cap, so any contract for Bernard would require a cap-saving move to balance the signing out or a creatively structured deal to move his cap hits into the 2022 season and beyond. Tampa Bay has utilized a similar structuring method to retain linebacker Lavonte David and extend Brady this offseason. Reports indicate that Bernard should quickly find a new team. It remains to be seen if the Bucs will be in contention to sign him, but such a move could end up being a sneaky-good transaction for Tampa Bay. | Cincinnati Bengals released running back Giovani Bernard on Wednesday. Tampa Bay has not been linked to Bernard since his release, but the Bucs immediately stand out as a fit for the 29-year-old's services. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-free-agency-giovani-bernard-released-bengals | 0.119016 |
Could the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pursue Free Agent RB Giovani Bernard? | Tampa Bay has scanned the market for a pass-catching running back this offseason to no avail. The discourse regarding the Buccaneers team needs - rather, their lack of pressing team needs at this point in the offseason - has focused on adding luxuries and making a strong team stronger. Although the Bucs have Ronald Jones II on his rookie contract for another season, and second-punch rusher Leonard Fournette has also signed a new one-year deal with the team, one of Tampa Bay's luxurious needs is at the running back position. Some have even wondered if the Buccaneers could key in on an elusive, proven pass-catching tailback with the No. 32 pick in the upcoming draft to complement Jones and Fournette's power-rushing, early-down roles. Tampa Bay may be better suited to add defensive or offensive line help with their first-round pick, or even an outside cornerback to push Jamel Dean and add depth if the value is right, instead of targeting a No. 3 running back. In a year where the Buccaneers are chasing a consecutive Super Bowl title, spending such an asset on a player who might spend the season as the third guy on the depth chart probably isn't in their best interest. So, the Buccaneers might be better off by targeting free-agent running back Giovani Bernard, who was released on Wednesday morning after nine seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tampa Bay has not been linked to Bernard since his release, but the Bucs immediately stand out as a fit for the 29-year-old's services. Bernard is far past his peak as an NFL player and certainly isn't a threat to take on the lead role at running back in his next offense. He has served as the No. 2 to Joe Mixon for four years now, and has posted more receiving yards than rushing yards in half of those seasons. But that's okay with Jones and Fournette in-house - Bernard would not be depended on as a rusher primarily should he end up with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay reportedly explored signing New England receiving/running back James White in March before he re-signed with the Patriots, indicating an interest in change-of-pace role player at the position. White caught 320 passes in six seasons with now-Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady leading New England's offense. Bernard, meanwhile, has tallied 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 scores through the air in his career. He caught 47 passes this past year while averaging 7.8 yards per reception, which is the third-highest mark of his career and suggests Bernard still has some juice to offer his next team in the passing game. Bernard's last contract carried a yearly average value of $4.85 million, with $5.5 million at signing. The Bengals reportedly asked Bernard to take a pay cut this offseason, which led to him asking for his release. It's unlikely that we'll see Bernard earn similar figures on the market, considering his age and how salary cap space is down universally. However, a chance to contend for a championship at this stage in Bernard's career could be enough for him to take a pay cut after all. The Bengals can't offer that right now. The Bucs are about $50,000 over the 2021 salary cap at this point per Over the Cap, so any contract for Bernard would require a cap-saving move to balance the signing out or a creatively structured deal to move his cap hits into the 2022 season and beyond. Tampa Bay has utilized a similar structuring method to retain linebacker Lavonte David and extend Brady this offseason. Reports indicate that Bernard should quickly find a new team. It remains to be seen if the Bucs will be in contention to sign him, but such a move could end up being a sneaky-good transaction for Tampa Bay. | Tampa Bay has not been linked to free-agent running back Giovani Bernard since his release from the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday. The 29-year-old has caught 342 receptions for 2,867 yards and 11 scores through the air in his career. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/buccaneers/news/tampa-bay-buccaneers-free-agency-giovani-bernard-released-bengals | 0.294419 |
Did the Panthers Give Up Too Much For Sam Darnold? | For months, the NFL world speculated about just how much the Jets would be able to get in return for Sam Darnold. It wasn't a first-rounder, but the Jets did reel in a solid package in exchange for the 23-year-old. The Carolina Panthers agreed to send New York a sixth-round pick in 2021 along with a second- and fourth-round selection in next year's draft. We checked in with Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated's All Panthers. Here's what Callhan had to say about the asking price for Darnold, who could be Carolina's answer at quarterback for years to come: Carolina needed to make its move at quarterback and did so by acquiring Sam Darnold. The talent and potential for Darnold to be a solid NFL starting quarterback are there, he just needs to be in the right situation with a coaching staff that harps on attention to detail and develops his game. Personally, I think this is the best fit for Darnold. All of a sudden, he's got the best running back in the league, a dynamic duo at wide receiver, and a young but promising defense to help him out. Matt Rhule has a track record of developing players and offensive coordinator Joe Brady has an innovative offense that was missing a true dual-threat quarterback. I think the asking price for Darnold was about spot on and although Darnold's ability to be "the guy" is still a question mark, I don't think they gave up too much for him. You keep essentially all your picks in this year's draft and more importantly, didn't have to give up anything but a 2nd rounder. If he works out, this deal will be a major win for the Panthers. That's the big if. Darnold has the potential to blossom into a star in Carolina, contending in the postseason and excelling in a new environment. If that's the case, the price the Panthers paid may very well be a steal down the road. That said, if Darnold continues to struggle and fails to access that untapped potential we've been talking about since he left USC, then New York got the better side of the deal, moving forward with three quality draft picks as they transition to a new era at quarterback. Either way, for the time being, it sure seems like everyone involved got what they needed. Carolina has a new quarterback with plenty of upside, New York got something in return for Darnold as they move forward in preparation to pick a QB at No. 2 and Sam Darnold has a fresh start. MORE: Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), on Facebook (also @MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Jets Country and check back daily for news, analysis and more. | Sam Darnold was traded from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers. The Jets got a sixth-round pick in 2021 along with a second- and fourth-round selection in next year's draft. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/did-the-carolina-panthers-give-up-too-much-to-trade-for-new-york-jets-quarterback-sam-darnold | 0.250466 |
Did the Panthers Give Up Too Much For Sam Darnold? | For months, the NFL world speculated about just how much the Jets would be able to get in return for Sam Darnold. It wasn't a first-rounder, but the Jets did reel in a solid package in exchange for the 23-year-old. The Carolina Panthers agreed to send New York a sixth-round pick in 2021 along with a second- and fourth-round selection in next year's draft. We checked in with Schuyler Callihan of Sports Illustrated's All Panthers. Here's what Callhan had to say about the asking price for Darnold, who could be Carolina's answer at quarterback for years to come: Carolina needed to make its move at quarterback and did so by acquiring Sam Darnold. The talent and potential for Darnold to be a solid NFL starting quarterback are there, he just needs to be in the right situation with a coaching staff that harps on attention to detail and develops his game. Personally, I think this is the best fit for Darnold. All of a sudden, he's got the best running back in the league, a dynamic duo at wide receiver, and a young but promising defense to help him out. Matt Rhule has a track record of developing players and offensive coordinator Joe Brady has an innovative offense that was missing a true dual-threat quarterback. I think the asking price for Darnold was about spot on and although Darnold's ability to be "the guy" is still a question mark, I don't think they gave up too much for him. You keep essentially all your picks in this year's draft and more importantly, didn't have to give up anything but a 2nd rounder. If he works out, this deal will be a major win for the Panthers. That's the big if. Darnold has the potential to blossom into a star in Carolina, contending in the postseason and excelling in a new environment. If that's the case, the price the Panthers paid may very well be a steal down the road. That said, if Darnold continues to struggle and fails to access that untapped potential we've been talking about since he left USC, then New York got the better side of the deal, moving forward with three quality draft picks as they transition to a new era at quarterback. Either way, for the time being, it sure seems like everyone involved got what they needed. Carolina has a new quarterback with plenty of upside, New York got something in return for Darnold as they move forward in preparation to pick a QB at No. 2 and Sam Darnold has a fresh start. MORE: Follow Max Goodman on Twitter (@MaxTGoodman), on Facebook (also @MaxTGoodman), be sure to bookmark Jets Country and check back daily for news, analysis and more. | Sam Darnold was traded from the New York Jets to the Carolina Panthers. The Jets got a sixth-round pick in 2021 along with a second- and fourth-round selection in next year's draft. Sports Illustrated's Schuyler Callihan says the asking price for Darnold was about spot on. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/news/did-the-carolina-panthers-give-up-too-much-to-trade-for-new-york-jets-quarterback-sam-darnold | 0.156165 |
Is Arizona the next Georgia? Or are we already? | Arizona was Georgia before Georgia was Georgia. At least in one sense. And we may be back at it again, having failed to learn our lesson the first time. Major League Baseball has moved the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Colorados Coors Field in response to a voter suppression law passed by the Georgia legislature. Republican lawmakers in Arizona are pushing the same kind of legislation here, a toxic rot on the democratic process that will leave a stench smellable all across the nation. It has happened before. We fumbled the Super Bowl over MLK In 1990, Arizona voters were asked to vote on a paid state holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It had been a long, ugly fight. It began in the 1980s when then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt declared a state holiday. A successor, Evan Mecham (the local Trump of his day, who was later impeached and removed from office) rescinded that holiday. Organizers worked hard to put the question of an MLK day on the ballot. A group supported by Mecham, however, got a second King holiday proposition on the ballot. In the confusion over the two, both failed. And Arizona was a pariah. Businesses suffered. Tourism suffered. Reputation suffered. I recall at the time there was a headline in USA Today that read, NFL: Ariz. fumbled Super Bowl. The worst loss isn't to businesses Were hearing the same thing about Georgia these days. Executives with businesses headquartered there, like Coca-Cola, are speaking out, not only because the new law is corrosive to democracy but because it could hurt their bottom line. Its important for them to do so. Sometimes the only language politicians understand is money. But its even more important to remember what the loss of an All-Star game or a Super Bowl is really about. We didnt vote on a Super Bowl in Arizona, but on a paid state holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. When the holiday was defeated, I felt a loss, but it was not the loss of a mega-media event. It was a loss of dignity. It was a loss of humanity. And while the vote against the holiday like the current voter suppression legislation in Georgia and here will damage a states reputation and potentially its economy, the individuals most affected are not business people, but children. Business people can lose only profits. Children, if we arent careful, can lose a legacy, their future voting rights. After the loss in 1990, Arizonas business and community leaders came together to set things right. They organized a new campaign that included registering tens of thousands of new voters. And in November 1992, voters approved a King holiday, making Arizona the only state to have created the holiday by popular vote. A new legacy. All these years later, it would be a shame to squander it. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | Ed Montini: Arizona was Georgia before Georgia was Georgia and we may be back at it again. Arizona lost the Super Bowl over MLK, he says, and businesses suffered. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/07/all-star-game-arizona-next-georgia-super-bowl-voter-suppression/7124464002/ | 0.128446 |
Is Arizona the next Georgia? Or are we already? | Arizona was Georgia before Georgia was Georgia. At least in one sense. And we may be back at it again, having failed to learn our lesson the first time. Major League Baseball has moved the 2021 All-Star Game from Atlanta to Colorados Coors Field in response to a voter suppression law passed by the Georgia legislature. Republican lawmakers in Arizona are pushing the same kind of legislation here, a toxic rot on the democratic process that will leave a stench smellable all across the nation. It has happened before. We fumbled the Super Bowl over MLK In 1990, Arizona voters were asked to vote on a paid state holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. It had been a long, ugly fight. It began in the 1980s when then-Gov. Bruce Babbitt declared a state holiday. A successor, Evan Mecham (the local Trump of his day, who was later impeached and removed from office) rescinded that holiday. Organizers worked hard to put the question of an MLK day on the ballot. A group supported by Mecham, however, got a second King holiday proposition on the ballot. In the confusion over the two, both failed. And Arizona was a pariah. Businesses suffered. Tourism suffered. Reputation suffered. I recall at the time there was a headline in USA Today that read, NFL: Ariz. fumbled Super Bowl. The worst loss isn't to businesses Were hearing the same thing about Georgia these days. Executives with businesses headquartered there, like Coca-Cola, are speaking out, not only because the new law is corrosive to democracy but because it could hurt their bottom line. Its important for them to do so. Sometimes the only language politicians understand is money. But its even more important to remember what the loss of an All-Star game or a Super Bowl is really about. We didnt vote on a Super Bowl in Arizona, but on a paid state holiday honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. When the holiday was defeated, I felt a loss, but it was not the loss of a mega-media event. It was a loss of dignity. It was a loss of humanity. And while the vote against the holiday like the current voter suppression legislation in Georgia and here will damage a states reputation and potentially its economy, the individuals most affected are not business people, but children. Business people can lose only profits. Children, if we arent careful, can lose a legacy, their future voting rights. After the loss in 1990, Arizonas business and community leaders came together to set things right. They organized a new campaign that included registering tens of thousands of new voters. And in November 1992, voters approved a King holiday, making Arizona the only state to have created the holiday by popular vote. A new legacy. All these years later, it would be a shame to squander it. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | Ed Montini: Arizona was Georgia before Georgia was Georgia and we may be back at it again. Arizona lost the Super Bowl over MLK, he says, and businesses suffered. Montini says the loss of an All-Star game or a Super Bowl is really about humanity. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/07/all-star-game-arizona-next-georgia-super-bowl-voter-suppression/7124464002/ | 0.140192 |
Will Joe Biden's heavy spending lead to a second tea party movement? | President Joe Biden is charting a spend-and-elect course for the Democrats. The first tea party movement was triggered by sticker shock over President Barack Obamas spending spree, when Biden was VP. Obama inherited the bank bailouts. But he also bailed out the auto industry. And got enacted a nearly trillion dollar stimulus spending package, also under the infrastructure camouflage. Coverage at the time and since has focused on the tea party activists, a fringe element of the Republican Party. But tea party sentiment sticker shock and a feeling that there needed to be some brakes applied was broad and had a huge influence on the 2010 election. First tea party had big consequences During that election, Republicans picked up 63 seats in the U.S. House and took over control. That year, they also picked up seven Senate seats, although Democrats remained in charge. The reverberations were profound here in Arizona. The GOP, already a strong majority, picked up additional seats in both chambers of the Legislature. For the first and only time since one-man, one-vote in the 1960s, a single political party controlled both chambers with a two-thirds majority. The effect of tea party sentiment was most clearly illustrated in Arizonas fifth congressional district. Although the district was heavily Republican, Harry Mitchell, a moderate Democrat and former mayor of Tempe, ousted J.D. Hayworth in 2006. That was part of a Democratic national wave generated by fatigue with both the Iraq war and George W. Bushs presidency in general. Mitchell retained the seat against a challenge by David Schweikert in 2008, with 27,000 more votes. Even though the party registration split hadnt changed materially, Schweikert, riding the tea party wave, took the seat in 2010, with 19,000 more votes than Mitchell. Thats a powerful swing. Biden is spending even more than Obama Biden is proposing even more of a spending blowout than Obama, even though the economy is in considerably better shape. And his infrastructure camouflage is even thinner. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget pegs the cost of Bidens American Jobs Plan at $2.6 trillion over 10 years. Of that, only $157 billion is earmarked for what is traditionally regarded as infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Thats just 6% of the total. The number can be run up to $522 billion if the definition of infrastructure is expanded to include the internet, public transit, Amtrak and grid improvements to accommodate more wind and solar. Thats still less than a fifth of the total. Biden proposes spending more than twice as much on long-term care under Medicaid as on traditional infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Biden also proposes taking trillions of investment capital out of the private sector economy through higher taxes. Substituting public investment for private investment isnt the way to expand economic opportunity, particularly when the spending is mostly on social equity projects rather than anything that could remotely be characterized as infrastructure improvements that boost private sector productivity. If voters revolt, GOP may not benefit as much All that said, if Bidens spending binge provokes a second tea party movement, the Republican Party is far less positioned to benefit from it than in 2010. The GOP is suffering from a Trump hangover, and cant decide whether to take another swig from the bottle or try to sober up. When governing, Republicans never practice the fiscal rectitude they profess while in the minority. But Trump never even went through the motions. Deficits didnt concern him a whit. He liked debt. He left office bitterly complaining that congressional Republicans wouldnt join him in a bidding war with Democrats over how much money to give in tax rebates to people who hadnt suffered any income loss during the pandemic. If there is a second tea party movement, and Republicans remain mired in Trump loyalty tests, it may pass them by. It used to be that the only thing that saved Republicans from their ineptitude was the Democrats. It may be that Bidens big spending spree is well timed to benefit from a reversal of that equation. Reach Robb at robert.robb@arizonarepublic.com. | The first tea party movement was triggered by sticker shock over Obamas spending spree. Biden is proposing even more of a spending blowout than Obama. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/04/07/biden-infrastructure-bill-spawn-second-tea-party-movement/7110805002/ | 0.149124 |
Will Joe Biden's heavy spending lead to a second tea party movement? | President Joe Biden is charting a spend-and-elect course for the Democrats. The first tea party movement was triggered by sticker shock over President Barack Obamas spending spree, when Biden was VP. Obama inherited the bank bailouts. But he also bailed out the auto industry. And got enacted a nearly trillion dollar stimulus spending package, also under the infrastructure camouflage. Coverage at the time and since has focused on the tea party activists, a fringe element of the Republican Party. But tea party sentiment sticker shock and a feeling that there needed to be some brakes applied was broad and had a huge influence on the 2010 election. First tea party had big consequences During that election, Republicans picked up 63 seats in the U.S. House and took over control. That year, they also picked up seven Senate seats, although Democrats remained in charge. The reverberations were profound here in Arizona. The GOP, already a strong majority, picked up additional seats in both chambers of the Legislature. For the first and only time since one-man, one-vote in the 1960s, a single political party controlled both chambers with a two-thirds majority. The effect of tea party sentiment was most clearly illustrated in Arizonas fifth congressional district. Although the district was heavily Republican, Harry Mitchell, a moderate Democrat and former mayor of Tempe, ousted J.D. Hayworth in 2006. That was part of a Democratic national wave generated by fatigue with both the Iraq war and George W. Bushs presidency in general. Mitchell retained the seat against a challenge by David Schweikert in 2008, with 27,000 more votes. Even though the party registration split hadnt changed materially, Schweikert, riding the tea party wave, took the seat in 2010, with 19,000 more votes than Mitchell. Thats a powerful swing. Biden is spending even more than Obama Biden is proposing even more of a spending blowout than Obama, even though the economy is in considerably better shape. And his infrastructure camouflage is even thinner. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget pegs the cost of Bidens American Jobs Plan at $2.6 trillion over 10 years. Of that, only $157 billion is earmarked for what is traditionally regarded as infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Thats just 6% of the total. The number can be run up to $522 billion if the definition of infrastructure is expanded to include the internet, public transit, Amtrak and grid improvements to accommodate more wind and solar. Thats still less than a fifth of the total. Biden proposes spending more than twice as much on long-term care under Medicaid as on traditional infrastructure: highways, roads, bridges, airports and ports. Biden also proposes taking trillions of investment capital out of the private sector economy through higher taxes. Substituting public investment for private investment isnt the way to expand economic opportunity, particularly when the spending is mostly on social equity projects rather than anything that could remotely be characterized as infrastructure improvements that boost private sector productivity. If voters revolt, GOP may not benefit as much All that said, if Bidens spending binge provokes a second tea party movement, the Republican Party is far less positioned to benefit from it than in 2010. The GOP is suffering from a Trump hangover, and cant decide whether to take another swig from the bottle or try to sober up. When governing, Republicans never practice the fiscal rectitude they profess while in the minority. But Trump never even went through the motions. Deficits didnt concern him a whit. He liked debt. He left office bitterly complaining that congressional Republicans wouldnt join him in a bidding war with Democrats over how much money to give in tax rebates to people who hadnt suffered any income loss during the pandemic. If there is a second tea party movement, and Republicans remain mired in Trump loyalty tests, it may pass them by. It used to be that the only thing that saved Republicans from their ineptitude was the Democrats. It may be that Bidens big spending spree is well timed to benefit from a reversal of that equation. Reach Robb at robert.robb@arizonarepublic.com. | President Joe Biden is charting a spend-and-elect course for the Democrats. The first tea party movement was triggered by sticker shock over President Barack Obamas spending spree. Biden is proposing even more of a spending blowout than Obama, even though the economy is in better shape. | bart | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/04/07/biden-infrastructure-bill-spawn-second-tea-party-movement/7110805002/ | 0.19048 |
Would the Falcons take a tight end at No. 4? | Ryan Tannehill of Tennessee did, as tutored by A. Smith. Weve written this before, but its entirely possible that the new coach has said to Terry Fontenot, the new general manager: Give me two years with Matt Ryan before we worry about his replacement. If thats the case, theres no reason to spend the No. 4 pick and the millions that go with it for a player who, assuming Ryan stays healthy, wont see serious action until 2023, if then. But would the Falcons dare to invest in a tight end at No. If they stay put, the field should be clear for any non-quarterback on the board, given that the Jaguars, Jets and 49ers, holders of Picks 1-3, have indicated theyre in the QB market. No designated tight end has gone higher than No. 5 overall, unless you count Ron Kramer, taken No. 4 by Green Bay in 1957, though his position was listed simply as end. (He also played defensive end at Michigan. Those were the days.) Having an All-Pro tight end has become a calling card of Super Bowl champs. Your past four champions and their TEs: Eagles, Zach Ertz; Patriots, Rob Gronkowski; Chiefs, Travis Kelce; Buccaneers, Gronk again. Lets not forget George Kittle, whose 49ers lost to Kelces Chiefs. Now heres Pitts, whom ESPNs Mel Kiper has anointed my highest-graded tight end EVER. We have no idea how the Smith/Fontenot tandem will treat the draft, seeing as how neither has run one before. (Most payrolls do, FYI.) (This years is now $26.9 million; next years is $48.6 million.) That adjustment was an indication that the Falcons are in no hurry to move beyond Ryan, which leads us to the next question: Do they spend a No. Thomas Dimitroffs 13 years as GM were devoted to bolstering Ryan. Thats not a criticism: Every team builds around its quarterback. Under Smith/Fontenot, the Falcons might choose the same course, either by taking Oregon tackle Penei Sewell to block or Pitts to lend the Falcons a size/speed dimension not many teams have had. That would again put a defensive upgrade on the back burner, but Pitts just ran a 4.44 40. Hes a burner himself. | The Falcons have the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft. They could choose to take a tight end, like the Dolphins did with Ryan Tannehill. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/would-the-falcons-take-a-tight-end-at-no-4/RTVC3IYAWRCJNG3KNLMV4R5OJA/ | 0.50075 |
Would the Falcons take a tight end at No. 4? | Ryan Tannehill of Tennessee did, as tutored by A. Smith. Weve written this before, but its entirely possible that the new coach has said to Terry Fontenot, the new general manager: Give me two years with Matt Ryan before we worry about his replacement. If thats the case, theres no reason to spend the No. 4 pick and the millions that go with it for a player who, assuming Ryan stays healthy, wont see serious action until 2023, if then. But would the Falcons dare to invest in a tight end at No. If they stay put, the field should be clear for any non-quarterback on the board, given that the Jaguars, Jets and 49ers, holders of Picks 1-3, have indicated theyre in the QB market. No designated tight end has gone higher than No. 5 overall, unless you count Ron Kramer, taken No. 4 by Green Bay in 1957, though his position was listed simply as end. (He also played defensive end at Michigan. Those were the days.) Having an All-Pro tight end has become a calling card of Super Bowl champs. Your past four champions and their TEs: Eagles, Zach Ertz; Patriots, Rob Gronkowski; Chiefs, Travis Kelce; Buccaneers, Gronk again. Lets not forget George Kittle, whose 49ers lost to Kelces Chiefs. Now heres Pitts, whom ESPNs Mel Kiper has anointed my highest-graded tight end EVER. We have no idea how the Smith/Fontenot tandem will treat the draft, seeing as how neither has run one before. (Most payrolls do, FYI.) (This years is now $26.9 million; next years is $48.6 million.) That adjustment was an indication that the Falcons are in no hurry to move beyond Ryan, which leads us to the next question: Do they spend a No. Thomas Dimitroffs 13 years as GM were devoted to bolstering Ryan. Thats not a criticism: Every team builds around its quarterback. Under Smith/Fontenot, the Falcons might choose the same course, either by taking Oregon tackle Penei Sewell to block or Pitts to lend the Falcons a size/speed dimension not many teams have had. That would again put a defensive upgrade on the back burner, but Pitts just ran a 4.44 40. Hes a burner himself. | The Falcons have the No. 4 pick in the NFL draft. They could choose to take a tight end, like the Dolphins did with Ryan Tannehill. If they stay put, the field should be clear for any non-quarterback on the board. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.ajc.com/sports/mark-bradley-blog/would-the-falcons-take-a-tight-end-at-no-4/RTVC3IYAWRCJNG3KNLMV4R5OJA/ | 0.557056 |
What is the Antiquities Act? | DEB HAALAND, Joe Bidens interior secretary, will lace up her hiking boots for a visit to Utahs canyon country this week. Spectacular scenery aside, the trip is all business. Just hours after taking the oath of office on January 20th, Mr Biden directed his Interior Department to review Donald Trumps changes to Americas national monuments with an eye to reversing them. Ms Haalands meetings with local officials on April 8th are a part of that review. Mr Trumps decision in 2017 to dramatically shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in southern Utah amounted to the biggest reduction of federal land protections in American history. The rollback cheered conservative lawmakers from western states who are ideologically opposed to the idea that edicts from the White House can dictate how land some 2,000 miles away is used. The presidential power to declare national monuments is set out in the Antiquities Act, a little-known law passed by Congress in 1906. In the late 19th century museums and fairs, such as the Worlds Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, began increasingly to display Native American artefacts. This exposure and the rise of American archaeological studies led to a surge in demand for antiquities from the countrys western states. Looting, vandalism and grave-robbing became common. Historic sitesespecially around the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meetwere plundered, sometimes by archaeologists themselves. In response, Congress passed the Antiquities Act, which gave the president the discretion to declare historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments. In practice that means any new extractive activities are banned, including drilling, mining, logging and grazing. In modern times, monument designations may also limit the use of off-road vehicles. The vagueness of the acts wording made it a powerful tool for environmental conservation. Theodore Roosevelt, who signed the bill into law, made immediate use of his new executive power. An avowed conservationist, he created 18 national monumentsas well as 150 national forests and five national parksduring his tenure in the White House. Roosevelts successors followed suit. Every president since except Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush declared or enlarged national monuments (see chart). After gutting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, Mr Trump protected 380 acres in Kentucky that had served as a training ground for African-American troops during the civil war. The law has long been controversial, hardening battle lines between the legislative and executive branches, federal and state governments, tribes, scientists and industry. Individual states viewed it as a land grab by the feds; tribes were often not consulted when monuments were declared, enlarged or diminished; miners, ranchers, loggers and oilmen complained that the protections were bad for business. Liberty-loving Wyomingites objected so much to the practice that in 1950 a section was added barring the extension or establishment of national monuments in the state unless authorised by Congress. Mike Lee, Utahs senior senator, is also pushing for an exemption for his state. These competing interests still define the debate around Americas public lands. But even among westerners, national monuments are popular. A recent Colorado College poll found that 74% of Utahns support restoring protections for them. That is good news for the Biden administration, which hopes to protect 30% of American lands and waters by 2030. As of 2018 only 12% of the countrys lands and 26% of its territorial waters were protected, according to the Centre for American Progress, a think-tank. Declaring and enlarging national monuments will help Mr Biden meet that goal. Conservation by executive fiat has its drawbacks, however, in that it may be undone by future presidents. The tug-of-war over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase is proof of that precarity. | The Antiquities Act was passed by Congress in 1906. It gives the president the discretion to declare national monuments. The law has long been controversial, hardening battle lines between the legislative and executive branches. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/07/what-is-the-antiquities-act | 0.102073 |
What is the Antiquities Act? | DEB HAALAND, Joe Bidens interior secretary, will lace up her hiking boots for a visit to Utahs canyon country this week. Spectacular scenery aside, the trip is all business. Just hours after taking the oath of office on January 20th, Mr Biden directed his Interior Department to review Donald Trumps changes to Americas national monuments with an eye to reversing them. Ms Haalands meetings with local officials on April 8th are a part of that review. Mr Trumps decision in 2017 to dramatically shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in southern Utah amounted to the biggest reduction of federal land protections in American history. The rollback cheered conservative lawmakers from western states who are ideologically opposed to the idea that edicts from the White House can dictate how land some 2,000 miles away is used. The presidential power to declare national monuments is set out in the Antiquities Act, a little-known law passed by Congress in 1906. In the late 19th century museums and fairs, such as the Worlds Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, began increasingly to display Native American artefacts. This exposure and the rise of American archaeological studies led to a surge in demand for antiquities from the countrys western states. Looting, vandalism and grave-robbing became common. Historic sitesespecially around the Four Corners region where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meetwere plundered, sometimes by archaeologists themselves. In response, Congress passed the Antiquities Act, which gave the president the discretion to declare historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated on land owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments. In practice that means any new extractive activities are banned, including drilling, mining, logging and grazing. In modern times, monument designations may also limit the use of off-road vehicles. The vagueness of the acts wording made it a powerful tool for environmental conservation. Theodore Roosevelt, who signed the bill into law, made immediate use of his new executive power. An avowed conservationist, he created 18 national monumentsas well as 150 national forests and five national parksduring his tenure in the White House. Roosevelts successors followed suit. Every president since except Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush declared or enlarged national monuments (see chart). After gutting Bears Ears and Grand Staircase, Mr Trump protected 380 acres in Kentucky that had served as a training ground for African-American troops during the civil war. The law has long been controversial, hardening battle lines between the legislative and executive branches, federal and state governments, tribes, scientists and industry. Individual states viewed it as a land grab by the feds; tribes were often not consulted when monuments were declared, enlarged or diminished; miners, ranchers, loggers and oilmen complained that the protections were bad for business. Liberty-loving Wyomingites objected so much to the practice that in 1950 a section was added barring the extension or establishment of national monuments in the state unless authorised by Congress. Mike Lee, Utahs senior senator, is also pushing for an exemption for his state. These competing interests still define the debate around Americas public lands. But even among westerners, national monuments are popular. A recent Colorado College poll found that 74% of Utahns support restoring protections for them. That is good news for the Biden administration, which hopes to protect 30% of American lands and waters by 2030. As of 2018 only 12% of the countrys lands and 26% of its territorial waters were protected, according to the Centre for American Progress, a think-tank. Declaring and enlarging national monuments will help Mr Biden meet that goal. Conservation by executive fiat has its drawbacks, however, in that it may be undone by future presidents. The tug-of-war over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase is proof of that precarity. | The Antiquities Act was passed by Congress in 1906. It gives the president the discretion to declare national monuments. The law has long been controversial, hardening battle lines between the legislative and executive branches, federal and state governments, tribes, scientists and industry. But even among westerners, national monuments are popular. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/07/what-is-the-antiquities-act | 0.12676 |
Does China's 'one-child generation' want more kids? | China's one-child policy started in the 1980s to slow population growth, with some exemptions eventually coming about. In recent years it's been relaxed to allow families' to have two children. But, faced with an ageing population, the north-east could be the first region to drop restrictions all together. However, it's uncertain if this will encourage young families to have more babies, as China Correspondent Stephen McDonell has been finding out. Digital edit by Joyce Liu, produced by Ellen Jin and filmed by Alex Shaw This video has been optimised for mobile viewing on the BBC News app. The BBC News app is available from the Apple App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android. | China's one-child policy started in the 1980s to slow population growth. In recent years it's been relaxed to allow families' to have two children. The north-east could be the first region to drop restrictions all together. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-56651587 | 0.189847 |
Does China's 'one-child generation' want more kids? | China's one-child policy started in the 1980s to slow population growth, with some exemptions eventually coming about. In recent years it's been relaxed to allow families' to have two children. But, faced with an ageing population, the north-east could be the first region to drop restrictions all together. However, it's uncertain if this will encourage young families to have more babies, as China Correspondent Stephen McDonell has been finding out. Digital edit by Joyce Liu, produced by Ellen Jin and filmed by Alex Shaw This video has been optimised for mobile viewing on the BBC News app. The BBC News app is available from the Apple App Store for iPhone and Google Play Store for Android. | China's one-child policy started in the 1980s to slow population growth. In recent years it's been relaxed to allow families' to have two children. The north-east could be the first region to drop restrictions all together. But it's uncertain if this will encourage young families to have more babies. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-56651587 | 0.183691 |
Is equity a winning issue in a Boston mayoral race? | A city that has never elected a mayor of color is about to find out. Acting Mayor Kim Janey made equity the cornerstone of her announcement to run for a full, four-year term. At a press conference on Tuesday, she spoke about the challenges faced from COVID and racial inequities that have been inherited from centuries of structural racism. In a campaign video released in conjunction with her announcement, she referenced a 2015 report that the median net worth of Black households is $8, compared to $247,500 for white households, and said, This recovery is our chance to build a more equitable city for every resident. Advertisement On her website, mayorjaney.com, Janeys slogan is Recovery. Equity. History. As acting mayor, she has a unique perch to show what equity means to her. Boston voters will have a chance to decide whether her definition is what they want from City Hall. Given Bostons tumultuous history on race and equity, its on us as voters, said Jeffrey Sanchez, a political consultant and former state representative from Jamaica Plain. The five other candidates in the mayoral race also will have to decide whether Janeys emphasis on equity is the key to victory, or if theres political benefit in another approach. Campaign slogans are just that, slogans. But they do frame the first message that a candidate tries to sell to voters. For John Barros, the pitch is Rooted in Community. Driven by Hope. Ready to Meet the Moment. For Andrea Campbell: Our Moment. Our Future. Our Boston. For Anissa Essaibi George: Bold Vision. Hard Work. Real Progress. For Jon Santiago: ...a grassroots movement to bring our city together and lead us to a stronger and more equitable future. For Michelle Wu: Together, lets build a Boston for everyone. Advertisement All these candidates are also talking about equity. But they are also using words that reflect traditional thinking some would say cautious thinking about what it takes to win a Boston mayoral election, which, of course, has never been won by anyone who is not a white man. Recent mayors talked about creating a more equitable city, but no one did anything to really shake up the status quo. Deep inequities in housing, education, and other quality of life issues persist, as Janey rightly pointed out in her announcement. Janeys ascension to acting mayor attracted national attention because she was the first person of color in Boston to get there. But it happened by accident, because she was City Council president when Mayor Marty Walsh left to become US labor secretary. All the declared candidates so far identify as Black, Latino, Asian, or Arab American. A Black person or a person of color will win this race if a white person doesnt run, Byron Rushing, a former state representative who endorsed Wu, told the Globe. That if from Rushing reveals the depth of skepticism about how much Boston has really changed. Whether the field stays the same or changes, all the candidates, including Janey, will have to look at ways to broaden their appeal. Advertisement From a public relations perspective, Janey has made the most of her first weeks on the job, from her swearing-in to throwing out the first pitch on Opening Day at Fenway. From now until election day, she will have all the benefits and risks associated with being an acting mayor whose primary focus is equity. She has already started to show what that focus means to her. For example, she recently announced that the city is offering free MBTA and Bluebikes passes to 1,000 workers in business districts that include Nubian Square, Jamaica Plain, Mission Hill, East Boston, and Fields Corner. On Wednesday, she announced initiatives to address equity in city contracting. On Thursday, shes scheduled to join Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot on a panel hosted by MIT on the topic of Going Local: Building More Equitable Cities. Janey is staking out bold ground. Now she has to get voters from across the city to follow her there. Joan Vennochi can be reached at joan.vennochi@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @joan_vennochi. | Frida Ghitis: Is equity a winning issue in a Boston mayoral race? She says acting mayor Kim Janey made equity the cornerstone of her announcement to run for a full, four-year term. She says Janey has a unique perch to show what equity means to her. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/04/07/opinion/is-equity-winning-issue-boston-mayoral-race/ | 0.254992 |
Can Green Party recover from racist-tinged charges? | By any measure, the revelation this week of bitter, racist-tinged internal trouble at its highest internal levels is devastating for the federal Green Party. Indeed, the Green Party today is facing one of the most critical moments in its history one that could seal its fate for years to come after allegations surfaced suggesting some senior party officials may be deliberately sabotaging the work of new party leader Annamie Paul. In an exclusive story by Alex Ballingall of the Toronto Stars Ottawa bureau, Green Party organizer Sean Yo and other party insiders say Paul, the first Black woman to lead a federal political party, has faced significant resistance from high-ranking party officials since she became leader on Oct. 3. They say that among other things Paul was ordered to refund $50,000 to the party headquarters in the midst of her unsuccessful 2020 Toronto-area byelection campaign and also was forced to work as leader for nearly three months without pay before she finally was given an employment contract. Its very hard not to see this process through the lens of race, gender and religion, Yo told Ballingall, adding that while he wasnt trying to portray the party as overly racist, he did observe that the leadership level of this organization is primarily white. In 2021, that means something. Paul says she wont discuss internal party issues. Meanwhile, former leader Elizabeth May dismisses as ridiculous suggestions that a top-level faction loyal to her is working against Paul. This is a turning point for the Greens in more ways than one. Unless the party can quickly get on top of this publicity nightmare, it may be doomed to be a fringe party forever, with few friends, little money and no power. Simply stated, no party can thrive in todays Canada if its tainted by suggestions that its white-dominated internal leadership is racist. Although it has been a formal party for nearly a quarter of a century, the Greens have failed to gain much traction with voters. Under May, who resigned as leader in late 2019 but remains an MP, the party won three seats in the last election, its most ever. But its candidates were trounced in virtually every other riding across Canada. Under Paul, the party has been nudging up in the polls. But the revelations this week will likely damage the partys image with voters, except for its small hard-core base, and worsen the short-term dream of the Greens become a true player on the national political scene. Despite her defeat in last Octobers byelection in Toronto Centre, the riding in which she lives, Paul boasted the Greens would be a very competitive option in the next election for voters disillusioned with the Liberals and NDP. That prediction now seems wildly outdated. If Paul and the Greens really hope to recover from these damaging revelations, they need to take several major actions: First, Paul needs to take command of the partys federal council, which is the key internal decision-making body. She can do that by convincing May loyalists, including Mays husband John Kidder, who is council vice-president, to voluntary step aside, clearing the way for party members to elect Paul loyalists to the vacated positions. Second, Paul should scrap her well-intentioned, but foolhardy, plan to run again in Toronto Centre, a traditional Liberal stronghold where she likely would be soundly defeated once again. Paul needs to find a riding in which she can win because she wont be treated as a true party leader until she has a seat in Parliament. Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Third, Elizabeth May should scrap her plan to run again in the B.C. riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands, clearing the way for Paul to run in what is likely the only safe Green seat in the country. Mays continued high-profile presence in Ottawa will always be a hindrance to Paul gaining full control of the party and the loyalty of its headquarters staff. Unless it works to get its act together and moves swiftly to seal the cracks in its ranks, the Green Party will remain where voters have put them for decades on the political fringe. Bob Hepburn is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: is a Star politics columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @BobHepburn Read more about: | The Green Party is facing one of the most critical moments in its history. Allegations surfaced suggesting some senior party officials may be deliberately sabotaging the work of new leader Annamie Paul. No party can thrive in today's Canada if its tainted by suggestions that its white-dominated internal leadership is racist. | bart | 2 | https://www.thestar.com/opinion/star-columnists/2021/04/07/can-green-party-recover-from-racist-tinged-charges.html | 0.200546 |
What do I need to know about the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine? | Concerns have been mounting over reports of rare but serious blood clots in a small number of recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, leading to a UK recommendation on Wednesday that healthy adults under 30 should have an alternative jab if they can. We take a look at the latest information and guidance. All medications including vaccines have some side-effects. The most common with the Covid jabs are mild and short-lived, including localised soreness, fatigue or aches and headaches. However the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab has been linked to a small but concerning number of reports of blood clots combined with low platelet counts (platelets are cell fragments in our blood that help it to clot). These include a rare clot in the brain called cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). In an unvaccinated population, upper estimates suggest there may be 15 to 16 cases per million people per year. But also highly uncommon is the combination of CVST or other rare clots with low platelets, and sometimes unusual antibodies and that combination is at the centre of current concerns. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab should look out for new headaches, blurred vision, confusion or seizures that occur four days or more after vaccination. While headaches are very common post-vaccine, Dr Josh Wright, vice-president of the British Society for Haematology, stressed that those linked to CVST are unusually severe and persistent and progressively worsen over a period of days. Most cases are reported within two weeks of someone having the jab. The MHRA also flagged shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, leg swelling and unusual skin bruising as reasons to seek medical advice. Once identified, the symptoms can be treated. Beverley Hunt, professor of thrombosis and haemostasis at Kings College London and a representative of Thrombosis UK, said the first step would be to give a dose of intravenous gamma globulin essentially giving concentrated antibodies which block the effect of the antibodies that could be causing the clotting problems. Once the patient is stable this is then followed by giving them anticoagulation agents, but which are not heparins. Up to and including 31 March, the MHRA said it received 79 reports of cases of blood clots combined with low platelets, including 19 deaths, following more than 20m doses of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab. That equates to about four cases for every million vaccinated individuals. The MHRA added that 44 of the reports and 14 of the deaths related to CVST with a low platelet count. Of the 19 deaths, 11 were in people under the age of 50 and three were in people under the age of 30. Two cases of blood clots with a low platelet count have also been reported among recipients of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab. This is a particularly rare and very unique form of abnormal clotting, said Wright. The European Medicines Agency is also examining three cases of venous thromboembolism blood clots involving the Johnson & Johnson jab. The MHRA says blood clots combined with low platelets can occur naturally in unvaccinated people as well as in those who have caught Covid, and that while evidence of a link with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine has become stronger, more research is needed. At present the mechanism by which the jab could cause clotting problems remains unclear. But experts have noticed a similarity to a clotting event sometimes seen among people given the blood-thinning drug heparin, whereby antibodies are generated that result in platelets becoming activated. In very rare situations heparin can actually cause this platelet activation problem and lead to blood clots in unusual places. So there are some similarities between these two conditions, said Wright. According to Hunt, one possibility is that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine may also trigger the production of antibodies that activate platelets, causing them to form clots. In the process, platelets are used up, resulting in a fall in the platelet count. The MHRA, along with the EMA and the World Health Organization (WHO), have all repeatedly said people should continue taking the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot because its benefits in preventing Covid infection far outweigh any risks. However on Wednesday the MHRA acknowledged a possible link between the jab and the clots, adding that careful consideration should be given to those who may be at higher risk of certain types of blood clots. In addition, the UKs Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said it was recommending that people aged 18-29 should be offered other Covid vaccines if available provided they are healthy and at low risk of Covid. There are about 10m 18 to 29-year-olds in the UK. Although the chance of any person receiving the vaccine experiencing a blood clot with low platelets is extremely small, because the risk of severe Covid in the under-30s with no underlying illness is also small, JCVI feel as a precautionary measure it is appropriate for those in this age group to be offered an alternative Covid vaccine when their turn comes for their first dose of a vaccine, said Prof Anthony Harnden, deputy chair of the JCVI. Pregnant women should discuss with their doctors whether to have the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab as pregnancy can increase the risk of blood clots, the MHRA said. Meanwhile on Wednesday the EMA said the rare clotting syndrome should be listed as a very rare side-effect of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab after reviewing 62 cases of CVST and 24 cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis, largely from Europe and the UK where 25m doses of the jab have been given. Of these cases, 18 were fatal. So far, most of the cases reported have occurred in women under 60 years of age within two weeks of vaccination, the EMA said, although specific risk factors have not yet been confirmed. According to data from the MHRA, 51 of the 79 clotting cases and 13 of the deaths were in women, although women were more likely to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab than men. There has been no advice that anyone should take medication to prevent rare clotting events. Hunt cautioned against taking aspirin, stressing it is thought the clotting problems are down to an immune response. So taking aspirin is not going to be helpful. Taking an anticoagulant probably isnt going to be helpful, especially if you are going to get a low platelet count, it will increase your risk of bleeding, she said. Combined hormonal contraceptives, which contain oestrogen, have been associated with an increased risk of blood clots including CVST, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. According to an EMA review in 2014, the risk of blood clots ranged from five to 12 cases per 10,000 women who take combined hormonal contraceptives for a year, compared with two cases each year per 10,000 women who are not using such contraceptives. The combined oral contraceptive pill is probably the commonest cause of cerebral sinus thrombosis, so it is a very good comparison, said Hunt. Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the University of Bristol and a member of the JCVI, said other risk-benefit comparisons can also be made. Weve seen data that the annual risk of dying in a car crash if you regularly travel in a car is about 1 in 20,000, with a lifetime risk of about 1 in 240, he said. We take those risks for granted. The faculty for sexual and reproductive health stressed the risk of blood clots from the pill was also low much smaller than the risk of having a blood clot if they were pregnant. The vast majority of people who had a first dose of the jab, including under-30s, should get their second dose, with some exceptions. Anyone who experienced cerebral or other major blood clots occurring with low levels of platelets after their first vaccine dose of Covid-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca should not have their second dose, the MHRA said. Anyone who did not have these side-effects should come forward for their second dose when invited. All 79 cases detailed by the MHRA occurred after the first dose, but that could be because far more people have received their first dose than their second. Harnden said at present this is unclear. Because we dont know what the causal mechanism is yet and although there is a strong possibility that this is caused by the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, we are not 100% certain we cant really postulate [about] other [vaccine] types at the moment, he said. But the occurrence of only two cases of blood clots and low platelets among those vaccinated with the Pfizer jab suggests the problem is linked to the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab, he said. One possibility is that it is linked to the type of vaccine, with the EMA examining whether other vaccines using similar technology to the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine posed any risk. The Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine also uses a modified cold virus to introduce the instructions for the spike protein into our cells but whereas the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine uses a chimp adenovirus, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine uses a human cold virus. Dr Peter Arlett, head of data analytics and methods taskforce, said so far there had been three cases of venous thromboembolism blood clots involving the Johnson & Johnson jab. However the numbers are extremely small compared to the 5 million patients that have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine worldwide. Norway and Denmark were the first to temporarily halt the Oxford/AstraZeneca shot on 11 March after reporting several cases of CVST combined with a low count of blood platelets. Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, along with non EU-members Iceland and Norway, subsequently either paused the vaccine or banned the use of particular batches. Germanys health ministry in particular said it had a legal obligation to pause the jab pending investigation by the EMA. It said the incidence rate of the events in Oxford/AstraZeneca recipients appeared three or four times higher than would normally be expected, with young women seeming to be over-represented, and it had a duty of care. Not all countries followed suit: Belgiums health agency said it would keep using Oxford/AstraZeneca as to stop vaccinating people in the face of rising cases would be irresponsible. On Wednesday, Belgium announced it would restrict the jab to over-55s. Share your story Share your stories If you have been affected or have any information, we'd like to hear from you. You can get in touch by filling in the form below, anonymously if you wish or contact us via WhatsApp by clicking here or adding the contact +44(0)7867825056. Only the Guardian can see your contributions and one of our journalists may contact you to discuss further. Yes, entirely Yes, but please keep me anonymous Yes, but please contact me first No, this is information only Email address Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Phone number Optional Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Most countries have already resumed innoculations with the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, although often with restrictions. But Denmark and Norway have prolonged their initial suspension of the shot until mid-April pending further investigations. Countries that have resumed use without restrictions include: Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Italy has said people who do not want Oxford/AstraZeneca may have another vaccine later. Countries that have imposed restrictions on the shots use include Canada (limited to people aged 55 and over); Finland (65 and over); France (55 and over); the Netherlands (60 and over); and Sweden (65 and over). Germany is offering the shot only to people aged 60 and over and in high-priority groups, with under-60s who have had a first shot recommended to get a different one, and Spain is giving it to only to those aged 55-65, plus essential workers over 65. Belgium is limiting it to over-55s. | The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said recipients of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab should look out for new headaches, blurred vision, confusion or seizures. The MHRA also flagged shortness of breath, chest pain, abdominal pain, leg swelling and unusual skin bruising as reasons to seek medical advice. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/07/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-the-oxfordastrazeneca-vaccine | 0.234591 |
Is BTS About To Replace Themselves At No. 1 On The Sales Chart With New Single Film Out? | NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop band BTS are ... [+] seen on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by JNI/Star Max/GC Images) GC Images BTS are steady at No. 1 on the latest edition of the Digital Song Sales chart, Billboards weekly ranking of the singles that actually sold the most copies in the U.S. (which differs from other lists, like the Hot 100, which incorporates streaming numbers and radio play) with their unbeatable smash Dynamite. The tune has been going strong on the tally for a historically long time, and even some of the most exciting new cuts from major stars havent been able to best the Grammy-nominated tune...though it looks like a just-released track might end up winning the week, and it comes from a very familiar source. The South Korean septets new single Film Out could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart, according to music industry and chart projectors. BTS released the tune, performed in Japanese, a little over a week ago, and so far its been performing very well since its arrival. Film Out initially opened at No. 11 on iTunes, hurt by its release mid-day on Thursday, April 1. After a full 24 hours had passed, the cut vaulted to the top spot, where it held for two days...and then it began to fall. While it is still selling, the Japanese cut has been drifting down the iTunes sales chart, though its still living inside the top 10. Depending on how the next few days play out before the current tracking period wraps this Thursday (April 8), Film Out could conceivably sell enough copies on platforms like iTunes, Amazon and others to wind up launching atop next weeks Digital Song Sales chart. If that ends up taking place, BTS will score the relatively rare back-to-back leaders on the tally, replacing themselves on the throne. Currently, Film Out is facing tough competition from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paaks (otherwise known as Silk Sonic) debut single as a duo, Leave The Door Open, which has been selling thousands of copies per week since it was released over a month ago. A new version of that tune may help it in hitting No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart next frame. Also vying for the highest rung on the sales-only list are Masked Wolfs Astronaut in the Ocean and Taylor Swifts Mr. Perfectly Fine, which was released just today (April 7), though that latter title is severely handicapped, as it has less than two full days in which to rack up sales. Whether Film Out wins the week or not, its bound to open high on the next published Digital Song Sales chart, perhaps giving BTS another top 10, if not one more No. 1. All those purchases could also help the tune find its way to the Hot 100, though where it may rank is difficult to predict. | BTS' new single "Film Out" could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/07/is-bts-about-to-replace-themselves-at-no-1-on-the-sales-chart-with-new-single-film-out/ | 0.288889 |
Is BTS About To Replace Themselves At No. 1 On The Sales Chart With New Single Film Out? | NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop band BTS are ... [+] seen on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by JNI/Star Max/GC Images) GC Images BTS are steady at No. 1 on the latest edition of the Digital Song Sales chart, Billboards weekly ranking of the singles that actually sold the most copies in the U.S. (which differs from other lists, like the Hot 100, which incorporates streaming numbers and radio play) with their unbeatable smash Dynamite. The tune has been going strong on the tally for a historically long time, and even some of the most exciting new cuts from major stars havent been able to best the Grammy-nominated tune...though it looks like a just-released track might end up winning the week, and it comes from a very familiar source. The South Korean septets new single Film Out could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart, according to music industry and chart projectors. BTS released the tune, performed in Japanese, a little over a week ago, and so far its been performing very well since its arrival. Film Out initially opened at No. 11 on iTunes, hurt by its release mid-day on Thursday, April 1. After a full 24 hours had passed, the cut vaulted to the top spot, where it held for two days...and then it began to fall. While it is still selling, the Japanese cut has been drifting down the iTunes sales chart, though its still living inside the top 10. Depending on how the next few days play out before the current tracking period wraps this Thursday (April 8), Film Out could conceivably sell enough copies on platforms like iTunes, Amazon and others to wind up launching atop next weeks Digital Song Sales chart. If that ends up taking place, BTS will score the relatively rare back-to-back leaders on the tally, replacing themselves on the throne. Currently, Film Out is facing tough competition from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paaks (otherwise known as Silk Sonic) debut single as a duo, Leave The Door Open, which has been selling thousands of copies per week since it was released over a month ago. A new version of that tune may help it in hitting No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart next frame. Also vying for the highest rung on the sales-only list are Masked Wolfs Astronaut in the Ocean and Taylor Swifts Mr. Perfectly Fine, which was released just today (April 7), though that latter title is severely handicapped, as it has less than two full days in which to rack up sales. Whether Film Out wins the week or not, its bound to open high on the next published Digital Song Sales chart, perhaps giving BTS another top 10, if not one more No. 1. All those purchases could also help the tune find its way to the Hot 100, though where it may rank is difficult to predict. | BTS are steady at No. 1 on the latest edition of the Digital Song Sales chart. The South Korean septets new single Film Out could be on its way to a No.1 debut. | bart | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/07/is-bts-about-to-replace-themselves-at-no-1-on-the-sales-chart-with-new-single-film-out/ | 0.214288 |
Is BTS About To Replace Themselves At No. 1 On The Sales Chart With New Single Film Out? | NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 21: Hope, SUGA, Jungkook, Jimin, RM, V and Jin of the K-pop band BTS are ... [+] seen on February 21, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by JNI/Star Max/GC Images) GC Images BTS are steady at No. 1 on the latest edition of the Digital Song Sales chart, Billboards weekly ranking of the singles that actually sold the most copies in the U.S. (which differs from other lists, like the Hot 100, which incorporates streaming numbers and radio play) with their unbeatable smash Dynamite. The tune has been going strong on the tally for a historically long time, and even some of the most exciting new cuts from major stars havent been able to best the Grammy-nominated tune...though it looks like a just-released track might end up winning the week, and it comes from a very familiar source. The South Korean septets new single Film Out could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart, according to music industry and chart projectors. BTS released the tune, performed in Japanese, a little over a week ago, and so far its been performing very well since its arrival. Film Out initially opened at No. 11 on iTunes, hurt by its release mid-day on Thursday, April 1. After a full 24 hours had passed, the cut vaulted to the top spot, where it held for two days...and then it began to fall. While it is still selling, the Japanese cut has been drifting down the iTunes sales chart, though its still living inside the top 10. Depending on how the next few days play out before the current tracking period wraps this Thursday (April 8), Film Out could conceivably sell enough copies on platforms like iTunes, Amazon and others to wind up launching atop next weeks Digital Song Sales chart. If that ends up taking place, BTS will score the relatively rare back-to-back leaders on the tally, replacing themselves on the throne. Currently, Film Out is facing tough competition from Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paaks (otherwise known as Silk Sonic) debut single as a duo, Leave The Door Open, which has been selling thousands of copies per week since it was released over a month ago. A new version of that tune may help it in hitting No. 1 on the Digital Song Sales chart next frame. Also vying for the highest rung on the sales-only list are Masked Wolfs Astronaut in the Ocean and Taylor Swifts Mr. Perfectly Fine, which was released just today (April 7), though that latter title is severely handicapped, as it has less than two full days in which to rack up sales. Whether Film Out wins the week or not, its bound to open high on the next published Digital Song Sales chart, perhaps giving BTS another top 10, if not one more No. 1. All those purchases could also help the tune find its way to the Hot 100, though where it may rank is difficult to predict. | BTS' new single "Film Out" could be on its way to a No. 1 debut on the Digital Song Sales chart. If that ends up taking place, BTS will score the relatively rare back-to-back leaders on the tally, replacing themselves on the throne. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2021/04/07/is-bts-about-to-replace-themselves-at-no-1-on-the-sales-chart-with-new-single-film-out/ | 0.464661 |
How concerned should the Falcons be about QB success rate? | The Falcons have an aging veteran at quarterback, a top-five pick, and both a new general manger and head coach. Generally, these are signs that a team is on the verge of a rebuild and probably looking for a new franchise quarterback. After two pre-draft trades, the first three selections are now locks to be quarterbacks. The San Francisco 49ers, who traded up to No. 3, publicly confirmed their intentions, and New York, who traded away Sam Darnold to the Panthers, have revealed their draft plans as well. This means the Falcons pick at No. 4 is the true start of the 2021 NFL draft. And while Atlanta could very well select a quarterback, this would mean taking the fourth-best player at a position that isnt high on the teams priority list. Success for a quarterback is defined by performance, consistency level, and longevity with the team the player was selected by. Some people like to throw in team wins, but this involves outside variables and therefore, is something I will leave out. These numbers represent the quarterbacks selected in the top 10 of each draft from the years of 2000 to 2018. In total, there were 32 quarterbacks selected, 13 were No. 1 overall picks. These numbers reflect each quarterbacks tenure with the initial team they were drafted by. For context, I am looking past the Chargers drafting Eli Manning and only associating him with the Giants, same goes for Philip Rivers. NOTE: Patrick Mahomes, John Allen and Baker Mayfield were disregarded in average seasons due to them still playing on their rookie contracts with their initial teams. Draft Range 3200 Yards 4000 Yards 4800 Yards 24 TDs 32 TDs 40 TDs AVG amount of seasons with team Top 10 65% 43% 16% 56% 37% 9% 6 years* Something you may notice is the steady decline in production and the low amount of time spent with the initial drafted team. Of the 32 quarterbacks in question, 19 of them failed to last beyond their rookie contracts. Jared Goff and Carson Wentz both signed extensions but were traded away before they fully kicked in. Their fifth years were exercised prior to the 2019 season and kept them with their drafted teams through the 2020 NFL season. Story continues As you see, a majority of quarterbacks do hit the 3,200-yard benchmark. In fact, 21 of the 32 top-10 picks do. However, only 28 percent of those quarterbacks replicate this same success more than five times in their careers. Only Eli Manning (14), Philip Rivers (14), and Matt Ryan (12) have replicated this success 10 or more times. To go a step further, of the 14 QBs who passed for 4,000 yards or more, only 28 percent of these quarterbacks passed for this many yards more than five times. Once again, Philip Rivers (11) and Matt Ryan (10) are the only two players who did this 10 or more times. Like the ones who passed for more than 3,200 yards, this feat was also accomplished an average of four times. 4,000 Yard Seasons 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 8+ Individual Seasons 43% 31% 21% 15% 12% Consecutive Seasons 43% 31% 15% 9% 6% 4,500 Yard Seasons 1+ 2+ 3+ 4+ 7+ Individual 28% 18% 9% 6% 3% By using the same data, only two QBs have posted over 4,800 yards more than once, Matt Ryan (2) and Matthew Stafford (2). Eli Manning, Jameis Winston and Patrick Mahomes have all done it just once. Albeit, Mahomes still has plenty of career left to expand on this. To average out, this feat has only been accomplished one time. Its also important to note that these benchmarks set with the NFLs former 16-game schedule. Now that the NFL added an extra game, the benchmark for success would be pushed even further. Guys like Carson Wentz, Eli Manning, and Baker Mayfield would average over 4,000 yards per season, something they failed to do in 16-game seasons. Yards Per Game average Draft Range 210+ 230+ 250+ 270+ Top 10 56% 43% 21% 15% The hardest area of production to achieve is getting over 40 touchdowns in a season. Of the 32 quarterbacks, only three players got over this mark and only did so once. Matt Ryan is not one of them, but he was only two touchdowns away in 2016, and five away in 2018 from joining the 40-touchdown club. So when assessing which quarterback to bring in, the Falcons have to make sure they can replicate the current production of Matt Ryan. During his 13-year NFL career, Ryan has averaged 4,353 yards passing through a 16-game schedule. When taking into account the last five seasons and the additional 17th game this year, Ryan is projected to pass for nearly 5,000 passing yards in 2021. Season Yards YPG 2016 4,944 309 2017 4,095 255.9 2018 4,924 307.8 2019 4,466 297.7 2020 4,581 286.3 AVG 4,660 291.3 Projected 2021 Yards 4,951 Another 4,000 yard season in 2021 and Ryan will have passed Peyton Manning for the record for most consecutive seasons. Additionally, Ryan has the most seasons in which he has passed for 4,500 yards or more, with seven. By looking at the data on hand, it is unlikely the Falcons get that same kind of production from any rookie. It is also important to note that the No. 6 overall selection in the 2020 NFL draft did shatter the rookie passing record with 4,336 yards. However, until Justin Herbert gets more experience under his belt, we dont know if this level of production will be sustained. Obviously, the deeper in the draft you go, the less likely you are to hit on a consistent starter that gives you high production value. Russell Wilson and Dak Prescott are the only quarterbacks not drafted in top 40 to start all 16 games in their rookie seasons since 1978. This isnt necessarily to deter the idea of selecting a quarterback altogether, as each has to start their career off somehow. This is just to show that for every Mitchell Trubisky, there is a Patrick Mahomes, and for every Matt Ryan, there is a Joe Flacco. Related | The first three picks in the 2021 NFL draft will be quarterbacks. The success rate of a quarterback is defined by performance, consistency level, and longevity with the team the player was selected by. The Falcons have an aging veteran at quarterback, a top-five pick, and both a new general manger and head coach. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/concerned-falcons-qb-success-rate-183028512.html?src=rss | 0.296405 |
Why wasnt Tiger Woods cited for speeding after he crashed his SUV going 87 mph? | An investigation into the February crash that seriously injured Tiger Woods found that the golfing great was traveling at almost double the posted speed limit on Hawthorne Boulevard on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. But officials said they will not cite Woods with speeding even though the investigation concluded he was going more than 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. Investigators examined the SUVs advanced data systems to determine Woods reached speeds of up to 87 mph around the time of the crash in Rolling Hills Estates. Authorities said Woods was accelerating down the steep grade on the northbound side, which sometimes catches drivers unaware of their growing momentum. Woods hit the median, then a Rolling Hills sign, and then the west curb before striking a tree 71 feet off the roadway. When the airbags were triggered, the SUVs event data recorder captured speeds prior to and after the initial impact of between from 82.02 mph to 86.99 mph. James C. Powers, captain of the Lomita sheriffs station, said data from Woods SUV is not enough to cite Woods with speeding. He said the act has to be witnessed by a law enforcement officer, which is required for a citation. It is a solo traffic collision ... we are not going to issue a citation for an infraction not in a peace officers presence. That would apply to everybody, added L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, adding that any suggestion that Woods was getting special treatment is false. Advertisement Dmitry Gorin, a former deputy district attorney in Los Angeles County, said that the data from the SUVs black box which officials said showed the speeding could be used as evidence to generate a ticket. But as a practical matter, he said law enforcement agencies require a witness of some kind to issue a speeding ticket. The Sheriffs Department said its now done with its work. Advertisement The department concluded there was not probable cause to get a search warrant for Woods blood draws at the hospital. Powers said there was no evidence alcohol, drug or prescription medication usage by Woods occurred. There was no evidence of any impairment. There was no odor of alcohol. There are no open containers in the vehicle and no narcotics or any evidence of medication in the vehicle or on his person, Powers said. He added that during a subsequent interview in the emergency room, Woods indicated he had not consumed any drugs or medications at the time of the crash. | An investigation into the February crash that seriously injured Tiger Woods found that he was traveling at almost double the posted speed limit. But officials said they will not cite Woods with speeding even though the investigation concluded he was going more than 80 mph in a 45 mph zone. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-04-07/why-wasnt-tiger-woods-cited-speeding-after-crash | 0.161073 |
Did Washington Football Team Almost Deal For Now-Panther Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold should New York have pulled the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | The Washington Football Team almost signed Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. | bart | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-deal-for-now-panther-darnold | 0.440947 |
Did Washington Football Team Almost Deal For Now-Panther Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold should New York have pulled the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | The Washington Football Team almost signed Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Ryan Fitzpatrick in free agency. | bart | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-deal-for-now-panther-darnold | 0.5576 |
Did Washington Football Team Almost Deal For Now-Panther Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold should New York have pulled the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | The Washington Football Team almost signed Sam Darnold from the New York Jets. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negations at the time. Washington ultimately settled with Ryan Fitzpatrick in free agency. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-deal-for-now-panther-darnold | 0.636453 |
Can Jos Ramrez carry the Cleveland Indians offense all by himself? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio Jos Ramrez was the hero Wedesday for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Ramrez hit a pair of two-run home runs to boost an offense that had been pretty listless until his heroics in the sixth inning. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down all the action in Wednesdays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. Buy Indians gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, Lids More Indians coverage Carlos Santanas tip of the cap and three other things on the Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians rally for 4-2 win against Kansas City behind two home runs from Jos Ramrez Cleveland Indians James Karinchak takes anti-vaccine stance on social media Cleveland Indians players, staff members get COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Thursday Cleveland Indians attendance not expected to show impact of Gov. DeWines decision until May Triston McKenzie adding relief experience to resume for Cleveland Indians | Jos Ramrez was the hero for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. | bart | 0 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/can-jose-ramirez-carry-the-cleveland-indians-offense-all-by-himself.html | 0.137038 |
Can Jos Ramrez carry the Cleveland Indians offense all by himself? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio Jos Ramrez was the hero Wedesday for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Ramrez hit a pair of two-run home runs to boost an offense that had been pretty listless until his heroics in the sixth inning. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down all the action in Wednesdays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. Buy Indians gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, Lids More Indians coverage Carlos Santanas tip of the cap and three other things on the Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians rally for 4-2 win against Kansas City behind two home runs from Jos Ramrez Cleveland Indians James Karinchak takes anti-vaccine stance on social media Cleveland Indians players, staff members get COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Thursday Cleveland Indians attendance not expected to show impact of Gov. DeWines decision until May Triston McKenzie adding relief experience to resume for Cleveland Indians | Jos Ramrez was the hero for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. | bart | 1 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/can-jose-ramirez-carry-the-cleveland-indians-offense-all-by-himself.html | 0.219943 |
Can Jos Ramrez carry the Cleveland Indians offense all by himself? | Register for Indians Subtext to hear your Tribe questions answered exclusively on the show. Send a text to 216-208-4346 to subscribe for $3.99/mo. CLEVELAND, Ohio Jos Ramrez was the hero Wedesday for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Ramrez hit a pair of two-run home runs to boost an offense that had been pretty listless until his heroics in the sixth inning. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down all the action in Wednesdays podcast. Click here. We have an Apple podcasts channel exclusively for this podcast. Subscribe to it here. You can also subscribe on Google Play and listen on Spotify. Search Cleveland Baseball Talk Podcast or download the audio here. - New Indians face masks for sale: Heres where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity. Buy Indians gear: Fanatics, Nike, Amazon, Lids More Indians coverage Carlos Santanas tip of the cap and three other things on the Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians rally for 4-2 win against Kansas City behind two home runs from Jos Ramrez Cleveland Indians James Karinchak takes anti-vaccine stance on social media Cleveland Indians players, staff members get COVID-19 vaccinations on Tuesday, Thursday Cleveland Indians attendance not expected to show impact of Gov. DeWines decision until May Triston McKenzie adding relief experience to resume for Cleveland Indians | Jos Ramrez was the hero for the Cleveland Indians in a 4-2 win against Kansas City. Backed by Shane Biebers 12-strikeout effort, the Indians won for the first time at home in 2021. Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga break down all the action in Wednesday's podcast. | bart | 2 | https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2021/04/can-jose-ramirez-carry-the-cleveland-indians-offense-all-by-himself.html | 0.254474 |
Can DT Da'Shawn Hand Be an Impact Defender in 2021? | Read more on whether Da'Shawn Hand can be an impact defender for the Detroit Lions in 2021 After Detroit Lions defensive tackle DaShawn Hands impressive rookie season, he appeared to be a long-term staple on the interior. Unfortunately, that hasnt been the case for the past couple of years. Important to note, injuries have definitely played a role in Hands regression. Hand played predominantly in a gap-control scheme throughout his college career and while under former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. During that season, he also had 25 total pressures. Yet, he only has nine combined between the last two years. As Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote about Hand before last season, "He got off to a tremendous start to his career as a rookie in 2018, earning an 85.9 overall grade and contributing as both a run defender and a pass rusher." As Linsey then added, "Hand saw his role shrink in 2019 down to just over 100 snaps." Needless to say, expectations for Hands 2021 season are a bit of an enigma. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Imagn Content Services, LLC And, it's certainly true that bringing out the best of Hands ability could go a long way for not only the defensive line, but potentially for the future of the team, as well. Playing well this season will be ultra important for Hand, as well, considering he is in the last year of his contract. If Hand has one thing going for him, its his athletic ability. In the two-gapping system he was in the first three years of his career, it rarely allowed for him to shoot gaps while utilizing his quickness. In fact, he only has two tackles for loss the last two seasons. In all likelihood, new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will run a much more aggressive scheme, with a defensive front similar to the attacking style of the Los Angeles Rams. Its an unknown at this time where and how Hand will perform in a new defense. But, it sure seems like he has the talent to flourish in the system. Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be Hands ability or lack thereof to remain healthy. All in all, Hand is a bit of a forgotten man on the D-line. However, his potential and a fresh start with a new coaching staff could be the catalysts for Hand having a bounce-back season. Lions Select Quarterback in Daniel Jeremiah's Latest Mock Draft Lions Finish 16-Game Regular Season Era with Worst Winning Percentage | Da'Shawn Hand has struggled in the last two seasons. He is expected to be an impact player for the Detroit Lions in 2021. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-dashawn-hand-impact-defender | 0.480776 |
Can DT Da'Shawn Hand Be an Impact Defender in 2021? | Read more on whether Da'Shawn Hand can be an impact defender for the Detroit Lions in 2021 After Detroit Lions defensive tackle DaShawn Hands impressive rookie season, he appeared to be a long-term staple on the interior. Unfortunately, that hasnt been the case for the past couple of years. Important to note, injuries have definitely played a role in Hands regression. Hand played predominantly in a gap-control scheme throughout his college career and while under former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. During that season, he also had 25 total pressures. Yet, he only has nine combined between the last two years. As Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote about Hand before last season, "He got off to a tremendous start to his career as a rookie in 2018, earning an 85.9 overall grade and contributing as both a run defender and a pass rusher." As Linsey then added, "Hand saw his role shrink in 2019 down to just over 100 snaps." Needless to say, expectations for Hands 2021 season are a bit of an enigma. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Imagn Content Services, LLC And, it's certainly true that bringing out the best of Hands ability could go a long way for not only the defensive line, but potentially for the future of the team, as well. Playing well this season will be ultra important for Hand, as well, considering he is in the last year of his contract. If Hand has one thing going for him, its his athletic ability. In the two-gapping system he was in the first three years of his career, it rarely allowed for him to shoot gaps while utilizing his quickness. In fact, he only has two tackles for loss the last two seasons. In all likelihood, new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will run a much more aggressive scheme, with a defensive front similar to the attacking style of the Los Angeles Rams. Its an unknown at this time where and how Hand will perform in a new defense. But, it sure seems like he has the talent to flourish in the system. Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be Hands ability or lack thereof to remain healthy. All in all, Hand is a bit of a forgotten man on the D-line. However, his potential and a fresh start with a new coaching staff could be the catalysts for Hand having a bounce-back season. Lions Select Quarterback in Daniel Jeremiah's Latest Mock Draft Lions Finish 16-Game Regular Season Era with Worst Winning Percentage | Da'Shawn Hand has struggled in the last two seasons. He is expected to be an impact player for the Detroit Lions in 2021. The biggest hurdle will be his ability to stay healthy. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-dashawn-hand-impact-defender | 0.494048 |
Can DT Da'Shawn Hand Be an Impact Defender in 2021? | Read more on whether Da'Shawn Hand can be an impact defender for the Detroit Lions in 2021 After Detroit Lions defensive tackle DaShawn Hands impressive rookie season, he appeared to be a long-term staple on the interior. Unfortunately, that hasnt been the case for the past couple of years. Important to note, injuries have definitely played a role in Hands regression. Hand played predominantly in a gap-control scheme throughout his college career and while under former Lions head coach Matt Patricia. During that season, he also had 25 total pressures. Yet, he only has nine combined between the last two years. As Ben Linsey of Pro Football Focus wrote about Hand before last season, "He got off to a tremendous start to his career as a rookie in 2018, earning an 85.9 overall grade and contributing as both a run defender and a pass rusher." As Linsey then added, "Hand saw his role shrink in 2019 down to just over 100 snaps." Needless to say, expectations for Hands 2021 season are a bit of an enigma. Kirthmon F. Dozier, Imagn Content Services, LLC And, it's certainly true that bringing out the best of Hands ability could go a long way for not only the defensive line, but potentially for the future of the team, as well. Playing well this season will be ultra important for Hand, as well, considering he is in the last year of his contract. If Hand has one thing going for him, its his athletic ability. In the two-gapping system he was in the first three years of his career, it rarely allowed for him to shoot gaps while utilizing his quickness. In fact, he only has two tackles for loss the last two seasons. In all likelihood, new defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn will run a much more aggressive scheme, with a defensive front similar to the attacking style of the Los Angeles Rams. Its an unknown at this time where and how Hand will perform in a new defense. But, it sure seems like he has the talent to flourish in the system. Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be Hands ability or lack thereof to remain healthy. All in all, Hand is a bit of a forgotten man on the D-line. However, his potential and a fresh start with a new coaching staff could be the catalysts for Hand having a bounce-back season. Lions Select Quarterback in Daniel Jeremiah's Latest Mock Draft Lions Finish 16-Game Regular Season Era with Worst Winning Percentage | Da'Shawn Hand has struggled in the last two seasons. He is expected to be an impact player for the Detroit Lions in 2021. The biggest hurdle for Hand will be his ability to stay healthy and stay in the system he is used to. He has two tackles for loss and 25 total pressures during his college career. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-dashawn-hand-impact-defender | 0.63815 |
Where do Portland Trail Blazers go from here after another loss to a top West team? | The Portland Trail Blazers look less and less like a title contender every time they face a team with legitimate title aspirations. Tuesday night provided yet another example. The Blazers had a chance to get their second win this season against an elite Western Conference team, but fell flat during a 133-116 defeat at the Los Angeles Clippers. It all began with the Blazers cotton soft defense allowing 47 points in the first quarter and then continuing to bleed points into the second quarter. Granted, the Clippers shot the ball extremely well, making 72% of their shots in the first quarter including 7 of 11 threes. But their hot shooting wasnt the only issue. I wasnt as much concerned with how they shot the ball at the beginning, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. After that, I thought the first 16 minutes was, frankly, a little embarrassing. The Blazers (30-20) trailed 62-36 with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter. This after two games ago losing 127-109 at home to Milwaukee (32-18). Between those two games, the Blazers hammered the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-30), by the score of 133-85 on Saturday. And there you have the Blazers season in a nutshell. They can look dominant against weak to solid teams, yet wilt against contenders. Portland is now 1-7 versus the top five teams in the Western Conference and 3-10 against NBA teams with 30 wins or more. That includes two victories over Philadelphia (35-16). The Blazers are still awaiting the Jusuf Nurkic who was dominant at the NBA bubble last summer to arrive this season. Since his return from a broken wrist on March 26, Nurkic has been on a minutes restriction. He missed Tuesdays game with knee inflammation. So, it could be argued that the Blazers are still not whole. The Blazers have issues that Nurkic wont fix. He is a better defender than Enes Kanter, but not enough to single-handedly transform the 29th-rated defense into one capable of ranking in the top half of the league in the second half of the season, as Stotts had hoped. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, scores past Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)AP Especially when the Blazers are sacrificing size by running with a three-guard lineup of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell. Stotts pointed out that he couldnt complain about the teams offense on Tuesday against the Clippers (34-18). The Blazers trailed 73-66 at halftime after roaring back to make it a game. But defensively this team might never be able to match up well against teams with greater length. One positive from Tuesday was the Blazers fight. They in fact got to within 84-82 in the third quarter. To cut it to two on the road against a team like that was a pretty impressive effort, Stotts said. So, that part of it was very encouraging. Whats discouraging is how the good teams are finding ways to disrupt Lillard. The Clippers went after him Tuesday and he finished with 11 points on 2 of 14 shooting. The byproduct was more shots for Powell, who scored 32 points. McCollum scored 24. I think thats whats so special about me being on this team, any given night that three-guard lineup can go off and provide an offensive spark, depending on how the game flow is going, Powell said. But the Blazers arent going to win very many games with Lillard scoring 11 points. In fact, they are 2-4 this season when he scores under 20 points, and both wins were blowout victories against weak teams, Sacramento in February and the Thunder on Saturday. I know he gets frustrated by not having clean looks and being double-teamed, and people taking the ball out of his hands, Stotts said. Because of that, Norman had a very good night. CJ had a very good night. But my biggest concern is that its very frustrating for Dame. Even though the team is scoring, he wants to be involved, and its up to me to help him get quality shots, and its up to the team to help him when teams are doing that. Powell said the Blazers can use him or McCollum to bring the ball up more often to allow Lillard to run off screens to get open for shots. I can make plays off the bounce for myself and other guys, when the defense collapses and kick it out, finding guys, Powell said. Still, as Stotts said, they cant complain too much about the offense overall. The main problem remains the defense. The communication, dedication, commitment and desire that have been talked about over and over this season dont appear ready to magically materialize. According to Powell, Lillard called out the team in the second quarter for not being physical enough and allowing the Clippers to take advantage of them. His words led to the Blazers making the game closer before halftime. Powell added that it shouldnt take the star player to motivate the team to play better. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts talks to the team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) APAP Weve got to have that mindset at the start of the game, Powell said. Thats been said numerous times by several Blazers players this season, yet the same problems seem to pop up. Stotts said execution, effort and communication were issues on Tuesday. Its something that we continue to talk about, its something that we definitely have to get better as individuals and as a team, Powell said. Defense isnt just two guys on the ball. Its everybody helping one another and communicating. Powell, who played on good defensive teams in Toronto before being traded to Portland on March 25, said that the Raptors prided themselves on the defensive end. It was a priority. They used many defensive looks and blitzes to confuse teams and guys bought in and were tied together as a unit. Its just something that we have to continue to do here, especially in the playoffs where games are in a halfcourt, Powell said. We cant have defensive lapses and starts the way we did tonight. So, its something we have to work on. Next up is Utah. The Jazz have the best record in the NBA. They rank second in offensive rating (119.1) and fourth in defensive rating (109.1). Their net rating of 9.96 leads the NBA. Portland ranks fifth on offense (117.43) and 29th on defense (117.5) for a net rating of 0.06, which ranks 15th. Portland lost the first meeting 120-100 to open the season. Theyre a very good three-point shooting team just like the Clippers, Stotts said. Theyre a very good defensive team, just like the Clippers were tonight. So, we have to come out against the Jazz at the very start and play with a certain amount of effort and urgency that it takes to win on the road against a good team. -- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories | The Portland Trail Blazers lost 133-116 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Blazers are now 1-7 against the top five teams in the Western Conference. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/04/where-do-portland-trail-blazers-go-from-here-after-another-loss-to-a-top-west-team.html | 0.111296 |
Where do Portland Trail Blazers go from here after another loss to a top West team? | The Portland Trail Blazers look less and less like a title contender every time they face a team with legitimate title aspirations. Tuesday night provided yet another example. The Blazers had a chance to get their second win this season against an elite Western Conference team, but fell flat during a 133-116 defeat at the Los Angeles Clippers. It all began with the Blazers cotton soft defense allowing 47 points in the first quarter and then continuing to bleed points into the second quarter. Granted, the Clippers shot the ball extremely well, making 72% of their shots in the first quarter including 7 of 11 threes. But their hot shooting wasnt the only issue. I wasnt as much concerned with how they shot the ball at the beginning, Portland coach Terry Stotts said. After that, I thought the first 16 minutes was, frankly, a little embarrassing. The Blazers (30-20) trailed 62-36 with 8:35 remaining in the second quarter. This after two games ago losing 127-109 at home to Milwaukee (32-18). Between those two games, the Blazers hammered the Oklahoma City Thunder (20-30), by the score of 133-85 on Saturday. And there you have the Blazers season in a nutshell. They can look dominant against weak to solid teams, yet wilt against contenders. Portland is now 1-7 versus the top five teams in the Western Conference and 3-10 against NBA teams with 30 wins or more. That includes two victories over Philadelphia (35-16). The Blazers are still awaiting the Jusuf Nurkic who was dominant at the NBA bubble last summer to arrive this season. Since his return from a broken wrist on March 26, Nurkic has been on a minutes restriction. He missed Tuesdays game with knee inflammation. So, it could be argued that the Blazers are still not whole. The Blazers have issues that Nurkic wont fix. He is a better defender than Enes Kanter, but not enough to single-handedly transform the 29th-rated defense into one capable of ranking in the top half of the league in the second half of the season, as Stotts had hoped. Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, right, scores past Los Angeles Clippers center Ivica Zubac during the first half of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 6, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)AP Especially when the Blazers are sacrificing size by running with a three-guard lineup of Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Norman Powell. Stotts pointed out that he couldnt complain about the teams offense on Tuesday against the Clippers (34-18). The Blazers trailed 73-66 at halftime after roaring back to make it a game. But defensively this team might never be able to match up well against teams with greater length. One positive from Tuesday was the Blazers fight. They in fact got to within 84-82 in the third quarter. To cut it to two on the road against a team like that was a pretty impressive effort, Stotts said. So, that part of it was very encouraging. Whats discouraging is how the good teams are finding ways to disrupt Lillard. The Clippers went after him Tuesday and he finished with 11 points on 2 of 14 shooting. The byproduct was more shots for Powell, who scored 32 points. McCollum scored 24. I think thats whats so special about me being on this team, any given night that three-guard lineup can go off and provide an offensive spark, depending on how the game flow is going, Powell said. But the Blazers arent going to win very many games with Lillard scoring 11 points. In fact, they are 2-4 this season when he scores under 20 points, and both wins were blowout victories against weak teams, Sacramento in February and the Thunder on Saturday. I know he gets frustrated by not having clean looks and being double-teamed, and people taking the ball out of his hands, Stotts said. Because of that, Norman had a very good night. CJ had a very good night. But my biggest concern is that its very frustrating for Dame. Even though the team is scoring, he wants to be involved, and its up to me to help him get quality shots, and its up to the team to help him when teams are doing that. Powell said the Blazers can use him or McCollum to bring the ball up more often to allow Lillard to run off screens to get open for shots. I can make plays off the bounce for myself and other guys, when the defense collapses and kick it out, finding guys, Powell said. Still, as Stotts said, they cant complain too much about the offense overall. The main problem remains the defense. The communication, dedication, commitment and desire that have been talked about over and over this season dont appear ready to magically materialize. According to Powell, Lillard called out the team in the second quarter for not being physical enough and allowing the Clippers to take advantage of them. His words led to the Blazers making the game closer before halftime. Powell added that it shouldnt take the star player to motivate the team to play better. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Terry Stotts talks to the team during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons, Wednesday, March 31, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) APAP Weve got to have that mindset at the start of the game, Powell said. Thats been said numerous times by several Blazers players this season, yet the same problems seem to pop up. Stotts said execution, effort and communication were issues on Tuesday. Its something that we continue to talk about, its something that we definitely have to get better as individuals and as a team, Powell said. Defense isnt just two guys on the ball. Its everybody helping one another and communicating. Powell, who played on good defensive teams in Toronto before being traded to Portland on March 25, said that the Raptors prided themselves on the defensive end. It was a priority. They used many defensive looks and blitzes to confuse teams and guys bought in and were tied together as a unit. Its just something that we have to continue to do here, especially in the playoffs where games are in a halfcourt, Powell said. We cant have defensive lapses and starts the way we did tonight. So, its something we have to work on. Next up is Utah. The Jazz have the best record in the NBA. They rank second in offensive rating (119.1) and fourth in defensive rating (109.1). Their net rating of 9.96 leads the NBA. Portland ranks fifth on offense (117.43) and 29th on defense (117.5) for a net rating of 0.06, which ranks 15th. Portland lost the first meeting 120-100 to open the season. Theyre a very good three-point shooting team just like the Clippers, Stotts said. Theyre a very good defensive team, just like the Clippers were tonight. So, we have to come out against the Jazz at the very start and play with a certain amount of effort and urgency that it takes to win on the road against a good team. -- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook). Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories | The Portland Trail Blazers lost 133-116 to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday night. The Blazers are now 1-7 versus the top five teams in the Western Conference and 3-10 against NBA teams with 30 wins or more. The team is still awaiting the Jusuf Nurkic who was dominant at the NBA bubble last summer. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2021/04/where-do-portland-trail-blazers-go-from-here-after-another-loss-to-a-top-west-team.html | 0.285433 |
Are pay-by-the-minute booths the future of work? | The booths are a tight fit and might make some people feel a bit claustrophobic I dont really like working from home. Sure, there are advantages, but I find it isolating. Im sick of sitting in my apartment. I prefer to interact with colleagues face-to-face. I find the endless Zoom meetings draining. Im tired of the lunch options nearby. Also, construction noise is inescapable in Singapore, and Im dreading the day when builders start tearing down the building across the street, or the neighbours start to renovate their kitchen. In preparation for this, I tried out a new type of workspace. Its a pay-by-the-minute desk in a booth at my nearest shopping centre. The pods, which cost less than four Singapore dollars ($3; 2.15) per hour, have been created by a Singaporean company called Switch. They follow similar booths that have been around for a few years in Japan, where a handful of companies like Telecube and Cocodesk have placed them in metro stations, hotel lobbies and convenience stores. However, Switch's main competition in Singapore appears to be Starbucks, or any other coffee shop with free wi-fi. The booths come with hand sanitizer and wipes The booth is a reasonable work space, if a little utilitarian, and very compact. The wi-fi works, and so does the fan. The chair is okay, but unremarkable. The overhead light isnt overpowering. The grey and white colour scheme isnt very exciting, but nor is it distracting. But the main selling point for me is that it's not my living room. Switch's founder Dominic Penaloza agrees. I certainly would agree with the notion that part of the value proposition [of the booths] is that psychological separation that is created by a physical separation between work and home, he says. Then again, if Im sick of my apartment, leaving it is also a hassle. Getting to the booth required a short train journey - and walking half way around a shopping centre in the tropical heat to find an entrance that opened before 10am. Story continues Then I had to check in using a contact tracing app at the centre's entrance, and then at the booth itself, using both the Switch app and the contact tracing app. And once in the booth, wearing a mask was still compulsory. These are not big problems, but they all require more effort than just walking from my bedroom to my living room. Switch has now opened more than 60 of its booths in Singapore. They are in addition to its 3,500 hireable desks in shared co-working offices that are the more typical way of hiring somewhere to work. Switch aims to place many more booths across the city-state. And overseas expansion is on the horizon too. Mr Penaloza says its on-demand flexibility "means you pay only for what you use, and you can use them where and when you need it". While he thinks the firm's booths would have existed without Covid-19, the pandemic made the business case for them more obvious. Typically if an individual wants to hire a working space it will be in an open plan office, such as this co-working space Recent surveys from around the world suggest that a majority of employers will permanently adopt a hybrid working model when the pandemic finally ends - staff will be able to continue to work from home part of the time. However, home working has raised new questions about who pays for what. Switch thinks its booths may offer a solution, and some of its corporate clients already allow their employees to charge the cost of a booth to the company. Remote working expert Prithwiraj Choudhury says Switch's booths take the concept to "the next level". An associate professor at Harvard Business School, he says remote working had already been growing in popularity before the pandemic. He gives the example of Tusla Remote, which started in 2018 and aims to rejuvenate the Oklahoma city by offering remote workers grants of up to $10,000 to move there. Switch also has some slightly larger booths, where two people can work together or have a meeting Another company, MobSquab, helps US tech firms locate international workers who are struggling to get US work visas in Canada, from where they work remotely. It also started out three years ago. Prof Choudhury thinks the booths could create an additional layer of flexibility for such organisations, who often rely on putting the workers in a typical shared workspace. "These pods take this idea to the next level, and create the opportunity for workers who want to work-from-anywhere to do so," he says. New Economy New Economy is a new series exploring how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing fast. UK business psychologist Jess Baker thinks they could be popular with those looking for a cheap alternative to working from home. "Cultural differences may mean that Westerners would have to get used to these compact working spaces," she says. "And while I'm honestly wondering if I'll have to clear up the previous occupant's half-empty coffee cup, I am also looking forward to trying one out." It should be noted that food and drink isn't allowed in Switch booths, and customers are expected to wipe them down after using them, although there aren't any staff on hand to enforce the rule. Switch says the "space provider" is responsible for cleaning, which in the case of the pod I visited was the operator of the shopping centre. Fellow UK business psychologist Stuart Duff, a partner at Pearn Kandola, also thinks they may be popular. "As we increase in our need for private and cheap working spaces, our concern about size and space will quickly be outweighed by the value of privacy and convenience." From my own experience, the booth in a Singapore shopping centre was a good place to get work done for an hour or two. But then the stores began to open. After the staff at the electronics outlet next to the pod finished switching off a seemingly endless string of alarms, they turned on the music. It wasnt so loud that work was impossible, but it was loud enough for the song-identification app Shazam to tell me I was listening to pop stars Demi Lovato and Cardi B. As I left, there was a flustered-looking man checking out of the pod next to mine. He shook his head, complained about the music and then marched off. I felt the same. One reason I came here was to avoid noisy neighbours. Still, the booths seem potentially useful. I would consider using one again, but probably not the same one. | Pay-by-the-minute booths are a new type of workspace in Singapore. They allow people to work from anywhere in the city-state. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://news.yahoo.com/pay-minute-booths-future-230759017.html | 0.107805 |
Are pay-by-the-minute booths the future of work? | The booths are a tight fit and might make some people feel a bit claustrophobic I dont really like working from home. Sure, there are advantages, but I find it isolating. Im sick of sitting in my apartment. I prefer to interact with colleagues face-to-face. I find the endless Zoom meetings draining. Im tired of the lunch options nearby. Also, construction noise is inescapable in Singapore, and Im dreading the day when builders start tearing down the building across the street, or the neighbours start to renovate their kitchen. In preparation for this, I tried out a new type of workspace. Its a pay-by-the-minute desk in a booth at my nearest shopping centre. The pods, which cost less than four Singapore dollars ($3; 2.15) per hour, have been created by a Singaporean company called Switch. They follow similar booths that have been around for a few years in Japan, where a handful of companies like Telecube and Cocodesk have placed them in metro stations, hotel lobbies and convenience stores. However, Switch's main competition in Singapore appears to be Starbucks, or any other coffee shop with free wi-fi. The booths come with hand sanitizer and wipes The booth is a reasonable work space, if a little utilitarian, and very compact. The wi-fi works, and so does the fan. The chair is okay, but unremarkable. The overhead light isnt overpowering. The grey and white colour scheme isnt very exciting, but nor is it distracting. But the main selling point for me is that it's not my living room. Switch's founder Dominic Penaloza agrees. I certainly would agree with the notion that part of the value proposition [of the booths] is that psychological separation that is created by a physical separation between work and home, he says. Then again, if Im sick of my apartment, leaving it is also a hassle. Getting to the booth required a short train journey - and walking half way around a shopping centre in the tropical heat to find an entrance that opened before 10am. Story continues Then I had to check in using a contact tracing app at the centre's entrance, and then at the booth itself, using both the Switch app and the contact tracing app. And once in the booth, wearing a mask was still compulsory. These are not big problems, but they all require more effort than just walking from my bedroom to my living room. Switch has now opened more than 60 of its booths in Singapore. They are in addition to its 3,500 hireable desks in shared co-working offices that are the more typical way of hiring somewhere to work. Switch aims to place many more booths across the city-state. And overseas expansion is on the horizon too. Mr Penaloza says its on-demand flexibility "means you pay only for what you use, and you can use them where and when you need it". While he thinks the firm's booths would have existed without Covid-19, the pandemic made the business case for them more obvious. Typically if an individual wants to hire a working space it will be in an open plan office, such as this co-working space Recent surveys from around the world suggest that a majority of employers will permanently adopt a hybrid working model when the pandemic finally ends - staff will be able to continue to work from home part of the time. However, home working has raised new questions about who pays for what. Switch thinks its booths may offer a solution, and some of its corporate clients already allow their employees to charge the cost of a booth to the company. Remote working expert Prithwiraj Choudhury says Switch's booths take the concept to "the next level". An associate professor at Harvard Business School, he says remote working had already been growing in popularity before the pandemic. He gives the example of Tusla Remote, which started in 2018 and aims to rejuvenate the Oklahoma city by offering remote workers grants of up to $10,000 to move there. Switch also has some slightly larger booths, where two people can work together or have a meeting Another company, MobSquab, helps US tech firms locate international workers who are struggling to get US work visas in Canada, from where they work remotely. It also started out three years ago. Prof Choudhury thinks the booths could create an additional layer of flexibility for such organisations, who often rely on putting the workers in a typical shared workspace. "These pods take this idea to the next level, and create the opportunity for workers who want to work-from-anywhere to do so," he says. New Economy New Economy is a new series exploring how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing fast. UK business psychologist Jess Baker thinks they could be popular with those looking for a cheap alternative to working from home. "Cultural differences may mean that Westerners would have to get used to these compact working spaces," she says. "And while I'm honestly wondering if I'll have to clear up the previous occupant's half-empty coffee cup, I am also looking forward to trying one out." It should be noted that food and drink isn't allowed in Switch booths, and customers are expected to wipe them down after using them, although there aren't any staff on hand to enforce the rule. Switch says the "space provider" is responsible for cleaning, which in the case of the pod I visited was the operator of the shopping centre. Fellow UK business psychologist Stuart Duff, a partner at Pearn Kandola, also thinks they may be popular. "As we increase in our need for private and cheap working spaces, our concern about size and space will quickly be outweighed by the value of privacy and convenience." From my own experience, the booth in a Singapore shopping centre was a good place to get work done for an hour or two. But then the stores began to open. After the staff at the electronics outlet next to the pod finished switching off a seemingly endless string of alarms, they turned on the music. It wasnt so loud that work was impossible, but it was loud enough for the song-identification app Shazam to tell me I was listening to pop stars Demi Lovato and Cardi B. As I left, there was a flustered-looking man checking out of the pod next to mine. He shook his head, complained about the music and then marched off. I felt the same. One reason I came here was to avoid noisy neighbours. Still, the booths seem potentially useful. I would consider using one again, but probably not the same one. | Pay-by-the-minute booths are a new type of workspace in Singapore. They allow people to work from anywhere in the city-state at any time. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/pay-minute-booths-future-230759017.html | 0.120406 |
Are pay-by-the-minute booths the future of work? | The booths are a tight fit and might make some people feel a bit claustrophobic I dont really like working from home. Sure, there are advantages, but I find it isolating. Im sick of sitting in my apartment. I prefer to interact with colleagues face-to-face. I find the endless Zoom meetings draining. Im tired of the lunch options nearby. Also, construction noise is inescapable in Singapore, and Im dreading the day when builders start tearing down the building across the street, or the neighbours start to renovate their kitchen. In preparation for this, I tried out a new type of workspace. Its a pay-by-the-minute desk in a booth at my nearest shopping centre. The pods, which cost less than four Singapore dollars ($3; 2.15) per hour, have been created by a Singaporean company called Switch. They follow similar booths that have been around for a few years in Japan, where a handful of companies like Telecube and Cocodesk have placed them in metro stations, hotel lobbies and convenience stores. However, Switch's main competition in Singapore appears to be Starbucks, or any other coffee shop with free wi-fi. The booths come with hand sanitizer and wipes The booth is a reasonable work space, if a little utilitarian, and very compact. The wi-fi works, and so does the fan. The chair is okay, but unremarkable. The overhead light isnt overpowering. The grey and white colour scheme isnt very exciting, but nor is it distracting. But the main selling point for me is that it's not my living room. Switch's founder Dominic Penaloza agrees. I certainly would agree with the notion that part of the value proposition [of the booths] is that psychological separation that is created by a physical separation between work and home, he says. Then again, if Im sick of my apartment, leaving it is also a hassle. Getting to the booth required a short train journey - and walking half way around a shopping centre in the tropical heat to find an entrance that opened before 10am. Story continues Then I had to check in using a contact tracing app at the centre's entrance, and then at the booth itself, using both the Switch app and the contact tracing app. And once in the booth, wearing a mask was still compulsory. These are not big problems, but they all require more effort than just walking from my bedroom to my living room. Switch has now opened more than 60 of its booths in Singapore. They are in addition to its 3,500 hireable desks in shared co-working offices that are the more typical way of hiring somewhere to work. Switch aims to place many more booths across the city-state. And overseas expansion is on the horizon too. Mr Penaloza says its on-demand flexibility "means you pay only for what you use, and you can use them where and when you need it". While he thinks the firm's booths would have existed without Covid-19, the pandemic made the business case for them more obvious. Typically if an individual wants to hire a working space it will be in an open plan office, such as this co-working space Recent surveys from around the world suggest that a majority of employers will permanently adopt a hybrid working model when the pandemic finally ends - staff will be able to continue to work from home part of the time. However, home working has raised new questions about who pays for what. Switch thinks its booths may offer a solution, and some of its corporate clients already allow their employees to charge the cost of a booth to the company. Remote working expert Prithwiraj Choudhury says Switch's booths take the concept to "the next level". An associate professor at Harvard Business School, he says remote working had already been growing in popularity before the pandemic. He gives the example of Tusla Remote, which started in 2018 and aims to rejuvenate the Oklahoma city by offering remote workers grants of up to $10,000 to move there. Switch also has some slightly larger booths, where two people can work together or have a meeting Another company, MobSquab, helps US tech firms locate international workers who are struggling to get US work visas in Canada, from where they work remotely. It also started out three years ago. Prof Choudhury thinks the booths could create an additional layer of flexibility for such organisations, who often rely on putting the workers in a typical shared workspace. "These pods take this idea to the next level, and create the opportunity for workers who want to work-from-anywhere to do so," he says. New Economy New Economy is a new series exploring how businesses, trade, economies and working life are changing fast. UK business psychologist Jess Baker thinks they could be popular with those looking for a cheap alternative to working from home. "Cultural differences may mean that Westerners would have to get used to these compact working spaces," she says. "And while I'm honestly wondering if I'll have to clear up the previous occupant's half-empty coffee cup, I am also looking forward to trying one out." It should be noted that food and drink isn't allowed in Switch booths, and customers are expected to wipe them down after using them, although there aren't any staff on hand to enforce the rule. Switch says the "space provider" is responsible for cleaning, which in the case of the pod I visited was the operator of the shopping centre. Fellow UK business psychologist Stuart Duff, a partner at Pearn Kandola, also thinks they may be popular. "As we increase in our need for private and cheap working spaces, our concern about size and space will quickly be outweighed by the value of privacy and convenience." From my own experience, the booth in a Singapore shopping centre was a good place to get work done for an hour or two. But then the stores began to open. After the staff at the electronics outlet next to the pod finished switching off a seemingly endless string of alarms, they turned on the music. It wasnt so loud that work was impossible, but it was loud enough for the song-identification app Shazam to tell me I was listening to pop stars Demi Lovato and Cardi B. As I left, there was a flustered-looking man checking out of the pod next to mine. He shook his head, complained about the music and then marched off. I felt the same. One reason I came here was to avoid noisy neighbours. Still, the booths seem potentially useful. I would consider using one again, but probably not the same one. | Pay-by-the-minute booths are a new type of workspace in Singapore. They allow people to work from anywhere in the city-state at any time. The pods cost less than four Singapore dollars ($3; 2.15) per hour, and come with hand sanitizer. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/pay-minute-booths-future-230759017.html | 0.128808 |
What will the easing of restrictions mean for businesses and the pandemic? | Kemps new order loosens COVID-19 restrictions Thursday across many industries and ends a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. That will have wide-ranging impacts on businesses from restaurants and convention centers to gyms and concert venues. While many businesses across Georgia will take full advantage of the rollback, others told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they plan no immediate changes, concerned that relaxing standards too quickly could allow the virus to sicken staff or customers. Some said theyll wait until more of the public can get vaccinated, including staffers. Others said theyll loosen a little, where they think its safe, but plan to take it slow. Kemp has said loosening the rules is a crucial step to returning to normal life and to help struggling businesses survive. Its time, he said, pointing to the declining number of new infections from the winter peak and the increasing number of Georgians 2.9 million as of Wednesday who have secured at least one dose of vaccine. But cases are again rising in many other states, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden have urged states to pause reopening to buy time to allow more people to get vaccinated. Of particular concern is the rise of new strains of the virus that are more infectious and more deadly, such as the one first detected in the United Kingdom. The strain, known as B.1.1.7, is now the most common one circulating in the U.S., CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House briefing Wednesday. Bob Bednarczyk, assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University, said that while a case can be made for targeted loosening, there should be mechanisms in place to reinstate safety protocols to address potential outbreaks. Health experts also worry that the looser rules will send the wrong message to the public. I am concerned that if many people quickly back down from masking, physical distancing, or other public health measures, the numbers may start to go up again, especially when we consider the increasing spread of the variants, particularly B.1.1.7, said Pinar Keskinocak, a professor of engineering at Georgia Tech and director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, whose work includes infectious disease modeling. No rush to change Under the governors order, many enhanced sanitation rules remain in place. Servers and restaurant staff, for example, still have to wear masks when interacting with customers. The most significant change for restaurants is the reduction in space between tables. Most metro Atlanta restaurant operators, however, say they are not in a hurry to expand seating capacity. Grindhouse Killer Burgers will not be making any changes due to the new law, said owner Alex Brounstein. From Veruni Napoli in Midtown, to Rays on the River in Sandy Springs, to Drift Oyster Bar in East Cobb, the 6-foot safety measure also will remain in place, those operators say. Their decision echoes cautionary sentiments from nearly one year ago when few restaurant owners rushed to re-open for on-premises dining despite having been given the green light. Over the past 12 months, weve forged a layer of trust with the guests. We are going to take a slow, easy approach, said Ryan Pernice, whose RO Hospitality group includes Table & Main and Osteria Mattone in Roswell as well as Coalition Food and Beverage in Alpharetta. Because physical barriers have been an option instead of 6-foot separation since the pandemics outset, the latest order doesnt change much for places like Rays on the River that invested in barriers between booths last year. More recently, Buttermilk Kitchens Suzanne Vizethann placed an order for partitions. Once they are in place, the popular brunch spot will bring back more tables, upping capacity to 80%. For restaurants that do plan to change table configurations, outdoors is where those will be most visible. Most Atlanta restaurant operators, like South City Kitchen, are not in a hurry to increase capacity, as allowed under Gov. Brian Kemp's latest pandemic emergency order. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Fifth Group, which counts South City Kitchen, Ecco and Alma Cocina in its portfolio, will seat patios at full capacity beginning Thursday, but only if the weather permits raising the enclosure flaps on all sides and if management is comfortable with the decision. We are leaving it up to the GMs, telling them, You know your staff. You know your guests. Do what you think is right, said partner Robby Kukler. El Ponce in Midtown and Talat Market in Summerhill are among restaurants whose indoor dining rooms remain closed and that only recently tip-toed back into on-premises service via the patio. For places like these, even adding a couple tables to the patio is a measured decision. Weve already been planning for the past month of opening indoors and increasing our patio space because the City of Atlanta has granted us a parklet, said Talat co-owner Parnass Savang. The parklet, slated for completion this Saturday, will add another four or five tables to the outdoor arrangement. Were trying to get the maximum seats with whatever is safest. We dont want people to be uncomfortable, he said. Waiting for numbers The governors order also rolls back restrictions on hair salons, tattoo parlors and tanning facilities and limits on the number of customers in a store. Gyms and fitness centers no longer need to assign workers to patrol workout areas to enforce equipment wipe downs. They dont need to space out workout equipment or block off every other cardio machine, but they must still regularly disinfect equipment and group fitness rooms. The executive order also cuts down on the distance required between customers in group workout classes from 10 feet to 6 feet. Alixx Hetzel (right) co-owner, offers a gym member Kelsey Cortez (left) a hand sanitizer as she checks in at VESTA Movement Ponce in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Movie theaters can similarly reduce the distance between customers from 6 to 3 feet, and they no longer need to assign an usher to each screening room to ensure social distancing at the beginning of each movie. Still, some business owners say theyll wait for local case numbers to decline before unwinding many of the protocols they put in place earlier. Escobar, the Plaza Theater owner, said hes following guidelines from the CDC, the National Association of Theatre Owners and the City of Atlanta. The Plaza resumed indoor screenings last September, five months after Kemp allowed theaters to reopen, capping the number of guests at roughly 28% of capacity and running UV lights between shows to help disinfect the theater, among other safety precautions. It also hosts evening drive-in movies, but Escobar said the venue has still struggled financially, especially during the winter. Escobar said that while he appreciates Kemp trying to get out of the way of businesses, the state should provide more consistency across the board regarding COVID protections. He singled out the lack of state mask mandates, which he said puts undue stress and conflict between businesses and their customers. Thats the role we need the state to play, to have these rules that really make sense across the board, he said. Its not like theres a pandemic in some businesses and not others. Light at the end of the tunnel Concert venues no longer need to provide hand sanitizer stations or screen customers for COVID symptoms at entrances, though venues are still required to train employees on how to identify symptoms. Venues are also still encouraged to install contactless ticket-taking and parking systems and extending breaks and intermissions to cut down on the mass of people streaming to the bathroom at the same time. Ellen Chamberlain, owner of the Red Light Cafe in Virginia-Highland, still plans to take things slow. Her 130-person venue, known for its jazz and Americana concerts and burlesque shows, has stayed alive during the pandemic through a mix of loans and grants. Since July, it has opened only for Wednesday night jazz concerts. About 40 regulars will sit socially distanced at the caf, which borders Piedmont Park, to hear the Gordon Vernick Quartet play several numbers the members of the band are either vaccinated or masked themselves before inviting other musicians on stage for a jam session. I think theyre really grateful to be out, said Chamberlain of her customers. She hopes to check peoples vaccine cards once a larger chunk of the population has been vaccinated. In the meantime, she said, were finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Staff writers Helena Oliviero and Eric Stirgus contributed to this report. Enforcement lax Gov. Brian Kemps order rolling back many restrictions on Georgia businesses also eliminates the ability of law enforcement to shut down an organization for failure to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols. Individuals who violate the order may still be cited with misdemeanors. However, the state has rarely enforced the rules. A spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol said the office has answered more than 3,400 calls regarding possible violations but has issued only 21 citations since the start of the pandemic. | Kemps new order loosens COVID-19 restrictions Thursday across many industries. It ends a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. That will have wide-ranging impacts on businesses from restaurants and convention centers to gyms. | bart | 1 | https://www.ajc.com/news/coronavirus/what-will-the-easing-of-restrictions-mean-for-businesses-and-the-pandemic/BQATGPAZAVEP5JB5VVDNHOKMC4/ | 0.191251 |
What will the easing of restrictions mean for businesses and the pandemic? | Kemps new order loosens COVID-19 restrictions Thursday across many industries and ends a ban on gatherings of 50 people or more. That will have wide-ranging impacts on businesses from restaurants and convention centers to gyms and concert venues. While many businesses across Georgia will take full advantage of the rollback, others told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution they plan no immediate changes, concerned that relaxing standards too quickly could allow the virus to sicken staff or customers. Some said theyll wait until more of the public can get vaccinated, including staffers. Others said theyll loosen a little, where they think its safe, but plan to take it slow. Kemp has said loosening the rules is a crucial step to returning to normal life and to help struggling businesses survive. Its time, he said, pointing to the declining number of new infections from the winter peak and the increasing number of Georgians 2.9 million as of Wednesday who have secured at least one dose of vaccine. But cases are again rising in many other states, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and President Joe Biden have urged states to pause reopening to buy time to allow more people to get vaccinated. Of particular concern is the rise of new strains of the virus that are more infectious and more deadly, such as the one first detected in the United Kingdom. The strain, known as B.1.1.7, is now the most common one circulating in the U.S., CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a White House briefing Wednesday. Bob Bednarczyk, assistant professor of global health and epidemiology at Emory University, said that while a case can be made for targeted loosening, there should be mechanisms in place to reinstate safety protocols to address potential outbreaks. Health experts also worry that the looser rules will send the wrong message to the public. I am concerned that if many people quickly back down from masking, physical distancing, or other public health measures, the numbers may start to go up again, especially when we consider the increasing spread of the variants, particularly B.1.1.7, said Pinar Keskinocak, a professor of engineering at Georgia Tech and director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, whose work includes infectious disease modeling. No rush to change Under the governors order, many enhanced sanitation rules remain in place. Servers and restaurant staff, for example, still have to wear masks when interacting with customers. The most significant change for restaurants is the reduction in space between tables. Most metro Atlanta restaurant operators, however, say they are not in a hurry to expand seating capacity. Grindhouse Killer Burgers will not be making any changes due to the new law, said owner Alex Brounstein. From Veruni Napoli in Midtown, to Rays on the River in Sandy Springs, to Drift Oyster Bar in East Cobb, the 6-foot safety measure also will remain in place, those operators say. Their decision echoes cautionary sentiments from nearly one year ago when few restaurant owners rushed to re-open for on-premises dining despite having been given the green light. Over the past 12 months, weve forged a layer of trust with the guests. We are going to take a slow, easy approach, said Ryan Pernice, whose RO Hospitality group includes Table & Main and Osteria Mattone in Roswell as well as Coalition Food and Beverage in Alpharetta. Because physical barriers have been an option instead of 6-foot separation since the pandemics outset, the latest order doesnt change much for places like Rays on the River that invested in barriers between booths last year. More recently, Buttermilk Kitchens Suzanne Vizethann placed an order for partitions. Once they are in place, the popular brunch spot will bring back more tables, upping capacity to 80%. For restaurants that do plan to change table configurations, outdoors is where those will be most visible. Most Atlanta restaurant operators, like South City Kitchen, are not in a hurry to increase capacity, as allowed under Gov. Brian Kemp's latest pandemic emergency order. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Fifth Group, which counts South City Kitchen, Ecco and Alma Cocina in its portfolio, will seat patios at full capacity beginning Thursday, but only if the weather permits raising the enclosure flaps on all sides and if management is comfortable with the decision. We are leaving it up to the GMs, telling them, You know your staff. You know your guests. Do what you think is right, said partner Robby Kukler. El Ponce in Midtown and Talat Market in Summerhill are among restaurants whose indoor dining rooms remain closed and that only recently tip-toed back into on-premises service via the patio. For places like these, even adding a couple tables to the patio is a measured decision. Weve already been planning for the past month of opening indoors and increasing our patio space because the City of Atlanta has granted us a parklet, said Talat co-owner Parnass Savang. The parklet, slated for completion this Saturday, will add another four or five tables to the outdoor arrangement. Were trying to get the maximum seats with whatever is safest. We dont want people to be uncomfortable, he said. Waiting for numbers The governors order also rolls back restrictions on hair salons, tattoo parlors and tanning facilities and limits on the number of customers in a store. Gyms and fitness centers no longer need to assign workers to patrol workout areas to enforce equipment wipe downs. They dont need to space out workout equipment or block off every other cardio machine, but they must still regularly disinfect equipment and group fitness rooms. The executive order also cuts down on the distance required between customers in group workout classes from 10 feet to 6 feet. Alixx Hetzel (right) co-owner, offers a gym member Kelsey Cortez (left) a hand sanitizer as she checks in at VESTA Movement Ponce in Atlanta on Wednesday. (Hyosub Shin / Hyosub.Shin@ajc.com) Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC Movie theaters can similarly reduce the distance between customers from 6 to 3 feet, and they no longer need to assign an usher to each screening room to ensure social distancing at the beginning of each movie. Still, some business owners say theyll wait for local case numbers to decline before unwinding many of the protocols they put in place earlier. Escobar, the Plaza Theater owner, said hes following guidelines from the CDC, the National Association of Theatre Owners and the City of Atlanta. The Plaza resumed indoor screenings last September, five months after Kemp allowed theaters to reopen, capping the number of guests at roughly 28% of capacity and running UV lights between shows to help disinfect the theater, among other safety precautions. It also hosts evening drive-in movies, but Escobar said the venue has still struggled financially, especially during the winter. Escobar said that while he appreciates Kemp trying to get out of the way of businesses, the state should provide more consistency across the board regarding COVID protections. He singled out the lack of state mask mandates, which he said puts undue stress and conflict between businesses and their customers. Thats the role we need the state to play, to have these rules that really make sense across the board, he said. Its not like theres a pandemic in some businesses and not others. Light at the end of the tunnel Concert venues no longer need to provide hand sanitizer stations or screen customers for COVID symptoms at entrances, though venues are still required to train employees on how to identify symptoms. Venues are also still encouraged to install contactless ticket-taking and parking systems and extending breaks and intermissions to cut down on the mass of people streaming to the bathroom at the same time. Ellen Chamberlain, owner of the Red Light Cafe in Virginia-Highland, still plans to take things slow. Her 130-person venue, known for its jazz and Americana concerts and burlesque shows, has stayed alive during the pandemic through a mix of loans and grants. Since July, it has opened only for Wednesday night jazz concerts. About 40 regulars will sit socially distanced at the caf, which borders Piedmont Park, to hear the Gordon Vernick Quartet play several numbers the members of the band are either vaccinated or masked themselves before inviting other musicians on stage for a jam session. I think theyre really grateful to be out, said Chamberlain of her customers. She hopes to check peoples vaccine cards once a larger chunk of the population has been vaccinated. In the meantime, she said, were finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Staff writers Helena Oliviero and Eric Stirgus contributed to this report. Enforcement lax Gov. Brian Kemps order rolling back many restrictions on Georgia businesses also eliminates the ability of law enforcement to shut down an organization for failure to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols. Individuals who violate the order may still be cited with misdemeanors. However, the state has rarely enforced the rules. A spokesman for the Georgia State Patrol said the office has answered more than 3,400 calls regarding possible violations but has issued only 21 citations since the start of the pandemic. | Kemps new order loosens COVID-19 restrictions Thursday across many industries. That will have wide-ranging impacts on businesses from restaurants and convention centers to gyms and concert venues. While many businesses across Georgia will take full advantage of the rollback, others say they plan no immediate changes. | bart | 2 | https://www.ajc.com/news/coronavirus/what-will-the-easing-of-restrictions-mean-for-businesses-and-the-pandemic/BQATGPAZAVEP5JB5VVDNHOKMC4/ | 0.242834 |
Did Washington Almost Trade For Jets QB Sam Darnold? | According to a report, the Washington Football Team almost added Sam Darnold before the Carolina Panthers called The Washington Football Team understands its situation with Ryan Fitzpatrick entering 2021. The 38-year-old, who signed a one-year deal worth $10.5 million fills a gap instead of fixes the problem. Washington still needs a young quarterback for the future. They could trade for an up-and-comer or look to draft their next signal-caller on April 29 in the NFL Draft. Many believed that WFT would be interested in Sam Darnold from the New York Jets, should he be made available. On Wednesday, the speculation was confirmed. Five Reasons Why According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, WFT inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negotiations at the time. Washington ultimately settled on Fitzpatrick in free agency. On Monday, Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second- and fourth-round pick in 2022. This is an indication that WFT should be adding at least one more name to the roster this spring under center. One report suggests that Ron Rivera could be interested in his old team's recent quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. Bridgewater agreed to a three-year $63 million deal after a 5-0 run as the New Orleans Saints starter in 2019. He finished with 3,733 passing, 15 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions in his first season with the Panthers. (We don't think the dollars work; see above.) Carolina will be selecting No. 8 in the NFL Draft. Rivera also told reporters last month that Fitzpatrick would not be guaranteed the starting role despite his pay. "He's going to come in as the No. 1, but there will be a competition," Rivera said. Washington, who will select No. 19 in the draft, would likely be forced to move up to add a quarterback in the first round. Four of the five teams in the top five are expected to inquire about taking one with seven in the top 20 being interested. Timing is everything in the NFL. At one time, WFT could have been set under center for at least two seasons with Darnold (assuming one thinks he can play)... but New York wouldn't pull the trigger. CONTINUE READING: Trade Up to No. | The Washington Football Team inquired about Darnold's status before the start of free agency. The team was ready to make an offer but New York still was not ready to begin negotiations. Darnold was traded to the Carolina Panthers for a 2021 sixth-round pick and a second- and fourth-round pick in 2022. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/washingtonfootball/news/did-washington-football-team-almost-trade-for-jets-qb-sam-darnold | 0.15498 |
Can Beard Lure Texas Tech Transfer Standouts To Longhorns? | Just last week, Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Since Beards departure to rebuild the Longhorns struggling program, Texas Tech is already facing consequences. Following his decision, key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. These players were key contributors to Tech this season. Santos-Silva (senior), averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds, and Peavy (freshman) put up 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Possibly. However, Texas Tech recently hired Mark Adams, who might sway them to stay with Texas Tech. Adams spent the past five seasons as a Red Raiders assistant, so his familiarity might convince them to remain in Lubbock to build upon the last five years momentum. Between Beard building his new staff and players such as Kamaka Hepa entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas will continue its transformation into a new era. As the dominoes continue to fall, stay updated with Longhorns Country for your latest basketball news. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook. | Two Texas Tech players have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Chris Beard is the new head coach of the Texas Longhorns. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/mens-basketball/three-texas-tech-standouts-enter-transfer-portal-following-chris-beards-departure | 0.22299 |
Can Beard Lure Texas Tech Transfer Standouts To Longhorns? | Just last week, Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Since Beards departure to rebuild the Longhorns struggling program, Texas Tech is already facing consequences. Following his decision, key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. These players were key contributors to Tech this season. Santos-Silva (senior), averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds, and Peavy (freshman) put up 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Possibly. However, Texas Tech recently hired Mark Adams, who might sway them to stay with Texas Tech. Adams spent the past five seasons as a Red Raiders assistant, so his familiarity might convince them to remain in Lubbock to build upon the last five years momentum. Between Beard building his new staff and players such as Kamaka Hepa entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas will continue its transformation into a new era. As the dominoes continue to fall, stay updated with Longhorns Country for your latest basketball news. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook. | Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. | bart | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/mens-basketball/three-texas-tech-standouts-enter-transfer-portal-following-chris-beards-departure | 0.338994 |
Can Beard Lure Texas Tech Transfer Standouts To Longhorns? | Just last week, Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Since Beards departure to rebuild the Longhorns struggling program, Texas Tech is already facing consequences. Following his decision, key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. These players were key contributors to Tech this season. Santos-Silva (senior), averaged 8.3 points and a team-leading 6.4 rebounds, and Peavy (freshman) put up 5.7 points and 3.1 rebounds per game. Possibly. However, Texas Tech recently hired Mark Adams, who might sway them to stay with Texas Tech. Adams spent the past five seasons as a Red Raiders assistant, so his familiarity might convince them to remain in Lubbock to build upon the last five years momentum. Between Beard building his new staff and players such as Kamaka Hepa entering the NCAA Transfer Portal, Texas will continue its transformation into a new era. As the dominoes continue to fall, stay updated with Longhorns Country for your latest basketball news. Comment and join in on the discussion below! Follow Longhorns Country on Twitter and Facebook. | Chris Beard left Texas Tech to become the Texas Longhorns new mens basketball head coach. Key players Micah Peavy and Marcus Santos-Silva have entered the NCAA Transfer Portal. Texas Tech recently hired Mark Adams, who spent the past five seasons as a Red Raiders assistant. | bart | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/texas/mens-basketball/three-texas-tech-standouts-enter-transfer-portal-following-chris-beards-departure | 0.395259 |
Does Mixon Get a Boost After Gio's Release? | The 37th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. 30 later this year (in November), Bernard was entering the final year of his contract, one that was paying him like a No. 1 back rather than the pass-catching and blocking specialist No. 2 that he was for the Bengals. He was due to make $3.7 million in 2021, and the release saved the Bengals $4.1 million against the cap. There were rumors teams were calling the Bengals about Bernards availability last month, but that was obviously false and an attempt to drum up interest. The Bengals got nothing for him and resorted to saving the money and freeing Bernard up to seek another job. In Cincinnati, the release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. In the six games Mixon was healthy for in 2020, he averaged 23.3 touches per contest, and that included a pair of 30-touch outings. Coach Zac Taylor had really committed to Mixon as his bell cow dating back to the middle of the 2019 season. Mixons season-ending foot issue could obviously change the way Taylor thinks about his running back moving forward, but the Bengals did pay Mixon $12 million per year with a new extension ahead of last year. They obviously view him as a clear-cut No. 1 back capable of shouldering an offense. By all accounts, Mixon should be ready for a normal 2021. With Joe Burrow back from his torn ACL and Cincinnati adding RT Riley Reiff to gel with previous starting combo LT Jonah Williams-LG Michael Jordan-C Trey Hopkins-RG Quinton Spain, this offense has the ability to take off, and Mixon should be a huge part of it. He has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates. As for Bernard, his best days are behind him, but he will likely latch on somewhere as a tandem back to fill a third-down, pass-catching role. Hes averaged 3.8 yards per attempt or worse four of the last five seasons. But he has shown he can handle 15-18 touches in a pinch if injuries happen ahead of him. Bernard is easily one of the best running backs available, joining James Conner and a couple others. They all may have to wait until after the draft later this month. Story continues Jets Ship Darnold to Panthers for Picks Our very own Patrick Daugherty dove into this trade and its ramifications in a Fantasy Fallout piece earlier this week following the big move, but as you all know, the Jets finally ended their very short marriage to Sam Darnold by flipping him to the Panthers for a 2021 sixth-rounder and 2022 second- and fourth-rounders. With the trade, the Jets made it clear theyre taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall, and the Panthers are committing to Darnold for at least 2021 after they failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, who is now in a whole lot of legal trouble. Its hard to not like the swing the Panthers are taking here. Darnold is still just 23 years old and will turn 24 in June. Hes younger than some of the prospects still coming into the NFL, and he has three seasons under his belt. Darnold was a colossal nightmare in New York, but its hard to put all the blame on him. Ex-coach Adam Gase has never shown an ability to call an offense and only ever received head-coaching interest because he was with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in Denver. Its exciting to see if the upstart Panthers can tap into the potential and upside that made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. His supporting cast is already lightyears better with the Panthers than it was with the Jets. D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson make an exciting one-two combo out wide, and Christian McCaffrey is the best playmaking running back in football. Carolina also added playmakers WR David Moore and TE Dan Arnold in free agency while keeping stud RT Taylor Moton. With the Darnold acquisition, the Panthers have allowed Teddy Bridgewater to seek a trade. Hes not a starter in this league but a very good No. 2. Bears Still Trying to Trade Anthony Miller Last month, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Bears were likely to deal contract-year WR Anthony Miller. Nothing has come of it yet, but NFL Networks Ian Rapoport says the team continues to discuss a deal. No interested teams have been identified, but its clear Millers time is running out in Chicago. Hes set to make just over $1.2 million in the final year of his deal and was leapfrogged on the depth chart last year by late-round rookie Darnell Mooney. Even though they havent added anything at the position this offseason, the Bears seem done with Miller. The former No. 51 overall pick has only caught passes from Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles in his career, so it would be interesting to see what he could do if he can escape this wretched Bears Offense. Miller caught seven touchdowns as a rookie and then had a strong five-game stretch Weeks 10-14 in the 2020 season when he posted a 33-431-2 line on 52 targets. Miller obviously has skill. A change of scenery could do him well. Quarterback & Running Back Quick Slants Rams GM Les Snead sees Matthew Stafford quarterbacking the team for the next 5-8 years. Stafford is 33 and under contract for two more seasons after being acquired from the Lions. An extension could be in the works. Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Deshaun Watson while he fights his legal battles. Coach Jon Gruden continues to hype Kenyan Drakes versatility. Theres word the Raiders will use Drake as a pass-catcher complement to Josh Jacobs. Following their acquisition of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, ESPNs Adam Schefter expects the 49ers to select Alabama QB Mac Jones. The Eagles re-signed RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal. Hell compete for a deep depth job in Phillys backfield. The Niners signed QB Nate Sudfeld to a one-year contract. Sudfeld will look to make the 49ers roster as the No. 3 behind a rookie and Jimmy Garoppolo should San Francisco keep Garoppolo. Wide Receiver & Tight End Quick Slants Free agent Antonio Brown remains unsigned, and theres still no sign he and the Bucs are close to a new deal. AB is really the only piece left for the Bucs to run it back with essentially the same group. New Ravens WR Sammy Watkins expects OC Greg Roman to open up the offense this season. Watkins previously played for Roman in Buffalo. Watkins needs a healthy and strong season if he wants to cash in as a free agent next spring. Many around the league expect free agent Larry Fitzgerald to retire this offseason. | Giovani Bernard was released by the Bengals on Wednesday. Mixon has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-mixon-boost-gios-release-023031526.html?src=rss | 0.104234 |
Does Mixon Get a Boost After Gio's Release? | The 37th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. 30 later this year (in November), Bernard was entering the final year of his contract, one that was paying him like a No. 1 back rather than the pass-catching and blocking specialist No. 2 that he was for the Bengals. He was due to make $3.7 million in 2021, and the release saved the Bengals $4.1 million against the cap. There were rumors teams were calling the Bengals about Bernards availability last month, but that was obviously false and an attempt to drum up interest. The Bengals got nothing for him and resorted to saving the money and freeing Bernard up to seek another job. In Cincinnati, the release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. In the six games Mixon was healthy for in 2020, he averaged 23.3 touches per contest, and that included a pair of 30-touch outings. Coach Zac Taylor had really committed to Mixon as his bell cow dating back to the middle of the 2019 season. Mixons season-ending foot issue could obviously change the way Taylor thinks about his running back moving forward, but the Bengals did pay Mixon $12 million per year with a new extension ahead of last year. They obviously view him as a clear-cut No. 1 back capable of shouldering an offense. By all accounts, Mixon should be ready for a normal 2021. With Joe Burrow back from his torn ACL and Cincinnati adding RT Riley Reiff to gel with previous starting combo LT Jonah Williams-LG Michael Jordan-C Trey Hopkins-RG Quinton Spain, this offense has the ability to take off, and Mixon should be a huge part of it. He has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates. As for Bernard, his best days are behind him, but he will likely latch on somewhere as a tandem back to fill a third-down, pass-catching role. Hes averaged 3.8 yards per attempt or worse four of the last five seasons. But he has shown he can handle 15-18 touches in a pinch if injuries happen ahead of him. Bernard is easily one of the best running backs available, joining James Conner and a couple others. They all may have to wait until after the draft later this month. Story continues Jets Ship Darnold to Panthers for Picks Our very own Patrick Daugherty dove into this trade and its ramifications in a Fantasy Fallout piece earlier this week following the big move, but as you all know, the Jets finally ended their very short marriage to Sam Darnold by flipping him to the Panthers for a 2021 sixth-rounder and 2022 second- and fourth-rounders. With the trade, the Jets made it clear theyre taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall, and the Panthers are committing to Darnold for at least 2021 after they failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, who is now in a whole lot of legal trouble. Its hard to not like the swing the Panthers are taking here. Darnold is still just 23 years old and will turn 24 in June. Hes younger than some of the prospects still coming into the NFL, and he has three seasons under his belt. Darnold was a colossal nightmare in New York, but its hard to put all the blame on him. Ex-coach Adam Gase has never shown an ability to call an offense and only ever received head-coaching interest because he was with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in Denver. Its exciting to see if the upstart Panthers can tap into the potential and upside that made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. His supporting cast is already lightyears better with the Panthers than it was with the Jets. D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson make an exciting one-two combo out wide, and Christian McCaffrey is the best playmaking running back in football. Carolina also added playmakers WR David Moore and TE Dan Arnold in free agency while keeping stud RT Taylor Moton. With the Darnold acquisition, the Panthers have allowed Teddy Bridgewater to seek a trade. Hes not a starter in this league but a very good No. 2. Bears Still Trying to Trade Anthony Miller Last month, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Bears were likely to deal contract-year WR Anthony Miller. Nothing has come of it yet, but NFL Networks Ian Rapoport says the team continues to discuss a deal. No interested teams have been identified, but its clear Millers time is running out in Chicago. Hes set to make just over $1.2 million in the final year of his deal and was leapfrogged on the depth chart last year by late-round rookie Darnell Mooney. Even though they havent added anything at the position this offseason, the Bears seem done with Miller. The former No. 51 overall pick has only caught passes from Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles in his career, so it would be interesting to see what he could do if he can escape this wretched Bears Offense. Miller caught seven touchdowns as a rookie and then had a strong five-game stretch Weeks 10-14 in the 2020 season when he posted a 33-431-2 line on 52 targets. Miller obviously has skill. A change of scenery could do him well. Quarterback & Running Back Quick Slants Rams GM Les Snead sees Matthew Stafford quarterbacking the team for the next 5-8 years. Stafford is 33 and under contract for two more seasons after being acquired from the Lions. An extension could be in the works. Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Deshaun Watson while he fights his legal battles. Coach Jon Gruden continues to hype Kenyan Drakes versatility. Theres word the Raiders will use Drake as a pass-catcher complement to Josh Jacobs. Following their acquisition of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, ESPNs Adam Schefter expects the 49ers to select Alabama QB Mac Jones. The Eagles re-signed RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal. Hell compete for a deep depth job in Phillys backfield. The Niners signed QB Nate Sudfeld to a one-year contract. Sudfeld will look to make the 49ers roster as the No. 3 behind a rookie and Jimmy Garoppolo should San Francisco keep Garoppolo. Wide Receiver & Tight End Quick Slants Free agent Antonio Brown remains unsigned, and theres still no sign he and the Bucs are close to a new deal. AB is really the only piece left for the Bucs to run it back with essentially the same group. New Ravens WR Sammy Watkins expects OC Greg Roman to open up the offense this season. Watkins previously played for Roman in Buffalo. Watkins needs a healthy and strong season if he wants to cash in as a free agent next spring. Many around the league expect free agent Larry Fitzgerald to retire this offseason. | Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. The release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. | pegasus | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-mixon-boost-gios-release-023031526.html?src=rss | 0.151689 |
Does Mixon Get a Boost After Gio's Release? | The 37th overall pick of the 2013 draft, Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. 30 later this year (in November), Bernard was entering the final year of his contract, one that was paying him like a No. 1 back rather than the pass-catching and blocking specialist No. 2 that he was for the Bengals. He was due to make $3.7 million in 2021, and the release saved the Bengals $4.1 million against the cap. There were rumors teams were calling the Bengals about Bernards availability last month, but that was obviously false and an attempt to drum up interest. The Bengals got nothing for him and resorted to saving the money and freeing Bernard up to seek another job. In Cincinnati, the release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. In the six games Mixon was healthy for in 2020, he averaged 23.3 touches per contest, and that included a pair of 30-touch outings. Coach Zac Taylor had really committed to Mixon as his bell cow dating back to the middle of the 2019 season. Mixons season-ending foot issue could obviously change the way Taylor thinks about his running back moving forward, but the Bengals did pay Mixon $12 million per year with a new extension ahead of last year. They obviously view him as a clear-cut No. 1 back capable of shouldering an offense. By all accounts, Mixon should be ready for a normal 2021. With Joe Burrow back from his torn ACL and Cincinnati adding RT Riley Reiff to gel with previous starting combo LT Jonah Williams-LG Michael Jordan-C Trey Hopkins-RG Quinton Spain, this offense has the ability to take off, and Mixon should be a huge part of it. He has top-six RB1 upside if health cooperates. As for Bernard, his best days are behind him, but he will likely latch on somewhere as a tandem back to fill a third-down, pass-catching role. Hes averaged 3.8 yards per attempt or worse four of the last five seasons. But he has shown he can handle 15-18 touches in a pinch if injuries happen ahead of him. Bernard is easily one of the best running backs available, joining James Conner and a couple others. They all may have to wait until after the draft later this month. Story continues Jets Ship Darnold to Panthers for Picks Our very own Patrick Daugherty dove into this trade and its ramifications in a Fantasy Fallout piece earlier this week following the big move, but as you all know, the Jets finally ended their very short marriage to Sam Darnold by flipping him to the Panthers for a 2021 sixth-rounder and 2022 second- and fourth-rounders. With the trade, the Jets made it clear theyre taking a quarterback at No. 2 overall, and the Panthers are committing to Darnold for at least 2021 after they failed to trade for Deshaun Watson, who is now in a whole lot of legal trouble. Its hard to not like the swing the Panthers are taking here. Darnold is still just 23 years old and will turn 24 in June. Hes younger than some of the prospects still coming into the NFL, and he has three seasons under his belt. Darnold was a colossal nightmare in New York, but its hard to put all the blame on him. Ex-coach Adam Gase has never shown an ability to call an offense and only ever received head-coaching interest because he was with Hall of Famer Peyton Manning in Denver. Its exciting to see if the upstart Panthers can tap into the potential and upside that made Darnold the No. 3 overall pick in 2018. His supporting cast is already lightyears better with the Panthers than it was with the Jets. D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson make an exciting one-two combo out wide, and Christian McCaffrey is the best playmaking running back in football. Carolina also added playmakers WR David Moore and TE Dan Arnold in free agency while keeping stud RT Taylor Moton. With the Darnold acquisition, the Panthers have allowed Teddy Bridgewater to seek a trade. Hes not a starter in this league but a very good No. 2. Bears Still Trying to Trade Anthony Miller Last month, ESPNs Adam Schefter reported the Bears were likely to deal contract-year WR Anthony Miller. Nothing has come of it yet, but NFL Networks Ian Rapoport says the team continues to discuss a deal. No interested teams have been identified, but its clear Millers time is running out in Chicago. Hes set to make just over $1.2 million in the final year of his deal and was leapfrogged on the depth chart last year by late-round rookie Darnell Mooney. Even though they havent added anything at the position this offseason, the Bears seem done with Miller. The former No. 51 overall pick has only caught passes from Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles in his career, so it would be interesting to see what he could do if he can escape this wretched Bears Offense. Miller caught seven touchdowns as a rookie and then had a strong five-game stretch Weeks 10-14 in the 2020 season when he posted a 33-431-2 line on 52 targets. Miller obviously has skill. A change of scenery could do him well. Quarterback & Running Back Quick Slants Rams GM Les Snead sees Matthew Stafford quarterbacking the team for the next 5-8 years. Stafford is 33 and under contract for two more seasons after being acquired from the Lions. An extension could be in the works. Nike has suspended its endorsement deal with Deshaun Watson while he fights his legal battles. Coach Jon Gruden continues to hype Kenyan Drakes versatility. Theres word the Raiders will use Drake as a pass-catcher complement to Josh Jacobs. Following their acquisition of the No. 3 overall pick in the draft, ESPNs Adam Schefter expects the 49ers to select Alabama QB Mac Jones. The Eagles re-signed RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal. Hell compete for a deep depth job in Phillys backfield. The Niners signed QB Nate Sudfeld to a one-year contract. Sudfeld will look to make the 49ers roster as the No. 3 behind a rookie and Jimmy Garoppolo should San Francisco keep Garoppolo. Wide Receiver & Tight End Quick Slants Free agent Antonio Brown remains unsigned, and theres still no sign he and the Bucs are close to a new deal. AB is really the only piece left for the Bucs to run it back with essentially the same group. New Ravens WR Sammy Watkins expects OC Greg Roman to open up the offense this season. Watkins previously played for Roman in Buffalo. Watkins needs a healthy and strong season if he wants to cash in as a free agent next spring. Many around the league expect free agent Larry Fitzgerald to retire this offseason. | Giovani Bernard spent eight seasons in Cincinnati before being handed his walking papers Wednesday. The release of Bernard is a potentially huge move for Joe Mixon and his every-down ability. The Jets finally ended their very short marriage to Sam Darnold by flipping him to the Panthers for a 2021 sixth-rounder and 2022 second- and fourth-rounders. | pegasus | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/does-mixon-boost-gios-release-023031526.html?src=rss | 0.278239 |
Should firms be more worried about firmware cyber-attacks? | A woman using a laptop and using her smartphone for two-factor authentication Computing giant Microsoft recently put out a report claiming that businesses globally are neglecting a key aspect of their cyber-security - the need to protect computers, servers and other devices from firmware attacks. Its survey of 1,000 cyber-security decision makers at enterprises across multiple industries in the UK, US, Germany, Japan and China has revealed that 80% of firms have experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years. Yet only 29% of security budgets have been allocated to protect firmware. However, the new report comes on the back of a recent significant security vulnerability affecting Microsoft's widely-used Exchange email system. And the computing giant launched a range of extra-secure Windows 10 computers last year that it says will prevent firmware from being tampered with. How a firmware attack works Firmware is a type of permanent software code used to control each hardware component in a PC. Increasingly, cyber-criminals are designing malware that quietly tampers with the firmware in motherboards, which tell the PC to start up, or with the firmware in hardware drivers. This is a sneaky way to neatly bypass a computer's operating system or any software designed to detect malware, because the firmware code is in the hardware, which is a layer below the operating system. Security experts have told the BBC that even if IT departments are following cyber-security best practices like patching security vulnerabilities in software, or protecting corporate networks from malicious intrusions, many firms are still forgetting about the firmware. "People don't think about it in terms of their patching - it's not often updated, and when it is, sometimes it breaks things," explains Australian cyber-security researcher Robert Potter. Story continues Mr Potter built the Washington Post's cyber-security operations centre and has advised the Australian government on cyber-security. "Firmware patching can sometimes be tricky, so for a lot of companies, it's become a blind spot." There have been several major firmware attacks discovered in the last two years, such as RobbinHood, a ransomware that uses firmware to gain root access to a victim's computer and then encrypts all files until a Bitcoin ransom has been paid. This malware held the data of several US city governments hostage in May 2019. Another example is Thunderspy, an attack that utilises the direct memory access (DMA) function that PC hardware components use to talk to each other. This attack is so stealthy that an attacker can read and copy all data on a computer without leaving a trace, and the attack is possible even if the hard drive is encrypted, the computer is locked, or set to sleep. "If device firmware has no protection in place, or if the protection can be bypassed, then firmware compromise is both incredibly serious and potentially invisible," explains Chris Boyd, a malware intelligence analyst at security firm Malwarebytes. "Remote or physical compromise which permits rogue code to run can set the stage for data theft, system damage, spying, and more." Big organisations beware The good news is that firmware attacks are less likely to target consumers, but big firms should beware, according to Gabriel Cirlig, a security researcher with US cyber-security firm Human (formerly White Ops). "It is a big deal, but fortunately it only works against big organisations, because you need to target specific types of motherboards and firmware," he tells the BBC. Typically, cyber-criminals tend to attack operating systems and popular software, because they only make money if they can infect the biggest numbers of end users. Firmware attacks are less common and more complicated to implement than other types of cyber-attacks, but unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the problem. The pandemic has led to a sharp rise in devices connecting remotely to critical corporate network infrastructure The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency within the US Department of Commerce, continually updates a National Vulnerability Database (NVD) with new security flaws. The database has recorded a five-fold increase in attacks against firmware in the last four years. Coronavirus lockdowns in multiple countries have led to multiple employees working from home and connecting remotely to work servers. Each one of those computers and mobile devices is an opportunity. Carrying out a firmware attack might be complex, says Mr Cirlig, but if attackers could silently steal critical information from a c-suite executive's laptop, like passwords, they could then use it to infiltrate a company's networks and steal more data. Nation-state hackers would be most likely to use such an attack, he adds. "This is a big operation with big pay-offs - it's not something that a small group of cyber-criminals has the manpower to do." Creeping soon to a network near you Although firmware attacks are not as ubiquitous as phishing scams, malware or other cyber-attacks, the cyber-security experts the BBC spoke to say now is the time for businesses, and the technology industry as a whole, to pay attention to hardware security. Hardware and firmware designers need to be included in the cyber-security discussion, say experts "Firmware attacks are not common on a day-to-day basis, but that's because people don't realise they're being infected by such an attack," says Mr Boyd. "It's like when ransomware first came onto the scene - people didn't know of anyone who was infected by it, and if big organisations were, they wouldn't tell anyone about it, as there was an element of shame, not wanting their clients to know they'd been infected." Mr Boyd adds that a new generation of "budding hardware enthusiasts" who have been learning their way around firmware by "modding video game consoles over the last decade" could well pose additional threats to enterprise cyber-security going forward - a point Mt Cirlig fervently agrees with, since he hacked the firmware in his own car when he was younger. "Microsoft is right to raise this as a major issue, because we need to bring firmware designers and operational technologies along the journey of cyber-security, the way we have with software companies," says Mr Potter. "As we connect more things to the internet, we're connecting a lot more devices that haven't been designed with cyber-security in mind. And if the trend continues, bad guys will go after it." | Microsoft says businesses are neglecting a key aspect of cyber-security. 80% of firms have experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years. Yet only 29% of security budgets have been allocated to protect firmware. | pegasus | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/firms-more-worried-firmware-cyber-025220486.html | 0.2201 |
Should firms be more worried about firmware cyber-attacks? | A woman using a laptop and using her smartphone for two-factor authentication Computing giant Microsoft recently put out a report claiming that businesses globally are neglecting a key aspect of their cyber-security - the need to protect computers, servers and other devices from firmware attacks. Its survey of 1,000 cyber-security decision makers at enterprises across multiple industries in the UK, US, Germany, Japan and China has revealed that 80% of firms have experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years. Yet only 29% of security budgets have been allocated to protect firmware. However, the new report comes on the back of a recent significant security vulnerability affecting Microsoft's widely-used Exchange email system. And the computing giant launched a range of extra-secure Windows 10 computers last year that it says will prevent firmware from being tampered with. How a firmware attack works Firmware is a type of permanent software code used to control each hardware component in a PC. Increasingly, cyber-criminals are designing malware that quietly tampers with the firmware in motherboards, which tell the PC to start up, or with the firmware in hardware drivers. This is a sneaky way to neatly bypass a computer's operating system or any software designed to detect malware, because the firmware code is in the hardware, which is a layer below the operating system. Security experts have told the BBC that even if IT departments are following cyber-security best practices like patching security vulnerabilities in software, or protecting corporate networks from malicious intrusions, many firms are still forgetting about the firmware. "People don't think about it in terms of their patching - it's not often updated, and when it is, sometimes it breaks things," explains Australian cyber-security researcher Robert Potter. Story continues Mr Potter built the Washington Post's cyber-security operations centre and has advised the Australian government on cyber-security. "Firmware patching can sometimes be tricky, so for a lot of companies, it's become a blind spot." There have been several major firmware attacks discovered in the last two years, such as RobbinHood, a ransomware that uses firmware to gain root access to a victim's computer and then encrypts all files until a Bitcoin ransom has been paid. This malware held the data of several US city governments hostage in May 2019. Another example is Thunderspy, an attack that utilises the direct memory access (DMA) function that PC hardware components use to talk to each other. This attack is so stealthy that an attacker can read and copy all data on a computer without leaving a trace, and the attack is possible even if the hard drive is encrypted, the computer is locked, or set to sleep. "If device firmware has no protection in place, or if the protection can be bypassed, then firmware compromise is both incredibly serious and potentially invisible," explains Chris Boyd, a malware intelligence analyst at security firm Malwarebytes. "Remote or physical compromise which permits rogue code to run can set the stage for data theft, system damage, spying, and more." Big organisations beware The good news is that firmware attacks are less likely to target consumers, but big firms should beware, according to Gabriel Cirlig, a security researcher with US cyber-security firm Human (formerly White Ops). "It is a big deal, but fortunately it only works against big organisations, because you need to target specific types of motherboards and firmware," he tells the BBC. Typically, cyber-criminals tend to attack operating systems and popular software, because they only make money if they can infect the biggest numbers of end users. Firmware attacks are less common and more complicated to implement than other types of cyber-attacks, but unfortunately the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the problem. The pandemic has led to a sharp rise in devices connecting remotely to critical corporate network infrastructure The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), an agency within the US Department of Commerce, continually updates a National Vulnerability Database (NVD) with new security flaws. The database has recorded a five-fold increase in attacks against firmware in the last four years. Coronavirus lockdowns in multiple countries have led to multiple employees working from home and connecting remotely to work servers. Each one of those computers and mobile devices is an opportunity. Carrying out a firmware attack might be complex, says Mr Cirlig, but if attackers could silently steal critical information from a c-suite executive's laptop, like passwords, they could then use it to infiltrate a company's networks and steal more data. Nation-state hackers would be most likely to use such an attack, he adds. "This is a big operation with big pay-offs - it's not something that a small group of cyber-criminals has the manpower to do." Creeping soon to a network near you Although firmware attacks are not as ubiquitous as phishing scams, malware or other cyber-attacks, the cyber-security experts the BBC spoke to say now is the time for businesses, and the technology industry as a whole, to pay attention to hardware security. Hardware and firmware designers need to be included in the cyber-security discussion, say experts "Firmware attacks are not common on a day-to-day basis, but that's because people don't realise they're being infected by such an attack," says Mr Boyd. "It's like when ransomware first came onto the scene - people didn't know of anyone who was infected by it, and if big organisations were, they wouldn't tell anyone about it, as there was an element of shame, not wanting their clients to know they'd been infected." Mr Boyd adds that a new generation of "budding hardware enthusiasts" who have been learning their way around firmware by "modding video game consoles over the last decade" could well pose additional threats to enterprise cyber-security going forward - a point Mt Cirlig fervently agrees with, since he hacked the firmware in his own car when he was younger. "Microsoft is right to raise this as a major issue, because we need to bring firmware designers and operational technologies along the journey of cyber-security, the way we have with software companies," says Mr Potter. "As we connect more things to the internet, we're connecting a lot more devices that haven't been designed with cyber-security in mind. And if the trend continues, bad guys will go after it." | 80% of firms have experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years. Yet only 29% of security budgets have been allocated to protect firmware. Increasingly, cyber-criminals are designing malware that quietly tampers with the firmware in motherboards. This is a sneaky way to neatly bypass a computer's operating system. | bart | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/firms-more-worried-firmware-cyber-025220486.html | 0.305129 |
Who is Jude Bellingham? | PA Media All eyes were on superstar striker, Erling Haaland, when his side Borussia Dortmund came up against Manchester City in the Champions League last night. But, it was another teenager who stole the headlines - English midfielder Jude Bellingham. The 17-year-old Birmingham born star became the youngest footballer ever to play in a Champions League quarter final during the 2-1 defeat and saw a goal controversially disallowed. Here are five things you need to know about England's next big hope. Birmingham's youngest ever player Getty Images Bellingham joined his hometown club, Birmingham, as an eight year old and became the club's youngest ever player at just 16 years and 38 days old. In doing so, he broke a 49 year old record, held by a player called Trevor Francis. In his first season as a professional, Bellingham became a key player for Birmingham, playing 44 times in centre midfield. Most expensive 17-year-old of all time Getty Images Bellingham's performances attracted interest from some of the biggest teams in the world, and he was tipped to join Manchester United. However, he decided to sign for German side, Borussia Dortmund, due to their development of fellow English youngster, Jadon Sancho. Dortmund paid 25 million for Bellingham, which is the biggest ever transfer fee for a 17-year-old. Retiring the shirt Getty Images When Bellingham left for Dortmund, Birmingham made the surprising move to retire his shirt number - 22 - meaning it could never been used again. This symbolic gesture usually reserved for players who have been legends for clubs and have either retired or died. Birmingham said the move was to "remember one of our own and to inspire others". Breaking records Getty Images Bellingham has been breaking records throughout his career so far. He is Dortmund's youngest ever scorer, he's England's third youngest ever player and he's the youngest Englishman to ever play in the Champions League. Lots of experts have compared him to England legend Steven Gerrard due to the way he plays the game in midfield. Outside chance for the Euros Getty Images England manager Gareth Southgate named Bellingham in his most recent England squad and Bellingham played 45 minutes against San Marino. Lots of pundits are now tipping the midfielder to get a call-up for the Three Lions at the re-arranged Euro 2020 tournament this summer. | Jude Bellingham is the youngest footballer ever to play in a Champions League quarter final. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56660249 | 0.395651 |
Who is Jude Bellingham? | PA Media All eyes were on superstar striker, Erling Haaland, when his side Borussia Dortmund came up against Manchester City in the Champions League last night. But, it was another teenager who stole the headlines - English midfielder Jude Bellingham. The 17-year-old Birmingham born star became the youngest footballer ever to play in a Champions League quarter final during the 2-1 defeat and saw a goal controversially disallowed. Here are five things you need to know about England's next big hope. Birmingham's youngest ever player Getty Images Bellingham joined his hometown club, Birmingham, as an eight year old and became the club's youngest ever player at just 16 years and 38 days old. In doing so, he broke a 49 year old record, held by a player called Trevor Francis. In his first season as a professional, Bellingham became a key player for Birmingham, playing 44 times in centre midfield. Most expensive 17-year-old of all time Getty Images Bellingham's performances attracted interest from some of the biggest teams in the world, and he was tipped to join Manchester United. However, he decided to sign for German side, Borussia Dortmund, due to their development of fellow English youngster, Jadon Sancho. Dortmund paid 25 million for Bellingham, which is the biggest ever transfer fee for a 17-year-old. Retiring the shirt Getty Images When Bellingham left for Dortmund, Birmingham made the surprising move to retire his shirt number - 22 - meaning it could never been used again. This symbolic gesture usually reserved for players who have been legends for clubs and have either retired or died. Birmingham said the move was to "remember one of our own and to inspire others". Breaking records Getty Images Bellingham has been breaking records throughout his career so far. He is Dortmund's youngest ever scorer, he's England's third youngest ever player and he's the youngest Englishman to ever play in the Champions League. Lots of experts have compared him to England legend Steven Gerrard due to the way he plays the game in midfield. Outside chance for the Euros Getty Images England manager Gareth Southgate named Bellingham in his most recent England squad and Bellingham played 45 minutes against San Marino. Lots of pundits are now tipping the midfielder to get a call-up for the Three Lions at the re-arranged Euro 2020 tournament this summer. | Jude Bellingham became the youngest footballer ever to play in a Champions League quarter final during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. The 17-year-old joined his hometown club, Birmingham, as an eight year old and became the club's youngest ever player at just 16 years and 38 days. | bart | 2 | https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/56660249 | 0.123587 |
What Kind of Monster Is Matt Gaetz? | Florida Republican Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking, and whether or not he is indicted, investigated for sex trafficking has now affixed itself to his name, perhaps permanently. Whatever kind of monster it is people picture when they hear sex trafficker, his opponents hope it is enough to sink his political career. Still, what we already know to be true about Gaetzthat he pushed the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, that he has employed staff who took policy cues from a conspiracy theoryladen message board and who cheered on the January 6 insurrectionis plenty contemptible and corrosive. Matt Gaetz has quite publicly demonstrated a willingness to abuse power. There is enough here, too, without having to fall back on pernicious myths about sex trafficking in order to portray Gaetz as the kind of ready-made villain that may be, unfortunately, easier to run out of office. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide before evidence against him could be heard in court but who was accused by several young women of having trafficked them for sex, which prosecutors say spanned years of manipulation, deceit, and abuse. But Epstein is an exception: In fact, he evaded prosecution for a long time, in part because he was the kind of person who is rarely prosecuted for sex trafficking. He was white, by his own account wealthy, and he had powerful people to shield himlike U.S. attorney (and future Trump labor secretary) Alex Acosta, who in 2007 kept Epstein out of federal prison through a plea deal. Epsteins story is the kind that fits more comfortably inside a conspiracy theory than the everyday mechanics of our criminal legal system. Gaetz, meanwhile, seems to have come under investigation due to a less powerful associate, a former Florida official named Joel Greenberg, who has already been charged with sex trafficking, among other offenses, and whose prosecution may have exposed Gaetz. According to the indictment, when Greenberg was the tax collector for Seminole County, Florida, he did knowingly recruit, entice, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit a minor between the ages of 14 and 17. The sex trafficking charge was reported in August 2020, but this March, The New York Times connected it to a Department of Justice investigation into Gaetz, which its sources say is focused on whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old and whether he gave her anything of material value. The sugar daddy website SeekingArrangement.com may have been where Greenberg and possibly Gaetz met women; as the Times reported, The F.B.I. mentioned the website in a conversation with at least one potential witness, according to a person familiar with the conversation. After this, Gaetz issued a memorable denial: Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex. Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life. | Florida Republican Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking. | pegasus | 0 | https://newrepublic.com/article/161981/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-abuse-of-power | 0.10568 |
What Kind of Monster Is Matt Gaetz? | Florida Republican Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking, and whether or not he is indicted, investigated for sex trafficking has now affixed itself to his name, perhaps permanently. Whatever kind of monster it is people picture when they hear sex trafficker, his opponents hope it is enough to sink his political career. Still, what we already know to be true about Gaetzthat he pushed the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, that he has employed staff who took policy cues from a conspiracy theoryladen message board and who cheered on the January 6 insurrectionis plenty contemptible and corrosive. Matt Gaetz has quite publicly demonstrated a willingness to abuse power. There is enough here, too, without having to fall back on pernicious myths about sex trafficking in order to portray Gaetz as the kind of ready-made villain that may be, unfortunately, easier to run out of office. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide before evidence against him could be heard in court but who was accused by several young women of having trafficked them for sex, which prosecutors say spanned years of manipulation, deceit, and abuse. But Epstein is an exception: In fact, he evaded prosecution for a long time, in part because he was the kind of person who is rarely prosecuted for sex trafficking. He was white, by his own account wealthy, and he had powerful people to shield himlike U.S. attorney (and future Trump labor secretary) Alex Acosta, who in 2007 kept Epstein out of federal prison through a plea deal. Epsteins story is the kind that fits more comfortably inside a conspiracy theory than the everyday mechanics of our criminal legal system. Gaetz, meanwhile, seems to have come under investigation due to a less powerful associate, a former Florida official named Joel Greenberg, who has already been charged with sex trafficking, among other offenses, and whose prosecution may have exposed Gaetz. According to the indictment, when Greenberg was the tax collector for Seminole County, Florida, he did knowingly recruit, entice, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit a minor between the ages of 14 and 17. The sex trafficking charge was reported in August 2020, but this March, The New York Times connected it to a Department of Justice investigation into Gaetz, which its sources say is focused on whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old and whether he gave her anything of material value. The sugar daddy website SeekingArrangement.com may have been where Greenberg and possibly Gaetz met women; as the Times reported, The F.B.I. mentioned the website in a conversation with at least one potential witness, according to a person familiar with the conversation. After this, Gaetz issued a memorable denial: Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex. Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life. | Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein. | bart | 1 | https://newrepublic.com/article/161981/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-abuse-of-power | 0.15718 |
What Kind of Monster Is Matt Gaetz? | Florida Republican Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking, and whether or not he is indicted, investigated for sex trafficking has now affixed itself to his name, perhaps permanently. Whatever kind of monster it is people picture when they hear sex trafficker, his opponents hope it is enough to sink his political career. Still, what we already know to be true about Gaetzthat he pushed the lie that the 2020 election was stolen, that he has employed staff who took policy cues from a conspiracy theoryladen message board and who cheered on the January 6 insurrectionis plenty contemptible and corrosive. Matt Gaetz has quite publicly demonstrated a willingness to abuse power. There is enough here, too, without having to fall back on pernicious myths about sex trafficking in order to portray Gaetz as the kind of ready-made villain that may be, unfortunately, easier to run out of office. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein, who died by suicide before evidence against him could be heard in court but who was accused by several young women of having trafficked them for sex, which prosecutors say spanned years of manipulation, deceit, and abuse. But Epstein is an exception: In fact, he evaded prosecution for a long time, in part because he was the kind of person who is rarely prosecuted for sex trafficking. He was white, by his own account wealthy, and he had powerful people to shield himlike U.S. attorney (and future Trump labor secretary) Alex Acosta, who in 2007 kept Epstein out of federal prison through a plea deal. Epsteins story is the kind that fits more comfortably inside a conspiracy theory than the everyday mechanics of our criminal legal system. Gaetz, meanwhile, seems to have come under investigation due to a less powerful associate, a former Florida official named Joel Greenberg, who has already been charged with sex trafficking, among other offenses, and whose prosecution may have exposed Gaetz. According to the indictment, when Greenberg was the tax collector for Seminole County, Florida, he did knowingly recruit, entice, obtain, maintain, patronize, and solicit a minor between the ages of 14 and 17. The sex trafficking charge was reported in August 2020, but this March, The New York Times connected it to a Department of Justice investigation into Gaetz, which its sources say is focused on whether Gaetz had sex with a 17-year-old and whether he gave her anything of material value. The sugar daddy website SeekingArrangement.com may have been where Greenberg and possibly Gaetz met women; as the Times reported, The F.B.I. mentioned the website in a conversation with at least one potential witness, according to a person familiar with the conversation. After this, Gaetz issued a memorable denial: Matt Gaetz has never paid for sex. Matt Gaetz refutes all the disgusting allegations completely. Matt Gaetz has never ever been on any such websites whatsoever. Matt Gaetz cherishes the relationships in his past and looks forward to marrying the love of his life. | Matt Gaetz may be the first member of Congress under investigation for sex trafficking. A sex trafficker, in the popular imagination, may be someone more in the vein of Jeffrey Epstein. Epstein died by suicide before evidence against him could be heard in court. Gaetz seems to have come under investigation due to a less powerful associate, a former Florida official. | bart | 2 | https://newrepublic.com/article/161981/matt-gaetz-sex-trafficking-abuse-of-power | 0.277106 |
Could these classic cars be resurrected? | "Full House," "Saved by the Bell," "Punky Brewster." All have come back in one way, shape or form. In the same way, the auto industry has been tapping into American nostalgia, too, by resurrected long-dead vehicles that once were beloved. The Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Bronco, Toyota Supra and Chevrolet Trailblazer are among the many that are making a comeback. So, a few weeks ago, USA TODAY wrote about other long-gone vehicle names that could be ripe for revival, including the Cadillac Eldorado, the Chevrolet El Camino, the Dodge Dakota and the Subaru Baja. After all, automakers are finding it hard to identify new real-word names that haven't been used before plus, it's expensive to market a brand-new nameplate. So, if you still own one of those nameplates, that alone gives you some incentive as an automaker to revive it," said Karl Brauer, an analyst with car-buying site iSeeCars. : Chevrolet, Cadillac, Dodge classic cars offer opportunity Volkswagen won't be 'Voltswagen': Misleading marketing is risky, especially for VW What's tougher to figure out is which dormant nameplate to revive and when to do it. For instance, some vehicles were popular when they were first sold, but their body style has fallen out of favor. That can lead automakers to consider turning cars into SUVs, but that could alienate fans. It comes down to how long its been gone, whether it was allowed to fade off into the sunset or what was really happening when they stopped, said Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst for research firm IHS Markit. Without further adieu, here are vehicles USA TODAY readers suggested should be rebooted: Ford Falcon One hundred year-old Rita Doucette leaves her Fairview Estates home and turns onto East Main Street in Hopkinton aboard a 1963 Ford Falcon on Friday, Sept. 25. Daily News and Wicked Local Staff Photo/Ken McGagh Talk about a name that still resonates. The Falcon just rings. And the passenger car's heritage is still cherished by many. "The Ford Falcon was the Mustangs predecessor, and one could argue the name is easily as cool as Mustang," Brauer said. "While the original Falcon was a relatively pedestrian vehicle, easily overshadowed by the Mustang when it arrived in 1964, a modern Ford with the Falcon name could have plenty of consumer appeal." Brauer suggested that Ford could make a Falcon based on the Bronco SUV platform, making a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive vehicle like the Subaru WRX. The Falcon has another thing going for it that shouldn't be taken for granted: The word "falcon" is currently featured in a popular TV show, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney+. That calls to mind how much success automaker Nissan had in marketing its Nissan Rogue SUV when the Star Wars movie "Rogue One" was released. It was a pure coincidence that Disney used the word "rogue" in its movie title, but it paid off big time for Nissan. Chevrolet Bel Air A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air custom convertible. Barrett-Jackson The body style of the Bel Air wouldn't work. It was a large car, and those simply aren't selling well these days. And the Bel Air name might turn off some people given its association with wealth and privilege. Think the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." But the nameplate still carries a cachet that could prove hard for General Motors to ignore forever. "Chevrolet Bel Air might be an interesting one," Brinley said, adding it could be among the classic "names from the '50s that might be able to come back." Volkswagen Scirocco The Volkswagen Scirocco was discontinued in 2017. Martial Trezzini, AP This performance-oriented two-door vehicle dates back to the 1970s. But it actually didn't go out of production until around 2017. Yet it continues to have devoted fans. Much like the Cadillac Eldorado and the Plymouth Barracuda, some of them have clamored to get it back. Brauer said it could be a contender to return, though he acknowledged that the market for small performance cars is limited. Toyota Previa A visitor steps out of a Toyota Previa at an import car expo in Beijing, China, on Nov. 1, 2011. The Toyota Previa was discontinued in the U.S. in the 1990s. Alexander F. Yuan, AP Today, this minivan's design looks pretty funny because of its curvy, almost space-ship-type design. No wonder it never gained much traction in the U.S. and was discontinued after several years of production in the 1990s. Toyota eventually gained much more traction with the Sienna minivan. Yet the Previa has held on as a collector's vehicle. In fact, collector car insurer Hagerty recently compared a Hyundai model to the Previa. "That's a compliment," Hagerty said. Here's a thought: Given the resurgence of #VanLife during the pandemic a trend in which Americans are upfitting commercial vans to use for life on the road maybe it's time for Toyota to custom design a van for just that purpose. Make it a van fit for the road. After all, VW has generated enormous buzz with its forthcoming release of the ... ID.Buzz, a revived version of its famed microbus. Share this story AMC Gremlin An AMC Gremlin. Hagerty More than one reader suggested that the AMC Gremlin could be fit for a comeback. But there are a few problems here. One, it was a cheap subcompact car, and those are just about as rare as a Ford Model T these days. Second, the AMC brand is history. Third, the Gremlin wasn't exactly beloved by everyone. "The Gremlin name might be a tough sell in todays market," Brauer said. "The original Gremlin has a following, but its a small following, and you could likely find as many people with a negative association to the term 'Gremlin' as positive." Even fans of the Gremlin realize it might not work. "Jeep could do something on the Compass and sell it as a Gremlin but that's a bit much," one person tweeted in response to USA TODAY's story. Chevrolet S10 The 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup. General Motors, Wieck Aging versions of this compact pickup can still be seen on the road today. It had devoted fans because, well, pickups tend to generate a lot of loyalty. Which is a clear reason why it could make a comeback. One thing that helps: GM still makes a pickup branded as an S10 in markets outside the U.S. Plus, compact pickups could be coming to a dealership near you soon. Ford is rumored to be considering one, and GM probably would not want to be left out. But it would risk competing with its own Chevy Colorado and GMC midsize pickups if it did one, just as Ford will risk competing with its Ranger midsize truck. "What does it do for you that Colorado doesnt?" Brinley said, questioning whether the S10 makes sense as a returnee. Honda CR-X The 198891 Honda CR-X Si was among the hottest classic cars of 2020, according to the Hagerty Bull Market List. Dean Smith The Honda CR-X was small. Really small. It weighed just over 2,000 pounds in some variations. When the second generation was introduced in 1988, it included an Si variant, ushering in sport features that attracted a legion of fans. "These later-gen cars are the stuff of legend, welterweight stature notwithstanding," Hagerty wrote in 2019. "They were cheap, light, precise, and about as mechanically complex as a screwdriver. To say nothing of the little H badge on the front, which meant they were as reliable as the sun. These virtues also came at a small sticker price, further adding to their desirability." While small cars aren't in vogue, performance cars are. Brauer said the CR-X could be a good fit for a comeback because there's still "a lot of equity" in the name. You can follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. | Automakers are finding it hard to identify new real-word names that haven't been used before. Ford Falcon, Cadillac Eldorado, Chevrolet El Camino, Dodge Dakota and Subaru Baja could be revived. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/04/08/classic-cars-ford-chevrolet-honda-toyota-volkswagen/4834938001/ | 0.353381 |
Could these classic cars be resurrected? | "Full House," "Saved by the Bell," "Punky Brewster." All have come back in one way, shape or form. In the same way, the auto industry has been tapping into American nostalgia, too, by resurrected long-dead vehicles that once were beloved. The Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Bronco, Toyota Supra and Chevrolet Trailblazer are among the many that are making a comeback. So, a few weeks ago, USA TODAY wrote about other long-gone vehicle names that could be ripe for revival, including the Cadillac Eldorado, the Chevrolet El Camino, the Dodge Dakota and the Subaru Baja. After all, automakers are finding it hard to identify new real-word names that haven't been used before plus, it's expensive to market a brand-new nameplate. So, if you still own one of those nameplates, that alone gives you some incentive as an automaker to revive it," said Karl Brauer, an analyst with car-buying site iSeeCars. : Chevrolet, Cadillac, Dodge classic cars offer opportunity Volkswagen won't be 'Voltswagen': Misleading marketing is risky, especially for VW What's tougher to figure out is which dormant nameplate to revive and when to do it. For instance, some vehicles were popular when they were first sold, but their body style has fallen out of favor. That can lead automakers to consider turning cars into SUVs, but that could alienate fans. It comes down to how long its been gone, whether it was allowed to fade off into the sunset or what was really happening when they stopped, said Stephanie Brinley, principal automotive analyst for research firm IHS Markit. Without further adieu, here are vehicles USA TODAY readers suggested should be rebooted: Ford Falcon One hundred year-old Rita Doucette leaves her Fairview Estates home and turns onto East Main Street in Hopkinton aboard a 1963 Ford Falcon on Friday, Sept. 25. Daily News and Wicked Local Staff Photo/Ken McGagh Talk about a name that still resonates. The Falcon just rings. And the passenger car's heritage is still cherished by many. "The Ford Falcon was the Mustangs predecessor, and one could argue the name is easily as cool as Mustang," Brauer said. "While the original Falcon was a relatively pedestrian vehicle, easily overshadowed by the Mustang when it arrived in 1964, a modern Ford with the Falcon name could have plenty of consumer appeal." Brauer suggested that Ford could make a Falcon based on the Bronco SUV platform, making a performance-oriented all-wheel-drive vehicle like the Subaru WRX. The Falcon has another thing going for it that shouldn't be taken for granted: The word "falcon" is currently featured in a popular TV show, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" on Disney+. That calls to mind how much success automaker Nissan had in marketing its Nissan Rogue SUV when the Star Wars movie "Rogue One" was released. It was a pure coincidence that Disney used the word "rogue" in its movie title, but it paid off big time for Nissan. Chevrolet Bel Air A 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air custom convertible. Barrett-Jackson The body style of the Bel Air wouldn't work. It was a large car, and those simply aren't selling well these days. And the Bel Air name might turn off some people given its association with wealth and privilege. Think the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." But the nameplate still carries a cachet that could prove hard for General Motors to ignore forever. "Chevrolet Bel Air might be an interesting one," Brinley said, adding it could be among the classic "names from the '50s that might be able to come back." Volkswagen Scirocco The Volkswagen Scirocco was discontinued in 2017. Martial Trezzini, AP This performance-oriented two-door vehicle dates back to the 1970s. But it actually didn't go out of production until around 2017. Yet it continues to have devoted fans. Much like the Cadillac Eldorado and the Plymouth Barracuda, some of them have clamored to get it back. Brauer said it could be a contender to return, though he acknowledged that the market for small performance cars is limited. Toyota Previa A visitor steps out of a Toyota Previa at an import car expo in Beijing, China, on Nov. 1, 2011. The Toyota Previa was discontinued in the U.S. in the 1990s. Alexander F. Yuan, AP Today, this minivan's design looks pretty funny because of its curvy, almost space-ship-type design. No wonder it never gained much traction in the U.S. and was discontinued after several years of production in the 1990s. Toyota eventually gained much more traction with the Sienna minivan. Yet the Previa has held on as a collector's vehicle. In fact, collector car insurer Hagerty recently compared a Hyundai model to the Previa. "That's a compliment," Hagerty said. Here's a thought: Given the resurgence of #VanLife during the pandemic a trend in which Americans are upfitting commercial vans to use for life on the road maybe it's time for Toyota to custom design a van for just that purpose. Make it a van fit for the road. After all, VW has generated enormous buzz with its forthcoming release of the ... ID.Buzz, a revived version of its famed microbus. Share this story AMC Gremlin An AMC Gremlin. Hagerty More than one reader suggested that the AMC Gremlin could be fit for a comeback. But there are a few problems here. One, it was a cheap subcompact car, and those are just about as rare as a Ford Model T these days. Second, the AMC brand is history. Third, the Gremlin wasn't exactly beloved by everyone. "The Gremlin name might be a tough sell in todays market," Brauer said. "The original Gremlin has a following, but its a small following, and you could likely find as many people with a negative association to the term 'Gremlin' as positive." Even fans of the Gremlin realize it might not work. "Jeep could do something on the Compass and sell it as a Gremlin but that's a bit much," one person tweeted in response to USA TODAY's story. Chevrolet S10 The 2001 Chevrolet S10 pickup. General Motors, Wieck Aging versions of this compact pickup can still be seen on the road today. It had devoted fans because, well, pickups tend to generate a lot of loyalty. Which is a clear reason why it could make a comeback. One thing that helps: GM still makes a pickup branded as an S10 in markets outside the U.S. Plus, compact pickups could be coming to a dealership near you soon. Ford is rumored to be considering one, and GM probably would not want to be left out. But it would risk competing with its own Chevy Colorado and GMC midsize pickups if it did one, just as Ford will risk competing with its Ranger midsize truck. "What does it do for you that Colorado doesnt?" Brinley said, questioning whether the S10 makes sense as a returnee. Honda CR-X The 198891 Honda CR-X Si was among the hottest classic cars of 2020, according to the Hagerty Bull Market List. Dean Smith The Honda CR-X was small. Really small. It weighed just over 2,000 pounds in some variations. When the second generation was introduced in 1988, it included an Si variant, ushering in sport features that attracted a legion of fans. "These later-gen cars are the stuff of legend, welterweight stature notwithstanding," Hagerty wrote in 2019. "They were cheap, light, precise, and about as mechanically complex as a screwdriver. To say nothing of the little H badge on the front, which meant they were as reliable as the sun. These virtues also came at a small sticker price, further adding to their desirability." While small cars aren't in vogue, performance cars are. Brauer said the CR-X could be a good fit for a comeback because there's still "a lot of equity" in the name. You can follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday morning. | The Jeep Wagoneer, Ford Bronco, Toyota Supra and Chevrolet Trailblazer are among the many that are making a comeback. What's tougher to figure out is which dormant nameplate to revive and when to do it. For instance, some vehicles were popular when they were first sold, but their body style has fallen out of favor. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/money/cars/2021/04/08/classic-cars-ford-chevrolet-honda-toyota-volkswagen/4834938001/ | 0.269778 |
What Will Logistics Look Like After The Pandemic? | Mitch Luciano is President/CEO of #1 Ocean Carrier Trailer Bridge, the #1 Place to Work in Jacksonville and an Inc. Best Workplace for 2020. Getty Covid-19 has challenged transportation professionals to quickly adapt to a dramatically altered logistics landscape. The pandemic has disrupted supply chains, imposed remote work on all but essential workers and completely upended executive priorities. Companies that have transformed themselves are weathering the storm. And while some changes are temporary, many are here to stay. As the CEO of a logistics company that specializes in ocean shipping, I've outlined three of my predictions below, as well as a few best practices logistics companies should keep in mind moving forward: 1. Digital disruption has become an explosion. As countries worldwide put safety protocols in place in 2020, many savvy organizations quickly pivoted to e-commerce and digital transformation. Most executives plan to continue making their companies increasingly digital and virtual, especially if they lead large organizations. McKinsey recently reported that the pandemic has accelerated the rate by which some companies were able to create digital or digitally enhanced offerings by 20 to 25 times. Processes that used to take years such as transitioning to remote work and collaboration, implementing technology in operations and changing ownership of last-mile delivery, to name a few were accomplished in mere days or weeks. Moving forward, digital strategies will need to encompass core business operations and processes, such as serving customers and storing inventory, and diverse tech e.g., the Internet of Things, cloud computing, automation, and digital products and services can be used to do so. I observed that artificial intelligence and robotics were making slow inroads into the logistics arena prior to Covid-19. But with the pandemics global disruption of supply chains, some businesses are taking a closer look at integrating robots and AI into operations, as robots, for example, can help track supply chain issues, sanitize and manage pack-and-ship operations, and more. The pandemic also showed the manufacturing and logistics industries the dangers of just-in-time, one-source supply chain management. Many operations will need to rethink lean manufacturing practices. This might mean using robotic systems or leveraging the IoT. However, since the pandemic has already cost thousands of jobs, replacing more employees with robots is a business decision that should not be taken lightly. Robotics should only be integrated to cover some of the more mundane jobs, such as palletizing, de-palletizing and sorting. This helps provide opportunities for employees to learn new skills, including operating the robots. Companies should consider investing in upskilling to help employees transition to work alongside these technologies. The key is to look at the new technology as a way to help your team enhance their performance rather than as a replacement for skilled workers. The pandemic has unquestionably accelerated e-commerce, and many consumers won't change their habits after the pandemic. That's creating new pressures, in particular for last-mile delivery. Logistics service providers might also consider adopting automated technology like robotics, drones and self-driving vehicles to reduce labor shortages. 2. Work will become more flexible and employee-oriented. Many employees have had to work from home during the pandemic. Research by PwC found that 78% of CEOs believe that remote work and collaboration will remain after the pandemic; 61% felt that low-density workplaces are here to stay, and 58% said supply chain safety would be an enduring issue to contend with, making safety a priority over speed. Work flexibility corresponds with the emerging needs for health and wellness resources, especially if employees work in unusual and unpredictable workplaces where they are more prone to burnout. And while 54% of respondents to the PwC survey felt that the change from traditional employment to a gig economy was here to stay, their employees still wanted stability and employee benefits such as health insurance but with the flexibility that Covid-19 forced upon the global workforce. This tells me that forward-looking leaders should promote employee mental health and overall wellness. 3. Companies will broaden their production bases. Many business leaders have recognized that extended and complex supply chains are vulnerable. As a result, many companies are making plans to shorten supply chains through nearshoring or reshoring and fewer imports. According to a Foley survey, 43% of companies currently operating in China either already have or are planning to move operations to another country, such as the U.S., Mexico, Canada, Vietnam, Brazil and India, to source goods. Globally, I predict businesses will be looking to expand their supplier bases across multiple production sites and increase inventory levels across the system, all while worrying less about the lowest-cost supplier. Logistics companies that can increase warehousing capacity or dry ports could have an advantage. Logistics is the No. 1 consideration in choosing a region to both manufacture and source goods or services, the Foley survey reported. End-to-end supply chain management was already a concern before the pandemic, and Covid-19 forced a seismic shift. Logistics companies will need to look at digital supply networks to optimize shipping routes, spot unanticipated delays, and facilitate tracking and tracing, mode substitutions and inventory rebalancing. Long-Term Changes To Logistics Today, clients are looking for end-to-end visibility and transparency more than ever. Governments responded early in the pandemic with temporary trade embargoes and export restrictions for sensitive cargo, and all are hyperaware this type of disruption could happen again. As the pandemic recedes and business stabilizes, companies will likely continue to digitally transform at an accelerated pace. But as much as transportation and logistics employees have valid concerns that they may be replaced by this innovative technology, in truth they are needed more than ever. Remember: It is the people of logistics who provide the insight, knowledge of geographical and cultural nuance, and creativity to make the most of these technological advances. I wrote in a previous column about the necessity to create exceptional customer experiences in this more connected world, and it is your empowered, knowledgeable logistics employees who will drive that charge. Equipping them now with access to higher quality data, tools that automate redundant or repetitive tasks, and technology to drive better decision-making is the way forward. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. | Mitch Luciano is the CEO of Covid-19, a logistics company that specializes in ocean shipping. Luciano says digital disruption has become an explosion in the logistics industry. He says work will be more flexible and employee-oriented after the pandemic. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/04/08/what-will-logistics-look-like-after-the-pandemic/ | 0.344141 |
Will travel costs change as vaccines roll out? | By Sam Kemmis, Nerdwallet The cost of travel will slowly rebound from historic lows as more people receive COVID-19 vaccinations and book long-deferred trips, according to industry experts. This time last year, air traffic in the U.S. plummeted, with 95% fewer travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in April 2020 compared with April 2019. This reduced demand led to a corresponding decrease in airfare prices. The average cost of a domestic round-trip ticket in the second quarter of 2020 dropped 28% from the same period in 2019, down to $259, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Few travelers were monitoring these prices at the time since so few were booking flights. But now, with COVID-19 vaccinations opening the possibility of travel to millions more Americans each week, prices are once again set to change. If youre one of those would-be travelers, experts cautiously advise booking your travel soon. Much remains uncertain, but prices are unlikely to return to 2020 levels. Flight demand set to take off Experts who track travel deals and consumer interest say demand for airplane seats is likely to increase, driving prices back up. Domestic airfare prices are expected to rise 4%-5% every month until summer 2021, said Adit Damodaran, an economist with Hopper, a travel search tool. A lot of that is based on the vaccination rollout. And this increased demand might combine with decreased supply. Airlines scaled back routes and flight frequency in 2020, parking aircraft and furloughing staff. They may be slow to return capacity to pre-pandemic levels, even as bookings pick up steam. Airlines are burning so much cash, so what were seeing is that theyre slowly expanding supply, said Jesse Neugarten, who founded the flight deal newsletter Dollar Flight Club. If we have to shut down travel again, they dont want to get caught in a similar situation as they did in 2020. Hotel prices may rise slowly Hotel prices have also dropped during the pandemic, though not as uniformly. Room rates in February in New York City were down 37% year-over-year according to Hoppers data, while small-town hotels saw only a 5% dip. This reflects a larger exodus from crowded cities during the pandemic. This pattern could reverse as vaccinated travelers flock back into metropolitan areas later in 2021, driving prices up. But tourism accounts for only part of travel demand. Business travel, which has all but ceased during the pandemic, will likely be slower to return. This could keep hotel prices low throughout 2021, especially in large cities. It could also suppress airfare prices somewhat, even as more tourists take to the skies. Booking flexibility likely to continue Neugarten, who tracks flight deals, points to a changing travel landscape that extends beyond considerations of supply and demand. The pandemic changed how airlines and hotels handle flexibility, with many eliminating change and cancellation fees altogether. This, in turn, has changed the logic for how and when to book travel. Im not going to book last-minute because I can get a good deal if Im booking three months in advance, Neugarten said. Theres a lot of incentive to book a deal now because of the flexibility. Furthermore, the travel trends that mark a typical year remain in flux. Memorial Day and July Fourth travel could follow unusual trends, especially in terms of when bookings will occur. The traditional events of the year in travel are simply not happening, so there isnt the same best time to book that we would normally see, said Mark Crossey, travel expert for Skyscanner, a flight search tool. And then there is the question of international travel. Many countries have limited tourists, particularly from the U.S., and these restrictions may remain even as more travelers receive vaccinations. Were not expecting an increase in prices for international airfare until May, said Damodaran. And changing prices are unlikely to be geographically uniform, as countries update their policies one by one. Damodaran noted that Hopper is seeing the strongest interest in Caribbean and Latin American destinations. Uncertainties abound. Vaccine distribution hiccups could dampen prices, as could surges in COVID-19 variants. Flexible booking options, although good for customers, could lead to mass rebookings later in the year. And volatile oil markets could impact airfare prices, as they do in normal years. Despite these unknowns, experts remain cautiously confident that those looking to book 2021 travel should do so sooner rather than later. Greater flexibility reduces the risk of changing plans, and increased travel demand is unlikely to drive prices below current levels. I booked a one-way (flight) to Portugal in July for $109, Neugarten says. Well see if I get the vaccination before. If not, Ill push it out. | Last year, airfare prices dropped to historic lows as fewer travelers traveled. Now, with COVID-19 vaccinations opening the possibility of travel to millions more Americans, prices are once again set to change. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/08/will-travel-costs-change-as-vaccines-roll-out/ | 0.205024 |
Will travel costs change as vaccines roll out? | By Sam Kemmis, Nerdwallet The cost of travel will slowly rebound from historic lows as more people receive COVID-19 vaccinations and book long-deferred trips, according to industry experts. This time last year, air traffic in the U.S. plummeted, with 95% fewer travelers passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints in April 2020 compared with April 2019. This reduced demand led to a corresponding decrease in airfare prices. The average cost of a domestic round-trip ticket in the second quarter of 2020 dropped 28% from the same period in 2019, down to $259, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Few travelers were monitoring these prices at the time since so few were booking flights. But now, with COVID-19 vaccinations opening the possibility of travel to millions more Americans each week, prices are once again set to change. If youre one of those would-be travelers, experts cautiously advise booking your travel soon. Much remains uncertain, but prices are unlikely to return to 2020 levels. Flight demand set to take off Experts who track travel deals and consumer interest say demand for airplane seats is likely to increase, driving prices back up. Domestic airfare prices are expected to rise 4%-5% every month until summer 2021, said Adit Damodaran, an economist with Hopper, a travel search tool. A lot of that is based on the vaccination rollout. And this increased demand might combine with decreased supply. Airlines scaled back routes and flight frequency in 2020, parking aircraft and furloughing staff. They may be slow to return capacity to pre-pandemic levels, even as bookings pick up steam. Airlines are burning so much cash, so what were seeing is that theyre slowly expanding supply, said Jesse Neugarten, who founded the flight deal newsletter Dollar Flight Club. If we have to shut down travel again, they dont want to get caught in a similar situation as they did in 2020. Hotel prices may rise slowly Hotel prices have also dropped during the pandemic, though not as uniformly. Room rates in February in New York City were down 37% year-over-year according to Hoppers data, while small-town hotels saw only a 5% dip. This reflects a larger exodus from crowded cities during the pandemic. This pattern could reverse as vaccinated travelers flock back into metropolitan areas later in 2021, driving prices up. But tourism accounts for only part of travel demand. Business travel, which has all but ceased during the pandemic, will likely be slower to return. This could keep hotel prices low throughout 2021, especially in large cities. It could also suppress airfare prices somewhat, even as more tourists take to the skies. Booking flexibility likely to continue Neugarten, who tracks flight deals, points to a changing travel landscape that extends beyond considerations of supply and demand. The pandemic changed how airlines and hotels handle flexibility, with many eliminating change and cancellation fees altogether. This, in turn, has changed the logic for how and when to book travel. Im not going to book last-minute because I can get a good deal if Im booking three months in advance, Neugarten said. Theres a lot of incentive to book a deal now because of the flexibility. Furthermore, the travel trends that mark a typical year remain in flux. Memorial Day and July Fourth travel could follow unusual trends, especially in terms of when bookings will occur. The traditional events of the year in travel are simply not happening, so there isnt the same best time to book that we would normally see, said Mark Crossey, travel expert for Skyscanner, a flight search tool. And then there is the question of international travel. Many countries have limited tourists, particularly from the U.S., and these restrictions may remain even as more travelers receive vaccinations. Were not expecting an increase in prices for international airfare until May, said Damodaran. And changing prices are unlikely to be geographically uniform, as countries update their policies one by one. Damodaran noted that Hopper is seeing the strongest interest in Caribbean and Latin American destinations. Uncertainties abound. Vaccine distribution hiccups could dampen prices, as could surges in COVID-19 variants. Flexible booking options, although good for customers, could lead to mass rebookings later in the year. And volatile oil markets could impact airfare prices, as they do in normal years. Despite these unknowns, experts remain cautiously confident that those looking to book 2021 travel should do so sooner rather than later. Greater flexibility reduces the risk of changing plans, and increased travel demand is unlikely to drive prices below current levels. I booked a one-way (flight) to Portugal in July for $109, Neugarten says. Well see if I get the vaccination before. If not, Ill push it out. | Last year, airfare prices dropped to historic lows as fewer travelers traveled. Now, with COVID-19 vaccinations opening the possibility of travel to millions more Americans each week, prices are once again set to change. Experts say demand for airplane seats is likely to increase, driving prices back up. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.denverpost.com/2021/04/08/will-travel-costs-change-as-vaccines-roll-out/ | 0.271121 |
Are Zoom Meetings Reducing Our Collective Intelligence? | getty As the world has shut down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more of us have turned to remote working, with Zoom meetings becoming ubiquitous, whether for work or for more social activities. The almost totally virtual nature of life over the past year has led to growing concerns about "Zoom fatigue" as people grow tired of the lack of human interaction and the unique nature of video conferencing brings unique challenges to our engagements. New research from Carnegie Mellon also suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. The study suggests that whereas we might assume that technology that aims to replicate our face-to-face interactions via video links will be most effective, the reality is that non-visual communication may be more effective, especially when synchronized with audio cues. Boosting our collective intelligence Previous research from MIT explored the way collective intelligence forms in online communities. They reasoned that things like our ability to empathize and interact with others are key to successful teamwork, but both are difficult to measure online as we dont have access to in-person cues. The key is the "Theory of Mind" (ToM), which describes our ability to understand someone else's mental state, and indeed how it may differ from our own. The ToM has been used to explore the collective intelligence of groups in real-life settings, and the authors hypothesized that it could also work online. It emerged that the level of communication coupled with the ToM abilities within the group was a good indicator of the collective wisdom of the team. Crucially, the medium (ie the online chat room) was no hindrance to the ability of the group to interpret the emotions of their peers or to contribute fully to the tasks at hand. Getting on the same page The Carnegie Mellon team focused on non-verbal cues and their role in effective teamwork. They wanted to test how video conferencing tools affect our ability to effectively hold conversations and share ideas. They argue that in real-life, non-verbal cues are crucial in helping to mediate conversations so that we know when it's our turn to speak. The study focused specifically on synchrony of facial expression and prosodic synchrony. While I'm sure we can all grasp what facial expression synchrony is, prosodic synchrony may require a bit more explanation. It basically revolves around capturing things such as our tone, intonation, stress, and rhythm of speech. The hypothesis was that during Zoom calls we have access to both audio and visual cues and that this would encourage us to rely more on facial expression synchrony, whereas if we only have audio cues, we rely more on prosodic synchrony to develop collective intelligence. getty Dumbing down "We found that video conferencing can actually reduce collective intelligence," the researchers say. "This is because it leads to more unequal contribution to conversation and disrupts vocal synchrony. Our study underscores the importance of audio cues, which appear to be compromised by video access." Of course, audio cues don't provide the whole picture. For instance, research from Tampere University, in Finland highlights the importance of eye contact for collaboration, in a similar way to the study from MIT mentioned earlier. The study found that eye contact during video calls triggers the same kind of pscychophysiological responses as eye contact face to face. The findings emerged after the researchers examined the physical reactions to eye contact in a range of situations, including face-to-face and via a live video call. Responses were measured via skin conductance and activation of their facial muscles. Its believed that changes in our skin conductance is a reflection of the level to which our autonomous nervous system is activated. The activation of our facial muscles reflects the positivity or negativity of this effect. Eye contact in a face-to-face setting was found to elicit a heightened autonomic arousal response, which is consistent with previous studies. Where this study is interesting, however, is that similar results were found when people engaged via a video chat. Changing our communication All of which makes it perhaps understandable that our communication style changes when we engage via video conferencing. Recent research from Florida Atlantic University reveals that our gaze is often altered during video conferencing, precisely because we believe the other person can see us, and were highly sensitive to the gaze direction of other people. Indeed, even children as young as 2 prefer it when people look directly at them. Its a phenomenon known as gaze cueing, and it provides a powerful signal to help us orient attention. This is a natural consequence of human history, with conversations always being conducted face-to-face. This assumption has been broken since the invention of the telephone, but video conferencing promises to make virtual communication more personal again. Interestingly, in real-time conditions, it was more common for participants to display avoidant fixation behaviors. The lack of time spent on the eyes of the other person suggests that the extra time spent looking at the mouth during the pre-recorded conversation wasnt done at the expense of eye contact, but rather reduced time spent looking elsewhere. Regardless of the specific mechanisms underlying the observed differences in fixation patterns, results from our study suggest participants were taking social and attentional considerations into account in the real-time condition, the researchers conclude. Given that encoding and memory have been found to be optimized by fixating the mouth, which was reduced overall in the real-time condition, this suggests that people do not fully optimize for speech encoding in a live interaction. This matters because a major factor in our ability to judge the mental state of others is through their eyes. It's something commonly measured in a test to determine our ability to gauge the Theory of Mind, called Reading of the Eyes. The test asks participants to try and judge the mental state of others through nothing more than looking at a photo of their eyes. What's clear is that video platforms are not exactly replicating our communication methods in a face-to-face setting, and it's important that we understand this so don't assume that they do. | New research from Carnegie Mellon suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. | bart | 0 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/04/08/are-zoom-meetings-reducing-our-collective-intelligence/ | 0.297667 |
Are Zoom Meetings Reducing Our Collective Intelligence? | getty As the world has shut down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more of us have turned to remote working, with Zoom meetings becoming ubiquitous, whether for work or for more social activities. The almost totally virtual nature of life over the past year has led to growing concerns about "Zoom fatigue" as people grow tired of the lack of human interaction and the unique nature of video conferencing brings unique challenges to our engagements. New research from Carnegie Mellon also suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. The study suggests that whereas we might assume that technology that aims to replicate our face-to-face interactions via video links will be most effective, the reality is that non-visual communication may be more effective, especially when synchronized with audio cues. Boosting our collective intelligence Previous research from MIT explored the way collective intelligence forms in online communities. They reasoned that things like our ability to empathize and interact with others are key to successful teamwork, but both are difficult to measure online as we dont have access to in-person cues. The key is the "Theory of Mind" (ToM), which describes our ability to understand someone else's mental state, and indeed how it may differ from our own. The ToM has been used to explore the collective intelligence of groups in real-life settings, and the authors hypothesized that it could also work online. It emerged that the level of communication coupled with the ToM abilities within the group was a good indicator of the collective wisdom of the team. Crucially, the medium (ie the online chat room) was no hindrance to the ability of the group to interpret the emotions of their peers or to contribute fully to the tasks at hand. Getting on the same page The Carnegie Mellon team focused on non-verbal cues and their role in effective teamwork. They wanted to test how video conferencing tools affect our ability to effectively hold conversations and share ideas. They argue that in real-life, non-verbal cues are crucial in helping to mediate conversations so that we know when it's our turn to speak. The study focused specifically on synchrony of facial expression and prosodic synchrony. While I'm sure we can all grasp what facial expression synchrony is, prosodic synchrony may require a bit more explanation. It basically revolves around capturing things such as our tone, intonation, stress, and rhythm of speech. The hypothesis was that during Zoom calls we have access to both audio and visual cues and that this would encourage us to rely more on facial expression synchrony, whereas if we only have audio cues, we rely more on prosodic synchrony to develop collective intelligence. getty Dumbing down "We found that video conferencing can actually reduce collective intelligence," the researchers say. "This is because it leads to more unequal contribution to conversation and disrupts vocal synchrony. Our study underscores the importance of audio cues, which appear to be compromised by video access." Of course, audio cues don't provide the whole picture. For instance, research from Tampere University, in Finland highlights the importance of eye contact for collaboration, in a similar way to the study from MIT mentioned earlier. The study found that eye contact during video calls triggers the same kind of pscychophysiological responses as eye contact face to face. The findings emerged after the researchers examined the physical reactions to eye contact in a range of situations, including face-to-face and via a live video call. Responses were measured via skin conductance and activation of their facial muscles. Its believed that changes in our skin conductance is a reflection of the level to which our autonomous nervous system is activated. The activation of our facial muscles reflects the positivity or negativity of this effect. Eye contact in a face-to-face setting was found to elicit a heightened autonomic arousal response, which is consistent with previous studies. Where this study is interesting, however, is that similar results were found when people engaged via a video chat. Changing our communication All of which makes it perhaps understandable that our communication style changes when we engage via video conferencing. Recent research from Florida Atlantic University reveals that our gaze is often altered during video conferencing, precisely because we believe the other person can see us, and were highly sensitive to the gaze direction of other people. Indeed, even children as young as 2 prefer it when people look directly at them. Its a phenomenon known as gaze cueing, and it provides a powerful signal to help us orient attention. This is a natural consequence of human history, with conversations always being conducted face-to-face. This assumption has been broken since the invention of the telephone, but video conferencing promises to make virtual communication more personal again. Interestingly, in real-time conditions, it was more common for participants to display avoidant fixation behaviors. The lack of time spent on the eyes of the other person suggests that the extra time spent looking at the mouth during the pre-recorded conversation wasnt done at the expense of eye contact, but rather reduced time spent looking elsewhere. Regardless of the specific mechanisms underlying the observed differences in fixation patterns, results from our study suggest participants were taking social and attentional considerations into account in the real-time condition, the researchers conclude. Given that encoding and memory have been found to be optimized by fixating the mouth, which was reduced overall in the real-time condition, this suggests that people do not fully optimize for speech encoding in a live interaction. This matters because a major factor in our ability to judge the mental state of others is through their eyes. It's something commonly measured in a test to determine our ability to gauge the Theory of Mind, called Reading of the Eyes. The test asks participants to try and judge the mental state of others through nothing more than looking at a photo of their eyes. What's clear is that video platforms are not exactly replicating our communication methods in a face-to-face setting, and it's important that we understand this so don't assume that they do. | New research from Carnegie Mellon suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. getty Dumbing down video conferencing can actually reduce collective intelligence, the researchers say. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/04/08/are-zoom-meetings-reducing-our-collective-intelligence/ | 0.41081 |
Are Zoom Meetings Reducing Our Collective Intelligence? | getty As the world has shut down in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more of us have turned to remote working, with Zoom meetings becoming ubiquitous, whether for work or for more social activities. The almost totally virtual nature of life over the past year has led to growing concerns about "Zoom fatigue" as people grow tired of the lack of human interaction and the unique nature of video conferencing brings unique challenges to our engagements. New research from Carnegie Mellon also suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. The study suggests that whereas we might assume that technology that aims to replicate our face-to-face interactions via video links will be most effective, the reality is that non-visual communication may be more effective, especially when synchronized with audio cues. Boosting our collective intelligence Previous research from MIT explored the way collective intelligence forms in online communities. They reasoned that things like our ability to empathize and interact with others are key to successful teamwork, but both are difficult to measure online as we dont have access to in-person cues. The key is the "Theory of Mind" (ToM), which describes our ability to understand someone else's mental state, and indeed how it may differ from our own. The ToM has been used to explore the collective intelligence of groups in real-life settings, and the authors hypothesized that it could also work online. It emerged that the level of communication coupled with the ToM abilities within the group was a good indicator of the collective wisdom of the team. Crucially, the medium (ie the online chat room) was no hindrance to the ability of the group to interpret the emotions of their peers or to contribute fully to the tasks at hand. Getting on the same page The Carnegie Mellon team focused on non-verbal cues and their role in effective teamwork. They wanted to test how video conferencing tools affect our ability to effectively hold conversations and share ideas. They argue that in real-life, non-verbal cues are crucial in helping to mediate conversations so that we know when it's our turn to speak. The study focused specifically on synchrony of facial expression and prosodic synchrony. While I'm sure we can all grasp what facial expression synchrony is, prosodic synchrony may require a bit more explanation. It basically revolves around capturing things such as our tone, intonation, stress, and rhythm of speech. The hypothesis was that during Zoom calls we have access to both audio and visual cues and that this would encourage us to rely more on facial expression synchrony, whereas if we only have audio cues, we rely more on prosodic synchrony to develop collective intelligence. getty Dumbing down "We found that video conferencing can actually reduce collective intelligence," the researchers say. "This is because it leads to more unequal contribution to conversation and disrupts vocal synchrony. Our study underscores the importance of audio cues, which appear to be compromised by video access." Of course, audio cues don't provide the whole picture. For instance, research from Tampere University, in Finland highlights the importance of eye contact for collaboration, in a similar way to the study from MIT mentioned earlier. The study found that eye contact during video calls triggers the same kind of pscychophysiological responses as eye contact face to face. The findings emerged after the researchers examined the physical reactions to eye contact in a range of situations, including face-to-face and via a live video call. Responses were measured via skin conductance and activation of their facial muscles. Its believed that changes in our skin conductance is a reflection of the level to which our autonomous nervous system is activated. The activation of our facial muscles reflects the positivity or negativity of this effect. Eye contact in a face-to-face setting was found to elicit a heightened autonomic arousal response, which is consistent with previous studies. Where this study is interesting, however, is that similar results were found when people engaged via a video chat. Changing our communication All of which makes it perhaps understandable that our communication style changes when we engage via video conferencing. Recent research from Florida Atlantic University reveals that our gaze is often altered during video conferencing, precisely because we believe the other person can see us, and were highly sensitive to the gaze direction of other people. Indeed, even children as young as 2 prefer it when people look directly at them. Its a phenomenon known as gaze cueing, and it provides a powerful signal to help us orient attention. This is a natural consequence of human history, with conversations always being conducted face-to-face. This assumption has been broken since the invention of the telephone, but video conferencing promises to make virtual communication more personal again. Interestingly, in real-time conditions, it was more common for participants to display avoidant fixation behaviors. The lack of time spent on the eyes of the other person suggests that the extra time spent looking at the mouth during the pre-recorded conversation wasnt done at the expense of eye contact, but rather reduced time spent looking elsewhere. Regardless of the specific mechanisms underlying the observed differences in fixation patterns, results from our study suggest participants were taking social and attentional considerations into account in the real-time condition, the researchers conclude. Given that encoding and memory have been found to be optimized by fixating the mouth, which was reduced overall in the real-time condition, this suggests that people do not fully optimize for speech encoding in a live interaction. This matters because a major factor in our ability to judge the mental state of others is through their eyes. It's something commonly measured in a test to determine our ability to gauge the Theory of Mind, called Reading of the Eyes. The test asks participants to try and judge the mental state of others through nothing more than looking at a photo of their eyes. What's clear is that video platforms are not exactly replicating our communication methods in a face-to-face setting, and it's important that we understand this so don't assume that they do. | New research suggests that using Zoom for team interactions may not even be particularly effective and might actually be making our teams less intelligent. Carnegie Mellon team focused on non-verbal cues and their role in effective teamwork. They wanted to test how video conferencing tools affect our ability to effectively hold conversations. | bart | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/adigaskell/2021/04/08/are-zoom-meetings-reducing-our-collective-intelligence/ | 0.400461 |
Who's part of the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Bengals' Ring of Honor? | Paul Brown Stadium opened in 2000. Twenty-one years later, the downtown Cincinnati stadium will don a Ring of Honor. The Cincinnati Bengals announced Thursday the formation of a Ring of Honor to recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the franchises history and tradition. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade inside Paul Brown Stadium. More:Cincinnati Bengals release veteran running back Giovani Bernard More:Chad Ochocinco visits Cincinnati, leaves present in Joe Burrow's locker The first two members of the inaugural class are Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. Brown and Munoz are the two most distinguished names in franchise history. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He founded the Bengals and served as the teams first head coach and general manager. Munoz was an 11-time Pro Bowl tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 in his first year of eligibility. He is to this day the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame. Brown and Munoz will eventually be joined by two other former Bengals in the Ring of Honor. According to the team, season ticket members and suite owners will select the remaining two members from a ballot that will be released in May. The Bengals Ring of Honor is a way to show our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant impact on our franchise, Bengals owner Mike Brown said. We selected Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. They are in the Hall of Fame in Canton and it pleases me to put them out front as our initial inductees. We have a lot great players and coaches to honor and it will be fun to reminisce as we go about this process. Here's a video of the Bengals announcement of the Ring of Honor: | Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz are the first two members of the inaugural class. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/04/08/cincinnati-bengals-announce-ring-honor-inaugural-class/7138091002/ | 0.159311 |
Who's part of the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Bengals' Ring of Honor? | Paul Brown Stadium opened in 2000. Twenty-one years later, the downtown Cincinnati stadium will don a Ring of Honor. The Cincinnati Bengals announced Thursday the formation of a Ring of Honor to recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the franchises history and tradition. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade inside Paul Brown Stadium. More:Cincinnati Bengals release veteran running back Giovani Bernard More:Chad Ochocinco visits Cincinnati, leaves present in Joe Burrow's locker The first two members of the inaugural class are Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. Brown and Munoz are the two most distinguished names in franchise history. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He founded the Bengals and served as the teams first head coach and general manager. Munoz was an 11-time Pro Bowl tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 in his first year of eligibility. He is to this day the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame. Brown and Munoz will eventually be joined by two other former Bengals in the Ring of Honor. According to the team, season ticket members and suite owners will select the remaining two members from a ballot that will be released in May. The Bengals Ring of Honor is a way to show our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant impact on our franchise, Bengals owner Mike Brown said. We selected Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. They are in the Hall of Fame in Canton and it pleases me to put them out front as our initial inductees. We have a lot great players and coaches to honor and it will be fun to reminisce as we go about this process. Here's a video of the Bengals announcement of the Ring of Honor: | Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz are the first two members of the inaugural class. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade of Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/04/08/cincinnati-bengals-announce-ring-honor-inaugural-class/7138091002/ | 0.414368 |
Who's part of the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Bengals' Ring of Honor? | Paul Brown Stadium opened in 2000. Twenty-one years later, the downtown Cincinnati stadium will don a Ring of Honor. The Cincinnati Bengals announced Thursday the formation of a Ring of Honor to recognize former players, coaches and individuals who have played a significant role in the franchises history and tradition. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade inside Paul Brown Stadium. More:Cincinnati Bengals release veteran running back Giovani Bernard More:Chad Ochocinco visits Cincinnati, leaves present in Joe Burrow's locker The first two members of the inaugural class are Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. Brown and Munoz are the two most distinguished names in franchise history. Brown was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967. He founded the Bengals and served as the teams first head coach and general manager. Munoz was an 11-time Pro Bowl tackle. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998 in his first year of eligibility. He is to this day the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame. Brown and Munoz will eventually be joined by two other former Bengals in the Ring of Honor. According to the team, season ticket members and suite owners will select the remaining two members from a ballot that will be released in May. The Bengals Ring of Honor is a way to show our appreciation for individuals who have made a significant impact on our franchise, Bengals owner Mike Brown said. We selected Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz. They are in the Hall of Fame in Canton and it pleases me to put them out front as our initial inductees. We have a lot great players and coaches to honor and it will be fun to reminisce as we go about this process. Here's a video of the Bengals announcement of the Ring of Honor: | Paul Brown and Anthony Munoz are the first two members of the inaugural class. The Ring of Honor will be displayed on the east facade of Paul Brown Stadium. Two other former Bengals will eventually be inducted into the Ring of honor. The Cincinnati Bengals have won two Super Bowls. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2021/04/08/cincinnati-bengals-announce-ring-honor-inaugural-class/7138091002/ | 0.595563 |
Why Is The Amazon Union Vote Count Taking So Long? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Jay Reeves/AP Jay Reeves/AP The results of the 2021 election that everyone has been awaiting with bated breath are taking a while. Blame it on mail-in votes. Yes, this one, too. The results of the historic Amazon union vote in Alabama, which ended more than a week ago, are still a few days away. A potential reveal is on the cards for Friday at the earliest. Here's what we know so far. It's a really large mail-in election. The National Labor Relations Board has received 3,215 ballots from workers at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. That's according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is looking to represent this workplace. It's also a remarkable turnout of more than 50%. The vote-tally process done by hand includes several lengthy steps. On Wednesday evening, NLRB agents completed the first part of the process. It involved opening letters and calling out each voter's name so that Amazon or union representatives could object to that voter's eligibility. For example, the worker may no longer be employed at Amazon or the Bessemer warehouse. Hundreds of ballots have been challenged, the union says, mostly by Amazon. These ballots are then set aside and may play a huge role if the tally of uncontested votes produces a result that's so close that these set-aside votes could sway the outcome. For now, the vote-count moves on to the next step. Inside that first letter is a second sealed envelope containing the anonymous ballot. NLRB agents open those second envelopes and make sure to shuffle them properly to prepare the ballots for tallying. Only then will the hand-counting of yes and no votes begin possibly as early as Thursday afternoon. This tabulation of anonymous ballots will be streamed online for pre-registered members of the media and the general public. In short: Mail-in ballots take a while to process. The NLRB ruled to hold this election by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some overviews of what's at stake: Editor's note: Amazon is among NPR's recent financial supporters. | Mail-in ballots take a while to process, and ballots are challenged by Amazon, union says. A potential reveal is on the cards for Friday at the earliest. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985306190/why-is-the-amazon-union-vote-count-taking-so-long | 0.239498 |
Why Is The Amazon Union Vote Count Taking So Long? | Enlarge this image toggle caption Jay Reeves/AP Jay Reeves/AP The results of the 2021 election that everyone has been awaiting with bated breath are taking a while. Blame it on mail-in votes. Yes, this one, too. The results of the historic Amazon union vote in Alabama, which ended more than a week ago, are still a few days away. A potential reveal is on the cards for Friday at the earliest. Here's what we know so far. It's a really large mail-in election. The National Labor Relations Board has received 3,215 ballots from workers at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. That's according to the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which is looking to represent this workplace. It's also a remarkable turnout of more than 50%. The vote-tally process done by hand includes several lengthy steps. On Wednesday evening, NLRB agents completed the first part of the process. It involved opening letters and calling out each voter's name so that Amazon or union representatives could object to that voter's eligibility. For example, the worker may no longer be employed at Amazon or the Bessemer warehouse. Hundreds of ballots have been challenged, the union says, mostly by Amazon. These ballots are then set aside and may play a huge role if the tally of uncontested votes produces a result that's so close that these set-aside votes could sway the outcome. For now, the vote-count moves on to the next step. Inside that first letter is a second sealed envelope containing the anonymous ballot. NLRB agents open those second envelopes and make sure to shuffle them properly to prepare the ballots for tallying. Only then will the hand-counting of yes and no votes begin possibly as early as Thursday afternoon. This tabulation of anonymous ballots will be streamed online for pre-registered members of the media and the general public. In short: Mail-in ballots take a while to process. The NLRB ruled to hold this election by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some overviews of what's at stake: Editor's note: Amazon is among NPR's recent financial supporters. | Results of the historic Amazon union vote in Alabama are still a few days away. The National Labor Relations Board has received 3,215 ballots from workers at Amazon's warehouse in Bessemer, Ala. Hundreds of ballots have been challenged, the union says, mostly by Amazon. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.npr.org/2021/04/08/985306190/why-is-the-amazon-union-vote-count-taking-so-long | 0.168472 |
Who did the Colts take in CBS Sports 7-round mock draft? | As the 2021 NFL draft approaches, now officially three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts will be a team to watch. Given their history of finding gems throughout the draft, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for Indy. Without any trades going down, which is unlikely for Chris Ballard, the Colts found their new left tackle, an intriguing edge rusher a new pass-catching weapon that feel mightily. Heres how the mock draft went for the Colts: Round 1 | No. 21 overall Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech Author's snippet: "As stated earlier, look for the Colts to select either the best available pass rusher or offensive lineman with the 21st pick. Based on the needs of the 20 teams drafting ahead of them, there's a good chance that Darrisaw is still available with the Colts are on the clock. A dominant run blocker at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw could blossom into a Pro Bowl caliber player at the next level if he continues to improve in pass protection." Round 2 | No. 54 overall Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas Author's snippet: "This could be a stretch, but it's certainly possible for the Colts to steal Ossai with the 54th pick. Ossai made a habit of getting in opponents' backfields during his time at Texas, with 29 tackles for loss over the past two years. He also has untapped potential as a pass rusher. If Ossai is off the board, Pitt pass rusher Patrick Jones II would be another option if the Colts wait until the second round to bolster their pass rush." Round 4 | No. 127 overall Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: TE Brevin Jordan, Miami Author's snippet: "Speaking of untapped potential, Brevin Jordan, one of the nation's top-ranked tight ends coming out of high school, could be the pass-catching tight end the Colts' offense has been lacking. While his college stats weren't gaudy, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Jones did catch seven touchdowns last season while averaging 15.2 yards per catch." Story continues Round 5 | No. 165 overall Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: WR Whop Philyor, Indiana Author's snippet: "The Colts may wait a little longer to take a receiver, but I have them scooping up Philyor in the fifth round. A productive slot receiver his time at Indiana, Philyor was given the nickname "Whop" for his affinity for Burger King Whoppers as a kid. Philyor started to show his potential in 2019, when he caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 14.3 yards per catch. He would serve as a nice complement alongside T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal and Michael Pittman Jr.." Round 6 | No. 206 overall Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: S Mark Webb, Georgia Author's snippet: "In Webb, the Colts would get a hard-hitting defensive back who can line up at both safety and corner. Webb should make an immediate impact on special teams as a rookie." Round 7 | No. 248 overall Rick Bowmer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU Author's snippet: "Tonga, the last pick in the Colts' 2021 draft, would give Indianapolis some much needed depth on the defensive line. A good run defender, Tonga was a tough one-on-one matchup for opposing linemen during his time at BYU." 1 1 | CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts picked Christian Darrisaw, a left tackle, at No. 21 overall. They also took Joseph Ossai, a pass rusher, at 54th overall. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-colts-cbs-sports-7-143950766.html?src=rss | 0.80817 |
Who did the Colts take in CBS Sports 7-round mock draft? | As the 2021 NFL draft approaches, now officially three weeks away, the Indianapolis Colts will be a team to watch. Given their history of finding gems throughout the draft, Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for Indy. Without any trades going down, which is unlikely for Chris Ballard, the Colts found their new left tackle, an intriguing edge rusher a new pass-catching weapon that feel mightily. Heres how the mock draft went for the Colts: Round 1 | No. 21 overall Lee Luther Jr.-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: OT Christian Darrisaw, Virginia Tech Author's snippet: "As stated earlier, look for the Colts to select either the best available pass rusher or offensive lineman with the 21st pick. Based on the needs of the 20 teams drafting ahead of them, there's a good chance that Darrisaw is still available with the Colts are on the clock. A dominant run blocker at Virginia Tech, Darrisaw could blossom into a Pro Bowl caliber player at the next level if he continues to improve in pass protection." Round 2 | No. 54 overall Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: EDGE Joseph Ossai, Texas Author's snippet: "This could be a stretch, but it's certainly possible for the Colts to steal Ossai with the 54th pick. Ossai made a habit of getting in opponents' backfields during his time at Texas, with 29 tackles for loss over the past two years. He also has untapped potential as a pass rusher. If Ossai is off the board, Pitt pass rusher Patrick Jones II would be another option if the Colts wait until the second round to bolster their pass rush." Round 4 | No. 127 overall Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: TE Brevin Jordan, Miami Author's snippet: "Speaking of untapped potential, Brevin Jordan, one of the nation's top-ranked tight ends coming out of high school, could be the pass-catching tight end the Colts' offense has been lacking. While his college stats weren't gaudy, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Jones did catch seven touchdowns last season while averaging 15.2 yards per catch." Story continues Round 5 | No. 165 overall Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: WR Whop Philyor, Indiana Author's snippet: "The Colts may wait a little longer to take a receiver, but I have them scooping up Philyor in the fifth round. A productive slot receiver his time at Indiana, Philyor was given the nickname "Whop" for his affinity for Burger King Whoppers as a kid. Philyor started to show his potential in 2019, when he caught 70 passes for 1,002 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 14.3 yards per catch. He would serve as a nice complement alongside T.Y. Hilton, Zach Pascal and Michael Pittman Jr.." Round 6 | No. 206 overall Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: S Mark Webb, Georgia Author's snippet: "In Webb, the Colts would get a hard-hitting defensive back who can line up at both safety and corner. Webb should make an immediate impact on special teams as a rookie." Round 7 | No. 248 overall Rick Bowmer/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports The Pick: DT Khyiris Tonga, BYU Author's snippet: "Tonga, the last pick in the Colts' 2021 draft, would give Indianapolis some much needed depth on the defensive line. A good run defender, Tonga was a tough one-on-one matchup for opposing linemen during his time at BYU." 1 1 | CBS Sports ran a seven-round mock draft for the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts picked Christian Darrisaw, a left tackle, at No. 21 overall. They also took Joseph Ossai, a pass rusher, at 54th overall and a tight end at 127th overall. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/did-colts-cbs-sports-7-143950766.html?src=rss | 0.822476 |
Should the Miami Dolphins consider trading down from No. 18 pick? | The Miami Dolphins need to have themselves a difficult conversation about this months 2021 NFL Draft. Every decision you make regarding players to invest in is challenging. There are a slew of dynamics at play for every selection that cause ripple effects throughout the rest of your roster; so no decision should be taken lightly. But the Dolphins have an even more unenviable decision to make with the No. Miami wont have to wait too long for their next scheduled pick at No. 36 overall, but theres a reasonable chance that the teams preferred target at either spot will not be there the next time they come around in the queue. If the Dolphins are committed to upgrading the pass rush, theyd likely be wise to stay put at No. 18 and make the pick be it Kwity Paye, Jaelan Phillips or Azeez Ojulari. The demand for pass rushers will get turned up quite quickly in this draft and the Dolphins currently have the proverbial high ground against a potential run. But if Miami wants to draft a running back, exploring a trade down situation may be in the best cards for Miami. The Dolphins roster overhaul is well underway and while the team is unlikely in a position to cater to an addition 12+ player rookie class this season, Miami is currently sorely lacking in Day 3 selection. The Dolphins, who own four top-50 picks and five in the top-100, have just three selections the rest of the way: one in the 5th-round and two in the 7th-round. A trade down from 18 would be a prime opportunity for the Dolphins to manufacture additional picks to get more swings of the bat in this years draft class. And, best of all, if you trade don from 18 and still manage to ensure you land your running back of choice, the Dolphins will presumably have finessed their draft positioning twice in the 1st-round given that the Dolphins presumably traded back up in the draft order after trading out of the No. 3 overall pick to ensure theyd be in position to draft the same player they coveted at No. 3 overall anyway. Securing the same players youd draft at No. 3 and No. 18 overall but getting both in later slots while adding more picks is one heck of a way to open an NFL Draft. Well see if Chris Grier and the Dolphins have an appetite for such an approach here in the coming weeks. | The Miami Dolphins have the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If the Dolphins want to draft a running back, they should consider a trade down. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-dolphins-consider-trading-down-144212778.html?src=rss | 0.551388 |
Should the Miami Dolphins consider trading down from No. 18 pick? | The Miami Dolphins need to have themselves a difficult conversation about this months 2021 NFL Draft. Every decision you make regarding players to invest in is challenging. There are a slew of dynamics at play for every selection that cause ripple effects throughout the rest of your roster; so no decision should be taken lightly. But the Dolphins have an even more unenviable decision to make with the No. Miami wont have to wait too long for their next scheduled pick at No. 36 overall, but theres a reasonable chance that the teams preferred target at either spot will not be there the next time they come around in the queue. If the Dolphins are committed to upgrading the pass rush, theyd likely be wise to stay put at No. 18 and make the pick be it Kwity Paye, Jaelan Phillips or Azeez Ojulari. The demand for pass rushers will get turned up quite quickly in this draft and the Dolphins currently have the proverbial high ground against a potential run. But if Miami wants to draft a running back, exploring a trade down situation may be in the best cards for Miami. The Dolphins roster overhaul is well underway and while the team is unlikely in a position to cater to an addition 12+ player rookie class this season, Miami is currently sorely lacking in Day 3 selection. The Dolphins, who own four top-50 picks and five in the top-100, have just three selections the rest of the way: one in the 5th-round and two in the 7th-round. A trade down from 18 would be a prime opportunity for the Dolphins to manufacture additional picks to get more swings of the bat in this years draft class. And, best of all, if you trade don from 18 and still manage to ensure you land your running back of choice, the Dolphins will presumably have finessed their draft positioning twice in the 1st-round given that the Dolphins presumably traded back up in the draft order after trading out of the No. 3 overall pick to ensure theyd be in position to draft the same player they coveted at No. 3 overall anyway. Securing the same players youd draft at No. 3 and No. 18 overall but getting both in later slots while adding more picks is one heck of a way to open an NFL Draft. Well see if Chris Grier and the Dolphins have an appetite for such an approach here in the coming weeks. | The Miami Dolphins have the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. If the Dolphins want to draft a running back, they should consider a trade down. The Dolphins have just three selections the rest of the way: one in the 5th-round and two in the 7th-rounder. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/miami-dolphins-consider-trading-down-144212778.html?src=rss | 0.671134 |
What Will the Panthers Do at No. 8 Following the Sam Darnold Trade? | Earlier this week, the Carolina Panthers traded a 2021 6th round pick, a 2022 2nd round pick, and a 2022 4th round pick to the New York Jets in exchange for 23-year-old QB Sam Darnold. With GM Scott Fitterer making this deal, it seems very unlikely that Carolina will still consider taking a quarterback in the first round of this year's draft. So, all of those mock drafts that I've put out over the last month or two...yeah, you can forget about them. This completely changes the team's approach at No. 8 and will now look to address other areas of the roster aside from quarterback. Let's take a look. Fix the offensive line Carolina will be working to get a long-term deal with right tackle Taylor Moton done over the next several months and now, have the opportunity to draft one of the top tackles in this year's class to really solidify the two tackle spots. Penei Sewell (Oregon) and Rashawn Slater (Northwestern) are going to be the top two tackles off the board. The question remains if they'll still be there when Carolina is on the clock. The Bengals are sitting at No. 5 and will almost certainly take one of the two. If they don't, they're just asking for something bad to happen AGAIN to their new face of the franchise, Joe Burrow. I like both Slater and Sewell but if I had my choice, I'd side with Sewell although Slater is probably the more polished of the two. Stabilize the secondary Carolina is extremely thin at corner once again but made a big signing on Wednesday with the addition of A.J. Bouye. He's 29 years old and is coming off a season in which he dealt with injuries and a suspension so it's hard to tell what he's really going to bring to the table. There are two corners in the first round that I think can be difference makers - Patrick Surtain II (Alabama) and Caleb Farley (Virginia Tech). Choosing Farley at No. 8 is a bit of a reach, so if they stay at eight, Surtain II should be the choice if they elect to go with a corner. South Carolina's Jaycee Horn is flying up everyone's draft boards but I'm not as sold on him as I am the other two. Give Darnold another weapon Picking a wide receiver, running back, or a highly skilled tight end always excites the fans because they are more exciting picks than say an offensive lineman or a defensive tackle. A week ago, drafting a skill position player wouldn't have made much sense. Now with Darnold on board, it could open up that possibility. Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (LSU), Jaylen Waddle (Alabama), DeVonta Smith (Alabama), and tight end Kyle Pitts (Florida) are all very intriguing options that could make an already explosive offensive attack even more dangerous. Trade down This would actually be a good idea if Sewell or Slater are not available at No. 8. In that case, I would heavily consider the thought of trading down and gaining an extra pick. Someone like Minnesota, New England, or Washington may want to make a move up to get a quarterback and by doing so, will likely have to give up their first-round pick and then some. If they were to trade with one of those three teams in the middle of the draft order, they could still snag CB Caleb Farley. You can follow us for future coverage by clicking "Follow" on the top right-hand corner of the page. Also, be sure to like us on Facebook & Twitter: Facebook - @PanthersOnSI Twitter - @SI_Panthers and Schuyler Callihan at @Callihan_. | The Carolina Panthers traded a number of draft picks to the New York Jets for Sam Darnold. The team will now look to address other areas of the roster aside from quarterback. The Panthers will look to fix the offensive line and stabilize the secondary at No. 8. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/nfl/panthers/gm-report/what-will-the-panthers-do-at-no-8-following-the-sam-darnold-trade | 0.585471 |
How About Employee DISengagement? | Research shows that allowing employees to step away and unplug can pay off in dividends when it ... [+] comes to engagement and productivity. Paul Hanaoka, Unsplash A few times every year, a major company is in the crosshairs of a larger work culture and burnout debate. Its been Goldman Sachs many a time before, and it appears to be them again13 first-year analysts in Goldmans investment banking unit surveyed themselves about their work hours, which can reach 110 per week, and then organized those concerns into a detailed PowerPoint presentation that has since spilled onto social media. The report even includes bar charts showing the analysts deterioration from job stress. Before they arrived at Goldman, the analysts rated their mental and physical health on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the healthiest, at 8.8 and 9, respectively. Since then, those numbers have plunged to 2.8 and 2.3, respectively. Also worth noting that, at the same time as this presentation leaked, the head of Goldman was publicly rejecting work from home as the new normal, indicating his people would be coming back in droves. Now, while salary is an obvious elephant in the room hereyoung Goldman analysts are handsomely compensated, and many look at that and say Well, that comes with more working hourstheres a bigger discussion around engagement to be had. Employee engagement scores on major surveys did increase a bit during COVID (in some industries, and predominantly white-collar work), but in the last 10 years those scores haven't really budged; sometimes they've gone down. In the same time, weve had enough thought leadership on engagement (and its cousin, employee experience) to circle the Earth several times, but until a once-every-100-years-and-white-collar-work-got-shifted-big-time pandemic hit, those action items didnt seem to be working. Some of this rests on the shoulders of vocabulary. To the top of the hierarchy, work is about being in sixth gear, shipping products, and beating your rivals. They know one definition of "engagement," which is when they got down on one knee, or when their children headed towards the altar. And many things that make employees more engaged, such as the ability not to burn out in a job, go directly against how upper management thinks, where answering emails at 12:03 AM is a badge of honor. Maybe instead of embracing employee engagement models, we should consider employee DISengagement models. Place more emphasis on actual leisure To wit: But to make this a reality, organizations need to place more emphasis on actual leisureallowing workers to leave the office entirely to refresh. Workplaces that attempt to build leisure opportunities into the workspace itself to keep their employees on-site may be doing themselves, and their employees, a disservice. Because even though amenities like food trucks, foosball tables, and extensive schedules of social events may seem really cool, they are still at work. The key for organizations is to get away from needing to control employees at all times and let them disengage, Waytz says. One of my colleagues actually relayed this story: they had a job in 2018-2019 where one of the managing directors told the repeatedly "I'm not big on desk time" and/or "You're not a slave to a clock" but then 75 percent of the time you tried to work from home or a coffee shop, someone balked or you got an email from another manager saying "Your teammates are concerned about your collaboration ..." The fact is, work is largely about control and relevance to most people. That is what makes this idea hard. So does vocabulary If you went to a decision-maker and said "Hey boss, I want my employees to be more disengaged this year," said boss would automatically worry that productivity was going to drop. The word "disengagement" would get people riled up at most jobs, as would the word "leisure." Again, work is about grinding, hustling, being in 10th gear, shipping, being relevant, and beating rivals. That is how people who build companies and employ others tend to look at work. As a result, any proposals around "Hey, give these people more leisure time" are typically met with "But my productivity! I need them here hitting targets!" So, broadly speaking, these terms would never work. Wed need another word for it. Quite a bit, actually: From 2010-2014, Boston Consulting Group was the subject of a study about uninterrupted time off. Before we get into the results of that, you need to think about how consultants are branded; its a very always on profession. In fact, when the study began, 94% of the participants said they were working 50+ hours a week, and 50% said 65+ hours a week, while not counting time on email. Thats quite a bit of work. Indeed, we found that when the assumption that everyone needs to be always available was collectively challenged, not only could individuals take time off, but their work actually benefited. The senior leaders of BCG went ahead with a predictable time off model after the experiment concluded. As many people were bullish that COVID would finally scale the idea of a four-day work week, one study that kept coming up was Microsofts Japan offices, which tried itand saw worker productivity increase 40%+. To be clear, the 40 hours was still being met, usually on a 4x10 model, or a 9/80. Patagonia has done similar over time, being called a company that profits as it pampers workers by The Washington Post in 2014. Research by Stellan Ohlsson and Mark Beeman (a pioneer in neuroscience research into insight), both mentioned in my book Your Brain At Work and summarized in this 2009 Psychology Today article, show that new ways of thinking are needed for insightful, impact problem-solving. If youre spending 65+ hours a week on conventional work tasks and emails, those insights and A-Ha! moments are not coming as frequently. There is much value in a rested mind. Increasingly train managers that it doesn't really matter where a person is, per se, so long as the work is getting done. You hire people for the work to get done. That's why we still hire off bullet points. We might claim we are hiring innovative, curious people, but we're usually not. We are hiring so the work gets done. But we have Wi-Fi at scale in the first world. And we have suites to organize info and forms (Google!) and suites to video-conference (Skype! Zoom!) So none of the control stuff really matters. Managers hang onto it for their own sense of relevance and concerns that someone not in front of them might be on a beach, or looking at Facebook. The beautiful irony is that often the person right in front of them is still looking at Facebook, but somehow the idea that the person is right in front of them comforts said manager. You just need to explain to managers more and more that human beings have lives outside of their deliverables, and sometimes they need to go live those lives at the vet, the dentist, the dry cleaner, or sushi lunch with their significant other. Also explain to managers that disengaged time boosts cognitive capacity and cognitive load, which means employees get back to the KPI sets refreshed with a different perspective. Their solutions and ideas are better. The bottom line, logistically: If the work is getting done, this should be allowed. We do this with sales guys all the time. If they're top performers, no one ever questions where they are. If the work isn't getting done, fire the employee. It's probably legally justified, if you even live in a place where you might need to justify it. (At-will states, etc.) This isn't complicated: Let people disengage (don't use that word) from work if they're performing their tasks at the right level. If they're not, feel free to clamp down on them like most managers do anyway. But instead of jamming the square peg of employee engagement into the round hole of the actual psychology of work, maybe we should consider this disengagement idea a little bit more. And letting people have elements of their life back is a form of talent regeneration, whereby you leave your people better than you found them. It might not ultimately work for Goldman, but it could for you. | Employee DISengagement is a model that allows employees to step away and unplug. Research shows that allowing employees to unplug can pay off in dividends when it comes to engagement and productivity. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrock/2021/04/08/how-about-employee-disengagement/ | 0.521922 |
How About Employee DISengagement? | Research shows that allowing employees to step away and unplug can pay off in dividends when it ... [+] comes to engagement and productivity. Paul Hanaoka, Unsplash A few times every year, a major company is in the crosshairs of a larger work culture and burnout debate. Its been Goldman Sachs many a time before, and it appears to be them again13 first-year analysts in Goldmans investment banking unit surveyed themselves about their work hours, which can reach 110 per week, and then organized those concerns into a detailed PowerPoint presentation that has since spilled onto social media. The report even includes bar charts showing the analysts deterioration from job stress. Before they arrived at Goldman, the analysts rated their mental and physical health on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the healthiest, at 8.8 and 9, respectively. Since then, those numbers have plunged to 2.8 and 2.3, respectively. Also worth noting that, at the same time as this presentation leaked, the head of Goldman was publicly rejecting work from home as the new normal, indicating his people would be coming back in droves. Now, while salary is an obvious elephant in the room hereyoung Goldman analysts are handsomely compensated, and many look at that and say Well, that comes with more working hourstheres a bigger discussion around engagement to be had. Employee engagement scores on major surveys did increase a bit during COVID (in some industries, and predominantly white-collar work), but in the last 10 years those scores haven't really budged; sometimes they've gone down. In the same time, weve had enough thought leadership on engagement (and its cousin, employee experience) to circle the Earth several times, but until a once-every-100-years-and-white-collar-work-got-shifted-big-time pandemic hit, those action items didnt seem to be working. Some of this rests on the shoulders of vocabulary. To the top of the hierarchy, work is about being in sixth gear, shipping products, and beating your rivals. They know one definition of "engagement," which is when they got down on one knee, or when their children headed towards the altar. And many things that make employees more engaged, such as the ability not to burn out in a job, go directly against how upper management thinks, where answering emails at 12:03 AM is a badge of honor. Maybe instead of embracing employee engagement models, we should consider employee DISengagement models. Place more emphasis on actual leisure To wit: But to make this a reality, organizations need to place more emphasis on actual leisureallowing workers to leave the office entirely to refresh. Workplaces that attempt to build leisure opportunities into the workspace itself to keep their employees on-site may be doing themselves, and their employees, a disservice. Because even though amenities like food trucks, foosball tables, and extensive schedules of social events may seem really cool, they are still at work. The key for organizations is to get away from needing to control employees at all times and let them disengage, Waytz says. One of my colleagues actually relayed this story: they had a job in 2018-2019 where one of the managing directors told the repeatedly "I'm not big on desk time" and/or "You're not a slave to a clock" but then 75 percent of the time you tried to work from home or a coffee shop, someone balked or you got an email from another manager saying "Your teammates are concerned about your collaboration ..." The fact is, work is largely about control and relevance to most people. That is what makes this idea hard. So does vocabulary If you went to a decision-maker and said "Hey boss, I want my employees to be more disengaged this year," said boss would automatically worry that productivity was going to drop. The word "disengagement" would get people riled up at most jobs, as would the word "leisure." Again, work is about grinding, hustling, being in 10th gear, shipping, being relevant, and beating rivals. That is how people who build companies and employ others tend to look at work. As a result, any proposals around "Hey, give these people more leisure time" are typically met with "But my productivity! I need them here hitting targets!" So, broadly speaking, these terms would never work. Wed need another word for it. Quite a bit, actually: From 2010-2014, Boston Consulting Group was the subject of a study about uninterrupted time off. Before we get into the results of that, you need to think about how consultants are branded; its a very always on profession. In fact, when the study began, 94% of the participants said they were working 50+ hours a week, and 50% said 65+ hours a week, while not counting time on email. Thats quite a bit of work. Indeed, we found that when the assumption that everyone needs to be always available was collectively challenged, not only could individuals take time off, but their work actually benefited. The senior leaders of BCG went ahead with a predictable time off model after the experiment concluded. As many people were bullish that COVID would finally scale the idea of a four-day work week, one study that kept coming up was Microsofts Japan offices, which tried itand saw worker productivity increase 40%+. To be clear, the 40 hours was still being met, usually on a 4x10 model, or a 9/80. Patagonia has done similar over time, being called a company that profits as it pampers workers by The Washington Post in 2014. Research by Stellan Ohlsson and Mark Beeman (a pioneer in neuroscience research into insight), both mentioned in my book Your Brain At Work and summarized in this 2009 Psychology Today article, show that new ways of thinking are needed for insightful, impact problem-solving. If youre spending 65+ hours a week on conventional work tasks and emails, those insights and A-Ha! moments are not coming as frequently. There is much value in a rested mind. Increasingly train managers that it doesn't really matter where a person is, per se, so long as the work is getting done. You hire people for the work to get done. That's why we still hire off bullet points. We might claim we are hiring innovative, curious people, but we're usually not. We are hiring so the work gets done. But we have Wi-Fi at scale in the first world. And we have suites to organize info and forms (Google!) and suites to video-conference (Skype! Zoom!) So none of the control stuff really matters. Managers hang onto it for their own sense of relevance and concerns that someone not in front of them might be on a beach, or looking at Facebook. The beautiful irony is that often the person right in front of them is still looking at Facebook, but somehow the idea that the person is right in front of them comforts said manager. You just need to explain to managers more and more that human beings have lives outside of their deliverables, and sometimes they need to go live those lives at the vet, the dentist, the dry cleaner, or sushi lunch with their significant other. Also explain to managers that disengaged time boosts cognitive capacity and cognitive load, which means employees get back to the KPI sets refreshed with a different perspective. Their solutions and ideas are better. The bottom line, logistically: If the work is getting done, this should be allowed. We do this with sales guys all the time. If they're top performers, no one ever questions where they are. If the work isn't getting done, fire the employee. It's probably legally justified, if you even live in a place where you might need to justify it. (At-will states, etc.) This isn't complicated: Let people disengage (don't use that word) from work if they're performing their tasks at the right level. If they're not, feel free to clamp down on them like most managers do anyway. But instead of jamming the square peg of employee engagement into the round hole of the actual psychology of work, maybe we should consider this disengagement idea a little bit more. And letting people have elements of their life back is a form of talent regeneration, whereby you leave your people better than you found them. It might not ultimately work for Goldman, but it could for you. | Employee DISengagement is a model that allows employees to step away and unplug. Research shows that allowing employees to unplug can pay off in dividends when it comes to engagement and productivity. The key is to allow workers to leave the office entirely to refresh, says Waytz. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidrock/2021/04/08/how-about-employee-disengagement/ | 0.586437 |
When will huge crowds return to California convention centers? | The San Diego Convention Center hosted about 135,000 visitors two years ago for Comic-Con, the four-day celebration of comic books and pop culture. The National Assn. of Music Merchants drew 115,000 musical instrument dealers and distributors to the Anaheim Convention Center early last year. The Los Angeles Convention Center welcomed 66,100 visitors to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in 2019. With California aiming to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15, convention center operators who have had to cancel hundreds of events, worth billions of dollars in spending, say they are anxious to once again host conventions and trade shows that draw visitors from across the country and around the globe. Advertisement But even when state restrictions lift, experts acknowledge, it may be a year or more before California convention centers host the kind of mega crowds that flocked to Comic-Con, NAMM and E3 in past years. We anticipate that shows will be smaller starting off and getting back up to speed hopefully next year, said Ellen Schwartz, general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. As we get into the last quarter of this calendar year and start the new year were hopeful that the business will come back to closer to where it was before the pandemic. Among the reasons for the smaller events: State officials say COVID-19 protocols for large-scale indoor events will still require testing or vaccination verifications, which may disqualify some would-be attendees. The state has yet to release details of those requirements. Advertisement Also, surveys show that many business travelers still dont feel safe meeting face-to-face indoors with thousands of strangers. Some elements of future events are likely to be conducted via streaming video, accommodating virus-cautious attendees who want to stay home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommend against attending large indoor gatherings, saying they increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Rachel Kiko Guntermann, a professional costume maker who previously attended five or six conventions a year, including Comic-Con, said she would not feel safe returning to a large convention even though she has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Conventions were a center of my life for a while, and now the idea of being in a vendor hall with that many people makes me want to dry heave, she said. Advertisement In addition, restrictions on international travel may also limit the number of exhibitors and attendees for some conventions and trade shows. Some of the large organizations also need time to hire staff to arrange such large events. There will definitely be a ramp-up period after being closed for a year, said Barbara Newton, president and chief executive of the California Travel Assn., a nonprofit that promotes tourism in the state. We are convinced we will get there eventually. Even in states that have allowed conventions for the last several months, such as Nevada, Arizona and Florida, the events have been much smaller than those of the past, with safety protocols limiting attendance to only several hundred guests. Advertisement We are not back to the mega conventions yet, said Brynne Frost, chief executive of Destination Concepts Inc., a San Diego company that before the pandemic managed about 250 events a year nationwide. The pandemic has delivered a hard hit to the nations convention and trade show industry. In 2020, such events generated about $20 billion in direct spending in the U.S. down from about $100 billion in 2019, the industrys best year ever, said David DuBois, president and chief executive of the International Assn. of Exhibitions and Events. Los Angeles Convention Center has had 134 events canceled and 45 postponed, costing the city nearly $600 million in spending at the center and nearby restaurants, hotels and shops, according to Schwartz, who based the spending estimate on pre-pandemic attendance. The Long Beach Convention Center has had 121 meetings and conventions canceled since the start of the pandemic, losing that city more than $157 million in spending, Long Beach officials said. Advertisement The Palm Springs Convention Center has had more than 400 events canceled, losing about $279 million in spending in the region since the start of 2020, Palm Springs officials said. Some of those events are now being held in states with laxer pandemic rules instead: Two rebooked in Arizona, one moved to Georgia and one moved to Missouri. Its been very frustrating, said Scott White, president and chief executive of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. The American Public Transportation Assn., a nonprofit that advocates for public transit, announced last week before California declared its goal of rolling back restrictions in mid-June that it had canceled its Aug. 31-Sept. 3 gathering at the the Anaheim Convention Center and rescheduled the event for November in Orlando, Fla. The decision to relocate was necessary due to current California restrictions on large gatherings and the unpredictability of planning such a large event when it is unclear when these restrictions will ease, the group said in a statement. Advertisement A coalition of convention center operators has been pressing the state for months to allow larger-scale events. Last week, the state issued guidelines that allow indoor venues located in counties in the orange tier the third-strictest rung of Californias color-coded reopening road map to hold up to 150 people if all attendees test negative for the coronavirus or show proof theyre fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In counties in the yellow tier, the least restrictive rung, the cap on attendance rises to 200 people. All of Southern California is in the orange tier, with the exception of Santa Barbara County, which remains in the more restrictive red tier. If vaccination and virus transmission rates remain on pace, then on June 15 the tier system will become moot as restrictions substantially relax throughout the state. Large-scale indoor gatherings such as conventions would be allowed with virus testing or vaccination verification, among other common-sense public health policies, the state said. Advertisement New coronavirus cases have been dropping in California and in many other states, but theyre rising in some other states, and surveys show that some Americans still feel uncomfortable attending indoor conventions and trade shows. A March survey of about 1,000 Americans by marketing research firm Ipsos found that 59% believe returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles would pose a large or moderate risk to their health. Of those surveyed, 29% said they would return to in-person gatherings once they or everyone in the circle of friends and family are vaccinated. Meanwhile, 30% said they already had returned to in-person gatherings; 21% said they would do so when officials say its safe and 20% said they didnt know. A survey of 1,000 technology professionals by association management company Innovatis Group last fall found that 60% said they would feel comfortable attending an in-person event in the second half of 2021, but just over half of those surveyed said the size of an event would affect their decision to attend even if appropriate safety precautions were taken. Advertisement People wearing Spider-Man costumes dance in front of the San Diego Convention Center for a YouTube video during Comic-Con on July 20, 2019. The in-person convention has been rescheduled for December this year. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Mega convention and trade shows have yet to come back even in states that already are allowing mass gatherings. Las Vegas, one of the nations most popular convention destinations, recently confirmed the citys first large conference and trade show since the start of the pandemic. The gathering of concrete and masonry professionals World of Concrete is planned for June 8-10. The event was originally scheduled for January and had been expected to draw about 60,000 attendees. Nevadas Department of Business and Industry approved a permit to allow up to 50% of the building capacity 24,500 attendees over the course of the three-day event in June. Advertisement The organizer of the event, Informa Markets, commissioned a survey of past attendees, finding that 80% said they were likely to attend in June. In November, the National Oil Recyclers Assn. held a conference and trade show in Tucson attended by 120 people, down from as many as 400 attendees in the past, according to organizers. Organizers said they limited the number of attendees so that people could sit six feet apart during seminars in the exhibit halls. The number of exhibitors for the trade show was also reduced from 50 to 16. The event eliminated break-out sessions to reduce interaction between conference attendees. The gathering was not as profitable as it has been in years past, but it was still worthwhile, said Scott Parker, president of the event organizer, Amber Ridge. Id rather make something than nothing, he said. | California aims to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15. Operators who have had to cancel hundreds of events say they are anxious to once again host conventions and trade shows. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-08/california-reopen-convention-centers-trade-show-demand | 0.114068 |
When will huge crowds return to California convention centers? | The San Diego Convention Center hosted about 135,000 visitors two years ago for Comic-Con, the four-day celebration of comic books and pop culture. The National Assn. of Music Merchants drew 115,000 musical instrument dealers and distributors to the Anaheim Convention Center early last year. The Los Angeles Convention Center welcomed 66,100 visitors to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, known as E3, in 2019. With California aiming to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15, convention center operators who have had to cancel hundreds of events, worth billions of dollars in spending, say they are anxious to once again host conventions and trade shows that draw visitors from across the country and around the globe. Advertisement But even when state restrictions lift, experts acknowledge, it may be a year or more before California convention centers host the kind of mega crowds that flocked to Comic-Con, NAMM and E3 in past years. We anticipate that shows will be smaller starting off and getting back up to speed hopefully next year, said Ellen Schwartz, general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. As we get into the last quarter of this calendar year and start the new year were hopeful that the business will come back to closer to where it was before the pandemic. Among the reasons for the smaller events: State officials say COVID-19 protocols for large-scale indoor events will still require testing or vaccination verifications, which may disqualify some would-be attendees. The state has yet to release details of those requirements. Advertisement Also, surveys show that many business travelers still dont feel safe meeting face-to-face indoors with thousands of strangers. Some elements of future events are likely to be conducted via streaming video, accommodating virus-cautious attendees who want to stay home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommend against attending large indoor gatherings, saying they increase the risk of spreading COVID-19. Rachel Kiko Guntermann, a professional costume maker who previously attended five or six conventions a year, including Comic-Con, said she would not feel safe returning to a large convention even though she has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Conventions were a center of my life for a while, and now the idea of being in a vendor hall with that many people makes me want to dry heave, she said. Advertisement In addition, restrictions on international travel may also limit the number of exhibitors and attendees for some conventions and trade shows. Some of the large organizations also need time to hire staff to arrange such large events. There will definitely be a ramp-up period after being closed for a year, said Barbara Newton, president and chief executive of the California Travel Assn., a nonprofit that promotes tourism in the state. We are convinced we will get there eventually. Even in states that have allowed conventions for the last several months, such as Nevada, Arizona and Florida, the events have been much smaller than those of the past, with safety protocols limiting attendance to only several hundred guests. Advertisement We are not back to the mega conventions yet, said Brynne Frost, chief executive of Destination Concepts Inc., a San Diego company that before the pandemic managed about 250 events a year nationwide. The pandemic has delivered a hard hit to the nations convention and trade show industry. In 2020, such events generated about $20 billion in direct spending in the U.S. down from about $100 billion in 2019, the industrys best year ever, said David DuBois, president and chief executive of the International Assn. of Exhibitions and Events. Los Angeles Convention Center has had 134 events canceled and 45 postponed, costing the city nearly $600 million in spending at the center and nearby restaurants, hotels and shops, according to Schwartz, who based the spending estimate on pre-pandemic attendance. The Long Beach Convention Center has had 121 meetings and conventions canceled since the start of the pandemic, losing that city more than $157 million in spending, Long Beach officials said. Advertisement The Palm Springs Convention Center has had more than 400 events canceled, losing about $279 million in spending in the region since the start of 2020, Palm Springs officials said. Some of those events are now being held in states with laxer pandemic rules instead: Two rebooked in Arizona, one moved to Georgia and one moved to Missouri. Its been very frustrating, said Scott White, president and chief executive of the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau. The American Public Transportation Assn., a nonprofit that advocates for public transit, announced last week before California declared its goal of rolling back restrictions in mid-June that it had canceled its Aug. 31-Sept. 3 gathering at the the Anaheim Convention Center and rescheduled the event for November in Orlando, Fla. The decision to relocate was necessary due to current California restrictions on large gatherings and the unpredictability of planning such a large event when it is unclear when these restrictions will ease, the group said in a statement. Advertisement A coalition of convention center operators has been pressing the state for months to allow larger-scale events. Last week, the state issued guidelines that allow indoor venues located in counties in the orange tier the third-strictest rung of Californias color-coded reopening road map to hold up to 150 people if all attendees test negative for the coronavirus or show proof theyre fully vaccinated against COVID-19. In counties in the yellow tier, the least restrictive rung, the cap on attendance rises to 200 people. All of Southern California is in the orange tier, with the exception of Santa Barbara County, which remains in the more restrictive red tier. If vaccination and virus transmission rates remain on pace, then on June 15 the tier system will become moot as restrictions substantially relax throughout the state. Large-scale indoor gatherings such as conventions would be allowed with virus testing or vaccination verification, among other common-sense public health policies, the state said. Advertisement New coronavirus cases have been dropping in California and in many other states, but theyre rising in some other states, and surveys show that some Americans still feel uncomfortable attending indoor conventions and trade shows. A March survey of about 1,000 Americans by marketing research firm Ipsos found that 59% believe returning to their pre-pandemic lifestyles would pose a large or moderate risk to their health. Of those surveyed, 29% said they would return to in-person gatherings once they or everyone in the circle of friends and family are vaccinated. Meanwhile, 30% said they already had returned to in-person gatherings; 21% said they would do so when officials say its safe and 20% said they didnt know. A survey of 1,000 technology professionals by association management company Innovatis Group last fall found that 60% said they would feel comfortable attending an in-person event in the second half of 2021, but just over half of those surveyed said the size of an event would affect their decision to attend even if appropriate safety precautions were taken. Advertisement People wearing Spider-Man costumes dance in front of the San Diego Convention Center for a YouTube video during Comic-Con on July 20, 2019. The in-person convention has been rescheduled for December this year. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) Mega convention and trade shows have yet to come back even in states that already are allowing mass gatherings. Las Vegas, one of the nations most popular convention destinations, recently confirmed the citys first large conference and trade show since the start of the pandemic. The gathering of concrete and masonry professionals World of Concrete is planned for June 8-10. The event was originally scheduled for January and had been expected to draw about 60,000 attendees. Nevadas Department of Business and Industry approved a permit to allow up to 50% of the building capacity 24,500 attendees over the course of the three-day event in June. Advertisement The organizer of the event, Informa Markets, commissioned a survey of past attendees, finding that 80% said they were likely to attend in June. In November, the National Oil Recyclers Assn. held a conference and trade show in Tucson attended by 120 people, down from as many as 400 attendees in the past, according to organizers. Organizers said they limited the number of attendees so that people could sit six feet apart during seminars in the exhibit halls. The number of exhibitors for the trade show was also reduced from 50 to 16. The event eliminated break-out sessions to reduce interaction between conference attendees. The gathering was not as profitable as it has been in years past, but it was still worthwhile, said Scott Parker, president of the event organizer, Amber Ridge. Id rather make something than nothing, he said. | California aims to lift most pandemic restrictions on June 15. It may be a year or more before California convention centers host the kind of mega crowds that flocked to Comic-Con, NAMM and E3 in past years. State officials say COVID-19 protocols for large-scale indoor events will still require testing or vaccination verifications. | bart | 2 | https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2021-04-08/california-reopen-convention-centers-trade-show-demand | 0.119629 |
Is it not crazy to execute a mentally ill killer? | In 1992, Donald Harding, a triple murderer, became the first person executed in Arizona in 29 years. He convulsed his way to the next life during an 11-minute nightmare in the states gas chamber. He was mentally ill. No. Its not. But, me personally, Im very tired. But his well-documented pathology went all the way back to his childhood. Abuse. Suicide attempts. Etc. When he was 11, Harding was sent to the Arkansas State Hospital, where a doctor wrote of him, There seems little hope that we can give this boy what he needs, and without doubt, he is headed for serious trouble, which we cant stop. It is amazing the degree of psychopathy contained in a boy of this young age. Don't sink to the level of murderers Lets not, for now, discuss the pros and cons of having a death penalty. Lets say, for now, it is the law, and the law should be enforced. That was the argument made recently by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich in The Arizona Republic. He wrote in part, The victims and their loved ones have waited far too long for justice and some extended family members have passed away without the closure or resolution that they had sought and deserved. This is unacceptable. It is societys responsibility to enforce our laws and respect court-ordered sentences. Jurors have done their civic duty and we must all do ours. There are other responsibilities, of course. The most recent execution in Arizona took place in 2014, when Joseph Wood was injected 15 times with an experimental lethal drug cocktail and spent nearly two hours heaving and gasping before he died. In enforcing the law we cant sink to the level of the killers who broke it. We must be better than that. Clarence Dixon is case in point There is a least one clearly mentally ill convict on Brnovichs list of death row inmates he wants executed. His name is Clarence Dixon. His history of mental illness is long and unchallenged. His lawyer, Dale Baich, said in a statement, In light of Clarence Dixons severe mental illness and debilitating physical disabilities, including blindness, it would be unconscionable for the State of Arizona to execute him. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Bar Association, among others, have called for a ban on the death penalty for those with severe mental illness. Not too long ago, the state of Ohio banned the death penalty for defendants who were severely mentally ill at the time of the offense. Theyre locked up, just not killed. He has a long and ugly criminal past, and was sentenced to death for killing Arizona State University student Deana Bowdoin, only 21. Just two days before Bowdoin was murdered Dixon was in court facing charges that hed attacked another woman. The Superior Court judge hearing the case was eventual Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor. She ruled Dixon not guilty by reason of insanity. There was a failure to follow-up by the state and he simply was released from a state hospital. We know Dixons mental state. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | Ed Montini: It's not crazy to execute a mentally ill killer. | ctrlsum | 0 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/08/arizona-crazy-use-death-penalty-mental-illness/7140425002/ | 0.370034 |
Is it not crazy to execute a mentally ill killer? | In 1992, Donald Harding, a triple murderer, became the first person executed in Arizona in 29 years. He convulsed his way to the next life during an 11-minute nightmare in the states gas chamber. He was mentally ill. No. Its not. But, me personally, Im very tired. But his well-documented pathology went all the way back to his childhood. Abuse. Suicide attempts. Etc. When he was 11, Harding was sent to the Arkansas State Hospital, where a doctor wrote of him, There seems little hope that we can give this boy what he needs, and without doubt, he is headed for serious trouble, which we cant stop. It is amazing the degree of psychopathy contained in a boy of this young age. Don't sink to the level of murderers Lets not, for now, discuss the pros and cons of having a death penalty. Lets say, for now, it is the law, and the law should be enforced. That was the argument made recently by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich in The Arizona Republic. He wrote in part, The victims and their loved ones have waited far too long for justice and some extended family members have passed away without the closure or resolution that they had sought and deserved. This is unacceptable. It is societys responsibility to enforce our laws and respect court-ordered sentences. Jurors have done their civic duty and we must all do ours. There are other responsibilities, of course. The most recent execution in Arizona took place in 2014, when Joseph Wood was injected 15 times with an experimental lethal drug cocktail and spent nearly two hours heaving and gasping before he died. In enforcing the law we cant sink to the level of the killers who broke it. We must be better than that. Clarence Dixon is case in point There is a least one clearly mentally ill convict on Brnovichs list of death row inmates he wants executed. His name is Clarence Dixon. His history of mental illness is long and unchallenged. His lawyer, Dale Baich, said in a statement, In light of Clarence Dixons severe mental illness and debilitating physical disabilities, including blindness, it would be unconscionable for the State of Arizona to execute him. The American Psychiatric Association and the American Bar Association, among others, have called for a ban on the death penalty for those with severe mental illness. Not too long ago, the state of Ohio banned the death penalty for defendants who were severely mentally ill at the time of the offense. Theyre locked up, just not killed. He has a long and ugly criminal past, and was sentenced to death for killing Arizona State University student Deana Bowdoin, only 21. Just two days before Bowdoin was murdered Dixon was in court facing charges that hed attacked another woman. The Superior Court judge hearing the case was eventual Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day OConnor. She ruled Dixon not guilty by reason of insanity. There was a failure to follow-up by the state and he simply was released from a state hospital. We know Dixons mental state. Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com. For more opinions content, please subscribe. | Ed Montini: Is it crazy to execute a mentally ill killer? He says the law should be enforced, but we can't sink to the level of the killers who broke it. He says Clarence Dixon has a long and ugly criminal past, and was sentenced to death for killing an Arizona student. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/ej-montini/2021/04/08/arizona-crazy-use-death-penalty-mental-illness/7140425002/ | 0.147425 |
Should the U.S. rejoin the Iran nuclear deal? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The United States and Iran on Tuesday agreed to a framework for discussions on bringing both countries back into compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. The indirect talks mediated by envoys from Russia, China, Germany, France, Britain represent the first step in what will likely be lengthy and delicate negotiations to revive the agreement. The Iran nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was signed in 2015 after years of negotiations between the Obama administration, Iranian leaders and representatives from other world powers. In joining the deal, Iran agreed to severely limit its nuclear development and allow regular inspections of its nuclear facilities. In exchange, the United States and other signatories lifted economic sanctions that had crippled Irans economy. Despite reports from the U.S. and United Nations that indicated Iran was complying with the restrictions of the deal, then-President Donald Trump formally withdrew the U.S. and reinstated harsh sanctions on Iran in 2018. In response, Iran has begun to violate the restrictions of the deal, including enriching uranium at levels well beyond the limits set by the agreement. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated in the years after Trump left the deal, hitting their peak with the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020. President Biden has said he wants to bring the U.S. back into the deal. Iranian leaders also want to come to an agreement. But talks had been at a stalemate until recently, with the U.S. calling on Iran to suspend its nuclear activities before any sanctions would be lifted and Iran insisting the U.S. make the first move. Why theres debate Advocates for rejoining the nuclear deal say Trumps maximum pressure strategy has backfired. They argue that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat, and evidence suggests that the country is much closer to producing a nuclear bomb today than when the agreement was in place. Raised tensions have also emboldened the country to escalate its support of militia groups throughout the Middle East, many say. Others say harsh economic sanctions are causing severe suffering among the Iranian people while doing little to curb Irans nuclear pursuits. Story continues Many Republicans echo Trumps belief that the original deal was severely flawed and rejoining the agreement would mean wasting an enormous amount of leverage that sanctions have given the U.S. over the Iranian regime. Another group, which includes a bipartisan group of senators, has called for Biden to pursue a much broader agreement that addresses a wide range of illicit Iranian behavior, including its support for terrorist groups and human rights abuses of its own citizens. Whats next Early discussions of a return to the nuclear deal were successful but are in their early stages and will take some time, according to a Russian representative who participated in the talks. Some diplomats have expressed a sense of urgency to find common ground before the upcoming Iranian presidential election in June. Sitting President Hassan Rouhani supports the deal, but term limits mean he cant seek reelection and he could be replaced by a new hard-line leader who opposes any agreement. Perspectives Supporters A nuclear Iran would pose an extraordinary threat A nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the region, provide the Islamic Republic with dramatically more influence and likely inspire other nations in the region to pursue their own nuclear ambitions. Finally, if Iran possessed nuclear weapons, it might be tempted to use them in a crisis or the fear that it could do so might lead other countries to launch a preemptive strike. Editorial, Los Angeles Times The U.S. withdrawal from the deal backfired Despite the JCPOA's limited scope, the Trump administration's withdrawal in favor of the maximum pressure policy was an abject failure. Iran wasn't forced back to the table for broader negotiations, it simply got more aggressive and now has over eight times the uranium stockpile the JCPOA allowed. Tyler Koteskey, Newsweek Without a nuclear deal, war becomes more likely The nuclear deal that many on Bidens national security team helped negotiate is a ready-made solution to the crisis with Iran. If Biden misses this opportunity to revive the deal or Congress ties his hands, the diplomatic door with Iran will close and the prospect of full-blown war will grow exponentially. Sina Toossi and Yasmine Taeb, USA Today As long as sanctions are in place, Irans citizens will suffer With Washington and Tehran caught in a diplomatic standoff, the Iranian people await relief. A sequestered and choked off Iran is functioning effectively as a state at war, dimming the prospects for its women. Azadeh Moaveni and Sussan Tahmasebi, New York Times Rejoining the deal can be a first step toward broader agreements The Trump years have shown that a narrow deal like the JCPOA cannot be stable in the current environment. But there can be no progress without a return to it. Editorial, Guardian Skeptics The nuclear deal was a failure It was folly to imagine that the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism, one of the most destabilizing forces on the planet, would become a responsible member of the world community if only America and its allies would agree to shower it with billions of dollars in cash and relieve the pressure of sanctions. It would be even greater folly to return to the JCPOA and expect anything to change. Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe Focusing only on nuclear weapons will leave Irans many other abuses unaddressed The Iran dilemma is multifaceted, spanning human rights, missile proliferation, regional meddling, and state-sponsored terrorism. If the Biden administration seeks to resolve the forty-year nightmare of the Islamic Republic, it must address all of these threats, not just the nuclear program. Seena Saiedian, National Interest Rejoining the deal would undercut the Trump administration's Middle East successes The Administration is still courting Iran, as if the regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have shown any desire to change their imperial behavior. Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | The U.S. and Iran agreed to a framework for discussions on bringing both countries back into compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. The deal was signed in 2015, but the United States withdrew in 2018. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://news.yahoo.com/should-the-us-rejoin-the-iran-nuclear-deal-171039415.html | 0.144593 |
Should the U.S. rejoin the Iran nuclear deal? | The 360 shows you diverse perspectives on the days top stories and debates. Whats happening The United States and Iran on Tuesday agreed to a framework for discussions on bringing both countries back into compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. The indirect talks mediated by envoys from Russia, China, Germany, France, Britain represent the first step in what will likely be lengthy and delicate negotiations to revive the agreement. The Iran nuclear deal, known officially as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, was signed in 2015 after years of negotiations between the Obama administration, Iranian leaders and representatives from other world powers. In joining the deal, Iran agreed to severely limit its nuclear development and allow regular inspections of its nuclear facilities. In exchange, the United States and other signatories lifted economic sanctions that had crippled Irans economy. Despite reports from the U.S. and United Nations that indicated Iran was complying with the restrictions of the deal, then-President Donald Trump formally withdrew the U.S. and reinstated harsh sanctions on Iran in 2018. In response, Iran has begun to violate the restrictions of the deal, including enriching uranium at levels well beyond the limits set by the agreement. Tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated in the years after Trump left the deal, hitting their peak with the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in January 2020. President Biden has said he wants to bring the U.S. back into the deal. Iranian leaders also want to come to an agreement. But talks had been at a stalemate until recently, with the U.S. calling on Iran to suspend its nuclear activities before any sanctions would be lifted and Iran insisting the U.S. make the first move. Why theres debate Advocates for rejoining the nuclear deal say Trumps maximum pressure strategy has backfired. They argue that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat, and evidence suggests that the country is much closer to producing a nuclear bomb today than when the agreement was in place. Raised tensions have also emboldened the country to escalate its support of militia groups throughout the Middle East, many say. Others say harsh economic sanctions are causing severe suffering among the Iranian people while doing little to curb Irans nuclear pursuits. Story continues Many Republicans echo Trumps belief that the original deal was severely flawed and rejoining the agreement would mean wasting an enormous amount of leverage that sanctions have given the U.S. over the Iranian regime. Another group, which includes a bipartisan group of senators, has called for Biden to pursue a much broader agreement that addresses a wide range of illicit Iranian behavior, including its support for terrorist groups and human rights abuses of its own citizens. Whats next Early discussions of a return to the nuclear deal were successful but are in their early stages and will take some time, according to a Russian representative who participated in the talks. Some diplomats have expressed a sense of urgency to find common ground before the upcoming Iranian presidential election in June. Sitting President Hassan Rouhani supports the deal, but term limits mean he cant seek reelection and he could be replaced by a new hard-line leader who opposes any agreement. Perspectives Supporters A nuclear Iran would pose an extraordinary threat A nuclear-armed Iran would destabilize the region, provide the Islamic Republic with dramatically more influence and likely inspire other nations in the region to pursue their own nuclear ambitions. Finally, if Iran possessed nuclear weapons, it might be tempted to use them in a crisis or the fear that it could do so might lead other countries to launch a preemptive strike. Editorial, Los Angeles Times The U.S. withdrawal from the deal backfired Despite the JCPOA's limited scope, the Trump administration's withdrawal in favor of the maximum pressure policy was an abject failure. Iran wasn't forced back to the table for broader negotiations, it simply got more aggressive and now has over eight times the uranium stockpile the JCPOA allowed. Tyler Koteskey, Newsweek Without a nuclear deal, war becomes more likely The nuclear deal that many on Bidens national security team helped negotiate is a ready-made solution to the crisis with Iran. If Biden misses this opportunity to revive the deal or Congress ties his hands, the diplomatic door with Iran will close and the prospect of full-blown war will grow exponentially. Sina Toossi and Yasmine Taeb, USA Today As long as sanctions are in place, Irans citizens will suffer With Washington and Tehran caught in a diplomatic standoff, the Iranian people await relief. A sequestered and choked off Iran is functioning effectively as a state at war, dimming the prospects for its women. Azadeh Moaveni and Sussan Tahmasebi, New York Times Rejoining the deal can be a first step toward broader agreements The Trump years have shown that a narrow deal like the JCPOA cannot be stable in the current environment. But there can be no progress without a return to it. Editorial, Guardian Skeptics The nuclear deal was a failure It was folly to imagine that the worlds foremost state sponsor of terrorism, one of the most destabilizing forces on the planet, would become a responsible member of the world community if only America and its allies would agree to shower it with billions of dollars in cash and relieve the pressure of sanctions. It would be even greater folly to return to the JCPOA and expect anything to change. Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe Focusing only on nuclear weapons will leave Irans many other abuses unaddressed The Iran dilemma is multifaceted, spanning human rights, missile proliferation, regional meddling, and state-sponsored terrorism. If the Biden administration seeks to resolve the forty-year nightmare of the Islamic Republic, it must address all of these threats, not just the nuclear program. Seena Saiedian, National Interest Rejoining the deal would undercut the Trump administration's Middle East successes The Administration is still courting Iran, as if the regime and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have shown any desire to change their imperial behavior. Send your suggestions to the360@yahoonews.com. Read more 360s Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Getty Images | The U.S. and Iran agreed to a framework for discussions on bringing both countries back into compliance with the Iran nuclear deal. The deal was signed in 2015, but the United States and other signatories later withdrew from the deal. Supporters of the deal say that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a grave threat. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://news.yahoo.com/should-the-us-rejoin-the-iran-nuclear-deal-171039415.html | 0.181271 |
How long before Australia is fully vaccinated against Covid? | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate, a Guardian Australia analysis shows. The federal governments rollout strategy aims to administer 45m vaccine doses, not including vaccines for those aged under 18. At the seven-day rolling average of under 36,000, it could take almost 40 months to accomplish. Even a doubling of that rate wouldnt see the rollout completed until the end of next year. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales, said the vaccination rate needs to increase quickly due to the narrow window before a second dose is required. The next three months is really the test for the rollout because if they cant reach [80,000 per day] for the next three months for most of us getting our first dose, they arent going to cope with the second cohort needing dose number two in three months time, McLaws said. Australia may not need to administer all 45m doses to stop the virus circulating a point called herd immunity, which is reached when there is sufficient immunity in the population such that Covid-19 cannot spread. Given Australias low number of cases, reaching this point would need to be done almost entirely through vaccines. But whether herd immunity is achievable, and the threshold to reach it, is debated. Herd immunity is influenced by a number of factors including the vaccines effectiveness, the timing of the doses, new virus strains and whether a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus. McLaws calculates that achieving herd immunity might require vaccinating 85% of Australians. This is based on the planned mixture of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to be used, as well as there being a three-month gap between doses. With just over 900,000 doses already administered, and the current daily average doses, even this threshold could take several years to reach. Given those under 18 years will not be vaccinated until late 2021 or 2022, some vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine efficacy against infection of probably 60-90%, herd immunity will not be achieved in 2021, but could be a longer-term goal, said Professor Gregory Dore, head of the viral hepatitis clinical research program at the Kirby Institute. Australia has administered less than four doses for every 100 people. This is significantly lower than the United States, United Kingdom and Israel at the equivalent point in their rollouts. But the distribution is not uniform across Australia. The Northern Territory is currently leading the way, having vaccinated about four people for every 100 residents. Western Australia and Tasmania have each vaccinated around three people per 100 residents. The larger states are falling behind. Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have each vaccinated less than two people for every 100 residents. University of NSWs Dr Mark Hanly told Guardian Australia in February that mass vaccination hubs may be necessary to augment the rollout a policy a few of the larger states have now adopted. This may have already made a difference, McLaws said. I believe we have ramped that up [recently] because Victoria has, very sensibly, opened up some mass vaccination hubs for their healthcare workers. But the rate has to increase significantly, and quickly. The federal governments revised rollout has all Australians receiving a first dose by the end of the year. McLaws said even this target will require over 130,000 doses administered per day, as many of these people will also need a second dose within three months. The [federal] government should be put under a spotlight to roll out to 70,000 to 80,000 per day to make sure they can then handle the second cohort coming through, McLaws said. Notes and methods: The Australian population is estimated to be 25,693,100 according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The 85% herd immunity threshold was calculated as 21,839,135. Data on cumulative vaccinations data was sourced from CovidLive.com.au. Daily increments were calculated using the previous days total and then turned into a seven day rolling average. Vaccination trends and projections were calculated by extrapolating the latest rolling average. | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2021/apr/08/how-long-before-australia-is-fully-vaccinated-against-covid | 0.319616 |
How long before Australia is fully vaccinated against Covid? | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate, a Guardian Australia analysis shows. The federal governments rollout strategy aims to administer 45m vaccine doses, not including vaccines for those aged under 18. At the seven-day rolling average of under 36,000, it could take almost 40 months to accomplish. Even a doubling of that rate wouldnt see the rollout completed until the end of next year. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales, said the vaccination rate needs to increase quickly due to the narrow window before a second dose is required. The next three months is really the test for the rollout because if they cant reach [80,000 per day] for the next three months for most of us getting our first dose, they arent going to cope with the second cohort needing dose number two in three months time, McLaws said. Australia may not need to administer all 45m doses to stop the virus circulating a point called herd immunity, which is reached when there is sufficient immunity in the population such that Covid-19 cannot spread. Given Australias low number of cases, reaching this point would need to be done almost entirely through vaccines. But whether herd immunity is achievable, and the threshold to reach it, is debated. Herd immunity is influenced by a number of factors including the vaccines effectiveness, the timing of the doses, new virus strains and whether a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus. McLaws calculates that achieving herd immunity might require vaccinating 85% of Australians. This is based on the planned mixture of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to be used, as well as there being a three-month gap between doses. With just over 900,000 doses already administered, and the current daily average doses, even this threshold could take several years to reach. Given those under 18 years will not be vaccinated until late 2021 or 2022, some vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine efficacy against infection of probably 60-90%, herd immunity will not be achieved in 2021, but could be a longer-term goal, said Professor Gregory Dore, head of the viral hepatitis clinical research program at the Kirby Institute. Australia has administered less than four doses for every 100 people. This is significantly lower than the United States, United Kingdom and Israel at the equivalent point in their rollouts. But the distribution is not uniform across Australia. The Northern Territory is currently leading the way, having vaccinated about four people for every 100 residents. Western Australia and Tasmania have each vaccinated around three people per 100 residents. The larger states are falling behind. Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have each vaccinated less than two people for every 100 residents. University of NSWs Dr Mark Hanly told Guardian Australia in February that mass vaccination hubs may be necessary to augment the rollout a policy a few of the larger states have now adopted. This may have already made a difference, McLaws said. I believe we have ramped that up [recently] because Victoria has, very sensibly, opened up some mass vaccination hubs for their healthcare workers. But the rate has to increase significantly, and quickly. The federal governments revised rollout has all Australians receiving a first dose by the end of the year. McLaws said even this target will require over 130,000 doses administered per day, as many of these people will also need a second dose within three months. The [federal] government should be put under a spotlight to roll out to 70,000 to 80,000 per day to make sure they can then handle the second cohort coming through, McLaws said. Notes and methods: The Australian population is estimated to be 25,693,100 according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The 85% herd immunity threshold was calculated as 21,839,135. Data on cumulative vaccinations data was sourced from CovidLive.com.au. Daily increments were calculated using the previous days total and then turned into a seven day rolling average. Vaccination trends and projections were calculated by extrapolating the latest rolling average. | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate. The federal governments rollout strategy aims to administer 45m vaccine doses. | pegasus | 1 | https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2021/apr/08/how-long-before-australia-is-fully-vaccinated-against-covid | 0.354139 |
How long before Australia is fully vaccinated against Covid? | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate, a Guardian Australia analysis shows. The federal governments rollout strategy aims to administer 45m vaccine doses, not including vaccines for those aged under 18. At the seven-day rolling average of under 36,000, it could take almost 40 months to accomplish. Even a doubling of that rate wouldnt see the rollout completed until the end of next year. Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, an epidemiologist at the University of New South Wales, said the vaccination rate needs to increase quickly due to the narrow window before a second dose is required. The next three months is really the test for the rollout because if they cant reach [80,000 per day] for the next three months for most of us getting our first dose, they arent going to cope with the second cohort needing dose number two in three months time, McLaws said. Australia may not need to administer all 45m doses to stop the virus circulating a point called herd immunity, which is reached when there is sufficient immunity in the population such that Covid-19 cannot spread. Given Australias low number of cases, reaching this point would need to be done almost entirely through vaccines. But whether herd immunity is achievable, and the threshold to reach it, is debated. Herd immunity is influenced by a number of factors including the vaccines effectiveness, the timing of the doses, new virus strains and whether a vaccinated person can still transmit the virus. McLaws calculates that achieving herd immunity might require vaccinating 85% of Australians. This is based on the planned mixture of Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines to be used, as well as there being a three-month gap between doses. With just over 900,000 doses already administered, and the current daily average doses, even this threshold could take several years to reach. Given those under 18 years will not be vaccinated until late 2021 or 2022, some vaccine hesitancy, and vaccine efficacy against infection of probably 60-90%, herd immunity will not be achieved in 2021, but could be a longer-term goal, said Professor Gregory Dore, head of the viral hepatitis clinical research program at the Kirby Institute. Australia has administered less than four doses for every 100 people. This is significantly lower than the United States, United Kingdom and Israel at the equivalent point in their rollouts. But the distribution is not uniform across Australia. The Northern Territory is currently leading the way, having vaccinated about four people for every 100 residents. Western Australia and Tasmania have each vaccinated around three people per 100 residents. The larger states are falling behind. Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales have each vaccinated less than two people for every 100 residents. University of NSWs Dr Mark Hanly told Guardian Australia in February that mass vaccination hubs may be necessary to augment the rollout a policy a few of the larger states have now adopted. This may have already made a difference, McLaws said. I believe we have ramped that up [recently] because Victoria has, very sensibly, opened up some mass vaccination hubs for their healthcare workers. But the rate has to increase significantly, and quickly. The federal governments revised rollout has all Australians receiving a first dose by the end of the year. McLaws said even this target will require over 130,000 doses administered per day, as many of these people will also need a second dose within three months. The [federal] government should be put under a spotlight to roll out to 70,000 to 80,000 per day to make sure they can then handle the second cohort coming through, McLaws said. Notes and methods: The Australian population is estimated to be 25,693,100 according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The 85% herd immunity threshold was calculated as 21,839,135. Data on cumulative vaccinations data was sourced from CovidLive.com.au. Daily increments were calculated using the previous days total and then turned into a seven day rolling average. Vaccination trends and projections were calculated by extrapolating the latest rolling average. | It could take years to fully vaccinate Australia against Covid-19 unless there is a significant increase in the vaccination rate. The federal governments rollout strategy aims to administer 45m vaccine doses. At the seven-day rolling average of under 36,000, it could take almost 40 months to accomplish. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2021/apr/08/how-long-before-australia-is-fully-vaccinated-against-covid | 0.619291 |
Who are Oregons Next Targets in Texas? | The Ducks have already picked up two commitments from Texas in 2022 and are looking to expand the pipeline. In my last story, I discussed what has happened so far in Oregons recent effort to resurrect the Texas recruiting pipeline. Now, I want to narrow the focus from the abstract promise of a Texas pipeline to specific names that Oregon is targeting for the 2022 cycle. Here is a list of uncommitted Texas prospects that the Ducks have offered and are actively recruiting, as well as a short update on where Oregon stands with each. Note: All rankings come from the 247Sports Composite national rankings. Oregons Primary Targets No. 31: 5-star OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Humble, TX): Banks is among the biggest names on the board for Oregon in this cycle. His commitment alone would likely lead most fans to declare the programs venture into Texas a success. Theres reason to think the Ducks have a legit shot. Oregon is in Banks top 8 and he already has an official visit to Eugene locked in for June 8-10, which would suggest the Ducks are a serious contender. Further bolstering the Ducks case is Banks relationship with Duck commit Stephon Johnson, who in an interview with DucksDigest identified Banks as one of his main targets in peer-recruiting: Kelvin Banks, that's the main man right there. That's been my boy forever. We grew up together. The Oregon staff has a great reputation when it comes to on-campus visits and one would doubt they will be lacking enthusiasm after the extended recruiting dead period this past year. By the time Banks arrives, Cristobal and Mirabal will likely have a top-10 pick to their credit in Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell. Ducks fans should be eager to hear reports from the visit in early June, as this has the makings of a major recruitment for Oregon in 2022. No. 40 4-star WR Evan Stewart (Frisco, TX): The Ducks initially made Stewarts top 13 back in January. Since then, Stewart has committed and de-committed from Texas, but it looks like the Longhorns are still in a great spot--he has an official visit lined up to Austin this summer. Hes set for a busy month of June, as he's also locked in additional trips to Texas A&M and Florida. The Ducks have some ground to make up for this borderline 5-star, although Stewart was another name Stephon Johnson mentioned as a target in peer recruiting. No. 73 4-star WR Brenen Thompson (Spearman, TX): Oregon made Thompsons top 12 just before Christmas, but currently, all 4 crystal ball predictions on 247Sports have Thompson teaming up with Dabo Swinney at Clemson. The Ducks are a threat here but dont seem to be the favorite. No. 185 4-star WR Chris Marshall (Fort Bend, TX): Just last week, Marshall included Oregon in his top group, and he was another name mentioned by Stephon Johnson as a target in peer recruiting. There seems to be some feeling that he will stay in state, as the crystal ball consensus currently sits on the Aggies of Texas A&M. But don't count the Ducks out yet. You can read more on where things stand with Marshall from Max here. No. 193 4-star CB Terrance Brooks (Plano, TX): Brooks hasnt put out a list of top schools, but when he does the Ducks are certainly in contention to make the cut. Another factor as we eye the summer will be the effort to get Brooks on campus in Eugene for an official visit. He already has a trip scheduled to Texas in June. Brooks offers include Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington as well as in-state programs Texas and Texas A&M. Just recently he landed an offer from Ole Miss, bringing his total to 36. Currently, Oregon doesnt have a cornerback committed in the 2022 class, but Brooks could be a major name to watch at that position moving forward. No. 214 4-star DE Ernest Cooper IV (Arlington, TX): Oregon is vying to get Cooper on campus for an official visit along with the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Stanford, which have all offered. While this recruitment is still in the early stages, Oregon is involved and will look to potentially add Cooper to their 2022 defensive line class that already includes 4-star Gracen Halton. No. 269 4-star OT Cameron Williams (Duncanville, TX): Williams included Oregon in his top 11 in February. The Ducks are also the only official visit currently set up for Williams, as he plans to be in Eugene June 4-6. This appears to be a major target for Cristobal and would be a huge step in further strengthening Oregons presence in Texas. No. 398 3-star WR Randy Masters (Pearland, TX): Right now, Oregon is the program with the most buzz for Masters. The Ducks hold both crystal ball predictions on 247Sports and have been the beneficiaries of some positive interactions on Twitter over the past month: Masters recruitment has been an intriguing one to follow thus far. In August, he initially committed to Baylor, then flipped to Cincinnati in November-- before ultimately deciding to open his recruitment back up in January. Masters, like all 2022 prospects, still has plenty of time to settle on the right program before signing in December--if he wants to sign early. That said, Oregon fans will definitely want to monitor this recruitment going forward. Here are other uncommitted Texas prospects with Ducks offers to watch as their recruitments ramp up and Oregon potentially gets more involved: No. 7 5-star OG Devon Campbell (Arlington, TX): Oregon offered in early February and missed the cut for his top 7 later that month. It will be a tough push for Cristobal and company to get back into this recruitment, but given the Ducks reputation on the offensive line and Campbells ranking, he is still a prospect worth mentioning. No. 14 5-star OLB Harold Perkins (Cypress, TX): This recruitment has been a bit slower. The Ducks will have to overcome the draw of the in-state Longhorns and Aggies, but still have an outside shot in this recruitment if they can get Perkins on campus. No. 119 4-star OT Kam Dewberry (Humble, TX): The Ducks offered in early February and have some ground to make up on the the top 10 he released in December that was loaded with SEC programs. Now attention shifts to trying to land an official visit and selling Dewberry on the programs recent success on the offensive line. No. 177 4-star DT Jaray Bledsoe (Bremond, TX): Bledsoes recruitment has been slow-developing as well. The Ducks were one of a handful of offers Bledsoe received in late January, including Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M among others. Well see how things develop into the summer for the Under Armour All-American. Hopefully we'll get a clearer picture, but for now Texas A&M leads the 247 Sports Crystal Ball. No. 218 4-star S Cristian Driver (Argyle, TX): Oregon made the cut for Drivers top 12 back in November. Since then, the Ducks have picked up two other safeties (Williams and Hullaby). Now they may be more focused on other spots, but well just have to see how things unfold as the cycle progresses. No. 440 3-star TE Trent McGaughey (Pearland, TX): Oregon already has one tight end committed in Andre Dollar, but if they do choose to add another down the road, McGaughey could be a suitable option. No. 449 3-star ILB Justin Medlock (Manvel, TX): Medlock is another uncommitted prospect with an Oregon offer. The Ducks are involved although there isnt a clear timeline for when a decision or top group will be announced. Right now, Oregons focus should be getting Medlock on campus for an official visit. You may also like: [More recruiting]: Reid's Rundown-Oregon resurrecting Texas pipeline [Football]: Tim DeRuyter set to unleash full potential of Kayvon Thibodeaux [Recruiting]: Oregon makes top 8 for So Cal WR -- Stay locked into Ducks Digest and don't miss a beat of our future Oregon Ducks coverage. Also be sure to like and follow us on social media to get the latest news and updates. Follow Reid Tingley on Twitter: @mf_reid Follow Ducks Digest on Twitter: @Ducksdigest Like and follow Ducks Digest on Facebook: @DucksDigest Subscribe to Ducks Digest on YouTube: @DucksDigest | Oregon has already picked up two commitments from Texas in the 2022 cycle. The Ducks are targeting five-star OT Kelvin Banks Jr. and four-star WR Brenen Thompson. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://www.si.com/college/oregon/recruiting/who-are-oregons-next-targets-in-texas | 0.446284 |
Who are Oregons Next Targets in Texas? | The Ducks have already picked up two commitments from Texas in 2022 and are looking to expand the pipeline. In my last story, I discussed what has happened so far in Oregons recent effort to resurrect the Texas recruiting pipeline. Now, I want to narrow the focus from the abstract promise of a Texas pipeline to specific names that Oregon is targeting for the 2022 cycle. Here is a list of uncommitted Texas prospects that the Ducks have offered and are actively recruiting, as well as a short update on where Oregon stands with each. Note: All rankings come from the 247Sports Composite national rankings. Oregons Primary Targets No. 31: 5-star OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Humble, TX): Banks is among the biggest names on the board for Oregon in this cycle. His commitment alone would likely lead most fans to declare the programs venture into Texas a success. Theres reason to think the Ducks have a legit shot. Oregon is in Banks top 8 and he already has an official visit to Eugene locked in for June 8-10, which would suggest the Ducks are a serious contender. Further bolstering the Ducks case is Banks relationship with Duck commit Stephon Johnson, who in an interview with DucksDigest identified Banks as one of his main targets in peer-recruiting: Kelvin Banks, that's the main man right there. That's been my boy forever. We grew up together. The Oregon staff has a great reputation when it comes to on-campus visits and one would doubt they will be lacking enthusiasm after the extended recruiting dead period this past year. By the time Banks arrives, Cristobal and Mirabal will likely have a top-10 pick to their credit in Outland Trophy winner Penei Sewell. Ducks fans should be eager to hear reports from the visit in early June, as this has the makings of a major recruitment for Oregon in 2022. No. 40 4-star WR Evan Stewart (Frisco, TX): The Ducks initially made Stewarts top 13 back in January. Since then, Stewart has committed and de-committed from Texas, but it looks like the Longhorns are still in a great spot--he has an official visit lined up to Austin this summer. Hes set for a busy month of June, as he's also locked in additional trips to Texas A&M and Florida. The Ducks have some ground to make up for this borderline 5-star, although Stewart was another name Stephon Johnson mentioned as a target in peer recruiting. No. 73 4-star WR Brenen Thompson (Spearman, TX): Oregon made Thompsons top 12 just before Christmas, but currently, all 4 crystal ball predictions on 247Sports have Thompson teaming up with Dabo Swinney at Clemson. The Ducks are a threat here but dont seem to be the favorite. No. 185 4-star WR Chris Marshall (Fort Bend, TX): Just last week, Marshall included Oregon in his top group, and he was another name mentioned by Stephon Johnson as a target in peer recruiting. There seems to be some feeling that he will stay in state, as the crystal ball consensus currently sits on the Aggies of Texas A&M. But don't count the Ducks out yet. You can read more on where things stand with Marshall from Max here. No. 193 4-star CB Terrance Brooks (Plano, TX): Brooks hasnt put out a list of top schools, but when he does the Ducks are certainly in contention to make the cut. Another factor as we eye the summer will be the effort to get Brooks on campus in Eugene for an official visit. He already has a trip scheduled to Texas in June. Brooks offers include Alabama, Oklahoma, and Washington as well as in-state programs Texas and Texas A&M. Just recently he landed an offer from Ole Miss, bringing his total to 36. Currently, Oregon doesnt have a cornerback committed in the 2022 class, but Brooks could be a major name to watch at that position moving forward. No. 214 4-star DE Ernest Cooper IV (Arlington, TX): Oregon is vying to get Cooper on campus for an official visit along with the likes of Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Arizona State, and Stanford, which have all offered. While this recruitment is still in the early stages, Oregon is involved and will look to potentially add Cooper to their 2022 defensive line class that already includes 4-star Gracen Halton. No. 269 4-star OT Cameron Williams (Duncanville, TX): Williams included Oregon in his top 11 in February. The Ducks are also the only official visit currently set up for Williams, as he plans to be in Eugene June 4-6. This appears to be a major target for Cristobal and would be a huge step in further strengthening Oregons presence in Texas. No. 398 3-star WR Randy Masters (Pearland, TX): Right now, Oregon is the program with the most buzz for Masters. The Ducks hold both crystal ball predictions on 247Sports and have been the beneficiaries of some positive interactions on Twitter over the past month: Masters recruitment has been an intriguing one to follow thus far. In August, he initially committed to Baylor, then flipped to Cincinnati in November-- before ultimately deciding to open his recruitment back up in January. Masters, like all 2022 prospects, still has plenty of time to settle on the right program before signing in December--if he wants to sign early. That said, Oregon fans will definitely want to monitor this recruitment going forward. Here are other uncommitted Texas prospects with Ducks offers to watch as their recruitments ramp up and Oregon potentially gets more involved: No. 7 5-star OG Devon Campbell (Arlington, TX): Oregon offered in early February and missed the cut for his top 7 later that month. It will be a tough push for Cristobal and company to get back into this recruitment, but given the Ducks reputation on the offensive line and Campbells ranking, he is still a prospect worth mentioning. No. 14 5-star OLB Harold Perkins (Cypress, TX): This recruitment has been a bit slower. The Ducks will have to overcome the draw of the in-state Longhorns and Aggies, but still have an outside shot in this recruitment if they can get Perkins on campus. No. 119 4-star OT Kam Dewberry (Humble, TX): The Ducks offered in early February and have some ground to make up on the the top 10 he released in December that was loaded with SEC programs. Now attention shifts to trying to land an official visit and selling Dewberry on the programs recent success on the offensive line. No. 177 4-star DT Jaray Bledsoe (Bremond, TX): Bledsoes recruitment has been slow-developing as well. The Ducks were one of a handful of offers Bledsoe received in late January, including Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Texas, and Texas A&M among others. Well see how things develop into the summer for the Under Armour All-American. Hopefully we'll get a clearer picture, but for now Texas A&M leads the 247 Sports Crystal Ball. No. 218 4-star S Cristian Driver (Argyle, TX): Oregon made the cut for Drivers top 12 back in November. Since then, the Ducks have picked up two other safeties (Williams and Hullaby). Now they may be more focused on other spots, but well just have to see how things unfold as the cycle progresses. No. 440 3-star TE Trent McGaughey (Pearland, TX): Oregon already has one tight end committed in Andre Dollar, but if they do choose to add another down the road, McGaughey could be a suitable option. No. 449 3-star ILB Justin Medlock (Manvel, TX): Medlock is another uncommitted prospect with an Oregon offer. The Ducks are involved although there isnt a clear timeline for when a decision or top group will be announced. Right now, Oregons focus should be getting Medlock on campus for an official visit. You may also like: [More recruiting]: Reid's Rundown-Oregon resurrecting Texas pipeline [Football]: Tim DeRuyter set to unleash full potential of Kayvon Thibodeaux [Recruiting]: Oregon makes top 8 for So Cal WR -- Stay locked into Ducks Digest and don't miss a beat of our future Oregon Ducks coverage. Also be sure to like and follow us on social media to get the latest news and updates. Follow Reid Tingley on Twitter: @mf_reid Follow Ducks Digest on Twitter: @Ducksdigest Like and follow Ducks Digest on Facebook: @DucksDigest Subscribe to Ducks Digest on YouTube: @DucksDigest | Oregon has already picked up two commitments from Texas in the 2022 cycle. The Ducks are targeting five-star OT Kelvin Banks Jr. and four-star WR Brenen Thompson. The Oregon staff has a great reputation for on-campus visits and one would doubt they will be lacking enthusiasm after the extended recruiting dead period this past year. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://www.si.com/college/oregon/recruiting/who-are-oregons-next-targets-in-texas | 0.501437 |
Who was Phillip Adams, the former Seahawk accused of killing 5 people? | The Associated Press reported Thursday that former Seahawk Phillip Adams killed five people in South Carolina and then himself, citing the York County Sheriffs Office. In a six-year NFL career he played for six teams, seeing action in 78 games one with the Seahawks in 2011 in a late-season home contest against the 49ers. That was one of two stints Adams, a classic NFL journeyman, had with the Seahawks. He entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in 2010 out of South Carolina State, which set off a career of bouncing around from team to team on the East and West coasts trying to find a permanent fit in the NFL. After making the 49ers roster as a rookie in 2010, Adams suffered whats been refereed to as a severely broken ankle during his rookie season, having played in 15 games and making 3 tackles. Cut by the 49ers before camp in 2011, he ended up with the Patriots for six games that season. Advertising His longest continuous run with one team came with the Raiders, for whom he played in 31 games in 2012 and 2013 with four starts. According to The Sacramento Bee, he suffered two concussions over a three-game stretch in 2012, which, combined with a groin injury, eventually ended his season. But he returned the next year to play in all 16 games in 2013, with two starts. Before and after his two years with the Raiders, Adams was a Seahawk. Seattle first signed Adams as a free agent on Dec. 20, 2011, after he had been released after playing in six games that season with the Patriots. The 2012 Seahawks media guide noted that Adams was signed to fill a roster spot created when receiver Mike Williams was placed on injured reserve. He played for Seattle three days later in a 19-17 loss against the 49ers on Christmas Eve, seeing action on special teams the only time he would play in a regular-season game for Seattle. Adams, listed at 5-11, 195 pounds, remained with the Seahawks throughout the 2012 offseason and training camp competing for a spot as a nickel cornerback and special teamer, including getting some looks as a returner. He led the Seahawks in kickoff returns during the 2012 preseason with four for 95 yards and was also third on the team in tackles in the preseason with 10. Advertising Midway through camp in 2012, coach Pete Carroll gave Adams something of an unprompted endorsement when asked about the nickel cornerback competition, which would eventually be won by Marcus Trufant. We are also looking at Phillip Adams, Carroll said. He is a very active football player. We want to give him a chance to show where he can go. But he was released by the Seahawks in the final roster cutdown to 53 and was signed a day later by the Raiders, spending the next two years in Oakland. Becoming a free agent at the end of the 2013 season, Adams was again signed by Seattle on March 27, 2014, the Seahawks at the time viewing him as both a potential backup at cornerback, specifically at nickel, and as a returner. The Seahawks, then the defending Super Bowl champions, had lost Golden Tate in free agency after the 2013 season and were specifically looking for someone to fill the punt return void he had 37 punt returns in his two years with the Raiders. Adams had two punt returns for six yards during the 2014 preseason for Seattle, and was tied for seventh in tackles with eighth. But after again spending all of training camp with the Seahawks Adams was again released by Seattle in the cutdown to 53. He was signed two days later by the Jets and played the 2014 season there before ending his NFL career in 2015 with the Atlanta Falcons. | Phillip Adams was a classic NFL journeyman, playing for six teams in six years. | pegasus | 0 | https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/who-was-phillip-adams-the-former-seahawk-accused-of-killing-5-people/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_seahawks | 0.12012 |
How do lateral-flow tests for covid-19 work? | LATERAL-FLOW TESTS, supposedly a cheap and fast way to identify covid-19, have got a bad rap. In September the World Health Organisation said that very few had undergone stringent regulatory procedures. In a mass-testing pilot at the end of 2020 in Liverpool, in north-west England, antigen tests made by Innova Medical Group, an American company, missed 60% of asymptomatic casesthey were detected by more complicated polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) tests instead. Subsequently some care homes in England refused to use the tests because of concerns over their accuracy. But lateral-flow tests remain at the heart of the British governments strategy to stop the spread of the virus. From April 9th everyone in the country will be offered free testing kits twice a week. Lateral-flow tests were already used widely before SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19, came along. Their most common use is in pregnancy tests, where they detect a hormone present in pregnant womens urine. They can analyse other body fluids such as blood and saliva, as well as other substances such as food. When it comes to detecting covid-19, a lateral-flow test takes a sample of mucus from a persons nose or throat using a swab. This is dipped in a tube containing a solution to dilute the sample, and then placed at one end of a porous strip in a test cartridge. As the sample is pulled along the strip via capillary action it encounters a line of antibodies (proteins also found in the bodys immune system) designed to recognise SARS-CoV-2 antigens (specific proteins found only on the surface of the virus) and binds onto them. Much as in a positive pregnancy test, if a coloured band appears on the strip it indicates a covid-19 infection. Two big advantages of lateral-flow tests are their speed and simplicity. They provide results within ten to 30 minutes, and can be easily performed outside a laboratory, unlike PCR tests, which look for the viruss entire genetic sequence rather than its antigens. They are also cheaper than PCR tests. According to an analysis by Which?, a consumer publication, a private PCR test in Britain costs on average 120 ($165), compared with around half that for a private lateral-flow test. But there are questions over lateral-flow tests accuracy. To judge this, scientists look at two elements: specificity (the proportion of tests that correctly return negative results for people who do not have covid-19) and sensitivity (the proportion of tests that correctly return positive results for people who do). Data collected through Britains test-and-trace system show that lateral-flow tests have a specificity of at least 99.9%. That is high, but still means that on average one of every 1,000 tests will give a false positive. And lateral-flow tests are less sensitive than PCR tests. If an infected person does not produce enough antigens, which is usually the case at the start or end of an infection, the test may give a false negative result. Another problem is that for the test to work properly the sample probe has to go sufficiently deep into the throat or the nose. Research carried out by the University of Oxford and Public Health England shows that the sensitivity of the tests, relative to PCR tests, fell from 79.2% in laboratory conditions to 57.5% when they were carried out by self-trained members of the public. Lateral-flow tests are best at identifying highly infectious individuals. This makes them useful in the fight against covid-19, even if they are not perfect. The quicker cases are detected, the greater the chances of reducing the spread of infections. But rapid testing alone is not sufficient to control the pandemic. It must go hand in hand with other testing methods and measures such as social distancing and vaccination. Dig deeper All our stories relating to the pandemic and the vaccines can be found on our coronavirus hub. You can also listen to The Jab, our new podcast on the race between injections and infections, and find trackers showing the global roll-out of vaccines, excess deaths by country and the viruss spread across Europe and America. | From April 9th everyone in the country will be offered free testing kits twice a week. Lateral-flow tests were already used widely before SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes covid-19. They provide results within ten to 30 minutes, and can be easily performed outside a laboratory. | pegasus | 2 | https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2021/04/08/how-do-lateral-flow-tests-for-covid-19-work | 0.309051 |
Could 49ers drafting Mac Jones be Jimmy Garoppolo's best option? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea Fans might be miffed if the 49ers' choice at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft is Mac Jones, but it very well be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolos success. If the veteran signal-caller remains on the 49ers' roster heading into Week 1 of the 2021 season, which is the current plan according to both general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, all parties would benefit. Of the top five quarterbacks available in the draft, the Alabama QB puts the least amount of pressure on Garoppolos shoulders in 2021. Often when a quarterbacks successor is drafted early on Day 1 of the draft, impatient fans, media and even staff are known to clamor to see what the rookie is capable of as if the player was a present from Santa on Christmas morning. At the first sign of struggle by the incumbent, calls for a change can echo throughout stadium stands. If the first two selections unfold on Thursday as widely predicted with Clemsons Trevor Lawrence heading to Jacksonville and the New York Jets selecting BYUs Zach Wilson, the top three quarterbacks available to the 49ers at No. 3 along with Jones are Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance. 49ers fans on social media have been at a fever pitch wanting to see either Lance or Fields heading to Santa Clara. Jones is the least popular choice by far, which could be a benefit for Garoppolo. Without as much hype or support from the fans, it is less likely that those present at games or active on social media will be calling for the Jones to replace Garoppolo under center if he happens to make a bad throw, or even have a tough game. While all professional athletes attempt to block out the noise during game action, it is impossible to not hear an entire stadiums jeers and cheers. Jones is a still a top prospect, enough so that Shanahan has repeatedly mentioned that he is one of the five players that the club would be confident drafting as their next franchise quarterback. Best case scenario for the 49ers and Garoppolo would be to keep him under center and play well enough to continue deep into the playoffs. The demand for a Garoppolo trade would increase, and the club could recoup some of the draft capital that it sent to the Miami Dolphins to move up nine spots in the draft. Not only would it be a better environment for Garoppolo, but the Crimson Tide rookie also would be allowed time to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn the 49ers' extensive playbook. The likelihood of a player's success, especially at quarterback, tends to rise as they have more time to adjust. But until Thursday night, we will all just be guessing. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | If the 49ers pick Mac Jones at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft, it could be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolo. | bart | 0 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-49ers-drafting-mac-jones-185239298.html?src=rss | 0.576388 |
Could 49ers drafting Mac Jones be Jimmy Garoppolo's best option? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea Fans might be miffed if the 49ers' choice at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft is Mac Jones, but it very well be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolos success. If the veteran signal-caller remains on the 49ers' roster heading into Week 1 of the 2021 season, which is the current plan according to both general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, all parties would benefit. Of the top five quarterbacks available in the draft, the Alabama QB puts the least amount of pressure on Garoppolos shoulders in 2021. Often when a quarterbacks successor is drafted early on Day 1 of the draft, impatient fans, media and even staff are known to clamor to see what the rookie is capable of as if the player was a present from Santa on Christmas morning. At the first sign of struggle by the incumbent, calls for a change can echo throughout stadium stands. If the first two selections unfold on Thursday as widely predicted with Clemsons Trevor Lawrence heading to Jacksonville and the New York Jets selecting BYUs Zach Wilson, the top three quarterbacks available to the 49ers at No. 3 along with Jones are Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance. 49ers fans on social media have been at a fever pitch wanting to see either Lance or Fields heading to Santa Clara. Jones is the least popular choice by far, which could be a benefit for Garoppolo. Without as much hype or support from the fans, it is less likely that those present at games or active on social media will be calling for the Jones to replace Garoppolo under center if he happens to make a bad throw, or even have a tough game. While all professional athletes attempt to block out the noise during game action, it is impossible to not hear an entire stadiums jeers and cheers. Jones is a still a top prospect, enough so that Shanahan has repeatedly mentioned that he is one of the five players that the club would be confident drafting as their next franchise quarterback. Best case scenario for the 49ers and Garoppolo would be to keep him under center and play well enough to continue deep into the playoffs. The demand for a Garoppolo trade would increase, and the club could recoup some of the draft capital that it sent to the Miami Dolphins to move up nine spots in the draft. Not only would it be a better environment for Garoppolo, but the Crimson Tide rookie also would be allowed time to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn the 49ers' extensive playbook. The likelihood of a player's success, especially at quarterback, tends to rise as they have more time to adjust. But until Thursday night, we will all just be guessing. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | If the 49ers draft Mac Jones at No. 3, it could be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolos success. Jones is the least popular choice by far, which could be a benefit for Gar oppo. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-49ers-drafting-mac-jones-185239298.html?src=rss | 0.637686 |
Could 49ers drafting Mac Jones be Jimmy Garoppolo's best option? | originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea Fans might be miffed if the 49ers' choice at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft is Mac Jones, but it very well be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolos success. If the veteran signal-caller remains on the 49ers' roster heading into Week 1 of the 2021 season, which is the current plan according to both general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, all parties would benefit. Of the top five quarterbacks available in the draft, the Alabama QB puts the least amount of pressure on Garoppolos shoulders in 2021. Often when a quarterbacks successor is drafted early on Day 1 of the draft, impatient fans, media and even staff are known to clamor to see what the rookie is capable of as if the player was a present from Santa on Christmas morning. At the first sign of struggle by the incumbent, calls for a change can echo throughout stadium stands. If the first two selections unfold on Thursday as widely predicted with Clemsons Trevor Lawrence heading to Jacksonville and the New York Jets selecting BYUs Zach Wilson, the top three quarterbacks available to the 49ers at No. 3 along with Jones are Ohio States Justin Fields and North Dakota States Trey Lance. 49ers fans on social media have been at a fever pitch wanting to see either Lance or Fields heading to Santa Clara. Jones is the least popular choice by far, which could be a benefit for Garoppolo. Without as much hype or support from the fans, it is less likely that those present at games or active on social media will be calling for the Jones to replace Garoppolo under center if he happens to make a bad throw, or even have a tough game. While all professional athletes attempt to block out the noise during game action, it is impossible to not hear an entire stadiums jeers and cheers. Jones is a still a top prospect, enough so that Shanahan has repeatedly mentioned that he is one of the five players that the club would be confident drafting as their next franchise quarterback. Best case scenario for the 49ers and Garoppolo would be to keep him under center and play well enough to continue deep into the playoffs. The demand for a Garoppolo trade would increase, and the club could recoup some of the draft capital that it sent to the Miami Dolphins to move up nine spots in the draft. Not only would it be a better environment for Garoppolo, but the Crimson Tide rookie also would be allowed time to adjust to the speed of the NFL and learn the 49ers' extensive playbook. The likelihood of a player's success, especially at quarterback, tends to rise as they have more time to adjust. But until Thursday night, we will all just be guessing. Download and subscribe to the 49ers Talk Podcast | If the 49ers draft Mac Jones at No. 3, it could be the best scenario for Jimmy Garoppolos success. Jones is the least popular choice by far, which could be a benefit for Gar oppoolo. The Crimson Tide rookie would be allowed time to adjust to the speed of the NFL. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-49ers-drafting-mac-jones-185239298.html?src=rss | 0.692528 |
What could Minkah Fitzpatricks fifth-year option mean for Terrell Edmunds? | While Edmunds showed occasional flashes, in the form of two interceptions in 2020, hes never lived up to his first-round 2018 NFL draft selection. Most draftniks had a third- or fourth-round draft projection on Edmunds. Instead, the Steelers reached for him at No. 28 overall. Steelers Wire published a post in March listing the 2022 option price tags, which includes $6.573 million for a safety with no Pro Bowls, a.k.a Edmunds, should Pittsburgh exercise his option. The salary is significantly lower than Fitzpatricks $10.612 million but may still be more than what the Steelers are willing to pay Edmunds for his contributions to this point. The deadline for the Steelers to decide is May 3. If no fifth-year option, Edmunds could become a free agent in March. Meanwhile, Edmundss base salary for 2021 is $1.938 million. Related | Minkah Fitzpatrick has a fifth-year option for $10.612 million. Terrell Edmunds has no Pro Bowls and is expected to be a free agent in March. | ctrlsum | 1 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-minkah-fitzpatrick-fifth-option-194830349.html?src=rss | 0.189128 |
What could Minkah Fitzpatricks fifth-year option mean for Terrell Edmunds? | While Edmunds showed occasional flashes, in the form of two interceptions in 2020, hes never lived up to his first-round 2018 NFL draft selection. Most draftniks had a third- or fourth-round draft projection on Edmunds. Instead, the Steelers reached for him at No. 28 overall. Steelers Wire published a post in March listing the 2022 option price tags, which includes $6.573 million for a safety with no Pro Bowls, a.k.a Edmunds, should Pittsburgh exercise his option. The salary is significantly lower than Fitzpatricks $10.612 million but may still be more than what the Steelers are willing to pay Edmunds for his contributions to this point. The deadline for the Steelers to decide is May 3. If no fifth-year option, Edmunds could become a free agent in March. Meanwhile, Edmundss base salary for 2021 is $1.938 million. Related | Minkah Fitzpatrick has a fifth-year option for $10.612 million. Terrell Edmunds has no Pro Bowls and is expected to be a free agent after the season. The Steelers have until May 3 to decide whether to pick up Edmunds' option. | ctrlsum | 2 | https://sports.yahoo.com/could-minkah-fitzpatrick-fifth-option-194830349.html?src=rss | 0.249562 |
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